文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月09日
Description: This perennial herbaceous plant is 1-3' tall, branching frequently to create a bushy effect. The slender stems are hairless. The slender opposite leaves are up to 3" long and ¼" across. Each leaf is sessile, linear, and hairless, with a prominent central vein and smooth margins.
The upper stems terminate in small flat heads of flowers. The short tubular flowers are white, often with scattered purple dots, and individually about ¼" long. The corolla is divided into an upper lip and a lower lip with three lobes. The reproductive structures of each flower are white, except that the anthers are purple. The calyx is divided into several slender green lobes. The blooming period is early to mid-summer, and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no floral scent, although the foliage has a mild mint scent and somewhat stronger minty taste. The small dark seeds are without tufts of hairs, but are small enough to be dispersed by gusts of wind. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes. Slender Mountain Mint can spread vegetatively, forming colonies of closely bunched plants.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. This plant often grows in rich loam, as well as soil containing rocky or gravelly material. Foliar disease is less troublesome for this mint species than many others. The leaves may assume a yellowish appearance during a major drought. This is an easy plant to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Slender Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in every county of southern and central Illinois, but is less common and more sporadic in northern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, moist meadows and gravelly areas along rivers, openings in woodlands, moist thickets, acid gravel seeps, limestone glades, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects usually seek nectar. Among the wasps, are such visitors as Thread-Waisted wasps, Bee Wolves (Philanthus spp.), Scoliid wasps, Tiphiid wasps, Sand wasps, Spider wasps, and Eumenine wasps. Flies visitors include Soldier flies, Syrphid flies, Mydas flies, bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, and Tachinid flies. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds. Mammalian herbivores usually don't browse on this plant because of the minty taste; the foliage may contain anti-bacterial substances that disrupt the digestive process of herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This plant has a delicate, somewhat airy appearance. Slender Mountain Mint closely resembles Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint), except that the former has hairless stems and leaves that never exceed ¼" across. Common Mountain Mint, on the other hand, has lines of white hairs on its stems, and some of the larger leaves will exceed ¼" across. This latter plant tends to be taller, stouter, and less branched in appearance; it also blooms a little later in the year. The photographed flowering plant is still in the bud stage, while the photographed flowerheads are beginning to bloom.
The upper stems terminate in small flat heads of flowers. The short tubular flowers are white, often with scattered purple dots, and individually about ¼" long. The corolla is divided into an upper lip and a lower lip with three lobes. The reproductive structures of each flower are white, except that the anthers are purple. The calyx is divided into several slender green lobes. The blooming period is early to mid-summer, and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no floral scent, although the foliage has a mild mint scent and somewhat stronger minty taste. The small dark seeds are without tufts of hairs, but are small enough to be dispersed by gusts of wind. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes. Slender Mountain Mint can spread vegetatively, forming colonies of closely bunched plants.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. This plant often grows in rich loam, as well as soil containing rocky or gravelly material. Foliar disease is less troublesome for this mint species than many others. The leaves may assume a yellowish appearance during a major drought. This is an easy plant to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Slender Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in every county of southern and central Illinois, but is less common and more sporadic in northern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, moist meadows and gravelly areas along rivers, openings in woodlands, moist thickets, acid gravel seeps, limestone glades, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects usually seek nectar. Among the wasps, are such visitors as Thread-Waisted wasps, Bee Wolves (Philanthus spp.), Scoliid wasps, Tiphiid wasps, Sand wasps, Spider wasps, and Eumenine wasps. Flies visitors include Soldier flies, Syrphid flies, Mydas flies, bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, and Tachinid flies. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds. Mammalian herbivores usually don't browse on this plant because of the minty taste; the foliage may contain anti-bacterial substances that disrupt the digestive process of herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This plant has a delicate, somewhat airy appearance. Slender Mountain Mint closely resembles Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint), except that the former has hairless stems and leaves that never exceed ¼" across. Common Mountain Mint, on the other hand, has lines of white hairs on its stems, and some of the larger leaves will exceed ¼" across. This latter plant tends to be taller, stouter, and less branched in appearance; it also blooms a little later in the year. The photographed flowering plant is still in the bud stage, while the photographed flowerheads are beginning to bloom.
0
0
成长记
dormantfig
2018年02月09日
I now added "Aquatic Plant Terrarium" in my "garden"
1
0
dormantfig：@cclecombe if you end up filling it with more than 10L you could also add shrimp which provide a natural source CO2
dormantfig：@cclecombe yesss do it! They can be quite expensive depending on set up but are absolutely worth it especially with pretty lighting
cclecombe：I think underwater gardens are going to be my next endeavour!
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月08日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 2-4' tall, branching frequently to create a slender bushy appearance. The stems are light green, 4-angled, and densely pubescent on all sides. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along these stems, becoming gradually smaller and more slender as they ascend. These leaves are up to 1-3" long and ¼–¾" across; they are narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate in shape and either sessile or short-petiolate. The leaf margins are entire (toothless) and ciliate. When petioles are present, they are light green and densely short-pubescent. The upper leaf surface is grayish green and short-pubescent, while the lower leaf surface is slightly more pale and densely pubescent. The foliage has a typical mint fragrance. The upper stems terminate in branching flowerheads of flowers; individual heads are flat-topped and densely flowered, spanning up to 1" across.
