Native Plants
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia
Bill (W.D.) (1913-1996) and Dolphia Bransford (1915-2015) moved from San Angelo to Kingsland, Texas in 1950. There they established the first fish camp in the area. A carpenter, Bill built small cabins and a larger building which served as a general store.Bill was interested in photography so he and Dolphia would set out in their camper taking pictures of wildflowers and scenery along the way. After plants were photographed, Dolphia researched them and recorded their botanical name, family and common name on each slide. The Bransfords would travel for two or three months at a time and eventually visited nearly every corner of the United States and Canada. They spent 40 years pursuing their favorite pastime and stopped only when Bill’s vision diminished.
At the beginning, Bill photographed plants mostly from a distance, often too far to see enough detail necessary to identify his subjects. Dolphia encouraged him to get close-ups of the plants so that they could be identified and so that their full beauty could be appreciated. Many times he would lie flat on the ground to get the perfect shot. His extra effort shows in the quality of his photographs.
Bill enjoyed presenting prints of his photographs in collections, displaying images of entire genera or families in a single frame. In one case, it took six years of effort to get the photograph of a single species necessary to complete one of these framed collections.
Wishing to find a suitable, permanent home for their work, Mr. and Mrs. Bransford began donating their slide collection to the National Wildflower Research Center in 1987 and were privileged to enjoy Mrs. Johnson’s company on several occasions. Over the years, countless thousands of visitors to this website have enjoyed the work and study of this devoted couple.
Today, the nearly 4500 native plant slides contributed to the Wildflower Center by Bill and Dolphia Bransford remain one of the largest image collections in the NPIN Image Gallery.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to developing the premier resource for native plant images in North America through continued growth of the Plant Image Gallery. You can help us achieve our mission ...to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes... by becoming a contributor.
scientific name | common name(s) | image gallery |
Pedicularis canadensis | Canadian Lousewort Wood Betony | |
Pedicularis canadensis | Canadian Lousewort Wood Betony | |
Penstemon cardinalis | Cardinal Penstemon Cardinal Beardtongue | |
Penstemon caespitosus | Mat Penstemon Mat Beardtongue | |
Penstemon calycosus | Long-sepal Penstemon Long-sepal Beardtongue | |
Penstemon canescens | Eastern Gray Penstemon Eastern Gray Beardtongue | |
Penstemon canescens | Eastern Gray Penstemon Eastern Gray Beardtongue | |
Pedicularis centranthera | Dwarf Lousewort | |
Penstemon centranthifolius | Scarlet Bugler | |
Penstemon centranthifolius | Scarlet Bugler | |
Penstemon centranthifolius | Scarlet Bugler | |
Perityle ciliata | Fringed Rockdaisy | |
Pedicularis contorta | Coiled Lousewort | |
Penstemon cobaea | Prairie Penstemon Prairie Beardtongue Foxglove Penstemon Foxglove Beardtongue False Foxglove Large-flowered Penstemon Large-flowered Beardtongue Cobaea Penstemon Cobaea Beardtongue Wild Foxglove | |
Penstemon cobaea | Prairie Penstemon Prairie Beardtongue Foxglove Penstemon Foxglove Beardtongue False Foxglove Large-flowered Penstemon Large-flowered Beardtongue Cobaea Penstemon Cobaea Beardtongue Wild Foxglove | |
Penstemon crandallii | Crandall's Penstemon Crandall's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon crandallii | Crandall's Penstemon Crandall's Beardtongue | |
Pediomelum cuspidatum | Indian-turnip Largebract Indian Breadroot Tall Scurfy Pea Tall-bread Scurf-pea | |
