Weather has a significant impact on the propagation of the slender-horned spineflower. The plant germinates after winter rains and, if the season is unusually dry, many will die off before producing seed. In very cool or wet seasons, the plant favors new growth to seed-production. To learn more, the District recently had weather stations installed near the plant’s habitat area to better track and interpret the impacts of weather on this endangered species.
While the stations themselves may not seem impressive, they are critical to understanding subtle differences in the micro-climates favored by the endangered species within the wash. Having this information will help the District select potential out-planting locations like the one shown above, where new colonies can be started.