文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about ½–1¼' tall. It consists of a single erect stem that has 3 spreading leaves at its apex. A mature plant produces a single sessile flower above the leaves, while an immature plant produces only leaves. The stem is light green, medium green, or yellowish green; it is terete, glabrous, and fairly stout. The leaves are up to 6" long and 3½" across; they are ovate in shape and smooth along their margins, tapering into distinct petioles. The upper leaf surface is mottled with patches of light and dark green, although sometimes it is solid green. The lower leaf surface is pale green. Both surfaces are glabrous. In addition to parallel primary veins, the leaves also have diagonal secondary veins that crisscross between the primary veins. Each flower consists of 3 yellow petals, 3 green sepals, 6 yellow stamens, and a green ovary with 3 stigmata.
The petals are 1–1¼" long, rhombic-elliptic in shape, and erect, curving inward toward their tips. The sepals are ¾-1" long, glabrous, and triangular-lanceolate in shape; they hang downward from the base of the flower. The stamens are about ½" long, curving inward toward their tips; the large anthers of the stamens are narrowly oblongoid in shape and longer than the filaments. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. Individual flowers are fairly long-lasting. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled fruits (technically berries) that contain many small seeds. These fruits are a little less than ½" in length (about 10 mm.), rhombic-ovoid in shape, 6-angled, and greenish. The seeds are dark brown and partially white from their food appendages. The root system consists of a thickened erect rootstock, secondary fibrous roots, and rhizomes, from which clonal offsets are occasionally produced.
Cultivation: This plant prefers dappled sunlight to medium shade, mesic levels of moisture, and rich loamy soil with decaying leaf litter. Like other Trillium spp. (Trilliums), this species is slow to develop because of the short period of active growth during the spring. The foliage persists until about the middle of summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Shay's Trillium is quite rare in Illinois. According to official records, it has been observed in only Jackson County. However, the webmaster encountered it in Champaign County a few years ago, and there has been scattered sitings of Shay's Trillium in northern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands where the original flora has remained little disturbed by modern development.
Faunal Associations: The pollinators of the yellow flowers are unknown. Caterpillars of the polyphagous moths Clepsis melaleucana (Black-patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) feed on trilliums (Covell, 1984/2005). Because of their food appendages, the seeds are distributed to new locations by ants. White-tailed Deer are very fond of the foliage and flowers of trilliums as a source of food. Their seeds can pass through the digestive tract of these animals and germinate in new locations (Vellend et al., 2003). However, too many deer can cause populations of trilliums to decline because of excessive browsing.
Photographic Location: A mesic deciduous woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and a woodlands in Ogle County, Illinois. The photograph of the Shay's Trillium with mottled leaves was taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2013).
Comments: Shay's Trillium (Trillium recurvatum shayii) is a rare form of the common Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum). The typical form of this species has maroon flowers and black anthers. Another uncommon form of the Prairie Trillium that occurs within the state, Trillium recurvatum lutescens, has yellow flowers like Shay's Trillium, however its anthers are black or purple. In contrast, Shay's Trillium has yellow anthers. All three forms of this trillium usually have leaves that are mottled in different shades of green, however, plants with solid green leaves also occur. Regardless of its form, the Prairie Trillium differs from other trilliums in Illinois by the following set of characteristics: 1) its flowers are sessile, 2) its leaves have petioles, 3) its sepals hang downward, and 4) its petals are yellow or maroon. Other trilliums have flowers on short stalks, or their leaves are sessile, or their sepals are spreading to ascending, or their petals are white.
The petals are 1–1¼" long, rhombic-elliptic in shape, and erect, curving inward toward their tips. The sepals are ¾-1" long, glabrous, and triangular-lanceolate in shape; they hang downward from the base of the flower. The stamens are about ½" long, curving inward toward their tips; the large anthers of the stamens are narrowly oblongoid in shape and longer than the filaments. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. Individual flowers are fairly long-lasting. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled fruits (technically berries) that contain many small seeds. These fruits are a little less than ½" in length (about 10 mm.), rhombic-ovoid in shape, 6-angled, and greenish. The seeds are dark brown and partially white from their food appendages. The root system consists of a thickened erect rootstock, secondary fibrous roots, and rhizomes, from which clonal offsets are occasionally produced.
Cultivation: This plant prefers dappled sunlight to medium shade, mesic levels of moisture, and rich loamy soil with decaying leaf litter. Like other Trillium spp. (Trilliums), this species is slow to develop because of the short period of active growth during the spring. The foliage persists until about the middle of summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Shay's Trillium is quite rare in Illinois. According to official records, it has been observed in only Jackson County. However, the webmaster encountered it in Champaign County a few years ago, and there has been scattered sitings of Shay's Trillium in northern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands where the original flora has remained little disturbed by modern development.
Faunal Associations: The pollinators of the yellow flowers are unknown. Caterpillars of the polyphagous moths Clepsis melaleucana (Black-patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) feed on trilliums (Covell, 1984/2005). Because of their food appendages, the seeds are distributed to new locations by ants. White-tailed Deer are very fond of the foliage and flowers of trilliums as a source of food. Their seeds can pass through the digestive tract of these animals and germinate in new locations (Vellend et al., 2003). However, too many deer can cause populations of trilliums to decline because of excessive browsing.
Photographic Location: A mesic deciduous woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and a woodlands in Ogle County, Illinois. The photograph of the Shay's Trillium with mottled leaves was taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2013).
Comments: Shay's Trillium (Trillium recurvatum shayii) is a rare form of the common Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum). The typical form of this species has maroon flowers and black anthers. Another uncommon form of the Prairie Trillium that occurs within the state, Trillium recurvatum lutescens, has yellow flowers like Shay's Trillium, however its anthers are black or purple. In contrast, Shay's Trillium has yellow anthers. All three forms of this trillium usually have leaves that are mottled in different shades of green, however, plants with solid green leaves also occur. Regardless of its form, the Prairie Trillium differs from other trilliums in Illinois by the following set of characteristics: 1) its flowers are sessile, 2) its leaves have petioles, 3) its sepals hang downward, and 4) its petals are yellow or maroon. Other trilliums have flowers on short stalks, or their leaves are sessile, or their sepals are spreading to ascending, or their petals are white.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is ½-1¼' tall and unbranched. The erect central stem is light green to reddish purple, terete, rather stout, and glabrous. At the apex of this stem, there are 3 spreading leaves surrounding a single sessile flower. Immature plants, however, produce only leaves without the flower. The leaves are 3-6" long and 1½-3½" across; they are ovate in shape and smooth along their margins, tapering into distinct petioles. The upper leaf surface is medium green and heavily mottled with patches of light green and dark green; it is glabrous. The lower leaf surface is pale green and unmottled; it is also glabrous. On rare occasions, some plants will have leaves with solid green upper surfaces. Leaf venation is parallel with occasional interconnecting secondary veins.
The flower has 3 maroon petals, 3 green sepals, 6 stamens with long black anthers, and an ovary with 3 stigmata. The petals are 1–1¼" long and rhombic-elliptic in shape; they curve inward toward their tips. The sepals are ¾–1" long, lanceolate-triangular in shape, and smooth along their often purplish margins; they hang downward from the base of the flower. The stamens are about ½" long, curving inward toward the other stamens. The blooming period is mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. Individual flowers are relatively long-lived. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, each flower is replaced by a single fruit (technically a berry). These fruits are a little less than ½" (10 mm.) long, rhomboid-ovoid in shape, 6-angled, and pale green to purplish green. Each fruit contains several small seeds; they are dark brown with white food appendages. The main rootstock is thickened and elongated, with numerous feeder roots. Rhizomes are also produced, causing this plant to form clonal colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to dappled sunlight, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam or clay-loam. The foliage is rarely bothered by pests or disease. Trilliums are slow to develop because of the short period of active growth during the spring, and up to 10 years may be required before a plant reaches flowering size in the wild.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Trillium is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is found primarily in rich woodlands, open woodlands, and savannas, where deciduous trees are dominant (including oak-hickory woodlands and maple-dominated woodlands). Sometimes this species survives degradation of woodland habitats, and it can be found along fence rows with woody vegetation, overgrown areas near railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas with partial or light shade.
Faunal Associations: The maroon flowers of the Prairie Trillium may attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, although little is known about the insect pollinators of this trillium (Trillium sp.) because floral visitors are rare. Only pollen is available as a floral reward. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) feed on trilliums (Covell, 1984/2005). The seeds of these plants are often distributed by ants because of their food appendages. Among mammalian herbivores, White-tailed Deer are especially known to eat the flowers and foliage of trilliums. There is also some evidence that the seeds of trilliums can pass through their digestive tracts and remain viable. Therefore, White-tailed Deer may help to distribute the seeds across long distances (Vellend et al., 2003). Where White-tailed Deer are too abundant, however, they may destroy local populations of these plants. It is possible that the mottled pattern of the foliage of the Prairie Trillium is an adaptation to deer predation as this type of pattern may help to camoflage the plant with the surrounding forest floor.
Photographic Location: A mesic woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and an upland savanna in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: The common name is misleading because the Prairie Trillium occurs in woodlands like other trilliums (Trillium spp.), rather than prairies. However, it is especially common in Illinois and the surrounding states where prairies occur. This trillium species is relatively easy to identify for the following reasons: 1) its sepals hang downward from the flower, whereas in other Trillium spp. the sepals are usually spreading to ascending; 2) its flowers are sessile against the central stem and leaves, whereas the flowers of some trilliums (e.g., Trillium erectum) are held above the foliage on short stalks; and 3) the leaves taper gradually at their bases into short petioles, whereas the leaves of some trilliums are sessile and quite rounded at their bases. There are different forms of the Prairie Trillium that have yellow or maroon flowers, yellow or black anthers, and mottled or solid green leaves. The form described here, Trillium recurvatum recurvatum, is by far the most common.