Flowerbud Heads
Each flower is about ¼" long (from upper lip to lower lip), consisting of a 2-lipped corolla, a long-tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 4 stamens, and a pistil. The corolla is white; there are purple specks and dots scattered across its throat and the lobes of its lips. The upper lip of the corolla consists of a short hood, while its lower lip is longer and 3-lobed. The sides of the calyx tube are light green, vertically ribbed, and pubescent; the teeth along the upper rim of the calyx are erect and narrowly triangular in shape. At the base of each flowerhead, there occurs several leafy bracts that are up to 1" long; they are grayish green, lanceolate in shape, and pubescent. The margins of these bracts are entire and ciliate. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer, lasting about 1 month. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by tiny seeds (4 seeds per flower); these seeds are hidden from view by the persistent calyces. Individual seeds are about 1 mm. long, oblongoid in shape, and dark brown. The root system is rhizomatous, often forming a dense tuft of clonal offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. Growth is best in fertile loamy soil, although other kinds of soil are acceptable, including those that are stony or clayish. During hot dry weather, some of the leaves may turn yellow and fall off, but the plant usually survives. Occasionally, some of the leaves may be affected by rust, especially when a plant is stressed out by adverse weather or is suffering from transplant shock. This problem is almost always temporary. Some protection from afternoon sun and occasional watering during dry spells can keep this plant healthy; fertilizer is neither necessary nor desirable. Overall, this is an easy plant to cultivate in gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in central Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in the southern and northern sections of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include black soil prairies, meadows in wooded areas, rocky upland forests, woodland edges, savannas, thickets, limestone glades, and abandoned fields. Hairy Mountain Mint is usually found in higher quality natural areas, although it may colonize adjacent disturbed areas. Occasional wildfires or mowing may be beneficial in maintaining populations of this plant if it reduces competition from woody vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including honeybees, cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp., Coelioxys spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Halictid cuckoo bees (Sphecodes spp.), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila spp.), the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), the Black Grasshopper Wasp (Prionyx atratus), bee wolves (Philanthus spp.), paper wasps (Polistes spp.), Eumenine wasps (Euodynerus spp., Stenodynerus spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Exoprosopa spp.), thick-headed flies (Conopidae), Tachinid flies, small- to medium-sized butterflies, and skippers (Robertson, 1929). Because of the frequent bee and wasp visitors to the flowers, parasitoid wedge-shaped beetles (Macrosiagon spp.) are often common on the flowers. These beetles lay their eggs on the flowers, and the hatched larvae attach themselves to their hosts and hitch-hike a ride back to the brood chamber, where they feed on the larvae and their food stores. Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum) is one of the host plants of a a stink bug, Neottiglossa cavifrons (Hart, 1919; Rider, 2009). Among vertebrate animals, Hairy Mountain Mint and other mountain mints have little value as sources of food. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds, while mammalian herbivores display little interest in the foliage, probably because of the chemicals that are associated with its strong mint fragrance.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities refer to this plant as Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum. The appearance of Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum) is similar to other mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.), but its leaves and stems are more hairy. Compared to two prairie species, Common Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) and Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuiflorum), Hairy Mountain Mint has wider leaves. Other mountain mints that occur in Illinois are restricted to the southern section of the state, where they are found primarily in hilly woodlands. The fresh leaves of Hairy Mountain Mint can be boiled in water to make an excellent mint-flavored tea (personal observation).
Flowerbud Heads
Each flower is about ¼" long (from upper lip to lower lip), consisting of a 2-lipped corolla, a long-tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 4 stamens, and a pistil. The corolla is white; there are purple specks and dots scattered across its throat and the lobes of its lips. The upper lip of the corolla consists of a short hood, while its lower lip is longer and 3-lobed. The sides of the calyx tube are light green, vertically ribbed, and pubescent; the teeth along the upper rim of the calyx are erect and narrowly triangular in shape. At the base of each flowerhead, there occurs several leafy bracts that are up to 1" long; they are grayish green, lanceolate in shape, and pubescent. The margins of these bracts are entire and ciliate. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer, lasting about 1 month. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by tiny seeds (4 seeds per flower); these seeds are hidden from view by the persistent calyces. Individual seeds are about 1 mm. long, oblongoid in shape, and dark brown. The root system is rhizomatous, often forming a dense tuft of clonal offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. Growth is best in fertile loamy soil, although other kinds of soil are acceptable, including those that are stony or clayish. During hot dry weather, some of the leaves may turn yellow and fall off, but the plant usually survives. Occasionally, some of the leaves may be affected by rust, especially when a plant is stressed out by adverse weather or is suffering from transplant shock. This problem is almost always temporary. Some protection from afternoon sun and occasional watering during dry spells can keep this plant healthy; fertilizer is neither necessary nor desirable. Overall, this is an easy plant to cultivate in gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in central Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in the southern and northern sections of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include black soil prairies, meadows in wooded areas, rocky upland forests, woodland edges, savannas, thickets, limestone glades, and abandoned fields. Hairy Mountain Mint is usually found in higher quality natural areas, although it may colonize adjacent disturbed areas. Occasional wildfires or mowing may be beneficial in maintaining populations of this plant if it reduces competition from woody vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including honeybees, cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp., Coelioxys spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Halictid cuckoo bees (Sphecodes spp.), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila spp.), the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), the Black Grasshopper Wasp (Prionyx atratus), bee wolves (Philanthus spp.), paper wasps (Polistes spp.), Eumenine wasps (Euodynerus spp., Stenodynerus spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Exoprosopa spp.), thick-headed flies (Conopidae), Tachinid flies, small- to medium-sized butterflies, and skippers (Robertson, 1929). Because of the frequent bee and wasp visitors to the flowers, parasitoid wedge-shaped beetles (Macrosiagon spp.) are often common on the flowers. These beetles lay their eggs on the flowers, and the hatched larvae attach themselves to their hosts and hitch-hike a ride back to the brood chamber, where they feed on the larvae and their food stores. Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum) is one of the host plants of a a stink bug, Neottiglossa cavifrons (Hart, 1919; Rider, 2009). Among vertebrate animals, Hairy Mountain Mint and other mountain mints have little value as sources of food. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds, while mammalian herbivores display little interest in the foliage, probably because of the chemicals that are associated with its strong mint fragrance.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities refer to this plant as Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum. The appearance of Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum) is similar to other mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.), but its leaves and stems are more hairy. Compared to two prairie species, Common Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) and Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuiflorum), Hairy Mountain Mint has wider leaves. Other mountain mints that occur in Illinois are restricted to the southern section of the state, where they are found primarily in hilly woodlands. The fresh leaves of Hairy Mountain Mint can be boiled in water to make an excellent mint-flavored tea (personal observation).
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月08日
Description: This plant is a summer annual or biennial that is erect and eventually becomes ¾–2½' tall. Some plants overwinter as a low rosette of leaves, while others complete their growth and development within a single year. After the rosette stage has passed, each plant has a central stem that is unbranched in the lower half, while short ascending branches develop in the upper half. The central and upper stems are whitish green to nearly white from the appressed woolly hairs that cover their surfaces. The alternate leaves are up to 3" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across, becoming slowly smaller as they ascend the stems. The leaves are linear-oblong, smooth or minutely undulate along their margins, and sessile. The upper surface of each leaf is mostly hairless and dark green to yellowish green, while the lower surface is whitish green and covered with appressed woolly hairs. Each leaf has a prominent central vein.
