文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月25日
Description: This perennial wildflower is about 1-2¼' tall, consisting of loose clumps of unbranched leafy stems that are more or less erect. The central stem of each plant is medium green, slender, terete, and glabrous; it has a pair of longitudinal wings (about 0.5 mm. in length). At intervals, pairs of opposite sessile leaves occur at intervals along each stem. These leaves are 2-4" long and 1-2½" across; they are ovate-cordate, ovate, or lanceolate in shape and their margins are smooth (entire). The upper leaf surface is dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is medium green and either glabrous or pubescent along the veins. Leaf venation is pinnate; the lateral veins are curved, rather than straight. Above the uppermost pair of leaves, there occurs a spike-like raceme of flowers on a peduncle about 2" long. This raceme is about 1-4" long and curves to one side; about 2-10 flowers occur along the upper side of the raceme, where they are ascending to erect. Each flower is about 1½" long, consisting of a scarlet tubular corolla with 5 upper yellow lobes, a short green calyx with 5 narrow teeth, 5 slightly exerted stamens, and a pistil with a strongly exerted style. The tubular corolla is more narrow toward the bottom than the top; its upper lobes are slightly recurved, widely spreading to ascending, triangular in shape, and about 8-12 mm. in length. The teeth of the calyx are 5-8 mm. long and narrowly linear-lanceolate in shape. The base of the calyx is tubular and very short. The short pedicels of the flowers are up to 2.0 mm. in length.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer (rarely later), lasting about 1 month. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 2-celled seed capsules that are 4-6 mm. tall and 6-10 mm. across at maturity. Each cell of the capsule contains a few seeds. Later in the summer, these capsules split open to discharge their seeds explosively. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Clonal offsets often develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist conditions, and a fertile loam with abundant organic matter. This plant can be propagated from stem cuttings (dipped in growth hormone) or by division of the root system. Seeds should be planted in the ground as soon as possible. Insect pests and disease organisms rarely bother the foliage. Indian Pink can be cultivated in areas that are north of its natural range (in Zones 4 or 5).
Range & Habitat: The native Indian Pink is occasional in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies along the northern range-limit of this species. Habitats include bottomland woodlands, wooded areas along streams, and edges of swamps. This wildflower is found in high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds cross-pollinate the flowers, from which they receive nectar. Aside from this, little is known about floral-faunal relationships for this species. The foliage and roots of Indian Pink are usually avoided by mammalian herbivores because of their toxicity from alkaloids and calcium oxalate crystals. However, White-tailed Deer may browse on the foliage sparingly in some areas.
Photographic Location: A bottomland woodland in southern Illinois.
Comments: Indian Pink has attractive flowers with striking colors. It is the only member of the Logania family (Loganiaceae) that is native to Illinois. Once the distinctive flowers are in bloom, it is very easy to identify this plant. In the past, the roots of Indian Pink were used as a vermifuge (to expel intestinal worms), however this practice has been largely discontinued because of the potentially dangerous side-effects. Other common names of this plant are Pinkroot and Worm-Grass.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer (rarely later), lasting about 1 month. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 2-celled seed capsules that are 4-6 mm. tall and 6-10 mm. across at maturity. Each cell of the capsule contains a few seeds. Later in the summer, these capsules split open to discharge their seeds explosively. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Clonal offsets often develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist conditions, and a fertile loam with abundant organic matter. This plant can be propagated from stem cuttings (dipped in growth hormone) or by division of the root system. Seeds should be planted in the ground as soon as possible. Insect pests and disease organisms rarely bother the foliage. Indian Pink can be cultivated in areas that are north of its natural range (in Zones 4 or 5).
Range & Habitat: The native Indian Pink is occasional in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies along the northern range-limit of this species. Habitats include bottomland woodlands, wooded areas along streams, and edges of swamps. This wildflower is found in high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds cross-pollinate the flowers, from which they receive nectar. Aside from this, little is known about floral-faunal relationships for this species. The foliage and roots of Indian Pink are usually avoided by mammalian herbivores because of their toxicity from alkaloids and calcium oxalate crystals. However, White-tailed Deer may browse on the foliage sparingly in some areas.
Photographic Location: A bottomland woodland in southern Illinois.
Comments: Indian Pink has attractive flowers with striking colors. It is the only member of the Logania family (Loganiaceae) that is native to Illinois. Once the distinctive flowers are in bloom, it is very easy to identify this plant. In the past, the roots of Indian Pink were used as a vermifuge (to expel intestinal worms), however this practice has been largely discontinued because of the potentially dangerous side-effects. Other common names of this plant are Pinkroot and Worm-Grass.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月23日
Description: This herbaceous plant is ½–2' tall and more or less erect. It branches at the base, where a tuft of basal leaves occurs, and toward the apex of the stems, where the flowers occur. The stems are terete and quite pubescent. The basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are up to 6" long and 1" across. They are medium to dark green, oblanceolate, and smooth along their margins. Each of these leaves tapers gradually to a petiole-like base. The upper cauline leaves are lanceolate or oblong, sessile, and smaller in size, otherwise they are similar to the lower leaves. The cauline leaves occur in opposite pairs along the stems; there are usually 2-4 pairs of cauline leaves per stem (rarely more). Young leaves are often finely pubescent, but they become nearly hairless with age. Each of the upper stems terminates in a cyme of 3-10 flowers; both the branches and pedicels of each cyme are terete and quite pubescent. The flowers are loosely arranged in each cyme, which is often wider than it is tall.
Each flower is about ¾–1" long and 1–1½" across, consisting of 5 spreading red petals, a tubular green calyx, 10 stamens, and 3 styles. The petals are rather narrow and notched at their tips; at the base of each petal, there is a pair of small red teeth. The tubular calyx has several ridges along its length and several small teeth along its outer rim. The outer surface of this calyx is densely covered with a glandular pubescence that has a sticky texture. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 1½ months. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule with 6 small teeth along its upper rim. It is broader toward the top than the bottom, and contains several seeds. Each seed is somewhat flattened and orbicular-reniform in shape; its surface is warty or pebbly. The root system consists of a taproot with secondary roots.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a rather poor soil containing too much sand, clay, or rocky material. Fire Pink can be short-lived as a perennial, but it occasionally reseeds itself.
Range & Habitat: The native Fire Pink is an uncommon plant that occurs in scattered areas of NE, central, and southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Occasionally, small colonies of this species are discovered in new areas, although its population within the state isn't expanding. Habitats include openings in upland woodlands, rocky wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, limestone and sandstone cliffs, and clay banks along trails in wooded areas. Fire Pink often occurs along slopes and barren areas where there is scant ground vegetation. Populations of this species will decline if the overhead canopy of trees becomes too dense; some disturbance from fire and other causes is probably beneficial.
Faunal Associations: Little information is available about floral-faunal relationships. The flowers are probably cross-pollinated by the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and various large butterflies, which seek nectar from the flowers. The sticky hairs on the surface of the calyx discourage ants from climbing up the flower to steal nectar.
Photographic Location: The upper slope of a wooded bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois, and a clay embankment along a trail in a wooded area of the same county.
Comments: Fire Pink produces spectacular red flowers. For some reason, it is not often seen in flower gardens, where introduced Pink species are typically grown. Another native species that occurs in Illinois, Silene regia (Royal Catchfly), has a somewhat similar appearance with striking red flowers, but it has 8 or more pairs of leaves along its stems and the tips of its petals are not notched. An introduced species with red flowers, Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese Cross), is occasionally grown in flower gardens, from which it rarely escapes. Its flowers have petals that are even more deeply notched than those of Fire Pink. Maltese Cross produces its flowers in a dense globoid cluster at the apex of its central stem, and its ovate-lanceolate leaves are much broader at the base than those of Fire Pink.
Each flower is about ¾–1" long and 1–1½" across, consisting of 5 spreading red petals, a tubular green calyx, 10 stamens, and 3 styles. The petals are rather narrow and notched at their tips; at the base of each petal, there is a pair of small red teeth. The tubular calyx has several ridges along its length and several small teeth along its outer rim. The outer surface of this calyx is densely covered with a glandular pubescence that has a sticky texture. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 1½ months. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule with 6 small teeth along its upper rim. It is broader toward the top than the bottom, and contains several seeds. Each seed is somewhat flattened and orbicular-reniform in shape; its surface is warty or pebbly. The root system consists of a taproot with secondary roots.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a rather poor soil containing too much sand, clay, or rocky material. Fire Pink can be short-lived as a perennial, but it occasionally reseeds itself.
Range & Habitat: The native Fire Pink is an uncommon plant that occurs in scattered areas of NE, central, and southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Occasionally, small colonies of this species are discovered in new areas, although its population within the state isn't expanding. Habitats include openings in upland woodlands, rocky wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, limestone and sandstone cliffs, and clay banks along trails in wooded areas. Fire Pink often occurs along slopes and barren areas where there is scant ground vegetation. Populations of this species will decline if the overhead canopy of trees becomes too dense; some disturbance from fire and other causes is probably beneficial.
Faunal Associations: Little information is available about floral-faunal relationships. The flowers are probably cross-pollinated by the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and various large butterflies, which seek nectar from the flowers. The sticky hairs on the surface of the calyx discourage ants from climbing up the flower to steal nectar.
Photographic Location: The upper slope of a wooded bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois, and a clay embankment along a trail in a wooded area of the same county.
Comments: Fire Pink produces spectacular red flowers. For some reason, it is not often seen in flower gardens, where introduced Pink species are typically grown. Another native species that occurs in Illinois, Silene regia (Royal Catchfly), has a somewhat similar appearance with striking red flowers, but it has 8 or more pairs of leaves along its stems and the tips of its petals are not notched. An introduced species with red flowers, Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese Cross), is occasionally grown in flower gardens, from which it rarely escapes. Its flowers have petals that are even more deeply notched than those of Fire Pink. Maltese Cross produces its flowers in a dense globoid cluster at the apex of its central stem, and its ovate-lanceolate leaves are much broader at the base than those of Fire Pink.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月23日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1–2½' tall and usually erect. It is unbranched or branched sparingly. The terete central stem and any lateral stems are mostly pale green to pale reddish green, hairless to densely pubescent, and somewhat swollen at the bases of leaves, where it is sometimes reddish purple. The lowermost and uppermost leaves are usually opposite, while the middle leaves occur in whorls of 4. They are up to 4" long and 1½" across, elliptic or lanceolate in shape, smooth along the margins, and sessile. The upper surface of each leaf is yellowish green, greyish green, or medium green, and hairless, while the lower leaf surface is more pale and hairless to finely pubescent. The central stem terminates in a panicle of flowers up to 8" long and about 3-4" across. On robust plants, 1-2 additional panicles may be produced from upper lateral stems. Pairs of small leafy bracts occur wherever a panicle branches. The erect central stalk, ascending branches, and clustered pedicels of the panicle are pale to medium green, terete, and hairless to finely pubescent. The flowers occur individually or in groups of 2-3 at the tips of long lateral branches on short pedicels. These pedicels are less than ¼" long.
