1第190页 - 绿手指 - 养花技巧、花生病了怎么办、花园打理和设计

BOTANICAL NAME: Rubus fruticosus
PLANT TYPE: Fruit
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Sandy
SOIL PH: Acidic
Basically, there are three types of blackberries: 1. erect thorny blackberries, 2. erect thornless blackberries, 3. trailing thornless blackberries. The erect blackberries are bushes that support themselves. The trailing blackberries have long canes that must be trellised for support.
All blackberries are perennials; the roots come back year after year. However, the top of the plant above the soil is what we call biennial. This means that the canes grow vegetatively for a year, bear fruit the next year, and then die. However, every year the plant sends up new canes to replace those that died! For a great fruit harvest and to avoid a messy plant, pruning is important.

PLANTING
Blackberries and hybrids are all self-fertile, so multiple plants are not needed for fruit production.
Select a site that receives full sun for the best berry yields.
Soil needs to be fertile with good drainage. Add organic content to enrichen your soil.
Make sure you plant your blackberries far away from wild blackberries that may carry viruses.
For semi-erect cultivars, space plants 5 to 6 feet apart. Space erect cultivars 3 feet apart. Space trailing varieties 5 to 8 feet apart. Space rows about 8 feet apart.
Plant shallowly: about one inch deeper than they were grown in the nursery.
Planting may be done in late fall, however, it should be delayed until early spring in very cold areas as low temperatures could kill some hybrids.

CARE
Mulching is important throughout the season to conserve moisture and suffocate weeds. Keep a thick layer of mulch surrounding plants at all times.
Blackberries require plenty of moisture, especially when growing and ripening. Ensure plants receive one inch of water per week and more in hot temperatures.
Blackberries benefit from fertilizing in early spring with an all-purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10, or a 16-16-8.
Trellis Trailing Blackberries
As mentioned above, trailing blackberries need a trellis or support. Explore a two-wire system, running a top wire at five to six feet with a second line 18 inches below the top wire. After the first year, there will be fruiting floricanes along the wires. Train the new primocanes into a narrow row below the fruiting canes. Directing all canes in one direction may make it simpler.
Pruning
We have provided detailed pruning information below, but do not be scared. The main idea is to simply remove the old canes that already bore fruit and let new ones take their place.
Trailing blackberries: After the fruit harvest period, the old fruiting (floricanes) are removed to the ground. However, unless there is a lot of disease, it’s best to delay removing the old fruiting canes until they have died back considerably. This allows the dying canes to move nutrients back into the crown and roots. After old fruiting canes are removed, train the primocanes up on the wires. Work with one or two canes at a time in a spiral around the trellis wires. Canes from adjacent plants may overlap a little. No pruning of primocanes is necessary.
In areas with low winter temperatures, leave the primocanes on the ground for the winter where they could be mulched for winter protection. In the spring, after danger of extreme cold has passed, train the old primocanes (now considered floricanes) up on the wires. Avoid working with the canes in cold weather, as they are more prone to breaking.
Erect blackberries produce stiff, shorter canes that come from the crown and from root suckering (often forming a hedgerow).
Erect blackberries benefit from summer pruning. Remove the top one to two inches of new primocanes when they are four feet tall. This causes the canes to branch, increasing next year’s yields. Plants will require several pruning sessions to tip each cane as it reaches the four foot height. Primocanes (suckers) that grow outside the hedgerow should be regularly removed.
In the winter, remove the dead floricanes (old fruiting canes) from the hedgerow. Also shorten the lateral branches to about 1½ to 2½ feet.
If you have primocane-fruiting erect blackberries, cut all canes off just above the ground in the late winter for the best fruit. In the summer, when the primocanes are 3½ feet tall, removed the top 6 inches. The primocanes will branch, thereby producing larger yields in the fall.
If you have semi-erect blackberries, they are easier to manage on a Double T Trellis. Install four-foot cross arms at the top of a six-foot post. Install a three-foot cross arm about two feet below the top line. String high-tensile wire down the rows, connecting to the cross arms.
Semi-erect berries need to be pruned in the summer. When the primocanes are five feet tall, remove the top two inches to encourage branching. Several pruning sessions will be required as canes reach the appropriate height. In the winter, remove the dead floricanes (old fruiting canes). Spread the primocanes (new floricanes) out along the trellis. Canes do not need to be shortened. However, they can be if they are difficult to train.

