动态第331页 - 绿手指 - 养花技巧、花生病了怎么办、花园打理和设计

2018年03月16日

Although red onions are sometimes used for cooking, their sweet mild flavor actually makes them more popular as an onion to appear raw in salads or on top of hamburgers. Sometimes known as purple onions, these large onions are easily identified by their purplish skin color and slightly red flesh. As with other onions, you can grow a new onion with the root section of one that you buy at the store. [图片]Step 1 Select a firm red onion from the store that has a good root system. The root system of an onion is located on its bottom. Step 2 Use a knife to cut 1 ½ to 2 inches off the bottom of the onion. Step 3 Place the onion bottom in a dry shaded area for 1 to 2 days or until the flesh of the onion has dried. This process is known as callusing and helps to prevent the exposed flesh of the onion from rotting. Step 4 Fill a gardening pot two-thirds full with potting soil. Place the onion piece into the center of the pot. Push the bottom piece of the onion gently into the soil. Cover the onion piece with soil. Step 5 Set the gardening pot in a sunny spot near a window. Water the growing onion plant weekly or as needed to keep the soil moist. Allow the new leaves of the onion to appear and grow. [图片]Step 6 Remove the onion piece from the soil once the new onion plant is established. It should now have a well-developed root system and may have more than one stalk with leaves. Divide the stalks into separate plants with a knife. Step 7 Transfer the plants into the ground in a sunny spot outside. Trim off half to one-third of the leaves to encourage the bulb to grow. Harvest the new onions in 108 to 110 days after planting.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月16日

Grow your own salad at home with a backyard patch of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), which thrives throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Since this vegetable is prized for its crisp, edible leaves, yellowing foliage can ruin your dreams of a homemade salad harvest. Lettuce may turn yellow for a few common reasons, each which has an organic, natural solution. Not Enough Water The lettuce plant has a very shallow root system, which makes it especially prone to drought stress. The plant requires consistently moist soil conditions at all times, without which it will wilt, turn yellow and eventually lose all of its leaves. When watering lettuce, use enough irrigation to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Water the lettuce bed again as soon as the top inch of soil has dried out. Extreme Soil Temperature Fluctuations Since lettuce roots lie so close to the soil surface, the plant is more prone to temperature-induced stress that can result in wilting and yellowing of the lettuce leaves. Mulch creates a protective barrier on the soil surface that helps to shield the soil from the sun and keeps temperatures constant and cool. [图片]Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around the lettuce plants. Example mulching materials include: Shredded leaves Weed-free straw or hay Fine bark chips Compost Additionally, mulch helps prevent weed growth and also conserves soil moisture, further enhancing the lettuce plant's health and appearance. Poor Soil Nutrient Levels As lettuce grows, it needs rich levels of soil nutrients to support optimal foliage development. Nutrient-depleted soil may result in lettuce plants that appear stunted with leaves that aren't fully developed or that have a pale, yellow-green hue. When given the right amount of fertilizer, lettuce leaves turn a dark green. Before planting lettuce, set a nutritional foundation by spreading 1 1/2 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer for every 50 square feet of gardening space. A couple months after the lettuce has been planted, fertilize the garden again with 1/2 pound of 33-0-0 fertilizer for every 50 feet of lettuce row. Pest Invasions You are not the only thing that enjoys the taste of lettuce. Occasionally, lettuce beds may get attacked by a variety of soft-bodied pests, including aphids, leafhoppers and whiteflies. Left uncontrolled, pest infestations can reach such heavy numbers that they cause wilting, yellowing or loss of leaves. Some pests, such as the leafhopper, spread a disease called yellows disease that, true to its name, causes yellow leaves. Dust lettuce plants with food-grade diatomaceous earth to protect it from leafhoppers and other leaf-eating pests. Repeat the diatomaceous earth application after any rainy days. [图片]Alternatively, spray lettuce plants with a strong blast of water from a garden hose. This is often enough to dislodge and kill common pests like aphids and whiteflies, and regular spraying keeps pest populations at levels too low to cause a problem. If all else fails, make your own homemade insecticide soap spray to kill aphids, leafhoppers and other soft-bodied pests. Step 1 Place an entire garlic bulb and a small onion into a blender and blend on medium until a fine pulp is created. Step 2 Add 1 teaspoon of powdered, dehydrated cayenne pepper. Step 3 Add 1 quart of water. Step 4 Mix thoroughly and allow to steep of an hour, but preferably overnight. Step 5 Pour the liquid through a piece of cheesecloth into a plastic spray bottle. Step 6 Add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Step 7 Spray the soapy solution on affected lettuce plants. Coat all exposed surfaces of the plant, including the undersides of leaves where aphids and other pests tend to congregate. Step 8 Repeat once a week until pest activity subsides.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月16日