The flower has 3 maroon petals, 3 green sepals, 6 stamens with long black anthers, and an ovary with 3 stigmata. The petals are 1–1¼" long and rhombic-elliptic in shape; they curve inward toward their tips. The sepals are ¾–1" long, lanceolate-triangular in shape, and smooth along their often purplish margins; they hang downward from the base of the flower. The stamens are about ½" long, curving inward toward the other stamens. The blooming period is mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. Individual flowers are relatively long-lived. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, each flower is replaced by a single fruit (technically a berry). These fruits are a little less than ½" (10 mm.) long, rhomboid-ovoid in shape, 6-angled, and pale green to purplish green. Each fruit contains several small seeds; they are dark brown with white food appendages. The main rootstock is thickened and elongated, with numerous feeder roots. Rhizomes are also produced, causing this plant to form clonal colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to dappled sunlight, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam or clay-loam. The foliage is rarely bothered by pests or disease. Trilliums are slow to develop because of the short period of active growth during the spring, and up to 10 years may be required before a plant reaches flowering size in the wild.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Trillium is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is found primarily in rich woodlands, open woodlands, and savannas, where deciduous trees are dominant (including oak-hickory woodlands and maple-dominated woodlands). Sometimes this species survives degradation of woodland habitats, and it can be found along fence rows with woody vegetation, overgrown areas near railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas with partial or light shade.
Faunal Associations: The maroon flowers of the Prairie Trillium may attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, although little is known about the insect pollinators of this trillium (Trillium sp.) because floral visitors are rare. Only pollen is available as a floral reward. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) feed on trilliums (Covell, 1984/2005). The seeds of these plants are often distributed by ants because of their food appendages. Among mammalian herbivores, White-tailed Deer are especially known to eat the flowers and foliage of trilliums. There is also some evidence that the seeds of trilliums can pass through their digestive tracts and remain viable. Therefore, White-tailed Deer may help to distribute the seeds across long distances (Vellend et al., 2003). Where White-tailed Deer are too abundant, however, they may destroy local populations of these plants. It is possible that the mottled pattern of the foliage of the Prairie Trillium is an adaptation to deer predation as this type of pattern may help to camoflage the plant with the surrounding forest floor.
Photographic Location: A mesic woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and an upland savanna in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: The common name is misleading because the Prairie Trillium occurs in woodlands like other trilliums (Trillium spp.), rather than prairies. However, it is especially common in Illinois and the surrounding states where prairies occur. This trillium species is relatively easy to identify for the following reasons: 1) its sepals hang downward from the flower, whereas in other Trillium spp. the sepals are usually spreading to ascending; 2) its flowers are sessile against the central stem and leaves, whereas the flowers of some trilliums (e.g., Trillium erectum) are held above the foliage on short stalks; and 3) the leaves taper gradually at their bases into short petioles, whereas the leaves of some trilliums are sessile and quite rounded at their bases. There are different forms of the Prairie Trillium that have yellow or maroon flowers, yellow or black anthers, and mottled or solid green leaves. The form described here, Trillium recurvatum recurvatum, is by far the most common.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This perennial plant is 2½–6" tall and unbranched. It produces a single glabrous stem that terminates in a whorl of 3 leaves. The stem is light green, sometimes with reddish brown tints. The leaves are up to 2½" long; they are green or olive green, oval to ovate, hairless, and smooth along the margins. Their leaf venation is parallel. The base of each leaf is more rounded than its tip; it has a short petiole. Mature plants produce a single flower on a short peduncle about ½" long that is straight or arching (usually the latter).
The flower is up to 2" across, consisting of 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, 6 yellow stamens, and a a tripartite style. The petals are oval-ovate and often slightly undulate along their margins. The recurved sepals are lanceolate and often slightly reddish or yellowish on the outer surface. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-spring and lasts about 2 weeks. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a 3-lobed fruit that is about ½" long. The root system consists of a thickened rootstock, secondary feeder roots, and rhizomes. Snow Trillium can reseed itself, but it more often produces vegetative clones from the rhizomes. At favorable sites, colonies are often formed.
Cultivation: The preference is filtered sunlight during the spring (before the trees leaf out), and light shade during the summer. The soil should be mesic to dry, and loamy or rocky with a shallow layer of decaying leaves. There should not be too much competition from other ground layer plants during the late spring or the summer. The foliage withers away by the end of summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Snow Trillium occurs in central and northern Illinois, where it is rather uncommon (see Distribution Map). However, it is locally common at a few high quality sites. Habitats include thinly wooded bluffs, upper slopes of bluffs (especially along rivers), and upper banks of rivers. This is an indicator species of high quality woodlands. It grows where the layer of decaying leaves is not too thick.
Faunal Associations: Very few insects visit the early-blooming flowers for nectar or pollen. Most likely, the flowers are pollinated by Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), queen bumblebees, and other bees that become active early in the spring. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades), feed on trilliums (Trillium spp.) occasionally. The fruits are probably eaten by small mammals and birds, although there is a lack of information regarding the particular species that do this. Such animals can help to introduce the seeds into new areas. Deer are very partial to the foliage of trilliums, although the Snow Trillium may be less vulnerable to their browsing than others because of its small size and strong tendency to grow on inaccessible slopes.
Photographic Location: The slope of a bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois, and a river bank at Allerton Park in Piatt County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in woodlands and it is the smallest trillium (Trillium sp.). The Snow Trillium can be distinguished from other white-flowered Trilliums by considering the following features: 1) It is only 2-4" tall while in bloom, 2) it blooms earlier in the spring than other trilliums, 3) it has white flowers on a short stalk that is erect or arching, and 4) each fruit has 3 conspicuous lobes. The common name refers to the fact that snow can be found on the ground when the flowers bloom. This cute little trillium should be protected wherever it is found.
The flower is up to 2" across, consisting of 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, 6 yellow stamens, and a a tripartite style. The petals are oval-ovate and often slightly undulate along their margins. The recurved sepals are lanceolate and often slightly reddish or yellowish on the outer surface. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-spring and lasts about 2 weeks. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a 3-lobed fruit that is about ½" long. The root system consists of a thickened rootstock, secondary feeder roots, and rhizomes. Snow Trillium can reseed itself, but it more often produces vegetative clones from the rhizomes. At favorable sites, colonies are often formed.
Cultivation: The preference is filtered sunlight during the spring (before the trees leaf out), and light shade during the summer. The soil should be mesic to dry, and loamy or rocky with a shallow layer of decaying leaves. There should not be too much competition from other ground layer plants during the late spring or the summer. The foliage withers away by the end of summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Snow Trillium occurs in central and northern Illinois, where it is rather uncommon (see Distribution Map). However, it is locally common at a few high quality sites. Habitats include thinly wooded bluffs, upper slopes of bluffs (especially along rivers), and upper banks of rivers. This is an indicator species of high quality woodlands. It grows where the layer of decaying leaves is not too thick.
Faunal Associations: Very few insects visit the early-blooming flowers for nectar or pollen. Most likely, the flowers are pollinated by Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), queen bumblebees, and other bees that become active early in the spring. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades), feed on trilliums (Trillium spp.) occasionally. The fruits are probably eaten by small mammals and birds, although there is a lack of information regarding the particular species that do this. Such animals can help to introduce the seeds into new areas. Deer are very partial to the foliage of trilliums, although the Snow Trillium may be less vulnerable to their browsing than others because of its small size and strong tendency to grow on inaccessible slopes.
Photographic Location: The slope of a bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois, and a river bank at Allerton Park in Piatt County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in woodlands and it is the smallest trillium (Trillium sp.). The Snow Trillium can be distinguished from other white-flowered Trilliums by considering the following features: 1) It is only 2-4" tall while in bloom, 2) it blooms earlier in the spring than other trilliums, 3) it has white flowers on a short stalk that is erect or arching, and 4) each fruit has 3 conspicuous lobes. The common name refers to the fact that snow can be found on the ground when the flowers bloom. This cute little trillium should be protected wherever it is found.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This herbaceous plant is about 1½–4½' tall, branching occasionally. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial. The erect to ascending stems are light green to dull reddish brown, terete, and densely covered with long hairs. The alternate or opposite leaves are up to 12" long and 8" across, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stems. They have pubescent petioles up to 4" long that are grooved above and convex below. The lower to middle leaves are pinnately lobed and somewhat dentate or undulate along their margins; they usually have 5-7 major lobes with pointed tips. The upper leaves have pairs of basal lobes or they lack lobes; they are ovate, broadly hastate, or sometimes another shape.
The upper leaf surface is dull medium green; it is usually hairless for older leaves and appressed-hairy for younger leaves. The lower leaf surface is pale green and pubescent primarily along the major veins. At the bases of petioles, there are pairs of large green stipules. These stipules are connate (merged together) and their margins are coarsely dentate. Small cymes of several flowerheads develop from the upper stems and the axils of upper leaves. The branches of these cymes are green and pubescent. Sometimes there are 1-2 small linear bracts where the branches diverge, and sometimes they are found underneath the flowerheads. These bracts are green, pubescent, and about 8 mm. (1/3") in length. Each flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of several disk florets in the center and 5-8 ray florets around its circumference.
