plant第30页 - 绿手指 - 养花技巧、花生病了怎么办、花园打理和设计

Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is tufted at the base, producing multiple stems up to 1½' long, although they are usually about one-half of this length or less. These stems are ascending to widely spreading; they are green or purple, terete (round in cross-section), and pubescent. The opposite leaves are up to 1" long and 1/3" across (or a little larger); they are variably shaped, including lanceolate-ovate, oval-oblong, or broadly oblanceolate. The leaves are pubescent, smooth along the margins, and sessile at the base; they have a prominent central vein on the upper surface. The stems often terminate in small cymes (flat-headed clusters) of 1-5 small flowers; both the peduncles and pedicelsClose-up of Flowers of these cymes are pubescent. At the base of each cyme, there is a pair of leafy bracts with thin translucent margins. Each flower is up to ¼" across, consisting of 5 green sepals, 5 white petals with notched tips, 10 stamens with pale yellow anthers, and 5 styles; some plants may produce flowers with fewer than 10 stamens. The sepals are lanceolate, pubescent, and translucent along their margins; they are about the same length as the petals. The blooming period occurs intermittently from late spring to early fall and may last several months for individual plants. Each flower is replaced by a cylindrical seed capsule with 10 small teeth along its upper rim. Each seed capsule containing several small seeds. The seeds are somewhat flattened and minutely warty or pebbly. The root system is mostly fibrous. This plant reproduces primarily by reseeding itself; it can also form vegetative offsets when the nodes of the lower stems develop rootlets while lying on moist ground.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade and moist to slightly dry conditions. This plant can tolerate a broad range of soils, including those that contain loam, clay-loam, and pebbly or gravelly material. Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed is more often found in fertile soil than other Cerastium spp. (Mouse-Eared Chickweeds). It is a larger plant that can tolerate more competition from other kinds of vegetation.

Range & Habitat: Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed occurs in every county of Illinois; it is quite common (see Distribution Map). This species was accidentally introduced into North America from Eurasia. Habitats include fields, pastures, lawns, gardens, roadsides, areas along railroads, areas adjacent to buildings, vacant lots, degraded grassy meadows, and waste areas. Areas with a history of disturbance provide preferred habitats.

Faunal Associations: The flowers attract various bees and flies; these insects suck nectar primarily, although some Syrphid flies feed on the pollen and some of the smaller bees (e.g., Halictid bees) collect pollen for their larvae. The caterpillars of several moths feed on the foliage of Chickweeds (Cerastium spp., Stellaria spp.), including Agrostis venerabilis (Venerable Dart), Haematopis grataria (Chickweed Geometer), and Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave). Sparrows and other small granivorous songbirds eat the seeds of Chickweeds. Because Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed is one of the larger Chickweeds that grows during the summer, the Cottontail Rabbit nibbles on its foliage occasionally.

Photographic Location: An area adjacent to a building in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

Comments: This adaptable plant is probably the most common Cerastium sp. (Mouse-Eared Chickweed) in Illinois. Compared to the similar Stellaria spp. (Chickweeds), Mouse-Eared Chickweeds usually have more pubescent leaves and their flowers have 5 styles, rather than 3. Among the many Mouse-Eared Chickweeds that occur in Illinois (most of them are introductions from Eurasia), Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed is the only one with a perennial habit and it is often larger in size. It also blooms later in the year (typically during the summer), while the annual species of Mouse-Eared Chickweed bloom primarily during the spring. A scientific synonym of Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed is Cerastium vulgatum.

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Description: This plant is a winter or spring annual about 4-16" tall that sometimes branches from the base, forming a tuft of leafy stems. Each erect to ascending stem is light green to pale purplish green, terete, and evenly glandular-pubescent. Several pairs of opposite leaves occur along each stem; sometimes tufts of smaller leaves develop from the axils of the lower opposite leaves. These leaves are up to 1" long and 1/5" (5 mm.) across; they are linear, linear-oblong, or oblong, and sessile against their stems. Each leaf is hairless on the upper surface with a single prominent vein; the lower surface is also hairless, except for some glandular hairs along the central vein. The leaf margins are smooth and ciliate.

