文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月26日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 3-6' tall. It is largely unbranched below, but forms occasional side stems toward the apex. The stems have indistinct lines of white hairs, and are generally pubescent. The leaves are primarily opposite, although the upper leaves near the inflorescence sometimes alternate. These leaves are up to 7" long and 2½" across, with petioles up to 1" long. They are lanceolate, largely hairless, with coarse serration along the margins, and there are 5 veins that diverge from the base. These leaves tend to nod downward from their petioles, and are often dark green.
Inflorescence & Moths
The flat-topped inflorescence consists of numerous heads of white disk florets; there are no ray florets. Each flowerhead has about 12 disk florets. Each disk floret is about ¼" long, narrow and tubular, with 5 small triangular lobes at the top. There is also a long divided style that is white, which protrudes conspicuously from each floret. The blooming period occurs during late summer or early fall and lasts about a month. There is occasionally a mild floral scent. The small achenes develop flat tufts of hair and are dispersed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. This plant often forms colonies by means of these rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial or full sun and moist conditions. The soil should be loamy and high in organic matter. Lower leaves sometimes discolor and fall off during a drought, otherwise this plant is subject to few problems. The size of this plant is significantly affected by moisture levels.
Range & Habitat: The native Late Boneset occurs in nearly all counties of Illinois, except for possibly three counties in the north (see Distribution Map). This is a common plant. Habitats include moist black soil prairies, moist meadows near rivers, swamps, areas near drainage ditches, low-lying areas along railroads and roadsides, pastures, and abandoned fields. This plant is often near sources of water, or where the water table is not far below the land surface. It is more common in disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very popular with many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, small to medium-sized butterflies, skippers, moths, and beetles. Most of these insects seek nectar, although bees may collect pollen and beetles may feed on it. In the upper photograph, are two Ailanthus Webworm Moths sucking nectar from the flowers. The caterpillars of various moths can be found feeding on various parts of this and other Bonesets, including Haploa clymene (Clymene Moth; eats foliage), Phragmatobia lineata (Lined Ruby Tiger Moth; eats foliage), Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth; bores into roots), Schinia trifascia (Three-Lined Flower Moth; eats flowers and seed capsules). Mammalian herbivores rarely consume this plant because of the bitter foliage. In overgrazed pastures, Late Boneset often becomes more common because of reduced competition from other plants.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken along a drainage ditch in Judge Webber Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The delicate flowers of Late Boneset closely resemble the flowers of other Bonesets, such as Eupatorium altissimum (Tall Boneset) and Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset), in both color and structure. These Bonesets can be distinguished readily from each other by an examination and comparison of their leaves. Tall Boneset has leaves that are pubescent, more narrow, and less coarsely serrated than Late Boneset, while Common Boneset has leaves that wrap around the stem and are without petioles.
Inflorescence & Moths
The flat-topped inflorescence consists of numerous heads of white disk florets; there are no ray florets. Each flowerhead has about 12 disk florets. Each disk floret is about ¼" long, narrow and tubular, with 5 small triangular lobes at the top. There is also a long divided style that is white, which protrudes conspicuously from each floret. The blooming period occurs during late summer or early fall and lasts about a month. There is occasionally a mild floral scent. The small achenes develop flat tufts of hair and are dispersed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. This plant often forms colonies by means of these rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial or full sun and moist conditions. The soil should be loamy and high in organic matter. Lower leaves sometimes discolor and fall off during a drought, otherwise this plant is subject to few problems. The size of this plant is significantly affected by moisture levels.
Range & Habitat: The native Late Boneset occurs in nearly all counties of Illinois, except for possibly three counties in the north (see Distribution Map). This is a common plant. Habitats include moist black soil prairies, moist meadows near rivers, swamps, areas near drainage ditches, low-lying areas along railroads and roadsides, pastures, and abandoned fields. This plant is often near sources of water, or where the water table is not far below the land surface. It is more common in disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very popular with many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, small to medium-sized butterflies, skippers, moths, and beetles. Most of these insects seek nectar, although bees may collect pollen and beetles may feed on it. In the upper photograph, are two Ailanthus Webworm Moths sucking nectar from the flowers. The caterpillars of various moths can be found feeding on various parts of this and other Bonesets, including Haploa clymene (Clymene Moth; eats foliage), Phragmatobia lineata (Lined Ruby Tiger Moth; eats foliage), Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth; bores into roots), Schinia trifascia (Three-Lined Flower Moth; eats flowers and seed capsules). Mammalian herbivores rarely consume this plant because of the bitter foliage. In overgrazed pastures, Late Boneset often becomes more common because of reduced competition from other plants.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken along a drainage ditch in Judge Webber Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The delicate flowers of Late Boneset closely resemble the flowers of other Bonesets, such as Eupatorium altissimum (Tall Boneset) and Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset), in both color and structure. These Bonesets can be distinguished readily from each other by an examination and comparison of their leaves. Tall Boneset has leaves that are pubescent, more narrow, and less coarsely serrated than Late Boneset, while Common Boneset has leaves that wrap around the stem and are without petioles.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月26日
Description: This perennial plant is 3-4' tall and unbranched, except for the upper flowering stems. The stems are covered with white hairs. The opposite leaves are up to 5" long and 1" across, occasionally with small teeth along the margins. They are usually dark green, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, and pubescent. There are three conspicuous veins that run along the length of each leaf. The rather flat inflorescence consists of numerous heads of small white flowers and their buds. These flowers are dull white and individually only 1/8" (3 mm.) across. There is little or no floral scent. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall, and lasts about 1-1½ months. The achenes develop small tufts of white or light brown hair; they are dispersed by the wind. This plant may spread vegetatively through rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and mesic to dry conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, clay, or gravel; soil with a high pH is tolerated. Drought tolerance is good, although the plant may wilt. Tall Boneset is very easy to grow, and competes well against other plants. It is usually not affected by foliar disease.