Compound Corymbs of Flowerheads
Each upper stem terminates in a small corymb of 1-5 flowerheads; they are white to cream-colored. Each flowerhead is about ¼" long and about half as much across; it is conical-oblongoid in shape with a truncate apex. Later, each flowerhead becomes wider and more open as its achenes become mature. The sides of each flowerhead consist of many overlapping bracts that are white or cream-colored; these scale-like bracts are oblong-lanceolate to broadly oblong-lanceolate and they have blunt tips. At the apex of each flowerhead, there are many disk florets that are pale yellow to light brown; the innermost florets are perfect (both staminate and pistillate), while the remaining florets are pistillate. Each tiny floret is narrowly tubular. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable floral scent, although the foliage often has a balsam-like fragrance. Each floret is replaced with a small bullet-shaped achene that has a tuft of white hairs at its apex. These hairs can separate from each other individually or in small groups; they are not united at the base. The root system is mostly fibrous. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a friable soil containing sand or silt. A little shade is tolerated. The seeds require light to germinate.
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Everlasting is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland prairies, sand prairies, typical savannas and sandy savannas, fallow fields, and areas along railroads and roadsides. Disturbed dry areas with scant vegetation are preferred.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts short-tongued bees (mainly Halictid), wasps, and flies primarily. Among the wasps, are such visitors as Eumenid wasps, Crabronid wasps, Paper wasps, Spider wasps, Cuckoo wasps, Weevil wasps, and many others (see Robertson, 1929). The Wild Turkey reportedly eats the foliage. White-Tailed Deer browse on the foliage during the winter.
Photographic Location: At the edge of a field in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This curious plant has woolly foliage and flowerheads that resemble those of Antennaria spp. (Pussytoes), Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearly Everlasting), Gamochaeta purpurea. (Early Cudweed), and some other members of the Aster family. Sweet Everlasting is more tall than Pussytoes and Early Cudweed, and its truncate-conical flowerheads are more narrow than the button-like flowerheads of Pearly Everlasting. There are other Pseudognaphalium spp. in the United States that are quite similar in appearance to Sweet Everlasting, but they have not been observed in Illinois. However, some of these species have been found in neighboring Indiana and other states further to the east. Sweet Everlasting's older scientific name is Gnaphalium obtusifolium (by which it is still commonly referred), but it has been reassigned to the genus Pseudognaphalium.
Compound Corymbs of Flowerheads
Each upper stem terminates in a small corymb of 1-5 flowerheads; they are white to cream-colored. Each flowerhead is about ¼" long and about half as much across; it is conical-oblongoid in shape with a truncate apex. Later, each flowerhead becomes wider and more open as its achenes become mature. The sides of each flowerhead consist of many overlapping bracts that are white or cream-colored; these scale-like bracts are oblong-lanceolate to broadly oblong-lanceolate and they have blunt tips. At the apex of each flowerhead, there are many disk florets that are pale yellow to light brown; the innermost florets are perfect (both staminate and pistillate), while the remaining florets are pistillate. Each tiny floret is narrowly tubular. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable floral scent, although the foliage often has a balsam-like fragrance. Each floret is replaced with a small bullet-shaped achene that has a tuft of white hairs at its apex. These hairs can separate from each other individually or in small groups; they are not united at the base. The root system is mostly fibrous. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a friable soil containing sand or silt. A little shade is tolerated. The seeds require light to germinate.
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Everlasting is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland prairies, sand prairies, typical savannas and sandy savannas, fallow fields, and areas along railroads and roadsides. Disturbed dry areas with scant vegetation are preferred.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts short-tongued bees (mainly Halictid), wasps, and flies primarily. Among the wasps, are such visitors as Eumenid wasps, Crabronid wasps, Paper wasps, Spider wasps, Cuckoo wasps, Weevil wasps, and many others (see Robertson, 1929). The Wild Turkey reportedly eats the foliage. White-Tailed Deer browse on the foliage during the winter.
Photographic Location: At the edge of a field in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This curious plant has woolly foliage and flowerheads that resemble those of Antennaria spp. (Pussytoes), Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearly Everlasting), Gamochaeta purpurea. (Early Cudweed), and some other members of the Aster family. Sweet Everlasting is more tall than Pussytoes and Early Cudweed, and its truncate-conical flowerheads are more narrow than the button-like flowerheads of Pearly Everlasting. There are other Pseudognaphalium spp. in the United States that are quite similar in appearance to Sweet Everlasting, but they have not been observed in Illinois. However, some of these species have been found in neighboring Indiana and other states further to the east. Sweet Everlasting's older scientific name is Gnaphalium obtusifolium (by which it is still commonly referred), but it has been reassigned to the genus Pseudognaphalium.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月08日
Description: This perennial plant sprawls along the ground by means of stolons; it is less than 1' tall. The slender stems and stolons are initially green, but become red with age. Depending on the local ecotype, they can be nearly glabrous, or covered with spreading white hairs. The stolons can extend up to 3' and their tips often root in the ground, forming new plantlets. The compound leaves are palmate (with 5 leaflets) and alternate along the stolons or stems. Each leaflet is up to 3" long and ¾" across. There is coarse serration along the margins, except near the base, and prominent venation. The upper surface is glabrous, while the lower surface may be hairy or nearly glabrous. The leaflets are narrowly ovate (but with blunt tips), obovate, or oblanceolate; young leaflets often have their margins curled upward. A single yellow flower develops from a long pedicel from the upper axils of some of the compound leaves. This flower is about ½" across, and has 5 yellow petals that are narrow at the base, but rounded toward their tips, which are sometimes notched. The green calyx has 5 triangular tips that are a little shorter than the petals. The center of the flower has a somewhat flattened reproductive structure, which is surrounded by about 20 stamens. The blooming period can occur from spring to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. There is no noticeable floral scent. The achenes are without tufts of hair. There is a short, thick rootstock that divides into coarse secondary roots. This plant often forms loose colonies by means of its stolons.
Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, and moist to dry conditions. The soil can consist of loam, clay-loam, or contain gravelly material. This is an easy plant to grow that presents few problems.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Cinquefoil occurs in every county of Illinois and it is fairly common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, open upland forests, savannas, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This plant occurs in both disturbed areas and high quality habitats. In tallgrass prairies, it is one of the understory plants.