PESTS/DISEASES
Raspberry Borers
Fruit Worms
Gray Mold
Viruses
If your plant is suffering from the blackberry disease known as Raspberry Bushy Dwarf virus, the leaves will be have some bright yellow on them, and the leaves of the fruiting vines may have a bleached look in the summer. The disease known as Blackberry Calico will cause faint yellow blotches on the leaves of the plant.

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成长记

洁宝

我新添加了一棵“熊爪1”到我的“花园”

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成长记

洁宝

我新添加了一棵“静夜1”到我的“花园”

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Dummer. ゛☀

BOTANICAL NAME: Veronica
PLANT TYPE: Flower
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Loamy
FLOWER COLOR: BluePinkPurpleWhite
BLOOM TIME: SpringSummerFall
SPECIAL FEATURES: Attracts BirdsAttracts Butterflies
This attractive plant grows in clusters from 1 to 3 feet tall, and blooms from spring to autumn.
There is also a bushy ground cover variety (Veronica prostrata), which features dense clusters of flowers and grows to only about 10 inches tall.

PLANTING
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.
Plant in the spring. (Veronica can be sowed by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn, but most people start this perennial as a transplant from the nursery.)
Loosen the soil and mix in compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant’s container.
When placing the plant in the hole, ensure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
Water thoroughly.

CARE
Water in the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
Stake tall varieties.
Keep covered with a thin layer of compost, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture.
Deadhead to extend bloom time.
After the first killing frost, cut back stems to an inch or two above the soil line.
Divide perennials in autumn or spring every few years.

PESTS/DISEASES
Scale insects
Downy mildew
Powdery mildew
Rust
Leaf smut
Root rot

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- Nombre científico o latino: Rosa centifolia

- Nombre común o vulgar: Rosal romano, Rosal de cien hojas, Rosa aromática, Rosa de mayo, Rosa de Provenza

- Familia: Rosaceae (Rosáceas).

- Arbusto de 1 a 2 m de altura.

- Se usa en decoración de jardines como seto informal.

- Especie de hábito terrestre. Se le llega a encontrar en bosques de encino, pino o pino-encino.

- Se cultiva sobre todo en la región de Grasse, en el sur de Francia, y su perfume es parecido al de la Rosa gallica.

- Esta especie se reproducen en vivero, generalmente a través de varetas (estacas).

- La flor tiene diversos usos medicinales y en perfumería.

- Agua de Rosas Rojas:

- El agua de Rosas Rojas se obtiene de pétalos frescos de Rosa centifolia, entre otras especies de rosas, a través de un proceso de destilación simple.

- Se necesitan alrededor de 1.000 flores de la variedad seleccionada para producir 473 ml de agua de rosas de buena calidad. Este agua de rosas concentrado se diluye más tarde según se requiera.

- Usos del Agua de rosas:

- Se añade como condimento a platos dulces, flanes, natillas y helados. También actúa como medio para cualquier medicamento oral con sabor desagradable. El agua de rosas se utiliza como ambientador en habitaciones donde se reúne un gran número de gente.
- Es también un excelente tónico facial.

- Indicaciones del Agua de rosas:

- Destaca como tónico hepático y fortalecedor cardiaco, t ónico astringente, diaforético, afecciones menores de la piel.

MODO DE EMPLEO

- Para beber diluir al gusto una o dos cucharadas soperas en un litro de agua azucarada
- Para la piel usar directamente.

- Esencias para perfumes

- La Rosa centifolia de Grasse permite obtener una esencia absoluta a partir de un tratamiento por extracción de los disolventes volátiles.

- La recogida se efectúa desde el alba, flor a flor, lo más rápidamente posible. Es hacia las 8,30 horas cuando la flor es más rica en productos volátiles.

- Es preciso saber que cinco toneladas de flores se necesitan para obtener un solo kilo de esencia, lo que da un poco menos de un gramo de aceite esencial por hora.