Range & Habitat: The native Tall Boneset occurs in most of Illinois, except some southern counties (see Distribution Map). It is a common plant. Habitats include mesic to slightly dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, gravel prairies, savannas, thickets, openings in upland forests, dry banks of lakes, limestone glades, pastures and abandoned fields, fence rows, vacant lots, and areas along railroads. This plant favors disturbed areas, where it may form large colonies.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. Among these, wasps and flies are particularly common visitors. The wasp visitors include Paper wasps, Thread-Waisted wasps, bee wolves (Philanthus spp.), Scoliid wasps, Larrine wasps, Sand wasps, Spider wasps, and others. Fly visitors include Syrphid flies, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Muscid flies, and others. The caterpillars of several moths feed on various parts of Tall Boneset and closely related plants, including Haploa clymene (Clymene Moth), Phragmatobia lineata (Lined Ruby Tiger Moth), Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth; bores into roots), and Schinia trifascia (Three-Lined Flower Moth; eats flowers & seed capsules). Mammalian herbivores, including livestock, shun the bitter-tasting leaves of this plant; consequently, it tends to flourish in pastures.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a flower garden along a sidewalk in Urbana, Illinois, and in a vacant lot near the same city.
Comments: Tall Boneset often competes directly with Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod) in disturbed areas, although it prefers slightly drier areas. The two plants appear similar to each other prior to bloom, although the former has darker leaves. This plant provides some white color to a fall landscape that is often dominated by forbs with yellow flowers and the brown color of dried-out grasses. This is the easiest boneset to grow in dry sunny areas. Some people may mistake this plant for a weed, which it is to some extent.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and mesic to dry conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, clay, or gravel; soil with a high pH is tolerated. Drought tolerance is good, although the plant may wilt. Tall Boneset is very easy to grow, and competes well against other plants. It is usually not affected by foliar disease.
Range & Habitat: The native Tall Boneset occurs in most of Illinois, except some southern counties (see Distribution Map). It is a common plant. Habitats include mesic to slightly dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, gravel prairies, savannas, thickets, openings in upland forests, dry banks of lakes, limestone glades, pastures and abandoned fields, fence rows, vacant lots, and areas along railroads. This plant favors disturbed areas, where it may form large colonies.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. Among these, wasps and flies are particularly common visitors. The wasp visitors include Paper wasps, Thread-Waisted wasps, bee wolves (Philanthus spp.), Scoliid wasps, Larrine wasps, Sand wasps, Spider wasps, and others. Fly visitors include Syrphid flies, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Muscid flies, and others. The caterpillars of several moths feed on various parts of Tall Boneset and closely related plants, including Haploa clymene (Clymene Moth), Phragmatobia lineata (Lined Ruby Tiger Moth), Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth; bores into roots), and Schinia trifascia (Three-Lined Flower Moth; eats flowers & seed capsules). Mammalian herbivores, including livestock, shun the bitter-tasting leaves of this plant; consequently, it tends to flourish in pastures.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a flower garden along a sidewalk in Urbana, Illinois, and in a vacant lot near the same city.
Comments: Tall Boneset often competes directly with Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod) in disturbed areas, although it prefers slightly drier areas. The two plants appear similar to each other prior to bloom, although the former has darker leaves. This plant provides some white color to a fall landscape that is often dominated by forbs with yellow flowers and the brown color of dried-out grasses. This is the easiest boneset to grow in dry sunny areas. Some people may mistake this plant for a weed, which it is to some extent.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月25日
Description: This annual or biennial plant is erect and 1-3' tall. It is unbranched along the lower half, while forming lateral stems above that are ascending. The central stem is light green to purplish green and longitudinally grooved along its sides. This stem often has spreading white hairs toward its base, while above these hairs become shorter and more appressed. The lateral stems are similar to the central stem above, except they are less grooved. Alternate leaves are up to 4" long and 16 mm. (2/3") across, becoming smaller in size and more sparse as they ascend the stems. The lowest leaves are oblanceolate in shape with long petioles, while the middle to upper leaves are elliptic to linear-elliptic in shape and they are either sessile or their petioles are short (less than ¼" in length). Some of the larger leaves have sparse coarse teeth along their outer margins. The upper leaf surface is medium green and hairless (or nearly so), while the lower leaf surface is light-medium green and short-pubescent along the central vein. The petioles, when they are present, are light green and more or less pubescent; the petioles of lower leaves are sometimes narrowly winged. The central stem and lateral stems terminate in cymes of flowerheads that collectively span up to 10" across for large plants. Individual cymes are dichotomously branched and somewhat flat-headed; as they mature, these cymes become more open and loose.
Individual flowerheads span about ½" across and they have a daisy-like appearance. Each flowerhead has 40-100 ray florets that surround numerous disk florets. The petaloid rays of the former florets are usually white and linear in shape; sometimes these rays are pink- or purple-tinted. The corollas of the disk florets are yellow, narrowly tubular in shape, 5-lobed, and minute in size; they are densely bunched together. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are linear phyllaries (floral bracts) in 1-2 series. These phyllaries are light green, short-pubescent, and about 3 mm. in length. The branches of cymes and the peduncles of flowerheads are similar in appearance to the lateral stems. The branches of cymes have solitary leafy bracts where they dichotomously divide. These leafy bracts are up to 1" long and linear-elliptic in shape. The peduncles of the flowerheads are up to 4" long. The blooming period occurs primarily from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1-2 months for a colony of plants. However, some plants may bloom later in the year. In warm sunny weather, the flowerheads may have a mild pleasant fragrance. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by small achenes that have small tufts of bristly hairs at their apices; they are distributed to some extent by the wind. The bodies of the achenes are about 1 mm. long, light brown, oblong-oblanceoloid in shape, slightly flattened, and short-hairy. The root system consists of a shallow branching taproot with secondary fibrous roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself, occasionally forming loose colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat alkaline soil containing clay or gravel. However, this plant can adapt to soil containing fertile loam if taller and more aggressive plants are kept away from it. After the blooming period, the foliage of this plant slowly withers away while releasing its seeds.
