![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/IMG_18711.jpg\")
<\/a>Big views of Zion Canyon from Observation Point Lookout<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
It’s been a gradifying couple of months interning in Zion.\u00a0When I arrived the weather was pleasant but soon turned hot.\u00a0 I’m talking over a month of above 110 degrees in the Canyon.\u00a0 No biggy here in Zion, I\u00a0escaped the heat by taking several dips a day in the Virgin River.\u00a0 My field time collecting new specimens to be placed in the herbarium moved from the canyon bottom\u00a0to the higher elevation mixed conifer forests atop the canyon walls.\u00a0 Here I found an abundance of moisture loving species.\u00a0 My days\u00a0have been\u00a0filled with searching for some of the parks most rare and endemic species for collection.\u00a0 Alas, I found them…Astragalas concordus<\/em>, Heterotheca jonesii<\/em>, and Erigeron religosus<\/em>. Even on my hiking adventures outside of work I stumbled upon them, one in particular, Cymopterus minimus<\/em> (Cedar Breaks biscuitroot), an endemic only to Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties in Utah.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cymopterus minimus a rare and endemic species found in Ashdown Gorge Wilderness on the "Twisted Forest Trail"<\/p><\/div>\n I found it while hiking in a remnant Bristlecone pine forest in Ashdown George Wilderness.\u00a0 This species has only been found to occur on Claron limestone soils from 8,000 to 10,400 ft elevation in July-August.\u00a0 Needless to say, during my time here in Zion I have looked at more rare species then I have in my whole career thus far.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Donna Peppin<\/a>
\nCLM Intern, Zion National Park Continue reading