文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月28日
Description: This perennial plant is about 3-6" tall. It consists of a rosette of basal leaves, from which one or more flowering stems may emerge that are somewhat taller. The basal leaves have a deeply lobed palmate structure, and are rather fan-shaped in appearance. They are up to 1" across and have petioles up to 1" long. The flowering stems are more or less erect, but curve abruptly downward where the flowers or buds occur. These flowers are about ¾" across and quite similar in appearance to other violets. They have 5 petals that are blue-violet or pale blue-violet, and 5 green sepals that are long and pointed, but remain behind the petals. The two upper petals are more or less rounded, but sometimes they are rather elongated. The lower side petals have white hairy beards at the throat of the flower. At the base of the lower center petal is a patch of white with fine lines of purple that function as nectar guides to visiting insects. The Prairie Violet usually blooms from mid- to late-spring, but it can also bloom during the fall under favorable conditions. There is no noticeable floral scent. During the summer months, inconspicuous cleistogamous flowers mature into seedheads that are brown and triangular-shaped. These release little brown seeds by mechanical ejection, which can fall to the ground several inches away from the mother plant. The root system is fibrous, and can form rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and mesic conditions. Some shade from grasses and other plants later in the year is normal and tolerated. The soil should have the capacity to retain some moisture during summer dry spells, preferrably with high organic content. This plant can be difficult and short-lived if a site doesn't satisfy its requirements.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Violet is an uncommon plant in the northern half of Illinois, and rare or absent in the southern half (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to slightly dry black soil prairies, savannas, and loess hill prairies. It is not normally encountered in disturbed or developed areas, but can be considered an indicator plant of high quality prairie remnants. Occasional wildfires are probably a beneficial management tool, as this removes much of the brush and dead debris that can smother these little plants.
Faunal Associations: Little information about flower-visiting insects is available for this species of violet, but similar violets attract Anthophorine bees, Mason bees, Eucerine Miner bees (Synhalonia spp.), Halictine bees, small butterflies, and Duskywing skippers (Erynnis spp.). Syrphid flies also visit violets, but they feed on stray pollen and are non-pollinating. Because these insect visitors are uncommon during the spring, the Prairie Violet is capable of self-fertilization, like many other violets. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies feed on this and other violets, including Euptoicta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Speyeria idalia (Regal Fritillary), Speyeria diane (Diana), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). The small size and early growth habit of this plant provide some protection from mammalian herbiovres.
Photographic Location: One photograph was taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois, while the other photograph was taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2010) at a nature preserve in Cook County, Illinois. In one of the photographs, the small deeply lobed leaves of the Prairie Violet are located toward the bottom in the center, peeking out from dead leaves of grasses; the larger leaves behind and directly underneath the flower are from unrelated species of plants.
Comments: The deeply lobed leaves of Prairie Violet are similar in appearance to those of Viola pedata (Bird Foot's Violet), but the latter doesn't have tufts of white hair at the throat of its flowers. Also, the flowers of Bird's Foot Violet are slightly larger in size and sometimes fragrant.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and mesic conditions. Some shade from grasses and other plants later in the year is normal and tolerated. The soil should have the capacity to retain some moisture during summer dry spells, preferrably with high organic content. This plant can be difficult and short-lived if a site doesn't satisfy its requirements.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Violet is an uncommon plant in the northern half of Illinois, and rare or absent in the southern half (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to slightly dry black soil prairies, savannas, and loess hill prairies. It is not normally encountered in disturbed or developed areas, but can be considered an indicator plant of high quality prairie remnants. Occasional wildfires are probably a beneficial management tool, as this removes much of the brush and dead debris that can smother these little plants.
Faunal Associations: Little information about flower-visiting insects is available for this species of violet, but similar violets attract Anthophorine bees, Mason bees, Eucerine Miner bees (Synhalonia spp.), Halictine bees, small butterflies, and Duskywing skippers (Erynnis spp.). Syrphid flies also visit violets, but they feed on stray pollen and are non-pollinating. Because these insect visitors are uncommon during the spring, the Prairie Violet is capable of self-fertilization, like many other violets. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies feed on this and other violets, including Euptoicta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Speyeria idalia (Regal Fritillary), Speyeria diane (Diana), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). The small size and early growth habit of this plant provide some protection from mammalian herbiovres.
Photographic Location: One photograph was taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois, while the other photograph was taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2010) at a nature preserve in Cook County, Illinois. In one of the photographs, the small deeply lobed leaves of the Prairie Violet are located toward the bottom in the center, peeking out from dead leaves of grasses; the larger leaves behind and directly underneath the flower are from unrelated species of plants.
Comments: The deeply lobed leaves of Prairie Violet are similar in appearance to those of Viola pedata (Bird Foot's Violet), but the latter doesn't have tufts of white hair at the throat of its flowers. Also, the flowers of Bird's Foot Violet are slightly larger in size and sometimes fragrant.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月27日
Description: This perennial plant is 3-6" tall. The individual leaves and flowering stems emerge directly from the rootstock. Each leaf is deeply divided into 3-5 palmate lobes, while a lobe may be further subdivided into 2-3 smaller lobes. The lobes are usually broader toward their tips than at the base of the leaf, and their tips may have 1 or 2 small teeth. A typical leaf is about 1" long and across (excluding the petiole). The petiole of each leaf is rather long and slender. The slender flowering stems are at least as long as the petioles; they are either green or purple. Each stem curves abruptly downward near the flower. The entire plant is hairless, or nearly so. The flowers have 5 petals and 5 sepals; they are ¾–1½" across. The sepals are green, while the petals are pale blue-violet to dark purple-violet. Usually the petals are the same color, although sometimes the upper two petals are dark purple-violet, while the lower three petals are pale blue-violet. Toward the throat of the flower, the lower petal is white with fine violet lines that function as nectar guides. There are no white hairs near the throat. The stamens are a conspicuous golden yellow.
The blooming period is mid- to late spring, and this plant may bloom during the fall. There may be a mild floral scent in some local ecotypes. Unlike other violets, Birdfoot Violet does not produce cleistogamous flowers. The coppery seeds can be ejected several inches from the mother plant. There is a sugary gel on the seeds that attracts ants; these ants often carry these seeds to their nests. The root system consists of a tuberous caudex with long coarse roots. Sometimes rhizomes are produced, forming vegetative offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and dry conditions. However, a little shade and more moisture is tolerated, if the site is well-drained. The soil should be sandy or rocky to reduce competition from other plants; a somewhat acid pH is preferred. The greatest danger is crown rot from poorly drained, heavy soil. This plant is more difficult to grow than most.
Range & Habitat: The native Birdfoot Violet occurs occasionally in northern Illinois and in counties along the Mississippi River, but it is uncommon or absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland areas of black soil prairies, sand prairies, hill prairies, sandstone glades, cherty slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, openings in rocky or sandy forests, sandy Black Oak savannas, and sand dunes near Lake Michigan. This plant is largely restricted to high quality habitats. Fire is a beneficial management tool in areas with trees and shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract long-tongued bees, small butterflies, and skippers. Bee visitors during the spring include bumblebees and Anthophorine bees. Compared to other violets, the flowers of this species attracts more butterflies and skippers, which are often held horizontal to the ground (face up) and easier for such insects to land on. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage and flowers; the caterpillars of Speyeria idalia (Regal Fritillary) may prefer this violet species over others as a food source. As noted above, ants are attracted to the sugary gel on the seeds, and help to distribute them.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the plant with bicolored flowers was taken at a thinly wooded bluff near Kickapoo State Park in Vermilion County, Illinois. The photograph of the plant with pale blue-violet flowers was taken at a sandy savanna in Kankakee County, Illinois. The photograph of the plant with with violet flowers was taken on a sandy wooded hillside at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: The photographs show three different color-forms of Birdfoot Violet and they are all beautiful. This violet can be distinguished from other Viola spp. (Violets) by its deeply lobed leaves, the large size of its flowers, and the absence of hairs near the throat of each flower. The common name refers to the appearance of the leaves.
The blooming period is mid- to late spring, and this plant may bloom during the fall. There may be a mild floral scent in some local ecotypes. Unlike other violets, Birdfoot Violet does not produce cleistogamous flowers. The coppery seeds can be ejected several inches from the mother plant. There is a sugary gel on the seeds that attracts ants; these ants often carry these seeds to their nests. The root system consists of a tuberous caudex with long coarse roots. Sometimes rhizomes are produced, forming vegetative offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and dry conditions. However, a little shade and more moisture is tolerated, if the site is well-drained. The soil should be sandy or rocky to reduce competition from other plants; a somewhat acid pH is preferred. The greatest danger is crown rot from poorly drained, heavy soil. This plant is more difficult to grow than most.
