文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月26日
Description: This perennial plant is 2½–5' tall and unbranched, except near the inflorescence at the apex. The stout central stem is covered with fine white hairs that are quite short. It may have some light purple coloration in some areas. The alternate leaves are up to 5" long and 2" across. They are lanceolate or lanceolate-ovate with serrated margins. Their green upper surface is rough-textured, while the lower surface is finely pubescent with some short white hairs on the major veins. The leaves are short-petioled or sessile against the stem. At the apex of the plant is a loose cluster of flowerheads that is more or less flattened on top. Each flowerhead has 15-30 magenta disk florets and no ray florets. At the base of the flowerhead, are numerous green bracts with recurved tips (i.e., they have a tendency to curl outward). A disk floret has 5 narrow lobes that spread outward, and a prominent divided style. The tips of the style often curl back to form a pair of small coils. The blooming period is mid- to late summer, and lasts about a month. There is no floral scent. The disk florets are replaced by bristly achenes that are flat and oblong. The root system is coarsely fibrous and produces rhizomes, which enable the vegetative spread of this plant.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and mesic to dry conditions. This plant is not particular about soil type; it often grows in soil that contains clay or abundant rocky material. This species of Ironweed is more drought-resistant than other species in the genus. It blooms a little earlier as well.
Range & Habitat: The native Baldwin's Ironweed is an occasional plant in southwest Illinois, and it is rare or absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). This plant is more common in states that lie southwest of Illinois (e.g., Missouri). Habitats include upland areas of dry prairies, hill prairies, glades, openings in upland forests, thinly wooded rocky slopes, pastures, abandoned fields, areas along railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas.
Faunal Associations: Primarily long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers visit the flowers for nectar. Short-tongued bees may collect pollen from the flowers, but they are non-pollinating. Among the bees, are such visitors as bumblebees, Epeoline Cuckoo bees, and Miner bees. Among the butterfly visitors, Swallowtail and Sulfur butterflies are particularly prominent. The caterpillars of some moth species feed on various parts of Ironweed, including Grammia parthenice (Parthenice Tiger Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), and Papaipema cerussata (Ironweed Borer Moth). Mammalian herbivores generally avoid eating the foliage of Ironweed spp. because of its bitter taste. In pastures, Ironweeds tend to increase at the expense of other plants.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken of a small colony of plants growing in a prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, where this species was undoubtedly introduced.
Comments: Baldwin's Ironweed is one of the less common species of Ironweed in Illinois. It is a sturdy plant that is well-adapted to dry prairies. The most distinctive characteristic of Baldwin's Ironweed is the recurved tips of its involucral bracts; this sets it apart from other Ironweed spp. in Illinois, which have appressed bracts. However, there is a less common variety of Baldwin's Ironweed that also has appressed bracts at the base of the flowerheads. Baldwin's Ironweed can be distinguished from Vernonia missurica (Missouri Ironweed) by counting the number of disk florets in a flowerhead – Baldwin's Ironweed has 15-30 disk florets, while Missouri Ironweed has 30-55 disk florets. With respect to Vernonia gigantea (Tall Ironweed), Baldwin's Ironweed is a stouter plant with broader leaves. Finally, the stems and leaf undersides of Baldwin's Ironweed are pubescent, while Vernonia fasciculata (Smooth Ironweed) is glabrous throughout. Sometimes, different species of Ironweed hybridize with each other, making identification difficult. Another common name for Vernonia baldwinii is Western Ironweed.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and mesic to dry conditions. This plant is not particular about soil type; it often grows in soil that contains clay or abundant rocky material. This species of Ironweed is more drought-resistant than other species in the genus. It blooms a little earlier as well.
Range & Habitat: The native Baldwin's Ironweed is an occasional plant in southwest Illinois, and it is rare or absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). This plant is more common in states that lie southwest of Illinois (e.g., Missouri). Habitats include upland areas of dry prairies, hill prairies, glades, openings in upland forests, thinly wooded rocky slopes, pastures, abandoned fields, areas along railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas.