Each stem terminates in a corymb (flat-headed cluster) or compound corymb of flowers. The peduncle of each corymb is similar to the stem, except that it has a pair of leafy bracts at its base; it can be several inches long. Compound corymbs have branched ascending peduncles. Each flower is up to ¼" across; it has 5 white petals, 5 green sepals, 10 stamens, and 3 tiny white styles at the apex of the light green ovary. The petals are cleft at their tips, while the sepals are glandular-pubescent. The pedicel of each flower is up to ½" long and glandular-pubescent. The leafy bracts are linear-lanceolate to ovate, glandular-pubescent on their undersides, and slightly membranous along their margins at maturity; they are smaller in size than the leaves (½" long or less). The blooming period occurs during the late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a cylindrical seed capsule that is up to 10 mm. (3/8") long. At maturity, this seed capsule becomes membranous and open at its apex; there are 6 small teeth along its upper rim. There are numerous small seeds within each capsule; each seed is pale brown, minutely warty, ovoid-obovoid in shape, and somewhat flattened. The root system consists of a slender branching taproot with fine fibrous roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself and occasionally forms colonies.

Cultivation: Typical growing conditions consist of full sunlight and average levels of moisture. Three-styled Chickweed adapts readily to loam or clay-loam soil; sandy or gravelly soil may be tolerated as well. Because this chickweed is taller and more erect than most, regular mowing may inhibit its spread.

Range & Habitat: The adventive Three-Styled Chickweed is a rare weed in Illinois; it has been observed in only a few counties of south-central and east-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). This species is native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. The earliest collection of this species in the United States occurred in the state of Washington during the 1960's. Since that time, it has been observed in several other states (both eastern & western) and appears to be spreading. Habitats include disturbed areas with low grassy or weedy vegetation and the upper slopes of ditches. Recent construction activity mayClose-up of Flower have introduced this species to Champaign County in Illinois.

Faunal Associations: This information applies to chickweeds, both native and introduced, that are typically found in sunny meadows and similar habitats. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees (Halictid & others) and flies (Syrphid & others). The caterpillars of the moths Agrostis venerabilis (Venerable Dart), Haematopis grataria (Chickweed Geometer), and Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave) feed on chickweeds. Among vertebrate animals, the seeds are a source of food for the Mourning Dove and various sparrows, while the foliage is occasionally eaten by the Cottontail Rabbit.

Photographic Location: The upper slope of a drainage ditch in Urbana, Illinois. If the photograph of the flower close-up is examined closely, it is possible to see the 3 tiny white styles; they are surrounded by the yellow anthers of the stamens.

Comments: Among Cerastium spp. (Mouse-Eared Chickweeds), this chickweed is highly unusual because its flowers have 3 styles, rather than 5 styles. This characteristic is more typical of Stellaria spp. (Chickweeds). However, other characteristics of its flowers (e.g., the presence of 10 stamens & the shape of its petals) and the even pubescence of its stems are more typical of the Mouse-Eared Chickweeds. Three-Styled Chickweed is a little taller than most of these species and its leaves are more slender. Otherwise, it is rather ordinary looking. Another common name is Doubtful Chickweed, which is derived from the scientific name.

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Description: This plant is an annual about 3-8" tall that branches occasionally, and it is more or less erect. The stems, leaves, and calyx of the flowers are greyish green and hairless. The slender stems are irregularly angular. The opposite leaves are up to 1" long and ¾" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. They are variably shaped, smooth along the margins, and sessile or slightly clasping the stems. The lower leaves are ovoid or ovate with blunt tips, while the upper leaves are often lanceolate or oblong. Their texture is slightly fleshy and succulent. There is no tuft of basal leaves at the base of the plant. The upper stems terminate in small cymes or flat-headed panicles of flowers; some cymes of flowers may be produced from the axils of the upper leaves as well. Each flower has a narrow tubular corolla that is about ½" long; at its apex, this corolla divides into 5 spreading lobes up to ¼" across. These petal-like lobes are narrow and pink. At the base of the flower, there is a tubular calyx with 5 lobes that are very narrow and long. These calyx lobes are appressed against the base of the tubular corolla and at least half its length (sometimes they are nearly as long as the corolla). At the narrow throat of the flower, there are several exserted stamens with yellow anthers. Each flower has a short pedicel at least 1/8" long. The blooming period occurs during the summer and early fall and lasts about 2-3 months. As older flowers begin to fade away, the area that is enclosed by the lobes of their calyxes begins to swell until ovoid seed capsules are formed. Each seed capsule is open at the top and has 5 recurved teeth along its upper rim. Each of these capsules contains several tiny seeds that can be blown about by the wind or float on water. The root system consists of shallow fibrous roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.

Cultivation: Typical growing conditions are full sun and a moist soil that contains loam, clay-loam, or gravelly material. A limy soil and occasional flooding are tolerated.

Range & Habitat: Branching Centaury is an uncommon plant that is originally from Europe. It occurs primarily in a few counties in NE Illinois and does not appear to be spreading (see Distribution Map). The webmaster recently found a small colony of plants growing in Champaign County, Illinois. Habitats include moist depressions in grassy areas along roads and railroads. So far, this species is restricted to highly disturbed habitats.

