文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月06日
Description: This perennial wildflower is about 3-6" tall, consisting of a flowering stem with a pair of opposite cauline leaves and some basal leaves. The stem is light green or slightly reddish green, glabrous, and rather succulent. The basal leaves and the pair of cauline leaves are linear or linear-lanceolate, slightly recurved, glabrous, smooth along the margins, and slightly fleshy. There is a single central vein along the length of each leaf. The leaves are about 2-5" long; their width varies somewhat depending on the local ecotype, but it is usually about ¼" across. The stem terminates in a floppy raceme of flowers. Each flower is about 8 mm. (1/3") across when it is fully open, consisting of 5 petals, 2 green sepals, 5 stamens with pink anthers, and a pistil with a tripartite style. The petals are white with fine pink stripes; these stripes vary from pale pink to bright pink. The flowers open up on warm sunny days, and close during cloudy weather or at night. They are more or less erect while open, but nod downward while closed. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 1-2 months. There is a pleasant floral scent. Each fertile flower produces an ovoid capsule containing several seeds; this capsule is enclosed by the 2 persistant sepals. The root system consists of a small corm and secondary roots. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself; sometimes it forms rather loose colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant organic matter. This wildflower will adapt to semi-shaded areas of lawns if mowing is delayed during the spring. Both the flowers and foliage fade away by mid-summer. The easy way to start plants is by obtaining their corms, although these are expensive to buy from nurseries.
Range & Habitat: The native Spring Beauty is a common wildflower that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to dry deciduous woodlands, savannas, thinly wooded bluffs, city parks, old cemeteries, and lawns (particularly near trees). Less often, this species is found in mesic prairies, but it is primarily a woodland plant. Spring Beauty can survive more environmental degradation than most spring-blooming woodland species, including occasional grazing by cattle and partial clearing of trees. This is one reason why it is still common.
Faunal Association: Aside from insect pollination, little is known about floral-faunal relationships. Various kinds of bees visit the flowers, include honey bees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Augochlorella spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), and Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.). An Andrenid bee, Andrena erigeniae, is a specialist pollinator of Spring Beauty. Many flies also visit the flowers, including Syrphid flies, the Giant Bee fly (Bombylius major), flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), and Calliphorid flies. Less often, various butterflies and skippers visit the flowers. These insects usually seek nectar, although some of the bees also collect pollen. The corms of Spring Beauty are dug up and eaten by some small rodents, including the White-Footed Mouse and Eastern Chipmunk (Martin et al., 1951/1961; Wrazen & Svendsen, 1978). The foliage is browsed sparingly by White-Tailed Deer (Augustine, 1997). While the corms of Spring Beauty can be eaten by humans as well, their small size makes this rather impractical.
Photographic Location: Busey Woods and an old cemetery in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This attractive wildflower is a sure sign that spring has arrived and that the local woodlands are full of wildflowers. When Spring Beauty and these other wildflowers are conspicuously absent from a woodlands, this indicates that it has been subjected to severe degradation from plows or bulldozers at some point in the past. In Illinois, Spring Beauty is a unique member of the Purslane family that is easy to distinguish from other wildflowers. Look for pink-stripes, whether pale or bright, on the petals of the flowers, and only 2 sepals underneath. In southeastern and other parts of the United States, there is a closely related wildflower, Claytonia carolina (Carolina Beauty). This latter species has a similar appearance to Spring Beauty, but it doesn't occur in Illinois. The leaves of Carolina Beauty are usually broader than those of Spring Beauty.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant organic matter. This wildflower will adapt to semi-shaded areas of lawns if mowing is delayed during the spring. Both the flowers and foliage fade away by mid-summer. The easy way to start plants is by obtaining their corms, although these are expensive to buy from nurseries.
Range & Habitat: The native Spring Beauty is a common wildflower that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to dry deciduous woodlands, savannas, thinly wooded bluffs, city parks, old cemeteries, and lawns (particularly near trees). Less often, this species is found in mesic prairies, but it is primarily a woodland plant. Spring Beauty can survive more environmental degradation than most spring-blooming woodland species, including occasional grazing by cattle and partial clearing of trees. This is one reason why it is still common.
Faunal Association: Aside from insect pollination, little is known about floral-faunal relationships. Various kinds of bees visit the flowers, include honey bees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Augochlorella spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), and Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.). An Andrenid bee, Andrena erigeniae, is a specialist pollinator of Spring Beauty. Many flies also visit the flowers, including Syrphid flies, the Giant Bee fly (Bombylius major), flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), and Calliphorid flies. Less often, various butterflies and skippers visit the flowers. These insects usually seek nectar, although some of the bees also collect pollen. The corms of Spring Beauty are dug up and eaten by some small rodents, including the White-Footed Mouse and Eastern Chipmunk (Martin et al., 1951/1961; Wrazen & Svendsen, 1978). The foliage is browsed sparingly by White-Tailed Deer (Augustine, 1997). While the corms of Spring Beauty can be eaten by humans as well, their small size makes this rather impractical.
Photographic Location: Busey Woods and an old cemetery in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This attractive wildflower is a sure sign that spring has arrived and that the local woodlands are full of wildflowers. When Spring Beauty and these other wildflowers are conspicuously absent from a woodlands, this indicates that it has been subjected to severe degradation from plows or bulldozers at some point in the past. In Illinois, Spring Beauty is a unique member of the Purslane family that is easy to distinguish from other wildflowers. Look for pink-stripes, whether pale or bright, on the petals of the flowers, and only 2 sepals underneath. In southeastern and other parts of the United States, there is a closely related wildflower, Claytonia carolina (Carolina Beauty). This latter species has a similar appearance to Spring Beauty, but it doesn't occur in Illinois. The leaves of Carolina Beauty are usually broader than those of Spring Beauty.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月05日
Description: This wildflower has evergreen leaves and semi-woody stems. The entire plant, including the inflorescence, is about 6-10" tall. Plants without an inflorescence are only 3-5" tall. The central stem of each plant is red to brown, unbranched, glabrous, and more or less terete. One or two pairs of smaller opposite leaves occur near the base of the stem, while a single whorl of three larger leaves occur at the base of the inflorescence. The leaves are 1-3" long, ¼–1" across, rather leathery in texture, and glabrous; they are lanceolate to ovate in shape, while their margins have widely spaced dentate teeth. The upper leave surface is dark green, except in areas along the veins, where it is white; this provides the upper leaf surface with a pinnately striped appearance. The lower leaf surface is light green. The petioles of these leaves are short and slender. On fertile plants, the stem terminates in an inflorescence consisting of a nodding umbel, or nodding umbel-like cyme, of 2-5 flowers on a long unbranched peduncle (flowering stalk). Sometimes the inflorescence produces only a single nodding flower. The erect peduncle is pinkish red to light brown, relatively stout, terete, and short-pubescent; the pedicels of individual flowers are similar, except they are shorter (about 1" long) and strongly recurved, holding the flowers face-down. Each flower is about ½–¾" across, consisting of 5 white petals, 5 light green sepals, 10 stamens, and a green pistil. The petals are oval in shape and concave toward the face of the flower. The sepals are oval-ovate in shape and less than one-half of the length of the petals. The stamens have showy light pink anthers and very short filaments; the anthers are bifurcated, releasing pollen from round pores at their tips. The pistil consists of a superior ovary, a short style, and large stigma (all green). The ovary is subgloboid in shape and slightly 5-lobed. The style has a short obconic shape with a broad flat tip and even broader base. The stigma is dome-shaped and wider than the style.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 2 weeks. The flowers are fragrant. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by seed capsules that are about 8 mm. (1/3") across and dark brown at maturity; they have the same shape as the ovary. The sepals persist underneath these seed capsules. When these capsules split open from above, they release many fine seeds. The root system consists of brown fibrous roots and underground white stolons; the latter are long and slender. Clonal plants are often produced from the stolons.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, dry-mesic conditions, and an acidic soil containing some rocky material or sand. Growth and development are relatively slow. The seeds are difficult to germinate, although new plants can be created by dividing the root systems of older plants. In order to flourish, however, the presence of an appropriate mycorrhizal fungus in the soil may be required.