Faunal Associations: Primarily long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers visit the flowers for nectar. Short-tongued bees may collect pollen from the flowers, but they are non-pollinating. Among the bees, are such visitors as bumblebees, Epeoline Cuckoo bees, and Miner bees. Among the butterfly visitors, Swallowtail and Sulfur butterflies are particularly prominent. The caterpillars of some moth species feed on various parts of Ironweed, including Grammia parthenice (Parthenice Tiger Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), and Papaipema cerussata (Ironweed Borer Moth). Mammalian herbivores generally avoid eating the foliage of Ironweed spp. because of its bitter taste. In pastures, Ironweeds tend to increase at the expense of other plants.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken of a small colony of plants growing in a prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, where this species was undoubtedly introduced.
Comments: Baldwin's Ironweed is one of the less common species of Ironweed in Illinois. It is a sturdy plant that is well-adapted to dry prairies. The most distinctive characteristic of Baldwin's Ironweed is the recurved tips of its involucral bracts; this sets it apart from other Ironweed spp. in Illinois, which have appressed bracts. However, there is a less common variety of Baldwin's Ironweed that also has appressed bracts at the base of the flowerheads. Baldwin's Ironweed can be distinguished from Vernonia missurica (Missouri Ironweed) by counting the number of disk florets in a flowerhead – Baldwin's Ironweed has 15-30 disk florets, while Missouri Ironweed has 30-55 disk florets. With respect to Vernonia gigantea (Tall Ironweed), Baldwin's Ironweed is a stouter plant with broader leaves. Finally, the stems and leaf undersides of Baldwin's Ironweed are pubescent, while Vernonia fasciculata (Smooth Ironweed) is glabrous throughout. Sometimes, different species of Ironweed hybridize with each other, making identification difficult. Another common name for Vernonia baldwinii is Western Ironweed.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月26日
Description: This perennial plant is 2½–5' tall and unbranched, except near the apex where the inflorescence occurs. The central stem is light green, terete, slightly short-pubescent, and stiffly erect. Alternate leaves occur along the entire length of the stem; they are ascending to widely spreading. The leaves are 3-6" long and ¼–¾" across; they are linear to linear-elliptic in shape, sessile or short-petiolate, and either entire (toothless) or sparsely and minutely toothed along their margins. The leaves have prominent central veins that are light-colored. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green and glabrous to rough-textured from minute stiff hairs. The lower leaf surface is light green and glabrous to sparsely short-pubescent, except along central vein, where it is pubescent. The central stem and lateral upper stems terminate in clusters of flowerheads that are somewhat flat-topped. The branches and peduncles of the flowerheads are light green, sparsely short-pubescent, and terete; the peduncles are 1½–5" long.
Flowerheads
Each flowerhead is ¾–1¼" across, consisting of a dense head of 50-100 disk florets and no ray florets. The corollas of the disk florets are magenta (reddish purple), narrowly tubular in shape, and 5-lobed; the corolla lobes of these florets are narrowly lanceolate in shape and ascending. Bifurcated styles are exserted from these corollas; these styles are magenta. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are numerous phyllaries in several series; they are loosely overlapping. Individual phyllaries are ½–1" long; their bases are linear-lanceolate in shape, tapering into long filiform tips that are more or less incurved. These phyllaries are mostly light green, except toward their tips, where they are often white to magenta; they are sparsely short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early autumn, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by achenes with small tufts of bristly hair at their apices; these hairs are light brown or pale purple. The achenes are 3-5 mm. long and bullet-shaped with vertical pubescent ribs; they are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of stout short rhizomes, from which clonal offsets are produced.
Cultivation: In Illinois, this plant occurs at sites with full sun, mesic conditions, and a loam or clay-loam soil.