Jicama has a crisp, sweet flavor reminiscent of apples. The white flesh of the root is edible, both raw and cooked, and is often used in salads or cooked in the same manner as potatoes. This Mexican vegetable is sometimes grown in home gardens and is also available from most well-stocked grocery stores. Selecting ripe jicamas, whether you grow them yourself or purchase them, ensures the best flavor and texture. [图片]Step 1 Examine the exterior of the jicama. Select those with an approximate 6-inch diameter and a smooth, cream or light brown exterior. Avoid wrinkled jicama roots as these are overly-mature. Step 2 Check all sides of the jicama for cracks. Avoid those with cracks or visible bruises. Step 3 Cut into the jicama. Under-ripe jicamas are hard and difficult to cut while a knife easily slices through a ripe jicama. [图片]Step 4 Harvest garden-grown jicama after the foliage begins to die back but before the first fall frost. Dying foliage indicates root maturity.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月16日

Fresh-from-the-garden salads and side dishes are staples during the summer months. However, much of the country benefits from an extended growing season that reaches beyond summer's hot days. Planting in spring and fall opens up the possibilities for other crops that are sometimes overlooked. Knowing what to plant and when, however, requires some basic knowledge about different types of vegetables. [图片]Tender and Hardy Crops Crops are often labeled as tender, semi-hardy or hardy. These labels refer to how well -- if at all -- the vegetables handle mild or hard frosts. Tender vegetables -- including sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis), pepper (Capsicum spp.), bean (Phaseolus spp.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) -- are particularly susceptible to even light frosts. Semi-hardy vegetables include parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), carrot (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa). These vegetables handle light to moderate frosts. The hardiest crops include onion (Allium cepa), pea (Pisum sativum), radish (Raphanus sativus) and turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa), along with several cole crops: broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts and kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea variations). Too Much Heat Semi-hardy and hardy vegetables do best in cooler temperatures, making them ideal candidates for early spring or fall plantings. Many of the semi-hardy or hardy vegetables are prone to bolting, or going to seed too quickly, in summer's heat. The heat, along with bolting, can produce bitter crops or other problems, including wilting. Late spring and summer also produce the highest concentrations of pest populations. Early spring and fall gardening allows you to skip the hassle of dealing with insects. [图片]Winter Harvests Many hardy vegetables can go into the ground as soon as the soil is thawed and workable. For fall gardens, planting times vary between July and August. Some, however, can go into the ground much later in fall. Peas, spinach (Spinacia oleracea), onions and garlic (Allium sativum) all do well in fall-planted gardens throughout much of the country; in milder climates, you can follow winter planting dates for many of them. You can also use the cool soil temperatures to your advantage in other ways, such as storage in a natural root cellar. For example, leave carrots and potatoes in the ground and harvest them until the ground freezes. Many root crops sweeten during the cooler winter temperatures. Cover exposed roots with loose soil, but allow the greens to stay uncovered. If particularly hard frosts are projected, cover the vegetables loosely with a sheet or loose straw, and then uncover them when temps rise above freezing. Check the Calendar Knowing your average first and last frost dates, along with the days to harvest, can help you determine when you need to get certain crops in the ground. The backs of seed packets show the days to harvest; this number gives you the average number of days your specific variety takes to mature enough for picking. For tender and semi-hardy vegetables, subtract the days to harvest from your average first frost date to get your latest possible planting date. In spring, plant tender crops after the danger of frost, which may run into May or possibly June in colder climates.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月16日