Range & Habitat: The native Daisy Fleabane is fairly common and it has been reported from almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include black soil prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, dry savannas, eroding clay banks, pastures and abandoned fields, areas along railroads, and roadsides. While Daisy Fleabane is a pioneer species that prefers areas with a history of disturbance, it is more likely to be found in higher quality natural areas than the closely related Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus).
Faunal Associations: Primarily small bees and flies visit the flowerheads for nectar or pollen, including little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp., Stelis spp.), mason bees (Heriades spp.), plasterer bees (Colletes spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Halictid cuckoo bees (Sphecodes spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombyliidae), Tachinid flies, flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), and Muscid flies (Robertson, 1929). Less common floral visitors include wasps, small butterflies, and beetles. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, flowerheads, roots, and plant juices of Daisy Fleabane and other fleabanes (Erigeron spp.). These species include a plant bug (Polymerus basalis), a leafhopper (Empoasca alboneura), the Erigeron Root Aphid (Aphis middletonii) and Leafcurl Plum Aphid (Brachycaudus helichrysi), larvae of the Lynx Flower Moth (Schinia lynx) and other moths, the Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper (Hesperotettix viridis) and other grasshoppers, and the Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus). For a more complete listing of these insects, see the Insect Table. Mammalian herbivores occasionally browse on the foliage and flowerheads of these plants. This includes deer, rabbits, groundhogs, sheep, and other livestock.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken of plants at an eroding clay bank along a road near Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) resembles Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus), but robust specimens of these two species are fairly easy to distinguish. Daisy Fleabane has fewer and more slender leaves than Annual Fleabane, and the hairs along its middle to upper stems are short and appressed, rather than long and spreading. Another species, Marsh Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus), differs by having slightly larger flowerheads with more ray florets (100-300), and wider leaves that clasp the stems. In addition, Marsh Fleabane has only spreading hairs along its stems. While the fleabanes (Erigeron spp.) are often dismissed as 'weeds' because of their ubiquitousness during the summer, they are actually rather attractive plants that are beneficial to many small insects that have important roles in the functioning of the ecological system. As pioneer species, fleabanes are also useful in providing early cover for exposed ground, thereby reducing soil erosion.
Individual flowerheads span about ½" across and they have a daisy-like appearance. Each flowerhead has 40-100 ray florets that surround numerous disk florets. The petaloid rays of the former florets are usually white and linear in shape; sometimes these rays are pink- or purple-tinted. The corollas of the disk florets are yellow, narrowly tubular in shape, 5-lobed, and minute in size; they are densely bunched together. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are linear phyllaries (floral bracts) in 1-2 series. These phyllaries are light green, short-pubescent, and about 3 mm. in length. The branches of cymes and the peduncles of flowerheads are similar in appearance to the lateral stems. The branches of cymes have solitary leafy bracts where they dichotomously divide. These leafy bracts are up to 1" long and linear-elliptic in shape. The peduncles of the flowerheads are up to 4" long. The blooming period occurs primarily from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1-2 months for a colony of plants. However, some plants may bloom later in the year. In warm sunny weather, the flowerheads may have a mild pleasant fragrance. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by small achenes that have small tufts of bristly hairs at their apices; they are distributed to some extent by the wind. The bodies of the achenes are about 1 mm. long, light brown, oblong-oblanceoloid in shape, slightly flattened, and short-hairy. The root system consists of a shallow branching taproot with secondary fibrous roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself, occasionally forming loose colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat alkaline soil containing clay or gravel. However, this plant can adapt to soil containing fertile loam if taller and more aggressive plants are kept away from it. After the blooming period, the foliage of this plant slowly withers away while releasing its seeds.
Range & Habitat: The native Daisy Fleabane is fairly common and it has been reported from almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include black soil prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, dry savannas, eroding clay banks, pastures and abandoned fields, areas along railroads, and roadsides. While Daisy Fleabane is a pioneer species that prefers areas with a history of disturbance, it is more likely to be found in higher quality natural areas than the closely related Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus).