Penstemon cyananthus | Wasatch Penstemon Wasatch Beardtongue Platte River Penstemon Platte River Beardtongue | |
Pedicularis cystopteridifolia | Fernleaved Pedicularis | |
Penstemon davidsonii | Davidson's Penstemon Davidson's Beardtongue Timberline Penstemon Timberline Beardtongue Alpine Penstemon Alpine Beardtongue Blue Color Mat | |
Penstemon davidsonii | Davidson's Penstemon Davidson's Beardtongue Timberline Penstemon Timberline Beardtongue Alpine Penstemon Alpine Beardtongue Blue Color Mat | |
Pedicularis densiflora | Indian Warrior | |
Penstemon deustus | Scabland Penstemon Scabland Beardtongue Hot-rock Penstemon Hot-rock Beardtongue | |
Penstemon deustus | Scabland Penstemon Scabland Beardtongue Hot-rock Penstemon Hot-rock Beardtongue | |
Penstemon deustus | Scabland Penstemon Scabland Beardtongue Hot-rock Penstemon Hot-rock Beardtongue | |
Penstemon digitalis | Mississippi Penstemon Mississippi Beardtongue Smooth White Penstemon Smooth White Beardtongue Talus Slope Penstemon Talus Slope Beardtongue Foxglove Penstemon Foxglove Beardtongue | |
Penstemon digitalis | Mississippi Penstemon Mississippi Beardtongue Smooth White Penstemon Smooth White Beardtongue Talus Slope Penstemon Talus Slope Beardtongue Foxglove Penstemon Foxglove Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eatonii | Firecracker Penstemon Firecracker Beardtongue Eaton's Penstemon Eaton's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon elegantulus | Rockvine Penstemon Rockvine Beardtongue | |
Penstemon ellipticus | Rocky Ledge Penstemon Rocky Ledge Beardtongue | |
Penstemon ellipticus | Rocky Ledge Penstemon Rocky Ledge Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eriantherus | Fuzzy-tongue Penstemon Fuzzy-tongue Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eriantherus | Fuzzy-tongue Penstemon Fuzzy-tongue Beardtongue | |
Penstemon eriantherus | Fuzzy-tongue Penstemon Fuzzy-tongue Beardtongue | |
Penstemon fendleri | Fendler's Penstemon Fendler's Beardtongue Fendler Penstemon Fendler Beardtongue Purple Foxglove | |
Penstemon fendleri | Fendler's Penstemon Fendler's Beardtongue Fendler Penstemon Fendler Beardtongue Purple Foxglove | |
Penstemon fendleri | Fendler's Penstemon Fendler's Beardtongue Fendler Penstemon Fendler Beardtongue Purple Foxglove | |
Penstemon filiformis | Threadleaf Penstemon Threadleaf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon fruticosus | Bush Penstemon Bush Beardtongue Shrubby Penstemon Shrubby Beardtongue | |
Penstemon fruticosus | Bush Penstemon Bush Beardtongue Shrubby Penstemon Shrubby Beardtongue | |
Petasites frigidus var. palmatus | Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot Palmate Coltsfoot Palmate Butterbur Western Coltsfoot | |
Perityle gilensis var. gilensis | Gila Rockdaisy | |
Penstemon globosus | Globe Penstemon Globe Beardtongue | |
Penstemon glaber var. alpinus | Alpine Saw-sepal Penstemon Alpine Saw-sepal Beardtongue Blue Penstemon Blue Beardtongue Alpine Penstemon Alpine Beardtongue | |
Penstemon glaber var. alpinus | Alpine Saw-sepal Penstemon Alpine Saw-sepal Beardtongue Blue Penstemon Blue Beardtongue Alpine Penstemon Alpine Beardtongue | |
Pedicularis groenlandica | Elephanthead Lousewort | |
Pedicularis groenlandica | Elephanthead Lousewort | |
Penstemon gracilis | Lilac Penstemon Lilac Beardtongue Slender Penstemon Slender Beardtongue | |
Penstemon gracilis | Lilac Penstemon Lilac Beardtongue Slender Penstemon Slender Beardtongue | |