Range & Habitat: Striped Wintergreen is a rare native plant in Illinois, where it is state-listed as 'endangered.' It has been found in only two counties (Cook County and Pope County) within the state; see the Distribution Map. At the present time, it may be extirpated from Cook County because of development. Illinois lies along the NE range-limit of this plant; it is more common in mountainous areas further to the east and southeast. In Illinois, habitats consist of rocky upland woodlands and sandy upland woodlands; the latter habitat occurs along Lake Michigan. In these habitats, oaks (Quercus spp.) are usually the dominant canopy trees. Outside of Illinois, this plant is often found in mixed woodlands and coniferous woodlands. Striped Wintergreen is restricted to high quality natural areas in Illinois.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by bumblebees; honeybees also visit the flowers (Standley et al., 1988). These insects obtain nectar from the flowers. The foliage of Striped Wintergreen is regarded as toxic to sheep (Schaffer, 1904), and White-tailed Deer usually avoid it when there are better sources of food (Rawinski, 2016).
Photographic Location: A wooded area in the southern Appalachian mountains. The photographs were taken by Paul Showers (Copyright © 2016).
Comments: Both the foliage and flowers are quite ornamental. In Illinois, the closest relative of Striped Wintergreen is Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata). This latter plant can be distinguished by its leaves: 1) they are oblanceolate in shape, 2) the margins of its leaves are more finely and abundantly toothed, and 3) its leaves lack the white markings that are found on the leaves of Striped Wintergreen. The inflorescence of Pipsissewa also tends to have more flowers (4-8) than the inflorescence of Striped Wintergreen. The common name, 'Wintergreen,' refers to the evergreen leaves, as the leaves of Striped Wintergreen do not possess a mint-like fragrance. Thus, Striped Wintergreen should not be confused with another low-growing semi-woody plant, Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). In addition to the fragrance of its leaves, this latter plant differs by its white bell-shaped flowers, red berries, and toothless leaf margins. Other common names of Chimaphila maculata are Spotted Wintergreen, Spotted Prince's Cone, Striped Prince's Cone, Spotted Pipsissewa, and Striped Pipsissewa.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 2 weeks. The flowers are fragrant. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by seed capsules that are about 8 mm. (1/3") across and dark brown at maturity; they have the same shape as the ovary. The sepals persist underneath these seed capsules. When these capsules split open from above, they release many fine seeds. The root system consists of brown fibrous roots and underground white stolons; the latter are long and slender. Clonal plants are often produced from the stolons.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, dry-mesic conditions, and an acidic soil containing some rocky material or sand. Growth and development are relatively slow. The seeds are difficult to germinate, although new plants can be created by dividing the root systems of older plants. In order to flourish, however, the presence of an appropriate mycorrhizal fungus in the soil may be required.
Range & Habitat: Striped Wintergreen is a rare native plant in Illinois, where it is state-listed as 'endangered.' It has been found in only two counties (Cook County and Pope County) within the state; see the Distribution Map. At the present time, it may be extirpated from Cook County because of development. Illinois lies along the NE range-limit of this plant; it is more common in mountainous areas further to the east and southeast. In Illinois, habitats consist of rocky upland woodlands and sandy upland woodlands; the latter habitat occurs along Lake Michigan. In these habitats, oaks (Quercus spp.) are usually the dominant canopy trees. Outside of Illinois, this plant is often found in mixed woodlands and coniferous woodlands. Striped Wintergreen is restricted to high quality natural areas in Illinois.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by bumblebees; honeybees also visit the flowers (Standley et al., 1988). These insects obtain nectar from the flowers. The foliage of Striped Wintergreen is regarded as toxic to sheep (Schaffer, 1904), and White-tailed Deer usually avoid it when there are better sources of food (Rawinski, 2016).
Photographic Location: A wooded area in the southern Appalachian mountains. The photographs were taken by Paul Showers (Copyright © 2016).
Comments: Both the foliage and flowers are quite ornamental. In Illinois, the closest relative of Striped Wintergreen is Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata). This latter plant can be distinguished by its leaves: 1) they are oblanceolate in shape, 2) the margins of its leaves are more finely and abundantly toothed, and 3) its leaves lack the white markings that are found on the leaves of Striped Wintergreen. The inflorescence of Pipsissewa also tends to have more flowers (4-8) than the inflorescence of Striped Wintergreen. The common name, 'Wintergreen,' refers to the evergreen leaves, as the leaves of Striped Wintergreen do not possess a mint-like fragrance. Thus, Striped Wintergreen should not be confused with another low-growing semi-woody plant, Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). In addition to the fragrance of its leaves, this latter plant differs by its white bell-shaped flowers, red berries, and toothless leaf margins. Other common names of Chimaphila maculata are Spotted Wintergreen, Spotted Prince's Cone, Striped Prince's Cone, Spotted Pipsissewa, and Striped Pipsissewa.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月04日
Description: This plant is an annual or biennial from 2-6' tall. Usually, it is unbranched, although sometimes a few side stems will develop from the lower central stem. The central stem is light green, terete, slightly grooved, and hairy. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 2" across, tapering to slender petioles. They are medium to dark green, elliptic to ovate in shape, and their margins are serrated. The texture of the leaves is somewhat rough; they are hairy along the major veins of their undersides. The central stem terminates in a spike of flowers about ½–2' long. From the axils of the upper leaves, secondary spikes of flowers may develop, but these are much shorter (about 1–6" in length). The rachis (central stalk) of each spike is similar to the central stem. The flowers are about 1" across; their corollas vary in color from light to dark violet-blue, depending on the local ecotype.
Each corolla has 5 spreading lobes that are divided nearly to the base; they are ovate to obovate in shape. Each corolla has a satiny appearance under bright light, and it tends to have margins that twist and curl. The corolla is often white toward the center, rather than blue-violet. At the center of the corolla is the apex of a 5-angled ovary from which a light violet style is strongly exerted. This style bends downward from the flower, but curls upward near its tip; the small stigma is white and divided into 3 lobes. Each flower also has 5 stamens. The light green calyx is tubular-campanulate in shape with 5 narrow green ridges and 5 long narrow teeth around its upper rim; these teeth curl backward when the flower opens. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, lasting about 1½ months. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by seed capsules that are 5-angled and rather flat-topped. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. During a drought, this plant often drops its lower leaves. Depending on moisture conditions and the fertility of the soil, the size of this plant can be highly variable.
Range & Habitat: American Bellflower is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include moist to slightly dry deciduous woodlands, disturbed open woodlands, woodland borders, and thickets. This plant is often found along woodland paths, and it appears to prefer slightly disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees and leaf-cutting bees (Megachilidae). Among the latter, is the oligolectic bee Megachile campanulae campanulae. Other visitors of the flowers include Halictid bees, butterflies, and skippers. These insects seek nectar, and some of the bees collect pollen from the anthers. Syrphid flies may feed on the pollen, but they are not effective pollinators. Deer occasionally eat the flowers and foliage.
Photographic Location: The edge of a wooded area at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Sometimes this plant is called "Tall Bellflower." The older scientific name is Campanula americana, but it has been reassigned to its own genus because of the unique structure of the flowers. The flowers of this tall-growing plant are showy, but individually short-lived. However, new flowers are produced in succession higher up on the spike. The other members of the Bellflower family that occur in Illinois, whether native or introduced, have bell-shaped (campanulate) flowers, while the flowers of the American Bellflower have a more open design with widely spreading lobes. As a result, this species is easy to identify.