[图片]While it's more common to have bumper crops of fast-growing zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), some factors can slow down the growth of your annual zucchini or make the plant produce small fruit. For most summer squash, like zucchini, small, young zucchini are more tender and flavorful, but if you want larger zucchini for stuffing, there are some things to do to ensure your zucchini grow well. Trimming the leaves is not one of those things. Leave the Leaves Alone The leaves are the food manufacturers for the plant. The large, abundant leaves on a zucchini plant provide shade and keep out weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching the soil and providing nourishment for the weeds. If you cut off the leaves, your zucchini loses its source of fuel, and may slow its growth. Don't bother your zucchini's leaves and look to other ways to improve growth. Poor Pollination The most common reason for tiny zucchini that drop off the plant is poor pollination. Bees may not be visiting your garden due to weather extremes or because you've used insecticides. If a lack of bees in your area are keeping your zucchini from growing to their full potential, you need to hand pollinate the plants. Pull off the male flowers. which have a long, thin, straight stem at the base, and touch the center of it to the centers of the female flowers that appear a day later and have a bulbous growth at their bases. [图片]Fertilizer Fouls Too much or too little fertilizer can cause your zucchini to not grow as large as you want. If you over-fertilize, the plant produces more leaves instead of concentrating its growth on the zucchini, but this does not mean that you need to remove those leaves. Because zucchini plants grow quickly, they are heavy feeders, which means if you don't give them enough fertilizer, their growth and the plant's yield can suffer. Both of these cases can be remedied by improving your fertilization techniques, quantities and method. When you plant the zucchini, sprinkle 1 tablespoon per hill of a fertilizer that has more potassium and phosphorous in it than nitrogen, for instance a 6-10-10. One week after the blooms appear, apply 1 tablespoon of pure nitrogen fertilizer next to the plants, and repeat this side dressing three weeks later to ensure the proper amount of nitrogen in the soil as the zucchini are growing larger and require more nitrogen. Watering Woes Water stress may impact the size of your zucchini. This usually occurs when an exceptionally dry period is followed by heavy watering. Whether you just went out of town for a week and could not water your garden or if you forgot, these fluctuations in moisture can create small, misshapen fruit on the zucchini bush. Water your zucchinis weekly so the soil feels moist down 6 to 8 inches below the surface, but don't get water on the leaves, which can spread diseases. Drip irrigation is the best as it delivers water straight to where the zucchini needs it, and you can get under the leaves, which help to conserve moisture in the soil by blocking the sun from the soil, which is another reason to leave the leaves on the plant.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月08日

Description: This perennial wildflower is 2–3½' tall, sometimes branching in the upper half. The stems are light green and usually hairless; however, some variants of this species have pubescent stems. Alternate compound leaves occur at intervals along the stems; they are trifoliate and their leaflets are extended horizontally in relation to the ground. Individual leaflets are up to 3½" long and ¾" across; they are 3-6 times as long as they are wide. Some variants of this species have more narrow leaflets than others. The terminal leaflet is the same length or a little longer than the lateral leaflets. The leaflets are elliptic to oblong in shape and smooth along their margins. Their upper surfaces are medium green and glabrous, while their lower surfaces are pale to medium green and covered with appressed white hairs. The petioles of the compound leaves are up to 2" long, light green, and mostly hairless. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of tiny deciduous stipules that are linear-lanceolate; these stipules soon wither away. The petiolules (secondary petioles) of the lateral leaflets are very short (less than 1/8" or 3 mm.), while the petiolules of the terminal leaflets are longer (up to ½"). Flowers The upper stems terminate in either racemes or narrow panicles of flowers. The branches of each inflorescence are light green and covered with hooked hairs. Individual flowers are ¼" long (or a little more), consisting of 5 petals, a short tubular calyx with teeth, an ovary with a single style, and several hidden stamens. The flowers have a typical pea-like structure, consisting of an upright banner and 2 lateral wings that enclose a central keel. The petals are pink to rosy pink; at the base of the upper petal (banner), there are 1-2 tiny patches of yellow. The green calyx is covered with hooked hairs. The slender petioles of the flowers are about ½" long; they are green to reddish purple and also covered with hooked hairs. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Fertile flowers are replaced by flat loments (a type of seedpod) that are about ½–1½" long. Each loment consists of 2-6 rounded segments, a short stipe, and sometimes a short beak. Each segment of a loment is more rounded along the bottom than along the top; it contains a single seed. The loments are covered with hooked hairs. The root system consists of an elongated caudex with fibrous roots. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself. Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and sandy or rocky soil. [图片]Range & Habitat: The native Panicled Tick Trefoil is occasional in all areas of Illinois, except the NW section, where it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats consist of thinly wooded bluffs, rocky open woodlands, sandy open woodlands, sandy savannas and typical savannas, woodland edges, thickets, rocky glades, and partially shaded roadside embankments. This wildflower is a pioneer species that prefers some disturbance from wildfires, selective logging, and others causes. Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees collect pollen from the flowers; these relatively uncommon floral visitors include bumblebees (Bombus spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), and long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.). Other insects feed on the leaves, flowers, and seeds of Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoils). For example, the caterpillars of several skippers feed on the leaves: Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing). The caterpillars of the butterfly Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) also feed on the foliage, while the caterpillars of the butterfly Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak) eat the flowers and developing seedpods. These insect feeders include many kinds of beetles, and some species of thrips, aphids, moth caterpillars, and stinkbugs (see Insect Table). The seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey) and small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while the foliage is readily eaten by White-Tailed Deer and other hoofed mammalian herbivores. The Cottontail Rabbit also consumes the foliage. The sticky seedpods (loments) cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans. As a result, the seeds are carried to new locations. [图片]Photographic Location: A sandy savanna at Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois. Comments: Among different populations of Panicled Tick Trefoil, there is significant variation in the width of the leaflets and the hairiness of the stems and leaflets. Usually, this wildflower has fairly narrow leaflets, hairless to nearly hairless stems, and hairless upper surfaces on the leaflets. It can be distinguished from other species in this genus by considering the following key characteristics: 1) the narrow leaflets are 3-6 times longer than they are across, 2) the petioles of the trifoliate leaves are fairly long (up to 2"), 3) the deciduous stipules of the trifoliate leaves are small and insignificant, and 4) the leaflets are rather long (up to 3½"). Panicled Tick Trefoil is one of the more common species of this genus in Illinois.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月08日