Faunal Associations: Primarily small bees and flies visit the flowerheads for nectar or pollen, including little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp., Stelis spp.), mason bees (Heriades spp.), plasterer bees (Colletes spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Halictid cuckoo bees (Sphecodes spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombyliidae), Tachinid flies, flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), and Muscid flies (Robertson, 1929). Less common floral visitors include wasps, small butterflies, and beetles. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, flowerheads, roots, and plant juices of Daisy Fleabane and other fleabanes (Erigeron spp.). These species include a plant bug (Polymerus basalis), a leafhopper (Empoasca alboneura), the Erigeron Root Aphid (Aphis middletonii) and Leafcurl Plum Aphid (Brachycaudus helichrysi), larvae of the Lynx Flower Moth (Schinia lynx) and other moths, the Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper (Hesperotettix viridis) and other grasshoppers, and the Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus). For a more complete listing of these insects, see the Insect Table. Mammalian herbivores occasionally browse on the foliage and flowerheads of these plants. This includes deer, rabbits, groundhogs, sheep, and other livestock.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken of plants at an eroding clay bank along a road near Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) resembles Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus), but robust specimens of these two species are fairly easy to distinguish. Daisy Fleabane has fewer and more slender leaves than Annual Fleabane, and the hairs along its middle to upper stems are short and appressed, rather than long and spreading. Another species, Marsh Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus), differs by having slightly larger flowerheads with more ray florets (100-300), and wider leaves that clasp the stems. In addition, Marsh Fleabane has only spreading hairs along its stems. While the fleabanes (Erigeron spp.) are often dismissed as 'weeds' because of their ubiquitousness during the summer, they are actually rather attractive plants that are beneficial to many small insects that have important roles in the functioning of the ecological system. As pioneer species, fleabanes are also useful in providing early cover for exposed ground, thereby reducing soil erosion.
1
1
Miss Chen：@bell stefani You can search for the name of the plant.：）
bell stefani：hi Miss Chen lovely article! I have a question off topic, I'm new and how do I find the articles I have favorited? sorry for the random question! hope you have a great evening, thanks :)
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月25日
Description: This is a perennial plant up to 3½' tall that branches occasionally. The light green stems have small purple streaks and scattered white hairs. The alternate or opposite leaves are up to 6" long and 3" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate in shape and their margins have widely spaced teeth (or less often, they lack teeth). The upper leaf surface is olive or dark green with minute appressed hairs. The petioles are short and slightly winged.
Upper stems terminate in individual flowerheads spanning about 2½-4" across. These flowerheads have long naked peduncles (flowering stalks) up to 8" long; the peduncles have scattered hairs like the stems. Each daisy-like flowerhead has 10-20 ray florets that surround a large central cone of numerous disk florets. The central cone is yellowish brown to reddish brown, somewhat flattened, and very prickly. The petaloid rays are purple, narrowly oblong, and they tend to droop downward with age. Around the base of each flowerhead, there are numerous floral bracts (phyllaries) that are arranged in several layers. These bracts are green, hairy, and narrowly lanceolate, becoming recurved when the flowerhead blooms. The blooming period begins in mid-summer and lasts about a month, after which there is a temporary dormancy. Later, some plants may bloom again during the early fall. In bright sunlight, the flowerheads are mildly fragrant. Afterwards, the disk florets are replaced by dark achenes that are narrow and flat; they lack tufts of hair. At this time, the seedhead is prickly and dark-colored. The root system is fibrous and short-rhizomatous. Small dense colonies of plants may form from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun and moist to mesic conditions. Growth is best in fertile loam, but the soil can contain some gravel or clay. Foliar disease is rarely troublesome. While there is some drought resistance, the entire plant will wilt if the soil becomes too dry, particularly in strong sunlight. This plant is very easy to grow if the preceding requirements are met.
Range & Habitat: The native Purple Coneflower occurs primarily in central and NE Illinois, and a few counties in southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). While often grown in gardens around homes and businesses, it is an uncommon plant in the wild. However, Purple Coneflower is often used in prairie restorations, where it may be locally common. Some populations, particularly in the Chicago area, are probably plants that have escaped from cultivation. Habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, edges and openings in woodlands, savannas, thickets, and limestone glades.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, bee flies, Halictid bees, butterflies, and skippers. Among long-tongued bees, are such visitors as honeybees, bumblebees, digger bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Butterfly visitors include Monarchs, Fritillaries, Painted Ladies, Swallowtails, Sulfurs, and Whites. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the foliage, while the caterpillars of several moths feed on the flowerheads. These latter species include Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Blackberry Looper), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia), Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald), and Homoeosoma electella (Sunflower Moth). A small songbird, the Eastern Goldfinch, occasionally eats the seeds during the summer and early fall.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and the webmaster's wildflower garden in the same city.
Comments: This is a striking plant when it is in full bloom, as the flowers are large and colorful. There is a cultivated form, called 'White Swan,' that is often grown in flower gardens, but plants with white petaloid rays are very rare in the wild. Purple Coneflower seems to attract more than its fair share of butterflies, particularly in sunny, sheltered areas. It can be distinguished from the similar Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower) by its broader leaves, bushier habit, and later blooming period.
Upper stems terminate in individual flowerheads spanning about 2½-4" across. These flowerheads have long naked peduncles (flowering stalks) up to 8" long; the peduncles have scattered hairs like the stems. Each daisy-like flowerhead has 10-20 ray florets that surround a large central cone of numerous disk florets. The central cone is yellowish brown to reddish brown, somewhat flattened, and very prickly. The petaloid rays are purple, narrowly oblong, and they tend to droop downward with age. Around the base of each flowerhead, there are numerous floral bracts (phyllaries) that are arranged in several layers. These bracts are green, hairy, and narrowly lanceolate, becoming recurved when the flowerhead blooms. The blooming period begins in mid-summer and lasts about a month, after which there is a temporary dormancy. Later, some plants may bloom again during the early fall. In bright sunlight, the flowerheads are mildly fragrant. Afterwards, the disk florets are replaced by dark achenes that are narrow and flat; they lack tufts of hair. At this time, the seedhead is prickly and dark-colored. The root system is fibrous and short-rhizomatous. Small dense colonies of plants may form from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun and moist to mesic conditions. Growth is best in fertile loam, but the soil can contain some gravel or clay. Foliar disease is rarely troublesome. While there is some drought resistance, the entire plant will wilt if the soil becomes too dry, particularly in strong sunlight. This plant is very easy to grow if the preceding requirements are met.