Faunal Associations: Little information about floral-faunal relationships is available for this species. The structure of the flowers suggests that long-tongued bees, small butterflies, and skippers occasionally pollinate the flowers. One likely candidate is the butterfly Pieris rapae (Cabbage White), which is originally from Europe. The foliage of plants in the Gentian family is usually bitter and unattractive to most herbivores, although rabbits may nibble on the stems and leaves of Branching Centaury occasionally. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds.

Photographic Location: A moist grassy depression that was located a short distance away from a railroad in Urbana, Illinois. This area was mowed irregularly and prone to temporary flooding.

Comments: Branching Centaury is a small plant with delicate pink flowers. It has many characteristics in common with members of the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae), but it differs in having a calyx with long slender lobes that are at least half the length of the tubular corolla. According to official records, this is the only Centaurium sp. that has naturalized in Illinois. Some south-central and southwestern states have native Centaurium spp., but none of them have been observed in Illinois. These native species tend to have somewhat larger flowers and more narrow lower leaves. A closely related species from Europe, the biennial Centaurium erythraea (Forking Centaury), has been observed in Indiana and may occur somewhere in Illinois. The inflorescence of this latter species is less flat-headed and more vertical, while its flowers have shorter calyx lobes and slightly longer corolla lobes. The Centaurium spp. differ from the closely related Sabatia spp. (Rose Pinks) by having smaller flowers that are longer than they are across; they are always narrowly tubular at the base. The flowers of Rose Pinks have more open corollas with larger petal-like lobes, while the lobes of their calyxes are more spreading.

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Description: This herbaceous plant is a summer annual (in Illinois) that forms a low rosette during the spring, but by summer it bolts to become 1-4' tall. A typical plant is unbranched below and branched above with ascending lateral stems. The stems are light green to light yellowish tan, terete, glabrous, and stiff. Alternate leaves occur at intervals along these stems. These leaves are 2-6" long, ½-2" across, and stiff; they are lanceolate, lanceolate-oblong, ovate, or ovate-oblong in shape. The leaf bases are sessile or they clasp the stems. Leaf margins are mostly smooth (entire) with scattered yellow spines, although lower leaf margins are sometimes spineless and slightly dentate (although in some uncommon cultivars, all leaves may be spineless). Both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are dark green and glabrous; minute pubescence may occur along the lower surfaces of the central leaf veins.

Each upper stem terminates in 1-5 flowerheads. The flowerheads of each branch are usually clustered together on short peduncles. Each flowerhead is ¾-1½" across (excluding the outer phyllaries), consisting of 20-100 disk florets. These florets are ¾-1" in length, although their bases are hidden from view. The corollas of these florets are yellow to red (rarely white), narrowly cylindrical below, and 5-lobed above; these lobes are linear in shape and spreading. The styles are strongly exerted from the corollas. Around the base of the flowerhead, there are several outer phyllaries (floral bracts) up to 1½" long that are widely spreading and stiff; they are elliptic or lanceolate in shape, while their margins are smooth (entire) with scattered yellow spines. The surfaces of these outer bracts are dark green and glabrous. The inner phyllaries are mostly erect and appressed together; they are light green, ovate or lanceolate in shape, and covered with appressed hairs. The margins of the inner phyllaries are mostly smooth (entire) and ciliate, although their tips are spiny. However, in some uncommon cultivars, both outer and inner phyllaries are spineless. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring into the fall (in Illinois), lasting about 1-3 months. Afterwards, fertile florets are replaced by achenes. The achenes are 6-8 mm. long, white or light brown, oblanceoloid in shape, bluntly 4-angled, and often longitudinally striped. Usually the apices of these achenes lack tufts of hair, although in some uncommon cultivars short stiff bristles are present. The root system consists of a stout taproot up to 3-4' long and some lateral roots. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.

Cultivation: Safflower adapts to full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and various kinds of soil, including those that contain loam, sandy loam, or clay-loam. It prefers cool to warm temperatures while in the rosette stage, and warm to hot temperatures after it bolts (a warm-temperate zone with long summer days, a long growing season, and adequate rainfall prior to the blooming period). In areas with high humidity or cool weather during the summer, this plant is vulnerable to a variety of fungal disease organisms. Because of the deep taproot, resistance to heat and drought is excellent.