Description: This perennial wildflower is 2–3½' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are medium green to brown and sparsely to densely covered with both hooked and straight hairs. Alternate compound leaves occur at intervals along these stems; the structure of the leaves is trifoliate. Each compound leaf has a hairy petiole up to ½" long; at the base of each petiole, there is a pair of tiny deciduous stipules that are linear-lanceolate in shape. Individual leaflets are up to 2½" long and 1¼" across; they are oval to narrowly oval in shape, smooth and slightly ciliate along their margins, and rough-textured. Their upper surfaces are medium green and sparsely covered with short stiff hairs, while their lower surfaces are light green and covered with similar hairs. The terminal leaflet is larger in size than the lateral leaflets; the lateral leaflets have very short petiolules (secondary petioles), while the petiolule of the terminal leaflet is up to ½" long. [图片]The upper stems terminate in either panicles or racemes of flowers about ½–1½' long and about one-third as much across or less. The central stalk of a panicle branches either oppositely or in whorls of 3. Both the central stalk and its lateral branches (if any) are covered with hooked hairs. Individual flowers occur on short pedicels up to ½" long. Each flower is about ¼" long, consisting of 5 pink to rosy pink petals, a very short tubular calyx that is toothed, an ovary with a single style, and several stamens. The flower has a pea-like structure, consisting of an upper banner and two lateral wings that enclose a lower keel. At the base of the banner, there is a small patch of yellow. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. Fertile flowers are replaced by small loments (segmented flat seedpods) about ½–¾" long. Each loment usually consists of 2-3 segments; the lower side of each segment is more rounded than the upper side. Loments have veryDistribution Map short stipes and sometimes terminal beaks; their sides are covered with hooked hairs. Each segment of a loment contains a single seed. The root system consists of a narrow caudex with fibrous roots. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself, sometimes forming small colonies. Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, dry-mesic conditions, and sandy or rocky soil. Nitrogen is added to the soil through a symbiotic association between the root system and mycorrhizal bacteria. Range & Habitat: The native Obtuse-Leaved Tick Trefoil occurs in scattered locations in southern, western, and a few other areas in Illinois; it is uncommon within the state. Illinois lies along the NW range limit of this species. Habitats include open sandy woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, sandy savannas, woodland edges, rocky glades, and powerline clearances in sandy or rocky woodlands. Occasional wildfires or other disturbance tends to increase populations of this wildflower in the preceding habitats. Faunal Associations: The flowers offer only pollen as a reward to insect visitors. These floral visitors consist primarily of bumblebees (Bombus spp.), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Other insects feed on the foliage, flowers, seedpods, or plant juices of Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoil species). These insect feeders include such skipper caterpillars as Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing), and Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper); the caterpillars of the butterflies Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak) also feed on these plants. Other insects feeders include various beetles, stink bugs, aphids, thrips, and moths (see Insect Table for a listing of these species). Among vertebrate animals, the seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite, Wild Turkey) and small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while the foliage is browsed by White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit. The foliage is also palatable to cattle, horses, and sheep. The seedpods cling readily to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans; as a result, the seeds are distributed to new locations. Photographic Location: A sandy savanna at the Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois. Comments: This is one of several Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoil species) in Illinois. Many of these species are found in savannas and open woodlands; their small pinkish flowers are very similar to each other. Obtuse-Leaved Tick Trefoil has wider leaflets than most other species in this genus (about 2-3 times as long as they are wide). Other critical features for identification include the following: 1) the stipules are tiny and deciduous, 2) the loments usually consist of only 2-3 segments, 3) the segments of the loments are rounded on both sides, although more so on their lower sides than their upper sides, and 4) the leaflets are relatively large (up to 2½" long and 1¼" across) and rough-textured. Another common name of this species is Stiff Tick Trefoil, which is derived from an obsolete scientific name, Desmodium rigidum.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月08日