Range & Habitat: Great Ironweed is a very rare plant in Illinois; it has been collected only in Champaign County in the east-central portion of the state during 1957-1958 (see Distribution Map). These specimens are located in the herbarium of the Illinois State Museum. Apparently, the population of plants at the original collection site was destroyed and the species was thought to be extirpated from the state. However, during the late summer of 2005 the webmaster discovered several plants of Great Ironweed at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois (also in Champaign County). The status of this ironweed as a native or adventive species in Illinois is uncertain. Habitats of this rare species in Champaign County include roadside fencerows and prairies. Great Ironweed is more common in areas that lie to the southwest of Illinois (e.g., Missouri and Arkansas). It is often found in rocky glades in these areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads of ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) attract bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp.), digger bees (Melissodes spp., Svastra spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (including green metallic bees), bee flies (Bombyliidae), butterflies (Papilio spp. & others), and skippers (Polites spp. & others); see Robertson (1929) and Reed (1993). The bee visitors are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowerheads, while the remaining insects feed on the nectar. Two digger bees, Melissodes vernoniae and Melissodes denticulata, are specialist pollinators (oligoleges) of ironweeds. Other insects feed on the leaves, bore through the stems or roots, suck plant juices, or feed destructively on the flowerheads of these plants. Examples of such insects include the Thirteen-spotted Billbug (Rhodobaenus tredecimpunctatus), larvae of the Ironweed Bud Midge (Asphondylia vernoniae), larvae of the Ironweed Blossum Midge (Youngomyia podophyllae), larvae of the Ironweed Borer Moth (Papaipema cerussata), larvae of the Parthenice Tiger Moth (Grammia parthenice), the Ironweed Aphid (Aphis vernoniae), Four-humped Stink Bug (Brochymena quadripustulata), Little Pasture Grasshopper (Melanoplus confusus), Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus), and Short-winged Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus brevipennis). The Insect Table provides a more complete list of insects that feed on ironweeds. Vertebrate animals appear to have little use for these plants, as their seeds are little-used by birds and their bitter foliage is usually avoided by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, where a population of this ironweed has persisted for several years.
Comments: This is one of the easier ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) to identify because of the distinctive appearance of the phyllaries (floral bracts) – long and thread-like. No other ironweed has this kind of phyllary at the base of its flowerheads. Great Ironweed (Vernonia arkansana) also differs from other ironweeds by its narrow leaves and the large number of disk florets (50-100) in each flowerhead. Other species in this genus have flowerheads with fewer disk florets (20-50) and their flowerheads are less wide. Other common names of Vernonia arkansana that are occasionally used include 'Ozark Ironweed' and 'Curlytop Ironweed.' An alternative scientific name for this species is Vernonia crinita. I am happy to see this wonderful wildflower back in the state again.
Flowerheads
Each flowerhead is ¾–1¼" across, consisting of a dense head of 50-100 disk florets and no ray florets. The corollas of the disk florets are magenta (reddish purple), narrowly tubular in shape, and 5-lobed; the corolla lobes of these florets are narrowly lanceolate in shape and ascending. Bifurcated styles are exserted from these corollas; these styles are magenta. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are numerous phyllaries in several series; they are loosely overlapping. Individual phyllaries are ½–1" long; their bases are linear-lanceolate in shape, tapering into long filiform tips that are more or less incurved. These phyllaries are mostly light green, except toward their tips, where they are often white to magenta; they are sparsely short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early autumn, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by achenes with small tufts of bristly hair at their apices; these hairs are light brown or pale purple. The achenes are 3-5 mm. long and bullet-shaped with vertical pubescent ribs; they are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of stout short rhizomes, from which clonal offsets are produced.
Cultivation: In Illinois, this plant occurs at sites with full sun, mesic conditions, and a loam or clay-loam soil.