Range & Habitat: The native Purple Coneflower occurs primarily in central and NE Illinois, and a few counties in southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). While often grown in gardens around homes and businesses, it is an uncommon plant in the wild. However, Purple Coneflower is often used in prairie restorations, where it may be locally common. Some populations, particularly in the Chicago area, are probably plants that have escaped from cultivation. Habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, edges and openings in woodlands, savannas, thickets, and limestone glades.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, bee flies, Halictid bees, butterflies, and skippers. Among long-tongued bees, are such visitors as honeybees, bumblebees, digger bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Butterfly visitors include Monarchs, Fritillaries, Painted Ladies, Swallowtails, Sulfurs, and Whites. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the foliage, while the caterpillars of several moths feed on the flowerheads. These latter species include Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Blackberry Looper), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia), Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald), and Homoeosoma electella (Sunflower Moth). A small songbird, the Eastern Goldfinch, occasionally eats the seeds during the summer and early fall.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and the webmaster's wildflower garden in the same city.
Comments: This is a striking plant when it is in full bloom, as the flowers are large and colorful. There is a cultivated form, called 'White Swan,' that is often grown in flower gardens, but plants with white petaloid rays are very rare in the wild. Purple Coneflower seems to attract more than its fair share of butterflies, particularly in sunny, sheltered areas. It can be distinguished from the similar Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower) by its broader leaves, bushier habit, and later blooming period.
1
1
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月25日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1-3' tall and unbranched. The central stem is light green, terete, and glabrous to sparsely covered with appressed-ascending hairs. Alternate leaves occur along each stem, their blades becoming significantly shorter as they ascend; the upper leaf blades are ascending, while the lower leaf blades are widely spreading to arching. The leaf blades are 2-12" long and ¼–¾" across; they are linear to narrowly elliptic in shape and entire (toothless) along their margins. In addition, their margins are usually minutely ciliate, otherwise they are glabrous. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blades are medium green and glabrous (or nearly so). The primary veins of leaf blades are parallel. The lower to middle leaves have narrow petioles that are up to 6" long, while the upper leaves are sessile or they clasp the central stem.
The central stem terminates in a solitary flowerhead on a long naked peduncle that is more or less erect. The peduncle is typically 4-12" long and its characteristics are similar to those of the central stem. Each flowerhead is about 2–2½" across, consisting of 10-30 ray florets that surround a central head of numerous disk florets. The central head is dark reddish brown to nearly black, dome-shaped to nearly globoid, and prickly in both appearance and touch from the hardened scales of its receptacle. The disk florets are up to ¼" (6 mm.) in length, narrowly tubular in shape, and 5-lobed. The petaloid rays of the flowerhead are yellow, narrowly oblong in shape, and descending. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. Afterwards, the disk and ray florets are replaced by achenes. These achenes are 4-5 mm. long, narrowly oblongoid-angular in shape, tan to brown, and glabrous; their apices may have a crown of up to 4 minute teeth each. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and rocky soil. However, in cultivation it will adapt to most soil types if they are well-drained.
Range & Habitat: Currently there are no records of Ozark Coneflower naturalizing in Illinois, i.e., persisting in the wild for more than one year (see Distribution Map). However, the webmaster observed a single plant of this species (the typical variety) growing wild in an upland prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, that persisted and flowered for a single year. Because Ozark Coneflower is occasionally cultivated in gardens, there exists the possibility that it could escape and naturalize within the state. The typical variety of this species, as described here, is endemic to Missouri and Arkansas, where it is found in such habitats as rocky prairies, hill prairies, glades, and bald knobs. This is regarded as a conservative species that is found in high quality natural areas where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is rather limited. The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract various insects, especially long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers. According to Covell (1984/2005), the caterpillars of some Geometer moths feed on the florets of coneflowers (Echinacea spp., Rudbeckia spp.) in the Aster family, including Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Blackberry Looper Moth), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug), and Synchlora aerata (Wavy-lined Emerald). Various grasshoppers feed on the foliage of Ozark Coneflower, although the presence of the Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) near brush piles reduces the extent of the damage that these insects cause (Van Zandt et al., 2005). During late summer to early autumn, the Eastern Goldfinch eats the seeds of Ozark Coneflower and other Echinacea spp.
Photographic Location: A flower garden at the Arboretum of the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Ozark Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa paradoxa) can be distinguished from other coneflowers in the Echinacea genus by its yellow petaloid rays – all of the others have pink, light purple, purple, or white petaloid rays. The other variety of this coneflower, Bush's Purple Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa neglecta), differs from the typical variety by having pink, light purple, or white petaloid rays and its achenes are at least partially hairy, rather than glabrous. This latter variety is endemic to Oklahoma and Texas. Ozark Coneflower superficially resembles Missouri Coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis), but the leaves and stems of the latter species are more hairy, its petaloid rays are widely spreading rather than drooping, and the head of its compound flower is relatively smooth, rather than prickly.
The central stem terminates in a solitary flowerhead on a long naked peduncle that is more or less erect. The peduncle is typically 4-12" long and its characteristics are similar to those of the central stem. Each flowerhead is about 2–2½" across, consisting of 10-30 ray florets that surround a central head of numerous disk florets. The central head is dark reddish brown to nearly black, dome-shaped to nearly globoid, and prickly in both appearance and touch from the hardened scales of its receptacle. The disk florets are up to ¼" (6 mm.) in length, narrowly tubular in shape, and 5-lobed. The petaloid rays of the flowerhead are yellow, narrowly oblong in shape, and descending. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. Afterwards, the disk and ray florets are replaced by achenes. These achenes are 4-5 mm. long, narrowly oblongoid-angular in shape, tan to brown, and glabrous; their apices may have a crown of up to 4 minute teeth each. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and rocky soil. However, in cultivation it will adapt to most soil types if they are well-drained.
