文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月09日
Prairie Rose
Rosa arkansana suffulta
Rose family (Rosaceae)
Description: This small shrub is ½-2' tall, branching occasionally. The terete stems are woody and brown below, becoming non-woody and light green above; they are densely covered with fine straight prickles. Alternate compound leaves develop along the non-woody stems; they are 4-5" long, 2½-3" across, and odd-pinnate with 7-11 leaflets. Each compound leaf has a pair of stipules at its base about ¾-1" long; the stipules are light green and smooth along their margins, tapering to a pair of pointed tips. The petioles of the compound leaves are light green to red between their stipules. Individual leaflets are 1-1½" long and about one-half as much across; they are broadly oblong to oblong-obovate in shape and their margins are coarsely serrated. The tips of the leaflets are blunt, while their bottoms are wedge-shaped (cuneate) to rounded. The upper surface of the leaflets is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower surface is light green and covered with fine short pubescence. The leaflets are either sessile or they have short petioles less than 1/8" in length. The rachises (central stalks) of the compound leaves are light green to reddish green and they are covered with short fine pubescence. The rachises are also grooved above and rounded below; fine straight prickles along their undersides may, or may not, be present.
Close-up of Flower
Flowers are produced from upper stems either individually or in groups of 2-4 on short corymbs (usually the latter). The flowering stalks are light green and glabrous. Each flower is 1½-2" across, consisting of 5 pink petals (rarely white), 5 green sepals, a ring of numerous stamens, a flattened cluster of short styles, and an inferior ovary that is glabrous. The petals are obovate-orbicular in shape; sometimes they are somewhat bicolored with rays of pink on a lighter background. The sepals are narrowly lanceolate and about one-half the length of the petals. The stamens and styles are more or less yellow. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Individual flowers last only a few days and they are fragrant. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by rose hips that are up to ½" across, globoid in shape, glabrous, and bright red at maturity during the late summer or fall. The fleshy interior of each rose hip is rather dry and contains several seeds. At the tip of each rose hip, there persists 5 dried sepals; these sepals are widely spreading. The chunky seeds are about 4 mm. in length. The root system is woody, branching, and rather deep. Sometimes small clonal colonies of plants are produced from underground runners.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat barren soil that contains clay, rocky material, or sand. The hard seeds are difficult to germinate and can lie dormant in the ground for many years. However, once individual plants become established, they are easy to manage. Drought-resistance is excellent.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Rose occurs occasionally in northern Illinois and scattered counties elsewhere within the state (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies near the western range limit of this species in North America. Habitats include upland prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, roadside embankments, areas along railroads, pastures, abandoned fields, and fence rows. This small shrub tends to increase in response to light or moderate grazing from cattle and other mammalian herbivores. This shrub is also well-adapted to occasional wildfires, as it is able to regenerate from its deep root system.
Faunal Associations: The flowers offer only pollen as a reward to visiting insects. These floral visitors include bumblebees and other long-tongued bees, Halictid bees, Andrenine bees, various beetles, and Syrphid flies. The Syrphid flies are too small to effectively cross-pollinate the flowers. An oligolectic bee, Synhalonia rosae, is a specialist pollinator of Rosa spp. (roses). Many kinds of insects also feed on the foliage, stems, and other parts of roses. These insect feeders include grasshoppers, thrips, plant bugs, aphids, leafhoppers, larvae of gall flies, larvae of gall wasps, weevils, flea beetles, larvae of wood-boring beetles, larvae of sawflies, and caterpillars of moths. Some examples of these insects include Heterothrips analis (Wild Rose Thrips), Dasineura rhodophaga (Rose Midge), Rhagoletis basiolum (Rose Hip Maggot), Typhlocyba rosae (Rose Leafhopper), Acyrthosiphon dirhoda (Rose-Grass Aphid), Merhynchites bicolor (Rose Curculio), Altica rosae (Rose Flea Beetle), Macrodactylus subspinosa (Rose Chafer), Allantus cinctus (Curled Rose Sawfly), and Parasa indetermina (Stinging Rose Caterpillar). Among vertebrate animals, the Greater Prairie Chicken and Bobwhite Quail feed on the rose hips, while the Cottontail Rabbit and White-Tailed Deer feed on the foliage (and sometimes the rose hips). When the rose hips are eaten by these animals, the seeds of Prairie Rose are carried to new locations where they can germinate. This is because the hard coats of the seeds enable them to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract of such animals.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Prairie Rose is one of several rose species (Rosa spp.) in Illinois. This dwarf shrub has surprisingly large and showy flowers that can occur in various shades of pink, depending on the local ecotype. Prairie Rose is similar in appearance and size to the native Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina), but it differs from the latter species in the following ways: 1) its flowering stalks and ovaries are hairless, rather than glandular-hairy, 2) the sepals of its rose hips are usually more persistent, 3) its stems are more densely covered with straight fine prickles, 4) its flowers are more often produced in groups of 2-4, rather than individually, 5) its compound leaves tend to have more leaflets (usually 9). There are two varieties of the Prairie Rose, of which only Rosa arkansana suffulta is native to Illinois. The typical variety, Rosa arkansana arkansana, differs by having leaflet undersides that are hairless. This latter variety occurs rarely within the state as an adventive plant from the west. Unlike most authorities, Mohlenbrock (2002) prefers to classify Rosa arkansana suffulta as a distinct species, Rosa suffulta. Another common of this shrub is the Sunshine Rose.
Rosa arkansana suffulta
Rose family (Rosaceae)
Description: This small shrub is ½-2' tall, branching occasionally. The terete stems are woody and brown below, becoming non-woody and light green above; they are densely covered with fine straight prickles. Alternate compound leaves develop along the non-woody stems; they are 4-5" long, 2½-3" across, and odd-pinnate with 7-11 leaflets. Each compound leaf has a pair of stipules at its base about ¾-1" long; the stipules are light green and smooth along their margins, tapering to a pair of pointed tips. The petioles of the compound leaves are light green to red between their stipules. Individual leaflets are 1-1½" long and about one-half as much across; they are broadly oblong to oblong-obovate in shape and their margins are coarsely serrated. The tips of the leaflets are blunt, while their bottoms are wedge-shaped (cuneate) to rounded. The upper surface of the leaflets is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower surface is light green and covered with fine short pubescence. The leaflets are either sessile or they have short petioles less than 1/8" in length. The rachises (central stalks) of the compound leaves are light green to reddish green and they are covered with short fine pubescence. The rachises are also grooved above and rounded below; fine straight prickles along their undersides may, or may not, be present.
Close-up of Flower
Flowers are produced from upper stems either individually or in groups of 2-4 on short corymbs (usually the latter). The flowering stalks are light green and glabrous. Each flower is 1½-2" across, consisting of 5 pink petals (rarely white), 5 green sepals, a ring of numerous stamens, a flattened cluster of short styles, and an inferior ovary that is glabrous. The petals are obovate-orbicular in shape; sometimes they are somewhat bicolored with rays of pink on a lighter background. The sepals are narrowly lanceolate and about one-half the length of the petals. The stamens and styles are more or less yellow. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Individual flowers last only a few days and they are fragrant. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by rose hips that are up to ½" across, globoid in shape, glabrous, and bright red at maturity during the late summer or fall. The fleshy interior of each rose hip is rather dry and contains several seeds. At the tip of each rose hip, there persists 5 dried sepals; these sepals are widely spreading. The chunky seeds are about 4 mm. in length. The root system is woody, branching, and rather deep. Sometimes small clonal colonies of plants are produced from underground runners.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat barren soil that contains clay, rocky material, or sand. The hard seeds are difficult to germinate and can lie dormant in the ground for many years. However, once individual plants become established, they are easy to manage. Drought-resistance is excellent.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Rose occurs occasionally in northern Illinois and scattered counties elsewhere within the state (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies near the western range limit of this species in North America. Habitats include upland prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, roadside embankments, areas along railroads, pastures, abandoned fields, and fence rows. This small shrub tends to increase in response to light or moderate grazing from cattle and other mammalian herbivores. This shrub is also well-adapted to occasional wildfires, as it is able to regenerate from its deep root system.
Faunal Associations: The flowers offer only pollen as a reward to visiting insects. These floral visitors include bumblebees and other long-tongued bees, Halictid bees, Andrenine bees, various beetles, and Syrphid flies. The Syrphid flies are too small to effectively cross-pollinate the flowers. An oligolectic bee, Synhalonia rosae, is a specialist pollinator of Rosa spp. (roses). Many kinds of insects also feed on the foliage, stems, and other parts of roses. These insect feeders include grasshoppers, thrips, plant bugs, aphids, leafhoppers, larvae of gall flies, larvae of gall wasps, weevils, flea beetles, larvae of wood-boring beetles, larvae of sawflies, and caterpillars of moths. Some examples of these insects include Heterothrips analis (Wild Rose Thrips), Dasineura rhodophaga (Rose Midge), Rhagoletis basiolum (Rose Hip Maggot), Typhlocyba rosae (Rose Leafhopper), Acyrthosiphon dirhoda (Rose-Grass Aphid), Merhynchites bicolor (Rose Curculio), Altica rosae (Rose Flea Beetle), Macrodactylus subspinosa (Rose Chafer), Allantus cinctus (Curled Rose Sawfly), and Parasa indetermina (Stinging Rose Caterpillar). Among vertebrate animals, the Greater Prairie Chicken and Bobwhite Quail feed on the rose hips, while the Cottontail Rabbit and White-Tailed Deer feed on the foliage (and sometimes the rose hips). When the rose hips are eaten by these animals, the seeds of Prairie Rose are carried to new locations where they can germinate. This is because the hard coats of the seeds enable them to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract of such animals.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Prairie Rose is one of several rose species (Rosa spp.) in Illinois. This dwarf shrub has surprisingly large and showy flowers that can occur in various shades of pink, depending on the local ecotype. Prairie Rose is similar in appearance and size to the native Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina), but it differs from the latter species in the following ways: 1) its flowering stalks and ovaries are hairless, rather than glandular-hairy, 2) the sepals of its rose hips are usually more persistent, 3) its stems are more densely covered with straight fine prickles, 4) its flowers are more often produced in groups of 2-4, rather than individually, 5) its compound leaves tend to have more leaflets (usually 9). There are two varieties of the Prairie Rose, of which only Rosa arkansana suffulta is native to Illinois. The typical variety, Rosa arkansana arkansana, differs by having leaflet undersides that are hairless. This latter variety occurs rarely within the state as an adventive plant from the west. Unlike most authorities, Mohlenbrock (2002) prefers to classify Rosa arkansana suffulta as a distinct species, Rosa suffulta. Another common of this shrub is the Sunshine Rose.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月09日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is up to 4' tall while in flower. The long slender stems are slightly ridged. The basal leaves occur toward the bottom of these stems and are irregularly shaped – the larger leaves are pinnately divided into 3-7 lobes, sometimes subdividing further into 1-2 secondary lobes. The margins of these leaves are smooth, or sparsely dentate; they are individually up to 8" long and 5" across. The smaller leaves higher up on the stems are usually lanceolate; they are few in number. The texture of these leaves is rough as a result of tiny stiff hairs and bumps. The daisy-like composite flowers occur at the apex of the tall stems. Each composite flower has up to 13 drooping yellow ray florets spanning 1-2½" across, and an oblong head of disk florets that is about ½–¾" tall when mature. This head is initially light green or grey, but later becomes dark brown. The blooming period occurs from early to late summer, and lasts about 1-2 months. There is little or no floral scent – although the seedheads release an anise scent when they are crushed. The root system is rhizomatous, often forming tight clumps of plants. The dark achenes are without tufts of hair.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic conditions, and a loam or clay-loam soil. However, this is a robust plant that will tolerate partial sun, moist to slightly dry conditions, and many kinds of soil. Foliar disease doesn't affect the leaves until after the blooming period. There is a tendency for the flowering stems to flop around if this plant is spoiled by too much water or fertile soil. This plant is easy to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Yellow Coneflower is fairly common in Illinois, except in some SE counties (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, thickets, woodland borders, limestone glades, and areas along railroads, particularly where remnant prairies occur. Yellow Coneflower tends to colonize the more disturbed areas of these habitats.