Range & Habitat: The native Birdfoot Violet occurs occasionally in northern Illinois and in counties along the Mississippi River, but it is uncommon or absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland areas of black soil prairies, sand prairies, hill prairies, sandstone glades, cherty slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, openings in rocky or sandy forests, sandy Black Oak savannas, and sand dunes near Lake Michigan. This plant is largely restricted to high quality habitats. Fire is a beneficial management tool in areas with trees and shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract long-tongued bees, small butterflies, and skippers. Bee visitors during the spring include bumblebees and Anthophorine bees. Compared to other violets, the flowers of this species attracts more butterflies and skippers, which are often held horizontal to the ground (face up) and easier for such insects to land on. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage and flowers; the caterpillars of Speyeria idalia (Regal Fritillary) may prefer this violet species over others as a food source. As noted above, ants are attracted to the sugary gel on the seeds, and help to distribute them.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the plant with bicolored flowers was taken at a thinly wooded bluff near Kickapoo State Park in Vermilion County, Illinois. The photograph of the plant with pale blue-violet flowers was taken at a sandy savanna in Kankakee County, Illinois. The photograph of the plant with with violet flowers was taken on a sandy wooded hillside at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: The photographs show three different color-forms of Birdfoot Violet and they are all beautiful. This violet can be distinguished from other Viola spp. (Violets) by its deeply lobed leaves, the large size of its flowers, and the absence of hairs near the throat of each flower. The common name refers to the appearance of the leaves.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月27日
Description: This wildflower is a winter or spring annual about 6" tall, sometimes branching near the base of the plant; it is more or less erect. The small basal leaves have orbicular blades with long slender petioles; these are followed by alternate leaves along the stems. The stems are light green to purplish greenPlant in Bloom and hairless. The alternate leaves are obovate, oblanceolate, or linear-oblanceolate, becoming more narrow as they ascend the stems. They are up to 2" long, light to medium green, hairless, and smooth to slightly crenate along their margins. Leafy stipules up to 1" long occur along the stems near the bases of the leaves. These stipules have deep narrow lobes that are smooth or ciliate along their margins; they are light to medium green like the leaves. Occasionally, individual flowers are produced from axils of the upper leaves on long naked stalks. Each of these stalks is light green to dark purple and hairless, curving downward at the apex where the flower occurs. Each flower is about ½" across, consisting of 5 petals and 5 sepals. The petals are pale to medium blue-violet with dark purple lines, becoming white near the throat of the flower. However, the lowermost petal has a patch of yellow near its base. Also, the two lateral petals are bearded with white hairs near the throat of the flower. The sepals are smaller in size than the petals; they are light green to purplish green, lanceolate, and hairless. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. Fertilized flowers produce seed capsules. The small seeds are light brown and globoid; they are ejected mechanically from their ripened capsules. The root system consists of a slender branching taproot. Colonies of plants are occasionally formed.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a light friable soil containing some sand. However, this wildflower adapts to other kinds of soil as well.
Range & Habitat: The native Field Pansy is occasional in the southern half of Illinois and uncommon or absent in the northern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include limestone glades, moist sand prairies, fields, edges of sandy paths, and waste places. Sandy areas with a history of disturbance are preferred.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract mostly bees, although small butterflies and skippers may also visit the flowers. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies (Boloria spp., Speyeria spp., etc.) and moths feed on the foliage of Viola spp. (Violets). The seeds are eaten in limited amounts by the Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Mourning Dove, and some songbirds. Violets are not a preferred food source of mammalian herbivores, although rabbits and deer will browse on the foliage occasionally.
Photographic Location: Edge of a sand prairie in Kankakee County, Illinois.
Comments: In the past, there has been some controversy regarding whether or not the Field Pansy is native to North America as it shares many characteristics with annual Viola spp. from Eurasia. More recently, there is a growing consensus among botanists that the Field Pansy is sufficiently distinct to be considered a native species of North America. The Field Pansy is rather similar to the introduced Viola tricolor (Johnny Jump-Up). However, this latter species has larger tricolored flowers about ½–1" across and the terminal lobes of its stipules tend to have more teeth. Another introduced species, Viola arvensis (Wild Pansy), has yellow-cream flowers and its sepals are at least as long as its petals. Like the Field Pansy, these introduced species produce large stipules that are deeply lobed; this pansy-like characteristic distinguishes them from the Viola spp. that are called violets. A scientific synonym of the Field Pansy is Viola rafinesquii.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a light friable soil containing some sand. However, this wildflower adapts to other kinds of soil as well.
Range & Habitat: The native Field Pansy is occasional in the southern half of Illinois and uncommon or absent in the northern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include limestone glades, moist sand prairies, fields, edges of sandy paths, and waste places. Sandy areas with a history of disturbance are preferred.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract mostly bees, although small butterflies and skippers may also visit the flowers. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies (Boloria spp., Speyeria spp., etc.) and moths feed on the foliage of Viola spp. (Violets). The seeds are eaten in limited amounts by the Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Mourning Dove, and some songbirds. Violets are not a preferred food source of mammalian herbivores, although rabbits and deer will browse on the foliage occasionally.
Photographic Location: Edge of a sand prairie in Kankakee County, Illinois.
Comments: In the past, there has been some controversy regarding whether or not the Field Pansy is native to North America as it shares many characteristics with annual Viola spp. from Eurasia. More recently, there is a growing consensus among botanists that the Field Pansy is sufficiently distinct to be considered a native species of North America. The Field Pansy is rather similar to the introduced Viola tricolor (Johnny Jump-Up). However, this latter species has larger tricolored flowers about ½–1" across and the terminal lobes of its stipules tend to have more teeth. Another introduced species, Viola arvensis (Wild Pansy), has yellow-cream flowers and its sepals are at least as long as its petals. Like the Field Pansy, these introduced species produce large stipules that are deeply lobed; this pansy-like characteristic distinguishes them from the Viola spp. that are called violets. A scientific synonym of the Field Pansy is Viola rafinesquii.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月27日
Description: This perennial plant is up to 5' tall and unbranched, except near the inflorescence. The central stem is round and smooth. Scattered along this stem are 3-7 whorled leaves. These leaves are up to 6" long and 1½" across with serrated margins. They are ovate to narrowly ovate, and are either sessile or have short petioles. At the apex of the plant are several slender spikes of white flowers up to 8" long, resembling a candelabra. The narrow tubular flowers are about ¼" long, from which 2 yellow or brown stamens are exerted. These flowers are crowded together all around each spike, blooming from the bottom up. They have no scent.
The blooming period usually occurs from early to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. The tiny seeds can be carried several feet away from the mother plant by the wind. The root system consists of a central taproot and some rhizomes, which enable vegetative reproduction.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to average conditions. Growth is best in rich loamy soil, although some sand or clay is tolerated. The leaves may turn yellowish green in bright sunlight or during a drought, otherwise they normally appear healthy and are not often bothered by disease. This plant has a tendency to flop over on slopes.
Range & Habitat: The native Culver's Root occurs throughout Illinois, except a few south-central counties (see Distribution Map). Although widely distributed, it is only occasionally seen. Culver's root occurs in moist to mesic black soil prairies, sand prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, thickets, savannas, and swampy meadows along rivers and ditches. This plant is not often seen in highly disturbed habitats.
Faunal Associations: The most common visitors to the flowers are long-tongued and short-tongued bees, which collect pollen or suck nectar. This includes honeybees, bumblebees, Mason bees, Green Metallic bees, Masked bees, and others. Other kinds of insect visitors include Sphecid wasps, butterflies, moths, and Syrphid flies. The latter include species that feed on pollen only and are non-pollinating. Culver's Root doesn't appear to be bothered by leaf-chewing insects or mammalian herbivores to the same extent as other plants. The seeds are too tiny to be of much interest to birds.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: While in bloom, this plant has an elegant appearance, although the pretty white flowers rapidly turn brown. Its common name refers to the medicinal usage of the bitter root, which has purgative properties. The surname 'Culver' probably refers to a pioneer physician who advocated the use of this plant for the treatment of various ailments.
The blooming period usually occurs from early to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. The tiny seeds can be carried several feet away from the mother plant by the wind. The root system consists of a central taproot and some rhizomes, which enable vegetative reproduction.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to average conditions. Growth is best in rich loamy soil, although some sand or clay is tolerated. The leaves may turn yellowish green in bright sunlight or during a drought, otherwise they normally appear healthy and are not often bothered by disease. This plant has a tendency to flop over on slopes.
Range & Habitat: The native Culver's Root occurs throughout Illinois, except a few south-central counties (see Distribution Map). Although widely distributed, it is only occasionally seen. Culver's root occurs in moist to mesic black soil prairies, sand prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, thickets, savannas, and swampy meadows along rivers and ditches. This plant is not often seen in highly disturbed habitats.
Faunal Associations: The most common visitors to the flowers are long-tongued and short-tongued bees, which collect pollen or suck nectar. This includes honeybees, bumblebees, Mason bees, Green Metallic bees, Masked bees, and others. Other kinds of insect visitors include Sphecid wasps, butterflies, moths, and Syrphid flies. The latter include species that feed on pollen only and are non-pollinating. Culver's Root doesn't appear to be bothered by leaf-chewing insects or mammalian herbivores to the same extent as other plants. The seeds are too tiny to be of much interest to birds.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: While in bloom, this plant has an elegant appearance, although the pretty white flowers rapidly turn brown. Its common name refers to the medicinal usage of the bitter root, which has purgative properties. The surname 'Culver' probably refers to a pioneer physician who advocated the use of this plant for the treatment of various ailments.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月27日
Description: This perennial plant is 3-6' tall and unbranched, except for the flowering stalks of the inflorescence. The central stem is stout and covered with fine white hairs. The alternate dark green leaves are up to 7" long and 2" across. They are lanceolate to narrowly ovate, and slightly serrrated along the margins. The lower sides of the leaves are covered in dense white hairs, which are longer and more prominent than other Vernonia spp. At the apex of the plant, the inflorescence is a corymb of numerous rayless composite flowers. The hairy stems of the inflorescence are usually reddish brown. Each composite flower is about ½–¾" across, and contains from 30-60 disk florets (usually closer to the lower end of the range). These florets are bright magenta and quite showy. There is no floral scent. Numerous dull green or reddish brown bracts subtend the composite flowers, which are aligned together like fish scales. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall, and lasts about a month. The root system is densely fibrous and rhizomatous, and will form offsets to create a small colony of plants. The ribbed, slightly hairy achenes have a small tufts of light brown hair, and are dispersed by the wind.