The small disk florets have cream-colored tubular corollas with 5 lobes; they are staminate. The petaloid rays of the flowerheads are white, obovate, short, and 3-lobed; sometimes they are absent. Only the ray florets produce achenes. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are 5 floral bracts (phyllaries) that are light green, pubescent, and lanceolate in shape; they become recurved when the flowerheads bloom. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall, lasting about 2 months. Only a few flowerheads are in bloom at the same time. Somewhat later, the flowerheads turn brown and their ray florets are replaced by obovoid achenes that are 3-angled, dark brown, and 3-4 mm. in length. These achenes lack tufts of hair. The root system is fibrous, although a poorly developed taproot is sometimes present.
Cultivation: This species is typically found in light to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and loamy to slightly rocky soil with abundant organic matter. The size of individual plants is variable, depending on moisture conditions and soil fertility. In the flower garden, this species may be short-lived.
Range & Habitat: Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis) is uncommon to occasional throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, bases of bluffs, shaded moist ravines, wooded slopes, shaded areas along streams, and edges of limestone or sandstone glades. This wildflower is associated with oak-hickory, maple-linden, and maple-beech woodlands; it is usually found in higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract honeybees, bumblebees, and miscellaneous flies (Sharp, 2002). Small bees probably visit the flowerheads in some areas as well. Ants feed on nectar from the disk florets of the flowerheads, but they are ineffective at cross-pollination (personal observation). Other insects suck plant juices or feed on the leaves of Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis). These species include several plant bugs (Macrolophus spp., Dicyphus gracilentus, Plagiognathus albifascies), the aphids Uroleucon zinzalae and Capitophorus hippophaes, and the leaf beetle Sumitrosis inaequalis. The larvae of this latter species are leaf-miners. Several species in the Orthoptera feed destructively on the flowerheads (Gangwere, 1961); they include Neoxabea bipunctata (Two-spotted Tree Cricket), Oecanthus niveus (Narrow-winged Tree Cricket), Scudderia furcata (Fork-tailed Bush Katydid), and Anaxipha exigua (Say's Trig). The relationships of Leaf-Cup to vertebrate animals is currently unavailable.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at the Portland Arch Conservation Area in west-central Indiana.
Comments: This woodland wildflower is a medium-large leafy plant. However, Leaf-Cup isn't very well known among members of the public because its small flowerheads are not very showy. These flowerheads are somewhat similar in appearance to those of a weedy introduced plant, Galinsoga quadriradiata (Peruvian Daisy). However, this latter species is a much smaller plant of open areas. The closest relative of Leaf-Cup is Smallanthus uvedalius (Bear's Foot), which has larger yellow flowerheads and palmately lobed leaves. This latter species can become up to 8' tall. In Illinois, it is restricted to the southern part of the state.
The upper leaf surface is dull medium green; it is usually hairless for older leaves and appressed-hairy for younger leaves. The lower leaf surface is pale green and pubescent primarily along the major veins. At the bases of petioles, there are pairs of large green stipules. These stipules are connate (merged together) and their margins are coarsely dentate. Small cymes of several flowerheads develop from the upper stems and the axils of upper leaves. The branches of these cymes are green and pubescent. Sometimes there are 1-2 small linear bracts where the branches diverge, and sometimes they are found underneath the flowerheads. These bracts are green, pubescent, and about 8 mm. (1/3") in length. Each flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of several disk florets in the center and 5-8 ray florets around its circumference.
The small disk florets have cream-colored tubular corollas with 5 lobes; they are staminate. The petaloid rays of the flowerheads are white, obovate, short, and 3-lobed; sometimes they are absent. Only the ray florets produce achenes. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are 5 floral bracts (phyllaries) that are light green, pubescent, and lanceolate in shape; they become recurved when the flowerheads bloom. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall, lasting about 2 months. Only a few flowerheads are in bloom at the same time. Somewhat later, the flowerheads turn brown and their ray florets are replaced by obovoid achenes that are 3-angled, dark brown, and 3-4 mm. in length. These achenes lack tufts of hair. The root system is fibrous, although a poorly developed taproot is sometimes present.
Cultivation: This species is typically found in light to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and loamy to slightly rocky soil with abundant organic matter. The size of individual plants is variable, depending on moisture conditions and soil fertility. In the flower garden, this species may be short-lived.
Range & Habitat: Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis) is uncommon to occasional throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, bases of bluffs, shaded moist ravines, wooded slopes, shaded areas along streams, and edges of limestone or sandstone glades. This wildflower is associated with oak-hickory, maple-linden, and maple-beech woodlands; it is usually found in higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract honeybees, bumblebees, and miscellaneous flies (Sharp, 2002). Small bees probably visit the flowerheads in some areas as well. Ants feed on nectar from the disk florets of the flowerheads, but they are ineffective at cross-pollination (personal observation). Other insects suck plant juices or feed on the leaves of Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis). These species include several plant bugs (Macrolophus spp., Dicyphus gracilentus, Plagiognathus albifascies), the aphids Uroleucon zinzalae and Capitophorus hippophaes, and the leaf beetle Sumitrosis inaequalis. The larvae of this latter species are leaf-miners. Several species in the Orthoptera feed destructively on the flowerheads (Gangwere, 1961); they include Neoxabea bipunctata (Two-spotted Tree Cricket), Oecanthus niveus (Narrow-winged Tree Cricket), Scudderia furcata (Fork-tailed Bush Katydid), and Anaxipha exigua (Say's Trig). The relationships of Leaf-Cup to vertebrate animals is currently unavailable.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at the Portland Arch Conservation Area in west-central Indiana.
Comments: This woodland wildflower is a medium-large leafy plant. However, Leaf-Cup isn't very well known among members of the public because its small flowerheads are not very showy. These flowerheads are somewhat similar in appearance to those of a weedy introduced plant, Galinsoga quadriradiata (Peruvian Daisy). However, this latter species is a much smaller plant of open areas. The closest relative of Leaf-Cup is Smallanthus uvedalius (Bear's Foot), which has larger yellow flowerheads and palmately lobed leaves. This latter species can become up to 8' tall. In Illinois, it is restricted to the southern part of the state.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This herbaceous plant is 1-2½' tall with an ascending leafy stem that is unbranched. The central stem is light to medium green, slightly zigzag, and glabrous to short-pubescent. Alternate leaves occur along this stem that are 2-5" long and 1-2½" long; they are broadly elliptic in shape, smooth (entire) along their margins, and sessile. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is pale to medium green and finely short-hairy along the major veins (a 10x hand lens may be required to see this). Leaf venation is parallel with 3-7 prominent veins. Flowers are produced individually or in groups of 2-3 from the axils of most leaves; they are suspended below the leaves on short peduncles and pedicels. Each flower is 8-14 mm. in length and narrowly cylindrical in shape, consisting of 6 pale greenish yellow to greenish white tepals, 6 inserted stamens, and a 3-celled ovary with a single style. Around the outer rim of each flower, there are 6 straight to slightly recurved lobes about 2-3 mm. in length. The filaments of the stamens are minutely warty and terete. The peduncles and pedicels are light green, slender, and glabrous; they are about ¼-½" in length during the blooming period, but become about ½-1" in length when berries are produced.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3 weeks. During the summer, the flowers are replaced by berries. At maturity, these berries are dark blue-violet to black, globoid in shape, and often glaucous; they are 6-9 mm. across. The interior of these berries is fleshy with several seeds. Individual seeds are 1.5-3.0 mm. long, globoid in shape, and either tan or straw-colored. The root system has knotty rhizomes up to ½" thick. Small clonal colonies are often produced from these rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist conditions, and soil containing either loam or sandy loam with decaying organic matter. Most growth and development occurs during the cool weather of spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Solomon's Seal is rare in northern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (Distribution Map). It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Illinois lies along the southern range limit of this species (excluding mountainous areas in the Appalachians). Habitats include moist to mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, and lower slopes of forested sand dunes near Lake Michigan. In Illinois, Hairy Solomon's Seal is found in higher quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, honeybees, bumblebees, and probably other bees. These floral visitors feed primarily on the nectar, although some of the bees also collect pollen for their larvae. A small number of insects feed destructively on the foliage and plant juices of Polygonatum spp. (Solomon's Seal species). These insects include the aphids Catamergus kickapoo and Macrosiphum gei, the thrips Ctenothrips bridwelli, and caterpillars of the moth Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis). The berries are probably eaten by such woodland birds as the Ruffed Grouse, various thrushes, and the Veery. These birds spread the seeds to new areas. White-tailed Deer occasionally graze on the foliage of Solomon's Seal species.
Photographic Location: A moist sandy woodland at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: This species can be easily confused with the more common Polygonatum commutatum (Smooth Solomon's Seal). Hairy Solomon's Seal tends to be a smaller plant that produces fewer flowers and berries underneath its leaves (usually only 1-2 flowers or berries per leaf). It also has a tendency to bloom a little earlier in the year than the latter plant. However, the most distinctive characteristics of Hairy Solomon's Seal are 1) the short fine hairs along the veins of its leaf undersides, and 2) the warty filaments of its flowers.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3 weeks. During the summer, the flowers are replaced by berries. At maturity, these berries are dark blue-violet to black, globoid in shape, and often glaucous; they are 6-9 mm. across. The interior of these berries is fleshy with several seeds. Individual seeds are 1.5-3.0 mm. long, globoid in shape, and either tan or straw-colored. The root system has knotty rhizomes up to ½" thick. Small clonal colonies are often produced from these rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist conditions, and soil containing either loam or sandy loam with decaying organic matter. Most growth and development occurs during the cool weather of spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Solomon's Seal is rare in northern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (Distribution Map). It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Illinois lies along the southern range limit of this species (excluding mountainous areas in the Appalachians). Habitats include moist to mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, and lower slopes of forested sand dunes near Lake Michigan. In Illinois, Hairy Solomon's Seal is found in higher quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, honeybees, bumblebees, and probably other bees. These floral visitors feed primarily on the nectar, although some of the bees also collect pollen for their larvae. A small number of insects feed destructively on the foliage and plant juices of Polygonatum spp. (Solomon's Seal species). These insects include the aphids Catamergus kickapoo and Macrosiphum gei, the thrips Ctenothrips bridwelli, and caterpillars of the moth Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis). The berries are probably eaten by such woodland birds as the Ruffed Grouse, various thrushes, and the Veery. These birds spread the seeds to new areas. White-tailed Deer occasionally graze on the foliage of Solomon's Seal species.