Range & Habitat: Great Ironweed is a very rare plant in Illinois; it has been collected only in Champaign County in the east-central portion of the state during 1957-1958 (see Distribution Map). These specimens are located in the herbarium of the Illinois State Museum. Apparently, the population of plants at the original collection site was destroyed and the species was thought to be extirpated from the state. However, during the late summer of 2005 the webmaster discovered several plants of Great Ironweed at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois (also in Champaign County). The status of this ironweed as a native or adventive species in Illinois is uncertain. Habitats of this rare species in Champaign County include roadside fencerows and prairies. Great Ironweed is more common in areas that lie to the southwest of Illinois (e.g., Missouri and Arkansas). It is often found in rocky glades in these areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads of ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) attract bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp.), digger bees (Melissodes spp., Svastra spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (including green metallic bees), bee flies (Bombyliidae), butterflies (Papilio spp. & others), and skippers (Polites spp. & others); see Robertson (1929) and Reed (1993). The bee visitors are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowerheads, while the remaining insects feed on the nectar. Two digger bees, Melissodes vernoniae and Melissodes denticulata, are specialist pollinators (oligoleges) of ironweeds. Other insects feed on the leaves, bore through the stems or roots, suck plant juices, or feed destructively on the flowerheads of these plants. Examples of such insects include the Thirteen-spotted Billbug (Rhodobaenus tredecimpunctatus), larvae of the Ironweed Bud Midge (Asphondylia vernoniae), larvae of the Ironweed Blossum Midge (Youngomyia podophyllae), larvae of the Ironweed Borer Moth (Papaipema cerussata), larvae of the Parthenice Tiger Moth (Grammia parthenice), the Ironweed Aphid (Aphis vernoniae), Four-humped Stink Bug (Brochymena quadripustulata), Little Pasture Grasshopper (Melanoplus confusus), Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus), and Short-winged Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus brevipennis). The Insect Table provides a more complete list of insects that feed on ironweeds. Vertebrate animals appear to have little use for these plants, as their seeds are little-used by birds and their bitter foliage is usually avoided by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, where a population of this ironweed has persisted for several years.
Comments: This is one of the easier ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) to identify because of the distinctive appearance of the phyllaries (floral bracts) – long and thread-like. No other ironweed has this kind of phyllary at the base of its flowerheads. Great Ironweed (Vernonia arkansana) also differs from other ironweeds by its narrow leaves and the large number of disk florets (50-100) in each flowerhead. Other species in this genus have flowerheads with fewer disk florets (20-50) and their flowerheads are less wide. Other common names of Vernonia arkansana that are occasionally used include 'Ozark Ironweed' and 'Curlytop Ironweed.' An alternative scientific name for this species is Vernonia crinita. I am happy to see this wonderful wildflower back in the state again.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月26日
Description: This perennial plant is unbranched and about 3-4' tall. The central stem is winged, with a slight scattering of small white hairs on the ridges. The alternate leaves are about 5" long and 2" wide, lanceolate to ovate in shape, rather soft in texture, and covered with small white hairs. This gives the leaves a fuzzy light green appearance, especially on their undersides.
The inflorescence at the apex of the plant has several daisy-like composite flowers on rather short pedicels with abundant long white hairs. These composite flowers are bright yellow, about 2–2½" across, and become rather ragged in appearance after they pass their prime. Each flower has 6-12 ray florets, which spread outward horizontally from the central cone (roughly), rather than drooping. The disk florets present a pincushion-like appearance, with each disk floret projecting outward and visibly separated from the others. The blooming period is early to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable scent to the flowers. This plant often forms colonies from its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and mesic conditions. During a drought this plant sometimes wilts, but recovers readily after significant rainfall. This plant often flourishes in soil that is loamy, and will tolerate some clay or stones. The foliage is rarely bothered by disease.Close-up of Leaves
Range & Habitat: The native Yellow Crownbeard occurs occasionally in the southern 3/5 of Illinois, from Peoria to Champaign-Urbana, and southward. It is apparently absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). It occurs in mesic black soil prairies, rocky upland forests, savannas, thickets, limestone glades, and along railroads. It is especially likely to be observed along railroad prairies.
Faunal Associations: Primarily long-tongued bees visit the flowers for pollen or nectar. These include bumblebees, honeybees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, Little Carpenter bees, and various Cuckoo bees. Other visitors include Halictine bees, Dagger bees, and Thread-Waisted wasps. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Basilodes pepita (Gold Moth) feed on the foliage.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: This is an attractive plant because of the fuzzy leaves; the composite flowers are an additional bonus. Yellow Crownbeard, along with other members of the genus, has been oddly neglected in many prairie field guides, even though it clearly occurs in tallgrass prairies. Nor is it easy to obtain seed or plants from nursuries that specialize in native wildflowers, possibly because of the more southern distribution of this species. Another member of this genus that sometimes occurs in prairies in Illinois, Verbesina alternifolia (Wingstem), is a taller plant that blooms later. It has long coarse leaves that are sandpapery, rather than soft and fuzzy, and its ray florets droop around the central cone of each flower. A scientific synonym of Yellow Crownbeard is Actinomeris helianthoides.