Close-up of Compound Leaf
Faunal Associations: Many kinds of insects visit the flowers, but especially bees, including Epeoline Cuckoo bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, Green Metallic bees, and other Halictine bees. Other insect visitors include wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. These insects suck nectar from the flowers, although the bees also collect pollen and some beetles feed on pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on Yellow Coneflower, as well as the caterpillars of the moths Eynchlora acida (Wavy-Lined Emerald) and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia). Goldfinches occasionally eat the seeds, while some mammalian herbivores eat the foliage and flowering stems, particularly groundhogs and livestock.
Photographic Location: Photographs were taken at a prairie of Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Yellow Coneflower is an excellent choice for a wildflower garden because of its long blooming period and attractive yellow flowers. The entire plant is delicately constructed, and has a tendency to sway or flutter with each passing breeze. This species can be distinguished from other yellow coneflowers, such as Rudbeckia hirta, by its drooping ray florets and the complex structure of the basal leaves.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic conditions, and a loam or clay-loam soil. However, this is a robust plant that will tolerate partial sun, moist to slightly dry conditions, and many kinds of soil. Foliar disease doesn't affect the leaves until after the blooming period. There is a tendency for the flowering stems to flop around if this plant is spoiled by too much water or fertile soil. This plant is easy to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Yellow Coneflower is fairly common in Illinois, except in some SE counties (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, thickets, woodland borders, limestone glades, and areas along railroads, particularly where remnant prairies occur. Yellow Coneflower tends to colonize the more disturbed areas of these habitats.
Close-up of Compound Leaf
Faunal Associations: Many kinds of insects visit the flowers, but especially bees, including Epeoline Cuckoo bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, Green Metallic bees, and other Halictine bees. Other insect visitors include wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. These insects suck nectar from the flowers, although the bees also collect pollen and some beetles feed on pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on Yellow Coneflower, as well as the caterpillars of the moths Eynchlora acida (Wavy-Lined Emerald) and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia). Goldfinches occasionally eat the seeds, while some mammalian herbivores eat the foliage and flowering stems, particularly groundhogs and livestock.
Photographic Location: Photographs were taken at a prairie of Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Yellow Coneflower is an excellent choice for a wildflower garden because of its long blooming period and attractive yellow flowers. The entire plant is delicately constructed, and has a tendency to sway or flutter with each passing breeze. This species can be distinguished from other yellow coneflowers, such as Rudbeckia hirta, by its drooping ray florets and the complex structure of the basal leaves.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月09日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1-3' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are medium green and minutely rough-pubescent to glabrous. The spreading alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 2" across; they are pinnatifid or double-pinnatifid with 5-11 lobes, medium green, and minutely rough-pubescent to glabrous. The slender lobes are linear-oblong and sometimes have 1-2 dentate teeth or smaller cleft lobes; they are 1/3" (8 mm.) across or less. Irregularities in the structure of the leaves are rather common. The petioles are up to 2" long.
Occasionally, the upper stems terminate in individual flowerheads on long naked stalks (peduncles). These stalks are 2-12" long and finely grooved. The flowerheads are about 1½–3" long and a little less across. Each flowerhead consists of a cylindrical head of numerous disk florets, which is surrounded by 4-11 drooping rays (ray florets). A mature head of disk florets is ¾–1¾" long; it is initially gray or greenish gray, later becoming dark brown. The rays are about ½–1¼" long, oblong in shape, and slightly notched at their tips; they are either yellow, maroon (reddish brown), or yellow with basal patches of maroon. The typical form of Mexican Hat has yellow rays, while plants with maroon rays are referred to as f.Distribution Map pulcherrima. The bottom of each flowerhead is defined by 2 series of small narrow bracts; these are largely hidden by the drooping rays. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Fertile disk florets are replaced by small oblongoid achenes; each achene usually has one or more tiny scales at its apex. This plant spreads to new areas by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and a relatively barren soil containing clay, gravel, or sand. On moist fertile ground, this wildflower has trouble competing with taller and more aggressive plants.
Range & Habitat: Mexican Hat is adventive from the the Great Plains and western states; the eastern boundary of its range extends into western Iowa and Missouri. In Illinois, naturalized populations of Mexican Hat are uncommon; they are found primarily in the northern and western sections of the state. Habitats include upland prairies, roadsides, areas along railroads, and barren waste areas. This wildflower is often cultivated in gardens, from which it sometimes escapes. In Illinois, Mexican Hat is found primarily in disturbed areas, where it may or may not persist.
Faunal Associations: Various insects are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowerheads. Floral visitors of Mexican Hat are probably similar to those insects that are known to visit the flowerheads of Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower). Likely visitors include various short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and the occasional butterfly or skipper. The caterpillars of some moths are known to feed on Ratibida spp. (primarily the rays and florets). These species include Homoeosoma electellum (Sunflower Moth), Chlorochlamys chloroleuca (Blackberry Looper Moth), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug), Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald), and Epiblema iowana (Tortricid Moth sp.). The caterpillars of the latter moth feed on the roots.
Photographic Location: A flower garden in downtown Champaign, Illinois. The photographed plant is Ratibida columnifera pulcherrima.
Comments: This is a colorful prairie wildflower. Mexican Hat can be distinguished from Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower) by its long cylindrical heads, which usually exceed the length of the rays at maturity. The ovoid-globoid heads of Yellow Coneflower, in contrast, are much shorter than the length of their rays. Other common names of Ratibida columnifera are Long-Headed Coneflower and Prairie Coneflower. The common name that is used here, 'Mexican Hat,' refers to the fancied resemblance of the flowerhead to a sombrero.
Occasionally, the upper stems terminate in individual flowerheads on long naked stalks (peduncles). These stalks are 2-12" long and finely grooved. The flowerheads are about 1½–3" long and a little less across. Each flowerhead consists of a cylindrical head of numerous disk florets, which is surrounded by 4-11 drooping rays (ray florets). A mature head of disk florets is ¾–1¾" long; it is initially gray or greenish gray, later becoming dark brown. The rays are about ½–1¼" long, oblong in shape, and slightly notched at their tips; they are either yellow, maroon (reddish brown), or yellow with basal patches of maroon. The typical form of Mexican Hat has yellow rays, while plants with maroon rays are referred to as f.Distribution Map pulcherrima. The bottom of each flowerhead is defined by 2 series of small narrow bracts; these are largely hidden by the drooping rays. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Fertile disk florets are replaced by small oblongoid achenes; each achene usually has one or more tiny scales at its apex. This plant spreads to new areas by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and a relatively barren soil containing clay, gravel, or sand. On moist fertile ground, this wildflower has trouble competing with taller and more aggressive plants.
Range & Habitat: Mexican Hat is adventive from the the Great Plains and western states; the eastern boundary of its range extends into western Iowa and Missouri. In Illinois, naturalized populations of Mexican Hat are uncommon; they are found primarily in the northern and western sections of the state. Habitats include upland prairies, roadsides, areas along railroads, and barren waste areas. This wildflower is often cultivated in gardens, from which it sometimes escapes. In Illinois, Mexican Hat is found primarily in disturbed areas, where it may or may not persist.
Faunal Associations: Various insects are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowerheads. Floral visitors of Mexican Hat are probably similar to those insects that are known to visit the flowerheads of Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower). Likely visitors include various short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and the occasional butterfly or skipper. The caterpillars of some moths are known to feed on Ratibida spp. (primarily the rays and florets). These species include Homoeosoma electellum (Sunflower Moth), Chlorochlamys chloroleuca (Blackberry Looper Moth), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug), Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald), and Epiblema iowana (Tortricid Moth sp.). The caterpillars of the latter moth feed on the roots.
Photographic Location: A flower garden in downtown Champaign, Illinois. The photographed plant is Ratibida columnifera pulcherrima.
Comments: This is a colorful prairie wildflower. Mexican Hat can be distinguished from Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower) by its long cylindrical heads, which usually exceed the length of the rays at maturity. The ovoid-globoid heads of Yellow Coneflower, in contrast, are much shorter than the length of their rays. Other common names of Ratibida columnifera are Long-Headed Coneflower and Prairie Coneflower. The common name that is used here, 'Mexican Hat,' refers to the fancied resemblance of the flowerhead to a sombrero.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月09日
Description: This is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 3' tall and branching frequently, often with a bushy appearance. The green or reddish stems are strongly four-angled and have scattered white hairs along the ridges. The opposite leaves are up to 2½" long and narrowly lanceolate or linear. They are sessile, and have smooth margins. The largest leaves are ¼ - ½" across. When damaged, the foliage releases a strong mint scent.
Numerous flattened heads of small white flowers (often with purple dots) occur at the ends of the upper stems. Each head is up to ¾" across and can contain up to 50 flowers. However, only a few of these are in bloom at the same time, beginning with the outer circle of flowers and ending towards the center. Each tubular flower is about 1/8" long and 2-lipped. The blooming period occurs during the middle of summer and lasts about a month. Each small flower produces 4 tiny, finely pitted, dull black seeds. These seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system produces rhizomes, which spread a short distance from the mother plant. Soon, a small colony of plants are formed vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to average conditions. The soil can contain loam, sand, clay, or gravel – this plant is not fussy about soil texture. During drought, the lower leaves will turn yellow and fall off. This plant is easy to grow, and less subject to foliar disease than some other mints, such as Monarda spp. However, stressed out plants sometimes succumb to rust.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Mountain Mint is widely distributed in Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent from southern Illinois and a few western counties (see Distribution Map). This plant is occasional to locally common in moist to mesic black soil prairies. Other habitats include moist sand prairies, moist meadows in woodland areas, thickets, fens, swamps, and rocky bluffs. This is probably the most common Mountain Mint in Illinois.
Faunal Associations: Many insects are strongly attracted to the flowers, including various bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. Typical visitors from these groups include honeybees, Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Eumenine wasps, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Wedge-shaped beetles, and Pearl Cresecent butterflies. Most of these insects seek nectar. Mammalian herbivores and many leaf-chewing insects apparently find the mint fragrance of the leaves and stems repugnant, and rarely bother this plant.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a prairie of Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: The name 'Mountain Mint' is something of a misnomer, because this plant and other similar species in this genus do not usually occur in mountainous habitats. Common Mountain Mint is similar in appearance to Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Slender Mountain Mint). It can be distinguished from the latter species by the white hairs along the ridges of its stems, and the occurrence of leaves greater than ¼" across. The stems of Slender Mounntain Mint lack hairs.