Each corolla has 5 spreading lobes that are divided nearly to the base; they are ovate to obovate in shape. Each corolla has a satiny appearance under bright light, and it tends to have margins that twist and curl. The corolla is often white toward the center, rather than blue-violet. At the center of the corolla is the apex of a 5-angled ovary from which a light violet style is strongly exerted. This style bends downward from the flower, but curls upward near its tip; the small stigma is white and divided into 3 lobes. Each flower also has 5 stamens. The light green calyx is tubular-campanulate in shape with 5 narrow green ridges and 5 long narrow teeth around its upper rim; these teeth curl backward when the flower opens. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, lasting about 1½ months. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by seed capsules that are 5-angled and rather flat-topped. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. During a drought, this plant often drops its lower leaves. Depending on moisture conditions and the fertility of the soil, the size of this plant can be highly variable.
Range & Habitat: American Bellflower is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include moist to slightly dry deciduous woodlands, disturbed open woodlands, woodland borders, and thickets. This plant is often found along woodland paths, and it appears to prefer slightly disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees and leaf-cutting bees (Megachilidae). Among the latter, is the oligolectic bee Megachile campanulae campanulae. Other visitors of the flowers include Halictid bees, butterflies, and skippers. These insects seek nectar, and some of the bees collect pollen from the anthers. Syrphid flies may feed on the pollen, but they are not effective pollinators. Deer occasionally eat the flowers and foliage.
Photographic Location: The edge of a wooded area at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Sometimes this plant is called "Tall Bellflower." The older scientific name is Campanula americana, but it has been reassigned to its own genus because of the unique structure of the flowers. The flowers of this tall-growing plant are showy, but individually short-lived. However, new flowers are produced in succession higher up on the spike. The other members of the Bellflower family that occur in Illinois, whether native or introduced, have bell-shaped (campanulate) flowers, while the flowers of the American Bellflower have a more open design with widely spreading lobes. As a result, this species is easy to identify.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月03日
Description: During the first year, this biennial plant consists of a rosette of basal leaves spanning about 6" across. These basal leaves are up to 3½" long and ¾" across; they are obovate or oblanceolate, shallowly lobed or dentate along the margins, and nearly hairless. During the second year, a flowering stalk develops up to 3' tall that is unbranched or sparingly branched; it often leans over to one side. This stalk is pale green, hairless, and glaucous. The cauline (alternate) leaves are up to 8" long and 1" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the central stalk. They are usually lanceolate, hairless, and glaucous; some of the upper leaves are linear. The margins of these leaves are smooth or sparingly dentate. The base of each cauline leaf clasps the central stalk with a pair of basal lobes. Normally, the cauline leaves are some shade of green, but they can become reddish or yellowish green in bright sunlight.
The central stalk (and any secondary stalks) terminates in an elongated raceme of flowers up to 1½' long. The small flowers bloom near the apex of this raceme, while the siliques (slender cylindrical seedpods) droop from their pedicels below. Each flower is about 4 mm. (1/6") across, consisting of 4 white petals, 4 light green sepals, a pistil with an undivided style, and several stamens. The petals are barely longer than the sepals. The pedicel of each flower is about 8 mm. (1/3") long, hairless, and ascending. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a slender silique up to 3½" long that is hairless; it contains a single row of small seeds with winged margins. The siliques spread widely or droop from their pedicels. When the siliques split open to release their seeds, the latter can be carried aloft to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to partial sunlight, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a soil that is loamy or rocky. The size of a plant and the appearance of its foliage can be strongly influenced by its growing conditions.
Range & Habitat: Smooth Rock Cress occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. In some areas, it may be locally common. Habitats include mesic woodlands, thinly wooded bluffs, rocky slopes of bluffs, shaded cliffs, and ravines near streams. This plant is generally found in hilly woodlands where deciduous trees are dominant.
Faunal Associations: Small bees and flies occasionally visit the flowers for nectar or pollen. Bee visitors include Ceratina spp. (little carpenter bees), Nomada spp. (cuckoo bees), Osmia spp. (mason bees), Halictid bees, and Andrenid bees, including Andrena arabis (Rock Cress Andrenid Bee). Some insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Boechera spp. and related genera (Rock Cress species); they include larvae of the leaf-mining fly Liriomya pusilla, the flea beetles Phyllotreta conjuncta and Phyllotreta punctulata, and caterpillars of the butterflies Anthocharis midea (Falcate Orangetip) and Pieris oleracea (Mustard White). The foliage of these plants doesn't appear to be bothered by either deer or rabbits to any significant degree (personal observation).
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a wooded ravine near a stream in Vermilion County, Illinois, and at a mesic deciduous woodland in Douglas County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the native species of Rock Cress (Boechera spp. and related genera) that can be found in wooded areas. This plant is not particularly showy and it is often overlooked. Smooth Rock Cress (Boechera laevigata) can be distinguished from other species of Rock Cress as follows: 1) It is completely hairless during the blooming period, 2) it has siliques that are widely spreading or drooping, and 3) its cauline leaves clasp their stems with a pair of basal lobes. These three characteristics are usually sufficient to distinguish this species from other species of Rock Cress. Some other characteristics that are occasionally helpful: 1) Its siliques are circular in cross-section, rather than flattened, and 2) each of its siliques contains a single row of seeds. For example, another woodland species, Boechera canadensis (Sicklepod), has an appearance that is similar to Smooth Rock Cress; they both have drooping siliques. However, the cauline leaves of Sicklepod are sessile, its lower foliage is often hairy, and it has flattened siliques. A scientific synonym of Smooth Rock Cress is Arabis laevigata.
The central stalk (and any secondary stalks) terminates in an elongated raceme of flowers up to 1½' long. The small flowers bloom near the apex of this raceme, while the siliques (slender cylindrical seedpods) droop from their pedicels below. Each flower is about 4 mm. (1/6") across, consisting of 4 white petals, 4 light green sepals, a pistil with an undivided style, and several stamens. The petals are barely longer than the sepals. The pedicel of each flower is about 8 mm. (1/3") long, hairless, and ascending. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a slender silique up to 3½" long that is hairless; it contains a single row of small seeds with winged margins. The siliques spread widely or droop from their pedicels. When the siliques split open to release their seeds, the latter can be carried aloft to some extent by the wind. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to partial sunlight, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a soil that is loamy or rocky. The size of a plant and the appearance of its foliage can be strongly influenced by its growing conditions.
Range & Habitat: Smooth Rock Cress occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. In some areas, it may be locally common. Habitats include mesic woodlands, thinly wooded bluffs, rocky slopes of bluffs, shaded cliffs, and ravines near streams. This plant is generally found in hilly woodlands where deciduous trees are dominant.
Faunal Associations: Small bees and flies occasionally visit the flowers for nectar or pollen. Bee visitors include Ceratina spp. (little carpenter bees), Nomada spp. (cuckoo bees), Osmia spp. (mason bees), Halictid bees, and Andrenid bees, including Andrena arabis (Rock Cress Andrenid Bee). Some insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Boechera spp. and related genera (Rock Cress species); they include larvae of the leaf-mining fly Liriomya pusilla, the flea beetles Phyllotreta conjuncta and Phyllotreta punctulata, and caterpillars of the butterflies Anthocharis midea (Falcate Orangetip) and Pieris oleracea (Mustard White). The foliage of these plants doesn't appear to be bothered by either deer or rabbits to any significant degree (personal observation).