Each flower is about ¾" across, consisting of 5 white fringed petals, a light green calyx that is bell-shaped (campanulate) with 5 broad teeth along its upper rim, a pistil with 3 slender white styles, and 10 stamens with slender white filaments. Each fringed petal has 8-12 linear lobes along its broad outer edge, while at the base it becomes quite narrow. The outer surface of each calyx is light green and hairless to finely pubescent; it often has faint longitudinal veins that are a darker shade of green. The blooming period occurs during mid- to late summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. The flowers remain open during the evening, night, and early morning. In the presence of bright sunlight, they have a tendency to close-up during the middle of the day. Each flower is replaced by an ovoid seed capsule with 6 teeth along its upper rim; each capsule contains several seeds. The flattened seeds are reniform or reniform-orbicular with a fine pebbly surface. The root system consists of a deep white taproot. An older plant may tiller from its base, sending up multiple stems from the same taproot. Starry Campion reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, or a little rocky material. When exposed to full sunlight, the leaves become yellowish green and they are less attractive. Sometimes the stems lean sideways when this plant is grown in the fertile soil of flower gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Starry Campion is widely distributed in Illinois, where it occurs occasionally in most counties (see Distribution Map). There are two varieties of Starry Campion that can be found throughout the state, Silene stellata stellata and Silene stellata scabrella. The typical variety of this species is hairless (or nearly so), while var. scabrella is quite pubescent, as indicated above. Habitats include upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, savannas, shaded banks of rivers, meadows near wooded areas, and cemetery prairies. This conservative species is usually found in higher quality natural areas. Fire and other kinds of disturbance are beneficial if they reduce dense shade from Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) and invasive shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are pollinated primarily by moths and, to a lesser extent, by bumblebees. These insects suck nectar from the flowers. The caterpillars of a rare Noctuid moth, Hadena ectypa (Campion Coronet), feed primarily on the flowers and developing seed capsules of Starry Campion. This moth also sucks nectar from the flowers of this plant (Nelson, 2012). The caterpillars of a closely related moth, Hadena capsularis (Capsule Moth), feed on the flowers and developing seed capules of several species in the Pink family, including Silene spp. The caterpillars of this latter moth may also feed on Starry Campion. Another insect, Aphis sambuci (Elder Aphid), uses Silene spp. as summer hosts and feeds on the sap of their roots. Among vertebrate animals, White-tailed Deer occasionally chomp off the tops of Starry Campion (personal observation), even though its foliage, like other Silene spp., probably contains some saponins and alkaloids that are known to be at least mildly toxic.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden at the apartment complex of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois. The plants in the photographs are the pubescent variety of Starry Campion, or Silene stellata scabrella.
Comments: The flowers of Starry Campion are quite beautiful. It should be grown more often in flower gardens. This species is easy to identity because of its deeply fringed petals and whorled leaves. Other white-flowered Silene spp. (campions) lack deeply fringed petals and their leaves always occur in opposite pairs. While the flowers of Starry Campion are perfect (bisexual), the flowers of some campions are dioecious (individual plants have either all male flowers or all female flowers, but not both). An example of a dioecious species in this genus is the introduced Silene pratensis (Evening Campion).
Each flower is about ¾" across, consisting of 5 white fringed petals, a light green calyx that is bell-shaped (campanulate) with 5 broad teeth along its upper rim, a pistil with 3 slender white styles, and 10 stamens with slender white filaments. Each fringed petal has 8-12 linear lobes along its broad outer edge, while at the base it becomes quite narrow. The outer surface of each calyx is light green and hairless to finely pubescent; it often has faint longitudinal veins that are a darker shade of green. The blooming period occurs during mid- to late summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. The flowers remain open during the evening, night, and early morning. In the presence of bright sunlight, they have a tendency to close-up during the middle of the day. Each flower is replaced by an ovoid seed capsule with 6 teeth along its upper rim; each capsule contains several seeds. The flattened seeds are reniform or reniform-orbicular with a fine pebbly surface. The root system consists of a deep white taproot. An older plant may tiller from its base, sending up multiple stems from the same taproot. Starry Campion reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, or a little rocky material. When exposed to full sunlight, the leaves become yellowish green and they are less attractive. Sometimes the stems lean sideways when this plant is grown in the fertile soil of flower gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Starry Campion is widely distributed in Illinois, where it occurs occasionally in most counties (see Distribution Map). There are two varieties of Starry Campion that can be found throughout the state, Silene stellata stellata and Silene stellata scabrella. The typical variety of this species is hairless (or nearly so), while var. scabrella is quite pubescent, as indicated above. Habitats include upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, savannas, shaded banks of rivers, meadows near wooded areas, and cemetery prairies. This conservative species is usually found in higher quality natural areas. Fire and other kinds of disturbance are beneficial if they reduce dense shade from Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) and invasive shrubs.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are pollinated primarily by moths and, to a lesser extent, by bumblebees. These insects suck nectar from the flowers. The caterpillars of a rare Noctuid moth, Hadena ectypa (Campion Coronet), feed primarily on the flowers and developing seed capsules of Starry Campion. This moth also sucks nectar from the flowers of this plant (Nelson, 2012). The caterpillars of a closely related moth, Hadena capsularis (Capsule Moth), feed on the flowers and developing seed capules of several species in the Pink family, including Silene spp. The caterpillars of this latter moth may also feed on Starry Campion. Another insect, Aphis sambuci (Elder Aphid), uses Silene spp. as summer hosts and feeds on the sap of their roots. Among vertebrate animals, White-tailed Deer occasionally chomp off the tops of Starry Campion (personal observation), even though its foliage, like other Silene spp., probably contains some saponins and alkaloids that are known to be at least mildly toxic.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden at the apartment complex of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois. The plants in the photographs are the pubescent variety of Starry Campion, or Silene stellata scabrella.
Comments: The flowers of Starry Campion are quite beautiful. It should be grown more often in flower gardens. This species is easy to identity because of its deeply fringed petals and whorled leaves. Other white-flowered Silene spp. (campions) lack deeply fringed petals and their leaves always occur in opposite pairs. While the flowers of Starry Campion are perfect (bisexual), the flowers of some campions are dioecious (individual plants have either all male flowers or all female flowers, but not both). An example of a dioecious species in this genus is the introduced Silene pratensis (Evening Campion).
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Miss Chen
2018年05月23日
Description: This perennial wildflower is ¾-3' tall and usually unbranched, except near the apex where the inflorescence occurs. Erect leafy stems may be produced individually or in small clusters. The central stem is is whitish green, 4-angled, and covered with either glandular or non-glandular hairs (or both). Pairs of opposite leaves occur along each stem. The leaf blades are 1-4" long and ¾-3" across; they are cordate in shape with coarse dentate-crenate margins. The upper blade surface is medium to dark green and either sparsely covered with short hairs or glabrous. The lower surface is slightly more pale and varies from densely hairy to sparsely hairy (rarely glabrous). The slender petioles are ½-2" long and hairy.
The central stem terminates in a raceme of flowers about 3-12" long. In addition, any upper lateral stems may produce smaller racemes of flowers. The racemes are narrow and usually only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Individual flowers are ½-1" long. Each flower consists of a blue-violet or purple corolla with 2 lips, a short tubular calyx with 2 lips, 4 inserted stamens, and a pistil with an inserted style. The corolla is much longer than the calyx. The corolla is narrow and tubular at its base, but becomes more wide and swollen towards its lips. The upper lip of the corolla consists of a protective hood, while the lower lip is larger, more rounded, and somewhat lobed. There is usually a large patch of white along the inside of the lower lip that is speckled blue-violet or purple. The calyx is about 1/8" (3 mm.) long, whitish green, and covered with glandular hairs. A protuberance occurs along the upper side of each calyx. The pedicels of theDistribution Map flowers are very short (about 1/8" or 3 mm. in length). Underneath the flowers, there are leafy bracts of variable length: on some plants, they extend as far as the tips of the calyces, but no further, while on other plants they extend beyond the tips of the calyces. These bracts are ovate in shape. The blooming period typically occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month. However, if a stem is damaged, this may delay flowering until later in the year. Afterward, the flowers are replaced by small dark nutlets. The root system is fibrous and either rhizomatous or stoloniferous.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam, some calcareous sand, or rocky material (typically limestone). This wildflower is a good choice for shade gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Heart-Leaved Skullcap is occasional throughout Illinois. Habitats include upland woodlands that are often rocky, bottomland woodlands, bluffs, woodland openings, shaded areas along cliffs, edges of limestone glades, and thickets. This wildflower is usually found in higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, particularly bumblebees and Anthophorine bees (Anthophora spp.), which suck nectar and collect pollen. Short-tongued bees and Syrphid flies may also visit the flowers, but they are too small to be effective pollinators. Swallowtail butterflies and other butterflies occasionally visit the flowers, but they are also less effective at cross-pollination according to Robertson (1929). A few species of insects feed on the leaves of Heart-Leaved Skullcap and other skullcaps (Scutellaria spp.). These species include the skeletonizing leaf beetle Phyllobrotica limbata, Asphaera lustrans (Shiny Flea Beetle), larvae of Prochoreutis inflatella (Skullcap Skeletonizer Moth), and larvae of the moth Caloptilia scutellariella. The larvae of this last species are both blotch leaf-miners and leaf-folders. Because of its bitter taste and possible toxicity, mammalian herbivores rarely feed on the foliage.
Photographic Location: A floodplain woodland in Lake County, Illinois. The photographed plants are either Scutellaria ovata ovata or Scutellaria ovata bracteata. The photographs (Copyright © 2011) were taken by Paul Showers.
Comments: Unlike many other Scutellaria spp., this skullcap has mostly heart-shaped leaves with indented bases; sometimes the uppermost leaves have bases that are rounded, rather than indented. Across its range, Heart-Leaved Skullcap is highly variable and several subspecies have been recognized. In Illinois, three of these subspecies can be found: Scutellaria ovata ovata, Scutellaria ovata bracteata, and Scutellaria ovata rugosa. The first two subspecies occur throughout Illinois and they are distinguished by the size of the leafy bracts on their racemes: Scutellaria ovata ovata has leafy bracts that extend no farther than the calyces of the flowers, while Scutellaria ovata bracteata has leafy bracts that extend beyond the calyces of the flowers. The third subspecies, Scutellaria ovata rugosa, is only found in southern Illinois. It can be distinguished from the preceding subspecies by its small size (less than 1' tall) and small leaves (less than 1½" long).