Range & Habitat: Currently there are no records of Ozark Coneflower naturalizing in Illinois, i.e., persisting in the wild for more than one year (see Distribution Map). However, the webmaster observed a single plant of this species (the typical variety) growing wild in an upland prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, that persisted and flowered for a single year. Because Ozark Coneflower is occasionally cultivated in gardens, there exists the possibility that it could escape and naturalize within the state. The typical variety of this species, as described here, is endemic to Missouri and Arkansas, where it is found in such habitats as rocky prairies, hill prairies, glades, and bald knobs. This is regarded as a conservative species that is found in high quality natural areas where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is rather limited. The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract various insects, especially long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers. According to Covell (1984/2005), the caterpillars of some Geometer moths feed on the florets of coneflowers (Echinacea spp., Rudbeckia spp.) in the Aster family, including Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Blackberry Looper Moth), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug), and Synchlora aerata (Wavy-lined Emerald). Various grasshoppers feed on the foliage of Ozark Coneflower, although the presence of the Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) near brush piles reduces the extent of the damage that these insects cause (Van Zandt et al., 2005). During late summer to early autumn, the Eastern Goldfinch eats the seeds of Ozark Coneflower and other Echinacea spp.
Photographic Location: A flower garden at the Arboretum of the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Ozark Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa paradoxa) can be distinguished from other coneflowers in the Echinacea genus by its yellow petaloid rays – all of the others have pink, light purple, purple, or white petaloid rays. The other variety of this coneflower, Bush's Purple Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa neglecta), differs from the typical variety by having pink, light purple, or white petaloid rays and its achenes are at least partially hairy, rather than glabrous. This latter variety is endemic to Oklahoma and Texas. Ozark Coneflower superficially resembles Missouri Coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis), but the leaves and stems of the latter species are more hairy, its petaloid rays are widely spreading rather than drooping, and the head of its compound flower is relatively smooth, rather than prickly.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月25日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is up to 3' tall and unbranched. The stout central stem is greyish or reddish green and covered with coarse white hairs. Most of the leaves occur near the base of the plant, although a few of them alternate along the lower 1/3 of the stem. They are up to 9" long and 2" across, and narrowly lanceolate, oblanceolate, or ovate. The margins are smooth, but often curl upward, while the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are covered with fine white hairs. Leaf venation is primarily parallel, although a few fine pinnate veins may be present.
A single daisy-like composite flower develops at the top of the stem. It is about 3" across, consisting of a prominent reddish brown cone of disk florets, which are surrounded by 12-20 light purple ray florets. The ray florets are long, slender, and droop downward. There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs during early summer and lasts about 3 weeks, after which the ray florets shrivel away and the central cone turns black. The achenes are without tufts of hair. The root system consists of a stout taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and average to dry conditions. The soil can contain loam, clay, or rocky material. There is a tendency for Pale Purple Coneflower to flop over when in bloom if it is pampered by too much water or lacks adequate support from adajacent vegetation. It doesn't seem to be bothered much by disease, and withstands drought very well. Development is slow unless ample sunlight is received. This plant can fail to survive the winter if the central taproot is not covered with sufficient soil.
Range & Habitat: Pale Purple Coneflower occurs occasionally throughout Illinois, except in some of the southern counties (see Distribution Map). It is native to Illinois. Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, openings in dry rocky woods, Oak savannas, limestone glades, abandoned fields, and open areas along railroads. It is possible that this plant occurred in gravel or dolomite prairies before these habitats were largely destroyed by development.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers are the most important visitors to the flowers. Among the long-tongued bees, are such visitors as bumblebees, Nomadine cuckoo bees, large carpenter bees, and leaf-cutting bees. Short-tongued green metallic bees and other Halictine bees also visit the flowers occasionally. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the foliage, while caterpillars of the moths Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald) and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia) feed on the flowerheads. Goldfinches occasionally eat the seeds. Mammalian herbivores, particularly livestock, may eat this plant occasionally, but it is not a preferred food source.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: This plant usually precedes Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) in bloom by about 2-4 weeks. Sometimes their flowers are difficult to tell apart, but the leaves of Pale Purple Coneflower are more long and narrow, hairier, lighter green, and tend to remain near the base of the plant.
A single daisy-like composite flower develops at the top of the stem. It is about 3" across, consisting of a prominent reddish brown cone of disk florets, which are surrounded by 12-20 light purple ray florets. The ray florets are long, slender, and droop downward. There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs during early summer and lasts about 3 weeks, after which the ray florets shrivel away and the central cone turns black. The achenes are without tufts of hair. The root system consists of a stout taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and average to dry conditions. The soil can contain loam, clay, or rocky material. There is a tendency for Pale Purple Coneflower to flop over when in bloom if it is pampered by too much water or lacks adequate support from adajacent vegetation. It doesn't seem to be bothered much by disease, and withstands drought very well. Development is slow unless ample sunlight is received. This plant can fail to survive the winter if the central taproot is not covered with sufficient soil.