Numerous flattened heads of small white flowers (often with purple dots) occur at the ends of the upper stems. Each head is up to ¾" across and can contain up to 50 flowers. However, only a few of these are in bloom at the same time, beginning with the outer circle of flowers and ending towards the center. Each tubular flower is about 1/8" long and 2-lipped. The blooming period occurs during the middle of summer and lasts about a month. Each small flower produces 4 tiny, finely pitted, dull black seeds. These seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system produces rhizomes, which spread a short distance from the mother plant. Soon, a small colony of plants are formed vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to average conditions. The soil can contain loam, sand, clay, or gravel – this plant is not fussy about soil texture. During drought, the lower leaves will turn yellow and fall off. This plant is easy to grow, and less subject to foliar disease than some other mints, such as Monarda spp. However, stressed out plants sometimes succumb to rust.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Mountain Mint is widely distributed in Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent from southern Illinois and a few western counties (see Distribution Map). This plant is occasional to locally common in moist to mesic black soil prairies. Other habitats include moist sand prairies, moist meadows in woodland areas, thickets, fens, swamps, and rocky bluffs. This is probably the most common Mountain Mint in Illinois.
Faunal Associations: Many insects are strongly attracted to the flowers, including various bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. Typical visitors from these groups include honeybees, Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Eumenine wasps, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Wedge-shaped beetles, and Pearl Cresecent butterflies. Most of these insects seek nectar. Mammalian herbivores and many leaf-chewing insects apparently find the mint fragrance of the leaves and stems repugnant, and rarely bother this plant.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a prairie of Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: The name 'Mountain Mint' is something of a misnomer, because this plant and other similar species in this genus do not usually occur in mountainous habitats. Common Mountain Mint is similar in appearance to Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Slender Mountain Mint). It can be distinguished from the latter species by the white hairs along the ridges of its stems, and the occurrence of leaves greater than ¼" across. The stems of Slender Mounntain Mint lack hairs.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年02月09日
Description: This perennial herbaceous plant is 1-3' tall, branching frequently to create a bushy effect. The slender stems are hairless. The slender opposite leaves are up to 3" long and ¼" across. Each leaf is sessile, linear, and hairless, with a prominent central vein and smooth margins.
The upper stems terminate in small flat heads of flowers. The short tubular flowers are white, often with scattered purple dots, and individually about ¼" long. The corolla is divided into an upper lip and a lower lip with three lobes. The reproductive structures of each flower are white, except that the anthers are purple. The calyx is divided into several slender green lobes. The blooming period is early to mid-summer, and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no floral scent, although the foliage has a mild mint scent and somewhat stronger minty taste. The small dark seeds are without tufts of hairs, but are small enough to be dispersed by gusts of wind. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes. Slender Mountain Mint can spread vegetatively, forming colonies of closely bunched plants.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. This plant often grows in rich loam, as well as soil containing rocky or gravelly material. Foliar disease is less troublesome for this mint species than many others. The leaves may assume a yellowish appearance during a major drought. This is an easy plant to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Slender Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in every county of southern and central Illinois, but is less common and more sporadic in northern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, moist meadows and gravelly areas along rivers, openings in woodlands, moist thickets, acid gravel seeps, limestone glades, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects usually seek nectar. Among the wasps, are such visitors as Thread-Waisted wasps, Bee Wolves (Philanthus spp.), Scoliid wasps, Tiphiid wasps, Sand wasps, Spider wasps, and Eumenine wasps. Flies visitors include Soldier flies, Syrphid flies, Mydas flies, bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, and Tachinid flies. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds. Mammalian herbivores usually don't browse on this plant because of the minty taste; the foliage may contain anti-bacterial substances that disrupt the digestive process of herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This plant has a delicate, somewhat airy appearance. Slender Mountain Mint closely resembles Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint), except that the former has hairless stems and leaves that never exceed ¼" across. Common Mountain Mint, on the other hand, has lines of white hairs on its stems, and some of the larger leaves will exceed ¼" across. This latter plant tends to be taller, stouter, and less branched in appearance; it also blooms a little later in the year. The photographed flowering plant is still in the bud stage, while the photographed flowerheads are beginning to bloom.
The upper stems terminate in small flat heads of flowers. The short tubular flowers are white, often with scattered purple dots, and individually about ¼" long. The corolla is divided into an upper lip and a lower lip with three lobes. The reproductive structures of each flower are white, except that the anthers are purple. The calyx is divided into several slender green lobes. The blooming period is early to mid-summer, and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no floral scent, although the foliage has a mild mint scent and somewhat stronger minty taste. The small dark seeds are without tufts of hairs, but are small enough to be dispersed by gusts of wind. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes. Slender Mountain Mint can spread vegetatively, forming colonies of closely bunched plants.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. This plant often grows in rich loam, as well as soil containing rocky or gravelly material. Foliar disease is less troublesome for this mint species than many others. The leaves may assume a yellowish appearance during a major drought. This is an easy plant to grow.
Range & Habitat: The native Slender Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in every county of southern and central Illinois, but is less common and more sporadic in northern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, moist meadows and gravelly areas along rivers, openings in woodlands, moist thickets, acid gravel seeps, limestone glades, and abandoned fields.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects usually seek nectar. Among the wasps, are such visitors as Thread-Waisted wasps, Bee Wolves (Philanthus spp.), Scoliid wasps, Tiphiid wasps, Sand wasps, Spider wasps, and Eumenine wasps. Flies visitors include Soldier flies, Syrphid flies, Mydas flies, bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, and Tachinid flies. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds. Mammalian herbivores usually don't browse on this plant because of the minty taste; the foliage may contain anti-bacterial substances that disrupt the digestive process of herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This plant has a delicate, somewhat airy appearance. Slender Mountain Mint closely resembles Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint), except that the former has hairless stems and leaves that never exceed ¼" across. Common Mountain Mint, on the other hand, has lines of white hairs on its stems, and some of the larger leaves will exceed ¼" across. This latter plant tends to be taller, stouter, and less branched in appearance; it also blooms a little later in the year. The photographed flowering plant is still in the bud stage, while the photographed flowerheads are beginning to bloom.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月08日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 2-4' tall, branching frequently to create a slender bushy appearance. The stems are light green, 4-angled, and densely pubescent on all sides. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along these stems, becoming gradually smaller and more slender as they ascend. These leaves are up to 1-3" long and ¼–¾" across; they are narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate in shape and either sessile or short-petiolate. The leaf margins are entire (toothless) and ciliate. When petioles are present, they are light green and densely short-pubescent. The upper leaf surface is grayish green and short-pubescent, while the lower leaf surface is slightly more pale and densely pubescent. The foliage has a typical mint fragrance. The upper stems terminate in branching flowerheads of flowers; individual heads are flat-topped and densely flowered, spanning up to 1" across.
Flowerbud Heads
Each flower is about ¼" long (from upper lip to lower lip), consisting of a 2-lipped corolla, a long-tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 4 stamens, and a pistil. The corolla is white; there are purple specks and dots scattered across its throat and the lobes of its lips. The upper lip of the corolla consists of a short hood, while its lower lip is longer and 3-lobed. The sides of the calyx tube are light green, vertically ribbed, and pubescent; the teeth along the upper rim of the calyx are erect and narrowly triangular in shape. At the base of each flowerhead, there occurs several leafy bracts that are up to 1" long; they are grayish green, lanceolate in shape, and pubescent. The margins of these bracts are entire and ciliate. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer, lasting about 1 month. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by tiny seeds (4 seeds per flower); these seeds are hidden from view by the persistent calyces. Individual seeds are about 1 mm. long, oblongoid in shape, and dark brown. The root system is rhizomatous, often forming a dense tuft of clonal offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. Growth is best in fertile loamy soil, although other kinds of soil are acceptable, including those that are stony or clayish. During hot dry weather, some of the leaves may turn yellow and fall off, but the plant usually survives. Occasionally, some of the leaves may be affected by rust, especially when a plant is stressed out by adverse weather or is suffering from transplant shock. This problem is almost always temporary. Some protection from afternoon sun and occasional watering during dry spells can keep this plant healthy; fertilizer is neither necessary nor desirable. Overall, this is an easy plant to cultivate in gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in central Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in the southern and northern sections of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include black soil prairies, meadows in wooded areas, rocky upland forests, woodland edges, savannas, thickets, limestone glades, and abandoned fields. Hairy Mountain Mint is usually found in higher quality natural areas, although it may colonize adjacent disturbed areas. Occasional wildfires or mowing may be beneficial in maintaining populations of this plant if it reduces competition from woody vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including honeybees, cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp., Coelioxys spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Halictid cuckoo bees (Sphecodes spp.), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila spp.), the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), the Black Grasshopper Wasp (Prionyx atratus), bee wolves (Philanthus spp.), paper wasps (Polistes spp.), Eumenine wasps (Euodynerus spp., Stenodynerus spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Exoprosopa spp.), thick-headed flies (Conopidae), Tachinid flies, small- to medium-sized butterflies, and skippers (Robertson, 1929). Because of the frequent bee and wasp visitors to the flowers, parasitoid wedge-shaped beetles (Macrosiagon spp.) are often common on the flowers. These beetles lay their eggs on the flowers, and the hatched larvae attach themselves to their hosts and hitch-hike a ride back to the brood chamber, where they feed on the larvae and their food stores. Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum) is one of the host plants of a a stink bug, Neottiglossa cavifrons (Hart, 1919; Rider, 2009). Among vertebrate animals, Hairy Mountain Mint and other mountain mints have little value as sources of food. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds, while mammalian herbivores display little interest in the foliage, probably because of the chemicals that are associated with its strong mint fragrance.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities refer to this plant as Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum. The appearance of Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum) is similar to other mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.), but its leaves and stems are more hairy. Compared to two prairie species, Common Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) and Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuiflorum), Hairy Mountain Mint has wider leaves. Other mountain mints that occur in Illinois are restricted to the southern section of the state, where they are found primarily in hilly woodlands. The fresh leaves of Hairy Mountain Mint can be boiled in water to make an excellent mint-flavored tea (personal observation).