The central stem terminates in a raceme of flowers about 3-12" long. In addition, any upper lateral stems may produce smaller racemes of flowers. The racemes are narrow and usually only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Individual flowers are ½-1" long. Each flower consists of a blue-violet or purple corolla with 2 lips, a short tubular calyx with 2 lips, 4 inserted stamens, and a pistil with an inserted style. The corolla is much longer than the calyx. The corolla is narrow and tubular at its base, but becomes more wide and swollen towards its lips. The upper lip of the corolla consists of a protective hood, while the lower lip is larger, more rounded, and somewhat lobed. There is usually a large patch of white along the inside of the lower lip that is speckled blue-violet or purple. The calyx is about 1/8" (3 mm.) long, whitish green, and covered with glandular hairs. A protuberance occurs along the upper side of each calyx. The pedicels of theDistribution Map flowers are very short (about 1/8" or 3 mm. in length). Underneath the flowers, there are leafy bracts of variable length: on some plants, they extend as far as the tips of the calyces, but no further, while on other plants they extend beyond the tips of the calyces. These bracts are ovate in shape. The blooming period typically occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month. However, if a stem is damaged, this may delay flowering until later in the year. Afterward, the flowers are replaced by small dark nutlets. The root system is fibrous and either rhizomatous or stoloniferous.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam, some calcareous sand, or rocky material (typically limestone). This wildflower is a good choice for shade gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Heart-Leaved Skullcap is occasional throughout Illinois. Habitats include upland woodlands that are often rocky, bottomland woodlands, bluffs, woodland openings, shaded areas along cliffs, edges of limestone glades, and thickets. This wildflower is usually found in higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, particularly bumblebees and Anthophorine bees (Anthophora spp.), which suck nectar and collect pollen. Short-tongued bees and Syrphid flies may also visit the flowers, but they are too small to be effective pollinators. Swallowtail butterflies and other butterflies occasionally visit the flowers, but they are also less effective at cross-pollination according to Robertson (1929). A few species of insects feed on the leaves of Heart-Leaved Skullcap and other skullcaps (Scutellaria spp.). These species include the skeletonizing leaf beetle Phyllobrotica limbata, Asphaera lustrans (Shiny Flea Beetle), larvae of Prochoreutis inflatella (Skullcap Skeletonizer Moth), and larvae of the moth Caloptilia scutellariella. The larvae of this last species are both blotch leaf-miners and leaf-folders. Because of its bitter taste and possible toxicity, mammalian herbivores rarely feed on the foliage.
Photographic Location: A floodplain woodland in Lake County, Illinois. The photographed plants are either Scutellaria ovata ovata or Scutellaria ovata bracteata. The photographs (Copyright © 2011) were taken by Paul Showers.
Comments: Unlike many other Scutellaria spp., this skullcap has mostly heart-shaped leaves with indented bases; sometimes the uppermost leaves have bases that are rounded, rather than indented. Across its range, Heart-Leaved Skullcap is highly variable and several subspecies have been recognized. In Illinois, three of these subspecies can be found: Scutellaria ovata ovata, Scutellaria ovata bracteata, and Scutellaria ovata rugosa. The first two subspecies occur throughout Illinois and they are distinguished by the size of the leafy bracts on their racemes: Scutellaria ovata ovata has leafy bracts that extend no farther than the calyces of the flowers, while Scutellaria ovata bracteata has leafy bracts that extend beyond the calyces of the flowers. The third subspecies, Scutellaria ovata rugosa, is only found in southern Illinois. It can be distinguished from the preceding subspecies by its small size (less than 1' tall) and small leaves (less than 1½" long).
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Miss Chen
2018年05月22日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 3½-8' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are often 4-angled and furrowed; they are slightly hairy or glabrous. The opposite leaves are up to 7" long and 3½" across (excluding the petioles), becoming somewhat smaller as they ascend the stems. These leaves are medium to dark green, cordate-ovate to ovate in shape, serrated along their margins, thin-textured, and largely hairless, except for some short pubescence along the undersides of their veins. The slender petioles are up to 2½" long; they are light green to red and glabrous to slightly hairy. The upper stems terminate in elongated panicles of flowers up to 1' long. Each panicle is somewhat cylindrical in shape, consisting of an erect central stalk (rachis) with short lateral branches that are widely spreading to ascending. Both the central stalk and lateral branches are light green; the latter also have short glandular pubescence, and they are slender and wiry. There are individual bracts (green, linear in shape, and up to 1" in length) that become progressively smaller as the panicle branches.
Individual flowers are about 8 mm. (1/3") long and short-cylindrical in shape; each flower has a short-tubular green calyx with 5 blunt teeth and a corolla with 5 rounded lobes. The exterior of the corolla is dull green, while its interior is predominantly reddish brown. Each corolla has a pair of upper lobes that function as a hood, 2 short lateral lobes, and a lower lobe that curves downward. All of these lobes are reddish brown on the inside, except the lower lobe, which is greenish yellow. Appressed against the upper interior of this corolla, there is an infertile stamen that is reddish brown or purple. The 4 fertile stamens have yellow anthers; they are located toward the bottom of the corolla. The slender pedicels are a little longer than the flowers. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, lasting about a month; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a 2-celled capsule that contains numerous tiny seeds. The root system is rhizomatous and knotty-tuberous.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil that is loose and loamy. The size of this plant can be highly variable, depending on its age, location, and environmental conditions.
Range & Habitat: Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica) is a fairly common plant that has been observed in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands, sandy woodlands, savannas, edges of shaded hillside seeps, woodland borders, thickets, and fence rows that are overgrown with trees. This species tolerates minor to moderate levels of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The small flowers contain abundant nectar, which attracts the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, honeybees, bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), a long-horned bee (Melissodes bimaculata), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp., etc.), Vespid wasps (Polites spp., Vespula spp.), and various Eumenine wasps (Robertson, 1929). Halictid bees also collect pollen from the flowers. Insects that feed destructively on the leaves, plant juices, and other parts of Late Figwort and other figworts (Scrophularia spp.) include larvae of the gall fly Lestodiplosis scrophulariae, the stink bug Cosmopepla lintneriana, the aphid Myzus scrophulariae, the flea beetle Capraita thyamoides, and caterpillars of the moth Elaphria chalcedonia (Chalcedony Midget). Because the foliage is bitter and acrid, it is rarely browsed by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois. A small colony of Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica) was growing in a mesic area of this deciduous woodlands.
Comments: The figworts (Scrophularia spp.) have weird little flowers that attract many wasps and bees. They are not grown in gardens very often because their flowers are not very showy (by human standards). The only other figwort that occurs in Illinois is Early Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata). This species is less common than Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica); in Illinois, it is found only in the northern section of the state. Early Figwort blooms a little earlier than Late Figwort (hence their common names), although their respective blooming periods overlap to some extent. The flowers of Early Figwort have sterile stamens that are yellow, rather than reddish brown or purple (the sterile stamens of both species are located along the upper interior of their corollas).
Individual flowers are about 8 mm. (1/3") long and short-cylindrical in shape; each flower has a short-tubular green calyx with 5 blunt teeth and a corolla with 5 rounded lobes. The exterior of the corolla is dull green, while its interior is predominantly reddish brown. Each corolla has a pair of upper lobes that function as a hood, 2 short lateral lobes, and a lower lobe that curves downward. All of these lobes are reddish brown on the inside, except the lower lobe, which is greenish yellow. Appressed against the upper interior of this corolla, there is an infertile stamen that is reddish brown or purple. The 4 fertile stamens have yellow anthers; they are located toward the bottom of the corolla. The slender pedicels are a little longer than the flowers. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, lasting about a month; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a 2-celled capsule that contains numerous tiny seeds. The root system is rhizomatous and knotty-tuberous.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil that is loose and loamy. The size of this plant can be highly variable, depending on its age, location, and environmental conditions.
Range & Habitat: Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica) is a fairly common plant that has been observed in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands, sandy woodlands, savannas, edges of shaded hillside seeps, woodland borders, thickets, and fence rows that are overgrown with trees. This species tolerates minor to moderate levels of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The small flowers contain abundant nectar, which attracts the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, honeybees, bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), a long-horned bee (Melissodes bimaculata), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp., etc.), Vespid wasps (Polites spp., Vespula spp.), and various Eumenine wasps (Robertson, 1929). Halictid bees also collect pollen from the flowers. Insects that feed destructively on the leaves, plant juices, and other parts of Late Figwort and other figworts (Scrophularia spp.) include larvae of the gall fly Lestodiplosis scrophulariae, the stink bug Cosmopepla lintneriana, the aphid Myzus scrophulariae, the flea beetle Capraita thyamoides, and caterpillars of the moth Elaphria chalcedonia (Chalcedony Midget). Because the foliage is bitter and acrid, it is rarely browsed by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois. A small colony of Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica) was growing in a mesic area of this deciduous woodlands.
Comments: The figworts (Scrophularia spp.) have weird little flowers that attract many wasps and bees. They are not grown in gardens very often because their flowers are not very showy (by human standards). The only other figwort that occurs in Illinois is Early Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata). This species is less common than Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica); in Illinois, it is found only in the northern section of the state. Early Figwort blooms a little earlier than Late Figwort (hence their common names), although their respective blooming periods overlap to some extent. The flowers of Early Figwort have sterile stamens that are yellow, rather than reddish brown or purple (the sterile stamens of both species are located along the upper interior of their corollas).
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Miss Chen
2018年05月22日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1–2½' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are light green to pale red or purple, glabrous, and veined. The leaves are alternate, opposite, or basal. The basal and lower leaves are palmately divided into 5 leaflets; these compound leaves span up to 5" long and across, and their petioles are up to 6" long. The middle to upper leaves are trifoliate with 3 leaflets; they are smaller in size and usually sessile. The leaflets are up to 2½" long and 1" across; they are oblanceolate, elliptic, obovate, or ovate in shape. Each leaflet is shallowly cleft and coarsely serrated along the margins; the bottom of each leaflet is wedge-shaped and sessile. Both the leaves and their petioles (if any) are glabrous.
Each upper stem terminates in 1-5 umbels of flowers. Each umbel is globoid or semi-globoid and spans up to ½" across; it consists of 20-60 tiny flowers and their pedicels. The stalk (or ray) of each umbel is up to 1" long. Each umbel has 1-3 perfect flowers (male & female reproductive organs), while the remaining flowers are staminate (male only). Whether perfect or staminate, each flower has a short green calyx with 5 ovate teeth, 5 greenish yellow petals that are obcordate in shape, and 5 exerted stamens with conspicuous anthers. The anthers are initially yellow, but they later become brown. In addition, each perfect flower has a bristly globoid ovary and a pair of long recurved styles. These styles are longer than the bristles of the ovary. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks. Each bur-like fruit contains a pair of seeds. The root system is fibrous. Colonies often develop in favorable habitats.
Cultivation: This plant is typically found in partial sun to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and fertile loamy soil. While the flowers are not very showy, it can be used as a ground cover in shaded areas.
