I discovered early on that because we live in a rather unique micro-climate, I sometimes have to look outside the usual sources when trying to identify plants. One of my most valuable resources over the years has been a book about wildflowers of the Texas Plains. When my usual tomes of Western or Rocky Mountain flora don't yield the needed information, that is where I turn.
One plant identified that way was the Stick Leaf or Sand Lily. This plant is really very nondescript during the day and may even get confused with a type of thistle. Its leaves are very sticky, as you would expect from the name, but not sharp. The closest thing I can compare them to is velcro - or maybe a really sticky cat tongue!
They are one of the group of plants that blooms at night. Pollination is achieved with the help of night feeding moths which is why they hide their beauty during the day.
If you time it just right you can get photos of the open blooms in the half hour or so before sunset.
It is really amazing to suddenly see a bare ridge come to life with hundreds of beautiful white blooms!
These plants seem to prefer the driest, rockiest, most unlikely soil as their home!
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