This photo shows Alkali Sink habitat in the spring. The white areas are alkali scalds, which form in areas where sufficient standing water accumulates (i.e., low-lying areas). The yellow-flowered herbs are members of the Asteraceae: Lasthenia chrysantha (alkali goldfields), which generally occupies the "zone" closest to the scald edge, and L. californica (California goldfields), which forms a band somewhat higher up on the hummocks. The dominant shrub is Allenrolfea occidentalis (iodinebush; Chenopodiaceae), which is still showing signs of winter dormancy.