The inflorescence at the apex of the plant has several daisy-like composite flowers on rather short pedicels with abundant long white hairs. These composite flowers are bright yellow, about 2–2½" across, and become rather ragged in appearance after they pass their prime. Each flower has 6-12 ray florets, which spread outward horizontally from the central cone (roughly), rather than drooping. The disk florets present a pincushion-like appearance, with each disk floret projecting outward and visibly separated from the others. The blooming period is early to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable scent to the flowers. This plant often forms colonies from its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and mesic conditions. During a drought this plant sometimes wilts, but recovers readily after significant rainfall. This plant often flourishes in soil that is loamy, and will tolerate some clay or stones. The foliage is rarely bothered by disease.Close-up of Leaves
Range & Habitat: The native Yellow Crownbeard occurs occasionally in the southern 3/5 of Illinois, from Peoria to Champaign-Urbana, and southward. It is apparently absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). It occurs in mesic black soil prairies, rocky upland forests, savannas, thickets, limestone glades, and along railroads. It is especially likely to be observed along railroad prairies.
Faunal Associations: Primarily long-tongued bees visit the flowers for pollen or nectar. These include bumblebees, honeybees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, Little Carpenter bees, and various Cuckoo bees. Other visitors include Halictine bees, Dagger bees, and Thread-Waisted wasps. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Basilodes pepita (Gold Moth) feed on the foliage.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: This is an attractive plant because of the fuzzy leaves; the composite flowers are an additional bonus. Yellow Crownbeard, along with other members of the genus, has been oddly neglected in many prairie field guides, even though it clearly occurs in tallgrass prairies. Nor is it easy to obtain seed or plants from nursuries that specialize in native wildflowers, possibly because of the more southern distribution of this species. Another member of this genus that sometimes occurs in prairies in Illinois, Verbesina alternifolia (Wingstem), is a taller plant that blooms later. It has long coarse leaves that are sandpapery, rather than soft and fuzzy, and its ray florets droop around the central cone of each flower. A scientific synonym of Yellow Crownbeard is Actinomeris helianthoides.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月26日
Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is ¾-2½' tall and ascending to erect. It often branches near the base, while above it is unbranched or sparingly branched. The stems are glabrous or short-pubescent; pairs of opposite leaves occur at intervals along these stems. The narrow leaves are 1¼–4" long and less than ½" across; they are narrowly oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic in shape and smooth to coarsely toothed along their margins. There are more teeth toward the tips of the leaves than at their bases. The leaves taper gradually into petiole-like bases. Their upper surfaces are pale to medium green and glabrous or sparsely short-pubescent.
The stems terminate into spike-like racemes of flowers about 4-12" long; there is only one raceme per stem. Only a few flowers bloom at the same time, beginning at the bottom and ending at the top of each raceme. Individual flowers are up to ¼" across, consisting of a lavender to nearly white corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a short tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 4 inserted stamens, and a pistil with a single style. At the base of each flower, there is a lanceolate leafy bract that is about the same length or a little shorter than the calyx. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about 2 months. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by nutlets (4 per flower). These nutlets are oblongloid, somewhat flattened, and about 1/8" long.
Cultivation: The preference consists of full sun, dry-mesic to dry conditions, and gravelly alkaline soil. Sandy soil is also acceptable if it isn't too acidic.
Range & Habitat: The native Narrow-Leaved Vervain is occasional throughout Illinois. Habitats include dry gravel prairies and dolomite prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, gravelly areas along railroads and roadsides, abandoned fields, and barren waste areas. This species prefers sunny areas with scant vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract bees, skippers, and probably butterflies. Robertson (1929) observed little carpenter bees (Ceratina sp.), cuckoo bees (Epeolus sp., Coelioxys sp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile sp.), green metallic bees (Augochlorella sp.), and the Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) visiting the flowers for nectar. Two oligophagous insects, Crambodes talidiformis (Verbena Moth) and Macrosiphum verbenae (Verbena Aphid), feed on Verbena spp. The seeds are a minor food source for the Lark Bunting (in the Great Plains) and several native sparrows that prefer open habitat.