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a wooded ravine near a stream in Vermilion County, Illinois, and at a mesic deciduous woodland in Douglas County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the native species of Rock Cress (Boechera spp. and related genera) that can be found in wooded areas. This plant is not particularly showy and it is often overlooked. Smooth Rock Cress (Boechera laevigata) can be distinguished from other species of Rock Cress as follows: 1) It is completely hairless during the blooming period, 2) it has siliques that are widely spreading or drooping, and 3) its cauline leaves clasp their stems with a pair of basal lobes. These three characteristics are usually sufficient to distinguish this species from other species of Rock Cress. Some other characteristics that are occasionally helpful: 1) Its siliques are circular in cross-section, rather than flattened, and 2) each of its siliques contains a single row of seeds. For example, another woodland species, Boechera canadensis (Sicklepod), has an appearance that is similar to Smooth Rock Cress; they both have drooping siliques. However, the cauline leaves of Sicklepod are sessile, its lower foliage is often hairy, and it has flattened siliques. A scientific synonym of Smooth Rock Cress is Arabis laevigata.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月03日
Description: This plant is a biennial that consists of a rosette of basal leaves during the first year. The basal leaves are up to 6" long and 2" across; they are oblanceolate or obovate, dentate along the margins, and hairy underneath. Each basal leaf tapers to a petiole-like base that is long and slender, while its tip is acute to blunt. During the second year, one or more stems with alternate cauline leaves develop from the center of the rosette, which withers away. Upon reaching maturity, Toothed Rock Cress is 1½–3' tall. The erect to ascending stems are light green, finely pubescent, terete, and sparingly branched. The cauline leaves are up to 4" long and 1½" across; they are oblanceolate to obovate and dentate along their margins. The upper surface of each cauline leaf is sparingly covered with fine hairs or hairless, while the lower surface is conspicuously hairy. Each cauline leaf clasps the stem with a pair of basal lobes (it is auriculate). The upper stems terminate in floral racemes up to 1' long.
Each flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 4 sepals, 4 petals, an ovary with a short style, and several stamens with pale yellow or white anthers. The petals are white and oblanceolate; they barely extend beyond the sepals. The sepals are lanceolate-oblong, light green to reddish green, and finely hairy. The pedicel of each flower is short, stout, and conspicuously hairy. The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer and lasts about a month. Each flower is replaced by a slender cylindrical silique about ¾–1½" long that contains a single row of seeds. The siliques are ascending to spreading along the central stalk of the raceme; they can be curved or straight, but don't droop conspicuously. The outer surface of each silique is light green to reddish purple and glabrous or finely pubescent (usually the latter). The seeds are quite small (about 1 mm. long), oblongoid, and somewhat flattened; they lack winged margins. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: This plant is typically found in dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist conditions, and either fertile loamy soil or thin rocky soil with decaying organic matter.
Range & Habitat: The native Toothed Rock Cress occurs occasionally in northern and central Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands, wooded floodplain areas along rivers, banks of small streams, rocky bluffs, and shaded limestone cliffs.
Faunal Associations: The small flowers attract various bees, Syrphid flies, dance flies (Empis spp.), and miscellaneous other insects. The bee visitors include cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, and little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.). The bees suck nectar or collect pollen, while the flies suck nectar or feed on pollen. Some flea beetles (e.g., Phyllotreta conjuncta and Phyllotreta punctulata) feed on species of Rock Cress (Boechera spp. and related genera).
Photographic Location: A low wooded area along a river in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the woodland species of Rock Cress (Boechera spp. and related genera). As a group, they are usually tall-growing, but not very showy because of their small flowers. It can be somewhat tricky to distinguish these species and several physical characteristics should be considered. Toothed Rock Cress (Boechera dentata) has: 1) stems with pubescent hairs throughout, 2) terete siliques that are spreading to ascending (but not drooping nor stiffly erect), 3) auriculate leaves with basal lobes that clasp each stem throughout its length, and 4) very small flowers (about 1/8" or 3 mm. across). Other species of Rock Cress often have: 1) hairless stems or stems that are hairy only toward the bottom, 2) siliques that are flattened, droop downward, or are held stiffly erect, 3) cauline leaves that are sessile, or they have basal lobes that clasp each stem only toward the bottom, and 4) flowers that are slightly larger in size. Other scientific names of Toothed Rock Cress include Arabis dentata and Arabis shortii.
Each flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 4 sepals, 4 petals, an ovary with a short style, and several stamens with pale yellow or white anthers. The petals are white and oblanceolate; they barely extend beyond the sepals. The sepals are lanceolate-oblong, light green to reddish green, and finely hairy. The pedicel of each flower is short, stout, and conspicuously hairy. The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer and lasts about a month. Each flower is replaced by a slender cylindrical silique about ¾–1½" long that contains a single row of seeds. The siliques are ascending to spreading along the central stalk of the raceme; they can be curved or straight, but don't droop conspicuously. The outer surface of each silique is light green to reddish purple and glabrous or finely pubescent (usually the latter). The seeds are quite small (about 1 mm. long), oblongoid, and somewhat flattened; they lack winged margins. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: This plant is typically found in dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist conditions, and either fertile loamy soil or thin rocky soil with decaying organic matter.
Range & Habitat: The native Toothed Rock Cress occurs occasionally in northern and central Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands, wooded floodplain areas along rivers, banks of small streams, rocky bluffs, and shaded limestone cliffs.
Faunal Associations: The small flowers attract various bees, Syrphid flies, dance flies (Empis spp.), and miscellaneous other insects. The bee visitors include cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, and little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.). The bees suck nectar or collect pollen, while the flies suck nectar or feed on pollen. Some flea beetles (e.g., Phyllotreta conjuncta and Phyllotreta punctulata) feed on species of Rock Cress (Boechera spp. and related genera).
Photographic Location: A low wooded area along a river in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the woodland species of Rock Cress (Boechera spp. and related genera). As a group, they are usually tall-growing, but not very showy because of their small flowers. It can be somewhat tricky to distinguish these species and several physical characteristics should be considered. Toothed Rock Cress (Boechera dentata) has: 1) stems with pubescent hairs throughout, 2) terete siliques that are spreading to ascending (but not drooping nor stiffly erect), 3) auriculate leaves with basal lobes that clasp each stem throughout its length, and 4) very small flowers (about 1/8" or 3 mm. across). Other species of Rock Cress often have: 1) hairless stems or stems that are hairy only toward the bottom, 2) siliques that are flattened, droop downward, or are held stiffly erect, 3) cauline leaves that are sessile, or they have basal lobes that clasp each stem only toward the bottom, and 4) flowers that are slightly larger in size. Other scientific names of Toothed Rock Cress include Arabis dentata and Arabis shortii.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月03日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2-6' tall and usually unbranched. The central stem is light green to purplish green, terete, and glabrous. Opposite pairs of leaves about 3-8" long and 1-3" across occur along this stem; they are lanceolate-elliptic to ovate and smooth along their margins. Both the tips and bottoms of the leaves are wedge-shaped, rather than rounded. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower surface is pale to medium green and glabrous (or nearly so). The leaves are widely spreading and remain more or less the same size along the stem. The distinct petioles are ½-2" long and light green. The foliage contains a milky latex.
The stem terminates in one or more umbels of flowers spanning 2-4" across. The umbels are relatively open and the flowers droop somewhat from their pedicels. Each flower is about ¼" across and ½" long, consisting of 5 petals that hang downward, 5 curved cylindrical hoods that surround a central column, and the reproductive organs. The insignificant sepals are hidden by the petals. Each hood has an exerted horn. The flowers are bicolored: the petals are green or pale purple, while the hoods and column are white or light pink. The slender pedicels are 1-2" long, light green, and either glabrous or minutely short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about a month. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by erect seedpods (follicles) that are up to 6" long and ¾" across; they are narrowly lanceoloid in shape. During the fall, each seedpod splits open along one side to release its seeds. The seeds have tufts of hair at their apices; they are distributed by the wind. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is partial or dappled sunlight, mesic conditions, and a rich loam or sandy loam with organic matter. The location should be protected from prevailing winds.