Flowerbud Heads
Each flower is about ¼" long (from upper lip to lower lip), consisting of a 2-lipped corolla, a long-tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 4 stamens, and a pistil. The corolla is white; there are purple specks and dots scattered across its throat and the lobes of its lips. The upper lip of the corolla consists of a short hood, while its lower lip is longer and 3-lobed. The sides of the calyx tube are light green, vertically ribbed, and pubescent; the teeth along the upper rim of the calyx are erect and narrowly triangular in shape. At the base of each flowerhead, there occurs several leafy bracts that are up to 1" long; they are grayish green, lanceolate in shape, and pubescent. The margins of these bracts are entire and ciliate. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer, lasting about 1 month. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by tiny seeds (4 seeds per flower); these seeds are hidden from view by the persistent calyces. Individual seeds are about 1 mm. long, oblongoid in shape, and dark brown. The root system is rhizomatous, often forming a dense tuft of clonal offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. Growth is best in fertile loamy soil, although other kinds of soil are acceptable, including those that are stony or clayish. During hot dry weather, some of the leaves may turn yellow and fall off, but the plant usually survives. Occasionally, some of the leaves may be affected by rust, especially when a plant is stressed out by adverse weather or is suffering from transplant shock. This problem is almost always temporary. Some protection from afternoon sun and occasional watering during dry spells can keep this plant healthy; fertilizer is neither necessary nor desirable. Overall, this is an easy plant to cultivate in gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Mountain Mint occurs occasionally in central Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in the southern and northern sections of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include black soil prairies, meadows in wooded areas, rocky upland forests, woodland edges, savannas, thickets, limestone glades, and abandoned fields. Hairy Mountain Mint is usually found in higher quality natural areas, although it may colonize adjacent disturbed areas. Occasional wildfires or mowing may be beneficial in maintaining populations of this plant if it reduces competition from woody vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects, including honeybees, cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp., Coelioxys spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Halictid cuckoo bees (Sphecodes spp.), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila spp.), the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), the Black Grasshopper Wasp (Prionyx atratus), bee wolves (Philanthus spp.), paper wasps (Polistes spp.), Eumenine wasps (Euodynerus spp., Stenodynerus spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Exoprosopa spp.), thick-headed flies (Conopidae), Tachinid flies, small- to medium-sized butterflies, and skippers (Robertson, 1929). Because of the frequent bee and wasp visitors to the flowers, parasitoid wedge-shaped beetles (Macrosiagon spp.) are often common on the flowers. These beetles lay their eggs on the flowers, and the hatched larvae attach themselves to their hosts and hitch-hike a ride back to the brood chamber, where they feed on the larvae and their food stores. Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum) is one of the host plants of a a stink bug, Neottiglossa cavifrons (Hart, 1919; Rider, 2009). Among vertebrate animals, Hairy Mountain Mint and other mountain mints have little value as sources of food. The seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds, while mammalian herbivores display little interest in the foliage, probably because of the chemicals that are associated with its strong mint fragrance.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Some authorities refer to this plant as Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum. The appearance of Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum) is similar to other mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.), but its leaves and stems are more hairy. Compared to two prairie species, Common Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) and Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuiflorum), Hairy Mountain Mint has wider leaves. Other mountain mints that occur in Illinois are restricted to the southern section of the state, where they are found primarily in hilly woodlands. The fresh leaves of Hairy Mountain Mint can be boiled in water to make an excellent mint-flavored tea (personal observation).
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Miss Chen
2018年02月08日
Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is about 2-3' tall and abundantly branched above. The slender stems are light gray-green, terete, and canescent. Alternate compound leaves occur at intervals along these stems: they are either trifoliate (3 leaflets) or palmate (5 leaflets), spanning up to 3" long and across. The leaflets are up to 1½" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across; they are gray-green, narrowly elliptic-oblong to oblong, and smooth along their margins.
Raceme of Flowers
The slender petioles are up to 1" long and usually shorter than the longer leaflets. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of tiny linear stipules; these wither away with age. Occasionally, narrow racemes of blue-violet flowers are produced from the upper stems on long peduncles (up to 4" long). These racemes are 1½–3" long and loosely flowered; 1-4 flowers develop at intervals along each raceme. Individual pea-like flowers are up to ¼" long (6 mm.), consisting of 5 blue-violet petals and a short calyx with 5 teeth. The calyx of each flower is light green green to purple and more or less hairy. Each flower has a short slender petiole; at the base of each petiole, there is a tiny scale-like bract. The blooming period occurs from late spring to late summer and lasts about 1-2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a small seedpod about ¼" long that is ovoid and somewhat flattened, terminating abruptly into a short beak. Each seedpod contains only a single seed. The root system consists of a long slender taproot that runs deep into the ground. This wildflower reproduces by reseedingDistribution Map itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and soil that contains gravelly material, a little sand, or clay-loam. New plants can be started from seeds, but growth and development are slow. Established plants don't produce foliage until rather late in the spring, but they develop quickly thereafter from the nutrients inside their taproots. Resistance to drought is excellent.
Range & Habitat: The native Scurfy Pea is uncommon in Illinois, occurring from the NE section of the state to the west-central section in counties that are located near the Illinois river. Illinois lies along the eastern edge of its distribution. Habitats include hill prairies, dry upland prairies and gravel prairies, limestone glades, barren upland savannas, and areas along railroads. Scurfy Pea is usually found in high quality habitats, although it benefits from disturbance that reduces woody vegetation. In particular, it responds well to occasional wildfires.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are pollinated primarily by small to medium-sized bees, including the Digger bee Svastra obliqua, the Plasterer bee Colletes willistoni, and the Dagger bee Calliopsis andreniformis. These bees are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. Some grasshoppers eat the foliage, including Melanoplus femurrubrum (Red-Legged Grasshopper), Melanoplus foedus (Striped Sand Grasshopper), and Melanoplus packardii (Packard's Grasshopper). The caterpillars of the flower moth Schinia jaguarina feed on the developing seedpods, while the leaf beetle Luperosoma parallelum feeds on the foliage. The foliage of Scurfy Pea is occasionally browsed by White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbits, even though it has been reported to be mildly toxic to livestock. It is possible that some upland gamebirds and granivorous songbirds eat the seeds, but records about this are lacking.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This wildflower is more typical of prairies in regions that lie to the west of the Mississippi River. It has a rather loose bushy appearance with small blue-violet flowers. Two varieties of Scurfy Pea have been identified: the typical variety produces 1-2 flowers about 4-5 mm. long at intervals along each raceme, while var. floribunda produces 2-4 flowers about 6-7 mm. long at intervals along each raceme. Some specimens of Scurfy Pea may be intermediate in these characteristics and therefore difficult to classify according to variety. Scurfy Pea differs from similar species in the Bean family by having palmately compound leaves with 3-5 leaflets, a taller branching habit, petioles that are usually shorter than the leaflets, and rather loose racemes of small flowers. Another common name of this species is Wild Alfalfa; an older scientific name of this species is Psoralea tenuiflora.
Raceme of Flowers
The slender petioles are up to 1" long and usually shorter than the longer leaflets. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of tiny linear stipules; these wither away with age. Occasionally, narrow racemes of blue-violet flowers are produced from the upper stems on long peduncles (up to 4" long). These racemes are 1½–3" long and loosely flowered; 1-4 flowers develop at intervals along each raceme. Individual pea-like flowers are up to ¼" long (6 mm.), consisting of 5 blue-violet petals and a short calyx with 5 teeth. The calyx of each flower is light green green to purple and more or less hairy. Each flower has a short slender petiole; at the base of each petiole, there is a tiny scale-like bract. The blooming period occurs from late spring to late summer and lasts about 1-2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a small seedpod about ¼" long that is ovoid and somewhat flattened, terminating abruptly into a short beak. Each seedpod contains only a single seed. The root system consists of a long slender taproot that runs deep into the ground. This wildflower reproduces by reseedingDistribution Map itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and soil that contains gravelly material, a little sand, or clay-loam. New plants can be started from seeds, but growth and development are slow. Established plants don't produce foliage until rather late in the spring, but they develop quickly thereafter from the nutrients inside their taproots. Resistance to drought is excellent.
Range & Habitat: The native Scurfy Pea is uncommon in Illinois, occurring from the NE section of the state to the west-central section in counties that are located near the Illinois river. Illinois lies along the eastern edge of its distribution. Habitats include hill prairies, dry upland prairies and gravel prairies, limestone glades, barren upland savannas, and areas along railroads. Scurfy Pea is usually found in high quality habitats, although it benefits from disturbance that reduces woody vegetation. In particular, it responds well to occasional wildfires.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are pollinated primarily by small to medium-sized bees, including the Digger bee Svastra obliqua, the Plasterer bee Colletes willistoni, and the Dagger bee Calliopsis andreniformis. These bees are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. Some grasshoppers eat the foliage, including Melanoplus femurrubrum (Red-Legged Grasshopper), Melanoplus foedus (Striped Sand Grasshopper), and Melanoplus packardii (Packard's Grasshopper). The caterpillars of the flower moth Schinia jaguarina feed on the developing seedpods, while the leaf beetle Luperosoma parallelum feeds on the foliage. The foliage of Scurfy Pea is occasionally browsed by White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbits, even though it has been reported to be mildly toxic to livestock. It is possible that some upland gamebirds and granivorous songbirds eat the seeds, but records about this are lacking.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This wildflower is more typical of prairies in regions that lie to the west of the Mississippi River. It has a rather loose bushy appearance with small blue-violet flowers. Two varieties of Scurfy Pea have been identified: the typical variety produces 1-2 flowers about 4-5 mm. long at intervals along each raceme, while var. floribunda produces 2-4 flowers about 6-7 mm. long at intervals along each raceme. Some specimens of Scurfy Pea may be intermediate in these characteristics and therefore difficult to classify according to variety. Scurfy Pea differs from similar species in the Bean family by having palmately compound leaves with 3-5 leaflets, a taller branching habit, petioles that are usually shorter than the leaflets, and rather loose racemes of small flowers. Another common name of this species is Wild Alfalfa; an older scientific name of this species is Psoralea tenuiflora.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月08日
Description: This perennial plant sprawls along the ground by means of stolons; it is less than 1' tall. The slender stems and stolons are initially green, but become red with age. Depending on the local ecotype, they can be nearly glabrous, or covered with spreading white hairs. The stolons can extend up to 3' and their tips often root in the ground, forming new plantlets. The compound leaves are palmate (with 5 leaflets) and alternate along the stolons or stems. Each leaflet is up to 3" long and ¾" across. There is coarse serration along the margins, except near the base, and prominent venation. The upper surface is glabrous, while the lower surface may be hairy or nearly glabrous. The leaflets are narrowly ovate (but with blunt tips), obovate, or oblanceolate; young leaflets often have their margins curled upward. A single yellow flower develops from a long pedicel from the upper axils of some of the compound leaves. This flower is about ½" across, and has 5 yellow petals that are narrow at the base, but rounded toward their tips, which are sometimes notched. The green calyx has 5 triangular tips that are a little shorter than the petals. The center of the flower has a somewhat flattened reproductive structure, which is surrounded by about 20 stamens. The blooming period can occur from spring to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. There is no noticeable floral scent. The achenes are without tufts of hair. There is a short, thick rootstock that divides into coarse secondary roots. This plant often forms loose colonies by means of its stolons.
Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, and moist to dry conditions. The soil can consist of loam, clay-loam, or contain gravelly material. This is an easy plant to grow that presents few problems.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Cinquefoil occurs in every county of Illinois and it is fairly common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, open upland forests, savannas, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This plant occurs in both disturbed areas and high quality habitats. In tallgrass prairies, it is one of the understory plants.
Faunal Associations: The flowers primarily attract small bees and flies, including Mason bees, Small Carpenter bees, Nomadine Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Less common visitors are wasps, skippers, and butterflies. These insects seek nectar, although bees also collect pollen. The seeds are little used by birds. Small mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits and groundhogs, often eat the foliage. It is possible that some of the seeds of Common Cinquefoil can pass through their digestive tracts unharmed, and are thus distributed by them; some studies involving livestock have found this to be the case with a similar species, Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil).
Photographic Location: The above photographs were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This is another plant that fits the stereotype of a weed, but it also occurs in prairies and other native habitats. The flowers are reasonably showy during the spring, but few in number. Common Cinquefoil resembles many other species of Cinquefoil, both native and introduced. Its compound leaves almost always have 5 leaflets, the flowers are bright yellow, and it sprawls along the ground; other species often have a fewer or greater number of leaflets, their flowers may be white or pale yellow, or they are erect. Common Cinquefoil is perhaps most similar to the native Potentilla canadensis (Dwarf Cinquefoil), except that the latter is a smaller plant with blunter leaftlets that are strongly obovate or oblanceolate.
Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, and moist to dry conditions. The soil can consist of loam, clay-loam, or contain gravelly material. This is an easy plant to grow that presents few problems.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Cinquefoil occurs in every county of Illinois and it is fairly common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, open upland forests, savannas, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This plant occurs in both disturbed areas and high quality habitats. In tallgrass prairies, it is one of the understory plants.
Faunal Associations: The flowers primarily attract small bees and flies, including Mason bees, Small Carpenter bees, Nomadine Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Less common visitors are wasps, skippers, and butterflies. These insects seek nectar, although bees also collect pollen. The seeds are little used by birds. Small mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits and groundhogs, often eat the foliage. It is possible that some of the seeds of Common Cinquefoil can pass through their digestive tracts unharmed, and are thus distributed by them; some studies involving livestock have found this to be the case with a similar species, Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil).
Photographic Location: The above photographs were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This is another plant that fits the stereotype of a weed, but it also occurs in prairies and other native habitats. The flowers are reasonably showy during the spring, but few in number. Common Cinquefoil resembles many other species of Cinquefoil, both native and introduced. Its compound leaves almost always have 5 leaflets, the flowers are bright yellow, and it sprawls along the ground; other species often have a fewer or greater number of leaflets, their flowers may be white or pale yellow, or they are erect. Common Cinquefoil is perhaps most similar to the native Potentilla canadensis (Dwarf Cinquefoil), except that the latter is a smaller plant with blunter leaftlets that are strongly obovate or oblanceolate.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This annual plant is about 2' tall and largely unbranched, except near the base. The major stems are stout, round, and covered with rather long glandular hairs, especially where new growth occurs. The lower and middle compound leaves along the stems are trifoliate with long petioles. The individual leaflets are about 1½" long and ½" across. They are oval, ovate, or oblong, and have smooth margins that are slightly ciliate. Their surface is dull green and covered with short fuzzy hairs, with longer hairs occurring along the lower central vein. When the foliage is bruised or rubbed against, a fetid odor is emitted. Smaller leaves on short petioles occur along the upper stems that are simple, rather than compound. The major stems terminate in racemes of flowers of variable length – these flowers are whorled near the apex of the stems with scattered seedpods below. Each flower is about 1" across and has an unusual structure. There are 4 white petals about ½" long that are heart-shaped, but with a long narrow base. About 8-12 strongly exerted stamens are reddish purple and rather unequal in length, with the upper stamens about twice the length of the petals. The single slender style is much shorter than the stamens and less conspicuous. At the base of each flower, is a gland that secretes a conspicuous drop of bright red fluid. The calyx is divided into 4 triangular sepals that are reddish purple. The flowers occur on long hairy pedicels.
The blooming period occurs from summer until the fall, and can last several months. There is no obvious floral scent. Pollinated flowers develop sizeable seedpods up to 3" long that are sessile against the pedicels (i.e., there is no stipular growth at the base of the seedpods). These seedpods resemble stout bean pods that can divide into two halves. Each seedpod has fuzzy hairs on the outer surface, and forms a long terminal spike that withers away as the seedpod matures. Mature seedpods are held more or less erect, rather than drooping downward from the stems. The individual seeds have an irregular patterned surface. The root system consists of a long taproot without rhizomes. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: It is best to growth this plant in full sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that is rocky or sandy. The base of the central stem of this plant may sprawl along the ground if it is grown in moist, fertile soil. Foliar disease and insect pests are not generally troublesome.
Range & Habitat: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is an uncommon plant that occurs in widely scattered counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is probably native. This plant is more common in areas that lie to the west of Illinois. Within the state, it has been found in such natural habitats as openings in bluffs, glades, or hill prairies, and may occur occasionally as an adventive plant along railroads. Because of the ornamental flowers, this plant can be found in flower gardens, but this is uncommon.
Faunal Associations: Various bees visit the flowers for nectar, while flower flies feed on the pollen from the exerted anthers. However, the latter group of insects does not effectively pollinate the flowers. The foliage is not known to be toxic to mammalian herbivores, notwithstanding the fetid odor, but little appears to be known about the attractiveness of the foliage as a food source. Similarly, little is known about the attractiveness of the seeds to small rodents or upland gamebirds. Because the seeds of similar kinds of plants, such as the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) in the western states, are occasionally eaten by the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, and various small rodents, it is possible that the same or similar species also eat the seeds of Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds).
Photographic Location: The edge of vegetable garden in Meadowbrook Park, Urbana, Illinois. The plant was blooming during early September.
Comments: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is primarily a western species, and Illinois lies on the eastern edge of its distribution. It is fairly attractive while in bloom and has some resemblance to Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) of mass-market horticulture. This latter species is a larger plant from South America with palmate compound leaves. The more typical variety of Clammyweed, Polanisia dodecandra dodecandra, has smaller flowers with petals about ¼" and stamens that are barely longer than the petals. It less showy than the variety of Clammyweed that is described here, and it has a more eastern distribution. An uncommon species of Clammyweed, Polanisia jamesii (James' Clammyweed), is a sand prairie species that has narrow leaflets and flower petals with irregular fringed edges. What distinguishes the Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds) from the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) is the lack of a stipe connecting the seedpod with the pedicel. This stipe of the Bee Plants is a stalk-like extension of the developing seedpod. Both groups of plants are members of the Caper family.
The blooming period occurs from summer until the fall, and can last several months. There is no obvious floral scent. Pollinated flowers develop sizeable seedpods up to 3" long that are sessile against the pedicels (i.e., there is no stipular growth at the base of the seedpods). These seedpods resemble stout bean pods that can divide into two halves. Each seedpod has fuzzy hairs on the outer surface, and forms a long terminal spike that withers away as the seedpod matures. Mature seedpods are held more or less erect, rather than drooping downward from the stems. The individual seeds have an irregular patterned surface. The root system consists of a long taproot without rhizomes. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: It is best to growth this plant in full sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that is rocky or sandy. The base of the central stem of this plant may sprawl along the ground if it is grown in moist, fertile soil. Foliar disease and insect pests are not generally troublesome.
Range & Habitat: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is an uncommon plant that occurs in widely scattered counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is probably native. This plant is more common in areas that lie to the west of Illinois. Within the state, it has been found in such natural habitats as openings in bluffs, glades, or hill prairies, and may occur occasionally as an adventive plant along railroads. Because of the ornamental flowers, this plant can be found in flower gardens, but this is uncommon.
Faunal Associations: Various bees visit the flowers for nectar, while flower flies feed on the pollen from the exerted anthers. However, the latter group of insects does not effectively pollinate the flowers. The foliage is not known to be toxic to mammalian herbivores, notwithstanding the fetid odor, but little appears to be known about the attractiveness of the foliage as a food source. Similarly, little is known about the attractiveness of the seeds to small rodents or upland gamebirds. Because the seeds of similar kinds of plants, such as the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) in the western states, are occasionally eaten by the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, and various small rodents, it is possible that the same or similar species also eat the seeds of Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds).
Photographic Location: The edge of vegetable garden in Meadowbrook Park, Urbana, Illinois. The plant was blooming during early September.
Comments: Large-Flowered Clammyweed is primarily a western species, and Illinois lies on the eastern edge of its distribution. It is fairly attractive while in bloom and has some resemblance to Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) of mass-market horticulture. This latter species is a larger plant from South America with palmate compound leaves. The more typical variety of Clammyweed, Polanisia dodecandra dodecandra, has smaller flowers with petals about ¼" and stamens that are barely longer than the petals. It less showy than the variety of Clammyweed that is described here, and it has a more eastern distribution. An uncommon species of Clammyweed, Polanisia jamesii (James' Clammyweed), is a sand prairie species that has narrow leaflets and flower petals with irregular fringed edges. What distinguishes the Polanisia spp. (Clammyweeds) from the Cleome spp. (Bee Plants) is the lack of a stipe connecting the seedpod with the pedicel. This stipe of the Bee Plants is a stalk-like extension of the developing seedpod. Both groups of plants are members of the Caper family.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月07日
Description: This plant is a summer annual that branches sparingly to occasionally; it is ¾–2' tall. The stems are light green or light reddish green, terete, finely short-pubescent, and sparsely to abundantly hairy. The leaves are opposite or alternate; they occur sparingly along the stems, except at their apices, where they occur in dense pseudo-whorls. The leaves are ¾–3" long and ¼-1" across; they are at least twice as long as they are across. Depending on the variety, the leaves are variably shaped; var. dentata has leaves that are elliptic-lanceolate to ovate, while var. cuphosperma has leaves that are linear-lanceolate to elliptic. The leaf margins are coarsely dentate. The leaf bases are wedge-shaped, while their tips are bluntly acute to acute. The upper leaf surfaces are medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surfaces are light-medium to medium green and glabrous to short-pubescent along the lower sides of the veins. The petioles are 3-20 mm. (1/8–3/4") long, light green, glabrous to short-pubescent, and narrowly winged toward the leaf bases. The foliage of this plant exudes a white milky sap when it becomes damaged.
The stems terminate in flat-topped clusters of flowers spanning about ¾–2" across. Each cluster of flowers has several cyathia with a mixture of flowers and immature fruits; the cyathia and fruits are light green and glabrous, although sometimes the fruits become light red or purple in response to strong sunlight. A cyathium is a small cup-like structure spanning about 3 mm. (1/8") across that contains a single pistillate (female) flower and several surrounding staminate (male) flowers. These flowers are devoid of petals and sepals; their tiny reproductive organs are yellow, light pink, or white. Underneath the clusters of flowers, there are small leafy bracts up to ¾" long and ¼" across; they are few in number and linear-elliptic to elliptic in shape. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to autumn, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. After blooming, the pistillate flowers are replaced with 3-lobed nodding fruits that span about 4-5 mm. across. These fruits are subgloboid (globoid and slightly flattened) in shape, and they are exserted from their cyathia on short curved stalks.
Each fruit contains 3 seeds. Individual seeds are 2–2.5 mm. long and slightly less across, ovoid-globoid in shape, gray to nearly black, minutely bumpy across the surface, and grooved along one side. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and poor soil containing significant amounts of clay, sand, or gravel. Disease rarely bothers the leaves and drought resistance is excellent. The seeds germinate after the weather becomes warm.
Range & Habitat: The native Toothed Spurge occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is occasional to locally common. Habitats include disturbed areas of upland prairies (including gravel and sand prairies), hill prairies, open upland thickets, limestone glades, abandoned fields, areas along cultivated fields, areas along railroads, areas along parking lots, roadsides, and open waste ground. Among these various habitats, Toothed Spurge is perhaps most common along railroads. This plant favors open disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are probably visited by small bees, Syrphid flies, and wasps; both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. A flea beetle, Glyptina cyanipennis, feeds on Toothed Spurge (Clark et al., 2004). Some aphids feed on spurges (Euphorbia spp.) and probably Toothed Spurge as well; these species include Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Macrosiphum gei (Hottes & Frison, 1931; Cranshaw, 2004). The seeds of spurges are consumed by the Mourning Dove, Greater Prairie Chicken, Bobwhite Quail, and Horned Lark (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because the milky latex in the foliage can irritate the mouth parts and gastrointestinal tract of mammalian herbivores, it is rarely consumed by them.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Windsor Road Prairie in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Sometimes this plant is referred to as Euphorbia dentata. Toothed Spurge is closely related to Wild Poinsettia (Poinsettia cyathophora); this latter plant also occurs in Illinois. Wild Poinsettia has upper leaves and bracts that turn red at their bases near the inflorescence; it is the showier of the two plants. Both of these plants are rather weedy in their habits.