Cultivation: This plant prefers full or partial sunlight and moist to average conditions. It is somewhat drought resistant. Under severe conditions, the plant will wilt and blooms abort. The soil texture can consist of fertile loam, clay-loam, or have a slightly gritty texture from exposed glacial till and gravel. Disease is not troublesome, except for occasional episodes of mildew during the fall. This species is easy to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Missouri Ironweed occurs throughout Illinois, except in the NW corner of the state (see Distribution Map). It is a common plant. Typical habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, swamps, seeps, limestone glades, edges of lakes, overgrazed pastures, vacant lots, and areas along railroads. It is common in disturbed areas, but also occurs in high quality habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers primarily. Among the bees, are such visitors as bumblebees, Epeoline Cuckoo bees, and Miner bees. Butterfly visitors include Swallowtails, Whites, Sulfurs, Monarchs, Painted Ladies, and others. Bee flies and Halictid bees may also visit the flowers. The flowers are capable of self-pollination in the absence of these insects. The caterpillars of some moths feed on Ironweed species, including Grammia parthenice (Parthenice Tiger Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), and Papaipema cerussata (Ironweed Borer Moth). Mammalian herbivores avoid consumption of this plant because of the bitter taste of the leaves. In overgrazed pastures, Ironweed is an 'increaser' because it is one of the last plants to be eaten.
Photographic Location: Photographs were taken at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: This is an attractive plant when in bloom, and one of the best attractors of late summer butterflies. Missouri Ironweed can be distinguished from other Vernonia spp. primarily by the number of disk florets in the compound flowers, and the profuse hairiness of the stems and lower sides of the leaves. It is probably the most common species of ironweed in Illinois. Sometimes hybrids occur among different species of ironweeds, making identification difficult.
Cultivation: This plant prefers full or partial sunlight and moist to average conditions. It is somewhat drought resistant. Under severe conditions, the plant will wilt and blooms abort. The soil texture can consist of fertile loam, clay-loam, or have a slightly gritty texture from exposed glacial till and gravel. Disease is not troublesome, except for occasional episodes of mildew during the fall. This species is easy to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Missouri Ironweed occurs throughout Illinois, except in the NW corner of the state (see Distribution Map). It is a common plant. Typical habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, swamps, seeps, limestone glades, edges of lakes, overgrazed pastures, vacant lots, and areas along railroads. It is common in disturbed areas, but also occurs in high quality habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers primarily. Among the bees, are such visitors as bumblebees, Epeoline Cuckoo bees, and Miner bees. Butterfly visitors include Swallowtails, Whites, Sulfurs, Monarchs, Painted Ladies, and others. Bee flies and Halictid bees may also visit the flowers. The flowers are capable of self-pollination in the absence of these insects. The caterpillars of some moths feed on Ironweed species, including Grammia parthenice (Parthenice Tiger Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), and Papaipema cerussata (Ironweed Borer Moth). Mammalian herbivores avoid consumption of this plant because of the bitter taste of the leaves. In overgrazed pastures, Ironweed is an 'increaser' because it is one of the last plants to be eaten.
Photographic Location: Photographs were taken at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: This is an attractive plant when in bloom, and one of the best attractors of late summer butterflies. Missouri Ironweed can be distinguished from other Vernonia spp. primarily by the number of disk florets in the compound flowers, and the profuse hairiness of the stems and lower sides of the leaves. It is probably the most common species of ironweed in Illinois. Sometimes hybrids occur among different species of ironweeds, making identification difficult.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月24日
Description: This is a perennial plant that branches sparingly, and it is up to 3½' tall. The alternate leaves are bipinnately or ternately compound, and tend to be aggregated toward the base of the plant. The basal leaves are up to 12" long and 6" across, while smaller leaves are sparsely distributed along the middle and upper portions of the stems. Sometimes there are minute stiff hairs at the base of the petioles where the compound leaves meet the stem. The leaflets have large blunt teeth, and often occur in pairs or triplets, with the terminal leaflets achieving the largest size. Each leaflet is up to 1" long and ½" across, lanceolate or ovate, and has wedge-shaped lower margins. The overall appearance of the leaves resembles Italian Parsley.
Flowering Plant in Prairie
Rounded compound umbels of light yellow flowers occur at the ends of the central stem and major side stems. Each umbel is about 3" across, and is composed of 12-20 umbellets. Each umbellet consists of a similar number of tiny flowers, each one with 5 petals. There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer, and lasts about a month. The root system consists of a central taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and mesic conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, sand, or rocky material. Light shade is tolerated, but growth will be less robust and flowering less abundant. Hairy-Jointed Meadow Parsnip develops rapidly during the spring, and is usually taller than the surrounding plants when the blooming period begins. After flowering, the condition of the plant rapidly deteriorates.
Range & Habitat: This native plant occurs occasionally in scattered counties of Illinois. Its distribution is oddly bifurcated, consisting primarily of counties in east-central and west-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, openings in forests and woodland borders, sandy savannas, rocky bluffs, and the borders of lakes. This plant occurs in prairies to a greater extent than has been realized in the past.
Faunal Associations: Many kinds of insects are attracted to the flowers, especially short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage and flowers. This plant is not known to be toxic, and is probably consumed occasionally by various mammalian herbivores, although information about this is limited.
Photographic Location: The photographs of the flowering plant and compound leaf were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois. The photograph of the umbels and upper leaves was taken at a woodland in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This native member of the Carrot family should be grown more often in wildflower gardens. Sometimes it is called 'Hairy Meadow Parnsip,' but conspicuous hairs occur only at the base of the petioles of compound leaves, and these are not easy to see unless you know where to look. This plant resembles the weedy and aggressive Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip), but the latter has flat compound umbels of yellow flowers, while Hairy-Jointed Meadow Parsnip has compound umbels of pale yellow flowers that are more rounded. There are also significant differences in the structure of the compound leaves between these two species.
Flowering Plant in Prairie
Rounded compound umbels of light yellow flowers occur at the ends of the central stem and major side stems. Each umbel is about 3" across, and is composed of 12-20 umbellets. Each umbellet consists of a similar number of tiny flowers, each one with 5 petals. There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer, and lasts about a month. The root system consists of a central taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and mesic conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, sand, or rocky material. Light shade is tolerated, but growth will be less robust and flowering less abundant. Hairy-Jointed Meadow Parsnip develops rapidly during the spring, and is usually taller than the surrounding plants when the blooming period begins. After flowering, the condition of the plant rapidly deteriorates.
Range & Habitat: This native plant occurs occasionally in scattered counties of Illinois. Its distribution is oddly bifurcated, consisting primarily of counties in east-central and west-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, openings in forests and woodland borders, sandy savannas, rocky bluffs, and the borders of lakes. This plant occurs in prairies to a greater extent than has been realized in the past.
Faunal Associations: Many kinds of insects are attracted to the flowers, especially short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage and flowers. This plant is not known to be toxic, and is probably consumed occasionally by various mammalian herbivores, although information about this is limited.
Photographic Location: The photographs of the flowering plant and compound leaf were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois. The photograph of the umbels and upper leaves was taken at a woodland in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This native member of the Carrot family should be grown more often in wildflower gardens. Sometimes it is called 'Hairy Meadow Parnsip,' but conspicuous hairs occur only at the base of the petioles of compound leaves, and these are not easy to see unless you know where to look. This plant resembles the weedy and aggressive Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip), but the latter has flat compound umbels of yellow flowers, while Hairy-Jointed Meadow Parsnip has compound umbels of pale yellow flowers that are more rounded. There are also significant differences in the structure of the compound leaves between these two species.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月24日
Description: This perennial wildflower consists of a rosette, or clustered rosettes, of basal leaves from which one or more flowering stalks develop. The ascending to spreading basal leaves are 1-6" long and 1/8–1/2" (3-12 mm.) across; they areColonies of Flowering Plants dark green, linear-oblanceolate in shape, smooth along their margins, and mostly hairless. The leaves of plants that are under stress from drought may become grayish green. Individual flowerheads develop at the apex of unbranched stalks that are 4-12" high; these flowering stalks are more or less erect. The stalks are rather stout and more or less finely pubescent. Individual flowerheads span 1-1¾" across, consisting of 10-30 ray florets that surround a dense cluster of 50 or more disk florets. The petal-like rays of the ray florets are ¼–¾" long, bright yellow, oblong in shape, and divided into 3 blunt teeth at their tips. The tiny disk florets are golden yellow, tubular in shape, and lobed along their upper rims. Both ray and disk florets are fertile. Around the base of each flowerhead, there are green floral bracts (phyllaries) in 2-3 series. Individual floral bracts are about ¼" in length, finely pubescent, and oblong-ovate with rounded tips. The blooming period usually occurs from late spring to early summer. A colony of plants may bloom for about a month. The florets are replaced by small achenes that are angular and finely pubescent; they become mature during the summer. At the apex of each achene, there is a tiny crown of 5 or more chaffy scales that are lanceolate in shape. The achenes are distributed by gravity and wind, although they usually don't travel far from the mother plant. The root system consists of a short stout caudex that eventually branches, forming a cluster of plants from vegetative offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, well-drained mesic to dry conditions, and a gritty alkaline soil containing gravel or rocky material. This wildflower can be cultivated in rock gardens. The seeds require no winter dormancy and should be sowed during the same year that they are produced.