Range & Habitat: Poke Milkweed is widely distributed across Illinois, but it is relatively uncommon. Illinois lies along the western range limit of this species. Habitats consist of woodland openings, rich mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, areas along paths in woodlands, and woodland borders. Poke Milkweed is found in deciduous woodlands where oaks, maples, and similar trees are dominant.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Poke Milkweed attract bumblebees and butterflies, including the Monarch and Great Spangle Fritillary butterflies. These insects suck nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed on the foliage, flower tissues, seedpods, pith of the stems, or plant juices. The following beetles have been found on Poke Milkweed: Chrysochus auratus (Dogbane Beetle) and Labidomera clivicollis (Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle). Other insects that feed on milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) include larvae of Tetraopes basalis (Milkweed Longhorn) and Tetraopes tetrophthalmus (Red Milkweed Beetle), larvae of Rhyssomatus lineaticollis (Milkweed Stem Weevil), Lygaeus kalmii (Small Milkweed Bug) and Oncopeltus fasciatus (Large Milkweed Bug), Aphis asclepiadis and other aphids, caterpillars of the moths Cycnia inopinatus (Unexpected Cycnia) and Cycnia tenera (Delicate Cycnia), and caterpillars of the butterfly Danaus plexippus (Monarch). Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of milkweeds because their foliage contains toxic cardiac glycosides and it is bitter-tasting.
Photographic Location: Along a path in a sandy woodland at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: This is a tall-growing milkweed with unusual bicolored flowers. In Illinois, only Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) are as tall and their flowers are usually more unicolored. In some areas of the United States, Poke Milkweed has been known to hybridize with Common Milkweed, producing plants with intermediate characteristics. So far, such hybrid plants have not been observed in Illinois. The common name, Poke Milkweed, refers to a junior synonym of this species, Asclepias phytolaccoides. This latter scientific name was no doubt inspired by the superficial resemblance of this milkweed's leaves to those of an unrelated species, Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).
The stem terminates in one or more umbels of flowers spanning 2-4" across. The umbels are relatively open and the flowers droop somewhat from their pedicels. Each flower is about ¼" across and ½" long, consisting of 5 petals that hang downward, 5 curved cylindrical hoods that surround a central column, and the reproductive organs. The insignificant sepals are hidden by the petals. Each hood has an exerted horn. The flowers are bicolored: the petals are green or pale purple, while the hoods and column are white or light pink. The slender pedicels are 1-2" long, light green, and either glabrous or minutely short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about a month. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by erect seedpods (follicles) that are up to 6" long and ¾" across; they are narrowly lanceoloid in shape. During the fall, each seedpod splits open along one side to release its seeds. The seeds have tufts of hair at their apices; they are distributed by the wind. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is partial or dappled sunlight, mesic conditions, and a rich loam or sandy loam with organic matter. The location should be protected from prevailing winds.
Range & Habitat: Poke Milkweed is widely distributed across Illinois, but it is relatively uncommon. Illinois lies along the western range limit of this species. Habitats consist of woodland openings, rich mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, areas along paths in woodlands, and woodland borders. Poke Milkweed is found in deciduous woodlands where oaks, maples, and similar trees are dominant.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Poke Milkweed attract bumblebees and butterflies, including the Monarch and Great Spangle Fritillary butterflies. These insects suck nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed on the foliage, flower tissues, seedpods, pith of the stems, or plant juices. The following beetles have been found on Poke Milkweed: Chrysochus auratus (Dogbane Beetle) and Labidomera clivicollis (Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle). Other insects that feed on milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) include larvae of Tetraopes basalis (Milkweed Longhorn) and Tetraopes tetrophthalmus (Red Milkweed Beetle), larvae of Rhyssomatus lineaticollis (Milkweed Stem Weevil), Lygaeus kalmii (Small Milkweed Bug) and Oncopeltus fasciatus (Large Milkweed Bug), Aphis asclepiadis and other aphids, caterpillars of the moths Cycnia inopinatus (Unexpected Cycnia) and Cycnia tenera (Delicate Cycnia), and caterpillars of the butterfly Danaus plexippus (Monarch). Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of milkweeds because their foliage contains toxic cardiac glycosides and it is bitter-tasting.
Photographic Location: Along a path in a sandy woodland at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: This is a tall-growing milkweed with unusual bicolored flowers. In Illinois, only Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) are as tall and their flowers are usually more unicolored. In some areas of the United States, Poke Milkweed has been known to hybridize with Common Milkweed, producing plants with intermediate characteristics. So far, such hybrid plants have not been observed in Illinois. The common name, Poke Milkweed, refers to a junior synonym of this species, Asclepias phytolaccoides. This latter scientific name was no doubt inspired by the superficial resemblance of this milkweed's leaves to those of an unrelated species, Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).
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Miss Chen
2018年05月01日
Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is about 2-4' tall; in open areas, it usually branches and has a bushy appearance. The stems are light green, terete, glabrous, and glaucous. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 2½" across; they are ovate to narrowly ovate, smooth along the margins, and usually hairless. The upper surface of each leaf is bright green, and glabrous, while the lower surface is pale green. Rarely, the lower surfaces of the leaves are pubescent. Each leaf has a slender petiole up to 1" long. The upper stems terminate in compact panicles of flowers.
Each flower spans ½–¾" across, consisting of a tubular corolla with 5 widely spreading lobes and a very short calyx with 5 triangular teeth. The corolla is mostly pale blue and its lobes are narrow and star-like. Near the base of each lobe, there is a small patch of white or pale yellow. The narrow throat of each corolla is guarded by a ring of white hairs that face inward (probably to keep out ants & other nectar thieves). The branches of the panicle are green and hairless, becoming dark brown or black with age. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a pair of cylindrical follicles that are about 4-5" long. The follicles are glabrous and erect to ascending. Each follicle contains a a single row of small cylindrical seeds; it splits along one side to release them. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade and moist conditions. Different soil types are tolerated, including those that contain clay-loam, rocky material, or sand. The foliage is rarely disfigured by herbivores or disease. More flowers are produced if there is some exposure to the sun.
Range & Habitat: The native Bluestar is occasional in southern and western Illinois; it is absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rocky woodlands, shaded rocky ravines, gravelly seeps, borders of streams, limestone glades, and moist sandy meadows. Because of its attractive foliage and flowers, Bluestar is occasionally cultivated in gardens, from which it can escape. This is the only native Amsonia sp. in Illinois; other species in this genus are native to areas south of Illinois.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and various long-tongued insects. These insect visitors include the Large Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Hummingbird moths (Hemaris spp.), and various butterflies. An aphid, Macchiatiella rhamni, uses Bluestar as a summer host (Hottes & Frison, 1931). Because the foliage contains a white latex that is toxic, it is avoided by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A wet prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The star-like flowers are a heavenly shade of light blue and the foliage is an attractive bright green. No other native plant in Illinois resembles this species. The closest relatives of Bluestar in Illinois are Apocynum cannabinum (Common Dogbane) and Apocynum androsaemifolium (Spreading Dogbane). These latter two species have white to pinkish white flowers that are bell-shaped and smaller in size. While Bluestar has alternate leaves, Common Dogbane and Spreading Dogbane have opposite leaves. Sometimes other Amsonia spp. (Bluestars) are occasionally cultivated in gardens. They differ from the Bluestar that is described here by the shapes of their flowers and leaves. Another common name of Amsonia tabernaemontana is Blue Dogbane.
Each flower spans ½–¾" across, consisting of a tubular corolla with 5 widely spreading lobes and a very short calyx with 5 triangular teeth. The corolla is mostly pale blue and its lobes are narrow and star-like. Near the base of each lobe, there is a small patch of white or pale yellow. The narrow throat of each corolla is guarded by a ring of white hairs that face inward (probably to keep out ants & other nectar thieves). The branches of the panicle are green and hairless, becoming dark brown or black with age. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a pair of cylindrical follicles that are about 4-5" long. The follicles are glabrous and erect to ascending. Each follicle contains a a single row of small cylindrical seeds; it splits along one side to release them. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade and moist conditions. Different soil types are tolerated, including those that contain clay-loam, rocky material, or sand. The foliage is rarely disfigured by herbivores or disease. More flowers are produced if there is some exposure to the sun.