Range & Habitat: Common Black Snakeroot is occasional to common in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include deciduous woodlands, areas along woodland paths, thickets, shaded seeps, and fence rows that are overgrown with woody vegetation. Sometimes this species invades shaded areas of gardens. Tolerance to degradation of woodland habitat is above average.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees (Halictid & Andrenid) and various flies. White-Tailed Deer and other mammalian herbivores avoid consumption of the foliage because of its bitter taste. The small prickly fruits can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans; this helps to distribute the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: A mesic area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Common Black Snakeroot can be distinguished from other Sanicula spp. (Black Snakeroots) by its greenish yellow flowers. Other Black Snakeroots have greenish white flowers. The recurved styles of Common Black Snakeroot are longer than the prickles of the ovary, while other Black Snakeroots have more erect styles that are shorter or the same length as the prickles of their ovaries. The common name (Black Snakeroot) probably refers to the pioneer belief that the bitter roots were useful in treating snake bites, although this is highly doubtful. Another scientific name of Common Black Snakeroot is Sanicula gregaria, which resulted in the common name, 'Clustered Black Snakeroot.'
Each upper stem terminates in 1-5 umbels of flowers. Each umbel is globoid or semi-globoid and spans up to ½" across; it consists of 20-60 tiny flowers and their pedicels. The stalk (or ray) of each umbel is up to 1" long. Each umbel has 1-3 perfect flowers (male & female reproductive organs), while the remaining flowers are staminate (male only). Whether perfect or staminate, each flower has a short green calyx with 5 ovate teeth, 5 greenish yellow petals that are obcordate in shape, and 5 exerted stamens with conspicuous anthers. The anthers are initially yellow, but they later become brown. In addition, each perfect flower has a bristly globoid ovary and a pair of long recurved styles. These styles are longer than the bristles of the ovary. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks. Each bur-like fruit contains a pair of seeds. The root system is fibrous. Colonies often develop in favorable habitats.
Cultivation: This plant is typically found in partial sun to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and fertile loamy soil. While the flowers are not very showy, it can be used as a ground cover in shaded areas.
Range & Habitat: Common Black Snakeroot is occasional to common in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include deciduous woodlands, areas along woodland paths, thickets, shaded seeps, and fence rows that are overgrown with woody vegetation. Sometimes this species invades shaded areas of gardens. Tolerance to degradation of woodland habitat is above average.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees (Halictid & Andrenid) and various flies. White-Tailed Deer and other mammalian herbivores avoid consumption of the foliage because of its bitter taste. The small prickly fruits can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans; this helps to distribute the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: A mesic area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Common Black Snakeroot can be distinguished from other Sanicula spp. (Black Snakeroots) by its greenish yellow flowers. Other Black Snakeroots have greenish white flowers. The recurved styles of Common Black Snakeroot are longer than the prickles of the ovary, while other Black Snakeroots have more erect styles that are shorter or the same length as the prickles of their ovaries. The common name (Black Snakeroot) probably refers to the pioneer belief that the bitter roots were useful in treating snake bites, although this is highly doubtful. Another scientific name of Common Black Snakeroot is Sanicula gregaria, which resulted in the common name, 'Clustered Black Snakeroot.'
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Miss Chen
2018年05月22日
Description: This herbaceous plant is a biennial or short-lived perennial; it is about 1-2' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are glabrous and light green; they are terete or somewhat angular. The alternate leaves are usually trifoliate, although some of the smaller upper leaves are simple. The lower leaves often appear to be palmate with 5 leaflets, but this is because each lateral leaflet has been deeply divided into 2 large lobes. In outline, the lower compound leaves are nearly orbicular in outline (up to 5" wide and 5" across, excluding the petioles) while the upper compound leaves are more narrow. The leaflets and large lobes are obovate, ovate, or broadly elliptic in shape, while their margins are coarsely double-serrated and sometimes cleft along their margins. Leaf venation within each leaflet and lobe is pinnate. The upper leaf surface is yellowish green (in bright sunlight) to dark green (in shade) and glabrous. The lower leaves have long petioles, while those of the upper leaves are much shorter. These petioles are light green, glabrous, and slightly sheathed at their bases; they are grooved above and convex below.
The upper stems terminate in small umbels or compound umbels of greenish white flowers. Each umbel consists of 1-4 umbellets and spans up to 2½" across. Each umbellet has 2-3 pistillate or perfect flowers and about 2-6 staminate flowers (less often, there will be 7-15 staminate flowers); these flowers form a tight cluster that is irregularly globular in shape. The perfect and pistillate flowers are more conspicous because of their bur-like ovaries. These ovaries are about 3-5 mm. in length, globoid-ovoid in shape, and green; their outer surfaces are covered with hooked prickles (about 1 mm. in length). Each flower has 5 greenish white petals and a green calyx with 5 linear-lanceolate lobes; these lobes are shorter than the prickles of the ovaries. The styles of perfect and pistillate flowers (less than 1 mm. in length) are also shorter than the prickles of the ovaries. Each staminate or perfect flower has 5 short stamens.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 3 weeks for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each bur-like fruit contains 2 seeds. The root system is fibrous. This plant spreads by reseeding itself and it occasionally forms colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is light to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy soil with an abundance of organic matter.
Range & Habitat: Canadian Black Snakeroot is a common plant that occurs in nearly all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands, north-facing bluffs, areas along woodland paths, edges of shaded seeps, fence rows with woody vegetation, edges of yards underneath trees, and flower gardens in shady areas. This plant occurs in both natural habitats of varying quality and disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract few insect pollinators, although occasionally they are visited by Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), and Syrphid flies, which suck nectar. An aphid, Aphis clydesmithi, sucks plant juices at the stem base and root collar, while another aphid, Aphis saniculae, sucks plant juices from the undersides of the leaves. Canadian Black Snakeroot is the preferred host plant of the latter aphid. The bitter foliage is avoided by grazing livestock and probably other mammalian herbivores as well. The small burry fruits cling readily to the feathers of birds, fur of mammals, and clothing of humans; this helps to distribute the seeds far and wide.
Photographic Location: Underneath a lawn tree in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Canadian Black Snakeroot is not very showy, in part because it does not bloom until after the deciduous trees in woodlands have developed their leaves. Except for the bur-like ovaries, the flowers are inconspicuous. This species is well-adapted to the shady conditions that exist underneath trees during the summer, and it can become a minor weed along the edges of yards and in flower gardens. Except for Sanicula gregaria (Clustered Black Snakeroot), which has greenish yellow flowers, the various Sanicula spp. in Illinois have small greenish white flowers. The species of this latter group are rather difficult to distinguish. Canadian Black Snakeroot differs from Sanicula marilandica (Maryland Black Snakeroot) by its short styles, which are no longer than the prickles of its ovaries; the latter species has pairs of curved styles that are much longer than the prickles of its ovaries. Canadian Black Snakeroot differs from Sanicula trifoliata (Large-Fruited Black Snakeroot) by the size and shape of its burry fruits: The fruits of the former species are 3-5 mm. long and ovoid-globoid in shape, while the fruits of the latter species are at least 5.5 mm. in length and ovoid in shape. Furthermore, the calyx lobes of the latter species are as long or longer than the surrounding prickles, and its stamens are longer and more conspicuous than those Canadian Black Snakeroot.
The upper stems terminate in small umbels or compound umbels of greenish white flowers. Each umbel consists of 1-4 umbellets and spans up to 2½" across. Each umbellet has 2-3 pistillate or perfect flowers and about 2-6 staminate flowers (less often, there will be 7-15 staminate flowers); these flowers form a tight cluster that is irregularly globular in shape. The perfect and pistillate flowers are more conspicous because of their bur-like ovaries. These ovaries are about 3-5 mm. in length, globoid-ovoid in shape, and green; their outer surfaces are covered with hooked prickles (about 1 mm. in length). Each flower has 5 greenish white petals and a green calyx with 5 linear-lanceolate lobes; these lobes are shorter than the prickles of the ovaries. The styles of perfect and pistillate flowers (less than 1 mm. in length) are also shorter than the prickles of the ovaries. Each staminate or perfect flower has 5 short stamens.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 3 weeks for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each bur-like fruit contains 2 seeds. The root system is fibrous. This plant spreads by reseeding itself and it occasionally forms colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is light to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy soil with an abundance of organic matter.
Range & Habitat: Canadian Black Snakeroot is a common plant that occurs in nearly all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands, north-facing bluffs, areas along woodland paths, edges of shaded seeps, fence rows with woody vegetation, edges of yards underneath trees, and flower gardens in shady areas. This plant occurs in both natural habitats of varying quality and disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract few insect pollinators, although occasionally they are visited by Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), and Syrphid flies, which suck nectar. An aphid, Aphis clydesmithi, sucks plant juices at the stem base and root collar, while another aphid, Aphis saniculae, sucks plant juices from the undersides of the leaves. Canadian Black Snakeroot is the preferred host plant of the latter aphid. The bitter foliage is avoided by grazing livestock and probably other mammalian herbivores as well. The small burry fruits cling readily to the feathers of birds, fur of mammals, and clothing of humans; this helps to distribute the seeds far and wide.
Photographic Location: Underneath a lawn tree in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Canadian Black Snakeroot is not very showy, in part because it does not bloom until after the deciduous trees in woodlands have developed their leaves. Except for the bur-like ovaries, the flowers are inconspicuous. This species is well-adapted to the shady conditions that exist underneath trees during the summer, and it can become a minor weed along the edges of yards and in flower gardens. Except for Sanicula gregaria (Clustered Black Snakeroot), which has greenish yellow flowers, the various Sanicula spp. in Illinois have small greenish white flowers. The species of this latter group are rather difficult to distinguish. Canadian Black Snakeroot differs from Sanicula marilandica (Maryland Black Snakeroot) by its short styles, which are no longer than the prickles of its ovaries; the latter species has pairs of curved styles that are much longer than the prickles of its ovaries. Canadian Black Snakeroot differs from Sanicula trifoliata (Large-Fruited Black Snakeroot) by the size and shape of its burry fruits: The fruits of the former species are 3-5 mm. long and ovoid-globoid in shape, while the fruits of the latter species are at least 5.5 mm. in length and ovoid in shape. Furthermore, the calyx lobes of the latter species are as long or longer than the surrounding prickles, and its stamens are longer and more conspicuous than those Canadian Black Snakeroot.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月21日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is ½–1½' tall, branching occasionally. The leafy stems have a tendency to lean to one side or sprawl across the ground. The stems are light green to reddish green, glabrous to hairy, and often somewhat angular. The alternate compound leaves are simple odd-pinnate and up to 8" long, consisting of about 5-15 leaflets. The petioles and rachises of these compound leaves are light green to reddish green and glabrous to hairy; they are grooved above and convex below. The leaflets are ¾-1¼" long and about one-third as much across; they are elliptic to broadly elliptic-oblong, smooth (entire) along their margins, medium green, glabrous (or nearly so), and sessile (or nearly so). The upper stems terminate in rather loose panicles of floppy or nodding flowers spanning 1½-3" across. Some panicles are also produced from the axils of upper leaves on long peduncles up to 6" long. The pedicels are up to 1" long.
