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 |
Smallanthus uvedalius | Hairy Leafcup | |
Solanum americanum | American Black Nightshade | |
Solidago arguta var. boottii | Boott's Goldenrod | |
Solidago bicolor | White Goldenrod Silverrod | |
Solanum carolinense | Carolina Horsenettle Carolina Horse-nettle | |
Solidago caesia | Wreath Goldenrod Blue-stemmed Goldenrod Bluestem Goldenrod | |
Solidago caesia | Wreath Goldenrod Blue-stemmed Goldenrod Bluestem Goldenrod | |
Solidago canadensis | Canada Goldenrod Canadian Goldenrod Tall Goldenrod Giant Goldenrod | |
Solidago canadensis | Canada Goldenrod Canadian Goldenrod Tall Goldenrod Giant Goldenrod | |
Solidago canadensis | Canada Goldenrod Canadian Goldenrod Tall Goldenrod Giant Goldenrod | |
Solanum dimidiatum | Western Horsenettle Western Horse-nettle | |
Solanum douglasii | Greenspot Nightshade Douglas' Nightshade | |
Solanum elaeagnifolium | Silverleaf Nightshade Silver-leaf Nightshade White Horse Nettle Trompillo Tomato Weed Bull Nettle | |
Solanum elaeagnifolium | Silverleaf Nightshade Silver-leaf Nightshade White Horse Nettle Trompillo Tomato Weed Bull Nettle | |
Solanum elaeagnifolium | Silverleaf Nightshade Silver-leaf Nightshade White Horse Nettle Trompillo Tomato Weed Bull Nettle | |
Solanum elaeagnifolium | Silverleaf Nightshade Silver-leaf Nightshade White Horse Nettle Trompillo Tomato Weed Bull Nettle | |
Solidago erecta | Showy Goldenrod | |
Solidago flexicaulis | Zigzag Goldenrod Broadleaf Goldenrod | |
Solidago flexicaulis | Zigzag Goldenrod Broadleaf Goldenrod | |
Solidago gigantea | Giant Goldenrod Smooth Goldenrod Tall Goldenrod Late Goldenrod Early Goldenrod | |
Solidago juncea | Early Goldenrod Plume Goldenrod | |
Solidago missouriensis | Missouri Goldenrod Prairie Goldenrod Missouri Basin Goldenrod | |
Solidago missouriensis | Missouri Goldenrod Prairie Goldenrod Missouri Basin Goldenrod | |
Solidago multiradiata | Rocky Mountain Goldenrod Northern Goldenrod Alpine Goldenrod | |
Solidago nemoralis | Gray Goldenrod Prairie Goldenrod Oldfield Goldenrod Grayleaf Goldenrod Gray-leaved Goldenrod Dyersweed Goldenrod Dwarf Goldenrod Field Goldenrod | |
Solidago nemoralis | Gray Goldenrod Prairie Goldenrod Oldfield Goldenrod Grayleaf Goldenrod Gray-leaved Goldenrod Dyersweed Goldenrod Dwarf Goldenrod Field Goldenrod | |
Solidago nemoralis | Gray Goldenrod Prairie Goldenrod Oldfield Goldenrod Grayleaf Goldenrod Gray-leaved Goldenrod Dyersweed Goldenrod Dwarf Goldenrod Field Goldenrod | |
Sophora nuttalliana | Silky Sophora | |
Sophora nuttalliana | Silky Sophora | |
Solidago odora | Anisescented Goldenrod Anise-scented Goldenrod Sweet Goldenrod | |
Solanum parishii | Parish's Nightshade | |
Solidago pinetorum | Small's Goldenrod Early Goldenrod | |
Solidago puberula | Downy Goldenrod | |
Solidago puberula | Downy Goldenrod | |
Solidago radula | Western Rough Goldenrod | |
Solidago rugosa | Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod Rough-leaved Goldenrod Roughleaf Goldenrod Rough-stemmed Goldenrod Roughstem Goldenrod | |
Solidago sciaphila | Shadowy Goldenrod | |
Solidago sempervirens | Seaside Goldenrod | |
Sophora secundiflora | Texas Mountain Laurel Mountain Laurel Mescal Bean Mescal Bean Sophora Frijolillo Frijolito | |
Sophora secundiflora | Texas Mountain Laurel Mountain Laurel Mescal Bean Mescal Bean Sophora Frijolillo Frijolito | |
Sophora secundiflora | Texas Mountain Laurel Mountain Laurel Mescal Bean Mescal Bean Sophora Frijolillo Frijolito | |
Sophora secundiflora | Texas Mountain Laurel Mountain Laurel Mescal Bean Mescal Bean Sophora Frijolillo Frijolito | |
Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana | Seaside Goldenrod | |
Solidago simplex var. nana | Dwarf Goldenrod | |
Solidago simplex var. nana | Dwarf Goldenrod | |
Solidago simplex var. nana | Dwarf Goldenrod | |
Solidago speciosa | Showy Goldenrod Noble Goldenrod | |
Solidago squarrosa | Stout Goldenrod | |
Solanum triquetrum | Texas Nightshade Hierba Mora | |
Solidago uliginosa | Bog Goldenrod | |
scientific name | common name(s) | image gallery |