Photographic Location: A prairie in Fayette County, Illinois. The photograph of the blooming plant was taken by Keith & Patty Horn (Copyright © 2009).
Comments: Narrow-Leaved Vervain can be distinguished from other Verbena spp. by its narrow leaves (less than ½" across) and long slender spikes of flowers (actually, spike-like racemes because the flowers have short pedicels). Its flowers are smaller in size than those of Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain), but larger in size than other Verbena spp. within the state. This comparison excludes Rose Vervain, which has been reassigned to a different genus (Glandularia). Narrow-Leaved Vervain can form hybrids with other species in its genus. Two of these hybrids have been found within the state: Verbena × blanchardii (with Verbena hastata) and Verbena × moechina (with Verbena stricta).
The stems terminate into spike-like racemes of flowers about 4-12" long; there is only one raceme per stem. Only a few flowers bloom at the same time, beginning at the bottom and ending at the top of each raceme. Individual flowers are up to ¼" across, consisting of a lavender to nearly white corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a short tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 4 inserted stamens, and a pistil with a single style. At the base of each flower, there is a lanceolate leafy bract that is about the same length or a little shorter than the calyx. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about 2 months. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by nutlets (4 per flower). These nutlets are oblongloid, somewhat flattened, and about 1/8" long.
Cultivation: The preference consists of full sun, dry-mesic to dry conditions, and gravelly alkaline soil. Sandy soil is also acceptable if it isn't too acidic.
Range & Habitat: The native Narrow-Leaved Vervain is occasional throughout Illinois. Habitats include dry gravel prairies and dolomite prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, gravelly areas along railroads and roadsides, abandoned fields, and barren waste areas. This species prefers sunny areas with scant vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract bees, skippers, and probably butterflies. Robertson (1929) observed little carpenter bees (Ceratina sp.), cuckoo bees (Epeolus sp., Coelioxys sp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile sp.), green metallic bees (Augochlorella sp.), and the Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) visiting the flowers for nectar. Two oligophagous insects, Crambodes talidiformis (Verbena Moth) and Macrosiphum verbenae (Verbena Aphid), feed on Verbena spp. The seeds are a minor food source for the Lark Bunting (in the Great Plains) and several native sparrows that prefer open habitat.
Photographic Location: A prairie in Fayette County, Illinois. The photograph of the blooming plant was taken by Keith & Patty Horn (Copyright © 2009).
Comments: Narrow-Leaved Vervain can be distinguished from other Verbena spp. by its narrow leaves (less than ½" across) and long slender spikes of flowers (actually, spike-like racemes because the flowers have short pedicels). Its flowers are smaller in size than those of Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain), but larger in size than other Verbena spp. within the state. This comparison excludes Rose Vervain, which has been reassigned to a different genus (Glandularia). Narrow-Leaved Vervain can form hybrids with other species in its genus. Two of these hybrids have been found within the state: Verbena × blanchardii (with Verbena hastata) and Verbena × moechina (with Verbena stricta).
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Miss Chen
2018年02月25日
Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant about 2-4' tall and mostly unbranched, except toward the apex. The central stem is round, glabrous, and occasionally glaucous. The grey- or blue-green alternate leaves are up to 15" long and 1" across. They are linear, although wider at the base, where the leaves wrap around the stem in sheaths, than at the tip. They are also glabrous, with parallel venation and smooth margins, tending to bend downward towards the middle. The light violet to blue-violet flowers occur in small clusters on hairless flowering stems at the top of the plant. Underneath each inflorescence are 2 small bracts, each up to 3" long and less than ½" across. Each flower is about 1" across, with 3 rounded petals, 6 bright yellow anthers, and fine spidery violet hairs near the base. The flowers open up during the morning and close by the afternoon in sunny weather, but remain open longer on cloudy days. There is no floral scent.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, and lasts about 1½ months, during which time only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. The mature seed capsules split into 3 sections, each capsule releasing 3-6 oval to oblong, brown seeds. The root system is thick, fleshy, and fibrous, sending off occasional offshoots nearby.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to slightly dry conditions. The soil can contain loam, clay, gravel, or sand – this plant is very adaptable. Sometimes the leaves develop brown blotches or turn yellow in response to harsh weather conditions, competition from other plants, or age.