Description: This herbaceous plant is a summer annual about 2-6' tall. It branches regularly from the central stem, while the side stems branch very little. These stems are somewhat pubescent and green to reddish green. The opposite leaves are up to 12" and 4" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. The lower leaves are pinnately lobed, cleft, and coarsely toothed, while the upper leaves are lanceolate-oblong and smooth along the margins. The petioles of the leaves become progressively shorter toward the apex of the plant; the upper leaves are often sessile. Both lower and upper leaves are hairless, or nearly so. The upper stems terminate in spike-like racemes of yellow flowers. These racemes vary ½–3' in length, depending on the size of the plant. Each flower is about ½" long, consisting of a yellow tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes and a green calyx with 5 blunt teeth. The tubular corolla is rather short and broad; its throat is partially obstructed by an abundance of fine yellow hairs. The two upper lobes of the corolla fold backward, while the 3 lower lobes function as a landing pad for visiting insects. The blooming period is mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1½ months; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule is globoid-ovoid; it eventually turns brown and contains several seeds. The root system consists of a taproot and secondary feeder roots. The feeder roots can attach themselves to the roots of oak trees; they suck moisture and possibly some nutrients from the host tree. Thus, Mullein Foxglove is partially parasitic. Reproduction is by seed. Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a loam, clay-loam, or rocky soil. This plant benefits from the proximity of oak trees. Its size is highly variable, depending on growing conditions. [图片]Range & Habitat: The native Mullein Foxglove occurs occasionally throughout most of Illinois; it is least common in the NW and south-central areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, oak savannas, paths through woodlands, thinly wooded bluffs, woodland borders, thickets, and rocky slopes along rivers. This species tolerates low to moderate levels of disturbance. Faunal Associations: The most important pollinators of the flowers are bumblebees, which suck nectar and collect pollen. Other long-tongued bees also visit the flowers, including honeybees and Miner bees. Occasionally, butterflies and skippers suck nectar from the flowers, but they are ineffective pollinators. The caterpillars of the moth Rhodoecia aurantiago (Orange Sallow) bore into the seed capsules and feed on the seeds. It possible that the foliage is eaten by the caterpillars of the butterflies Junonia coenia (Buckeye) and Euphydryas phaeton ozarkae (Baltimore). The latter variety of the Baltimore is confined to southern Illinois. Both of these butterfly species are known to feed on the foliage of Aureolaria spp. (False Foxgloves), which are closely related to Mullein Foxglove. [图片]Photographic Location: Along a path at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois. Comments: This annual plant can achieve an impressive size. It closely resembles several Aureolaria spp. (False Foxgloves), which are also parasitic on the roots of oaks. The flowers of Mullein Foxglove are a little shorter than the flowers of the latter species (which can exceed ¾" in length), and the throat of its flowers are partially obstructed by an abundance of fine hairs. The flowers of the False Foxgloves are quite open at the throat because they lack these hairs. Another scientific name for Mullein Foxglove is Seymeria macrophylla.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月08日