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成长记

雨霖铃

勉强出1

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Description: This perennial wildflower is 1½–3' tall, producing one or more unbranched stems at the base that are erect to ascending. The stems are light green to reddish green and glabrous to densely pubescent. Along each stem, there are numerous alternate leaves that are ascending to widely spreading. Individual leaves are 2-6" long and 1/8-1/2" (3-12 mm.) across; they are linear to linear-lanceolate and smooth along their margins. Their upper surfaces are medium green and glabrous. The leaves often curve upward along their central veins. The petioles of the leaves are about ¼" long and light green. Globoid umbels of greenish white flowers about 1½-2" across develop from the axils of the middle to upper leaves (one umbel per leaf). Each umbel has 30-100 flowers on pedicels about ½-¾" long. The slender pedicels are light green and pubescent. Individual flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across and 1/4" (6 mm.) long. Each flower has 5 sepals, a corolla with 5 narrow lobes, 5 upright hoods without horns, and a short central column containing the reproductive organs. The lobes of the corolla hang downward from the face of the flower (pointing toward the center of the umbel). The lobes are mostly greenish white, although they become purplish toward their tips. The peduncles of the umbels are about 1-1½" long, light green, and pubescent. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about 2 months. Fertile flowers develop into follicles (seedpods that split open along one side) about 4-5" long and up to ½" across that are narrowly lanceoloid in shape. The surface of each follicle is canescent and smooth. Each follicle contain numerous seeds with tufts of white hair that are released to the wind at maturity. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun, moist to dry conditions, and sandy or gravelly soil. Soil containing loam or clay-loam is also tolerated.

Range & Habitat: Tall Green Milkweed is occasional throughout Illinois. It is a native herbaceous plant. Habitats include dry-mesic railroad prairies, sand prairies, rocky glades, edges of sandy wetlands, roadsides, pastures, and abandoned fields. This milkweed can be found in both high quality habitats and disturbed areas that are sunny.

Faunal Associations: The flowers of Tall Green Milkweed are cross-pollinated primarily by long-tongued bees and wasps. Bee visitors include honeybees, bumblebees, and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). To a lesser extent, the flowers also attract small butterflies and day-flying moths (e.g., Cisseps fulvicollis). These insects obtain nectar from the flowers. Milkweeds attract a special group of insects that are oligophagous on various parts of these plants. These insect feeders include caterpillars of the butterfly Danaus plexippus (Monarch) and caterpillars of the moths Cycnia inopinatus (Unexpected Cycnia), Cycnia tenera (Delicate Cycnia), and Euchaetes egle (Milkweed Tiger Moth). Some of these moths seem to prefer some Asclepias spp. over others. The larvae of some long-horned beetles bore through the stems and roots of milkweeds, specifically: Tetraopes tetrophthalmus (Red Milkweed Beetle), Tetraopes femoratus (Large Red Milkweed Beetle), and Tetraopes quinquemaculatus. This last species has been found on Tall Green Milkweed. When the follicles of milkweeds are present, the seeds are eaten by Lygaeus kalmii (Small Milkweed Bug) and Oncopeltus fasciatus (Large Milkweed Bug). Occasionally, aphids are found on the upper stems and leaf undersides; these species include Aphis asclepiadis, Myzocallis asclepiadis, Myzocallis punctatus, and Aphis nerii (Introduced Milkweed Aphid). Because the milky latex of the leaves and stems contain cardiac glycosides and possess a bitter flavor, they are usually avoided by mammalian herbivores. The White-Footed Mouse eats the seeds of milkweeds to a minor extent, while the Eastern Goldfinch uses the silky hairs of the seeds in the construction of its nests.

Photographic Location: A prairie in Fayette County, Illinois. The photograph of the flowering plant was taken by Keith & Patty Horn (Copyright © 2009). A caterpillar of the Monarch butterfly is conspicuous in this photo.

Comments: Tall Green Milkweed is one of the lesser known species of milkweed that is occasionally found in upland prairies. It is distinguished primarily by its greenish white umbels of flowers, lack of horns in the hoods of the flowers, and narrow alternate leaves. It also produces more umbels of flowers per plant than most milkweeds. Other milkweeds usually have opposite leaves. A somewhat similar species, Asclepias viridiflora (Short Green Milkweed), is a shorter plant with pairs of opposite leaves. It produces only 1-2 umbels of flowers that nod downward. Another similar species, Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed), is a smaller plant with whorls of grass-like leaves; these leaves are more narrow (filiform-linear) than those of Tall Green Milkweed.