Range & Habitat: Lakeside Daisy is a rare native wildflower in Illinois, having been found in only Tazewell and Will counties (see Distribution Map). It is state-listed as 'endangered' and federally listed as 'threatened.' At one time, this wildflower was extirpated from the wild in Illinois, although it still existed in private gardens in the Chicago area. More recently, it has been successfully reintroduced in various natural areas of the state. The largest population in the United States exists in Marblehead Peninsula along Lake Erie in Ohio. Habitats consist of dry dolomite prairies and gravel prairies, gravelly hill prairies, sand-gravel terraces along major rivers, ledges along cliffs, and limestone quarries. This wildflower is found in rocky areas with sparse vegetation and can tolerate minor amounts of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: Both nectar and pollen are available from the flowerheads, which attract bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, and skippers. Floral bee visitors include bumblebees, small carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), and Halictid bees. Cross-pollination is required because individual plants are genetically self-incompatible. Insects that feed on the Lakeside Daisy include grasshoppers and the larvae of an unidentified weevil; the latter feeds on the seeds. The flowering stalks are eaten occasionally by the White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit. In the Western states, related species in the Hymenoxys/Tetraneuris complex are known to have toxic leaves that can poison cattle and sheep, however the toxicity of the more eastern Lakeside Daisy has not been determined.
Photographic Location: A botanical garden in the Chicago area. The photographs of the Lakeside Daisy were taken by Jim Ault (Copyright © 2010).
Comments: The Lakeside Daisy is an attractive plant. This wildflower is rare because of its restrictive habitat requirements and the limited distribution of its seeds. Lakeside Daisy is one of several spring-blooming species in the Aster family that have yellow flowerheads and rosettes of basal leaves. It can be distinguished from these other species by its narrow dark green leaves, unbranched flowering stalks, three-toothed rays, and achenes with tiny crowns of scales (rather than a tufts of hairs). Other closely related species exist in the Western states. The Lakeside Daisy is sometimes classified as var. glabra of the western Hymenoxys acaulis. However, this latter species differs by having fewer ray florets (less than 15), floral bracts (phyllaries) with awned pointed tips, and basal leaves that are gray-green with silky hairs.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, well-drained mesic to dry conditions, and a gritty alkaline soil containing gravel or rocky material. This wildflower can be cultivated in rock gardens. The seeds require no winter dormancy and should be sowed during the same year that they are produced.
Range & Habitat: Lakeside Daisy is a rare native wildflower in Illinois, having been found in only Tazewell and Will counties (see Distribution Map). It is state-listed as 'endangered' and federally listed as 'threatened.' At one time, this wildflower was extirpated from the wild in Illinois, although it still existed in private gardens in the Chicago area. More recently, it has been successfully reintroduced in various natural areas of the state. The largest population in the United States exists in Marblehead Peninsula along Lake Erie in Ohio. Habitats consist of dry dolomite prairies and gravel prairies, gravelly hill prairies, sand-gravel terraces along major rivers, ledges along cliffs, and limestone quarries. This wildflower is found in rocky areas with sparse vegetation and can tolerate minor amounts of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: Both nectar and pollen are available from the flowerheads, which attract bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, and skippers. Floral bee visitors include bumblebees, small carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), and Halictid bees. Cross-pollination is required because individual plants are genetically self-incompatible. Insects that feed on the Lakeside Daisy include grasshoppers and the larvae of an unidentified weevil; the latter feeds on the seeds. The flowering stalks are eaten occasionally by the White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit. In the Western states, related species in the Hymenoxys/Tetraneuris complex are known to have toxic leaves that can poison cattle and sheep, however the toxicity of the more eastern Lakeside Daisy has not been determined.
Photographic Location: A botanical garden in the Chicago area. The photographs of the Lakeside Daisy were taken by Jim Ault (Copyright © 2010).
Comments: The Lakeside Daisy is an attractive plant. This wildflower is rare because of its restrictive habitat requirements and the limited distribution of its seeds. Lakeside Daisy is one of several spring-blooming species in the Aster family that have yellow flowerheads and rosettes of basal leaves. It can be distinguished from these other species by its narrow dark green leaves, unbranched flowering stalks, three-toothed rays, and achenes with tiny crowns of scales (rather than a tufts of hairs). Other closely related species exist in the Western states. The Lakeside Daisy is sometimes classified as var. glabra of the western Hymenoxys acaulis. However, this latter species differs by having fewer ray florets (less than 15), floral bracts (phyllaries) with awned pointed tips, and basal leaves that are gray-green with silky hairs.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月22日
Description: This herbaceous vine is a summer annual about 2-6' long that branches occasionally. Its slender stems can climb by twining about adjacent vegetation; they are finely pubescent. Alternate trifoliate leaves occur at intervals along the stems. Each leaflet is about 1" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across; it is oblong-lanceolate, smooth along the margins, and finely pubescent on both the upper and lower sides. Each trifoliate leaf has a long petiole about 1-2" long that is also finely pubescent; there is a pair of small lanceolate bracts at the base of each petiole. No tendrils are produced by this vine. At the base of the middle to upper leaves, a slender flowering stalk (peduncle) about 1-4" long is occasionally produced. Each stalk terminates in a dense cluster of 1-6 small flowers; usually only one flower in a cluster is in bloom at a time. Each flower is up to ¼" long; it has a pale pink to purplish pink corolla. This corolla has a typical pea-like structure that consists of a standard, keel, and enclosing wings. However, the narrow keel and its wings are somewhat unusual in that they curve upward in front of the standard, instead of remaining straight. This characteristic distinguishes the Strophostyles genus from many other members of the Bean family. The short tubular calyx of each flower is light green to purple and finely pubescent; it has 4-5 shallow teeth along its rim and a pair of small bracts (bracteoles) at its base. The pedicel of each flower is very short. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is short-lived and lacks any noticeable floral scent. A fertile flower is replaced by a cylindrical seedpod about 1–1½" long that has a beaked outer tip. This seedpod is initially green, but becomes dark brown with maturity; it is finely pubescent to conspicuously hairy. Each seedpod contains a few large seeds that are oblongoid in shape; they become dark, shiny, and hairless with maturity. The root system consists of a taproot. This vine spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy soil. Conventional garden soil containing loam or clay-loam is tolerated if there is not too much competition from taller plants. The seeds may remain in the ground for several years before they germinate; scarification of the seeds can speed up this process. The roots add nitrogen to the soil by forming a symbiotic association with rhizobial bacteria.
Range & Habitat: The native Small Fuzzy Bean occurs occasionally in southern Illinois and in sandy areas of central and northern Illinois, otherwise it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, open sandy woodlands, sandy savannas, glades, thickets, sand prairies, and sandy fields. This species is usually found in rather dry areas with sparse ground vegetation. Occasional wildfires are probably beneficial in removing competition from woody vegetation and other tall plants.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers occasionally attracts bees, including bumblebees, Leaf-Cutting bees (Megachile spp.), and Dagger bees (Calliopsis spp.). The extra-floral nectaries attract ants and Halictid bees. The caterpillars of the following skippers occasionally feed on the foliage of Strophostyles spp. (Fuzzy Beans): Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Urbanus proteus (Long-tailed Skipper). Some leaf beetles feed on the foliage as well, including Cerotoma trifurcata (Bean Leaf Beetle), Sumitrosis ancoroides, and Sumitrosis pallescens; the larvae of the latter two species are leaf-miners. The Mourning Dove and Bobwhite Quail eat the seeds of Fuzzy Beans, while the foliage is readily eaten by cattle, deer, and other mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois. The dainty foliage of Aster oblongifolius (Aromatic Aster) can be observed in the background of the photographed trifoliate leaf.
Comments: This rather ordinary-looking vine has small flowers that are short-lived. Other common names for this species are Small Wild Bean and Small Woolly Bean. Two other vines in this genus that occur in Illinois are the following: Strophostyles helvola (Large Fuzzy Bean) and Strophostyles umbellata (Perennial Fuzzy Bean). As the common name implies, Large Fuzzy Bean is a more robust vine with longer stems and larger leaves; the leaves of this species are sometimes lobed. It is also a summer annual, but prefers more moist habitats. Similarly, the Perennial Fuzzy Bean is more robust with longer stems and larger leaves; this perennial vine is restricted to southern Illinois. These latter two species have slightly larger flowers (greater than ¼" in length) than the Small Fuzzy Bean (up to ¼" in length); they all have keels on their flowers that curve upward and their seedpods are finely pubescent to conspicuously hairy. While the mature seeds of Small Fuzzy Bean are shiny and hairless, the mature seeds of Large Fuzzy Bean and Perennial Fuzzy Bean are usually mealy-pubescent.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy soil. Conventional garden soil containing loam or clay-loam is tolerated if there is not too much competition from taller plants. The seeds may remain in the ground for several years before they germinate; scarification of the seeds can speed up this process. The roots add nitrogen to the soil by forming a symbiotic association with rhizobial bacteria.
