Decenber 29, 2006
Mount Laguna, California. This is southern California just north of the border with Mexico that so many people come to illegally.
This particular picture clearly illustrates very cold temperature with very high winds. The 'shadow effect' of the ice on the leaf and buds and otherwise accumulated over time and with dynamics that is not conducive to life for this plant, especially the bud/offspring/growth.
However, there is an altitude component with an observatory at 4980 feet.
Might have something to do with it, but, this is a freeze that normal biota cannot necessarily sustain. By the look of the leaf that could be a type of 'evergreen' that might sustain cold weather, but, not with so many new buds forming as on the base of the stalk and the terminus/top. This is definately damage to a plant that was either blooming prematurely to the effects of Human Induced Global Warming or just unseasonal freezing effecting all the local plants. I would have to look at extended history to know the extent this might be serious and irreversable damage. But, it is definately damage.
With plants there are different kinds of growth vs. reproduction. Any hobbiest knows all about plant cuttings and how one can grow two plants from one. That occurs in nature sometimes, but, also what may be at loss and more serious is the opportunity to germinate. In other words, what makes plants/animals more gentically viable is their ability to 'breed' with another individual of the same species. Share genetics/inheritance. In the case of this plant, if there is sginficant damge it might not have the ability to produce seeds that lead to germination. That will reduce the species 'hardiness' and sustainability. This may seem silly to many and making a mountain out of a mole hill, I assure you, it is not. The loss of biota begins nearly under a microscope in cases of Climate Change.