Penstemon grinnellii | Grinnell's Penstemon Grinnell's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon grinnellii | Grinnell's Penstemon Grinnell's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon harbourii | Harbour's Penstemon Harbour's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon harbourii | Harbour's Penstemon Harbour's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon harbourii | Harbour's Penstemon Harbour's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon havardii | Havard Penstemon Havard Beardtongue Big Bend Penstemon Big Bend Beardtongue Havard's Penstemon Havard's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon havardii | Havard Penstemon Havard Beardtongue Big Bend Penstemon Big Bend Beardtongue Havard's Penstemon Havard's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon hallii | Hall's Penstemon Hall's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon hallii | Hall's Penstemon Hall's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon heterophyllus | Bunchleaf Penstemon Bunchleaf Beardtongue Foothill Penstemon Foothill Beardtongue | |
Penstemon hirsutus | Hairy Penstemon Hairy Beardtongue | |
Penstemon hirsutus | Hairy Penstemon Hairy Beardtongue | |
Penstemon humilis | Low Penstemon Low Beardtongue | |
Penstemon incertus | Mojave Penstemon Mojave Beardtongue | |
Penstemon laxiflorus | Nodding Penstemon Nodding Beardtongue Loose-flowered Penstemon Loose-flowered Beardtongue | |
Penstemon laxiflorus | Nodding Penstemon Nodding Beardtongue Loose-flowered Penstemon Loose-flowered Beardtongue | |
Penstemon laxiflorus | Nodding Penstemon Nodding Beardtongue Loose-flowered Penstemon Loose-flowered Beardtongue | |
Penstemon laxiflorus | Nodding Penstemon Nodding Beardtongue Loose-flowered Penstemon Loose-flowered Beardtongue | |
Penstemon laetus | Mountain Blue Penstemon Mountain Blue Beardtongue Western Gray Penstemon Western Gray Beardtongue Gray Penstemon Gray Beardtongue | |
Penstemon laetus | Mountain Blue Penstemon Mountain Blue Beardtongue Western Gray Penstemon Western Gray Beardtongue Gray Penstemon Gray Beardtongue | |
Penstemon leiophyllus | Smoothleaf Penstemon Smoothleaf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon leiophyllus | Smoothleaf Penstemon Smoothleaf Beardtongue | |
Perityle lindheimeri | Lindheimer's Rockdaisy Rock Daisy | |
Perityle lindheimeri | Lindheimer's Rockdaisy Rock Daisy | |
Perityle lindheimeri var. halimifolia | Lindheimer's Rockdaisy | |
Peritoma lutea | Yellow Bee-plant Yellow Spiderflower | |
Peritoma lutea | Yellow Bee-plant Yellow Spiderflower | |
Penstemon lyallii | Lyall's Penstemon Lyall's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon lyallii | Lyall's Penstemon Lyall's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon lyallii | Lyall's Penstemon Lyall's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon murrayanus | Scarlet Penstemon Scarlet Beardtongue Red Penstemon Red Beardtongue Cupleaf Penstemon Cupleaf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon murrayanus | Scarlet Penstemon Scarlet Beardtongue Red Penstemon Red Beardtongue Cupleaf Penstemon Cupleaf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon murrayanus | Scarlet Penstemon Scarlet Beardtongue Red Penstemon Red Beardtongue Cupleaf Penstemon Cupleaf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon murrayanus | Scarlet Penstemon Scarlet Beardtongue Red Penstemon Red Beardtongue Cupleaf Penstemon Cupleaf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon multiflorus | Many-flower Penstemon Many-flower Beardtongue Many-flowered Penstemon Many-flowered Beardtongue | |
Penstemon multiflorus | Many-flower Penstemon Many-flower Beardtongue Many-flowered Penstemon Many-flowered Beardtongue | |
Penstemon nanus | Dwarf Penstemon Dwarf Beardtongue | |
Penstemon newberryi | Mountain Pride | |
Penstemon newberryi | Mountain Pride | |
Penstemon newberryi | Mountain Pride | |
Penstemon ovatus | Eggleaf Penstemon Eggleaf Beardtongue | |
Pectis papposa | Manybristle Cinchweed Chinchweed | |
Penstemon parryi | Parry's Penstemon Parry's Beardtongue | |
Penstemon parryi | Parry's Penstemon Parry's Beardtongue | |
scientific name | common name(s) | image gallery |