Faunal Associations: The flowers primarily attract small bees and flies, including Mason bees, Small Carpenter bees, Nomadine Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Less common visitors are wasps, skippers, and butterflies. These insects seek nectar, although bees also collect pollen. The seeds are little used by birds. Small mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits and groundhogs, often eat the foliage. It is possible that some of the seeds of Common Cinquefoil can pass through their digestive tracts unharmed, and are thus distributed by them; some studies involving livestock have found this to be the case with a similar species, Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil).
Photographic Location: The above photographs were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This is another plant that fits the stereotype of a weed, but it also occurs in prairies and other native habitats. The flowers are reasonably showy during the spring, but few in number. Common Cinquefoil resembles many other species of Cinquefoil, both native and introduced. Its compound leaves almost always have 5 leaflets, the flowers are bright yellow, and it sprawls along the ground; other species often have a fewer or greater number of leaflets, their flowers may be white or pale yellow, or they are erect. Common Cinquefoil is perhaps most similar to the native Potentilla canadensis (Dwarf Cinquefoil), except that the latter is a smaller plant with blunter leaftlets that are strongly obovate or oblanceolate.
Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, and moist to dry conditions. The soil can consist of loam, clay-loam, or contain gravelly material. This is an easy plant to grow that presents few problems.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Cinquefoil occurs in every county of Illinois and it is fairly common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, open upland forests, savannas, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This plant occurs in both disturbed areas and high quality habitats. In tallgrass prairies, it is one of the understory plants.
Faunal Associations: The flowers primarily attract small bees and flies, including Mason bees, Small Carpenter bees, Nomadine Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Less common visitors are wasps, skippers, and butterflies. These insects seek nectar, although bees also collect pollen. The seeds are little used by birds. Small mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits and groundhogs, often eat the foliage. It is possible that some of the seeds of Common Cinquefoil can pass through their digestive tracts unharmed, and are thus distributed by them; some studies involving livestock have found this to be the case with a similar species, Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil).
Photographic Location: The above photographs were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This is another plant that fits the stereotype of a weed, but it also occurs in prairies and other native habitats. The flowers are reasonably showy during the spring, but few in number. Common Cinquefoil resembles many other species of Cinquefoil, both native and introduced. Its compound leaves almost always have 5 leaflets, the flowers are bright yellow, and it sprawls along the ground; other species often have a fewer or greater number of leaflets, their flowers may be white or pale yellow, or they are erect. Common Cinquefoil is perhaps most similar to the native Potentilla canadensis (Dwarf Cinquefoil), except that the latter is a smaller plant with blunter leaftlets that are strongly obovate or oblanceolate.
0
0
cclecombe
2018年02月08日
Hello! I’ve been really absent due to our house getting very little light with winter and my plant babies were suffering! I’ve had a massive clear out of anything that’s passed the point of saving and rearranged some of my plants so they’re in the best position for their needs. Now Spring is around the corner, I’m ready to update my app and buy some new plants for the emptier areas of the house. What are your favourite low light plants?
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This plant is a biennial or short-lived perennial that persists as a low rosette of basal leaves for 2-4 years. The blades of these basal leaves are up to 6" long and 5" across; they are bipinnate-pinnatifid or pinnate-pinnatifid in structure and triangular in outline. Individual leaflets (or subleaflets) are moderately to deeply divided into pinnate lobes; these lobes usually have a few coarse teeth along their margins. The surface of basal blades is medium green and glabrous (or nearly so). The petioles of the basal leaves are up to 4" long and they are covered with short fine pubescence to a greater or lesser extent. In addition, the leaflets of the basal leaves have conspicuous petiolules (basal stalklets). The petiolules of the terminal leaflets are longer than those of the lateral leaflets.
Eventually, this plant bolts to produce a single flowering stalk with a few alternate leaves. This stalk is light green to pale brownish red, terete (round in cross-section), somewhat stout, and 1½-3' tall. It is unbranched, except toward the apex, where the umbels of flowers occur, and usually it is covered with short fine pubescence to a greater or less extent. The alternate leaves are up to 3" long and 3" across, pinnate-pinnatifid in structure, triangular in outline, and sessile; they become smaller in size as they ascend the stem. Similar to the basal leaves, the leaflets of alternate leaves are moderately to deeply divided into pinnate lobes; these lobes usually have a few coarse teeth along their margins. The surface of alternate leaves is medium green and glabrous (or nearly so). The central stalk terminates in a few compound umbels of flowers that span 1½-3" across. In addition, lateral compound umbels of flowers often develop from the axils of upper leaves on peduncles 2" long or more. Depending on their stage of development, the tops of these umbels areDistribution Map dome-shaped to nearly flat. A typical umbel will have about 10-15 congested umbellets, and each umbellet will have 10-15 flowers. The rays (stalklets) of both the umbels and umbellets are light green, angular, and more or less covered with short fine pubescence. Both umbels and umbellets lack significant floral bracts. When such bracts are present, they are small in size, linear in shape, and soon wither away. Each flower has 5 yellow petals with incurved tips, a light green or yellowish green calyx with 5 minute ovate teeth, 5 stamens, and a pistil. Individual flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer for about 1 month. Each flower is replaced by a dry fruit (schizocarp) that becomes 6-9 mm. long at maturity. Immature fruits are green, but they later become yellow, and finally brown. Each fruit consists of a pair of seeds that develop winged margins at maturity. These seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of a deep taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, rocky material, or sand. The seeds can be difficult to germinate, requiring a winter dormancy of about 120 days, and each plant is rather slow to develop after germination has occurred.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Parsley occurs in scattered areas of northern, southern, and west-central Illinois, where it is fairly uncommon. Populations of this plant within the state appear to be declining. Illinois lies along the NE range limit of this plant. Habitats include upland prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, chert glades, thinly wooded bluffs, and savannas. Prairie Parsley is an indicator plant of original prairie. It is rarely found in disturbed areas. This conservative species may require occasional wildfires to remove excess brush and debris, and to facilitate germination of the seeds.
Faunal Associations: The tiny flowers attract primarily small bees, miscellaneous flies, and occasional wasps (Robertson, 1929). Prairie Parsley is one of the species in the Carrot family that the oligolectic bee, Andrena ziziae, visits for pollen and nectar. The caterpillars of a butterfly, Papilio polyxenes asterius (Black Swallowtail), feed on the foliage of this plant. Cattle and other mammalian herbivores browse readily on the non-toxic foliage.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Most people might regard Prairie Parsley as another weed, but it is a conservative native plant with high fidelity to prairies. This plant is perhaps at its most attractive when its fruits have reached the showy yellow stage. The native Prairie Parsley in Illinois should not be confused with either Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) or Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea). Like Prairie Parsley, Wild Parsnip and Golden Alexanders have compound umbels of small yellow flowers, but they differ by having simple-pinnate leaves with leaflets that are less lobed. Another species, Flat-Leaved Parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum), has compound leaves and compound umbels of flowers that are very similar to those of Prairie Parsley, but Flat-Leaved Parsley differs by having mature seeds that lack winged margins.