Range & Habitat: The native Bluestar is occasional in southern and western Illinois; it is absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rocky woodlands, shaded rocky ravines, gravelly seeps, borders of streams, limestone glades, and moist sandy meadows. Because of its attractive foliage and flowers, Bluestar is occasionally cultivated in gardens, from which it can escape. This is the only native Amsonia sp. in Illinois; other species in this genus are native to areas south of Illinois.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and various long-tongued insects. These insect visitors include the Large Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Hummingbird moths (Hemaris spp.), and various butterflies. An aphid, Macchiatiella rhamni, uses Bluestar as a summer host (Hottes & Frison, 1931). Because the foliage contains a white latex that is toxic, it is avoided by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A wet prairie at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The star-like flowers are a heavenly shade of light blue and the foliage is an attractive bright green. No other native plant in Illinois resembles this species. The closest relatives of Bluestar in Illinois are Apocynum cannabinum (Common Dogbane) and Apocynum androsaemifolium (Spreading Dogbane). These latter two species have white to pinkish white flowers that are bell-shaped and smaller in size. While Bluestar has alternate leaves, Common Dogbane and Spreading Dogbane have opposite leaves. Sometimes other Amsonia spp. (Bluestars) are occasionally cultivated in gardens. They differ from the Bluestar that is described here by the shapes of their flowers and leaves. Another common name of Amsonia tabernaemontana is Blue Dogbane.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月30日
Description: This perennial plant produces 2-3 basal leaves during the spring. These leaves are typically 6-9" long and ¾-1½" across; they are linear-oblong or elliptic-oblong in shape with smooth margins and parallel venation. The leaf surfaces are pale green to medium green and glabrous. Leaf orientation is erect, ascending, or arched and sprawling. The petioles are very short and often hidden by ground litter; they are pale green and glabrous. By early summer, the basal leaves wither away. After a short dormant period, an erect flowering stalk is produced that is 6-20" tall. This stalk is pale green, glabrous, terete, unbranched, and naked (devoid of leaves); it is surrounded by a membranous sheath at its base. At the apex of this stalk, there is a rounded umbel of 10-20 flowers about ¾-1½" across. At the base of this umbel, there is a pair of small deciduous bracts. Each flower spans up to ¼" across, consisting of 6 white to greenish white tepals, 6 stamens, and a 3-lobed ovary with a single white style. The stamens are barely exerted above the tepals. The slender pedicels are light green to greenish white. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer for about 2-3 weeks. The flowers, like the foliage, have an onion-like scent. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled seed capsules; there is only a single seed per cell. The capsules divide into 3 sections to release their seeds. The seeds are globoid, black, and shiny. The root system consists of an ovoid bulb with fibrous roots below. Usually, this bulb is enclosed by a fibrous sheath with one or more other bulbs. Clonal offsets from the production of new bulbs often occurs, resulting in dense colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, while during the summer any light level is tolerated because the basal leaves have withered away by this time. Conditions should be more or less mesic; the soil should be loamy, fertile, and relatively loose with decaying organic material. Plants should not be transplanted when the basal leaves are present.
Range & Habitat: The native Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek (Allium burdickii) is occasional in NE and east-central Illinois, while in the the rest of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). This species is found primarily in the upper Midwest. Because Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek has not been reliably distinguished from the more common Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum) in the past, it is probably more common and widespread than official records indicate. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, wooded bluffs, wooded areas along rivers and streams, and cemetery prairies. Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek is an indicator that the original ground flora of a woodlands is still intact. It is currently threatened by the spread of an invasive European species, Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), in wooded areas. Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek is found in higher quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flower pollinators are probably similar to those of Allium tricoccum (Wild Leek), consisting of various bees and flies. Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards to such visitors. Insects that feed on the bulbs, foliage, flowers, or seeds are poorly understood for Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek (Allium burdickii). However, insects that are known to feed on one or more Allium spp. (Onions) include: the larvae of Delia antiqua (Onion Maggot), Eumerus strigatus (Onion Bulb Fly), and Eumerus tuberculatus (Lesser Bulb Fly); the plant bugs Lindbergocapsus ainsliei and Lindbergocapsus allii; and Thrips tabaci (Onion Thrips). Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of the foliage.
Photographic Location: Mesic woodlands in Piatt County and Vermilion County in east-central Illinois; also a cemetery prairie in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities consider Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek to be a variety of the more common Wild Leek, or Allium tricoccum burdickii (see eFloras, FNA Vol. 26, pp. 224-226), while other authorities consider this species to be distinct, Allium burdickii (Mohlenbrock, 2002). The latter viewpoint has been adopted here. Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek can be distinguished from Wild Leek by its more narrow leaves (less than 1½" across), greenish petioles (rather than reddish), fewer-flowered umbels (less than 21 flowers). The bulbs of Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek are also supposed to be smaller in size, and the stamens of its flowers may be less exerted than those of Wild Leek. Because the range of these two species (or varieties) overlap, it is possible that they hybridize. As a result, some collected or photographed specimens may be difficult to classify. Both of these species (or varieties) are distinct from other Allium spp. in Illinois by their wider leaves and the absence of these leaves when the flowers bloom.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, while during the summer any light level is tolerated because the basal leaves have withered away by this time. Conditions should be more or less mesic; the soil should be loamy, fertile, and relatively loose with decaying organic material. Plants should not be transplanted when the basal leaves are present.
Range & Habitat: The native Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek (Allium burdickii) is occasional in NE and east-central Illinois, while in the the rest of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). This species is found primarily in the upper Midwest. Because Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek has not been reliably distinguished from the more common Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum) in the past, it is probably more common and widespread than official records indicate. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, wooded bluffs, wooded areas along rivers and streams, and cemetery prairies. Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek is an indicator that the original ground flora of a woodlands is still intact. It is currently threatened by the spread of an invasive European species, Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), in wooded areas. Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek is found in higher quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flower pollinators are probably similar to those of Allium tricoccum (Wild Leek), consisting of various bees and flies. Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards to such visitors. Insects that feed on the bulbs, foliage, flowers, or seeds are poorly understood for Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek (Allium burdickii). However, insects that are known to feed on one or more Allium spp. (Onions) include: the larvae of Delia antiqua (Onion Maggot), Eumerus strigatus (Onion Bulb Fly), and Eumerus tuberculatus (Lesser Bulb Fly); the plant bugs Lindbergocapsus ainsliei and Lindbergocapsus allii; and Thrips tabaci (Onion Thrips). Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of the foliage.