Photographic Location: A moist sandy woodland at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: This species can be easily confused with the more common Polygonatum commutatum (Smooth Solomon's Seal). Hairy Solomon's Seal tends to be a smaller plant that produces fewer flowers and berries underneath its leaves (usually only 1-2 flowers or berries per leaf). It also has a tendency to bloom a little earlier in the year than the latter plant. However, the most distinctive characteristics of Hairy Solomon's Seal are 1) the short fine hairs along the veins of its leaf undersides, and 2) the warty filaments of its flowers.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 2-3½' tall and unbranched. The central stem is glabrous, glaucous, and terete (circular) in circumference; it leans over to one side. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 3½" across; they are spaced fairly close together along the stem. These leaves are pale green, elliptic to ovate in shape, smooth (entire) along their margins, and glabrous; they have parallel veins and clasp the stem. From the axils of the middle and upper leaves, there are nodding umbels of 2-5 flowers (rarely more than this). A typical plant will have 12-20 of these umbels, which hang below the leaves. The peduncles (about 1¼" in length) and pedicels (about ½" in length) of the umbels are slender, green, and glabrous. The flowers are about ½-¾" (13-18 mm.) in length. Each flower has a narrow tubular corolla that is whitish green or pale yellowish green. Along the outer rim of this corolla, there are 6 small lobes that are slightly recurved. Within the interior of the corolla, there is a pistil with a single style and 6 stamens.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Each flower is replaced by a globoid berry that is about 8-10 mm. across at maturity. The berries are initially green, but they eventually become dark blue-violet. The root system produces rhizomes that are rather stout and knobby; on the upper surface of these rhizomes, there are circular scars. This plant often forms clonal colonies.
Cultivation: This plant prefers light shade to partial sun, mesic levels of moisture, and fertile loamy soil. It is fairly rugged and tolerates less than ideal conditions. The foliage persists all summer and it is rarely bothered by disease.
Range & Habitat: The native Solomon's Seal is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry deciduous woodlands, lower wooded slopes, edges of shady seeps, young flatwoods, woodland borders, and fence rows that are overgrown with shrubs or trees. Less often, Solomon's Seal may occur in meadows near woodlands and open prairies, especially cemetery prairies. Solomon's Seal occurs in both high quality and degraded woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various bees, including bumblebees, Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.), and Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.). The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird also feeds on nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage and other parts of Solomon's Seal. These species include the aphid, Catamergus kickapoo, which sucks sap from the leaf undersides; adults of a thrips, Ctenothrips bridwelli, which are found on the foliage; leaf-rolling larvae of the moth, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis), which feed on foliage or flowers; and larvae of the sawflies, Phymatocera racemosa and Phymatocera smilacinae, which feed on the foliage. The berries are eaten by the Greater Prairie Chicken and various woodland birds. White-Tailed Deer are quite fond of the foliage and will chomp off the tops of plants to about 6" above the ground.
Photographic Location: Along a shady fence row near the webmaster's apartment complex in Urbana, Illinois, and a shaded wildflower garden at the University of Illinois in the same city.
Comments: The foliage of Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) is attractive, while the flowers aren't very showy. Other Polygonatum spp. in Illinois have a similar appearance, but they are far less common. One species, Polygonatum pubescens (Pubescent Solomon's Seal) is pubescent on the undersides of its leaves (particularly along the veins), while the undersides of the leaves of Solomon's Seal are hairless. Another species, Polygonatum biflorum (Small Solomon's Seal), is slightly smaller in size with sessile leaves, while the leaves of Solomon's Seal clasp the central stem. There is an uncommon polyploid variant of Solomon's Seal that produces leafy stems about 3½-6' tall (or long) and its umbels often have more than 5 flowers. This variant is sometimes referred to as Giant Solomon's Seal. It prefers moist wooded areas, such as floodplain woodlands. Another group of plants with similar foliage, Smilacina spp. (False Solomon's Seal species), produce terminal panicles of flowers, while Polygonatum spp. (Solomon's Seal species) produce non-terminal umbels of flowers from the axils of their leaves.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Each flower is replaced by a globoid berry that is about 8-10 mm. across at maturity. The berries are initially green, but they eventually become dark blue-violet. The root system produces rhizomes that are rather stout and knobby; on the upper surface of these rhizomes, there are circular scars. This plant often forms clonal colonies.
Cultivation: This plant prefers light shade to partial sun, mesic levels of moisture, and fertile loamy soil. It is fairly rugged and tolerates less than ideal conditions. The foliage persists all summer and it is rarely bothered by disease.
Range & Habitat: The native Solomon's Seal is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry deciduous woodlands, lower wooded slopes, edges of shady seeps, young flatwoods, woodland borders, and fence rows that are overgrown with shrubs or trees. Less often, Solomon's Seal may occur in meadows near woodlands and open prairies, especially cemetery prairies. Solomon's Seal occurs in both high quality and degraded woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various bees, including bumblebees, Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.), and Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.). The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird also feeds on nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage and other parts of Solomon's Seal. These species include the aphid, Catamergus kickapoo, which sucks sap from the leaf undersides; adults of a thrips, Ctenothrips bridwelli, which are found on the foliage; leaf-rolling larvae of the moth, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis), which feed on foliage or flowers; and larvae of the sawflies, Phymatocera racemosa and Phymatocera smilacinae, which feed on the foliage. The berries are eaten by the Greater Prairie Chicken and various woodland birds. White-Tailed Deer are quite fond of the foliage and will chomp off the tops of plants to about 6" above the ground.
Photographic Location: Along a shady fence row near the webmaster's apartment complex in Urbana, Illinois, and a shaded wildflower garden at the University of Illinois in the same city.
Comments: The foliage of Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) is attractive, while the flowers aren't very showy. Other Polygonatum spp. in Illinois have a similar appearance, but they are far less common. One species, Polygonatum pubescens (Pubescent Solomon's Seal) is pubescent on the undersides of its leaves (particularly along the veins), while the undersides of the leaves of Solomon's Seal are hairless. Another species, Polygonatum biflorum (Small Solomon's Seal), is slightly smaller in size with sessile leaves, while the leaves of Solomon's Seal clasp the central stem. There is an uncommon polyploid variant of Solomon's Seal that produces leafy stems about 3½-6' tall (or long) and its umbels often have more than 5 flowers. This variant is sometimes referred to as Giant Solomon's Seal. It prefers moist wooded areas, such as floodplain woodlands. Another group of plants with similar foliage, Smilacina spp. (False Solomon's Seal species), produce terminal panicles of flowers, while Polygonatum spp. (Solomon's Seal species) produce non-terminal umbels of flowers from the axils of their leaves.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月27日
Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is ¾–1½' tall and unbranched. It consists of a central stem with 3 terminal leaves; a mature plant will produce a single stalked flower. The central stem is terete, glabrous, and pale green or pale reddish-green. The terminal leaves are arranged in a whorl at the apex of this stem. Each leaf is up to 6" long and 5" across; it is oval-ovate or oval in shape, medium green, and glabrous. Each leaf has smooth margins and parallel primary veins.
The single flower spans about 3-4" across on a stalk about 1-3" long. This stalk is ascending or erect; the flower is held above the leaves and usually leans to the side (but doesn't droop downward). Each flower consists of 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, a central white ovary, 6 stamens, and 3 stigmas. The petals are ovate-obovate, widely spreading, and usually longer than the sepals; they often become light pink with age. The sepals are lanceolate and widely spreading. The dull yellow stigmas are slender and either straight or slightly recurved. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. Each flower is replaced by a 6-angled seed capsule that becomes dark with age; it eventually splits open to release the seeds. The root system consists of a vertical rootstock with fibrous roots; spreading rhizomes are also produced. Occasionally, thisDistribution Map wildflower forms loose colonies of variable size.
Cultivation: Dappled sunlight or light shade is preferred during the spring; later in the year, more shade is tolerated. The soil should be rich, loamy, rather loose, and evenly moist; a surface layer of leaves and other decaying organic material is desirable. This wildflower develops very slowly from seed (several years to maturity). It is also possible to propagate this species from vegetative offsets of the rhizomes, but this takes time to develop as well.
Range & Habitat: The native Large-Flowered Trillium is occasional in NE Illinois, while in other areas of the state it is uncommon or absent. Populations of this species are stagnant or declining in Illinois; it is somewhat more common further to the east and northeast of the state. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, swamps, and shaded riverbanks. Occasionally, Large-Flowered Trillium is cultivated in shade gardens, but it is expensive and difficult to obtain; wild-collected plants should be avoided.