Range & Habitat: The native Ohio Spiderwort is a common plant throughout Illinois, except in the SE, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). It is often found in moist to mesic black soil prairies and sand prairies. Other habitats include sandy black oak savannas, Bur Oak savannas, limestone glades, thickets and woodland borders, moist meadows near woods or rivers, roadside ditches, and areas along railroads (including the ballast). Plants are usually widely scattered, but sometimes appear in sizable colonies in disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The most important pollinators of the flowers are long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees. Other visitors include Halictine bees and Syrphid flies. However, the Syrphid flies feed on stray pollen and are non-pollinating. Spiderwort is rarely bothered by insects, although Lema collaris (Leaf Beetle sp.) reportedly feeds on the foliage. Mammalian herbivores also eat the plant, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, Box Turtles, and livestock. The foliage is non-toxic to these animals.
Photographic Location: The close-up photograph of the flowers was taken along a railroad in Champaign, Illinois, while the photographs of the flowering plant and close-up of the stem were taken at the wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois. Ohio Spiderwort is more resistant to the application of herbicides along railroads than most plants, which is one reason why it remains common in such areas.
Comments: This is probably the most common Spiderwort in Illinois. The flowers are short-lived, but beautiful, particularly when they are viewed close-up. Ohio Spiderwort can be readily distinguished from Virginia Spiderwort by the absence of conspicuous hairs on the flowering stems near the inflorescence, and the greyish or bluish appearance of the thin leaves. It also tends to be taller and more spindly in appearance than other species of Spiderwort, and has smaller bracts subtending the inflorescence. The leaves and stems are reported to be edible – fresh or cooked.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, and lasts about 1½ months, during which time only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. The mature seed capsules split into 3 sections, each capsule releasing 3-6 oval to oblong, brown seeds. The root system is thick, fleshy, and fibrous, sending off occasional offshoots nearby.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to slightly dry conditions. The soil can contain loam, clay, gravel, or sand – this plant is very adaptable. Sometimes the leaves develop brown blotches or turn yellow in response to harsh weather conditions, competition from other plants, or age.
Range & Habitat: The native Ohio Spiderwort is a common plant throughout Illinois, except in the SE, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). It is often found in moist to mesic black soil prairies and sand prairies. Other habitats include sandy black oak savannas, Bur Oak savannas, limestone glades, thickets and woodland borders, moist meadows near woods or rivers, roadside ditches, and areas along railroads (including the ballast). Plants are usually widely scattered, but sometimes appear in sizable colonies in disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The most important pollinators of the flowers are long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees. Other visitors include Halictine bees and Syrphid flies. However, the Syrphid flies feed on stray pollen and are non-pollinating. Spiderwort is rarely bothered by insects, although Lema collaris (Leaf Beetle sp.) reportedly feeds on the foliage. Mammalian herbivores also eat the plant, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, Box Turtles, and livestock. The foliage is non-toxic to these animals.
Photographic Location: The close-up photograph of the flowers was taken along a railroad in Champaign, Illinois, while the photographs of the flowering plant and close-up of the stem were taken at the wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois. Ohio Spiderwort is more resistant to the application of herbicides along railroads than most plants, which is one reason why it remains common in such areas.