Both the peduncles and pedicels of these panicles are light green to reddish green and glabrous to hairy. The campanulate (bell-shaped) flowers are up to 16 mm. (2/3") across. Each flower has 5 rounded petals that are light blue-violet, a short-tubular calyx with 5 triangular teeth, 5 stamens with white anthers, and a pistil with a slender white style that become tripartite toward its tip. The calyx is light green to reddish purple and glabrous to hairy. There are fine veins that run along the length of the petals. The stamens are the same length as, or shorter than, the petals of the flowers. The blooming period usually occurs during the late spring, lasting about 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled seed capsules; these capsules are about 6 mm. (¼") in length and ovoid in shape; they are few-seeded. The root system consists of a short vertical crown with abundant fibrous roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or dappled sun, more or less mesic conditions, and loamy soil with decaying organic matter. This plant is not aggressive; it is able to adapt to somewhat shady gardens that are located near deciduous trees.
Range & Habitat: The native Jacob's Ladder is an occasional to locally common plant that occurs in most areas of Illinois, except for some counties in the central portion of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include deciduous woodlands, lower wooded slopes, bases of bluffs, shaded banks of streams and rivers, bottoms of sandstone canyons, and areas along woodland paths. Jacob's Ladder is found in higher quality natural habitats that are dominated by various deciduous trees.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees primarily, including honeybees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees (Augochlorella spp., Lasioglossum spp.), and Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.). A species from this last group, Andrena polemonii, is a specialist pollinator (oligolege) of Polemonium spp. (Jacob's Ladder, Greek Valerian). The flowers are also visited by Bombylius major (Giant Bee Fly), butterflies, skippers, and moths, which seek nectar. The larvae of two moths, Coleophora polemoniella and Scrobipalpula polemoniella, mine the leaflets. An aphid, Nasonovia hottesi, sucks the sap of these plants.
Photographic Location: A flower garden at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is a rather floppy plant, although both the flowers and foliage are quite attractive. The bell-shaped flowers and compound leaves together provide Jacob's Ladder with a distinctive appearance. The only other species that resembles it, Polemonium vanbruntiae (Greek Valerian), which is native to some of the Eastern States, doesn't occur in the wild in Illinois. This latter species is more erect in habit, and it has slightly larger flowers with exerted stamens. The flowers of this latter species are usually a darker shade of blue than those of Jacob's Ladder. The common name of Polemonium reptans refers to the pairs of opposite leaflets on the compound leaves, which supposedly resemble a series of steps on a ladder in a dream by the biblical Jacob.
Both the peduncles and pedicels of these panicles are light green to reddish green and glabrous to hairy. The campanulate (bell-shaped) flowers are up to 16 mm. (2/3") across. Each flower has 5 rounded petals that are light blue-violet, a short-tubular calyx with 5 triangular teeth, 5 stamens with white anthers, and a pistil with a slender white style that become tripartite toward its tip. The calyx is light green to reddish purple and glabrous to hairy. There are fine veins that run along the length of the petals. The stamens are the same length as, or shorter than, the petals of the flowers. The blooming period usually occurs during the late spring, lasting about 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled seed capsules; these capsules are about 6 mm. (¼") in length and ovoid in shape; they are few-seeded. The root system consists of a short vertical crown with abundant fibrous roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or dappled sun, more or less mesic conditions, and loamy soil with decaying organic matter. This plant is not aggressive; it is able to adapt to somewhat shady gardens that are located near deciduous trees.
Range & Habitat: The native Jacob's Ladder is an occasional to locally common plant that occurs in most areas of Illinois, except for some counties in the central portion of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include deciduous woodlands, lower wooded slopes, bases of bluffs, shaded banks of streams and rivers, bottoms of sandstone canyons, and areas along woodland paths. Jacob's Ladder is found in higher quality natural habitats that are dominated by various deciduous trees.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees primarily, including honeybees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees (Augochlorella spp., Lasioglossum spp.), and Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.). A species from this last group, Andrena polemonii, is a specialist pollinator (oligolege) of Polemonium spp. (Jacob's Ladder, Greek Valerian). The flowers are also visited by Bombylius major (Giant Bee Fly), butterflies, skippers, and moths, which seek nectar. The larvae of two moths, Coleophora polemoniella and Scrobipalpula polemoniella, mine the leaflets. An aphid, Nasonovia hottesi, sucks the sap of these plants.
Photographic Location: A flower garden at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is a rather floppy plant, although both the flowers and foliage are quite attractive. The bell-shaped flowers and compound leaves together provide Jacob's Ladder with a distinctive appearance. The only other species that resembles it, Polemonium vanbruntiae (Greek Valerian), which is native to some of the Eastern States, doesn't occur in the wild in Illinois. This latter species is more erect in habit, and it has slightly larger flowers with exerted stamens. The flowers of this latter species are usually a darker shade of blue than those of Jacob's Ladder. The common name of Polemonium reptans refers to the pairs of opposite leaflets on the compound leaves, which supposedly resemble a series of steps on a ladder in a dream by the biblical Jacob.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月21日
Description: This annual plant is ½–2' tall, branching occasionally in the upper half. The stems are smooth, terete, glabrous, and translucent. They are light green, greyish green, or reddish green in appearance; some of the larger stems may be slightly ribbed. The opposite leaves are ¾–4" long and about one-half as much across. They are ovate, hairless, and coarsely serrated. Each leaf has a thin membranous texture with a prominent central vein and two conspicuous side veins. The upper surface is green or dark green, while the lower surface is light green or nearly white. The petioles of the leaves are quite long, frequently 1" in length or more.
From the axil of each upper leaf, there develops a narrow raceme of flowers up to 1" long. This raceme is usually shorter than the petiole, slightly curved, and more or less horizontal. Each plant has separate male and/or female flowers that are less than 1/8" (3 mm.) long, and they are either greenish white or greenish yellow. The male flowers have no petals, 4 sepals, and 4 stamens, while the female flowers have no petals, 3 sepals, and 1 pistil. Toward the inner surface of the sepals are small scales. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, lasting about 1 month. There is no floral scent. Cross-pollination of the flowers is by wind. The tiny achenes are green, sometimes with black stripes. They can be blown about by the wind, and in this manner spread to new areas.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade, moist to wet conditions, and rich loamy soil. The foliage is little bothered by disease and is it is usually quite attractive. Standing water is tolerated if it is temporary.
Range & Habitat: The native Clearweed is a common woodland plant that occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include poorly drained areas of upland forests, floodplain forests, crevices in rocky canyons, and shady or partially shaded wetland areas, including seeps, borders of small streams, and low areas along vernal pools. The moist wooded areas where this plant occurs are typically dominated by such deciduous trees as Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, American Sycamore, River Birch, Green Ash, etc. Clearweed often forms large colonies by reseeding itself.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are wind-pollinated, therefore they don't attract many insects. The caterpillars of the following butterflies feed on the foliage of Clearweed: Nymphalis milberti (Milbert's Tortoiseshell), Polygonia comma (Comma), Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark), and Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral). These caterpillars feed on other members of the Nettle family as well. The larvae of a moth, Cosmopterix pulcherimella (Beautiful Cosmopterix Moth), mine the leaves. An aphid, Pseudasiphonaphis corni, uses Clearweed as a summer host, where they suck juices from the stems and flowering stalks. This species is also one of the host plants of a polyphagous leafhopper, Empoasca recurvata.
Photographic Location: The plants were growing in a shady area along a small stream at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The most unusual characteristic of this plant is the translucency of the foliage – this has been useful in biology classes to show the uptake of liquids from the roots into the stems and leaves. A less common species of Clearweed, Pilea fontana, has stems that are less translucent and its achenes are black, rather than green. Clearweed resembles other members of the Nettle family as well, but it lacks the stinging hairs that can be found on Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) and Laportea canadensis (Wood Nettle). While Boehmeria cylindrica (False Nettle) lacks stinging hairs, its stems aren't translucent and its racemes of flowers are more erect and longer than Clearweed's racemes.
From the axil of each upper leaf, there develops a narrow raceme of flowers up to 1" long. This raceme is usually shorter than the petiole, slightly curved, and more or less horizontal. Each plant has separate male and/or female flowers that are less than 1/8" (3 mm.) long, and they are either greenish white or greenish yellow. The male flowers have no petals, 4 sepals, and 4 stamens, while the female flowers have no petals, 3 sepals, and 1 pistil. Toward the inner surface of the sepals are small scales. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall, lasting about 1 month. There is no floral scent. Cross-pollination of the flowers is by wind. The tiny achenes are green, sometimes with black stripes. They can be blown about by the wind, and in this manner spread to new areas.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade, moist to wet conditions, and rich loamy soil. The foliage is little bothered by disease and is it is usually quite attractive. Standing water is tolerated if it is temporary.
Range & Habitat: The native Clearweed is a common woodland plant that occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include poorly drained areas of upland forests, floodplain forests, crevices in rocky canyons, and shady or partially shaded wetland areas, including seeps, borders of small streams, and low areas along vernal pools. The moist wooded areas where this plant occurs are typically dominated by such deciduous trees as Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, American Sycamore, River Birch, Green Ash, etc. Clearweed often forms large colonies by reseeding itself.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are wind-pollinated, therefore they don't attract many insects. The caterpillars of the following butterflies feed on the foliage of Clearweed: Nymphalis milberti (Milbert's Tortoiseshell), Polygonia comma (Comma), Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark), and Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral). These caterpillars feed on other members of the Nettle family as well. The larvae of a moth, Cosmopterix pulcherimella (Beautiful Cosmopterix Moth), mine the leaves. An aphid, Pseudasiphonaphis corni, uses Clearweed as a summer host, where they suck juices from the stems and flowering stalks. This species is also one of the host plants of a polyphagous leafhopper, Empoasca recurvata.
Photographic Location: The plants were growing in a shady area along a small stream at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The most unusual characteristic of this plant is the translucency of the foliage – this has been useful in biology classes to show the uptake of liquids from the roots into the stems and leaves. A less common species of Clearweed, Pilea fontana, has stems that are less translucent and its achenes are black, rather than green. Clearweed resembles other members of the Nettle family as well, but it lacks the stinging hairs that can be found on Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) and Laportea canadensis (Wood Nettle). While Boehmeria cylindrica (False Nettle) lacks stinging hairs, its stems aren't translucent and its racemes of flowers are more erect and longer than Clearweed's racemes.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月21日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 1½–3' tall. It is more or less erect and either sparingly branched or unbranched. The stems are light green to dark purple, angular-terete, and slightly pubescent. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along each stem. The leaf blades are up to 5" long and 2½" across; they are dull green, hairless, ovate in shape, and crenate-dentate along their margins. The lower leaves have slender petioles up to one-half the length of their blades, while the upper leaves have much shorter petioles.