Range & Habitat: Pale Purple Coneflower occurs occasionally throughout Illinois, except in some of the southern counties (see Distribution Map). It is native to Illinois. Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, openings in dry rocky woods, Oak savannas, limestone glades, abandoned fields, and open areas along railroads. It is possible that this plant occurred in gravel or dolomite prairies before these habitats were largely destroyed by development.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers are the most important visitors to the flowers. Among the long-tongued bees, are such visitors as bumblebees, Nomadine cuckoo bees, large carpenter bees, and leaf-cutting bees. Short-tongued green metallic bees and other Halictine bees also visit the flowers occasionally. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the foliage, while caterpillars of the moths Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald) and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia) feed on the flowerheads. Goldfinches occasionally eat the seeds. Mammalian herbivores, particularly livestock, may eat this plant occasionally, but it is not a preferred food source.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: This plant usually precedes Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) in bloom by about 2-4 weeks. Sometimes their flowers are difficult to tell apart, but the leaves of Pale Purple Coneflower are more long and narrow, hairier, lighter green, and tend to remain near the base of the plant.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月24日
Description: This perennial plant is unbranched, except slightly near the inflorescence, and up to 3' tall. The central stem is stout and covered with spreading white hairs. The pinnate compound leaves are also covered with white hairs, and consist of 3-11 leaflets. They are located primarily at the base of the plant, although a few small compound leaves alternate along the central stem above. Each leaflet is up to 3" long and 2" across, with the leaflets becoming larger toward the tip of the compound leaf (away from the stem). A leaflet is coarsely serrated along the margins, pinnately veined, and has an ovate or oblong shape (with blunt tips). The entire plant appears light or whitish green.
The inflorescence occurs as a tight cluster of the flowers at the apex of the plant, sometimes with smaller side clusters. A flower has 5 white petals, 5 light green sepals, 20 or more golden stamens, and a small golden reproductive structure in the center. It is about ¾" across and resembles the flower of a strawberry plant. There is no floral scent. The blooming period occurs during mid-summer and lasts about a month – only a few flowers are open at the same time. The small seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of a central taproot, and there are rhizomes that help to spread the plant, although it is not particularly aggressive.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and mesic to dry conditions. This plant is not particular about soil type, as long as the site is well-drained. In native habitats, it's often found in soil that contains some clay, rocky material, or sand. Drought tolerance is excellent, and foliar disease is rarely observed. This plant is easy to grow if the above requirements are met.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Cinquefoil occurs occasionally in the northern half of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, sand prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, Black Oak savannas, and abandoned pastures. Unlike some of its weedy relatives, this plant is normally found in high quality habitats, rather than disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are visited primarily by small bees and flies. This includes Little Carpenter bees, Halictine bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Wasps and small butterflies are less common visitors. The larvae of a Gall Wasp (Gonaspis sp.) forms galls on the stems. The leaves and stems are occasionally eaten by some mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits and livestock, but it is a minor food source.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and at a prairie of Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: This rather ordinary-looking plant resembles Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil), an introduced plant, in its erect habit and overall appearance. However, Prairie Cinquefoil has white or cream flowers and hairy pinnate leaves, while Sulfur Cinquefoil has light yellow flowers and less hairy palmate leaves. An older scientific name of Prairie Cinquefoil is Potentilla arguta. When ultra-blue light is made visible through a special filter, patterns are revealed in the flowers of many cinquefoils (Potentilla spp.) that are not apparent to the human eye, but perceptible by most pollinating insects. These ultra-violet reflecting patterns help the flowers stand out from the background, and may function as nectar guides. Thus, the flowers are colored a combination of either white or yellow with bee-blue.
The inflorescence occurs as a tight cluster of the flowers at the apex of the plant, sometimes with smaller side clusters. A flower has 5 white petals, 5 light green sepals, 20 or more golden stamens, and a small golden reproductive structure in the center. It is about ¾" across and resembles the flower of a strawberry plant. There is no floral scent. The blooming period occurs during mid-summer and lasts about a month – only a few flowers are open at the same time. The small seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of a central taproot, and there are rhizomes that help to spread the plant, although it is not particularly aggressive.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and mesic to dry conditions. This plant is not particular about soil type, as long as the site is well-drained. In native habitats, it's often found in soil that contains some clay, rocky material, or sand. Drought tolerance is excellent, and foliar disease is rarely observed. This plant is easy to grow if the above requirements are met.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Cinquefoil occurs occasionally in the northern half of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, sand prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, Black Oak savannas, and abandoned pastures. Unlike some of its weedy relatives, this plant is normally found in high quality habitats, rather than disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are visited primarily by small bees and flies. This includes Little Carpenter bees, Halictine bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Wasps and small butterflies are less common visitors. The larvae of a Gall Wasp (Gonaspis sp.) forms galls on the stems. The leaves and stems are occasionally eaten by some mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits and livestock, but it is a minor food source.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and at a prairie of Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: This rather ordinary-looking plant resembles Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil), an introduced plant, in its erect habit and overall appearance. However, Prairie Cinquefoil has white or cream flowers and hairy pinnate leaves, while Sulfur Cinquefoil has light yellow flowers and less hairy palmate leaves. An older scientific name of Prairie Cinquefoil is Potentilla arguta. When ultra-blue light is made visible through a special filter, patterns are revealed in the flowers of many cinquefoils (Potentilla spp.) that are not apparent to the human eye, but perceptible by most pollinating insects. These ultra-violet reflecting patterns help the flowers stand out from the background, and may function as nectar guides. Thus, the flowers are colored a combination of either white or yellow with bee-blue.