Faunal Associations: As showy as they are, the flowers are rarely visited by insects; Graenicher observed a single species, Ceratina dupla (Little Carpenter Bee), sucking nectar and collecting pollen from them. Another small bee, Andrena geranii, was observed to seek shelter in a flower from the rain. The caterpillars of two moths, Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) and Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis), occasionally feed on Trillium spp. (trilliums); the latter species is polyphagous. The seeds of this and other trilliums are distributed by ants because of their elaisomes (food appendages). White-Tailed Deer readily browse on the foliage and flowers of trilliums, and they appear to be attracted to Large-Flowered Trillium in particular (possibly because they can easily see the flowers). Where this trillium is abundant, its large leaves can provide significant cover for small mammals.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland in Piatt County, Illinois.
Comments: Among the various species of trilliums, this one is probably the most attractive and charismatic. The flowers are very showy and the leaves have a nice glossy surface. The only other species that is similar, Trillium flexipes (White Trillium), has flowers that are a little smaller and more nodding; usually its flowers hang a little above or a little below the leaves. Large-Flowered Trillium has slender stigmas that are straight or slightly recurved, while White Trillium has stout stigmas that are strongly recurved. While there are other white-petaled trilliums in Illinois, their flowers are much smaller in size (2" across or less).
The single flower spans about 3-4" across on a stalk about 1-3" long. This stalk is ascending or erect; the flower is held above the leaves and usually leans to the side (but doesn't droop downward). Each flower consists of 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, a central white ovary, 6 stamens, and 3 stigmas. The petals are ovate-obovate, widely spreading, and usually longer than the sepals; they often become light pink with age. The sepals are lanceolate and widely spreading. The dull yellow stigmas are slender and either straight or slightly recurved. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. Each flower is replaced by a 6-angled seed capsule that becomes dark with age; it eventually splits open to release the seeds. The root system consists of a vertical rootstock with fibrous roots; spreading rhizomes are also produced. Occasionally, thisDistribution Map wildflower forms loose colonies of variable size.
Cultivation: Dappled sunlight or light shade is preferred during the spring; later in the year, more shade is tolerated. The soil should be rich, loamy, rather loose, and evenly moist; a surface layer of leaves and other decaying organic material is desirable. This wildflower develops very slowly from seed (several years to maturity). It is also possible to propagate this species from vegetative offsets of the rhizomes, but this takes time to develop as well.
Range & Habitat: The native Large-Flowered Trillium is occasional in NE Illinois, while in other areas of the state it is uncommon or absent. Populations of this species are stagnant or declining in Illinois; it is somewhat more common further to the east and northeast of the state. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, swamps, and shaded riverbanks. Occasionally, Large-Flowered Trillium is cultivated in shade gardens, but it is expensive and difficult to obtain; wild-collected plants should be avoided.
Faunal Associations: As showy as they are, the flowers are rarely visited by insects; Graenicher observed a single species, Ceratina dupla (Little Carpenter Bee), sucking nectar and collecting pollen from them. Another small bee, Andrena geranii, was observed to seek shelter in a flower from the rain. The caterpillars of two moths, Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) and Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis), occasionally feed on Trillium spp. (trilliums); the latter species is polyphagous. The seeds of this and other trilliums are distributed by ants because of their elaisomes (food appendages). White-Tailed Deer readily browse on the foliage and flowers of trilliums, and they appear to be attracted to Large-Flowered Trillium in particular (possibly because they can easily see the flowers). Where this trillium is abundant, its large leaves can provide significant cover for small mammals.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland in Piatt County, Illinois.
Comments: Among the various species of trilliums, this one is probably the most attractive and charismatic. The flowers are very showy and the leaves have a nice glossy surface. The only other species that is similar, Trillium flexipes (White Trillium), has flowers that are a little smaller and more nodding; usually its flowers hang a little above or a little below the leaves. Large-Flowered Trillium has slender stigmas that are straight or slightly recurved, while White Trillium has stout stigmas that are strongly recurved. While there are other white-petaled trilliums in Illinois, their flowers are much smaller in size (2" across or less).
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Miss Chen
2018年05月27日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 1½–2' tall; it consists of a central stalk with 3 spreading terminal leaves. The stalk is light green and hairless. The leaves are up to 6½" long and across; they are broadly obovate or broadly rhombic-oval, smooth along the margins, and hairless. The base of each leaf is wedge-shaped, while the terminal end tapers to a blunt tip. The major veins of each leaf are parallel; there are also branching side veins. A mature plant produces a single flower on a nodding peduncle about 1–2½" long. This flower is about 2" across, consisting of 3 white spreading petals, 3 green sepals, 6 stamens (anthers & filaments), and a creamy central ovary. The pale yellow anthers are twice as long as their filaments. At the tip of the ovary, there are 3 recurved stigmas. Only rarely are the petals of the flowers brownish purple. The flower hangs from its peduncle a little above or a little below the leaves.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring. The seed capsule that replaces the flower is 6-angled; it splits open at maturity to release the seeds. The foliage withers away during the summer. The vertical central root is slightly swollen near the base of the plant; it branches into secondary fibrous roots. Small vegetative colonies are occasionally produced from spreading rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, followed by light to medium shade. The soil should be evenly moist, fertile, and loamy, with a layer of decaying leaves on its surface to protect the plant from drying out. Trilliums are slow to develop from seed and take many years to reach maturity. Most growth and development occurs during the spring before the canopy trees fully leaf out.
Range & Habitat: The native White Trillium is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, and uncommon or absent in the southern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, wooded slopes, large shady ravines, and rocky bluffs. This species is found in high quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: Few insects visit the flowers of Trillium spp. (trilliums), even though their flowers are rather showy; records for this particular species have not been found. The caterpillars of the moths Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) occasionally feed on the foliage of Trilliums. The seeds are distributed by ants because of their food appendages. White-Tailed Deer readily graze on the foliage of trilliums; they seem to prefer it.
Photographic Location: Deciduous woodlands at Shades State Park, Pine Hills State Nature Preserve, and the Potholes in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Other common names for this species are the Declined Trillium and Drooping Trillium. This is one of the white-flowered trilliums (Trillium spp.) in Illinois. It is much larger and blooms later than Trillium nivale (Snow Trillium), and its flowers are less erect and somewhat smaller than those of Trillium grandiflorum (Large-Flowered Trillium). This latter species has straight stigmas, while the stigmas of White Trillium are recurved and spreading. It is easy to confuse this species with Trillium cernuum (Nodding Trillium), which also has white nodding flowers. This latter species has somewhat smaller leaves and flowers, and the peduncles of its flowers are usually shorter (less than 1¼" long). This latter species has anthers that are about the same length as their filaments, while White Trillium has anthers that are about twice as long as their filaments.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring. The seed capsule that replaces the flower is 6-angled; it splits open at maturity to release the seeds. The foliage withers away during the summer. The vertical central root is slightly swollen near the base of the plant; it branches into secondary fibrous roots. Small vegetative colonies are occasionally produced from spreading rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, followed by light to medium shade. The soil should be evenly moist, fertile, and loamy, with a layer of decaying leaves on its surface to protect the plant from drying out. Trilliums are slow to develop from seed and take many years to reach maturity. Most growth and development occurs during the spring before the canopy trees fully leaf out.
Range & Habitat: The native White Trillium is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, and uncommon or absent in the southern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, wooded slopes, large shady ravines, and rocky bluffs. This species is found in high quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: Few insects visit the flowers of Trillium spp. (trilliums), even though their flowers are rather showy; records for this particular species have not been found. The caterpillars of the moths Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) occasionally feed on the foliage of Trilliums. The seeds are distributed by ants because of their food appendages. White-Tailed Deer readily graze on the foliage of trilliums; they seem to prefer it.
Photographic Location: Deciduous woodlands at Shades State Park, Pine Hills State Nature Preserve, and the Potholes in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Other common names for this species are the Declined Trillium and Drooping Trillium. This is one of the white-flowered trilliums (Trillium spp.) in Illinois. It is much larger and blooms later than Trillium nivale (Snow Trillium), and its flowers are less erect and somewhat smaller than those of Trillium grandiflorum (Large-Flowered Trillium). This latter species has straight stigmas, while the stigmas of White Trillium are recurved and spreading. It is easy to confuse this species with Trillium cernuum (Nodding Trillium), which also has white nodding flowers. This latter species has somewhat smaller leaves and flowers, and the peduncles of its flowers are usually shorter (less than 1¼" long). This latter species has anthers that are about the same length as their filaments, while White Trillium has anthers that are about twice as long as their filaments.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月27日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1½-3' tall and sparingly branched. The central stem is medium green, terete, and glabrous to slightly hairy, becoming somewhat broader where the bases of leaves wrap around it. On some plants, the central stem has a tendency to zigzag slightly between the alternate leaves. These leaves are up to 12" long, 2" across, and linear-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate in shape; they are smooth (entire) and sometimes slightly ciliate along their margins. Because of their length, the leaves have a tendency to arch downward from their bases. The upper leaf surface is dark green and glabrous to short-hairy, while the lower leaf surface is medium green and glabrous to short-pubescent (sometimes there are only minute hairs along the undersides of the veins). Leaf venation is parallel.
Sometimes secondary stems and leaves develop from the axils of the primary leaves. The central stem terminates in a floppy umbel of flowers on slender pedicels. Sometimes umbels of flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves or on short secondary stalks. Each flower is about 1" across when it is fully open, consisting of 3 light violet petals (rarely white), 3 medium green sepals, 6 stamens with yellow anthers, and a pistil with a single style. The petals are oval or broadly ovate, while the smaller sepals are ovate and usually hairy. The filaments of the stamens are pale violet; they are densely covered with spidery hairs. The pedicels of the flowers are about ½" long, medium green or reddish purple, and glabrous to hairy. At the base of each umbel of flowers, there is a leafy bract that is opposite from the alternate leaf; this bract is somewhat smaller in size.