Photographic Location: Mesic woodlands in Piatt County and Vermilion County in east-central Illinois; also a cemetery prairie in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities consider Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek to be a variety of the more common Wild Leek, or Allium tricoccum burdickii (see eFloras, FNA Vol. 26, pp. 224-226), while other authorities consider this species to be distinct, Allium burdickii (Mohlenbrock, 2002). The latter viewpoint has been adopted here. Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek can be distinguished from Wild Leek by its more narrow leaves (less than 1½" across), greenish petioles (rather than reddish), fewer-flowered umbels (less than 21 flowers). The bulbs of Narrow-Leaved Wild Leek are also supposed to be smaller in size, and the stamens of its flowers may be less exerted than those of Wild Leek. Because the range of these two species (or varieties) overlap, it is possible that they hybridize. As a result, some collected or photographed specimens may be difficult to classify. Both of these species (or varieties) are distinct from other Allium spp. in Illinois by their wider leaves and the absence of these leaves when the flowers bloom.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月25日
Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant with the leaves and flowers emerging directly from the rhizomes, and forming a basal rosette. A typical mature plant may be 6" across and 4" high, with the flowers slightly higher than the leaves. The leaves are individually up to 3" long and 3" across (excluding the long petioles), and vary in color from yellowish green to dark green, depending on growing conditions. They are oval-ovate to orbicular-cordate in shape, and crenate or serrate along the margins. Different populations of plants can vary in the hairiness of their leaves – from nearly glabrous to conspicuously hairy or pubescent. The flowers are about ¾" across, and consist of 5 rounded petals. There are 2 upper petals, 2 lateral petals with white hairs (or beards) near the throat of the flower, and a lower petal that functions as a landing pad for visiting insects. The flowers of this form of Viola sororia are medium to dark violet. The inner throat of each flower is more or less white, from which slightly darker veins radiate outward along the petals (particularly the lower one). There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, and lasts about 1-1½ months. During the summer, cleistogamous flowers without petals produce seeds, which are flung outward by mechanical ejection from the three-parted seed capsules. The root system consists of thick, horizontally branched rhizomes; there is a tendency to form vegetative colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or light shade, and moist to average conditions, although full sun is tolerated if there is sufficient moisture. The soil should be a rich silty loam or clay loam with above average amounts of organic matter. The leaves have a tendency to turn yellowish green when exposed to full sun under dry conditions – this reaction is normal, and is not necessarily a sign of poor health. This plant is very easy to grow, and it will spread under favorable conditions. This wildflower will adapt to lawns, especially if they are not mowed too often during the spring or cut too low.
Habitat & Range: The native Common Blue Violet occurs in every county in Illinois and it is very common (see Distribution Map). Natural habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, open woodlands, woodland edges, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In developed areas, it can be found in lawns, city parks, moist waste areas, and along hedges or buildings. Sometimes the Common Blue Violet is grown in flower gardens.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are not often visited by insects (hence the need for cleistogamous flowers), but sometimes they attract bees (e.g., Mason, Halictid), skippers, Syrphid flies, and other insects. The Syrphid flies, however, feed only on stray pollen and are non-pollinating. The caterpillars of many Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage, including Speyeria diane (Diana), Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Boloria bellona (Meadow Fritillary), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). The seeds have soft appendages that attract ants, which are in part distributed by them. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds, including the Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and White-Footed Mouse. Wild Turkeys also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of Viola spp. (Violets). Although it is not a preferred food source, mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the foliage of violets, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, and livestock.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois, Crystal Lake Park of the same city, and at the edge of an agricultural field outside of the same city in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: The flowers and young leaves of violets are edible, and can be added to salads in small amounts. The taste is bland. This is the most common Viola sp. (Violet) in Illinois. There are several forms of Viola sororia with differently colored flowers; these often grow in close proximity to each other in a given area. The typical form that is described here, f. sororia, has medium to dark violet flowers and rather well-rounded leaves. Some authorities (e.g., Mohlenbrock) consider these different color forms to be separate species, but this does not seem appropriate to me. Some authorities also consider pubescent and non-pubescent specimens of Common Blue Violet to be separate species, but they tend to intergrade in the field, possibly in response to levels of sunlight in a given habitat. However, if this taxonomic distinction is accepted, then non-pubescent specimens can be referred to as Viola pratincola (Common Blue Violet), while pubescent specimens can be referred to as Viola sororia (Woolly Blue Violet). Because the plants in the above photographs are non-pubescent, they would be considered specimens of Viola pratincola according to this taxonomy.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or light shade, and moist to average conditions, although full sun is tolerated if there is sufficient moisture. The soil should be a rich silty loam or clay loam with above average amounts of organic matter. The leaves have a tendency to turn yellowish green when exposed to full sun under dry conditions – this reaction is normal, and is not necessarily a sign of poor health. This plant is very easy to grow, and it will spread under favorable conditions. This wildflower will adapt to lawns, especially if they are not mowed too often during the spring or cut too low.
Habitat & Range: The native Common Blue Violet occurs in every county in Illinois and it is very common (see Distribution Map). Natural habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, open woodlands, woodland edges, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In developed areas, it can be found in lawns, city parks, moist waste areas, and along hedges or buildings. Sometimes the Common Blue Violet is grown in flower gardens.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are not often visited by insects (hence the need for cleistogamous flowers), but sometimes they attract bees (e.g., Mason, Halictid), skippers, Syrphid flies, and other insects. The Syrphid flies, however, feed only on stray pollen and are non-pollinating. The caterpillars of many Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage, including Speyeria diane (Diana), Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Boloria bellona (Meadow Fritillary), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). The seeds have soft appendages that attract ants, which are in part distributed by them. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds, including the Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and White-Footed Mouse. Wild Turkeys also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of Viola spp. (Violets). Although it is not a preferred food source, mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the foliage of violets, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, and livestock.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois, Crystal Lake Park of the same city, and at the edge of an agricultural field outside of the same city in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: The flowers and young leaves of violets are edible, and can be added to salads in small amounts. The taste is bland. This is the most common Viola sp. (Violet) in Illinois. There are several forms of Viola sororia with differently colored flowers; these often grow in close proximity to each other in a given area. The typical form that is described here, f. sororia, has medium to dark violet flowers and rather well-rounded leaves. Some authorities (e.g., Mohlenbrock) consider these different color forms to be separate species, but this does not seem appropriate to me. Some authorities also consider pubescent and non-pubescent specimens of Common Blue Violet to be separate species, but they tend to intergrade in the field, possibly in response to levels of sunlight in a given habitat. However, if this taxonomic distinction is accepted, then non-pubescent specimens can be referred to as Viola pratincola (Common Blue Violet), while pubescent specimens can be referred to as Viola sororia (Woolly Blue Violet). Because the plants in the above photographs are non-pubescent, they would be considered specimens of Viola pratincola according to this taxonomy.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月25日
Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant with the leaves and flowers emerging directly from the rhizomes, and forming a basal rosette. A typical mature plant may be 6" across and 4" high, with the flowers slightly higher than the leaves. The leaves are individually up to 3" long and 3" across (excluding the long petioles), and vary in color from medium to dark green, depending on growing conditions. They are oval-ovate to orbicular-cordate, and crenate or serrate along the margins. The foliage is glabrous to slightly pubescent. The flowers are about ¾" across, and consist of 5 rounded petals; there are 2 upper petals, 2 lateral petals with white hairs (or beards) near the throat of the flower, and a lower petal that functions as a landing pad for visiting insects. Behind the petals, there are 5 sepals that are green and lanceolate. The petals of this form of Viola sororia are a mottled combination of blue-violet with white; from a distance, they appear pale to medium blue-violet. From the throat of the flower, there are dark blue-violet lines radiating outward (particularly on the lower petal). There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 1-1½ months. During the summer, cleistogamous flowers without petals produce seeds, which are flung outward by mechanical ejection from the three-parted seed capsules. The root system consists of thick, horizontally branched rhizomes; there is a tendency to form vegetative colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or light shade, and moist to mesic conditions, although full sun is tolerated if there is sufficient moisture. The soil should be a rich silty loam or clay loam with above average amounts of organic matter. This plant is easy to grow, and it will spread under favorable conditions.
Habitat & Range: The Confederate Violet is occasional to locally common in Illinois; a Distribution Map is unavailable because the Confederate Violet is (or was) considered a mere color form of Viola sororia. Natural habitats include meadows, open woodlands, woodland borders, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In more developed areas, it is sometimes found in city parks, lawns, and along hedges or buildings.
Faunal Associations: The flowers have few visitors (hence the need for cleistogamous flowers), but sometimes they attract bees and other insects. The species Andrena viola (Violet Andrenid Bee) is an oligolectic visitor of Viola spp. (Violets). The caterpillars of many Fritillary butterflies (Speyeria spp., Boloria spp., & Euptoieta claudia) feed on the foliage of Violets. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds, including the Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and White-Footed Mouse. Wild Turkeys also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of violets. Although it is not a preferred food source, mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the foliage.