Range & Habitat: The non-native Safflower uncommonly naturalizes in Illinois, occurring in Champaign County (see Distribution Map). However, the presence of this species within the state is probably under-reported. Because of its preference for areas with relatively low humidity, Safflower is cultivated primarily in the western half of the United States, where it more frequently naturalizes. In the eastern half of the United States (including Illinois), naturalized plants are typically found around bird feeders as Safflower is sometimes used as a source of bird seed. Naturalized plants can occur after birds inadvertently drop the seeds, or spill the seeds from a bird feeder. As a result, typically habitats in Illinois are unmowed areas around bird feeders, including vegetable gardens, flowerbeds, open spaces near shrubbery, and edges of yards. However, these naturalized plants rarely persist from one year to the next. Safflower was introduced into the United States during the early 20th century as an agricultural crop (as a source of vegetable oil and a dye for clothing or food). This plant is probably native to the eastern Mediterranean region and parts of southern and central Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years.

Faunal Associations: Little specific information is available for the floral-faunal relationships of Safflower in North America. The flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees, honeybees, other long-tongued bees, and probably other insects with long mouth parts (e.g., butterflies & skippers). However, in the absence of cross-pollination, the flowers are self-fertile. Seed bugs (Lygus), aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, wireworms, and the larvae of some moths are reported to feed destructively on Safflower. Among vertebrate animals, some songbirds (e.g., Cardinals) and probably upland gamebrids feed on the seeds, which are sometimes used as a source of food in bird feeders. Prior to the blooming period, the foliage of Safflower is reportedly edible to sheep and, to a lesser extent, cattle. The suitability of the foliage as a source of forage depends in part on its level of spininess; this varies with different cultivars.

Photographic Location: A mulched bed near some shrubbery at the Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana, Illinois.

Comments: Safflower is grown primarily as an agricultural crop in the western half of the United States and other parts of the world. The flowerheads are a source of red and yellow dyes for clothing and food (now largely replaced by synthetic dyes), while vegetable oil is derived from its seeds. Safflower oil is high in oleic and linoleic fatty acids, and it is used as a source for cooking oil, salad oil, industrial oil, biodiesel fuel, margarine, soap, cosmetics, oil-based paints, and varnishes. Roasted or fried hulled seeds are edible to humans, while unhulled raw seeds are used as a source of food for birds. Young foliage and meal from processed seeds are edible to livestock (e.g., cattle & sheep). The primary advantage of Safflower over other agricultural crops is its ability to adapt to hot dry climates. Because of the spines on its foliage and floral bracts, Safflower resembles thistles (Cirsium spp., Carduus spp.), but the corollas of its flowerheads are yellow to red, rather than pink or purple. Unlike thistles, the achenes of Safflower lack tufts of hair at their apices, except for some uncommon cultivars that have achenes with short bristles. In addition, the widely spreading and spiny floral bracts of Safflower have a distinctive appearance.

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Description: This herbaceous plant is either a biennial or summer annual (usually the former). It consists initially of a rosette of basal leaves. These basal leaves are 4-12" long and 1¼-4" across; they are lanceolate-pinnatifid or elliptic-pinnatifid with occasional secondary lobes. The margins of these leaves have white to golden yellow spines; larger spines occur at the tips of the primary and secondary lobes, while smaller spines occur along their sides and sinuses. The upper surfaces of the basal leaves are medium green and glabrous, while their lower surfaces are light to medium green and mostly glabrous, except for some short pubescence along the midveins. The petioles of these basal leaves are short and broadly winged. Later, this plant bolts, becoming 1½-6' tall and either unbranched or branched. The lower stem (or stems) tends to be light green and nearly glabrous toward the bottom, becoming increasingly white-tomentose above (white hairs that are appressed and woolly). In addition, the stems are terete and relatively stout; they lack spines, except where extensions of the leaf margins are decurrent. Alternate leaves occur along these stems, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend; they are 2-6" long and ½-1½" across. Alternate leaves are narrowly pinnatifid-lanceolate or narrowly pinnatifid-elliptic in shape. Compared to the lobes of basal leaves, the lobes of alternate leaves are more shallow, although the tips of these latter lobes are still spined. Alternate leaves are sessile; their margins have decurrent extensions along the stems, where they are spiny. The upper stems terminate in individual flowerheads about 1-3" across on long erect peduncles (up to 2' long). These peduncles are terete, stout, and white-tomentose; they are largely naked, except for widely-spaced leafy bracts. The flowerheads often nod to one side. Each flowerhead has 100-1000 disk florets that are narrowly cylindrical below, while above they divide into linear lobes (5 lobes per floret). The corollas of these florets are pink to purplish pink (rarely white); the styles of these florets are strongly exerted. Around the base of each flowerhead, there are relatively large phyllaries in several series. These phyllaries are deltate-ovate in shape; outer phyllaries are ascending, widely spreading, or descending; sometimes they are also recurved. The tips of the phyllaries are stiff and spiny. Immature flowerheads have green phyllaries, but they later become purplish.