The stems terminate in flat-topped clusters of flowers spanning about ¾–2" across. Each cluster of flowers has several cyathia with a mixture of flowers and immature fruits; the cyathia and fruits are light green and glabrous, although sometimes the fruits become light red or purple in response to strong sunlight. A cyathium is a small cup-like structure spanning about 3 mm. (1/8") across that contains a single pistillate (female) flower and several surrounding staminate (male) flowers. These flowers are devoid of petals and sepals; their tiny reproductive organs are yellow, light pink, or white. Underneath the clusters of flowers, there are small leafy bracts up to ¾" long and ¼" across; they are few in number and linear-elliptic to elliptic in shape. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to autumn, lasting about 1 month for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. After blooming, the pistillate flowers are replaced with 3-lobed nodding fruits that span about 4-5 mm. across. These fruits are subgloboid (globoid and slightly flattened) in shape, and they are exserted from their cyathia on short curved stalks.
Each fruit contains 3 seeds. Individual seeds are 2–2.5 mm. long and slightly less across, ovoid-globoid in shape, gray to nearly black, minutely bumpy across the surface, and grooved along one side. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and poor soil containing significant amounts of clay, sand, or gravel. Disease rarely bothers the leaves and drought resistance is excellent. The seeds germinate after the weather becomes warm.
Range & Habitat: The native Toothed Spurge occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is occasional to locally common. Habitats include disturbed areas of upland prairies (including gravel and sand prairies), hill prairies, open upland thickets, limestone glades, abandoned fields, areas along cultivated fields, areas along railroads, areas along parking lots, roadsides, and open waste ground. Among these various habitats, Toothed Spurge is perhaps most common along railroads. This plant favors open disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are probably visited by small bees, Syrphid flies, and wasps; both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. A flea beetle, Glyptina cyanipennis, feeds on Toothed Spurge (Clark et al., 2004). Some aphids feed on spurges (Euphorbia spp.) and probably Toothed Spurge as well; these species include Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Macrosiphum gei (Hottes & Frison, 1931; Cranshaw, 2004). The seeds of spurges are consumed by the Mourning Dove, Greater Prairie Chicken, Bobwhite Quail, and Horned Lark (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because the milky latex in the foliage can irritate the mouth parts and gastrointestinal tract of mammalian herbivores, it is rarely consumed by them.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the Windsor Road Prairie in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Sometimes this plant is referred to as Euphorbia dentata. Toothed Spurge is closely related to Wild Poinsettia (Poinsettia cyathophora); this latter plant also occurs in Illinois. Wild Poinsettia has upper leaves and bracts that turn red at their bases near the inflorescence; it is the showier of the two plants. Both of these plants are rather weedy in their habits.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月06日
Description: This perennial plant is about 1-2' tall, forming a single central stem with occasional short side stems. The alternate light green leaves are up to 6" long and 1½" across, and become smaller in size as they ascend the stem. They are lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, and sparsely distributed overall. The lowest leaves clasp the stem, while the middle and upper leaves are sessile or have short petioles. They have smooth edges and texture, with faint parallel veins.
Blooming Plant in Prairie
The central stem terminates in a raceme of flowers, often with a half-dozen or more blooming at the same time. One or two smaller sides stem may each produce racemes of flowers as well. Each flower is about 1½" long and 1" across, consisting of 3 greenish white sepals and 3 white petals. The upper sepal and two upper petals form a hood over the pollen- and nectar-bearing organs of the flower. The lateral sepals are similar in shape, but spread outward. The large white lower petal, or lip, is divided into 3 parts and heavily fringed. There is a long nectar spur that arches downward from the back of the flower. During the day, the flowers have a slight fragrance, which probably becomes stronger at night. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. There is a dense cluster of roots that are fleshy and tuberous. They form a symbiotic relationship with endomycorrhizal bacteria, and rarely form offshoots. The tiny seeds are easily carried aloft by the wind, and can travel a considerable distance.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, and moist conditions. The soil should be high in organic matter, preferably with a little sand, and the pH should be mildly acid to neutral. However, this orchid is more robust than most and will tolerate conditions that deviate somewhat from the above. Germinating the tiny seeds normally requires the presence of an appropriate fungus, which they invade. Artificial techniques have been developed to speed up the propagation of orchids. Large transplanted plants from a specialist nursery are the easiest to handle and have the best survival rate, but they are expensive, if available at all.
Range & Habitat: The Prairie White-Fringed Orchid occurs in scattered counties of central and northern Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Only small, local populations of this rare plant exist in high quality habitats. It is listed as 'endangered' by the state of Illinois, and is considered 'threatened' by the U.S. government. Habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, sand prairies, thickets, pot hole marshes, and fens. At one time, this orchid was far more common, and hundreds of plants could be observed blooming in prairie habitat, particularly near the Chicago region. Habitat destruction and over-collection brought this joyful abundance to an end.
Faunal Associations: Various species of Hawkmoths pollinate the flowers. While seeking the copious nectar, a moth may acquire some pollen on its head, which is then carried to the next plant in bloom. One observed visitor of this orchid is Xylophanes tersa (Tersa Sphinx). Mammalian herbivores will readily consume this plant if they encounter it, including rabbits, deer, and livestock. It may be necessary to protect this plant with a wire cage where such animals are present.
Photographic Location: A prairie in east-central Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the most beautiful wildflowers in a prairie. Rejoice should you discover one or two plants in bloom. There is a slightly larger orchid, Platanthera praeclara, with a similar appearance, that occurs in prairies west of the Mississippi River.
Blooming Plant in Prairie
The central stem terminates in a raceme of flowers, often with a half-dozen or more blooming at the same time. One or two smaller sides stem may each produce racemes of flowers as well. Each flower is about 1½" long and 1" across, consisting of 3 greenish white sepals and 3 white petals. The upper sepal and two upper petals form a hood over the pollen- and nectar-bearing organs of the flower. The lateral sepals are similar in shape, but spread outward. The large white lower petal, or lip, is divided into 3 parts and heavily fringed. There is a long nectar spur that arches downward from the back of the flower. During the day, the flowers have a slight fragrance, which probably becomes stronger at night. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. There is a dense cluster of roots that are fleshy and tuberous. They form a symbiotic relationship with endomycorrhizal bacteria, and rarely form offshoots. The tiny seeds are easily carried aloft by the wind, and can travel a considerable distance.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, and moist conditions. The soil should be high in organic matter, preferably with a little sand, and the pH should be mildly acid to neutral. However, this orchid is more robust than most and will tolerate conditions that deviate somewhat from the above. Germinating the tiny seeds normally requires the presence of an appropriate fungus, which they invade. Artificial techniques have been developed to speed up the propagation of orchids. Large transplanted plants from a specialist nursery are the easiest to handle and have the best survival rate, but they are expensive, if available at all.
Range & Habitat: The Prairie White-Fringed Orchid occurs in scattered counties of central and northern Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Only small, local populations of this rare plant exist in high quality habitats. It is listed as 'endangered' by the state of Illinois, and is considered 'threatened' by the U.S. government. Habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, sand prairies, thickets, pot hole marshes, and fens. At one time, this orchid was far more common, and hundreds of plants could be observed blooming in prairie habitat, particularly near the Chicago region. Habitat destruction and over-collection brought this joyful abundance to an end.
Faunal Associations: Various species of Hawkmoths pollinate the flowers. While seeking the copious nectar, a moth may acquire some pollen on its head, which is then carried to the next plant in bloom. One observed visitor of this orchid is Xylophanes tersa (Tersa Sphinx). Mammalian herbivores will readily consume this plant if they encounter it, including rabbits, deer, and livestock. It may be necessary to protect this plant with a wire cage where such animals are present.
Photographic Location: A prairie in east-central Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the most beautiful wildflowers in a prairie. Rejoice should you discover one or two plants in bloom. There is a slightly larger orchid, Platanthera praeclara, with a similar appearance, that occurs in prairies west of the Mississippi River.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月06日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is ¾–2½' tall, branching occasionally to abundantly. The stems are light green to purplish green, angular, and sparsely to moderately pubescent with down-curved to spreading simple hairs. Alternate leaves occur along these stems. The leaf blades are 1-3" long and 1/3–1" across; they are narrowly lanceolate to ovate in shape, while their margins are entire (toothless), bluntly and sparsely dentate, or somewhat sinuous. In dry and sunny situations, the leaf blades may curve upward toward the margins. The tips of leaf blades are acute to bluntly acute, while the bottoms of leaf blades are cuneate (wedge-shaped). The upper surface of leaf blades is olive-green to yellowish green and glabrous to sparsely short-pubescent, while the lower surface of leaf blades is slightly more pale and sparsely to moderately short-pubescent. The margins of the leaf blades are sometimes tinted purple. The petioles are 1/3–1" long, olive-green to purplish green, and pubescent; they are grooved above and convex below. Solitary nodding flowers are produced from the axils of the middle to upper leaves.
Each flower is ¾–1" when it is fully open, consisting of a light green calyx that is short-tubular with 5 triangular teeth, a short funnelform corolla that is pale yellow and shallowly 5-lobed, 5 inserted stamens with purple filaments and yellow anthers, and a pistil. The calyx is finely pubescent. The interior of the corolla has 5 conspicuous purplish blotches toward its base that are sometimes veiny. The slender pedicels are ½–1" long, light green to purplish green, and finely pubescent. The blooming period can occur from early summer to early autumn, lasting about 1½–3 months. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. The flowers are replaced by nodding husked fruits; these husks are expanded calyces. The husks are 1–1½" long, ovoid to ovoid-conical in shape, slightly angular, and finely pubescent. Initially, they are light green, but at maturity the husks become light tan. Inside each husk, there is a single smooth globoid berry that becomes about 1/3" (8 mm.) across at maturity and orange-red. The interior of a mature berry is pulpy and slightly sweet; it contains several seeds. The small seeds are light tan and reniform (kidney-shaped). The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Sometimes clonal offsets develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, gravel, or rocky material. Overall, this ground cherry (Physalis sp.) is slightly less weedy than most species in this genus.