The upper stems terminate in slender spike-like racemes of flowers up to 1' long. In addition, secondary racemes are often produced from the uppermost pairs of leaves. The flowers are arranged in opposite pairs along the upper one-half or upper one-third of each raceme. The central stalk of the raceme is usually dark purple. Each flower is up to 1/3" (8 mm.) in length; it consists of a tubular-ovoid calyx and a slender corolla that is pale purplish white and divides into two lips. The small upper lip has a rounded edge, which is slightly indented in the middle; the long lower lip divides into 3 lobes, functioning as a landing pad for visiting insects. Within the corolla, there is a single style and 4 stamens. The small calyx is light green and hairless; it has 3 teeth that are long, slender, and purple along its upper/outer side, while the opposite side of the calyx has a pair of much smaller teeth. The pedicels of the flowers are very short; at the base of each pedicel, there is a pair of tiny bracts (bracteoles). While individual flowers are blooming, they are held horizontally; shortly afterwards, their corollas fall away and their calyces bend downward to become appressed against the stalk of their racemes. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts 1-2 months. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower produces a single seed that develops within the calyx. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: Lopseed prefers a sheltered location that provides light to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich woodland soil with abundant organic matter.
Range & Habitat: The native Lopseed has been found in most counties of Illinois, however it is only occasionally encountered and its populations are scattered (Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands in moist to mesic conditions. Lopseed is largely restricted to higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact. While it is little known, Lopseed has a wide distribution in North America and east-central Asia.
Faunal Associations: Small bees occasionally visit the flowers for nectar. Robertson (1928) observed only two bees, Ceratina dupla and Augochlorella striata, as floral visitors of Lopseed. The former species is a Little Carpenter bee, while the latter species is a Green Metallic bee. Other records of floral-faunal relationships are sparse. A polyphagous insect, Proxys punctulatus (Black Stink Bug), sucks juices from the foliage of Lopseed (and many other plants). White-Tailed Deer reportedly dislike this plant as a food source and don't graze on the foliage.
Photographic Location: Spitzler Woods in Macon County, Illinois. The photographs were taken during the autumn when the flowers were no longer in bloom.
Comments: This woodland plant is often overlooked because it lacks showy flowers. As a general rule, shade-loving woodland plants that bloom during the summer have small light-colored flowers because they have access to very limited amounts of energy from low levels of sunlight. Plants that grow in open woodlands or prairies have access to more sunlight and usually produce larger flowers. Woodland wildflowers that bloom in the spring can also produce large showy flowers, largely because the canopy trees haven't fully developed their leaves, and thus more sunlight reaches the ground vegetation. Lopseed is an unusual plant that has been assigned to its own plant family. It resembles members of the Mint family (Lamiaceae) in many ways, but each of its flowers produces only a single seed. In contrast, individual flowers of plants in the Mint family typically produce either 2 or 4 seeds.
The upper stems terminate in slender spike-like racemes of flowers up to 1' long. In addition, secondary racemes are often produced from the uppermost pairs of leaves. The flowers are arranged in opposite pairs along the upper one-half or upper one-third of each raceme. The central stalk of the raceme is usually dark purple. Each flower is up to 1/3" (8 mm.) in length; it consists of a tubular-ovoid calyx and a slender corolla that is pale purplish white and divides into two lips. The small upper lip has a rounded edge, which is slightly indented in the middle; the long lower lip divides into 3 lobes, functioning as a landing pad for visiting insects. Within the corolla, there is a single style and 4 stamens. The small calyx is light green and hairless; it has 3 teeth that are long, slender, and purple along its upper/outer side, while the opposite side of the calyx has a pair of much smaller teeth. The pedicels of the flowers are very short; at the base of each pedicel, there is a pair of tiny bracts (bracteoles). While individual flowers are blooming, they are held horizontally; shortly afterwards, their corollas fall away and their calyces bend downward to become appressed against the stalk of their racemes. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts 1-2 months. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower produces a single seed that develops within the calyx. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: Lopseed prefers a sheltered location that provides light to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich woodland soil with abundant organic matter.
Range & Habitat: The native Lopseed has been found in most counties of Illinois, however it is only occasionally encountered and its populations are scattered (Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands in moist to mesic conditions. Lopseed is largely restricted to higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact. While it is little known, Lopseed has a wide distribution in North America and east-central Asia.
Faunal Associations: Small bees occasionally visit the flowers for nectar. Robertson (1928) observed only two bees, Ceratina dupla and Augochlorella striata, as floral visitors of Lopseed. The former species is a Little Carpenter bee, while the latter species is a Green Metallic bee. Other records of floral-faunal relationships are sparse. A polyphagous insect, Proxys punctulatus (Black Stink Bug), sucks juices from the foliage of Lopseed (and many other plants). White-Tailed Deer reportedly dislike this plant as a food source and don't graze on the foliage.
Photographic Location: Spitzler Woods in Macon County, Illinois. The photographs were taken during the autumn when the flowers were no longer in bloom.
Comments: This woodland plant is often overlooked because it lacks showy flowers. As a general rule, shade-loving woodland plants that bloom during the summer have small light-colored flowers because they have access to very limited amounts of energy from low levels of sunlight. Plants that grow in open woodlands or prairies have access to more sunlight and usually produce larger flowers. Woodland wildflowers that bloom in the spring can also produce large showy flowers, largely because the canopy trees haven't fully developed their leaves, and thus more sunlight reaches the ground vegetation. Lopseed is an unusual plant that has been assigned to its own plant family. It resembles members of the Mint family (Lamiaceae) in many ways, but each of its flowers produces only a single seed. In contrast, individual flowers of plants in the Mint family typically produce either 2 or 4 seeds.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月21日
Description: This perennial wildflower has fertile shoots about 1-1½' tall and infertile shoots that are less than 1' tall. Their stems are light green to reddish brown, terete, and pubescent to glandular-hairy. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along these stems that are up to 2½" long and ¾" across. These leaves are medium green, narrowly lanceolate to ovate in shape, and sparsely short-pubescent to short-hairy. The leaf bases are sessile or they slightly clasp their stems. The leaf tips tend to be blunt, especially those of the infertile shoots.
The central stem of each fertile shoot terminates in a rounded cluster of flowers about 2-3½" across. Each flower is about 1" across, consisting of a corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a calyx with 5 teeth, 5 inserted stamens, and a pistil. The corolla can be light blue-violet, lavender, pink, or white and its throat consists of a narrow opening. The corolla base is narrowly tubular. For this subspecies of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata divaricata), the corolla lobes are oblanceolate, but shallowly notched at their tips to a depth of 1-3 mm. The sepals are light green to purple and glandular-hairy. The teeth of sepals are linear in shape; they extend to nearly the entire length of the sepals. The branches and pedicels of the inflorescence are light green to purple, terete, and glandular-hairy. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer, lasting about 1 month. The flowers have a pleasant fragrance. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by ovoid seed capsules about 4 mm. in length. Each capsule contains several small seeds. The root system is stoloniferous, forming small clonal colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade, mesic conditions, and a rich loam with abundant organic matter. Fertile shoots die down shortly after flowering, while infertile shoots can retain their leaves into the winter.
Range & Habitat: This subspecies of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata divaricata) has not been observed in Illinois, even though it occurs across the border in Indiana (see Distribution Map). For this wildflower, the typical subspecies has a more eastern range, while ssp. laphamii has a more western range (which includes Illinois). The ranges of these two subspecies overlap in Indiana. It is possible, however, that isolated populations of the typical subspecies occur in Illinois, but they have not been reported. Habitats include rich woodlands, open woodlands, and areas adjacent to woodland paths. In these wooded areas, Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) and other deciduous trees are typically dominant. Woodland Phlox is one of the spring wildflowers that is vulnerable to habitat destruction and invasion of wooded areas by Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Woodland Phlox are cross-pollinated by bumblebees, bee flies (Bombyliidae), butterflies (especially swallowtails), skippers, and moths (including Hummingbird Clearwing & Sphinx moths). These insect obtain nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed destructively on Woodland Phlox and other Phlox species. These species include the leaf beetles Galeruca externa and Scelolyperus cyanellus, the stem-boring larvae of the long-horned beetle Oberea flavipes, Lopidea davisi (Phlox Plant Bug), and caterpillars of such moths as Heliothis turbatus (Spotted Straw) and Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer Moth); see Clark et al. (2004), Yanega (1996), Knight (1941), Covell (1984/2005), and Eastman (1992) for more information. In addition, White-tailed Deer browse on the foliage of Woodland Phlox sparingly.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at the Pine Hills State Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: This is another attractive wildflower that blooms during the spring in deciduous woodlands. The typical subspecies of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata divaricata) is very similar in appearance to Phlox divaricata laphamii, except the corolla lobes of the typical subspecies have notched tips, while the corolla lobes of ssp. laphamii have rounded or bluntly angular tips. In addition, the typical subspecies is more likely to produce pinkish flowers than spp. laphamii. Where their ranges overlap, it is possible to find some evidence of hybridization between these two subspecies.
The central stem of each fertile shoot terminates in a rounded cluster of flowers about 2-3½" across. Each flower is about 1" across, consisting of a corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a calyx with 5 teeth, 5 inserted stamens, and a pistil. The corolla can be light blue-violet, lavender, pink, or white and its throat consists of a narrow opening. The corolla base is narrowly tubular. For this subspecies of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata divaricata), the corolla lobes are oblanceolate, but shallowly notched at their tips to a depth of 1-3 mm. The sepals are light green to purple and glandular-hairy. The teeth of sepals are linear in shape; they extend to nearly the entire length of the sepals. The branches and pedicels of the inflorescence are light green to purple, terete, and glandular-hairy. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer, lasting about 1 month. The flowers have a pleasant fragrance. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by ovoid seed capsules about 4 mm. in length. Each capsule contains several small seeds. The root system is stoloniferous, forming small clonal colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade, mesic conditions, and a rich loam with abundant organic matter. Fertile shoots die down shortly after flowering, while infertile shoots can retain their leaves into the winter.