The blooming period occurs from early summer into the fall, lasting 1-4 months. The flowerheads are fragrant. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by achenes (4-5 mm. in length) with large tufts of hair. These achenes are bullet-shaped, slightly flattened, and ribbed. The primary hairs that are above these achenes have minute lateral hairs (may require 10x magnification to see). The achenes are distributed primarily by the wind. The root system develops a fleshy taproot.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic conditions, and calcareous soil that is derived from either limestone or sand. However, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) will adapt to almost any soil that is not extremely acidic. The size of individual plants can vary considerably depending on soil fertility and moisture levels. This thistle can reseed itself aggressively and become invasive. The seeds can remain viable for 3 or more years.

Range & Habitat: The non-native Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) is occasional in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map), and it is probably still spreading within the state. This thistle is native to Eurasia and northern Africa; it was accidentally introduced into North America during the 19th century, possibly from dumped ship ballast along the east coast. In Illinois and other parts of North America, habitats include savannas, pastures, fallow fields, roadsides, areas along railroads, waste areas, and gardens or yards that use transported soil containing the seeds of this thistle. Nodding Thistle is particularly common in areas with calcareous sand (e.g., near major lakes) and limestone-derived soil. Disturbed areas are strongly preferred.

Faunal Associations: The flowerheads are cross-pollinated primarily by bumblebees and other long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers. In the absence of cross-pollination, the florets of the flowerheads are self-fertile. Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. Because Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) is regarded as invasive in some parts of North America, various insects have been introduced from abroad to function as biocontrol agents. These species include: Rhinocyllus conicus (Thistlehead Weevil), whose larvae feed on the flowerheads; Trichosirocalus horridus (Thistle Crown Weevil), whose larvae feed on the growing points of rosettes and young shoots; Cheilosa corydon (Thistle Crown Fly), whose larvae burrow into shoots; Cassida rubiginosa (Thistle Tortoise Beetle), whose larvae and adults feed on leaves; and Psylliodes chalcomerus (Musk Thistle Leaf Beetle), whose larvae bore through stems, while the adults feed on leaves. Other insect feeders include Platyptilia carduidactylus (Artichoke Plume Moth) and Brachycaudus cardui (Thistle Aphid). The seeds of this thistle are eaten by a songbird, the Eastern Goldfinch, and the tufted hairs of its seeds are used in the construction of this bird's nests. Because of the spiny foliage, Nodding Thistle is rarely eaten by mammalian herbivores. However, sometimes cattle, sheep, and goats will eat the flowerheads or seedheads. It is unclear to what extent the seeds can survive passage in the digestive tracts of these animals, and thus their role in seed dispersal is still unclear.

Photographic Location: The photographed plant was cultivated in the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois. However, this plant was found originally in the yard of the webmaster's apartment complex, where it had been transported in contaminated soil that was purchased from a local garden center.

Comments: Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) has very showy and fragrant flowerheads, while its foliage is quite spiny. Until the nodding flowerheads are produced, it can be difficult to distinguish from other thistles. Like the Eurasian Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Nodding Thistle can be distinguished from native thistles by the spines on its stems (as derived from the decurrent margins of its leaves). It can be distinguished from the Bull Thistle by differences in the shape, size, and color of their respective phyllaries (floral bracts). The phyllaries of Nodding Thistle are larger in size, more broad at their bases, and become purple-colored when the flowerheads bloom; the phyllaries of Bull Thistle remain green at this time. In addition, the flowerheads of Nodding Thistle are usually more broad than those of Bull Thistle. Thistle species in the Carduus genus differ from thistle species in the Cirsium genus by the structure of the tufted hairs above their seeds. The tufted hairs of Carduus spp. (Musk Thistles) have barbed hairs from minute lateral hairs, while the tufted hairs of Cirsium spp. (Thistles) are more plumose (feathery) from longer lateral hairs. This is why Carduus nutans is sometimes referred to as the 'Plumeless Thistle,' even though its seeds have tufts of hair.

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2018年07月29日

If you enjoy growing tropical plants with colorful flowers, the plumeria plant (Plumeris spp.) could be an excellent choice for your garden or as a small indoor tree. Also called the frangipani or temple tree, the plant grows outdoors year-round in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. You can help keep a plumeria tree in good shape and promote plenty of flowers by pruning it regularly.

The Best Method
A plumeria tree is naturally short and stocky, developing a broad crown and reaching 12 feet or more when it's 6 years old, although this can vary with the variety. Some species, such as West Indian Jasmine (Plumeria alba), which grows in USDA zones 10 through 12, can grow 40 feet tall a if left unpruned. When cutting back a plumeria, use a sharp knife or pruning shears. For a tall plumeria, you might need a pruning saw mounted on a tall pole. Always make cuts at an angle so water won't collect in the cut end of the branch and encourage fungal disease. It's also important to prevent spread of diseases by disinfecting your pruning blades after each cut, wiping them well with rubbing alcohol or dipping them in a container of rubbing alcohol.