The blooming period occurs during the summer, lasting about 1½ months. The flowers are diurnal, opening up during the morning and closing at about noon (although they may remain open longer on cloudy days). Each flower lasts only a single day. Because only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time, the blooming period is fairly long. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-chambered seed capsules (up to ¼" long); each of these capsules contain several seeds. The seeds are 2-3 mm. long and flattened-ovoid in shape; they have slightly indented centers, from which several fine grooves radiate outward in all directions toward their outer margins. The root system consists of a mass of fleshy fibrous roots, from which clonal offsets are occasionally produced.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with decaying organic matter. Like other spiderworts (Tradescantia spp.), this plant is little bothered by insect pests and foliar disease. It adapts well to flower gardens in areas where there is some shade.
Range & Habitat: The native Zigzag Spiderwort occurs occasionally in the southern half of Illinois, while it is rare or absent in the northern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, bases of bluffs, bottoms of large ravines, and shaded areas along streams. Sometimes this plant can be found in more disturbed areas, such as shaded areas along railroads, roads, and corners of yards when they are adjacent to woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees primarily. Halictid bees, including green metallic bees, collect pollen from the flowers, while Syrphid flies feed on pollen. Insects that feed destructively on Zigzag Spiderwort include the leaf beetles Paratriarius dorsatus, Oulema collaris, and other Oulema spp.; the stink bugs Acrosternum hilaris, Mormidea lugens, Proxys punctulatus, and Euschistus spp.; and the thrips Frankliniella fusca. The mucilaginous foliage of spiderworts (Tradescantia spp.) is eaten occasionally by the Woodland Box Turtle, Cottontail Rabbit, and White-tailed Deer.
Photographic Location: Underneath the shade of a tree in a flower garden at Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Of the several spiderwort species (Tradescantia spp.) in Illinois, Zigzag Spiderwort has the broadest leaves (up to 2" across) and they are typically dark green. Other spiderworts within the state have leaves ¾" across or less. Zigzag Spiderwort is better adapted to shady woodland areas than these other species. Another woodland species, Commelina virginica (Virginia Dayflower), has similar leaves, but the petals of its flowers are blue, rather than light violet, and its lower petal is noticeably smaller in size than the upper two. In contrast, the petals of Spiderworts are the same size. Like plant species in the Lily (Liliaceae) and Iris (Iridaceae) families, both spiderworts and dayflowers (Commelina spp.) are monocots, rather than dicots.
Sometimes secondary stems and leaves develop from the axils of the primary leaves. The central stem terminates in a floppy umbel of flowers on slender pedicels. Sometimes umbels of flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves or on short secondary stalks. Each flower is about 1" across when it is fully open, consisting of 3 light violet petals (rarely white), 3 medium green sepals, 6 stamens with yellow anthers, and a pistil with a single style. The petals are oval or broadly ovate, while the smaller sepals are ovate and usually hairy. The filaments of the stamens are pale violet; they are densely covered with spidery hairs. The pedicels of the flowers are about ½" long, medium green or reddish purple, and glabrous to hairy. At the base of each umbel of flowers, there is a leafy bract that is opposite from the alternate leaf; this bract is somewhat smaller in size.
The blooming period occurs during the summer, lasting about 1½ months. The flowers are diurnal, opening up during the morning and closing at about noon (although they may remain open longer on cloudy days). Each flower lasts only a single day. Because only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time, the blooming period is fairly long. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-chambered seed capsules (up to ¼" long); each of these capsules contain several seeds. The seeds are 2-3 mm. long and flattened-ovoid in shape; they have slightly indented centers, from which several fine grooves radiate outward in all directions toward their outer margins. The root system consists of a mass of fleshy fibrous roots, from which clonal offsets are occasionally produced.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with decaying organic matter. Like other spiderworts (Tradescantia spp.), this plant is little bothered by insect pests and foliar disease. It adapts well to flower gardens in areas where there is some shade.
Range & Habitat: The native Zigzag Spiderwort occurs occasionally in the southern half of Illinois, while it is rare or absent in the northern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, bases of bluffs, bottoms of large ravines, and shaded areas along streams. Sometimes this plant can be found in more disturbed areas, such as shaded areas along railroads, roads, and corners of yards when they are adjacent to woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees primarily. Halictid bees, including green metallic bees, collect pollen from the flowers, while Syrphid flies feed on pollen. Insects that feed destructively on Zigzag Spiderwort include the leaf beetles Paratriarius dorsatus, Oulema collaris, and other Oulema spp.; the stink bugs Acrosternum hilaris, Mormidea lugens, Proxys punctulatus, and Euschistus spp.; and the thrips Frankliniella fusca. The mucilaginous foliage of spiderworts (Tradescantia spp.) is eaten occasionally by the Woodland Box Turtle, Cottontail Rabbit, and White-tailed Deer.
Photographic Location: Underneath the shade of a tree in a flower garden at Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Of the several spiderwort species (Tradescantia spp.) in Illinois, Zigzag Spiderwort has the broadest leaves (up to 2" across) and they are typically dark green. Other spiderworts within the state have leaves ¾" across or less. Zigzag Spiderwort is better adapted to shady woodland areas than these other species. Another woodland species, Commelina virginica (Virginia Dayflower), has similar leaves, but the petals of its flowers are blue, rather than light violet, and its lower petal is noticeably smaller in size than the upper two. In contrast, the petals of Spiderworts are the same size. Like plant species in the Lily (Liliaceae) and Iris (Iridaceae) families, both spiderworts and dayflowers (Commelina spp.) are monocots, rather than dicots.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月26日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 2–3½' tall, branching occasionally in the upper half. It is more or less erect, although the weight of the inflorescence often causes the entire plant to lean sideways. The slender stems are light green, terete, and either glabrous, sparsely pubescent, or hairy in lines. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 2" across, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stems. The petioles are very slender and about 1" long on the lower leaves, while the upper leaves are nearly sessile. The petioles are light green and often hairy. The lower to middle leaves are lanceolate-ovate with indented bases, while the upper leaves are lanceolate with rounded bases. All leaves taper gradually into slender acute tips, while their margins are smooth and often slightly ciliate. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous (or nearly so), while the lower leaf surface is light green and either sparsely pubescent, hairy along the central vein, or glabrous. The lower leaf surface also has a reticulated network of fine secondary veins. The central stem (and any upper lateral stems) terminates in a panicle of flowerheads up to 1½' long and ¾' across.
Each flowerhead is about ¾–1" across, consisting of 10-20 ray florets that surround a similar number of disk florets. The petaloid rays of these flowerheads are lavender or pale blue-violet (rarely white), and they are individually linear-oblong in shape. The corollas of the disk florets are short-tubular with 5 minute lobes at their apices. Initially, these corollas are yellow, but they become reddish purple with age. On unusual specimens, these corollas are light pink to nearly white. At the base of each flowerhead, the overlapping phyllaries (scaly floral bracts) are linear-lanceolate and glabrous to finely pubescent. Depending on the stage of their maturity, the phyllaries have patches of dark green that are diamond-shaped near their tips, or they have central veins that are dark green. Otherwise, the phyllaries are light green. The blooming period occurs from late summer through the fall, lasting about 1–1½ months. Both the ray and disk florets can produce fertile achenes. These achenes are 2-3 mm. long and oblongoid in shape; they have small tufts of light brown hair at their apices. As a result, the achenes are distributed primarily by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous; older plants sometimes develop a small caudex. Clonal colonies of plants can develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam or some rocky material with decaying organic matter. Calcareous ground with a higher than normal pH is tolerated. Like many other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), the foliage can be attacked by many kinds of insects and disease organisms. The plants have a tendency to flop over while in bloom.
Range & Habitat: The native Short's Aster is a fairly common species that occurs in the majority of counties in Illinois. However, it is less common in some southern areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to upland woodlands, rocky open woodlands and slopes, limestone bluffs, woodland borders, and areas along woodland paths. Short's Aster occurs in both oak-hickory woodlands and maple-basswood woodlands. This aster often occurs in areas where limestone is close to the surface of the ground; it is usually found in higher quality natural areas. Wildfires and other kinds of disturbance can be beneficial if they reduce excessive shade from overhead canopy trees, or they reduce competition from invasive shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) attract many kinds of insects, especially long-tongued bees, small-tongued bees, butterflies, skippers, and flies. These insects obtain nectar or pollen from the flowerheads. Some bees are specialist pollinators of asters and sometimes goldenrods (Solidago spp.); these species include the plasterer bee Colletes simulans armata, and such Andrenid bees as Andrena asteris, Andrena asteroides, Andrena hirticincta, Andrena nubecula, Andrena simplex, and Andrena solidaginis. The caterpillars of two butterflies, Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent), feed on the foliage of asters. In addition, the caterpillars of such moths as Cucullia asteroides (The Asteroid), Carmenta corni (Aster Borer Moth), and many others feed on various parts of asters (see Moth Table). Other insect feeders include Exema canadensis and other leaf beetles, larvae of Calycomyza humeralis (Aster Leafminer Fly), larvae of several fruit flies, many aphids (especially Uroleucon spp.), Macrosteles fascifrons (Aster Leafhopper), the plant bug Plagiognathus cuneatus, and Corythucha marmorata (Goldenrod Lace Bug). Among birds, the Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse occasionally eat the seeds and foliage of these plants in woodland areas. Among mammals, both the White-tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit undoubtedly feed on the rather smooth foliage of Short's Aster and similar asters.