Range & Habitat: The native Small Fuzzy Bean occurs occasionally in southern Illinois and in sandy areas of central and northern Illinois, otherwise it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, open sandy woodlands, sandy savannas, glades, thickets, sand prairies, and sandy fields. This species is usually found in rather dry areas with sparse ground vegetation. Occasional wildfires are probably beneficial in removing competition from woody vegetation and other tall plants.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers occasionally attracts bees, including bumblebees, Leaf-Cutting bees (Megachile spp.), and Dagger bees (Calliopsis spp.). The extra-floral nectaries attract ants and Halictid bees. The caterpillars of the following skippers occasionally feed on the foliage of Strophostyles spp. (Fuzzy Beans): Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Urbanus proteus (Long-tailed Skipper). Some leaf beetles feed on the foliage as well, including Cerotoma trifurcata (Bean Leaf Beetle), Sumitrosis ancoroides, and Sumitrosis pallescens; the larvae of the latter two species are leaf-miners. The Mourning Dove and Bobwhite Quail eat the seeds of Fuzzy Beans, while the foliage is readily eaten by cattle, deer, and other mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois. The dainty foliage of Aster oblongifolius (Aromatic Aster) can be observed in the background of the photographed trifoliate leaf.
Comments: This rather ordinary-looking vine has small flowers that are short-lived. Other common names for this species are Small Wild Bean and Small Woolly Bean. Two other vines in this genus that occur in Illinois are the following: Strophostyles helvola (Large Fuzzy Bean) and Strophostyles umbellata (Perennial Fuzzy Bean). As the common name implies, Large Fuzzy Bean is a more robust vine with longer stems and larger leaves; the leaves of this species are sometimes lobed. It is also a summer annual, but prefers more moist habitats. Similarly, the Perennial Fuzzy Bean is more robust with longer stems and larger leaves; this perennial vine is restricted to southern Illinois. These latter two species have slightly larger flowers (greater than ¼" in length) than the Small Fuzzy Bean (up to ¼" in length); they all have keels on their flowers that curve upward and their seedpods are finely pubescent to conspicuously hairy. While the mature seeds of Small Fuzzy Bean are shiny and hairless, the mature seeds of Large Fuzzy Bean and Perennial Fuzzy Bean are usually mealy-pubescent.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月21日
Description: This perennial plant is usually 4-12" tall and unbranched. There is a rosette of 2-6 strap-like basal leaves that are individually about 3-8" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across. They are linear to linear-oblanceolate with smooth margins, and usually wither away before the flowers bloom. On robust specimens, there may be 1 or 2 small leaves on the lower flowering stalk. The flowering stalk is up to 1' tall, with 6-12 flowers occurring on the upper half. These flowers are arranged on the stalk as intertwined double spirals – as a result, the individual spirals are not readily discernible. The flowering stalk is light green and covered more or less with white glandular hairs. At the base of each flower, there is a conspicuous green bract that is curved and narrowly ovate. Each flower is about 1/3" (8 mm.) long, consisting of 3Flowering Stalk white sepals and 3 white petals. The upper sepal and upper two petals are fused together and form a curved hood that curls upward at its tip, forming a small upper lip with 3 lobes. The lower petal has a prominent lip that hangs downward and has a crystalline appearance, while the lateral sepals are linear and non-spreading. Together, these sepals and petals form a tubular-shaped flower that nods downward. The blooming period can occur from late summer until the fall, and lasts about a month. There is usually a mild floral scent. Some plants may form cleistogamous flowers. Fertilized flowers are replaced by pods containing the tiny seeds, which are easily carried aloft by the wind. These pods may be capable of photosynthesis while they are green. The root system consists of a cluster of fleshy roots at the base of the plant that are finger-like in shape, and occasional rhizomes may be produced. This orchid can reproduce from the seeds of the flowers, or it may form offsets from rhizomes. Normal growth and development won't occur unless the root system forms an endomycorrhizal association with the appropriate species of fungus.
Cultivation: For most ecotypes of this orchid, the preference is full or partial sun and moist sandy soil. Some ecotypes appear to flourish in thin rocky soil that is rather dry. Taller, more aggressive plants can out-compete this orchid for the available light, so it prefers rather open ground vegetation. Starting plants from seed is quite difficult; on the other hand, this orchid is easier to transplant than most others. Cultivars of this orchid species are available from the mass horticultural market, while local ecotypes are next to impossible to obtain.
Range & Habitat: Nodding Ladies' Tresses occurs occasionally throughout Illinois, where it is native; for an orchid species, it is fairly common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist sand prairies, sandy savannas, areas adjacent to paths in sandy woodlands, shrubby bogs, sandy pannes near lakes, gravelly seeps, limestone glades, bluffs, sandy pits, ditches, and abandoned fields. This orchid typically occurs in somewhat disturbed areas of high quality habitats, and appears to respond positively to occasional wildfires. Individual plants are usually scattered about, rather than forming dense colonies.
Faunal Associations: Both long-tongued and short-tongued bees occasionally visit the flowers for nectar. The seeds are too small to be of any interest to birds. The foliage can be eaten by various mammalian herbivores, including rabbits, groundhogs, and deer, while the fleshy roots are probably eaten by pocket gophers when individual plants stray into drier areas.
Photographic Location: The photographed plant was growing in a sandy swale at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in NW Indiana.
Comments: While rather small-sized, the bright white spike of flowers provides a striking contrast with the background vegetation and is fairly easy to spot. The individual flowers are attractive, particularly when they are viewed close-up; in particular, the lower lip has an intricate crystalline pattern that can vary significantly from flower to flower. Unlike the Ladies' Tresses orchids that form a single spiral of flowers, such as Spiranthes lacera (Slender Ladies' Tresses), the Nodding Ladies' Tresses falls into the group of Spiranthes spp. with double intertwined spirals that are difficult to discern because of the density of flowers on the spike. The Spiranthes spp. in this group are distinguished from each other primarily by considering the variation in the structure of their flowers and the shape of their leaves. Nodding Ladies' Tresses can be distinguished from these other species by the downward curve of its tubular flowers, providing them with a 'nodding' appearance.
Cultivation: For most ecotypes of this orchid, the preference is full or partial sun and moist sandy soil. Some ecotypes appear to flourish in thin rocky soil that is rather dry. Taller, more aggressive plants can out-compete this orchid for the available light, so it prefers rather open ground vegetation. Starting plants from seed is quite difficult; on the other hand, this orchid is easier to transplant than most others. Cultivars of this orchid species are available from the mass horticultural market, while local ecotypes are next to impossible to obtain.
Range & Habitat: Nodding Ladies' Tresses occurs occasionally throughout Illinois, where it is native; for an orchid species, it is fairly common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist sand prairies, sandy savannas, areas adjacent to paths in sandy woodlands, shrubby bogs, sandy pannes near lakes, gravelly seeps, limestone glades, bluffs, sandy pits, ditches, and abandoned fields. This orchid typically occurs in somewhat disturbed areas of high quality habitats, and appears to respond positively to occasional wildfires. Individual plants are usually scattered about, rather than forming dense colonies.
Faunal Associations: Both long-tongued and short-tongued bees occasionally visit the flowers for nectar. The seeds are too small to be of any interest to birds. The foliage can be eaten by various mammalian herbivores, including rabbits, groundhogs, and deer, while the fleshy roots are probably eaten by pocket gophers when individual plants stray into drier areas.
Photographic Location: The photographed plant was growing in a sandy swale at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in NW Indiana.
Comments: While rather small-sized, the bright white spike of flowers provides a striking contrast with the background vegetation and is fairly easy to spot. The individual flowers are attractive, particularly when they are viewed close-up; in particular, the lower lip has an intricate crystalline pattern that can vary significantly from flower to flower. Unlike the Ladies' Tresses orchids that form a single spiral of flowers, such as Spiranthes lacera (Slender Ladies' Tresses), the Nodding Ladies' Tresses falls into the group of Spiranthes spp. with double intertwined spirals that are difficult to discern because of the density of flowers on the spike. The Spiranthes spp. in this group are distinguished from each other primarily by considering the variation in the structure of their flowers and the shape of their leaves. Nodding Ladies' Tresses can be distinguished from these other species by the downward curve of its tubular flowers, providing them with a 'nodding' appearance.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月21日
Description: This perennial plant is usually unbranched and up to 4' tall. The smooth central stem can be green or reddish. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 1½" wide, becoming slightly smaller as they ascend up the stem. They are narrowly lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, smooth along their margins, and largely devoid of hairs. In the upper half of the plant, there are often small leaves that develop from the upper axils of the primary leaves; they have a wing-like appearance. The showy inflorescence is up to 1' long, consisting of an erect panicle of small yellow compound flowers. The flowering stems don't curve outward and downward like many other goldenrods, but are held erect or curve upward. Each compound flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 4-10 ray florets surrounding the disk florets. The spacing of the ray florets tends to be irregular, and they may not open at the same time. These flowers occasionally have a mild fragrance. The blooming period occurs during late summer or early fall, and lasts about a month. Later, the achenes develop small tufts of hairs, and are dispersed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous, occasionally forming vegetative offsets. In older mature plants, a woody caudex develops.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and slightly moist to slight dry conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, sand, or rocky material. Occasionally, the leaves succumb to powdery mildew and other kinds of foliar disease, particularly after the blooming period is over in the fall. This plant is easy to grow, but can topple over if it is spoiled by excessive moisture or fertilizer.