Eventually, this plant bolts to produce a single flowering stalk with a few alternate leaves. This stalk is light green to pale brownish red, terete (round in cross-section), somewhat stout, and 1½-3' tall. It is unbranched, except toward the apex, where the umbels of flowers occur, and usually it is covered with short fine pubescence to a greater or less extent. The alternate leaves are up to 3" long and 3" across, pinnate-pinnatifid in structure, triangular in outline, and sessile; they become smaller in size as they ascend the stem. Similar to the basal leaves, the leaflets of alternate leaves are moderately to deeply divided into pinnate lobes; these lobes usually have a few coarse teeth along their margins. The surface of alternate leaves is medium green and glabrous (or nearly so). The central stalk terminates in a few compound umbels of flowers that span 1½-3" across. In addition, lateral compound umbels of flowers often develop from the axils of upper leaves on peduncles 2" long or more. Depending on their stage of development, the tops of these umbels areDistribution Map dome-shaped to nearly flat. A typical umbel will have about 10-15 congested umbellets, and each umbellet will have 10-15 flowers. The rays (stalklets) of both the umbels and umbellets are light green, angular, and more or less covered with short fine pubescence. Both umbels and umbellets lack significant floral bracts. When such bracts are present, they are small in size, linear in shape, and soon wither away. Each flower has 5 yellow petals with incurved tips, a light green or yellowish green calyx with 5 minute ovate teeth, 5 stamens, and a pistil. Individual flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer for about 1 month. Each flower is replaced by a dry fruit (schizocarp) that becomes 6-9 mm. long at maturity. Immature fruits are green, but they later become yellow, and finally brown. Each fruit consists of a pair of seeds that develop winged margins at maturity. These seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of a deep taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, rocky material, or sand. The seeds can be difficult to germinate, requiring a winter dormancy of about 120 days, and each plant is rather slow to develop after germination has occurred.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Parsley occurs in scattered areas of northern, southern, and west-central Illinois, where it is fairly uncommon. Populations of this plant within the state appear to be declining. Illinois lies along the NE range limit of this plant. Habitats include upland prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, chert glades, thinly wooded bluffs, and savannas. Prairie Parsley is an indicator plant of original prairie. It is rarely found in disturbed areas. This conservative species may require occasional wildfires to remove excess brush and debris, and to facilitate germination of the seeds.
Faunal Associations: The tiny flowers attract primarily small bees, miscellaneous flies, and occasional wasps (Robertson, 1929). Prairie Parsley is one of the species in the Carrot family that the oligolectic bee, Andrena ziziae, visits for pollen and nectar. The caterpillars of a butterfly, Papilio polyxenes asterius (Black Swallowtail), feed on the foliage of this plant. Cattle and other mammalian herbivores browse readily on the non-toxic foliage.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Most people might regard Prairie Parsley as another weed, but it is a conservative native plant with high fidelity to prairies. This plant is perhaps at its most attractive when its fruits have reached the showy yellow stage. The native Prairie Parsley in Illinois should not be confused with either Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) or Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea). Like Prairie Parsley, Wild Parsnip and Golden Alexanders have compound umbels of small yellow flowers, but they differ by having simple-pinnate leaves with leaflets that are less lobed. Another species, Flat-Leaved Parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum), has compound leaves and compound umbels of flowers that are very similar to those of Prairie Parsley, but Flat-Leaved Parsley differs by having mature seeds that lack winged margins.
1
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This annual plant is usually unbranched and 4-12" tall. The central stem is sharply angular and hairless. The alternate or opposite leaves are sessile against the stem, ranging up to 1½" in length and 1/6" (4 mm.) across. They have a prominent mid-vein, smooth margins, and are linear or oblong-linear in shape.
The central stem terminates in a spike-like raceme of flowers. This raceme is about 1" long and ½" across. The flowers are variable in color, ranging from purplish pink, white, or green. An individual flower consists of two large sepals (i.e., the wings), three small sepals that are barely perceptible, and three small petals that form a narrow tube. One of these petals has a small crest at its tip. The wings are about 1/3" (8 mm.) long and ovate – they are the most prominent part of the flower and determine its color. The tiny tube of the petals has a similar color, but is short-lived, typically occurring near the apex of the inflorescence amid the wings. The stalk beneath the raceme has an irregular surface and spike-like remnants of the bracts where the older flowers occurred. The blooming period is from mid-summer to early fall, and lasts about 1-2 months for a colony of plants. Each flower is replaced by a capsule containing two seeds that are hairy. The root system consists of a slender taproot that has a wintergreen fragrance. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and moist to dry conditions. Poor soil is preferred, as this reduces competition from other plant species. This plant often grows in soil that sandy or rocky, but will thrive in loamy soil as well if it receives adequate sunlight.
Range & Distribution: The native Field Milkwort occurs occasionally in most counties of Illinois. It is the most common Polygala spp. (Milkwort species) in the state. Habitats include moist to dry prairies, sand prairies, typical savannas and sandy savannas, woodland edges, glades, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts small to medium-sized long-tongued bees, short-tongue bees, and bee flies. Among the bees, are such visitors as Dagger bees, Miner bees, and Cuckoo bees. Little information is available about the food value of the Milkworts to birds and animals.
Photographic Location: A moist sand prairie at Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois. The location was flooded earlier in the year, which is why the leaves have a muddy appearance.
Comments: As a group, the Milkworts have not received as much attention as they deserve. Some species, such as this one, have fairly attractive flowers. They are usually found in locations with acid sandy soil, but some species prefer dry sites with rocky material or loess. The Polygala spp. can be distinguished from each other by taking into consideration the following: 1) whether the leaves are alternate or whorled, 2) the shape, size, and color of the wings on the flowers, 3) the density of flowers on the spike or spike-like raceme, and 4) the conspicuousness of the tubular petals. The slender leaves of Field Milkwort are usually alternate, rather than whorled. This species has fairly large wings (about 1/3" or 8 mm.) that are ovate in shape. They are often purplish pink, but may turn white near the base. The density of flowers on the spike-like raceme is high, while the tubular petals are inconspicuous. Field Milkwort has a wide distribution in the Eastern United States, and different varieties have been described.