Photographic Location: A woodland edge near Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the more attractive woodland asters with flowers that are larger than average in size. Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) can be distinguished from other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) by carefully considering the appearance of the foliage and flowerheads. The lower to middle leaves of Short's Aster are indented at the base with narrow petioles. Some asters, such as Symphyotrichum sagittifolium (Arrow-Leaved Aster), have winged petioles on their lower to middle leaves, while other asters have rounded or wedge-shaped bases on their lower to middle leaves. The margins of leaves in Short's Aster are devoid of teeth (or nearly so), while other woodland asters, such as Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Blue Wood Aster), have leaf margins with conspicuous teeth. Similarly, the upper leaf surface in Short's Aster is hairless (or nearly so), while the upper leaf surface of Symphyotrichum drummondii (Drummond's Aster) is pubescent. Finally, the flowerheads of Short's Aster are usually ¾" across or more, while the flowerheads of other woodland asters are usually less than ¾" across. A scientific synonym of this species is Aster shortii.
Each flowerhead is about ¾–1" across, consisting of 10-20 ray florets that surround a similar number of disk florets. The petaloid rays of these flowerheads are lavender or pale blue-violet (rarely white), and they are individually linear-oblong in shape. The corollas of the disk florets are short-tubular with 5 minute lobes at their apices. Initially, these corollas are yellow, but they become reddish purple with age. On unusual specimens, these corollas are light pink to nearly white. At the base of each flowerhead, the overlapping phyllaries (scaly floral bracts) are linear-lanceolate and glabrous to finely pubescent. Depending on the stage of their maturity, the phyllaries have patches of dark green that are diamond-shaped near their tips, or they have central veins that are dark green. Otherwise, the phyllaries are light green. The blooming period occurs from late summer through the fall, lasting about 1–1½ months. Both the ray and disk florets can produce fertile achenes. These achenes are 2-3 mm. long and oblongoid in shape; they have small tufts of light brown hair at their apices. As a result, the achenes are distributed primarily by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous; older plants sometimes develop a small caudex. Clonal colonies of plants can develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam or some rocky material with decaying organic matter. Calcareous ground with a higher than normal pH is tolerated. Like many other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), the foliage can be attacked by many kinds of insects and disease organisms. The plants have a tendency to flop over while in bloom.
Range & Habitat: The native Short's Aster is a fairly common species that occurs in the majority of counties in Illinois. However, it is less common in some southern areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to upland woodlands, rocky open woodlands and slopes, limestone bluffs, woodland borders, and areas along woodland paths. Short's Aster occurs in both oak-hickory woodlands and maple-basswood woodlands. This aster often occurs in areas where limestone is close to the surface of the ground; it is usually found in higher quality natural areas. Wildfires and other kinds of disturbance can be beneficial if they reduce excessive shade from overhead canopy trees, or they reduce competition from invasive shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) attract many kinds of insects, especially long-tongued bees, small-tongued bees, butterflies, skippers, and flies. These insects obtain nectar or pollen from the flowerheads. Some bees are specialist pollinators of asters and sometimes goldenrods (Solidago spp.); these species include the plasterer bee Colletes simulans armata, and such Andrenid bees as Andrena asteris, Andrena asteroides, Andrena hirticincta, Andrena nubecula, Andrena simplex, and Andrena solidaginis. The caterpillars of two butterflies, Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent), feed on the foliage of asters. In addition, the caterpillars of such moths as Cucullia asteroides (The Asteroid), Carmenta corni (Aster Borer Moth), and many others feed on various parts of asters (see Moth Table). Other insect feeders include Exema canadensis and other leaf beetles, larvae of Calycomyza humeralis (Aster Leafminer Fly), larvae of several fruit flies, many aphids (especially Uroleucon spp.), Macrosteles fascifrons (Aster Leafhopper), the plant bug Plagiognathus cuneatus, and Corythucha marmorata (Goldenrod Lace Bug). Among birds, the Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse occasionally eat the seeds and foliage of these plants in woodland areas. Among mammals, both the White-tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit undoubtedly feed on the rather smooth foliage of Short's Aster and similar asters.
Photographic Location: A woodland edge near Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the more attractive woodland asters with flowers that are larger than average in size. Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) can be distinguished from other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) by carefully considering the appearance of the foliage and flowerheads. The lower to middle leaves of Short's Aster are indented at the base with narrow petioles. Some asters, such as Symphyotrichum sagittifolium (Arrow-Leaved Aster), have winged petioles on their lower to middle leaves, while other asters have rounded or wedge-shaped bases on their lower to middle leaves. The margins of leaves in Short's Aster are devoid of teeth (or nearly so), while other woodland asters, such as Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Blue Wood Aster), have leaf margins with conspicuous teeth. Similarly, the upper leaf surface in Short's Aster is hairless (or nearly so), while the upper leaf surface of Symphyotrichum drummondii (Drummond's Aster) is pubescent. Finally, the flowerheads of Short's Aster are usually ¾" across or more, while the flowerheads of other woodland asters are usually less than ¾" across. A scientific synonym of this species is Aster shortii.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月26日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1½–3' tall. Each plant has a central stem that develops from the rootstock (less often, there are 2-3 such stems), which branches from below the middle. During the flowering period, short secondary stems develop from the axils of the leaves. These stems are terete, mostly light green, and pubescent; sometimes they have longitudinal ridges. The alternate leaves are up to 3½" long and 1" across; they are lanceolate, oblanceolate, or narrowly ovate with margins that are slightly toothed or smooth. The upper surface of each leaf is medium green and hairless, while the lower surface is light green and finely short-pubescent. Sometimes there are longer hairs along the central vein on the underside of each leaf. The leaves are sessile against their stems and their outer tips are somewhat blunt.
The upper stems terminate in elongated panicles of flowerheads. Each flowerhead spans about ½" across, consisting of 15-25 white ray florets and a similar number of disk florets. The disk florets are initially pale yellow, but they later become reddish purple; each disk floret is tubular in shape with 5 spreading lobes along its upper rim. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there is an overlapping series of small floral bracts (phyllaries). These floral bracts are linear in shape, evenly green from top to bottom, and appressed or slightly spreading. Each flowerhead has a short peduncle up to 1" long. In addition to the flowerheads, the branches of the panicle have numerous leafy bracts. These leafy bracts are similar in appearance to the leaves, except smaller in size. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flowerhead is replaced by a dense cluster of small achenes. Each achene is bullet-shaped with a small tuft of white hairs at its apex. The achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and long-rhizomatous. Small colonies of plants are occasionally formed.
Cultivation: The preference is partial or dappled sunlight, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Other kinds of soil are also tolerated.
Range & Habitat: The native Ontario Aster is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, woodland openings, woodland borders, partially shaded cliffs, areas along woodland paths, powerline clearances in wooded areas, low areas along woodland streams, savannas, moist meadows, and abandoned fields. This aster benefits from disturbance if it reduces excessive shade from canopy trees.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and/or pollen attract various insects, including bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees, Syrphid flies, and butterflies. A long-horned bee, Melissodes dentriventris, is an oligolectic floral visitor of this and other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). These insects cross-pollinate the flowers. Other insects, including aphids, plant bugs, leaf beetles, etc., feed destructively on asters (see Insect Table); there are also a large number of moth caterpillars that feed on various parts of asters (see Moth Table). The Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey feed on the leaves and seeds of these plants to a limited extent; White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbits also feed on the foliage to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: A powerline clearance at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This aster has a rather ordinary appearance and it is often omitted in many wildflower guides. Ontario Aster (Symphyotrichum ontarionis) resembles several other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) with small white flowerheads and they often occur in the same or similar habitats. In general, Ontario Aster can be distinguished from these other species by the even pubescence of its stems and the even canescence (short fine pubescence) on the underside of its leaves. Other similar asters have stems with lines of hair and the undersides of their leaves are either hairy along the major veins or hairless. The flowerheads of Ontario Aster have 15-25 ray florets and its floral bracts are evenly green from top to bottom. Other similar asters have fewer ray florets (10-15) or their floral bracts have a diamond-shaped pattern near their tips that is dark green. Ontario Aster also has an abundance of leafy green bracts along the branches of its panicles, while the bracts of other asters are smaller in size and more scale-like in appearance. Sometimes Ontario Aster hybridizes with similar species of asters, which increases the difficulty of identification. A scientific synonym of this species is Aster ontarionis.
The upper stems terminate in elongated panicles of flowerheads. Each flowerhead spans about ½" across, consisting of 15-25 white ray florets and a similar number of disk florets. The disk florets are initially pale yellow, but they later become reddish purple; each disk floret is tubular in shape with 5 spreading lobes along its upper rim. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there is an overlapping series of small floral bracts (phyllaries). These floral bracts are linear in shape, evenly green from top to bottom, and appressed or slightly spreading. Each flowerhead has a short peduncle up to 1" long. In addition to the flowerheads, the branches of the panicle have numerous leafy bracts. These leafy bracts are similar in appearance to the leaves, except smaller in size. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flowerhead is replaced by a dense cluster of small achenes. Each achene is bullet-shaped with a small tuft of white hairs at its apex. The achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and long-rhizomatous. Small colonies of plants are occasionally formed.
Cultivation: The preference is partial or dappled sunlight, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Other kinds of soil are also tolerated.