Description: This is a shrub about 1-3½' tall that has ascending to widely spreading branches. The bark of branches and twigs is gray or reddish brown, more or less smooth, and terete with scattered white lenticels. Young shoots are light green to light brown, terete, and very pubescent, becoming less pubescent with age. Alternate leaves occur along the twigs and shoots. These leaves are 2-6" long and ¼-1" across; they are narrowly oblong to oblong-elliptic in shape and pinnatifid with 3-8 pairs of oblique lobes. The upper surface of mature leaves is medium green and glabrous to slightly short-pubescent, while the lower surface is light green and nearly glabrous to short-pubescent. Immature leaves, in contrast to the mature leaves, are yellowish green and more heavily covered with silky hairs (especially along their undersides). The leaves also have glandular resin-dots; crushed leaves and twigs are fragrant. The petioles are less than ½" in length, light green, more or less pubescent, and relatively stout. Sweet Fern can be dioecious or monoecious with unisexual florets that are arranged in greenish catkins toward the tips of twigs or young shoots. The male catkins are ¾-1½" long and cylindrical in shape, consisting of numerous male florets and their overlapping scales. Each male floret has 4-8 stamens on short filaments; it is partially hidden by a small scale (about 2-3 mm. in length) that is broadly ovate and ciliate along its margins. The female catkins are about ½" long and ovoid to globoid in shape, consisting of a small cluster of female florets and their scales. Each female floret has a naked ovary with a pair of stigmata at its apex; it is partially hidden by a small scale (about 2-3 mm. in length) that is broadly ovate and ciliate along its margins. In addition to this scale, there is a pair of linear bractlets that originate from the base of the ovary; they are up to twice the length of the scale. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring as the vernal leaves begin to develop, lasting about 2 weeks. Afterwards, the female catkins are replaced by bristly fruits that span about ¾" across; each fruit contains a cluster of nutlets at its center and numerous bristly bractlets. At maturity, individual nutlets are 3-5 mm. long, ovoid in shape, truncate-dentate on one side, and rounded on the other. TheDistribution Map root system can develop clonal offsets from underground runners. Clonal colonies of plants are common from such offsets. Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy soil. The root system of Sweet Fern can fix nitrogen in the soil. This shrub is an alternate host of a blister rust that infects Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana). Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Fern is rare in Illinois, where it is largely restricted to the NE section of the state. It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Habitats include upland sand prairies, sandy shrub prairies, and sandy upland savannas. Dominant trees in these savannas are oak trees (especially Black Oak) and sometimes pine trees are present (especially Jack Pine). Sweet Fern benefits from occasional wildfires as this reduces competition from taller shrubs and trees. The seeds can lie dormant in the soil for several decades while waiting for such wildfires to occur. Faunal Associations: Various insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Sweet Fern. These species include the leaf beetles Cryptocephalus insertus, Neochlamisus comptoniae, and Paria frosti (Clark et al., 2004). The leafhopper Eratoneura parallela occasionally sucks sap from this shrub. The caterpillars of several moths feed primarily on the leaves of Sweet Fern, including Cleora sublunaria (Double-Lined Gray), Cyclophora pendulinaria (Sweetfern Geometer), Coleophora comptoniella (Sweetfern Casebearer Moth), Agonopterix atrodorsella (Brown-Collared Agonopterix), Nemoria rubrifrontaria (Red-Fronted Emerald), and Catocala antinympha (Sweetfern Underwing); see the Moth Table for a more complete list of these species (Covell, 2005; Wagner, 2005). Some vertebrate animals also use Sweet Fern as a source of food. The Ruffed Grouse and Greater Prairie Chicken feed on the buds, catkins, and foliage, while White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit browse on the twigs and foliage (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because of its tendency to form colonies, Sweet Fern also provides good cover for various animals. [图片]Photographic Location: A garden at the Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in NW Ohio. Comments: This shrub belongs to a monotypic genus that is endemic to North America. It is related to the Bayberry shrubs (Myrica spp.) that are found on sandy coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Unlike Sweet Fern, Bayberry shrubs produce waxy fruits. In spite of its common name and the appearance of its attractive leaves, Sweet Fern is not related to the true ferns. Perhaps its most notable characteristic is the pleasant fragrance of its crushed leaves and twigs.