Habitat & Range: The native Showy Goldenrod occurs occasionally in the northern half of Illinois, and is uncommon or absent in the southern half (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to slightly dry black soil prairies, sand prairies, openings in rocky upland forests, Black Oak savannas, thickets, woodland borders, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract honeybees, bumblebees, ants, beetles, and the occasional moth or butterfly. Among the beetles, are such visitors as Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Goldenrod Soldier Beetle) and Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle). These insects seek nectar primarily. The caterpillars of many moths feed on various parts of this goldenrod and others (see Moth Table). Other insect feeders include various leafhoppers, lace bugs, plant bugs, and beetles. To a limited extent, the seeds are eaten by the Eastern Goldfinch and the Greater Prairie Chicken. Mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the leaves, stems, and flowers, including deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and livestock. When this plant is infected by a fungus (Coleosporium sp.), it can cause sickness and death in cattle and horses. Like other goldenrods, it may contain a hemolytic agent that is mildly poisonous to some herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: As the common and scientific names imply, this plant is very showy while in bloom. Showy Goldenrod can be distinguished from other goldenrods that occur in Illinois prairies by the following characteristics, when they are considered together: 1) the flowering stems of the inflorescence are held erect or curve upward, rather than outward and downward; 2) both the stems and leaves are hairless, or nearly so; 3) there are often smaller wing-like leaves in the upper axils of the primary leaves, particularly in the upper half of the central stem, and 4) the leaves lack teeth.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and slightly moist to slight dry conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, sand, or rocky material. Occasionally, the leaves succumb to powdery mildew and other kinds of foliar disease, particularly after the blooming period is over in the fall. This plant is easy to grow, but can topple over if it is spoiled by excessive moisture or fertilizer.
Habitat & Range: The native Showy Goldenrod occurs occasionally in the northern half of Illinois, and is uncommon or absent in the southern half (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to slightly dry black soil prairies, sand prairies, openings in rocky upland forests, Black Oak savannas, thickets, woodland borders, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract honeybees, bumblebees, ants, beetles, and the occasional moth or butterfly. Among the beetles, are such visitors as Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Goldenrod Soldier Beetle) and Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle). These insects seek nectar primarily. The caterpillars of many moths feed on various parts of this goldenrod and others (see Moth Table). Other insect feeders include various leafhoppers, lace bugs, plant bugs, and beetles. To a limited extent, the seeds are eaten by the Eastern Goldfinch and the Greater Prairie Chicken. Mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the leaves, stems, and flowers, including deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and livestock. When this plant is infected by a fungus (Coleosporium sp.), it can cause sickness and death in cattle and horses. Like other goldenrods, it may contain a hemolytic agent that is mildly poisonous to some herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: As the common and scientific names imply, this plant is very showy while in bloom. Showy Goldenrod can be distinguished from other goldenrods that occur in Illinois prairies by the following characteristics, when they are considered together: 1) the flowering stems of the inflorescence are held erect or curve upward, rather than outward and downward; 2) both the stems and leaves are hairless, or nearly so; 3) there are often smaller wing-like leaves in the upper axils of the primary leaves, particularly in the upper half of the central stem, and 4) the leaves lack teeth.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月20日
Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant with a central stem that is 2-6' tall. Because of the wide distribution and the existence of several varieties, there is significant variability in the characteristics of local ecotypes. The alternate leaves are about 4-6" long and 1" wide, becoming slightly smaller towards the apex of the plant. They are lanceolate to broadly linear in shape, and usually have small teeth along the margins, otherwise the margins are smooth. The stems have lines of white hairs, while the undersides of the leaves are pubescent.
Flowering Plant
Several flowering stems emerge from the top of the plant in the form of a panicle bearing masses of tiny yellow flowers in compact heads. Each flowerhead is less than ¼" across. The flowerhead occur along the upper part of each flowering stem, and sometimes have a slight fragrance. The blooming period is from late summer to fall; individual plants typically remain in bloom about 3 weeks. The achenes are longitudinally ribbed, slightly hairy, and have small tufts of hair, which help to provide dispersion by wind. The root system is fibrous, producing creeping rhizomes that cause the plants to cluster, sometimes forming dense colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and average moisture levels. This plant will tolerate some drought, in which case it will probably drop some of its lower leaves. This plant tolerates a variety of soils, perhaps even preferring a heavier soil with some clay content. During the fall, powdery mildew occasionally attacks the leaves.
Range & Habitat: The native Canada Goldenrod occurs in almost all of the counties in Illinois and it is very common (see Distribution Map). Natural habitats include disturbed areas of moist to dry prairies, openings in both floodplain and upland forests, thickets, savannas, limestone glades, and gravel seeps. In more developed areas, it occurs in both cultivated and abandoned fields, vacant lots, power-line clearance areas, and along fences, roadsides, and railroads.
Faunal Associations: A wide variety of insects visit the flowers for pollen or nectar, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and a few butterflies and moths. Cross-pollination by these insects is required in order to set fertile seeds. The caterpillars of many moths feed on the foliage and other parts of this goldenrod and others (see Moth Table). A common insect that forms spherical galls on the stems is Eurosta solidaginis (Goldenrod Gall Fly). Other insects that feed on this goldenrod include Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle), Lopidea media (Goldenrod Scarlet Plant Bug), Lygus lineolaris (Tarnished Plant Bug), and various leaf beetles and leafhoppers. Among mammals and birds, the Prairie Chicken, Eastern Goldfinch, and Swamp Sparrow eat the seeds, while the White-Tailed Deer and Eastern Cottontail Rabbit occasionally eat the foliage (although it is not a preferred food source). In overgrazed pastures, there have been reports of a rust fungus on the leaves of goldenrod poisoning livestock during the fall. Sometimes beavers and muskrats use the stems in their dams or dens.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken in a vacant lot along a railroad in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is the most common and weedy goldenrod in Illinois. The flowers are especially attractive to many species of wasps and flies, which play an important role in controlling insect pests, or breaking down organic matter in the detritus cycle. The species Solidago altissima (Tall Goldenrod) is considered a variety of Canada Goldenrod by some authorities, while others (e.g., Mohlenbrock, 2002) treat it as a separate species. According to the latter authority, Tall Goldenrod has longer phyllaries (floral bracts) at the base of its flowerheads (exceeding 3 mm. in length), while Canada Goldenrod has shorter phyllaries (3 mm. or less). It has been reported that the foliage of Canada Goldenrod contains a volatile oil that chemically resembles the oil from pine needles. There is also some experimental evidence that this species inhibits the growth of maple seedlings, and probably other plants as well, by exuding phytotoxic chemicals through its roots.
Flowering Plant
Several flowering stems emerge from the top of the plant in the form of a panicle bearing masses of tiny yellow flowers in compact heads. Each flowerhead is less than ¼" across. The flowerhead occur along the upper part of each flowering stem, and sometimes have a slight fragrance. The blooming period is from late summer to fall; individual plants typically remain in bloom about 3 weeks. The achenes are longitudinally ribbed, slightly hairy, and have small tufts of hair, which help to provide dispersion by wind. The root system is fibrous, producing creeping rhizomes that cause the plants to cluster, sometimes forming dense colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and average moisture levels. This plant will tolerate some drought, in which case it will probably drop some of its lower leaves. This plant tolerates a variety of soils, perhaps even preferring a heavier soil with some clay content. During the fall, powdery mildew occasionally attacks the leaves.
Range & Habitat: The native Canada Goldenrod occurs in almost all of the counties in Illinois and it is very common (see Distribution Map). Natural habitats include disturbed areas of moist to dry prairies, openings in both floodplain and upland forests, thickets, savannas, limestone glades, and gravel seeps. In more developed areas, it occurs in both cultivated and abandoned fields, vacant lots, power-line clearance areas, and along fences, roadsides, and railroads.
Faunal Associations: A wide variety of insects visit the flowers for pollen or nectar, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and a few butterflies and moths. Cross-pollination by these insects is required in order to set fertile seeds. The caterpillars of many moths feed on the foliage and other parts of this goldenrod and others (see Moth Table). A common insect that forms spherical galls on the stems is Eurosta solidaginis (Goldenrod Gall Fly). Other insects that feed on this goldenrod include Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle), Lopidea media (Goldenrod Scarlet Plant Bug), Lygus lineolaris (Tarnished Plant Bug), and various leaf beetles and leafhoppers. Among mammals and birds, the Prairie Chicken, Eastern Goldfinch, and Swamp Sparrow eat the seeds, while the White-Tailed Deer and Eastern Cottontail Rabbit occasionally eat the foliage (although it is not a preferred food source). In overgrazed pastures, there have been reports of a rust fungus on the leaves of goldenrod poisoning livestock during the fall. Sometimes beavers and muskrats use the stems in their dams or dens.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken in a vacant lot along a railroad in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is the most common and weedy goldenrod in Illinois. The flowers are especially attractive to many species of wasps and flies, which play an important role in controlling insect pests, or breaking down organic matter in the detritus cycle. The species Solidago altissima (Tall Goldenrod) is considered a variety of Canada Goldenrod by some authorities, while others (e.g., Mohlenbrock, 2002) treat it as a separate species. According to the latter authority, Tall Goldenrod has longer phyllaries (floral bracts) at the base of its flowerheads (exceeding 3 mm. in length), while Canada Goldenrod has shorter phyllaries (3 mm. or less). It has been reported that the foliage of Canada Goldenrod contains a volatile oil that chemically resembles the oil from pine needles. There is also some experimental evidence that this species inhibits the growth of maple seedlings, and probably other plants as well, by exuding phytotoxic chemicals through its roots.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月20日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is up to 3' tall, branching occasionally. The stems have scattered white or yellow spines. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 3" across, and have short petioles. They are broadly lanceolate or ovate, but rather angular along the margins, which are slightly ciliate. There are white hairs and scattered spines along the central vein on the underside of each leaf.