The central stem terminates in a spike-like raceme of flowers. This raceme is about 1" long and ½" across. The flowers are variable in color, ranging from purplish pink, white, or green. An individual flower consists of two large sepals (i.e., the wings), three small sepals that are barely perceptible, and three small petals that form a narrow tube. One of these petals has a small crest at its tip. The wings are about 1/3" (8 mm.) long and ovate – they are the most prominent part of the flower and determine its color. The tiny tube of the petals has a similar color, but is short-lived, typically occurring near the apex of the inflorescence amid the wings. The stalk beneath the raceme has an irregular surface and spike-like remnants of the bracts where the older flowers occurred. The blooming period is from mid-summer to early fall, and lasts about 1-2 months for a colony of plants. Each flower is replaced by a capsule containing two seeds that are hairy. The root system consists of a slender taproot that has a wintergreen fragrance. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and moist to dry conditions. Poor soil is preferred, as this reduces competition from other plant species. This plant often grows in soil that sandy or rocky, but will thrive in loamy soil as well if it receives adequate sunlight.
Range & Distribution: The native Field Milkwort occurs occasionally in most counties of Illinois. It is the most common Polygala spp. (Milkwort species) in the state. Habitats include moist to dry prairies, sand prairies, typical savannas and sandy savannas, woodland edges, glades, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts small to medium-sized long-tongued bees, short-tongue bees, and bee flies. Among the bees, are such visitors as Dagger bees, Miner bees, and Cuckoo bees. Little information is available about the food value of the Milkworts to birds and animals.
Photographic Location: A moist sand prairie at Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois. The location was flooded earlier in the year, which is why the leaves have a muddy appearance.
Comments: As a group, the Milkworts have not received as much attention as they deserve. Some species, such as this one, have fairly attractive flowers. They are usually found in locations with acid sandy soil, but some species prefer dry sites with rocky material or loess. The Polygala spp. can be distinguished from each other by taking into consideration the following: 1) whether the leaves are alternate or whorled, 2) the shape, size, and color of the wings on the flowers, 3) the density of flowers on the spike or spike-like raceme, and 4) the conspicuousness of the tubular petals. The slender leaves of Field Milkwort are usually alternate, rather than whorled. This species has fairly large wings (about 1/3" or 8 mm.) that are ovate in shape. They are often purplish pink, but may turn white near the base. The density of flowers on the spike-like raceme is high, while the tubular petals are inconspicuous. Field Milkwort has a wide distribution in the Eastern United States, and different varieties have been described.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This annual plant is 4-12" tall and usually unbranched. The central stem is angular and hairless. The leaves occur in whorls of 4 and are sessile against the stem. They are up to 1½" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across, linear or linear-oblong in shape, with smooth margins. The central stem terminates in a dense spike of flowers up to 2-3" long and 1" across. These flowers are variable in color, ranging from purplish pink or pink to greenish white. Each flower is about 1/3" (8 mm.) across, consisting of 2 large sepals (called 'wings'), 3 tiny sepals, and 3 petals that form a narrow tube with a crest at its apex. The wings are the most conspicuous part of the flower and determine its color. They are broadly triangular (or deltoid) in shape, and lie to the right and left of the tubular petals. These wings persist on the spike long after the petals have fallen off, and have the appearance of sharp-pointed bracts. The narrow tubular petals are observable near the apex of the spike. They are usually some shade of pink, but quickly fade to brownish yellow, before falling off the spike. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, and lasts about 1-2 months. When fertilization occurs, each flower is replaced by a 2-seeded capsule. The seeds are hairy. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist sandy soil. The pH should be somewhat acid. This plant can withstand occasional flooding if it is temporary.
Range & Habitat: Cross-Leaved Milkwort occurs primarily in NE Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is an uncommon plant and native to Illinois. Habitats include moist sand prairies, shrub prairies, sandy Black Oak savannas, and edges of sandy marshes. It also occurs along paths in these areas, preferring the reduced competition from taller plants.
Faunal Associations: Probably small to medium-sized long-tongued and short-tongued bees visit the flowers for nectar. Little information is available about this plant's value as a food source to birds or mammals.
Photographic Location: Along a path in the Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois, where Cross-Leaved Milkwort occurred in a moist sand prairie that was somewhat shrubby and sunny moist areas of Black Oak Savanna. This area was prone to occasional flooding from heavy rains.
Comments: The thick spike of flowers of this odd little plant is very conspicuous and easy to spot. Cross-Leaved Milkwort is relatively easy to identify because of the bract-like wings that spread horizontally (left and right) from the center of each flower. In other species of Milkwort, these wings are held upright and resemble petals. The whorled leaves are another distinctive feature, as many species of Milkwort have alternate leaves. Another common name for this plant is 'Drumheads,' which refers to the shape of the stout spike of flowers. Different varieties of Cross-Leaved Milkwort have been described, but only Polygala cruciata aquilonia is known to occur in Illinois.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist sandy soil. The pH should be somewhat acid. This plant can withstand occasional flooding if it is temporary.
Range & Habitat: Cross-Leaved Milkwort occurs primarily in NE Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is an uncommon plant and native to Illinois. Habitats include moist sand prairies, shrub prairies, sandy Black Oak savannas, and edges of sandy marshes. It also occurs along paths in these areas, preferring the reduced competition from taller plants.
Faunal Associations: Probably small to medium-sized long-tongued and short-tongued bees visit the flowers for nectar. Little information is available about this plant's value as a food source to birds or mammals.
Photographic Location: Along a path in the Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois, where Cross-Leaved Milkwort occurred in a moist sand prairie that was somewhat shrubby and sunny moist areas of Black Oak Savanna. This area was prone to occasional flooding from heavy rains.