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Description: This perennial plant becomes about 2-3' tall when it is mature, branching occasionally in the upper half. The stems are covered in a dense mat of short white hairs. The alternate leaves are up to 3½" long and 1" across. They are usually oblanceolate, narrowly ovate, or linear. The lower leaves may have a few lobes or coarse teeth towards their tips, while the upper leaves have smooth margins. Like the stems, the leaves have a dense mat of short white hairs, especially on the lower surface. This variety of White Sage has dense white hairs on the upper surface of the leaves as well, except for the oldest leaves toward the bottom of the plant. The leaves are sessile against the stem, or have short petioles. Some of the upper stems terminate in elongated spikes or narrow racemes of compound flowers. Each flowerhead is only 1/8" (3 mm.) across, and contains numerous whitish green disk florets that are inconspicuous. The blooming period is late summer to early fall, and lasts about 2-3 weeks. There is no floral scent, although the foliage of this plant is quite aromatic. Pollination is by wind, rather than insects. The tiny seeds are without tufts of hair, but are small enough to be distributed by the wind. The root system is rhizomatous, and can form a dense mat of roots near the surface of the ground. As a result, this plant has a strong tendency to form clonal colonies that exclude other plants.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun and dry conditions. Poor soil containing hardpan clay, rocky material, or sand is actually preferred as a medium for growth, as this reduces competition from other plants. The foliage is very attractive and doesn't have significant problems with disease. This plant can spread aggressively in some situations.

Range & Habitat: White Sage is occasional in northern and western Illinois, but rare or absent in other parts of the state (see Distribution Map). Some authorities think this plant is native to Illinois (e.g., Britton & Brown), while others believe it is adventive from the west (e.g., Mohlenbrock). It is usually found along railroads and roadsides, and sometimes in dry upland areas of prairies. Cultivated forms of this plant can be found in flower gardens because of the attractive foliage. If this plant is native, Illinois would be at the eastern boundary of its distribution.

Faunal Associations: The flowers don't attract insects because they are wind-pollinated. White Sage has the potential to cause allergies in humans because of this pollen, but this species isn't very common within the state. Several grasshopper species feed on the foliage of White Sage (see Grasshopper Table), including an uncommon oligolectic grasshopper, Hypochlora alba (Cudweed Grasshopper), which often feeds hides in the foliage during the day. Other insect feeders include Ophraella artemisiae (Leaf Beetle sp.), Macrosiphoniella ludovicianae (Aphid sp.), and the larvae of Phaneta argenticostana (Tortricid Moth sp.); the moth larvae feed on the seedheads. Mammalian herbivores don't consume this plant because the aromatic foliage has a bitter taste. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds.

Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, where a small colony of plants was located in a restored prairie. The plants were not in bloom.

Comments: This variety of White Sage has striking foliage. The typical variety, Artemisia ludoviciana ludoviciana, has greener foliage with fewer white hairs. The leaves of this latter variety are supposed to be broader and more likely to have lobes or serrated margins toward the leaf tips. However, the hairiness and shape of the leaves can be rather variable for this species, regardless of the variety. Other Artemisia spp. have foliage that is more green and pinnately lobed. A few species, such as the introduced Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort), have silvery hairs on the lower surface of the leaves, but their upper surface is predominantly green.

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Description: This perennial herbaceous plant is up to 1' tall, but more commonly ½' or less. It consists of a rosette of basal leaves, which sometimes produces an inflorescence on a short stalk during the spring. The basal leaves are up to 2" long and ½" across; they are oblanceolate, with smooth margins. There is a single prominent vein on the upper surface of each basal leaf, while the lower surface is white and hairy. There are small alternate leaves along the pubescent flowering stalk; they are narrowly lanceolate or linear.

At the top of each stalk, a plant produces a few flowerheads about 1/3" (8 mm.) long that are either staminate or pistillate. These flowerheads resemble compact tufts of white hair. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. The flowerheads are quickly replaced by achenes with small tufts of white hair, which are distributed by the wind. Field Pussytoes spread by means of horizontal stolons that are hairy and have small alternate leaves that are narrowly lanceolate or linear. These stolons develop plantlets that root in the ground, and resemble the mother plant. The root system consists of a central taproot. This plant often forms small colonies.

Cultivation: The preference is partial or full sun, and mesic to dry conditions. This plant flourishes in soil that is rocky or contains clay; it also grows readily in fertile loam. Most of the growth and development occurs during the spring, before pests and disease become troublesome.

Range & Habitat: The native Field Pussytoes occurs occasionally in northern and central Illinois; it is less common in southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, slopes of open woodlands, dry meadows in woodland areas, savannas, shale glades, eroded clay banks, pastures, abandoned fields, and roadsides. This plant is allelopathic, and tends to reduce the height of neighboring grasses and forbs. It is more commonly found in prairies than Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-leaved Pussytoes.