Timing
You can prune a plumeria tree at any time, but pruning an actively growing tree can leave unsightly branch stubs until new growth starts. The plant slows its growth in winter, dropping its leaves and looking bare until new ones appear in spring. During this dormant season, it's easy to see the tree's basic form, making pruning decisions easier. To allow the tree to set blossoms for the following season, prune lightly so that enough young growth remains to produce new flowers in spring. To keep the tree within bounds, you can repeat light winter pruning every year or two until the tree reaches a suitable size for its location.

The Overall Plan
If your plumeria is just few years old, you can help control its size in future years by heading it back every year or two, cutting healthy branches back by about one-third. This also encourages lots of new branches that help fill in the tree's shape as it grows and eventually produce flower buds. An older tree that's outgrown its space may respond well to a method called pollarding, which involves removing the upper branches from a mature tree to promote a dense canopy of foliage. This method reduces the tree's size and can keep a mature tree at a predetermined height. Regardless of the tree's age, how often you prune depends somewhat on the tree's response. If there's abundant new growth the following year, you can prune yearly, but if growth appears slowly, it's a good idea to skip a year or two between prunings.

After Pruning
You can help stimulate a newly pruned plumeria to put out healthy growth by fertilizing it regularly during its growing season. Use a granular, 10-30-10 formula, applied at the rate of 1 pound per 1 inch of trunk diameter. Spread the fertilizer under the tree evenly, scratching it into the soil and distributing it to about 2 feet beyond its drip line, which is the outermost area where foliage extends over the ground. Providing adequate water also supports new growth, especially during summer dry spells -- supply enough water to keep the soil moist but not soggy, generally about 1/2 to 1 inch weekly.

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2018年07月29日

The process of deadheading -- or removing the wilted blooms from a flowering plant -- focuses the plant's energy into healthy root and leaf growth instead of seed production. In some plants, it also encourages the plants to bloom again. The various coneflower species respond well to deadheading, but there are also good reasons for not deadheading coneflowers.

Coneflower Blooms
Coneflowers all belong to the plant family, Asteraceae, and the blooms are similar enough they can all be deadheaded the same way, or left on the plant for the same reasons. Not every type of coneflower blooms at the same time, so be on the lookout throughout the summer and fall to deadhead in a timely manner.

The common name "coneflower" applies to several genera, including Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Ratibida. All have a cone-shaped flower center, though plants in the Echinacea genus are the ones most often referred to as "coneflowers."

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, has purple-pink petals around an orange center. It grows 2 to 5 feet tall, and blooms all summer
Yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), which grows in USDA zones 5 through 8, grows 2 to 3 feet tall. It blooms all summer, and has thin yellow petals around a brown center.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), which grows in USDA zones 3 through 9, is a sturdy perennial that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and blooms midsummer through fall. The daisylike yellow flowers have a black center.
Gray-head coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), which grows in USDA zones 3 through 8, grows 3 to 5 feet tall and blooms in the summer. It has thin yellow flower petals that fold back from a 1-inch gray center.
Mexican hat plant (Ratibida columnifera), which grows in USDA zones 4 through 9, is also called long-headed coneflower because the flower center can reach 2 inches high. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall, has yellow flower petals and blooms in the summer and early fall.
Missouri coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis), which grows in USDA zones 5 through 8, grows 2 to 3 feet tall and blooms summer through fall. It has orange-yellow flowers with a black center.
Reasons to Deadhead
Deadheading coneflowers can encourage rebloom. Purple coneflower and yellow coneflower will rebloom without deadheading, but black-eyed Susan must be deadheaded if you want reliable repeat blooming all summer and into fall.

Removing spent blooms also prevents self-seeding. If you don't want the plants to spread throughout the garden, make sure you deadhead plants before the seed heads ripen. Removing the flowers as soon as they are finished blooming also keeps the garden looking neat and tidy.

Leaving the Seeds
If you decide not to deadhead coneflowers, the seeds will attract birds to the garden. The seeds that birds don't eat fall to the ground and easily sprout to create more plants. Self-seeding can result in a large number of seedlings in the spring, which will start blooming after about two years.

The flower center of the coneflower is where seeds develop. After the petals fall off, these seed heads often remain upright in the garden throughout all or part of the winter. This provides winter interest in the garden in the form of dark-colored cone-shaped seed heads, and birds that are attracted to the seeds.