Range & Habitat: The native Ontario Aster is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, woodland openings, woodland borders, partially shaded cliffs, areas along woodland paths, powerline clearances in wooded areas, low areas along woodland streams, savannas, moist meadows, and abandoned fields. This aster benefits from disturbance if it reduces excessive shade from canopy trees.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and/or pollen attract various insects, including bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees, Syrphid flies, and butterflies. A long-horned bee, Melissodes dentriventris, is an oligolectic floral visitor of this and other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). These insects cross-pollinate the flowers. Other insects, including aphids, plant bugs, leaf beetles, etc., feed destructively on asters (see Insect Table); there are also a large number of moth caterpillars that feed on various parts of asters (see Moth Table). The Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey feed on the leaves and seeds of these plants to a limited extent; White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbits also feed on the foliage to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: A powerline clearance at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This aster has a rather ordinary appearance and it is often omitted in many wildflower guides. Ontario Aster (Symphyotrichum ontarionis) resembles several other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) with small white flowerheads and they often occur in the same or similar habitats. In general, Ontario Aster can be distinguished from these other species by the even pubescence of its stems and the even canescence (short fine pubescence) on the underside of its leaves. Other similar asters have stems with lines of hair and the undersides of their leaves are either hairy along the major veins or hairless. The flowerheads of Ontario Aster have 15-25 ray florets and its floral bracts are evenly green from top to bottom. Other similar asters have fewer ray florets (10-15) or their floral bracts have a diamond-shaped pattern near their tips that is dark green. Ontario Aster also has an abundance of leafy green bracts along the branches of its panicles, while the bracts of other asters are smaller in size and more scale-like in appearance. Sometimes Ontario Aster hybridizes with similar species of asters, which increases the difficulty of identification. A scientific synonym of this species is Aster ontarionis.
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求助
kensong
2018年05月25日
Is something eating my coleus? I see some leaves being eaten away and I find these droppings under the plant each morning. I inspected but can't find anything.
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sunnyzou：Worms usually eat in the morning, and some others eat in the evening. Other times are hidden. If you want to find them successfully, it is best when they eat. If you can use pesticides, it can be this time.
文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月25日
Description: This perennial plant is 1-3' tall, branching occasionally in the upper half. The light green to reddish brown stems are usually glabrous; sometimes the central stem has sparse lines of hairs. The alternate leaves are up to 5" long and 3" across (excluding the petioles), becoming smaller as they ascend the stems; they are medium to dark green above and light to medium green below. The lower leaves are cordate, while the upper leaves are cordate-ovate or ovate; their margins are coarsely serrated. Leaf upper surfaces are glabrous, while their lower surfaces are either glabrous or there are hairs along the major veins. The narrow petioles of the leaves are about one-half to almost as long as their blades (up to 3½" in length); they are either unwinged or slightly winged, becoming shorter among the upper leaves. The upper stem terminates in a panicle of flowerheads about ½-1½' long. This panicle is longer than it is wide and it is more broad toward the bottom than the apex. When upper lateral stems are present, much smaller panicles may be produced. The central stalk, lateral branches, and peduncles of each panicle are light to medium green, terete, and glabrous to short-pubescent.
Each small flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of 7-15 ray florets that surround a similar number of disk florets. The petaloid rays of these flowerheads are lavender, light blue-violet, or less often white; they are linear-oblong in shape. The corollas of the disk florets are short-tubular in shape; these corollas are initially cream-colored or pale yellow, but they later become pale purple to reddish purple with age. The apices of these corollas are 5-lobed; these lobes are short and erect. The base of each flowerhead is surrounded by slender floral bracts (phyllaries) that overlap each other in several series. These scaly bracts are light green, except for diamond-shaped patches of dark green toward their tips; they are linear-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate in shape and about 3-5 mm. in length. The peduncles of the flowerheads are short (less than ½" in length). Among the branches of each panicle, there are leafy bracts up to 1" long; they are elliptic or linear-oblong in shape. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by achenes with small tufts of white hair. Individual achenes are 2-3 mm. long and oblongoid-oblanceoloid in shape. The root system is fibrous and short-rhizomatous. This aster reproduces by reseeding itself and vegetatively through its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam, clay-loam, or some rocky material. Occasionally the foliage is affected by powdery mildew and other kinds of disease organisms during the fall. During hot dry weather, the lower leaves may wilt and fall off. Plant size is variable depending on the fertility of the soil and moisture conditions. Plants that are grown in shade will produce smaller panicles of flowers than those that are grown in more sunlight.
Range & Habitat: The native Blue Wood Aster occurs occasionally in scattered counties across Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is more common in the northern half of the state than in the southern half. Habitats include moist to dry deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, areas adjacent to woodland paths, thinly wooded bluffs, shaded areas along streambanks, and rocky wooded slopes. Some disturbance is beneficial in heavily wooded areas if it reduces excessive shade from overhead canopy trees or excessive competition from shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. Bees are particularly important pollinators of the flowers. Caterpillars of the butterflies Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent) feed on the foliage of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), as do the caterpillars of many moth species (see Moth Table). Some moth caterpillars also feed on the flowers, developing seeds, stems, and roots. Other insects that feed on these plants include leaf beetles, the larvae of leaf-mining flies and fruit flies, plant bugs, stink bugs, lace bugs, aphids, and leafhoppers (see the Insect Table for a more complete listing of these species). Mammalian herbivores, including rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and livestock, browse on the foliage of asters occasionally. The Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse eat both the foliage and seeds to some extent.
Photographic Location: A rocky woodland in west-central Indiana. The inflorescence is small because the photographed plant was growing in a dry upland area of a shady woodland.
Comments: In Illinois, the Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) often hybridizes with Arrow-Leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum sagittifolium) and Drummond's Aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii), which can make the identification of some field specimens from this aster complex very difficult. The Blue Wood Aster can be distinguished from both Arrow-Leaved Aster and Drummond's Aster by its narrow petioles; the petioles of the latter two species are conspicuously winged with narrow green margins. Unlike Drummond's Aster, the Blue Wood Aster has stems and leaf undersides that are hairless or they have lines of hair; the stems and leaf undersides of Drummond's Aster are evenly pubescent. Some authorities consider the preceding species of asters to be varieties of each other, in which case the Blue Wood Aster is the typical variety, Symphyotrichum cordifolium cordifolium. Another woodland species, Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii), is also similar to Blue Wood Aster in appearance, but Short's Aster has larger flowerheads (¾–1" across) and its leaves are smooth to slightly serrated along their margins. Another common name of Symphyotrichum cordifolium is Heart-Leaved Aster. A scientific synonym of this aster is Aster cordifolius.
Each small flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of 7-15 ray florets that surround a similar number of disk florets. The petaloid rays of these flowerheads are lavender, light blue-violet, or less often white; they are linear-oblong in shape. The corollas of the disk florets are short-tubular in shape; these corollas are initially cream-colored or pale yellow, but they later become pale purple to reddish purple with age. The apices of these corollas are 5-lobed; these lobes are short and erect. The base of each flowerhead is surrounded by slender floral bracts (phyllaries) that overlap each other in several series. These scaly bracts are light green, except for diamond-shaped patches of dark green toward their tips; they are linear-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate in shape and about 3-5 mm. in length. The peduncles of the flowerheads are short (less than ½" in length). Among the branches of each panicle, there are leafy bracts up to 1" long; they are elliptic or linear-oblong in shape. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by achenes with small tufts of white hair. Individual achenes are 2-3 mm. long and oblongoid-oblanceoloid in shape. The root system is fibrous and short-rhizomatous. This aster reproduces by reseeding itself and vegetatively through its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam, clay-loam, or some rocky material. Occasionally the foliage is affected by powdery mildew and other kinds of disease organisms during the fall. During hot dry weather, the lower leaves may wilt and fall off. Plant size is variable depending on the fertility of the soil and moisture conditions. Plants that are grown in shade will produce smaller panicles of flowers than those that are grown in more sunlight.
Range & Habitat: The native Blue Wood Aster occurs occasionally in scattered counties across Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is more common in the northern half of the state than in the southern half. Habitats include moist to dry deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, areas adjacent to woodland paths, thinly wooded bluffs, shaded areas along streambanks, and rocky wooded slopes. Some disturbance is beneficial in heavily wooded areas if it reduces excessive shade from overhead canopy trees or excessive competition from shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. Bees are particularly important pollinators of the flowers. Caterpillars of the butterflies Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent) feed on the foliage of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), as do the caterpillars of many moth species (see Moth Table). Some moth caterpillars also feed on the flowers, developing seeds, stems, and roots. Other insects that feed on these plants include leaf beetles, the larvae of leaf-mining flies and fruit flies, plant bugs, stink bugs, lace bugs, aphids, and leafhoppers (see the Insect Table for a more complete listing of these species). Mammalian herbivores, including rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and livestock, browse on the foliage of asters occasionally. The Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse eat both the foliage and seeds to some extent.
Photographic Location: A rocky woodland in west-central Indiana. The inflorescence is small because the photographed plant was growing in a dry upland area of a shady woodland.
Comments: In Illinois, the Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) often hybridizes with Arrow-Leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum sagittifolium) and Drummond's Aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii), which can make the identification of some field specimens from this aster complex very difficult. The Blue Wood Aster can be distinguished from both Arrow-Leaved Aster and Drummond's Aster by its narrow petioles; the petioles of the latter two species are conspicuously winged with narrow green margins. Unlike Drummond's Aster, the Blue Wood Aster has stems and leaf undersides that are hairless or they have lines of hair; the stems and leaf undersides of Drummond's Aster are evenly pubescent. Some authorities consider the preceding species of asters to be varieties of each other, in which case the Blue Wood Aster is the typical variety, Symphyotrichum cordifolium cordifolium. Another woodland species, Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii), is also similar to Blue Wood Aster in appearance, but Short's Aster has larger flowerheads (¾–1" across) and its leaves are smooth to slightly serrated along their margins. Another common name of Symphyotrichum cordifolium is Heart-Leaved Aster. A scientific synonym of this aster is Aster cordifolius.
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