Faunal Associations: Some authorities state that this is primarily a wind-pollinated plant, while others emphasize the role of insects in promoting cross-pollination. Primarily small bees and flies visit the flowers, including Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, cuckoo bees (Nomada spp., Sphecodes spp.), Syrphid flies, Muscid flies, Calliphorid flies, and Tachinid flies (Graenicher, 1909). The caterpillars of a butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis (American Painted Lady), feed on the foliage (Bouseman & Sternburg, 2001). Other insect feeders that feed on the foliage and other parts of Field Pussytoes and other Antennaria spp. include the gall-forming larvae of two flies, Asphondylia antennariae (Everlasting Bud Midge) and Rhopalomyia antennariae, larvae of a moth, Tebenna gnaphaliella (Everlasting Tebenna Moth), a plant bug (Melanotrichus catulus), and an aphid (Pleotrichophorus antennarius); see Felt (1917), Needham et al. (1928), Wheeler et al. (1983), and Blackman & Eastop (2013). Among vertebrate animals, some upland gamebirds feed on the foliage and/or seedheads, including the Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, and Greater Prairie Chicken; White-tailed Deer also feed on these plants, especially during the spring (Martin et al., 1951/1961; Korschgen, 1962).

Photographic Location: The photograph of the colony of blooming plants (both staminate & pistillate) was taken along a roadside in Vermilion County; the photograph of the basal leaves was taken at Prospect Cemetery Prairie in Ford County, Illinois; the photograph of of the blooming pistillate plants was taken at an upland savanna of the Champaign County Forest Preserve in Champaign County, Illinois.

Comments: Field Pussytoes is similar to Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-Leaved Pussytoes), but the latter has wider basal leaves with 3 prominent parallel veins. These are both cute-looking little plants that could be grown in rock gardens; they are particularly attractive while blooming during the spring.

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Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 1-2' tall. The basal leaves occur in whorls from long stalks that emerge out of the ground. They are divided into 3-5 lobes and have dentate margins. From each whorl of the basal leaves often emerges a second whorl of leaves. These secondary leaves are smaller than the basal leaves, but otherwise similar in form. From each whorl of the secondary leaves emerges a long stalk bearing a single white flower. In less mature plants, sometimes the basal leaves produce flowering stalks, rather than whorls of secondary leaves. Sometimes there are small alternate leaves sparsely distributed along the flowering stalks, but they are more narrow and less lobed than the whorled lower leaves. There are scattered white hairs on both the leaves and their stalks. Each flower is about ¾" across, and has 5 petal-like sepals that often fail to open fully. In the center, is a small green cone that is surrounded by numerous stamens with yellow anthers. As the flower withers, the green cone develops into an elongated fruit that resembles a cylindrical green thimble up to 1½" long, hence the name of the plant. This thimble is at least twice as long as it is wide.

The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer and lasts about a month. There is no floral scent. The thimble-like fruits develop during the summer, and then become transformed into cottony tufts during the fall. These cottony tufts contain scattered dark seeds and persist during the winter. The seeds are distributed by the wind. The root system consists of a taproot and tough slender rhizomes, which can form vegetative offsets. This plant produces an allelopathic substance, protoanemonin, which inhibits seed germination and seedling growth of many species of plants.

Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and mesic to dry conditions in a rather sandy or gritty soil. In rich fertile soil, this plant has trouble competing with taller, more aggressive plants. Thimbleweed is often temperamental about being transplanted and difficult to start from seed; transplantation should occur during the spring after danger of hard frost has passed. Established plants, however, are reliable and easy to deal with. Foliar disease is rarely a problem.

Range & Habitat: The native Thimbleweed occurs occasionally in northern Illinois, it is scattered and uncommon in central Illinois, and rare or absent in southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland areas of black soil prairies, loess hill prairies, scrubby barrens, limestone glades, sandy Black Oak savannas, open sandy woodlands, abandoned fields, and open areas along roadsides. This plant is usually found in less disturbed habitats.

Faunal Associations: The abundant pollen of the flowers attract small bees and Syrphid flies. The bee visitors include Plasterer bees and Halictid bees. Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of this plant because the foliage is toxic, causing a burning sensation in the mouth and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.

Comments: This unusual plant has attractive thimble-shaped seedheads that later look like white tufts of cotton; otherwise, its appearance isn't particularly showy. Among the native anemones, Thimbleweed has the greatest fidelity to prairies and the best tolerance of drought (not including the Pasque Flower). It can be distinguished from other anemones by the cylindrical seedheads, which are at least twice as long as they are across. Unlike Anemone canadensis (Canada Anemone), Thimbleweed's leaves have petioles, whereas the leaves of the former are sessile. Thimbleweed's leaves differ from Anemone virginiana (Tall Anemone) by having less dentation along the margins, and some of its leaves are palmate.

