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 |
Gaillardia pulchella | Indian Blanket Firewheel Girasol Rojo | |
Gaillardia pulchella | Indian Blanket Firewheel Girasol Rojo | |
Gaillardia pulchella | Indian Blanket Firewheel Girasol Rojo | |
Gaultheria shallon | Salal | |
Galearis spectabilis | Showy Orchid Purple-hooded Orchid Gay Orchid | |
Galearis spectabilis | Showy Orchid Purple-hooded Orchid Gay Orchid | |
Gaillardia suavis | Pincushion Daisy Fragrant Gaillardia Rayless Gaillardia Perfumeballs | |
Gaillardia suavis | Pincushion Daisy Fragrant Gaillardia Rayless Gaillardia Perfumeballs | |
Galax urceolata | Beetleweed Galax Coltsfoot Wand Flower | |
Galax urceolata | Beetleweed Galax Coltsfoot Wand Flower | |
Gentiana affinis | Pleated Gentian | |
Gentiana affinis | Pleated Gentian | |
Gentiana algida | Whitish Gentian Arctic Gentian | |
Gentianella amarella ssp. acuta | Autumn Dwarf Gentian | |
Gentianella amarella ssp. acuta | Autumn Dwarf Gentian | |
Gentianella amarella ssp. heterosepala | Autumn Dwarf Gentian | |
Gentiana andrewsii | Closed Bottle Gentian Closed Gentian Bottle Gentian | |
Gentiana andrewsii | Closed Bottle Gentian Closed Gentian Bottle Gentian | |
Gentiana andrewsii | Closed Bottle Gentian Closed Gentian Bottle Gentian | |
Gentiana andrewsii | Closed Bottle Gentian Closed Gentian Bottle Gentian | |
Gentianopsis barbellata | Perennial Fringed Gentian | |
Gentiana calycosa | Rainier Pleated Gentian | |
Gentiana calycosa | Rainier Pleated Gentian | |
Geraea canescens | Hairy Desert-sunflower Desert Sunflower Desert Gold | |
Geraea canescens | Hairy Desert-sunflower Desert Sunflower Desert Gold | |
Geraea canescens | Hairy Desert-sunflower Desert Sunflower Desert Gold | |
Geranium caespitosum var. parryi | Parry's Geranium | |
Geranium caespitosum var. parryi | Parry's Geranium | |
Geranium caespitosum var. parryi | Parry's Geranium | |
Gentiana linearis | Narrowleaf Gentian Narrow-leaved Gentian | |
Gentiana linearis | Narrowleaf Gentian Narrow-leaved Gentian | |
Geranium maculatum | Spotted Geranium Wild Geranium Cranesbill | |
Geranium maculatum | Spotted Geranium Wild Geranium Cranesbill | |
Geranium maculatum | Spotted Geranium Wild Geranium Cranesbill | |
Geranium maculatum | Spotted Geranium Wild Geranium Cranesbill | |
Gentianopsis macrantha | Grand Fringed Gentian | |
Gentiana parryi | Parry's Gentian | |
Gentiana prostrata | Pygmy Gentian | |
Gentiana prostrata | Pygmy Gentian | |
Geranium richardsonii | Richardson's Geranium | |
Geranium richardsonii | Richardson's Geranium | |
Geum rivale | Purple Avens Water Avens | |
Geranium robertianum | Robert Geranium Herb Robert | |
Geum rossii | Ross's Avens | |
Geum rossii | Ross's Avens | |
Geum rossii | Ross's Avens | |
Geum rossii var. turbinatum | Ross's Avens | |
Geum rossii var. turbinatum | Ross's Avens | |
Gentianopsis thermalis | Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian Western Fringed Gentian | |
Geum triflorum | Old Man's Whiskers Prairie Smoke Purple Avens | |
Geranium viscosissimum | Sticky Purple Geranium Sticky Wild Geranium | |
Geranium viscosissimum | Sticky Purple Geranium Sticky Wild Geranium | |
Geranium viscosissimum | Sticky Purple Geranium Sticky Wild Geranium | |
Gilia capitata | Bluehead Gilia Blue-head Gily-flower Globe Gilia Blue Gilia | |
Gilia capitata | Bluehead Gilia Blue-head Gily-flower Globe Gilia Blue Gilia | |
Gilia capitata | Bluehead Gilia Blue-head Gily-flower Globe Gilia Blue Gilia | |
Gilia capitata | Bluehead Gilia Blue-head Gily-flower Globe Gilia Blue Gilia | |
Gilia diegensis | Coastal Gilia | |
Gilia latiflora | Hollyleaf Gilia | |
Gilia latiflora | Hollyleaf Gilia | |
Gilia latiflora | Hollyleaf Gilia | |
Gilia ophthalmoides | Eyed Gilia | |
Gilia ophthalmoides | Eyed Gilia | |
Gilia ophthalmoides | Eyed Gilia | |
Githopsis pulchella | Sierra Bluecup | |
Giliastrum rigidulum | Bluebowls Blue Gilia | |
Giliastrum rigidulum | Bluebowls Blue Gilia | |
Giliastrum rigidulum | Bluebowls Blue Gilia | |
Giliastrum rigidulum | Bluebowls Blue Gilia | |
Gilia scopulorum | Rock Gilia | |
Gilia scopulorum | Rock Gilia | |
Gilia scopulorum | Rock Gilia | |
Gilia stewartii | Stewart's Gilia | |
Gilia stewartii | Stewart's Gilia | |
Gilia tricolor | Bird's-eye Gilia Bird's-eyes | |
Gilia tricolor | Bird's-eye Gilia Bird's-eyes | |
Gilia tricolor | Bird's-eye Gilia Bird's-eyes | |
Gilia tricolor | Bird's-eye Gilia Bird's-eyes | |
Gilia tricolor | Bird's-eye Gilia Bird's-eyes | |
Gillenia trifoliata | Bowman's Root Indian Physic | |
Gillenia trifoliata | Bowman's Root Indian Physic | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida | Prairie Verbena Purple Prairie Verbena Dakota Mock Vervain Dakota Vervain | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida | Prairie Verbena Purple Prairie Verbena Dakota Mock Vervain Dakota Vervain | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | Davis Mountains Mock Vervain Dakota Mock Vervain Wright's Verbena | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | Davis Mountains Mock Vervain Dakota Mock Vervain Wright's Verbena | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | Davis Mountains Mock Vervain Dakota Mock Vervain Wright's Verbena | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | Davis Mountains Mock Vervain Dakota Mock Vervain Wright's Verbena | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | Davis Mountains Mock Vervain Dakota Mock Vervain Wright's Verbena | |
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | Davis Mountains Mock Vervain Dakota Mock Vervain Wright's Verbena | |
Glandularia canadensis | Rose Vervain Sweet William Rose Mock Vervain | |
Glandularia quandrangulata | Beaked Mock Vervain Pale Mock Vervain Chihuahuan Mock Vervain | |
Glyptopleura setulosa | Holy Dandelion | |
Glandulicactus uncinatus | Chihuahuan Fishhook Cactus | |
Goodyera oblongifolia | Western Rattlesnake Plantain Greenleaf Rattlesnake Plantain Green-leaved Rattlesnake Plantain | |
Goodyera pubescens | Downy Rattlesnake Plantain | |
Gratiola aurea | Golden Hedgehyssop | |
Grindelia decumbens | Reclined Gumweed | |
Grindelia decumbens | Reclined Gumweed | |
Grindelia integrifolia | Puget Sound Gumweed | |
Grindelia lanceolata var. lanceolata | Narrowleaf Gumweed | |
scientific name | common name(s) | image gallery |