Range & Habitat: Virginia Ground Cherry is a native plant that occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois, although it is more common in northern and west-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). This plant can be found in a variety of habitats, including upland rocky woodlands, upland sandy woodlands, upland savannas, open disturbed woodlands, rocky glades, hill prairies, disturbed areas of prairies, stabilized sand dunes, upper beach areas along Lake Michigan, gravelly or sandy areas along railroads, margins of cropland, abandoned fields, and barren waste areas. Virginia Ground Cherry prefers areas with a history of disturbance, although it does colonize higher quality natural areas where there is sparse vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by small bees, including plasterer bees (Colletes spp.) and Halictid bees (Robertson, 1929). Two plasterer bees, Colletes latitarsis and Colletes willistoni, and a dagger bee, Perdita halictoides, are specialist pollinators (oligoleges) of ground cherries (Physalis spp.). These bees suck nectar and collect pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, roots, flower buds, and fruits of Virginia Ground Cherry and other ground cherries. These insect feeders include the Potato Flea Beetle (Epitrix cucumeris), Tobacco Flea Beetle (Epitrix hirtipennis), another flea beetle (Epitrix humeralis), Three-lined Potato Beetle (Lema daturaphila), Three-lined Lema Beetle (Lema trivittata), larvae of two Sphinx moths, the Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) and Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata), larvae of two Gelechiid moths (Aristotelia physaliella, Symmetrischema lavernella), larvae of two Noctuid moths, the Subflexa Straw (Heliothis subflexa) and Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens), larvae of the Eggplant Leafroller Moth (Lineodes integra), Solanum Mealybug (Phenacoccus solani), Solenopsis Mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis), and Potato Aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). For more information, see Clark et al. (2004), Natural History Museum (2010), Wagner (2005), Needham et al. (1928), Pepper (1965), and ScaleNet (2014). Because the foliage of ground cherries is toxic and bitter, it is not eaten by mammalian herbivores. The berries of these plants, however, are sometimes consumed by such vertebrate animals as the Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Spotted Skunk, Eastern Box Turtle, and Ornate Box Turtle (Martin et al., 1951/1961; Ernst et al., 1994). In consuming these berries, these animals help to spread the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: An upper beach area of Illinois Beach State Park in NE Illinois.
Comments: The various species in this genus can be difficult to distinguish. Virginia Ground Cherry (Physalis virginiana) is less pubescent than Clammy Ground Cherry (Physalis heterophylla), but more pubescent than Smooth Ground Cherry (Physalis subglabrata, Physalis longifolia). Another species, Dwarf Ground Cherry (Physalis pumila), differs from Virginia Ground Cherry by having branched or divided hairs along its stems, rather than simple hairs (use a 10x hand lens to see). In addition, Dwarf Ground Cherry has faded purplish blotches within the corolla of its flowers, rather than conspicuous purplish blotches. The nodding husks covering the berries of Virginia Ground Cherry are deeply sunken above, while those of many other ground cherries (Physalis spp.) are slightly sunken or rounded above. Similarly, the mature berries of Virginia Ground Berry are orange-red, while the mature berries of many other ground cherries are yellow.
Each flower is ¾–1" when it is fully open, consisting of a light green calyx that is short-tubular with 5 triangular teeth, a short funnelform corolla that is pale yellow and shallowly 5-lobed, 5 inserted stamens with purple filaments and yellow anthers, and a pistil. The calyx is finely pubescent. The interior of the corolla has 5 conspicuous purplish blotches toward its base that are sometimes veiny. The slender pedicels are ½–1" long, light green to purplish green, and finely pubescent. The blooming period can occur from early summer to early autumn, lasting about 1½–3 months. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. The flowers are replaced by nodding husked fruits; these husks are expanded calyces. The husks are 1–1½" long, ovoid to ovoid-conical in shape, slightly angular, and finely pubescent. Initially, they are light green, but at maturity the husks become light tan. Inside each husk, there is a single smooth globoid berry that becomes about 1/3" (8 mm.) across at maturity and orange-red. The interior of a mature berry is pulpy and slightly sweet; it contains several seeds. The small seeds are light tan and reniform (kidney-shaped). The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Sometimes clonal offsets develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, gravel, or rocky material. Overall, this ground cherry (Physalis sp.) is slightly less weedy than most species in this genus.
Range & Habitat: Virginia Ground Cherry is a native plant that occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois, although it is more common in northern and west-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). This plant can be found in a variety of habitats, including upland rocky woodlands, upland sandy woodlands, upland savannas, open disturbed woodlands, rocky glades, hill prairies, disturbed areas of prairies, stabilized sand dunes, upper beach areas along Lake Michigan, gravelly or sandy areas along railroads, margins of cropland, abandoned fields, and barren waste areas. Virginia Ground Cherry prefers areas with a history of disturbance, although it does colonize higher quality natural areas where there is sparse vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by small bees, including plasterer bees (Colletes spp.) and Halictid bees (Robertson, 1929). Two plasterer bees, Colletes latitarsis and Colletes willistoni, and a dagger bee, Perdita halictoides, are specialist pollinators (oligoleges) of ground cherries (Physalis spp.). These bees suck nectar and collect pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, roots, flower buds, and fruits of Virginia Ground Cherry and other ground cherries. These insect feeders include the Potato Flea Beetle (Epitrix cucumeris), Tobacco Flea Beetle (Epitrix hirtipennis), another flea beetle (Epitrix humeralis), Three-lined Potato Beetle (Lema daturaphila), Three-lined Lema Beetle (Lema trivittata), larvae of two Sphinx moths, the Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) and Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata), larvae of two Gelechiid moths (Aristotelia physaliella, Symmetrischema lavernella), larvae of two Noctuid moths, the Subflexa Straw (Heliothis subflexa) and Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens), larvae of the Eggplant Leafroller Moth (Lineodes integra), Solanum Mealybug (Phenacoccus solani), Solenopsis Mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis), and Potato Aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). For more information, see Clark et al. (2004), Natural History Museum (2010), Wagner (2005), Needham et al. (1928), Pepper (1965), and ScaleNet (2014). Because the foliage of ground cherries is toxic and bitter, it is not eaten by mammalian herbivores. The berries of these plants, however, are sometimes consumed by such vertebrate animals as the Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Spotted Skunk, Eastern Box Turtle, and Ornate Box Turtle (Martin et al., 1951/1961; Ernst et al., 1994). In consuming these berries, these animals help to spread the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: An upper beach area of Illinois Beach State Park in NE Illinois.
Comments: The various species in this genus can be difficult to distinguish. Virginia Ground Cherry (Physalis virginiana) is less pubescent than Clammy Ground Cherry (Physalis heterophylla), but more pubescent than Smooth Ground Cherry (Physalis subglabrata, Physalis longifolia). Another species, Dwarf Ground Cherry (Physalis pumila), differs from Virginia Ground Cherry by having branched or divided hairs along its stems, rather than simple hairs (use a 10x hand lens to see). In addition, Dwarf Ground Cherry has faded purplish blotches within the corolla of its flowers, rather than conspicuous purplish blotches. The nodding husks covering the berries of Virginia Ground Cherry are deeply sunken above, while those of many other ground cherries (Physalis spp.) are slightly sunken or rounded above. Similarly, the mature berries of Virginia Ground Berry are orange-red, while the mature berries of many other ground cherries are yellow.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月05日
Description: This perennial plant is 1½–2½' tall, branching frequently. The stems are usually round and covered with white hairs. The alternate leaves are whitish or yellowish green, and up to 4" long and 3" across. They are cordate or broadly lanceolate, with a well-rounded base. The leaf margins are horizontally wavy and irregular, and often undulate vertically as well. Both the leaves and their petioles are covered with fine white hairs, and have a rather soft texture. These hairs are sometimes glandular. A single drooping flower appears at the juncture of two divergent stems. It is up to ¾" across, and consists of a spreading tubular corolla that is pale yellow and divided into 5 very shallow lobes. There are 5 brownish purple splotches near the base of the corolla and 5 prominent dull yellow anthers. The pedicels of the flowers exceed 1/5" when fully developed, while the calyx has triangular teeth; they are both covered with fine white hairs. Later, the flowers are replaced by heart-shaped husks that are up to ¾" long, each containing a single fruit. The husk of the fruit is initially green, but later turns brown, and is indented at the base. The spherical fruit is about ½" across and becomes yellow when mature. It contains numerous light brown seeds that are elliptical and granular. On a typical mature plant during the summer, there are several buds, flowers, and husked fruit in all stages of development. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 2 months. The root system consists of deep fleshy rhizomes, which spread the plant vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and slightly moist to dry conditions. The soil can contain substantial portions of loam, sand, or gravel. This plant often thrives in sterile soil, or disturbed areas with rich soil, because this reduces competition from taller, more aggressive plants. It is fairly drought tolerant.
Range & Habitat: Clammy Ground Cherry occurs throughout most of Illinois, except some of the south-central and north-central counties (see Distribution Map). This plant is native to Illinois. It can be found occasionally in mesic to dry black soil prairies, especially in disturbed areas. This plant also occurs in openings of rocky or sandy upland forests, sand prairies, abandoned fields and pastures, areas along roadsides and railroads, and various waste areas.
Faunal Associations: Short-tongued bees collect pollen or suck nectar at the flowers. This includes the Plasterer bees Colletes latitarsis and Colletes willistoni, and some Halictine and Panurgine bees. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis subflexus (Subflexus Straw) eat the fruit of this plant, while other insects feed on or suck juices from the foliage, including Paratrioza cockerellii (Potato Psyllid), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Potato Aphid), and Lema trilineata (Leaf Beetle sp.). Mammalian herbivores usually don't eat this plant because the poisonous leaves and unripe fruit contain significant amounts of solanum. There has been cases of cattle being poisoned by this species and other ground cherries. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals eat the mature fruit and help to distribute the seeds, including the Bobwhite Quail, Ring-Necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, Eastern Striped Skunk, and White-Footed Mouse
Photographic Location: The above photographs were taken at the edge of a prairie remnant near a cultivated field in Champaign County, Illinois. This prairie remnant occurred along a railroad.
Comments: This plant has a very different appearance from Physalis subglabrata (Smooth Ground Cherry). The most striking features of Clammy Ground Cherry are the abundance of fine white hairs on the foliage and the irregular shape of the rather large leaves. Different varieties of this species have been described. It is probably one of the two most common ground cherries in Illinois, preferring areas that are sunny and on the dry side. The mature yellow fruit is edible to humans.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, and slightly moist to dry conditions. The soil can contain substantial portions of loam, sand, or gravel. This plant often thrives in sterile soil, or disturbed areas with rich soil, because this reduces competition from taller, more aggressive plants. It is fairly drought tolerant.
Range & Habitat: Clammy Ground Cherry occurs throughout most of Illinois, except some of the south-central and north-central counties (see Distribution Map). This plant is native to Illinois. It can be found occasionally in mesic to dry black soil prairies, especially in disturbed areas. This plant also occurs in openings of rocky or sandy upland forests, sand prairies, abandoned fields and pastures, areas along roadsides and railroads, and various waste areas.
Faunal Associations: Short-tongued bees collect pollen or suck nectar at the flowers. This includes the Plasterer bees Colletes latitarsis and Colletes willistoni, and some Halictine and Panurgine bees. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis subflexus (Subflexus Straw) eat the fruit of this plant, while other insects feed on or suck juices from the foliage, including Paratrioza cockerellii (Potato Psyllid), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Potato Aphid), and Lema trilineata (Leaf Beetle sp.). Mammalian herbivores usually don't eat this plant because the poisonous leaves and unripe fruit contain significant amounts of solanum. There has been cases of cattle being poisoned by this species and other ground cherries. Various upland gamebirds and small mammals eat the mature fruit and help to distribute the seeds, including the Bobwhite Quail, Ring-Necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, Eastern Striped Skunk, and White-Footed Mouse
Photographic Location: The above photographs were taken at the edge of a prairie remnant near a cultivated field in Champaign County, Illinois. This prairie remnant occurred along a railroad.
Comments: This plant has a very different appearance from Physalis subglabrata (Smooth Ground Cherry). The most striking features of Clammy Ground Cherry are the abundance of fine white hairs on the foliage and the irregular shape of the rather large leaves. Different varieties of this species have been described. It is probably one of the two most common ground cherries in Illinois, preferring areas that are sunny and on the dry side. The mature yellow fruit is edible to humans.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月05日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1¼–2½' tall. It is unbranched, unless the central stem is broken off, in which case 2-3 lateral stems will develop. The central stem is green, slender, and hairless – it is without purple streaks or spots. The opposite leaves are medium green, linear-lanceolate to linear in shape, smooth (entire) along their margins, and hairless. Each leaf has a prominent central vein. The lower leaves are either sessile or they clasp the stem, while the upper leaves are sessile.