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Description: This perennial plant is 1-3' tall, producing occasional side branches. Leadplant is usually semi-erect; in partially shaded situations, it will sprawl along the ground in the direction of greater lighter. With age, it becomes increasing woody, assuming that growth and development are not disrupted by occasional fires or browsing from animals. The young stems are light green and covered with white hairs. The compound leaves are whitish to greyish green, depending on the intensity of sunlight reaching the plant. Sometimes fine hairs cover the plant to the extent that it appears to be heavily dusted with white lead, hence its name. The compound leaves are bipinnate, 4-12" long, and may have up to 50 small leaflets, each about ½" long and ¼" wide. The small flowers occur along pubescent spikes, about 2-6" long, at the ends of major branches. These flowers range in color from light to dark purple. Each flower has a single upper petal, which is tubular at first, but later unfolds horizontally to protect the reproductive parts. There are also 8 exerted reddish stamens with bright yellow anthers that are quite conspicuous. There is little or no floral scent. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer and lasts about 3 weeks. The central root occasionally branches, and can extend 15 ft. or more into the soil.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun and average to dry soil. Leadplant is not particular about soil type, and it will flourish in loamy, sandy, gravelly, or clay soil. This plant adds nitrogen to the soil. Partial sun is tolerated, but it will flower less abundantly and have a tendency to sprawl. Leadplant is easy to grow, but slow to develop – flowers may not appear for at least 3 years. A wire fence or cage may be necessary to protect young plants from rabbits and other herbivores.

Range & Habitat: The native Leadplant occurs primarily in the northern two-thirds of Illinois, where it is occasional. In southern Illinois, this plant is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, sand prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, and Black Oak savannas. The presence of Leadplant is a sign of high quality habitat. Because of its deep roots, recovery from fire is very good.

Faunal Associations: The flowers of Leadplant attract long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, and wasps primarily. Among the bees are such visitors as bumblebees, Leaf-Cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Green Metallic bees, and Plasterer bees (Colletes spp.); the Andrenid bee, Andrena quintilis, is an oligolege of Leadplant. The caterpillars of Colias cesonia (Dogface Sulfur) eat the foliage occasionally, but this butterfly often fails to overwinter successfully in Illinois. Other insects that feed on the foliage or flowers of Leadplant include grasshoppers (see Grasshopper Table), caterpillars of moths (see Moth Table), various beetles (see Beetle Table), the plant bug Psallus amorphae, and the leafhopper Scaphytopius cinereus. Many of these insects are an important source of food to insectivorous birds and other animals. Mammalian herbivores, such as deer, rabbits, and livestock, are very fond of this plant. It is high in protein and quite palatable. This can make Leadplant difficult to establish in areas where these animals are abundant.

Photographic Location: Photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.

Comments: This is a true prairie plant.

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Description: This perennial plant is usually 1-2' tall, but sometimes it becomes considerably higher; this plant often branches in the upper half. The stems are are pale green, terete, and pubescent-hairy; they have vertical lines of fine hairs. Both alternate and opposite leaves occur along the length of the central stem. The leaves are up to 5" long and 2" across; they are lanceolate in outline, but their structure is primarily simple-pinnate (although some leaves may be double-pinnate with secondary lobes that are few in number and small in size). The primary lobes are narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate in shape and shallow to moderately deep, tapering to blunt narrow tips; the sinuses between the lobes are either flat or concave. Depending on the local ecotype, these lobes are widely spaced along the leaf margins, or they are more abundant and crowded. The leaf margins are toothless or nearly so, and they are either flat or somewhat elevated. Both the upper and lower leaf surfaces are grayish green or whitish green and more or less covered with short fine pubescence.