Range & Habitat: This subspecies of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata divaricata) has not been observed in Illinois, even though it occurs across the border in Indiana (see Distribution Map). For this wildflower, the typical subspecies has a more eastern range, while ssp. laphamii has a more western range (which includes Illinois). The ranges of these two subspecies overlap in Indiana. It is possible, however, that isolated populations of the typical subspecies occur in Illinois, but they have not been reported. Habitats include rich woodlands, open woodlands, and areas adjacent to woodland paths. In these wooded areas, Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) and other deciduous trees are typically dominant. Woodland Phlox is one of the spring wildflowers that is vulnerable to habitat destruction and invasion of wooded areas by Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Woodland Phlox are cross-pollinated by bumblebees, bee flies (Bombyliidae), butterflies (especially swallowtails), skippers, and moths (including Hummingbird Clearwing & Sphinx moths). These insect obtain nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed destructively on Woodland Phlox and other Phlox species. These species include the leaf beetles Galeruca externa and Scelolyperus cyanellus, the stem-boring larvae of the long-horned beetle Oberea flavipes, Lopidea davisi (Phlox Plant Bug), and caterpillars of such moths as Heliothis turbatus (Spotted Straw) and Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer Moth); see Clark et al. (2004), Yanega (1996), Knight (1941), Covell (1984/2005), and Eastman (1992) for more information. In addition, White-tailed Deer browse on the foliage of Woodland Phlox sparingly.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at the Pine Hills State Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: This is another attractive wildflower that blooms during the spring in deciduous woodlands. The typical subspecies of Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata divaricata) is very similar in appearance to Phlox divaricata laphamii, except the corolla lobes of the typical subspecies have notched tips, while the corolla lobes of ssp. laphamii have rounded or bluntly angular tips. In addition, the typical subspecies is more likely to produce pinkish flowers than spp. laphamii. Where their ranges overlap, it is possible to find some evidence of hybridization between these two subspecies.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月20日
Description: This biennial plant is 1-2' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are light green, terete, and covered with spreading hairs; these hairs are often glandular. The alternate leaves are simple-pinnate; they are usually divided into 3-5 leaflets (rarely 7). The leaf blades are up to 5" long and 3" across; the petioles of these leaves become shorter as they ascend the stems. The leaflets of each blade are ovate, broadly ovate, oblong, or oblanceolate in shape; they are shallowly to deeply cleft and bluntly dentate along their margins. Often, the terminal leaflets are more deeply cleft than the lateral leaflets. Both leaf blades and petioles are more or less hairy. The upper surfaces of mature blades are medium to dark green; however, theClose-up of Flower earliest leaf-blades of the year have upper surfaces with silver-grey blotches. The upper stems terminate in racemes of 4-12 flowers; often there are a few secondary racemes that develop from the axils of the upper leaves. Buds and flowers are typically concentrated toward the apex of each raceme, while the developing fruits are located below on spreading pedicels. These pedicels are glandular-hairy and about ½" long. Each flower is about ½" across when it is in bloom; it consists of a 5-lobed corolla, a calyx with 5 sepals, 5 stamens, a slender style, and an ovary. The corolla can vary in color from pale lavender to deep blue-violet. The green sepals are linear-lanceolate and hairy; they become recurved during and after the blooming period. The style of each flower divides into 2 parts toward the middle of its length, while the stamens have finely hairy filaments and brownish anthers. The blooming period occurs during the late spring and lasts about a month. Each flower is replaced by an ovoid seed capsule that divides into 2 parts to release its seeds. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade, moist conditions, and a rather rich loam or silt-loam containing organic matter. After the flowering period, more shade from canopy trees is tolerated because this plant dies down. While this plant doesn't grow on rocks like some ferns, it tolerates soil that is somewhat thin and rocky from underlying bedrock if there is enough moisture.
Range & Habitat: The native Forest Phacelia occurs occasionally in the southern half of Illinois, while in the northern half of the state it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist areas of deciduous woodlands and rocky woodlands, rocky banks and low areas along woodland streams, moist depressions of bluffs, bottoms of sandstone canyons, and lower slopes of ravines. This wildflower is typically found in various moist areas of rocky woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily bees (long-tongued & short-tongued); less common floral visitors include butterflies, skippers, and wasps. The foliage of Phacelia spp. (Phacelias) is eaten by the the oligophagous Scelolyperus wilcoxi (Skeletonizing Leaf Beetle sp.). Information about the edibility of the foliage to mammalian herbivores is unavailable.
Photographic Location: The bottom of a sandstone canyon along a woodland stream at the Portland Arch in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Forest Phacelia is another lovely woodland wildflower in the Waterleaf family. This species and other Phacelia spp. (Phacelias) are closely related to the Hydrophyllum spp. (Waterleaf species), which also occur in woodlands and bloom at about the same time. Among the species in Illinois, the style of a Phacelia is divided toward the middle of its length, while the style of a Waterleaf is divided toward its apex; this is the easiest way to distinguish these two groups of very similar wildflowers. Compared to other Phacelias in Illinois, Forest Phacelia usually has larger flowers (about ½" across, if not more) and the lobes of its corollas are smooth, rather than conspicuously fringed. Some species of Waterleaf are similar to it, but they lack tripartite leaves or the lobes of their corollas are less widely spreading when the flowers are blooming. If all else fails, they can be distinguished by their styles, as described above. Another common of Phacelia bipinnatifida is Loose-Flowered Phacelia.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade, moist conditions, and a rather rich loam or silt-loam containing organic matter. After the flowering period, more shade from canopy trees is tolerated because this plant dies down. While this plant doesn't grow on rocks like some ferns, it tolerates soil that is somewhat thin and rocky from underlying bedrock if there is enough moisture.
Range & Habitat: The native Forest Phacelia occurs occasionally in the southern half of Illinois, while in the northern half of the state it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist areas of deciduous woodlands and rocky woodlands, rocky banks and low areas along woodland streams, moist depressions of bluffs, bottoms of sandstone canyons, and lower slopes of ravines. This wildflower is typically found in various moist areas of rocky woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily bees (long-tongued & short-tongued); less common floral visitors include butterflies, skippers, and wasps. The foliage of Phacelia spp. (Phacelias) is eaten by the the oligophagous Scelolyperus wilcoxi (Skeletonizing Leaf Beetle sp.). Information about the edibility of the foliage to mammalian herbivores is unavailable.
Photographic Location: The bottom of a sandstone canyon along a woodland stream at the Portland Arch in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Forest Phacelia is another lovely woodland wildflower in the Waterleaf family. This species and other Phacelia spp. (Phacelias) are closely related to the Hydrophyllum spp. (Waterleaf species), which also occur in woodlands and bloom at about the same time. Among the species in Illinois, the style of a Phacelia is divided toward the middle of its length, while the style of a Waterleaf is divided toward its apex; this is the easiest way to distinguish these two groups of very similar wildflowers. Compared to other Phacelias in Illinois, Forest Phacelia usually has larger flowers (about ½" across, if not more) and the lobes of its corollas are smooth, rather than conspicuously fringed. Some species of Waterleaf are similar to it, but they lack tripartite leaves or the lobes of their corollas are less widely spreading when the flowers are blooming. If all else fails, they can be distinguished by their styles, as described above. Another common of Phacelia bipinnatifida is Loose-Flowered Phacelia.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月19日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 1-2½' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are light green to reddish purple, terete, and glabrous (var. longistylis) to hairy (var. villicaulis). The alternate leaves are ternately compound; the lower compound leaves are up to 9" long and 9" across, while the upper compound leaves are much smaller in size. Each compound leaf is divided into 3 compound leaflets; the terminal compound leaflet is the largest. Each compound leaflet is further divided into 3 subleaflets; the terminal subleaflet is the largest, sometimes appearing to be divided into 3 even smaller subleaflets. The subleaflets are 1-4" long, ½-1½" across, and lanceolate to oval-ovate shape in shape; their margins are coarsely serrated-crenate or shallowly cleft. The upper subleaflet surface is yellowish green to green and nearly glabrous (var. longistylis) to moderately covered with appressed hairs (var. villicaulis).
The petioles of compound leaves are light green to reddish purple and up to 6" in length. The petiolules of leaflets are light green to reddish green and up to 2" long, while those of subleaflets are nearly sessile to ¼" (6 mm.) long. The foliage of this plant releases a mild anise fragrance when it is rubbed. The upper stems terminate in compound umbels of white flowers about 1½-3" across. There are about 3-6 umbellets per compound umbel on rays (floral stalks) up to 2" long. An umbellet has 7-16 flowers that are clustered together on rays (floral stalklets) up to ¼" (6 mm.) long. Each flower (about 3 mm. across) has 5 white petals with incurved tips, 5 white stamens, a pistil with a divided white style (stylopodium), and an insignificant calyx that is light green. At the base of each compound umbel, there are several linear-lanceolate bracts with ciliate margins; they are up to 8 mm. in length. At the base of each umbellet, there are several linear-lanceolate bractlets with ciliate margins; they are also up to 8 mm. in length.
The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer, lasting about 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 2-seeded fruits (schizocarps). While these fruits are still immature, the persistent divided style is 2.0-3.5 mm. in length (it is smaller than this when the flowers are still in bloom). The small seeds are narrowly ellipsoid-oblanceoloid, 5-ribbed, and slightly bristly along their ribs. The root system consists of a cluster of fleshy roots with a strong anise fragrance.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to moderate shade, moist to mesic conditions, and rich loamy soil with decaying organic matter. In a garden situation, this plant will probably thrive in a sheltered area underneath a deciduous tree.
Range & Habitat: The native Aniseroot occurs in most counties of central and northern Illinois, where it is occasional to locally common; in southern Illinois, it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). This map combines information for both varieties of Aniseroot; the typical variety is slightly more common than the hairy variety (var. villicaulis). Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands and gentle slopes of wooded ravines, where a variety of deciduous trees are dominant. Aniseroot can be found in average to high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small to medium-sized bees, wasps, beetles, and flies, including cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Augochloropsis spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombyliidae), dance flies (Empis spp.), Tachinid flies, and Anthomyiid flies. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asturias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage. The slightly bristly seeds may cling to the fur of mammals, the feathers of birds, and the clothing of humans to some extent, dispersing them to new locations.
Photographic Location: A mesic deciduous woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis) can be distinguished from many similar species in the Carrot family by the anise fragance of its foliage and roots. This species closely resembles Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) and they are often confused with each other. However, Sweet Cicely has only 4-7 flowers per umbellet, while Aniseroot has 7-16 flowers per umbellet. While the fruits of these two species are still immature, the persistent styles of Sweet Cicely are 1.0-2.0 mm. in length, while the persistent styles of Aniseroot are 2.0-3.5 mm. in length. The foliage and roots of Aniseroot have a stronger anise scent than those of Sweet Cicely, and its root can be used as a substitute for black licorice.
The petioles of compound leaves are light green to reddish purple and up to 6" in length. The petiolules of leaflets are light green to reddish green and up to 2" long, while those of subleaflets are nearly sessile to ¼" (6 mm.) long. The foliage of this plant releases a mild anise fragrance when it is rubbed. The upper stems terminate in compound umbels of white flowers about 1½-3" across. There are about 3-6 umbellets per compound umbel on rays (floral stalks) up to 2" long. An umbellet has 7-16 flowers that are clustered together on rays (floral stalklets) up to ¼" (6 mm.) long. Each flower (about 3 mm. across) has 5 white petals with incurved tips, 5 white stamens, a pistil with a divided white style (stylopodium), and an insignificant calyx that is light green. At the base of each compound umbel, there are several linear-lanceolate bracts with ciliate margins; they are up to 8 mm. in length. At the base of each umbellet, there are several linear-lanceolate bractlets with ciliate margins; they are also up to 8 mm. in length.
The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer, lasting about 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 2-seeded fruits (schizocarps). While these fruits are still immature, the persistent divided style is 2.0-3.5 mm. in length (it is smaller than this when the flowers are still in bloom). The small seeds are narrowly ellipsoid-oblanceoloid, 5-ribbed, and slightly bristly along their ribs. The root system consists of a cluster of fleshy roots with a strong anise fragrance.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to moderate shade, moist to mesic conditions, and rich loamy soil with decaying organic matter. In a garden situation, this plant will probably thrive in a sheltered area underneath a deciduous tree.
