Conclusions So Far
Only one observation so far has been identified as being unique to our region and that is the Ranunculus which has otherwise been found only as near as Amarillo (by @amzapp ). If all plants were identified, I suspect there would be a couple more unique species. A number of little plants observed are unidentified or tentatively identified. Goodness knows I have dozens of observations I consider unidentified even when there is a label on them.
ADDED; Rarities sighted --
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9216895 Panicled Aster
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2429933 Osprey
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13766547 Cursed Crowfoot
I am not good at grasses, either photographing them, finding them, or identifying them. @rowdius is much much better as are the others whose observations are included. I suspect we have only scratched the surface of the grasses here in Mackenzie Park Wilds.
The riverine habitat has a number of dock-like and allium-like species that are hard to identify and even when photographed and "observed" here may not be properly identified.
Also the trees. Has a single Siberian Elm been "observed" in this project? Yet there are many of them. I think there are several tree species unobserved or at least unidentified.
Birds. I've had a number of unusual birds "get away" unidentified and unphotographed in this area, two in the last week or so. You have too.
Nobody has looked at the fish and invertebrates in the stream. We got turtles but no fish, crawdads, or water boatmen.
The Escobaria missouriensis cactus is interesting. See my journal post on this species: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/thebark/15763-missouri-foxtail-cactus-escobaria-missouriensis-observations-in-yellowhouse-canyon-lubbock-texas
Within the city of Lubbock, Escobaria missouriensis has been found wild only in this area of Mackenzie Park and around Dunbar Lake. Ellen5 found several outside Lubbock and I photographed a different species of Escobaria at Tahoka Lake. Why have none been found elsewhere in Yellowhouse Canyon? I would guess that in landscaping Lubbock canyon lakes parks the city destroyed many cactus. Why then have no Escobaria been found at Lubbock Lake Landmark? Good question. LLL has one would think been thoroughly explored.; not true of the canyon up from LLL or down from Dunbar.
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also that Symphyotrichum species; have found it only along this creek. I personally regard the continuously wet environment as quite artificial. But it will sell well to city officials who want to destroy whatever is native and replace it with geraniums from Walmart.
Matt is also good at grasses and i think can be persuaded to take a look at the area. When you photograph them, get a lot of detail: blade top side, bottom side, and especially the joints. Joints are really important for ID. Some might even recommend photographing the roots (but that requires killing a plant, and i never do). Plant habit and soil type can help.
I promised you i'd go down there, but i'm working. Will do it when i can
Regarding Escobaria distribution: do you want to study the soil map?
Will try. Old joints complain when I stoop and touch but maybe that would be good exercise. I am aware that my observations tend to be "quick but bad" in the sense of being incomplete for ID purposes.
If you're feeling creaky, for now i dub thee the Tree Guy. Foliage, flowers/seeds if you can get 'em, and importantly the bark. This might be more comfortable work for you. I find it easier to photograph the leaves that have fallen, so i don't have to crane my neck.
I like this resource: http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/listOfTrees/
Good idea about the soil map and Escobaria. Typically they are found on caliche outcrops and slopes, both here at this site and at Dunbar. But not always. The other day I found an Escobaria missouriensis growing under grass on a leafy deeper soil in the wooded part of the Wilds to the west. And a profusion of small Escobaria were growing in a red dirt scrape on the mountain bike trailhead at Dunbar, seeded, I speculate, by a large specimen higher up.
Been thinking about carrying my camera on a monopod that I could use to get up and down with. Many of my pictures are sharp enough even hand-held with the 300 mm lens and 2X doubler that I mostly use, because of the 1/800 to 1/000 shutter speed that I set. But a monopod would let me use a slower shutter speed at smaller sharper apertures for more depth of field.
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