Comments: The thick spike of flowers of this odd little plant is very conspicuous and easy to spot. Cross-Leaved Milkwort is relatively easy to identify because of the bract-like wings that spread horizontally (left and right) from the center of each flower. In other species of Milkwort, these wings are held upright and resemble petals. The whorled leaves are another distinctive feature, as many species of Milkwort have alternate leaves. Another common name for this plant is 'Drumheads,' which refers to the shape of the stout spike of flowers. Different varieties of Cross-Leaved Milkwort have been described, but only Polygala cruciata aquilonia is known to occur in Illinois.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This annual plant is about 2' tall and largely unbranched, except near the base. The major stems are stout, round, and covered with rather long glandular hairs, especially where new growth occurs. The lower and middle compound leaves along the stems are trifoliate with long petioles. The individual leaflets are about 1½" long and ½" across. They are oval, ovate, or oblong, and have smooth margins that are slightly ciliate. Their surface is dull green and covered with short fuzzy hairs, with longer hairs occurring along the lower central vein. When the foliage is bruised or rubbed against, a fetid odor is emitted. Smaller leaves on short petioles occur along the upper stems that are simple, rather than compound. The major stems terminate in racemes of flowers of variable length – these flowers are whorled near the apex of the stems with scattered seedpods below. Each flower is about 1" across and has an unusual structure. There are 4 white petals about ½" long that are heart-shaped, but with a long narrow base. About 8-12 strongly exerted stamens are reddish purple and rather unequal in length, with the upper stamens about twice the length of the petals. The single slender style is much shorter than the stamens and less conspicuous. At the base of each flower, is a gland that secretes a conspicuous drop of bright red fluid. The calyx is divided into 4 triangular sepals that are reddish purple. The flowers occur on long hairy pedicels.
The blooming period occurs from summer until the fall, and can last several months. There is no obvious floral scent. Pollinated flowers develop sizeable seedpods up to 3" long that are sessile against the pedicels (i.e., there is no stipular growth at the base of the seedpods). These seedpods resemble stout bean pods that can divide into two halves. Each seedpod has fuzzy hairs on the outer surface, and forms a long terminal spike that withers away as the seedpod matures. Mature seedpods are held more or less erect, rather than drooping downward from the stems. The individual seeds have an irregular patterned surface. The root system consists of a long taproot without rhizomes. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: It is best to growth this plant in full sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that is rocky or sandy. The base of the central stem of this plant may sprawl along the ground if it is grown in moist, fertile soil. Foliar disease and insect pests are not generally troublesome.
Range & Habitat: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is an uncommon plant that occurs in widely scattered counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is probably native. This plant is more common in areas that lie to the west of Illinois. Within the state, it has been found in such natural habitats as openings in bluffs, glades, or hill prairies, and may occur occasionally as an adventive plant along railroads. Because of the ornamental flowers, this plant can be found in flower gardens, but this is uncommon.
Faunal Associations: Various bees visit the flowers for nectar, while flower flies feed on the pollen from the exerted anthers. However, the latter group of insects does not effectively pollinate the flowers. The foliage is not known to be toxic to mammalian herbivores, notwithstanding the fetid odor, but little appears to be known about the attractiveness of the foliage as a food source. Similarly, little is known about the attractiveness of the seeds to small rodents or upland gamebirds. Because the seeds of similar kinds of plants, such as the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) in the western states, are occasionally eaten by the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, and various small rodents, it is possible that the same or similar species also eat the seeds of Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds).
Photographic Location: The edge of vegetable garden in Meadowbrook Park, Urbana, Illinois. The plant was blooming during early September.
Comments: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is primarily a western species, and Illinois lies on the eastern edge of its distribution. It is fairly attractive while in bloom and has some resemblance to Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) of mass-market horticulture. This latter species is a larger plant from South America with palmate compound leaves. The more typical variety of Clammyweed, Polanisia dodecandra dodecandra, has smaller flowers with petals about ¼" and stamens that are barely longer than the petals. It less showy than the variety of Clammyweed that is described here, and it has a more eastern distribution. An uncommon species of Clammyweed, Polanisia jamesii (James' Clammyweed), is a sand prairie species that has narrow leaflets and flower petals with irregular fringed edges. What distinguishes the Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds) from the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) is the lack of a stipe connecting the seedpod with the pedicel. This stipe of the Bee Plants is a stalk-like extension of the developing seedpod. Both groups of plants are members of the Caper family.
The blooming period occurs from summer until the fall, and can last several months. There is no obvious floral scent. Pollinated flowers develop sizeable seedpods up to 3" long that are sessile against the pedicels (i.e., there is no stipular growth at the base of the seedpods). These seedpods resemble stout bean pods that can divide into two halves. Each seedpod has fuzzy hairs on the outer surface, and forms a long terminal spike that withers away as the seedpod matures. Mature seedpods are held more or less erect, rather than drooping downward from the stems. The individual seeds have an irregular patterned surface. The root system consists of a long taproot without rhizomes. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: It is best to growth this plant in full sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that is rocky or sandy. The base of the central stem of this plant may sprawl along the ground if it is grown in moist, fertile soil. Foliar disease and insect pests are not generally troublesome.
Range & Habitat: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is an uncommon plant that occurs in widely scattered counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is probably native. This plant is more common in areas that lie to the west of Illinois. Within the state, it has been found in such natural habitats as openings in bluffs, glades, or hill prairies, and may occur occasionally as an adventive plant along railroads. Because of the ornamental flowers, this plant can be found in flower gardens, but this is uncommon.
Faunal Associations: Various bees visit the flowers for nectar, while flower flies feed on the pollen from the exerted anthers. However, the latter group of insects does not effectively pollinate the flowers. The foliage is not known to be toxic to mammalian herbivores, notwithstanding the fetid odor, but little appears to be known about the attractiveness of the foliage as a food source. Similarly, little is known about the attractiveness of the seeds to small rodents or upland gamebirds. Because the seeds of similar kinds of plants, such as the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) in the western states, are occasionally eaten by the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, and various small rodents, it is possible that the same or similar species also eat the seeds of Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds).
Photographic Location: The edge of vegetable garden in Meadowbrook Park, Urbana, Illinois. The plant was blooming during early September.