Range & Habitat: The native Aniseroot occurs in most counties of central and northern Illinois, where it is occasional to locally common; in southern Illinois, it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). This map combines information for both varieties of Aniseroot; the typical variety is slightly more common than the hairy variety (var. villicaulis). Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands and gentle slopes of wooded ravines, where a variety of deciduous trees are dominant. Aniseroot can be found in average to high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small to medium-sized bees, wasps, beetles, and flies, including cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), Halictid bees (Agapostemon spp., Augochloropsis spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombyliidae), dance flies (Empis spp.), Tachinid flies, and Anthomyiid flies. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asturias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage. The slightly bristly seeds may cling to the fur of mammals, the feathers of birds, and the clothing of humans to some extent, dispersing them to new locations.
Photographic Location: A mesic deciduous woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis) can be distinguished from many similar species in the Carrot family by the anise fragance of its foliage and roots. This species closely resembles Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) and they are often confused with each other. However, Sweet Cicely has only 4-7 flowers per umbellet, while Aniseroot has 7-16 flowers per umbellet. While the fruits of these two species are still immature, the persistent styles of Sweet Cicely are 1.0-2.0 mm. in length, while the persistent styles of Aniseroot are 2.0-3.5 mm. in length. The foliage and roots of Aniseroot have a stronger anise scent than those of Sweet Cicely, and its root can be used as a substitute for black licorice.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月19日
Description: This wildflower is a winter annual or biennial about ½–1½' tall that is unbranched or branches occasionally. The stems are light green, terete or angular, and covered with long white hairs. The alternate leaves are ½–2" long and about one-third as wide; they are light green, oblong or oblanceolate, smooth and ciliate along the margins, and usually hairy on both the upper and lower surfaces. Each leaf has aFlowers & Upper Leaves prominent central vein. The leaves are mostly sessile against their stems; the lowest leaves taper to petiole-like bases. The central stem and upper lateral stems (if present) terminate in elongated racemes of small white flowers about 2-8" long. Each raceme has about 8-24 flowers on a hairy stalk; there are no bracts alongside the flowers. The flowers bloom toward the apex of each raceme, where it is typically curled like a scorpion's tail; the hairy ovoid fruits develop below. Each flower is 1/8" across, consisting of a white corolla with 5 rounded lobes, a hairy calyx with 5 lanceolate sepals, 5 stamens (inconspicuous), and a pistil. Sometimes the hairs of the calyx are hooked at their tips. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 2 months. The racemes become longer as their dry fruits (seed capsules) develop; these fruits have pedicels that are more or less erect. At this stage of development, the pedicels are a little shorter than their fruits. Each fruit contains 4 seeds. The root system consists of a taproot and secondary fibrous roots. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist to dry conditions, and barren soil containing sand, gravel, or clay. Most growth and development occurs during the spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Spring Scorpion Grass is occasional to locally common in the southern half of Illinois, while in the northern half of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland open woodlands, barren wooded slopes, areas along woodland paths, sandy savannas, sand prairies, fields, roadside embankments, and areas along railroads. This little wildflower occurs in barren areas where there is little ground vegetation – frequently where there is some history of disturbance. Occasionally, it is found in damp areas.
Faunal Associations: Small bees and small butterflies visit the flowers for nectar. Robertson (1929) observed only two floral visitors: the Halictid bee Augochlorella striata and the butterfly Pontia protodice (Checkered White). The flea beetle Longitarsus melanurus feeds on the foliage of Spring Scorpion Grass and other species in the Borage family. LeConte's Sparrow and possibly other birds eat the seeds of this wildflower and the closely related Myosotis macrosperma (Big-Seeded Scorpion Grass); this was observed at Tucker's Prairie in Missouri. The hairy fruits can cling to the fur of mammals and clothing of humans; this helps to distribute the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: A wooded slope near Charleston, Illinois.
Comments: This wildflower has small flowers and is fairly easy to overlook. In spite of its common name, Spring Scorpion Grass is a member of the Borage family, rather than the Grass family (Poaceae). This species is very similar to Myosotis macrosperma (Big-Seeded Scorpion Grass); sometimes they are considered different varieties of the same species. According to Mohlenbrock (2002), Spring Scorpion Grass has fruits with more erect pedicels and smaller seeds than Big-Fruited Scorpion Grass; in Illinois, the latter is restricted to a few southern counties. Another similar species is Buglossoides arvense (Corn Gromwell). Corn Gromwell has leafy bracts alongside its flowers, while the flowers of Spring Scorpion Grass (and other Myosotis spp.) lack such bracts. There are also several Myosotis spp. (Forget-Me-Not species) from Europe that occasionally escape from cultivation. These introduced species have blue flowers. Another common name of Myosotis verna is White Forget-Me-Not.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist to dry conditions, and barren soil containing sand, gravel, or clay. Most growth and development occurs during the spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Spring Scorpion Grass is occasional to locally common in the southern half of Illinois, while in the northern half of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland open woodlands, barren wooded slopes, areas along woodland paths, sandy savannas, sand prairies, fields, roadside embankments, and areas along railroads. This little wildflower occurs in barren areas where there is little ground vegetation – frequently where there is some history of disturbance. Occasionally, it is found in damp areas.
Faunal Associations: Small bees and small butterflies visit the flowers for nectar. Robertson (1929) observed only two floral visitors: the Halictid bee Augochlorella striata and the butterfly Pontia protodice (Checkered White). The flea beetle Longitarsus melanurus feeds on the foliage of Spring Scorpion Grass and other species in the Borage family. LeConte's Sparrow and possibly other birds eat the seeds of this wildflower and the closely related Myosotis macrosperma (Big-Seeded Scorpion Grass); this was observed at Tucker's Prairie in Missouri. The hairy fruits can cling to the fur of mammals and clothing of humans; this helps to distribute the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: A wooded slope near Charleston, Illinois.
Comments: This wildflower has small flowers and is fairly easy to overlook. In spite of its common name, Spring Scorpion Grass is a member of the Borage family, rather than the Grass family (Poaceae). This species is very similar to Myosotis macrosperma (Big-Seeded Scorpion Grass); sometimes they are considered different varieties of the same species. According to Mohlenbrock (2002), Spring Scorpion Grass has fruits with more erect pedicels and smaller seeds than Big-Fruited Scorpion Grass; in Illinois, the latter is restricted to a few southern counties. Another similar species is Buglossoides arvense (Corn Gromwell). Corn Gromwell has leafy bracts alongside its flowers, while the flowers of Spring Scorpion Grass (and other Myosotis spp.) lack such bracts. There are also several Myosotis spp. (Forget-Me-Not species) from Europe that occasionally escape from cultivation. These introduced species have blue flowers. Another common name of Myosotis verna is White Forget-Me-Not.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月19日
Description: This perennial wildflower typically consists of a cluster of unbranched erect stems about 3-9" tall. These stems are terete, white (sometimes tinted pink), translucent, fleshy, and hairless. The alternate leaves are scale-like and small; like the stems, they are white, translucent, and hairless. Each stem terminates in a single white flower about ½–¾" long that is nodding to nearly erect; this flower is narrowly bell-shaped, consisting of 2-4 sepals and 4-5 petals. The petals are longer and more persistent than the sepals. Within the interior of the flower, there are 10-12 stamens surrounding a stout style. The time of year when flowers are produced can be highly variable, extending from late spring into the fall. However, the blooming period for individual plants lasts only 1-2 weeks. The flowers produce no obvious floral scent. After the blooming period, the entire plant becomes dark brown or black, and each flower is replaced by an erect ovoid seed capsule about ½" long. This seed capsule is 5-celled and contains numerous tiny seeds, which are easily blown about by the wind after the capsule splits open. The root system consists of a mat of brittle fleshy roots. This wildflower is saprophytic and lacks chlorophyll in its tissues; it forms either a symbiotic or parasitic association with mycorrhizal fungi through its roots.
Cultivation: Cultivating Indian Pipe is very difficult, if not impossible; plants that are transplanted from the wild are highly unlikely to survive. Abundant woodland humus and the presence of appropriate fungi are required for survival. Because Indian Pipe does not rely on photosynthesis, it can adapt to deep shade.
Range & Habitat: Indian Pipe can be found at scattered sites throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). In Illinois, habitats are largely restricted to rich deciduous woodlands in areas with abundant humus. These woodlands are typically dominated by either maples or oaks. Indian Pipe also occurs in woodlands where coniferous trees are present. This unusual wildflower is normally found in high quality woodlands.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is very limited. The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees; such insects probably seek nectar. Bears may feed on the plants when they develop above the ground surface, or they may dig up and feed on the root mass (the latter behavior has been observed for Grizzly Bears in British Columbia). Indian Pipe is not known to be toxic.
Photographic Location: The photographs (Copyright © 2008) were taken by Paul and London Showers near Wilmot Woods in Lake County, Illinois.
Comments: Because of its ghostly white appearance, some people may confuse Indian Pipe for a fungus. This species belongs to a small group of saprophytic flowering plants that have abandoned photosynthesis. A similar species, Monotropa hypopithys (Pinesap), also occurs in Illinois, but it is less common. Unlike Indian Pipe, Pinesap produces several nodding flowers on each stem; these flowers are arranged in a short raceme. Pinesap is more likely to be tinted different colors (including bright red), and it is often pubescent.
Cultivation: Cultivating Indian Pipe is very difficult, if not impossible; plants that are transplanted from the wild are highly unlikely to survive. Abundant woodland humus and the presence of appropriate fungi are required for survival. Because Indian Pipe does not rely on photosynthesis, it can adapt to deep shade.
Range & Habitat: Indian Pipe can be found at scattered sites throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). In Illinois, habitats are largely restricted to rich deciduous woodlands in areas with abundant humus. These woodlands are typically dominated by either maples or oaks. Indian Pipe also occurs in woodlands where coniferous trees are present. This unusual wildflower is normally found in high quality woodlands.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is very limited. The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees; such insects probably seek nectar. Bears may feed on the plants when they develop above the ground surface, or they may dig up and feed on the root mass (the latter behavior has been observed for Grizzly Bears in British Columbia). Indian Pipe is not known to be toxic.
Photographic Location: The photographs (Copyright © 2008) were taken by Paul and London Showers near Wilmot Woods in Lake County, Illinois.
Comments: Because of its ghostly white appearance, some people may confuse Indian Pipe for a fungus. This species belongs to a small group of saprophytic flowering plants that have abandoned photosynthesis. A similar species, Monotropa hypopithys (Pinesap), also occurs in Illinois, but it is less common. Unlike Indian Pipe, Pinesap produces several nodding flowers on each stem; these flowers are arranged in a short raceme. Pinesap is more likely to be tinted different colors (including bright red), and it is often pubescent.
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