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成长记

Natalie Coudré

2018年07月29日

I now added "Castanospermum australe house plant. Jack's beanstalk tree. Moreton Bay Chestnut." in my "garden"

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成长记

jordi

2018年07月28日

Just gave a home to this beautiful panda plant :-)

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成长记

Samantha Headlee Hos

2018年07月27日

I now added "air plant" in my "garden"

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求助

jordi

ID Help Please !! I have this plant and have had it for 2-3 years. The third pic is the plant as a baby. This big boy got so tall and is now over 1 and a half feet (not even straightened, I measured it while it was in its natural position) It was about 6 inches when I first got it. Some sticks are in the soil to help hold the limbs up, they are not part of the plant. Thanks !

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初心～：你这个长成了恨天高

jordi：@Shanee I think it wouldn’t be a candelabra since I’ve had it for a long time and it hasn’t flowered. It is gooey inside so it’s possible though. Thanks so much !

Shanee：Possible candelabra aloe. Or aloe Vera that’s needing more light.

求助

jordi

ID Help Please !! I have this haworthia looking succ. and I cannot tell if it is a gasteria carinata or a gasteraloe (or another type of haworthia) I would be so grateful for an ID of this plant since the roots seem to be dying. I have had this one for over 2-3 years and I would be so devastated to see it die. The second pic is the plant as a baby. Thanks !

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jordi：@Shanee omg it looks exactly like the attenuata !! Thanks so much !!! 😊

Shanee：Or it may be Haworthia attenuata var. radula

Shanee：Fasciated haworthia I believe

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Description: This plant is usually a winter annual, although sometimes it is a summer annual. It consists of a rosette of basal leaves up to 9" across, from which one or more flowering stalks develop that are little branched and up to 2½' tall (although individual plants can be much smaller than this). The basal leaves are up to 4½" long and ¾" across; they are elliptic, lanceolate, or oblanceolate, and pinnately lobed. The alternate leaves on the flowering stalks are much smaller in size and widely spaced; they are lanceolate, elliptic or linear in shape, and either smooth or slightly dentate along their margins. The bases of the alternate leaves are either sessile or they clasp their stalks with auriculate (ear-like) lobes. Both the basal and alternate leaves are medium to dark green and mostly hairless, although the lower sides of their central veins are often covered with appressed hairs. The terete stalks are light green to dark reddish purple (usually the latter), and they are usually glabrous above and appressed-hairy below.

Each stalk terminates in a raceme of small flowers. These flowers bloom only toward the tip of the raceme and they are short-lived. Each flower is a little less than 1/8" (3 mm.) across and consists of 4 white petals, 4 greenish sepals, a pistil with a single style, and several stamens. Plants that are winter annuals bloom during spring to mid-summer, while summer annuals bloom from mid-summer to fall. The flowers are replaced by seedpods that are obcordoid, somewhat compressed (flattened), and a little less than ¼" long. Each seedpod is divided into 2 cells and contains about 20 seeds. The slender pedicels of the seedpods are about ½-¾" long and ascending. The raceme elongates with maturity and can become up to 1½' long on large plants. The small seeds are yellowish to reddish brown, ovoid-oblongoid in shape, and shiny; they can remain viable in the ground for several years. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.

Cultivation: Shepherd's Purse is typically found in full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and almost any kind of soil, including cracks in pavement. The size of this plant varies considerably with the fertility of the soil and availability of moisture. It is somewhat aggressive in reseeding itself.

Range & Habitat: Shepherd's Purse is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It was introduced into North America from Europe. Habitats include fields and pastures, areas along railroads and roadsides, gardens and lawns, construction sites, vacant lots, dirt paths, and waste ground. These habitats can be either sandy or non-sandy. Shepherd's Purse is found in highly disturbed areas, often where the soil surface has been exposed.

Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract mostly short-tongued bees and flies, including honeybees, Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), and blow flies (Lucilia spp.). Less often, small butterflies and skippers suck nectar from the flowers (Robertson, 1929). The caterpillars of two butterflies, Anthocharis midea (Falcate Orangetip) and Pontia protodice (Checkered White), feed on Shepherd's Purse (Opler & Krizek, 1984). Other insect feeders include Entomoscelis americana (Red Turnip Beetle), several flea beetle species (Phyllotreta spp.), larvae of Liriomyza trifolii (American Serpentine Leafminer Fly), Holcostethus limbolarius (a stink bug), Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid), Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (False Cabbage Aphid), and Ceutorhynchus erysimi (a weevil); see Clark et al. (2004), Spencer & Steyskal (1986), Rider (2009), Blackman & Eastop (2013), and Majka et al. (2007). Information about this plant's relationships with vertebrate animals is more limited. White-tailed Deer browse on the leaves and flowering stalks: because the seeds of Shepherd's Purse can pass through the digestive tract of this animal and remain viable, they are spread to new areas (Myers et al., 2004). The Eastern Goldfinch sometimes eats the seeds, while the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) feeds on the leaves of this plant to a limited extent (Martin et al., 1951/1961; Cook et al., 2004).