Comments: This is probably the most common Spiderwort in Illinois. The flowers are short-lived, but beautiful, particularly when they are viewed close-up. Ohio Spiderwort can be readily distinguished from Virginia Spiderwort by the absence of conspicuous hairs on the flowering stems near the inflorescence, and the greyish or bluish appearance of the thin leaves. It also tends to be taller and more spindly in appearance than other species of Spiderwort, and has smaller bracts subtending the inflorescence. The leaves and stems are reported to be edible – fresh or cooked.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月25日
Description: This annual plant is about ½–2½' tall and unbranched. The central stem is round and has numerous white hairs. The opposite leaves are about 2" long and ¾" across. They are broadly lanceolate and sessile against the stem, with smooth margins and fine white hairs covering the upper and lower surfaces. Each of the upper leaves usually have two small lobes at the base, which resemble ears. The inflorescence consists of a spike of flowers in the upper half of the plant. These flowers are purple, pinkish purple, or lavender. Each tubular flower is about ¾" long, with 5 short lobes that flare outward. Sometimes there are purple dots inside the corolla. The reproductive parts consist of 4 stamens and 1 stigma near the upper inner surface of the corolla. Each flower is subtended by a large green calyx that is hairy and divided into 5 triangular parts. The blooming period occurs during late summer and lasts about 3 weeks. A fruit develops within each calyx that contains numerous small seeds. At this time, the entire plant becomes reddish brown. These seeds are probably distributed by the wind to some extent. The root system consists of a central taproot and secondary roots – the latter are often parasitic on the roots of other plants. However, in the absence of a suitable host, Ear-Leaved False Foxglove can meet its own needs adequately through photosynthesis.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and mesic conditions. This plant typically grows in rich, loamy soil. It appears to have few problems with disease. The seeds can be slow to germinate; it is possible that a heat treatment simulating the effects of a wildfire may be beneficial in this regard.
Range & Habitat: Ear-Leaved False Foxglove is a rare plant that occurs in scattered counties throughout most of Illinois, except the extreme south (see Distribution Map). It is a native plant that is state-listed as 'threatened.' Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, thickets containing grasses and occasional shrubs, savannas, woodland borders, abandoned fields, and areas along railroads (particularly where remnant prairies occur). This plant is found in both high quality habitats and somewhat disturbed areas. It is intolerant of frequent mowing or grazing; however an occasional wildfire may improve germination of the seeds, as well as reducing competition from shrubs and other kinds of plants.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees are the most important pollinators of the flowers, where they seek nectar. Other long-tongued bees also visit the flowers, including miner bees and leaf-cutting bees. Little information is available about this plant's relationship to mammalian herbivores; because the foliage is not known to be toxic, it is probably consumed by them occasionally.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the plant in flower was taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2009) at a nature preserve in Cook County, Illinois, while the lower photograph was taken by the webmaster at a prairie remnant along a railroad in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This wildflower is easy to identify because of the small basal lobes on some of its leaves. It is closely related to the purple-flowered Agalinis spp., which are also partially parasitic on other plants. In addition to its peculiar basal lobes, Ear-Leaved False Foxglove has wider leaves than the latter species.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and mesic conditions. This plant typically grows in rich, loamy soil. It appears to have few problems with disease. The seeds can be slow to germinate; it is possible that a heat treatment simulating the effects of a wildfire may be beneficial in this regard.
Range & Habitat: Ear-Leaved False Foxglove is a rare plant that occurs in scattered counties throughout most of Illinois, except the extreme south (see Distribution Map). It is a native plant that is state-listed as 'threatened.' Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, thickets containing grasses and occasional shrubs, savannas, woodland borders, abandoned fields, and areas along railroads (particularly where remnant prairies occur). This plant is found in both high quality habitats and somewhat disturbed areas. It is intolerant of frequent mowing or grazing; however an occasional wildfire may improve germination of the seeds, as well as reducing competition from shrubs and other kinds of plants.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees are the most important pollinators of the flowers, where they seek nectar. Other long-tongued bees also visit the flowers, including miner bees and leaf-cutting bees. Little information is available about this plant's relationship to mammalian herbivores; because the foliage is not known to be toxic, it is probably consumed by them occasionally.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the plant in flower was taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2009) at a nature preserve in Cook County, Illinois, while the lower photograph was taken by the webmaster at a prairie remnant along a railroad in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This wildflower is easy to identify because of the small basal lobes on some of its leaves. It is closely related to the purple-flowered Agalinis spp., which are also partially parasitic on other plants. In addition to its peculiar basal lobes, Ear-Leaved False Foxglove has wider leaves than the latter species.
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