1
0
文章
Miss Chen
2017年12月24日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1½-3' tall, more or less erect, and either unbranched or sparingly so. The central stem is light green, terete, and hairy. Alternate trifoliate leaves occur along the entire length of this stem; they have short petioles (nearly sessile to ¼" in length) and leaflets that are 1-3" long and ¼-¾" across (at least 3 times longer than they are across). The leaflets are narrowly oblong to lanceolate-oblong and smooth along their margins; they are blunt at the tips and bases. The upper surface of the leaflets is dull green and sparsely covered with stiff appressed hairs, while the lower surface is pale green and hairy along the veins. At the base of each trifoliate leaf, there is a pair of small stipules that are linear-lanceolate; these soon wither away. The central stem (and any lateral stems) terminates in a narrow inflorescence about 6-12" long. This inflorescence is usually a simple raceme of flowers, although sometimes it is a sparingly branched panicle. The central stalk of thisRaceme inflorescence is light to medium green and hairy. Individual flowers are about ¼" across, consisting of 5 petals that are white, pink, or rose-pink, a short tubular calyx with 5 teeth, several stamens, and a pistil with a single style. The petals form an upper banner and 2 wings that enclose a keel; at the base of the banner, there is a patch of pale yellow. The hairy calyx varies from light green to purple. Each flower has a short slender pedicel up to ¼" long. The blooming period occurs during mid- to late summer and lasts about 3-4 weeks. Usually, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. There is no noticeable floral scent. The flowers are replaced by flattened seedpods called 'loments' that consist of 1-3 segments with convex upper and lower sides. The lower side of each segment is more convex that the upper side. The loments are pale green and covered with hooked hairs. The loments have a tendency to break apart into individual segments; each segment contains a single seed. The root system consists of a deep taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and sandy soil. However, this wildflower will tolerate partial sun and either loamy or rocky soil. The root system adds nitrogen to the soil via symbiotic bacteria.
Range & Habitat: The native Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil is occasional in southern, west-central, and NE Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry sand prairies and typical prairies, railroad prairies, dry sandy savannas and typical savannas, rocky open woodlands, limestone glades, and roadside embankments.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by long-tongued bees, which collect pollen. These floral visitors include bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), alkali bees (Nomia spp.), and others. Some insects feed on the foliage, flowers, or seeds of Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil and other species of this genus. This includes the caterpillars of several skippers, specifically: Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing). Other insect feeders include caterpillars of the butterflies Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak), caterpillars of the moths Hypena scabra (Green Cloverworm) and Grapholita fana (Chesire Cat Moth), leaf-mining larvae of the Buprestid beetles Pachyschelus confusus and Pachyschelus laevigatus, larvae of the seed weevil Apion decoloratum, the thrips Echinothrips americanus and Neohydatothrips desmodianus, and the aphid Microparsus variabilis. There are also several leaf beetles that feed on tick trefoil species, specifically: Anomoea laticlavia (Clay-colored Leaf Beetle), Bassareus lituratus, Cerotoma trifurcata (Bean Leaf Beetle), Colaspis brunnea (Grape Colaspis), Cryptocephalus insertus, Odontota dorsalis (Locust Leaf Miner), Pachybrachis nigricornis, Pachybrachis othonus, Phyllecthris dorsalis, and Saxinis omogera.
Some vertebrate animals also feed on these plants. Both the Bobwhite Quail and Wild Turkey eat the seeds, while the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, horses, cattle, and other mammalian herbivores readily consume the foliage. Because the hooked hairs of the loments can cling to clothing and fur, the seeds are distributed into new areas by humans and mammals.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil is one of the Desmodium spp. that is often found in prairies. It produces smaller and fewer flowers than another prairie species, Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick Trefoil). Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil can be distinguished from other species in this difficult genus by its more narrow leaflets (at least 3 times as long as across), very short petioles (¼" in length or less), and its narrow inflorescence (a simple raceme or sparingly branched panicle).
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and sandy soil. However, this wildflower will tolerate partial sun and either loamy or rocky soil. The root system adds nitrogen to the soil via symbiotic bacteria.
Range & Habitat: The native Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil is occasional in southern, west-central, and NE Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry sand prairies and typical prairies, railroad prairies, dry sandy savannas and typical savannas, rocky open woodlands, limestone glades, and roadside embankments.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by long-tongued bees, which collect pollen. These floral visitors include bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), alkali bees (Nomia spp.), and others. Some insects feed on the foliage, flowers, or seeds of Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil and other species of this genus. This includes the caterpillars of several skippers, specifically: Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing). Other insect feeders include caterpillars of the butterflies Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak), caterpillars of the moths Hypena scabra (Green Cloverworm) and Grapholita fana (Chesire Cat Moth), leaf-mining larvae of the Buprestid beetles Pachyschelus confusus and Pachyschelus laevigatus, larvae of the seed weevil Apion decoloratum, the thrips Echinothrips americanus and Neohydatothrips desmodianus, and the aphid Microparsus variabilis. There are also several leaf beetles that feed on tick trefoil species, specifically: Anomoea laticlavia (Clay-colored Leaf Beetle), Bassareus lituratus, Cerotoma trifurcata (Bean Leaf Beetle), Colaspis brunnea (Grape Colaspis), Cryptocephalus insertus, Odontota dorsalis (Locust Leaf Miner), Pachybrachis nigricornis, Pachybrachis othonus, Phyllecthris dorsalis, and Saxinis omogera.
Some vertebrate animals also feed on these plants. Both the Bobwhite Quail and Wild Turkey eat the seeds, while the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, horses, cattle, and other mammalian herbivores readily consume the foliage. Because the hooked hairs of the loments can cling to clothing and fur, the seeds are distributed into new areas by humans and mammals.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil is one of the Desmodium spp. that is often found in prairies. It produces smaller and fewer flowers than another prairie species, Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick Trefoil). Sessile-Leaved Tick Trefoil can be distinguished from other species in this difficult genus by its more narrow leaflets (at least 3 times as long as across), very short petioles (¼" in length or less), and its narrow inflorescence (a simple raceme or sparingly branched panicle).
0
0