The upper stems terminate in small clusters of star-shaped flowers with hairy pedicels. These flowers are white or light violet, about ¾" across, and have 5 petals that are united at the base. Near the center, there are 5 elongated yellow anthers that are very prominent. There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period can occur from early summer to early fall, and typically lasts about 1½ months. Afterwards, round fruits develop that are a little more than ½" across and half-enclosed by a papery calyx. They become yellow when mature, but are not edible to humans. Each fruit contains numerous seeds that are glossy yellow and flattened. The root system has creeping underground rhizomes, which are responsible for the vegetative spread of this plant.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to dry conditions. Horse Nettle grows readily in loamy or sandy soil, and probably other soil types as well. It is a rather weedy plant that can become aggressive at disturbed sites.
Range & Habitat: The native Horse Nettle occurs in every county of Illinois and it is very common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, sand prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, abandoned fields, areas along roadsides and railroads, yards and gardens, vacant lots, and other waste areas. This plant is most typically observed in disturbed areas, but it can be found occasionally even in high quality habitats.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees visit the flowers to collect pollen, using 'buzz pollination,' which involves the rapid vibration of thoracic muscles. The caterpillars of the day-flying moth Synanthedon rileyana (Riley's Clearwing) feed on Horse Nettle. This moth is a wasp mimic. The mature yellow fruits are eaten, to a limited extent, by the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Eastern Striped Skunk, and possibly small rodents, thereby promoting the distribution of the seeds and spread of this plant. They are apparently more immune to the reduced toxicity of the mature fruit than humans. Experimental studies have shown that the seeds can pass unharmed through the digestive tracts of livestock. Mammalian herbivores avoid eating the stems and foliage of this plant because of their scattered spines and toxicity; the latter is the result of solanum, an alkaloid compound that also occurs in other members of the Nightshade family.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's apartment complex in Urbana, Illinois, and a gravelly area along a railroad in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Horse Nettle is widely regarded as a weed with some justication, but it is also one of the native wildflowers of the prairie. The fruits are benefical to wildlife. Because of the intense competition among plants and their root systems, this plant is less aggressive in prairie habitats than in disturbed sites around developed areas.
The upper stems terminate in small clusters of star-shaped flowers with hairy pedicels. These flowers are white or light violet, about ¾" across, and have 5 petals that are united at the base. Near the center, there are 5 elongated yellow anthers that are very prominent. There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period can occur from early summer to early fall, and typically lasts about 1½ months. Afterwards, round fruits develop that are a little more than ½" across and half-enclosed by a papery calyx. They become yellow when mature, but are not edible to humans. Each fruit contains numerous seeds that are glossy yellow and flattened. The root system has creeping underground rhizomes, which are responsible for the vegetative spread of this plant.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to dry conditions. Horse Nettle grows readily in loamy or sandy soil, and probably other soil types as well. It is a rather weedy plant that can become aggressive at disturbed sites.
Range & Habitat: The native Horse Nettle occurs in every county of Illinois and it is very common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, sand prairies, openings and edges of woodlands, abandoned fields, areas along roadsides and railroads, yards and gardens, vacant lots, and other waste areas. This plant is most typically observed in disturbed areas, but it can be found occasionally even in high quality habitats.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees visit the flowers to collect pollen, using 'buzz pollination,' which involves the rapid vibration of thoracic muscles. The caterpillars of the day-flying moth Synanthedon rileyana (Riley's Clearwing) feed on Horse Nettle. This moth is a wasp mimic. The mature yellow fruits are eaten, to a limited extent, by the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Eastern Striped Skunk, and possibly small rodents, thereby promoting the distribution of the seeds and spread of this plant. They are apparently more immune to the reduced toxicity of the mature fruit than humans. Experimental studies have shown that the seeds can pass unharmed through the digestive tracts of livestock. Mammalian herbivores avoid eating the stems and foliage of this plant because of their scattered spines and toxicity; the latter is the result of solanum, an alkaloid compound that also occurs in other members of the Nightshade family.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's apartment complex in Urbana, Illinois, and a gravelly area along a railroad in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Horse Nettle is widely regarded as a weed with some justication, but it is also one of the native wildflowers of the prairie. The fruits are benefical to wildlife. Because of the intense competition among plants and their root systems, this plant is less aggressive in prairie habitats than in disturbed sites around developed areas.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月13日
Description: A mature specimen of this perennial plant ranges from 6-12' tall. The central stem is thick, light to medium green, and has conspicuous white hairs. There is some branching into flowering stems in the upper part of the plant. The basal leaves are 12-24" long and about half as wide. They are covered in fine white hairs, broadly lanceolate in overall shape, but deeply lobed or pinnatifid. The leaves become much smaller as they ascend up the stem.
Flowering Stalks
The inflorescence is very tall and elongated, with yellow composite flowers about 3-4" across. They resemble wild sunflowers in overall size, shape, and structure. However, like other Silphium spp., the small tubular disk florets are sterile, while the ray florets are fertile. There is little floral scent. A mature Compass Plant has 6-30 of these composite flowers, which bloom during mid-summer for about 1½ months. The seeds are large-sized, but flat and light, and can be carried several feet by the wind. A large central taproot can extend 15 ft. into the ground. A resinous substance is produced by the upper stem when the plant is blooming. This plant can live up to 100 years.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. A deep loamy soil is preferred for the central taproot. It takes several years for a seedling to develop into a full-sized mature plant. Mature plants are easy to maintain, resist drought, and can handle competition from other plants. If planted on a slope, there is a tendency to flop over, particularly while blooming.
Range & Habitat: This is a typical plant of black soil prairies in the tallgrass region. It often co-occurs with Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem). Other habitats include sand prairies, savannas, glades, and areas along railroads. Compass Plant is fairly common throughout most of Illinois, except in the SE and scattered western counties, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). This plant recovers from occasional fires readily. Compass Plant is native to Illinois.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees, Miner bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, and others. Short-tongued Halictine bees and Syrphid flies also visit the flowers, but they are less effective at pollination. Occasionally, Sulfur butterflies and Monarchs may visit the flowers for nectar. Several species of insects are specialist feeders of Compass Plant. This includes the uncommon Okanagana balli (Prairie Cicada), whose grubs feed on the large taproot, while a Rynchites sp. (Silphium Beetle) and its larvae feed on the flower heads and stems. The larvae of Antistrophus rufus and Antistrophus minor (Gall Wasp spp.) feed within the stems, forming galls that are not visible from the outside. Nonetheless, they attract the hyperparasitic wasp Eurytoma lutea, whose larvae feed on these gall formers. Similarly, the larvae of Mordellistena aethiops (Tumbling Flower Beetle sp.) feed within the stems, while the adults may eat the flowers. The oligolectic aphid Iowana frisoni sucks the juices from the flowering stems.
Photographic Location: The photographs of the flowering stalks and flowerheads were taken at the Lincoln Book Bindery in Urbana, Illinois, while the photograph of the lower leaves was taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The common name derives from the belief by pioneers that the leaves of Compass Plant pointed in a north-south direction. While this is probably true more often than not, it is not always reliable. The resin was used by Indian children as a chewing gum. With its imposing heighth, interesting leaves, and abundant yellow flowers, Compass Plant is an extraordinary plant. No tallgrass prairie is complete without a sizeable population of them.
Flowering Stalks
The inflorescence is very tall and elongated, with yellow composite flowers about 3-4" across. They resemble wild sunflowers in overall size, shape, and structure. However, like other Silphium spp., the small tubular disk florets are sterile, while the ray florets are fertile. There is little floral scent. A mature Compass Plant has 6-30 of these composite flowers, which bloom during mid-summer for about 1½ months. The seeds are large-sized, but flat and light, and can be carried several feet by the wind. A large central taproot can extend 15 ft. into the ground. A resinous substance is produced by the upper stem when the plant is blooming. This plant can live up to 100 years.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. A deep loamy soil is preferred for the central taproot. It takes several years for a seedling to develop into a full-sized mature plant. Mature plants are easy to maintain, resist drought, and can handle competition from other plants. If planted on a slope, there is a tendency to flop over, particularly while blooming.
Range & Habitat: This is a typical plant of black soil prairies in the tallgrass region. It often co-occurs with Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem). Other habitats include sand prairies, savannas, glades, and areas along railroads. Compass Plant is fairly common throughout most of Illinois, except in the SE and scattered western counties, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). This plant recovers from occasional fires readily. Compass Plant is native to Illinois.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees, Miner bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, and others. Short-tongued Halictine bees and Syrphid flies also visit the flowers, but they are less effective at pollination. Occasionally, Sulfur butterflies and Monarchs may visit the flowers for nectar. Several species of insects are specialist feeders of Compass Plant. This includes the uncommon Okanagana balli (Prairie Cicada), whose grubs feed on the large taproot, while a Rynchites sp. (Silphium Beetle) and its larvae feed on the flower heads and stems. The larvae of Antistrophus rufus and Antistrophus minor (Gall Wasp spp.) feed within the stems, forming galls that are not visible from the outside. Nonetheless, they attract the hyperparasitic wasp Eurytoma lutea, whose larvae feed on these gall formers. Similarly, the larvae of Mordellistena aethiops (Tumbling Flower Beetle sp.) feed within the stems, while the adults may eat the flowers. The oligolectic aphid Iowana frisoni sucks the juices from the flowering stems.