Photographic Location: The photographs was taken at Crystal Lake Park and Judge Webber Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The Confederate Violet is the mottled form, f. priceana, of Viola sororia. The common name of this violet refers to the resemblance of the color of its flowers to the color of Confederate uniforms during the Civil War (pale greyish blue). The typical form of this species, Viola sororia sororia (Common Blue Violet), which is more common, has flowers with a more homogenous shade of medium to dark violet. Some authorities (e.g., Mohlenbrock) classify the Confederate Violet as a distinct species, Viola priceana; in this taxonomic reclassification, it appears that no distinction has been made between the Confederate Violet and Viola sororia albiflora (White Wood Violet). I disagree with this taxonomic revision as the Confederate Violet appears to freely hybridize with both the Common Blue Violet and White Wood Violet, and they often occur together in the same habitats. This viewpoint is consistent with the taxonomic classification of the American Violet Society.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or light shade, and moist to mesic conditions, although full sun is tolerated if there is sufficient moisture. The soil should be a rich silty loam or clay loam with above average amounts of organic matter. This plant is easy to grow, and it will spread under favorable conditions.
Habitat & Range: The Confederate Violet is occasional to locally common in Illinois; a Distribution Map is unavailable because the Confederate Violet is (or was) considered a mere color form of Viola sororia. Natural habitats include meadows, open woodlands, woodland borders, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In more developed areas, it is sometimes found in city parks, lawns, and along hedges or buildings.
Faunal Associations: The flowers have few visitors (hence the need for cleistogamous flowers), but sometimes they attract bees and other insects. The species Andrena viola (Violet Andrenid Bee) is an oligolectic visitor of Viola spp. (Violets). The caterpillars of many Fritillary butterflies (Speyeria spp., Boloria spp., & Euptoieta claudia) feed on the foliage of Violets. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds, including the Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and White-Footed Mouse. Wild Turkeys also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of violets. Although it is not a preferred food source, mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the foliage.
Photographic Location: The photographs was taken at Crystal Lake Park and Judge Webber Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The Confederate Violet is the mottled form, f. priceana, of Viola sororia. The common name of this violet refers to the resemblance of the color of its flowers to the color of Confederate uniforms during the Civil War (pale greyish blue). The typical form of this species, Viola sororia sororia (Common Blue Violet), which is more common, has flowers with a more homogenous shade of medium to dark violet. Some authorities (e.g., Mohlenbrock) classify the Confederate Violet as a distinct species, Viola priceana; in this taxonomic reclassification, it appears that no distinction has been made between the Confederate Violet and Viola sororia albiflora (White Wood Violet). I disagree with this taxonomic revision as the Confederate Violet appears to freely hybridize with both the Common Blue Violet and White Wood Violet, and they often occur together in the same habitats. This viewpoint is consistent with the taxonomic classification of the American Violet Society.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月25日
Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant with the leaves and flowers emerging directly from the rhizomes, and forming a basal rosette. A typical mature plant may be 6" across and 4" high, with the flowers slightly higher than the leaves. The leaves are individually up to 3" long and 3" across (excluding the long petioles), and vary in color from pale green to dark green, depending on growing conditions. They are oval-ovate to orbicular-cordate, and crenate or serrate along the margins. The foliage is glabrous to slightly pubescent. The flowers are about ¾" across, and consist of 5 rounded petals. There are 2 upper petals, 2 lateral petals with white hairs (or beards) near the throat of the flower, and a lower petal that functions as aClose-up of Flower landing pad for visiting insects. The flowers of this form of Viola sororia are white to mostly white, except for violet lines radiating from the throat of the flower (particularly the lower petal). There is no noticeable floral scent. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 1-1½ months. During the summer, cleistogamous flowers without petals produce seeds, which are flung outward by mechanical ejection from the three-parted seed capsules. The root system consists of thick, horizontally branched rhizomes; there is a tendency to form vegetative colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or light shade, and moist to mesic conditions, although full sun is tolerated if there is sufficient moisture. The soil should be a rich silty loam or clay loam with above average amounts of organic matter. This plant is easy to grow, and it will spread under favorable conditions.
Habitat & Range: The native White Wood Violet is occasional to locally common in Illinois; because it is (or was) considered a mere color form of Viola sororia, a Distribution Map is currently unavailable. Natural habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In more developed areas, it is sometimes found in city parks, lawns, and along hedges or buildings. It is often found in close proximity to Viola sororia sororia (Common Blue Violet).
Faunal Associations: The flowers have few visitors (hence the need for cleistogamous flowers), but sometimes they attract bees and other insects. The species Andrena viola (Violet Andrenid Bee) is an oligolectic visitor of Viola spp. (Violets). The caterpillars of many Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage of violets, including Speyeria diane (Diana), Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Boloria bellona (Meadow Fritillary), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). Some seeds have soft appendages that attract ants, which help to distribute them. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds, including the Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and White-Footed Mouse. Wild Turkeys also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of violets. Although it is not a preferred food source, mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the foliage, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, and livestock.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken of plants growing along the edge of a yard in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The White Wood Violet is the white form, f. albiflora, of Viola sororia. The typical form of this species, Viola sororia sororia (Common Blue Violet), which is more common, has medium to dark violet flowers. Generally, the White Wood Violet doesn't appear to spread as aggressively as the typical form of this species; it is equally attractive and its light-colored flowers are more conspicuous in shady areas. Some authorities (e.g., Mohlenbrock) combine the White Wood Violet with Viola sororia priceana (Confederate Violet) and regard the two of them together as a distinct species, Viola priceana. However, I disagree with this taxonomic revision and prefer to regard them as distinct color forms of Viola sororia at the present time. This corresponds to the taxonomic classification of the American Violet Society.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or light shade, and moist to mesic conditions, although full sun is tolerated if there is sufficient moisture. The soil should be a rich silty loam or clay loam with above average amounts of organic matter. This plant is easy to grow, and it will spread under favorable conditions.
Habitat & Range: The native White Wood Violet is occasional to locally common in Illinois; because it is (or was) considered a mere color form of Viola sororia, a Distribution Map is currently unavailable. Natural habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In more developed areas, it is sometimes found in city parks, lawns, and along hedges or buildings. It is often found in close proximity to Viola sororia sororia (Common Blue Violet).
Faunal Associations: The flowers have few visitors (hence the need for cleistogamous flowers), but sometimes they attract bees and other insects. The species Andrena viola (Violet Andrenid Bee) is an oligolectic visitor of Viola spp. (Violets). The caterpillars of many Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage of violets, including Speyeria diane (Diana), Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Boloria bellona (Meadow Fritillary), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). Some seeds have soft appendages that attract ants, which help to distribute them. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds, including the Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and White-Footed Mouse. Wild Turkeys also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of violets. Although it is not a preferred food source, mammalian herbivores occasionally eat the foliage, including the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail Rabbit, and livestock.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken of plants growing along the edge of a yard in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The White Wood Violet is the white form, f. albiflora, of Viola sororia. The typical form of this species, Viola sororia sororia (Common Blue Violet), which is more common, has medium to dark violet flowers. Generally, the White Wood Violet doesn't appear to spread as aggressively as the typical form of this species; it is equally attractive and its light-colored flowers are more conspicuous in shady areas. Some authorities (e.g., Mohlenbrock) combine the White Wood Violet with Viola sororia priceana (Confederate Violet) and regard the two of them together as a distinct species, Viola priceana. However, I disagree with this taxonomic revision and prefer to regard them as distinct color forms of Viola sororia at the present time. This corresponds to the taxonomic classification of the American Violet Society.
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