Comments: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is primarily a western species, and Illinois lies on the eastern edge of its distribution. It is fairly attractive while in bloom and has some resemblance to Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) of mass-market horticulture. This latter species is a larger plant from South America with palmate compound leaves. The more typical variety of Clammyweed, Polanisia dodecandra dodecandra, has smaller flowers with petals about ¼" and stamens that are barely longer than the petals. It less showy than the variety of Clammyweed that is described here, and it has a more eastern distribution. An uncommon species of Clammyweed, Polanisia jamesii (James' Clammyweed), is a sand prairie species that has narrow leaflets and flower petals with irregular fringed edges. What distinguishes the Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds) from the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) is the lack of a stipe connecting the seedpod with the pedicel. This stipe of the Bee Plants is a stalk-like extension of the developing seedpod. Both groups of plants are members of the Caper family.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This plant is a summer annual that branches sparingly to occasionally; it is ¾–2' tall. The stems are light green or light reddish green, terete, finely short-pubescent, and sparsely to abundantly hairy. The leaves are opposite or alternate; they occur sparingly along the stems, except at their apices, where they occur in dense pseudo-whorls. The leaves are ¾–3" long and ¼-1" across; they are at least twice as long as they are across. Depending on the variety, the leaves are variably shaped; var. dentata has leaves that are elliptic-lanceolate to ovate, while var. cuphosperma has leaves that are linear-lanceolate to elliptic. The leaf margins are coarsely dentate. The leaf bases are wedge-shaped, while their tips are bluntly acute to acute. The upper leaf surfaces are medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surfaces are light-medium to medium green and glabrous to short-pubescent along the lower sides of the veins. The petioles are 3-20 mm. (1/8–3/4") long, light green, glabrous to short-pubescent, and narrowly winged toward the leaf bases. The foliage of this plant exudes a white milky sap when it becomes damaged.
The stems terminate in flat-topped clusters of flowers spanning about ¾–2" across. Each cluster of flowers has several cyathia with a mixture of flowers and immature fruits; the cyathia and fruits are light green and glabrous, although sometimes the fruits become light red or purple in response to strong sunlight. A cyathium is a small cup-like structure spanning about 3 mm. (1/8") across that contains a single pistillate (female) flower and several surrounding staminate (male) flowers. These flowers are devoid of petals and sepals; their tiny reproductive organs are yellow, light pink, or white. Underneath the clusters of flowers, there are small leafy bracts up to ¾" long and ¼" across; they are few in number and linear-elliptic to elliptic in shape. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to autumn, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. After blooming, the pistillate flowers are replaced with 3-lobed nodding fruits that span about 4-5 mm. across. These fruits are subgloboid (globoid and slightly flattened) in shape, and they are exserted from their cyathia on short curved stalks.
Each fruit contains 3 seeds. Individual seeds are 2–2.5 mm. long and slightly less across, ovoid-globoid in shape, gray to nearly black, minutely bumpy across the surface, and grooved along one side. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and poor soil containing significant amounts of clay, sand, or gravel. Disease rarely bothers the leaves and drought resistance is excellent. The seeds germinate after the weather becomes warm.
Range & Habitat: The native Toothed Spurge occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is occasional to locally common. Habitats include disturbed areas of upland prairies (including gravel and sand prairies), hill prairies, open upland thickets, limestone glades, abandoned fields, areas along cultivated fields, areas along railroads, areas along parking lots, roadsides, and open waste ground. Among these various habitats, Toothed Spurge is perhaps most common along railroads. This plant favors open disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are probably visited by small bees, Syrphid flies, and wasps; both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. A flea beetle, Glyptina cyanipennis, feeds on Toothed Spurge (Clark et al., 2004). Some aphids feed on spurges (Euphorbia spp.) and probably Toothed Spurge as well; these species include Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Macrosiphum gei (Hottes & Frison, 1931; Cranshaw, 2004). The seeds of spurges are consumed by the Mourning Dove, Greater Prairie Chicken, Bobwhite Quail, and Horned Lark (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because the milky latex in the foliage can irritate the mouth parts and gastrointestinal tract of mammalian herbivores, it is rarely consumed by them.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Windsor Road Prairie in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Sometimes this plant is referred to as Euphorbia dentata. Toothed Spurge is closely related to Wild Poinsettia (Poinsettia cyathophora); this latter plant also occurs in Illinois. Wild Poinsettia has upper leaves and bracts that turn red at their bases near the inflorescence; it is the showier of the two plants. Both of these plants are rather weedy in their habits.
The stems terminate in flat-topped clusters of flowers spanning about ¾–2" across. Each cluster of flowers has several cyathia with a mixture of flowers and immature fruits; the cyathia and fruits are light green and glabrous, although sometimes the fruits become light red or purple in response to strong sunlight. A cyathium is a small cup-like structure spanning about 3 mm. (1/8") across that contains a single pistillate (female) flower and several surrounding staminate (male) flowers. These flowers are devoid of petals and sepals; their tiny reproductive organs are yellow, light pink, or white. Underneath the clusters of flowers, there are small leafy bracts up to ¾" long and ¼" across; they are few in number and linear-elliptic to elliptic in shape. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to autumn, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. After blooming, the pistillate flowers are replaced with 3-lobed nodding fruits that span about 4-5 mm. across. These fruits are subgloboid (globoid and slightly flattened) in shape, and they are exserted from their cyathia on short curved stalks.
Each fruit contains 3 seeds. Individual seeds are 2–2.5 mm. long and slightly less across, ovoid-globoid in shape, gray to nearly black, minutely bumpy across the surface, and grooved along one side. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and poor soil containing significant amounts of clay, sand, or gravel. Disease rarely bothers the leaves and drought resistance is excellent. The seeds germinate after the weather becomes warm.
Range & Habitat: The native Toothed Spurge occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is occasional to locally common. Habitats include disturbed areas of upland prairies (including gravel and sand prairies), hill prairies, open upland thickets, limestone glades, abandoned fields, areas along cultivated fields, areas along railroads, areas along parking lots, roadsides, and open waste ground. Among these various habitats, Toothed Spurge is perhaps most common along railroads. This plant favors open disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are probably visited by small bees, Syrphid flies, and wasps; both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. A flea beetle, Glyptina cyanipennis, feeds on Toothed Spurge (Clark et al., 2004). Some aphids feed on spurges (Euphorbia spp.) and probably Toothed Spurge as well; these species include Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Macrosiphum gei (Hottes & Frison, 1931; Cranshaw, 2004). The seeds of spurges are consumed by the Mourning Dove, Greater Prairie Chicken, Bobwhite Quail, and Horned Lark (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because the milky latex in the foliage can irritate the mouth parts and gastrointestinal tract of mammalian herbivores, it is rarely consumed by them.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Windsor Road Prairie in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Sometimes this plant is referred to as Euphorbia dentata. Toothed Spurge is closely related to Wild Poinsettia (Poinsettia cyathophora); this latter plant also occurs in Illinois. Wild Poinsettia has upper leaves and bracts that turn red at their bases near the inflorescence; it is the showier of the two plants. Both of these plants are rather weedy in their habits.
0
0