Western Ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) is monoecious, producing spike-like racemes of staminate (male) florets from the upper stems, while cyme-like clusters of pistillate (female) florets are produced below. The staminate racemes are 1-4" in length (becoming longer as they mature), cylindrical in outline, and whitish to yellowish green. The staminate flowerheads are produced along the entire length of their racemes, facing in all directions. Each staminate flowerhead spans 2-5 mm. across, becoming short-campanulate (short bell-shaped) during the blooming period. Each staminate flowerhead has 3-5 phyllaries (floral bracts) that are broadly ovate and pubescent; they are arranged in a single series and joined together along their lower halves. The interior of each staminate flowerhead has 4 or more staminate florets; these florets have stamens with yellow anthers. The peduncles of staminate flowerheads are 1-4 mm. long and pubescent; these flowerheads often droop from their short peduncles. Underneath a cluster of pistillate flowerheads there is a leafy outer bract up to 1¼" long. In addition, pairs of smaller outer bracts are located immediately below individual pistillate flowerheads. Each pistillate flowerhead has a cup-shaped involucre about 8 mm. long and 3 mm. across that has several tooth-like projections; this involucre consists of fused phyllaries (floral bracts) and it is pubescent. The interior of this flowerhead contains a single pistillate floret. The blooming period can occur from mid-summer to autumn, lasting about 1-3 weeks for a colony of plants. The florets are cross-pollinated by the wind. Afterwards, the pistillate florets are replaced by achenes. Mature achenes are 2.5–4 mm. long, dark brown, and obovoid in shape; each achene usually has a short beak at its apex and about 4 tiny tubercles around the edge of its upper margin. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. This plant often forms clonal colonies of varying size from its rhizomes.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and poor soil. Although this plant can grow perfectly well in moist fertile soil, in Illinois it is usually found on drier soil that contains significant amounts of clay, sand, or gravelly material, as this reduces competition from other ground vegetation. This plant is easy to grow, but it can become aggressive in situations that are well-drained and sunny. It doesn't appear to be bothered much by foliar disease.

Range & Habitat: Western Ragweed occurs occasionally in northern and western Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). It is unclear if this plant is adventive from the west, or native to Illinois. Habitats include upland areas of prairies, old cemeteries, areas along railroads, roadsides, abandoned fields, pastures, and barren waste areas. Western Ragweed is more common in disturbed areas, especially if the soil contains clay, sand, or gravel. Sometimes this plant is used in prairie restorations, or it shows up unexpectedly in prairie restorations as a result of contaminated seed.

Faunal Associations: The flowers are wind-pollinated and rarely attract pollen- or nectar-seeking insects. Caterpillars of the Common Pinkband (Ogdoconta cinereola), Ragweed Flower Moth (Schinia rivulosa), and other moths feed on Western Ragweed and other ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.); see the Moth Table) for a listing of these species. Such grasshoppers as the Little Pasture Grasshopper (Melanoplus confusus), Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum), and Migratory Grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes) feed on the foliage of Western Ragweed (see Grasshopper Table). These grasshoppers are an important source of food to some insectivorous songbirds and upland gamebirds. Other insects that feed on Western Ragweed include the Brown Ambrosia Aphid (Uroleucon ambrosiae), the stink bugs Chlorochroa persimilis and Chlorochroa uhleri, and such leaf beetles as Exema dispar, Microrhopala xerene, and Zygogramma suturalis. Like Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), the seeds of Western Ragweed are a popular source of food for many kinds of granivorous songbirds and upland gamebirds (see Bird Table). The seeds are nutritious and remain available through the winter months. Some rodents eat the seeds, including the Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Mammalian herbivores eat the bitter foliage of this and other ragweeds to a limited extent.

Photographic Location: Photographs were taken at the Windsor Road Prairie in Champaign, Illinois.

Comments: Like other ragweeds, the airborne pollen of Western Ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) can cause allergic reactions in people during the late summer and fall. This plant has high ecological value to birds, grasshoppers, and other insects. Across its range, there is some variability in the pubescence of its foliage, and in the number and shape of the primary lobes of its leaves. Western Ragweed resembles Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) to some extent. However, the leaves of Western Ragweed are usually simple-pinnate, while the leaves of Common Ragweed are double-pinnate and more deeply lobed. Plants that display mixed characteristics may be hybrids of these two species.

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Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant. It has relatively few basal leaves that are linear, flat, solid rather than hollow, and about ½-1' in length. They tend to recurve outward from the base of the plant.