At the apex of the central stem, there occurs a small cluster of 3-20 flowers with pink or lavender corollas. The flower cluster is slightly dome-shaped, rather than flat-topped or elongated. Individual flowers are about ¾" across or slightly larger. Each flower has 5 petal-like lobes that spread outward from the throat of a corolla that is narrowly tubular below. These lobes are obovate to obcordate in shape with either rounded or slightly notched tips. The calyx is deeply divided into 5 slender lobes that are linear to linear-lanceolate; it is green to purple and hairless. The calyx is shorter than the tubular base of the corolla. The reproductive organs are inserted within the corolla and inconspicuous. The flowers are fragrant. The blooming period can occur from late spring to late summer, lasting about 1-2 months. The flowers are replaced by narrow seed capsules; each capsule contains many small seeds. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preferred situation consists of full sun to light shade, moist conditions, and a fertile loam or sandy loam with decaying organic material. Young plants can be killed by summer heat and drought, particularly in locations that lack adequate moisture. There is a tendency to sprawl, unless this plant is supported by grass and other kinds of vegetation. Foliar disease isn't a significant problem.
Range & Habitat: The native Smooth Phlox occurs occasionally in the eastern two-thirds of Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in western Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist black soil prairies, moist sand prairies, cemetery prairies, prairie remnants along railroads, openings in bottomland woodlands, thickets, acidic gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This is an indicator plant of higher quality prairie remnants – the showy flowers can be spotted from some distance away, facilitating the discovery of new sites.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Smooth Phlox are visited by butterflies, skippers, and moths for nectar. Butterfly visitors include Monarchs, Swallowtails, and Sulfurs. Occasionally, small Syrphid flies may feed on the pollen, but they are non-pollinating. The larvae of a long-horned beetle, Oberea flavipes, bore through the stems. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis turbatus (Spotted Straw) eat the flowers, while the caterpillars of the moth Lacinipolia olivacea (Olive Arches) eat the foliage. Some plant bugs suck on the juices of the this plant, including Lopidea davisi (Phlox Scarlet Plant Bug) and Poecilocapsus lineatus (Four-Lined Plant Bug). Rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and probably other mammalian herbivores readily consume Smooth Phlox.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a moist prairie remnant along an abandoned railroad in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: This plant has attractive foliage and flowers. Some authors from the eastern coast of the United States report the size of Smooth Phlox as up to 4-5' tall, but such huge plants apparently don't occur in Illinois. Smooth Phlox resembles Phlox pilosa (Prairie Phlox), except the latter species typically has hairy stems and calyces, and it tends to be shorter and blooms earlier. Smooth Phlox even more closely resembles the hairless Phlox pilosa sangamonensis (Sangamon Phlox), but the petal-like lobes of the latter species are less rounded and more angular (rhombic) in shape, while the bases of its petal-like lobes are more narrow and wedge-shaped. Another similar species, Phlox maculata (Meadow Phlox), has stems with purple spots or streaks, wider leaves, and a more elongated inflorescence. Smooth Phlox can be rather variable across different populations, possibly because of some hybridization with other Phlox spp. If a site is sufficiently moist, both Smooth Phlox and Meadow Phlox are found occasionally with Prairie Phlox.
At the apex of the central stem, there occurs a small cluster of 3-20 flowers with pink or lavender corollas. The flower cluster is slightly dome-shaped, rather than flat-topped or elongated. Individual flowers are about ¾" across or slightly larger. Each flower has 5 petal-like lobes that spread outward from the throat of a corolla that is narrowly tubular below. These lobes are obovate to obcordate in shape with either rounded or slightly notched tips. The calyx is deeply divided into 5 slender lobes that are linear to linear-lanceolate; it is green to purple and hairless. The calyx is shorter than the tubular base of the corolla. The reproductive organs are inserted within the corolla and inconspicuous. The flowers are fragrant. The blooming period can occur from late spring to late summer, lasting about 1-2 months. The flowers are replaced by narrow seed capsules; each capsule contains many small seeds. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preferred situation consists of full sun to light shade, moist conditions, and a fertile loam or sandy loam with decaying organic material. Young plants can be killed by summer heat and drought, particularly in locations that lack adequate moisture. There is a tendency to sprawl, unless this plant is supported by grass and other kinds of vegetation. Foliar disease isn't a significant problem.
Range & Habitat: The native Smooth Phlox occurs occasionally in the eastern two-thirds of Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in western Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist black soil prairies, moist sand prairies, cemetery prairies, prairie remnants along railroads, openings in bottomland woodlands, thickets, acidic gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This is an indicator plant of higher quality prairie remnants – the showy flowers can be spotted from some distance away, facilitating the discovery of new sites.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Smooth Phlox are visited by butterflies, skippers, and moths for nectar. Butterfly visitors include Monarchs, Swallowtails, and Sulfurs. Occasionally, small Syrphid flies may feed on the pollen, but they are non-pollinating. The larvae of a long-horned beetle, Oberea flavipes, bore through the stems. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis turbatus (Spotted Straw) eat the flowers, while the caterpillars of the moth Lacinipolia olivacea (Olive Arches) eat the foliage. Some plant bugs suck on the juices of the this plant, including Lopidea davisi (Phlox Scarlet Plant Bug) and Poecilocapsus lineatus (Four-Lined Plant Bug). Rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and probably other mammalian herbivores readily consume Smooth Phlox.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a moist prairie remnant along an abandoned railroad in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: This plant has attractive foliage and flowers. Some authors from the eastern coast of the United States report the size of Smooth Phlox as up to 4-5' tall, but such huge plants apparently don't occur in Illinois. Smooth Phlox resembles Phlox pilosa (Prairie Phlox), except the latter species typically has hairy stems and calyces, and it tends to be shorter and blooms earlier. Smooth Phlox even more closely resembles the hairless Phlox pilosa sangamonensis (Sangamon Phlox), but the petal-like lobes of the latter species are less rounded and more angular (rhombic) in shape, while the bases of its petal-like lobes are more narrow and wedge-shaped. Another similar species, Phlox maculata (Meadow Phlox), has stems with purple spots or streaks, wider leaves, and a more elongated inflorescence. Smooth Phlox can be rather variable across different populations, possibly because of some hybridization with other Phlox spp. If a site is sufficiently moist, both Smooth Phlox and Meadow Phlox are found occasionally with Prairie Phlox.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月04日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 1' tall. Multiple stems often develop from the crown of the taproot, and each stem occasionally branches. The stems are somewhat woody at the base and have a tendency to sprawl; they are usually covered with both glandular and non-glandular hairs. Pairs of opposite leaves occur at intervals along each stem. These leaves are up to 2" long and ¼" across; they are linear to linear-lanceolate, smooth along the margins, and glabrous to hairy. The base of each leaf is sessile or slightly clasps the stem.
The upper stems terminate in small cymes of about 3 flowers; less often, individual flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves. The slender pedicels of the flowers are up to 1" long and covered with hairs, like the stems; they are often reddish green. Each flower is about ¾" across, consisting of a tubular calyx with linear teeth and a a tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes. The calyx is green or reddish green and covered with hairs. The corolla is white or pale blue-violet; the opening at its throat is quite small. The petal-like lobes are narrow and cleft at their tips to about one-half of their length. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. Each flower is replaced by an oblongoid seed capsule that is 3-celled and contains several small seeds. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself and may form colonies at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy or rocky soil where there is reduced competition from other plants. This plant adapts well to sunny slopes.
Range & Habitat: The native Sand Phlox is occasional to locally common in sandy areas of central and northern Illinois, otherwise it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry sand prairies, hill prairies, sandy savannas, sandy shoulders of roads, thinly wooded bluffs, cliffs, and limestone glades. Occasional wildfires are beneficial in reducing competition from woody vegetation.
Faunal Associations: Butterflies, skippers, and moths suck nectar from the flowers. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis phloxiphagus (Spotted Straw) feed on the flowers, while the caterpillars of the moth Lacinipolia olivacea (Olive Arches) feed on the foliage. Another insect, Lopidea davis (Phlox Scarlet Plant Bug) sucks on the sap. Most mammalian herbivores readily eat the foliage of Phlox spp.
Photographic Location: A sandy area along a road in Kankakee County, Illinois, where this species is locally common.
Comments: Sand Phlox has lovely flowers. The strongly cleft lobes of the flowers distinguish it from other Phlox spp. Across its range, Sand Phlox is somewhat variable in the appearance of its flowers and the hairiness of its foliage. Another subspecies of Sand Phlox, Phlox bifida stellaria, has flowers that are cleft to about one-fourth the length of their lobes. The foliage of this subspecies has only non-glandular hairs, while the typical subspecies has both glandular and non-glandular hairs. The subspecies Phlox bifida stellaria is restricted to only 1 or 2 counties in southern Illinois, where it occurs in upland rocky areas. Regardless of the subspecies, another common name for Phlox bifida is Cleft Phlox.
The upper stems terminate in small cymes of about 3 flowers; less often, individual flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves. The slender pedicels of the flowers are up to 1" long and covered with hairs, like the stems; they are often reddish green. Each flower is about ¾" across, consisting of a tubular calyx with linear teeth and a a tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes. The calyx is green or reddish green and covered with hairs. The corolla is white or pale blue-violet; the opening at its throat is quite small. The petal-like lobes are narrow and cleft at their tips to about one-half of their length. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. Each flower is replaced by an oblongoid seed capsule that is 3-celled and contains several small seeds. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself and may form colonies at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy or rocky soil where there is reduced competition from other plants. This plant adapts well to sunny slopes.
Range & Habitat: The native Sand Phlox is occasional to locally common in sandy areas of central and northern Illinois, otherwise it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry sand prairies, hill prairies, sandy savannas, sandy shoulders of roads, thinly wooded bluffs, cliffs, and limestone glades. Occasional wildfires are beneficial in reducing competition from woody vegetation.
Faunal Associations: Butterflies, skippers, and moths suck nectar from the flowers. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis phloxiphagus (Spotted Straw) feed on the flowers, while the caterpillars of the moth Lacinipolia olivacea (Olive Arches) feed on the foliage. Another insect, Lopidea davis (Phlox Scarlet Plant Bug) sucks on the sap. Most mammalian herbivores readily eat the foliage of Phlox spp.
Photographic Location: A sandy area along a road in Kankakee County, Illinois, where this species is locally common.
Comments: Sand Phlox has lovely flowers. The strongly cleft lobes of the flowers distinguish it from other Phlox spp. Across its range, Sand Phlox is somewhat variable in the appearance of its flowers and the hairiness of its foliage. Another subspecies of Sand Phlox, Phlox bifida stellaria, has flowers that are cleft to about one-fourth the length of their lobes. The foliage of this subspecies has only non-glandular hairs, while the typical subspecies has both glandular and non-glandular hairs. The subspecies Phlox bifida stellaria is restricted to only 1 or 2 counties in southern Illinois, where it occurs in upland rocky areas. Regardless of the subspecies, another common name for Phlox bifida is Cleft Phlox.
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