Lesquerella ovalifolia, aka Lesquerella engelmannii var. ovalifolia is a highly localized endemic on the calcareous shales along the Arkansas river in the vicinity of Canyon City and Pueblo in southern Colorado. A trough featuring the many choice plants found in this area was created almost ten years ago as part of the trough exhibit at Denver Botanic Gardens. Quite a few of the special plants of this region were initially included: Echinocereus reichenbachii, Penstemon versicolor and P. auriberbis come to mind...and much more. Over the years, almost everything has disappeared except for this cheerful Lesquerella that has filled every square inch of the pot with its silvery mats and bright yellow flowers in March and April (and decorative bubble like seedpods after that)...One feels a bit guilty weeding it out (alas, it transplants badly)...oh well: goes to prove that rare is a highly relative term!