The flowering stalk emerges among the leaves and is about 1-1½' tall. It is more stiff than the leaves and remains erect. The attractive flowers are arranged in an umbel at the top of this stem – this umbel is about 2-3" across. Each flower is white, light lavender, or pink, depending on the local genotype, and is shaped like a small star with 3 petals and 3 sepals that flare outward. Each flower is slightly more than ¼" long. The blooming period occurs during late summer for about 3 weeks, by which time the basal leaves will have died down if the weather has been dry. The entire plant has a typical onion-like smell. The root system consists of a bulb with unusually deep secondary roots for such a small plant. This, no doubt, promotes survival during dry weather. If conditions are favorable, the Cliff Onion will slowly cluster at the base, or reseed itself.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun and dry conditions. The soil should be rocky, rather limey, and well-drained. However, this plant will grow in ordinary garden soil and average moisture conditions if competition from taller, more aggressive plants, is eliminated. The Cliff Onion is slow growing, but easy to establish, if the preceding conditions are satisfied, otherwise it is likely to become lost in the surrounding vegetation.

Range & Habitat: The native Cliff Onion is a rare plant in Illinois, occurring in only a few counties, primarily along the Mississippi River in the SW region of the state. Natural habitats include rocky limestone bluffs and cliffs along rivers, limestone glades, and hill prairies. This plant occurs in more ordinary prairies in areas to the west of Illinois because of the drier conditions.

Faunal Associations: The flowers attract small flying insects, primarily flower flies and small bees. Most native herbivores probably do not feed on this plant because of the onion scent and spiciness of the leaves. However, livestock are known to eat the foliage of native onions along with the grass in pastures.

Photographic Location: The above photograph was taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.

Comments: The Cliff Onion has a delicate beauty when in bloom, resembling a starburst effect. Sometimes this plant is called the 'Prairie Onion,' however it is more typically found along rocky cliffs and limestone bluffs near rivers in Illinois. The foliage and bulb of this onion are edible, if somewhat strongly flavored. The Cliff Onion differs from Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion) by its more erect inflorescence and slender leaves. It resembles Allium canadense (Wild Garlic), but doesn't produce any bulbets in the infloresence. The Allium spp. from the Old World, such as Allium vineale (Field Garlic), have round hollow leaves, while those of the New World have flat solid leaves.

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Description: This perennial wildflower forms a low rosette of basal leaves, from which there develops an erect flowering stalk about 1½-3' tall. The basal leaves are 2-7" long and ¼-1" across; they are lanceolate-oblong, elliptic-oblong, or oblanceolate-oblong in shape and smooth along their margins. The basal leaves are pale green to yellowish green and glabrous; their venation is parallel. Along the lower half of the flowering stalk, there are widely-spaced alternate leaves that are less than 1" long and 1/8" across; they are lanceolate in shape, pale green to yellowish green, glabrous, and thin-textured. The lower half of the flowering stalk is pale green to yellowish green, glabrous, and terete.

Along the upper half of the flowering stalk, is a spike-like raceme of flowers about ½-1½' long. Each flower is 7-10 mm. in length, consisting of a 6 white tepals with slightly recurved tips, 6 inserted stamens, and a pistil. The elongated tepals are joined together, except at their tips, forming a narrow tubular shape. The outer white surfaces of the tepals have a texture that is conspicuously warty-mealy. At the base of each flower, there is a short slender pedicel. At the base of each pedicel, there is a slender deciduous bract about 2-3 mm. in length. The central stalk of the raceme is pale green, shallowly grooved, and often pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about a month. Afterwards, small ovoid seed capsules develop that become 3-5 mm. in length. Each seed capsule is 3-celled and contains numerous tiny seeds about 0.5 mm. in length. Each seed capsule splits open toward its apex to release the seeds to the wind. The root system consists of stout rootstock that resembles a rhizome; it has fibrous roots below.

Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to dry conditions, and very sandy soil. Colic Root is intolerant of competition from taller plants.

Range & Habitat: The native Colic Root occurs in northeast Illinois, where it is uncommon (see Distribution Map). Habitats consist of sand prairies, sandy shrub prairies, sand flats, openings in sandy savannas, and sandy areas along railroads. Open areas with sterile sandy soil are preferred.

Faunal Associations: Apparently very little information is available about floral-faunal relationships for this species. Consumption of excessive amounts of the rootstock is known to cause diarrhea and vomiting in humans.

Photographic Location: An upland sand prairie at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in NW Indiana.

Comments: When Colic Root is in bloom it is very conspicuous because of its tall spike-like racemes of white flowers. These flowers often rise far above the surrounding ground vegetation in the open sandy areas where this species occurs. The low basal leaves, on the other hand, are relatively inconspicuous and easily overlooked. The flowers of Colic Root are quite distinct in appearance because of the warty-mealy outer surface of their tepals. Thus, Colic Root is easily identified when it is in bloom. This is a wonderfully unique wildflower.

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