Photographic Location: A garden bed of an abandoned hotel in Urbana, Illinois, and an area along a bike path on the campus of the University of Illinois in the same city.

Comments: Shepherd's Purse is an easy plant to identify among members of the Mustard family because of the distinctive shape of its seedpods. This shape apparently resembles the leather purse of shepherds during the Middle Ages. The hairiness of the flowering stalks and the shape of the leaves is rather variable across different populations of plants. Sometimes the basal leaves are deeply lobed, while on other occasions they are shallowly lobed.

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Description: This plant is a summer annual about 3-9' tall. It is unbranched or little branched. The stout central stem is light green; where new growth occurs, this stem is more or less pubescent, but it becomes less hairy with age. The lower leaves are often opposite, while the upper leaves are alternate. These leaves are palmately compound with 3-9 leaflets (usually there are 5-7 leaflets). On large plants, these leaves can span up to 10" long and across (excluding the petioles), but they are half this size on smaller plants. While the lower leaves have long slender petioles, the upper leaves are nearly sessile. These petioles are more or less pubescent and occasionally reddish green. Each leaflet is narrowly ovate and coarsely serrated along the margins; the middle leaflets are larger in size than the lateral leaflets. The upper surface of each leaflet is dark green and sparsely pubescent.

Hemp is dioecious with both male and female plants. The male plants produce both axillary and terminal panicles of male flowers. These panicles are up to 1' long; they have small leafy bracts and pubescent stalks. Each male flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 5 sepals, 5 stamens with large anthers, and no petals. The oblong or lanceolate sepals are initially green, but they become cream or pale yellow with maturity. After these flowers have shed their pollen, the foliage of the male plant soon turns yellow and withers away. The female plants produce short axillary spikes of female flowers; these spikes are about 1" long and covered with glandular hairs. Each female flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) long, consisting of a single sepal, an ovary with two styles, and no petals. The sepal wraps around the ovary, forming a beak at its apex; the 2 styles are exerted from this beak. The surface of the sepal is green and covered with glandular hairs that exude a characteristic odor when they are rubbed. At the base of each female flower, there is a single green bract that is lanceolate and longer than the flower. There are small leaves and other bracts along the spike as well.

The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Pollination is by agency of the wind. Upon maturity, the female flowers turn brown, but the foliage of female plants remains green until the fall. Each female flower is replaced by an achene containing a single large seed. The root system consists of a branched taproot. This plant often forms colonies at favorable sites.

Cultivation: The preference is full sun, moist conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Mesic conditions and other kinds of soil are also tolerated, but the size of plants will be smaller. Hemp is little bothered by pests and disease. It tolerates occasional flooding.

Range & Habitat: Hemp occurs occasionally in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern portion of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Hemp is native to central Asia and it was introduced to the United States for agricultural purposes. Habitats include borders of floodplain woodlands, borders of low-lying fields, weedy meadows along rivers, fence rows, and roadside ditches. Occasionally, it is cultivated illegally in backyards and fields. This plant is found primarily in disturbed habitats.

Faunal Associations: There is little information about floral-faunal relationships for Hemp. The wind-pollinated flowers don't attract many insect pollinators. Mammalian herbivores avoid browsing on hemp when other plants are available.

Photographic Location: A roadside ditch in Champaign, Illinois.

Comments: Hemp has been cultivated in the United States since colonial times. The fibers of the central stem are quite strong; they have been used in making rope, paper, clothing, and other products. The foliage, flowers, and seeds of female plants contain chemicals with medicinal and recreational properties. However, since World War II, it has been illegal in Illinois and other areas of the United States to cultivate hemp. The industrial form of this plant is Cannabis sativa sativa (Hemp), while the medicinal and recreational form is Cannabis sativa indica (Marijuana). It is usually the industrial form of this plant that is encountered in the wild; it has a more robust habit of growth and contains lower levels of chemicals with medicinal and recreational properties. Hemp has a unique appearance and is easy to distinguish from other species of plants. A small specimen of Hemp superficially resembles some Potentilla spp. (Cinquefoils), especially Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil), because of the similarity of their palmate leaves. However, the leaflets of Hemp are more elongated and tapered at their tips than Sulfur Cinquefoil. Furthermore, the flowers of Cinquefoils have 5 conspicuous petals that are white or yellow, like many other members of the Rose family, while the flowers of Hemp are devoid of petals.

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