Photographic Location: The photographs of the flowering stalks and flowerheads were taken at the Lincoln Book Bindery in Urbana, Illinois, while the photograph of the lower leaves was taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The common name derives from the belief by pioneers that the leaves of Compass Plant pointed in a north-south direction. While this is probably true more often than not, it is not always reliable. The resin was used by Indian children as a chewing gum. With its imposing heighth, interesting leaves, and abundant yellow flowers, Compass Plant is an extraordinary plant. No tallgrass prairie is complete without a sizeable population of them.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月11日
Description: This multi-branched shrub is 2-6' tall. Branchlet bark is brown, reddish brown, or pale yellow, relatively smooth, and glabrous. Young shoots are light green and short-pubescent. Alternate leaves occur along the smaller branchlets and shoots. Individual leaves are 1½-4" long and ¼-¾" across; they are oblong-elliptic or oblong-oblanceolate in shape with margins that are smooth, slightly undulate, or slightly crenate-dentate with remote teeth. Often, the leaf margins are revolute (rolled under). Leaf bases are wedge-shaped, while their tips are relatively short and blunt. The upper sides of mature leaves are medium green and glabrous, while their lower sides are pale green to white, mostly glabrous, and glaucous. Sometimes fine hairs occur along the lower side of the central veins. Immature leaves are pale yellowish green or reddish green and they are usually more hairy than mature leaves. The petioles are light green, pale yellow, or nearly white; they are either glabrous or short-pubescent. Sometimes lanceolate stipules occur in pairs at the bases of petioles. These stipules are about 3-8 mm. long and deciduous.
Prairie Willow is dioecious, producing either all male (staminate) or all female (pistillate) catkins on separate shrubs. Male catkins are ¼-¾" long, consisting of numerous male florets. Initially, male catkins are fuzzy and gray, but they later become more red or yellow from the anthers of their stamens. Each male floret consists of 2 stamens and a silky-hairy bract about 1.5-2.0 mm. in length. The female catkins are ½-2" long, consisting of numerous female florets. Initially, female catkins are somewhat fuzzy and gray, but they later become green, and finally light brown. Each female floret consists of a lanceoloid pistil about 4-8 mm. in length and a silky-hairy bract about 1.5-2.0 mm. in length. There are short pedicels underneath the female florets. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-spring for about 1 week. Afterwards, during late spring or early summer, fertile female florets are transformed into seed capsules that split open at maturity to release their seeds. The tiny seeds are embedded in cottony hairs; they are distributed by the wind. The woody root system is shallow and branching. This shrub reproduces by reseeding itself.
Leaf UndersidesCultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that is loamy or sandy. Most growth and develop occurs from spring to mid-summer. The tiny seeds remain viable for about 1-2 weeks. A new clonal shrub can be created by cutting a branchlet from an older shrub during the early spring and sticking the cut-end of this branchlet into moist ground.
Range and Habitat: The native Smooth Prairie Willow is relatively uncommon in Illinois, where it is found in widely scattered counties (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to mesic prairies, moist to mesic sand prairies, willow thickets, sandy and non-sandy savannas, bases of sandstone bluffs, and sedge meadows. This shrub adapts to both well-drained upland areas and poorly drained bottomland areas.
Faunal Associations: The florets of the catkins are cross-pollinated by insects. These floral visitors include Cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), sawflies (Dolerus spp.), Syrphid flies, miscellaneous beetles, and other insects. Andrenid bees that are specialist pollinators (oligoleges) of willows (Salix spp.) include Andrena bisalicis, Andrena erythrogaster, Andrena fenningeri, Andrena illinoiensis, Andrena mariae, and Andrena salictaria. Smooth Prairie Willow and other willows are host plants to a variety of insects that feed on their leaves, bore through their branchlets, or suck plant juices. These species include the leafhoppers Empoasca andresia, Empoasca humilis, and Erythroneura rosa; Aphis salicariae (Willow Aphid), Cavariella aegopodii (Carrot-Willow Aphid), Chaitophorus viminalis (Small Black & Green Willow Aphid), and Tuberolachnus salignus (Giant Willow Aphid); Lopidea salicis (Willow Plant Bug) and other plant bugs; the leaf beetles Chrysomela knabi, Chrysomela lineatopunctata, Chrysomela scripta, Crepidodera decora, Crepidodera nana, Cryptocephalus leucomelas, and Disonycha alternata; Rhynchaenus rufipes (Willow Flea Weevil); the wood-boring larvae of Agrilus politus (Common Willow Agrilus); larvae of the gall flies Dasineura salicifolia and Asphondylia salictaria; larvae of Nematus ventralis (Willow Sawfly), Pontania proxima (Willow Redgall Sawfly), and Pontania s-pomum (Willow Gall Sawfly); and Diapheromera velii (Prairie Walkingstick). Some vertebrate animals use willows as a source of food and protective cover. The buds are eaten by the Ruffed Grouse, while the catkins are eaten by the White-Crowned Sparrow. Such birds as the Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Yellow-Breasted Chat use these shrubs for protective cover and nesting habitat. The twigs and foliage are browsed occasionally by the White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit.
Photographic Location: A wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities don't recognize Smooth Prairie Willow as a distinct variety of Prairie Willow, although Mohlenbrock (2002) does. Smooth Prairie Willow is very similar to the typical variety of Prairie Willow, except that its leaves are hairless, or nearly so. Smooth Prairie Willow resembles the native Salix discolor (Pussy Willow), except that its leaves and stipules are more narrow than those of the latter. Another variety of Prairie Willow, Salix humilis microphylla (Sage Willow), is a shrub about 1-3' tall that has smaller leaves and smaller catkins. This latter variety prefers dry open areas; it is relatively uncommon in Illinois.
Prairie Willow is dioecious, producing either all male (staminate) or all female (pistillate) catkins on separate shrubs. Male catkins are ¼-¾" long, consisting of numerous male florets. Initially, male catkins are fuzzy and gray, but they later become more red or yellow from the anthers of their stamens. Each male floret consists of 2 stamens and a silky-hairy bract about 1.5-2.0 mm. in length. The female catkins are ½-2" long, consisting of numerous female florets. Initially, female catkins are somewhat fuzzy and gray, but they later become green, and finally light brown. Each female floret consists of a lanceoloid pistil about 4-8 mm. in length and a silky-hairy bract about 1.5-2.0 mm. in length. There are short pedicels underneath the female florets. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-spring for about 1 week. Afterwards, during late spring or early summer, fertile female florets are transformed into seed capsules that split open at maturity to release their seeds. The tiny seeds are embedded in cottony hairs; they are distributed by the wind. The woody root system is shallow and branching. This shrub reproduces by reseeding itself.
Leaf UndersidesCultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that is loamy or sandy. Most growth and develop occurs from spring to mid-summer. The tiny seeds remain viable for about 1-2 weeks. A new clonal shrub can be created by cutting a branchlet from an older shrub during the early spring and sticking the cut-end of this branchlet into moist ground.
Range and Habitat: The native Smooth Prairie Willow is relatively uncommon in Illinois, where it is found in widely scattered counties (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to mesic prairies, moist to mesic sand prairies, willow thickets, sandy and non-sandy savannas, bases of sandstone bluffs, and sedge meadows. This shrub adapts to both well-drained upland areas and poorly drained bottomland areas.
Faunal Associations: The florets of the catkins are cross-pollinated by insects. These floral visitors include Cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), sawflies (Dolerus spp.), Syrphid flies, miscellaneous beetles, and other insects. Andrenid bees that are specialist pollinators (oligoleges) of willows (Salix spp.) include Andrena bisalicis, Andrena erythrogaster, Andrena fenningeri, Andrena illinoiensis, Andrena mariae, and Andrena salictaria. Smooth Prairie Willow and other willows are host plants to a variety of insects that feed on their leaves, bore through their branchlets, or suck plant juices. These species include the leafhoppers Empoasca andresia, Empoasca humilis, and Erythroneura rosa; Aphis salicariae (Willow Aphid), Cavariella aegopodii (Carrot-Willow Aphid), Chaitophorus viminalis (Small Black & Green Willow Aphid), and Tuberolachnus salignus (Giant Willow Aphid); Lopidea salicis (Willow Plant Bug) and other plant bugs; the leaf beetles Chrysomela knabi, Chrysomela lineatopunctata, Chrysomela scripta, Crepidodera decora, Crepidodera nana, Cryptocephalus leucomelas, and Disonycha alternata; Rhynchaenus rufipes (Willow Flea Weevil); the wood-boring larvae of Agrilus politus (Common Willow Agrilus); larvae of the gall flies Dasineura salicifolia and Asphondylia salictaria; larvae of Nematus ventralis (Willow Sawfly), Pontania proxima (Willow Redgall Sawfly), and Pontania s-pomum (Willow Gall Sawfly); and Diapheromera velii (Prairie Walkingstick). Some vertebrate animals use willows as a source of food and protective cover. The buds are eaten by the Ruffed Grouse, while the catkins are eaten by the White-Crowned Sparrow. Such birds as the Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Yellow-Breasted Chat use these shrubs for protective cover and nesting habitat. The twigs and foliage are browsed occasionally by the White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit.
Photographic Location: A wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities don't recognize Smooth Prairie Willow as a distinct variety of Prairie Willow, although Mohlenbrock (2002) does. Smooth Prairie Willow is very similar to the typical variety of Prairie Willow, except that its leaves are hairless, or nearly so. Smooth Prairie Willow resembles the native Salix discolor (Pussy Willow), except that its leaves and stipules are more narrow than those of the latter. Another variety of Prairie Willow, Salix humilis microphylla (Sage Willow), is a shrub about 1-3' tall that has smaller leaves and smaller catkins. This latter variety prefers dry open areas; it is relatively uncommon in Illinois.
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