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Miss Chen

2018年03月08日

Description: This perennial plant is a woody vine up to 20' long. Its stems can twine about fences and adjacent vegetation and they branch occasionally. These stems are initially green or dull red, but they eventually turn brown and woody. Young stems are sparsely pubescent, terete or angular, and they become somewhat enlarged at the petiole bases. The opposite leaves are primarily trifoliate, although some of them are simple. The petioles of these leaves (whether simple or compound) are up to 2" long; they are green or dull red and sparsely pubescent, like the stems. The leaflets and simple leaves are up to 4" long and 2" across; they are ovate, dentate or shallowly cleft along their margins, and mostly glabrous. However, the undersides of the leaves or leaflets are sometimes slightly pubescent, especially along the major veins. The upper surfaces of leaves and leaflets are yellowish green to dark green, while their lower surfaces are pale green with elevated major veins. The petiolules (basal stalklets) of the leaflets are similar to the petioles, except they are shorter. The petiolule of the terminal leaflet is longer than those of the lateral leaflets. Occasionally, flat-headed panicles of white flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. Each panicle can span several inches across. A single vine can produce all staminate flowers (male), all pistillate flowers (female), or all perfect flowers (both male & female). Regardless of gender, individual flowers are about ¾" across and they have 4 petaloid sepals that are white or cream-colored and oblong-elliptic in shape. Each staminate flower has abundant long stamens that have white filaments and pale yellow anthers. Each pistillate flower has a cluster of green carpels at its center; each carpel has a short curled style. In addition to the carpels, each pistillate flower has a circle of pseudo-stamens that are sterile. Each perfect flower has a cluster of green carpels at its center, which are surrounded by one or two rows of stamens. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about a month. The staminate flowers quickly wither away, but each of the pistillate and perfect flowers develop a cluster of pubescent achenes with slender styles (up to 2" long) that are more or less hairy. These achenes and their persistent styles are initially green and silky in appearance, but they eventually turn brown. Each achene contains a single large seed. This plant spreads by reseeding itself. [图片]Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile soil that is loamy or silty. Full sun is also tolerated, although the leaves may turn yellowish green. Range & Habitat: The native Virgin's Bower occurs occasionally throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is a little more common in northern and western Illinois than other areas of the state. Habitats include edges of woodlands, moist thickets, moist meadows in floodplain areas, banks of rivers, slopes of drainage ditches, low ground along railroads, and fence rows. Virgin's Bower can be found in both disturbed and natural areas. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental garden plant. [图片]Faunal Associations: The nectar of the staminate flowers attracts Halictid bees (including Sphecodes clematidis), wasps, and various kinds of flies. No information is available for pistillate flowers. Insects that feed destructively on Virgin's Bower and other Clematis spp. include larvae of Contarinia clematidis (Clematis Bud Gall Midge) and Prodiplosis floricola (Clematis Flower Midge), larvae of the leaf-mining fly Phytomyza loewii, caterpillars of Horisme intestinata (Brown Bark Carpet Moth), caterpillars of two moths, Thyris maculata (Spotted Thyris) and Thyris sepulchralis (Mournful Thyris), and Myzus varians (Peach Leaf-Roll Aphid). These vines are the summer hosts of this introduced aphid. The toxic foliage is avoided by mammalian herbivores. However, the foliage of Virgin's Bower can provide significant cover and nesting habitat for many songbirds. Photographic Location: A moist thicket near a drainage canal in Champaign, Illinois. [图片]Comments: The flowers of Virgin's Bower are attractive and often abundantly produced; the staminate flowers are slightly more showy than the pistillate flowers. The achenes with their silky-hairy styles are also interesting because of their unusual appearance. The only other species that resembles Virgin's Bower in Illinois is Clematis terniflora (Autumn Clematis), which has been introduced from East Asia as an ornamental plant. Autumn Clematis is also a woody vine that produces masses of white or cream flowers. The flowers of this latter species, in my experience, are slightly larger (about 1" across) and more fragrant than those of Virgin's Bower; they also bloom later in the year. These two species can be easily distinguished by their foliage: The leaf- and leaflet-margins of Virgin's Bower are dentate or shallowly cleft, while those of Autumn Clematis are smooth (entire). While there are other native Clematis spp. within Illinois, their flowers have a completely different appearance.

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