文章
Miss Chen
2018年06月04日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1½–3' tall and unbranched or sparingly branched. The stout central stem is erect, medium green, hairless, and terete. Basal leaves are usually cordate or oval-cordate with long petioles; sometimes they are odd-pinnate with 2 small lateral leaflets and a large terminal leaflet. The cauline leaves occur in opposite pairs along the stem and they are odd-pinnate with 3-7 leaflets. Each cauline leaf is up to 8" long and 4" across. The leaflets are more or less ovate in shape; the terminal leaflet is larger than than the lateral leaflets. The leaflets are medium green, hairless, and smooth to slightly dentate along their margins. Each cauline leaf is sessile at the base, or it has a short petiole. The central stem terminates in a short dense panicle of flowers that becomes more elongated with age. Much smaller panicles of flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves. Each flower has a slender funnelform corolla with 5 spreading lobes; this corolla is white to light pink and about ½–¾" long. Exerted from each corolla, there are 3 stamens and a slender style. At the base of the flower, there is a green calyx that is much shorter than the corolla.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about a month. Each flower has a single-celled ovary that produces a single achene. Each achene has a tuft of plume-like hairs; the achenes are distributed in part by the wind. The root system is fibrous and its produces occasional rhizomes or stolons. Sometimes small colonies of plants develop from the rhizomes or stolons.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, consistently moist conditions, and fertile soil with abundant organic matter. The foliage is rarely bothered by disease or insects.
Range & Habitat: The native Large-Flowered Valerian is occasional in extreme east-central, southeast, and southern Illinois; elsewhere in the state, it is largely absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies at the western range-limit for this species. Habitats include floodplain woodlands along streams or rivers, shaded ravines, and bottoms of rocky canyons. This species is found in high quality habitats that are moist and shady.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is very limited. The long slender corollas suggests that the flowers are pollinated by bumblebees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and possibly hummingbirds. The nectar of the flowers is inaccessible to most insects with short mouthparts.
Photographic Location: The wooded bottom of a sandstone canyon at The Portland Arch in west-central Indiana. In the flowerhead close-up, most of the flowers are still in the bud stage.
Comments: This is the showiest Valeriana sp. in Illinois. Its flowers exceed ½" in length, while the flowers of other native and naturalized Valeriana spp. are less than ½" in length. Large-Flowered Valerian should be cultivated more often. Sometimes, this species is called Pink-Flowered Valerian.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about a month. Each flower has a single-celled ovary that produces a single achene. Each achene has a tuft of plume-like hairs; the achenes are distributed in part by the wind. The root system is fibrous and its produces occasional rhizomes or stolons. Sometimes small colonies of plants develop from the rhizomes or stolons.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, consistently moist conditions, and fertile soil with abundant organic matter. The foliage is rarely bothered by disease or insects.
Range & Habitat: The native Large-Flowered Valerian is occasional in extreme east-central, southeast, and southern Illinois; elsewhere in the state, it is largely absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies at the western range-limit for this species. Habitats include floodplain woodlands along streams or rivers, shaded ravines, and bottoms of rocky canyons. This species is found in high quality habitats that are moist and shady.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is very limited. The long slender corollas suggests that the flowers are pollinated by bumblebees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and possibly hummingbirds. The nectar of the flowers is inaccessible to most insects with short mouthparts.
Photographic Location: The wooded bottom of a sandstone canyon at The Portland Arch in west-central Indiana. In the flowerhead close-up, most of the flowers are still in the bud stage.
Comments: This is the showiest Valeriana sp. in Illinois. Its flowers exceed ½" in length, while the flowers of other native and naturalized Valeriana spp. are less than ½" in length. Large-Flowered Valerian should be cultivated more often. Sometimes, this species is called Pink-Flowered Valerian.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年06月04日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2–3½' tall and unbranched. The central stem is light green, terete, and pubescent. Pairs of opposite leaves occur at intervals along this stem; each pair of leaves rotates 90º from the orientation of the preceding pair of leaves. The leaves are up to 8" long and 4" across, ovate or ovate-oblong in shape, and smooth to slightly undulate along their margins. All or most leaves have winged bases that surround the stem and merge with the bases of the leaves on the opposite side. The upper surfaces of the leaves are dull green and hairless to slightly pubescent, while their lower surfaces are whitish green and covered with short fine pubescence. Sessile clusters of 1-5 flowers occur in the axils of the leaves. Each flower has a narrow tubular corolla (about ½" long); usually this corolla is reddish brown (less often, it is more green or yellow). The corolla has 5 lobes that are short and well-rounded. The 5 sepals are about the same length as the corolla and linear in shape; they are light green to dark reddish brown. At the base of each flower, there is a 3-celled ovary that is green and hairy, and a pair of linear stipules that resemble the sepals. Within the corolla, there are 5 stamens and a single style with a knobby green stigma.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about a month. Each flower is replaced by a dry drupe about 1/3" (8 mm.) across that is globoid in shape and becomes orange at maturity. Inside each drupe, there are 3 black nutlets; these nutlets are 3-angled and oblongoid in shape. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to dappled sunlight, mesic to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with abundant organic matter.
Range & Habitat: Late Horse Gentian is occasional in central and northern Illinois, becoming uncommon or absent in southern areas of the state (see Distribution Map). This is a native wildflower. Habitats include upland deciduous woodlands, rocky wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, oak savannas, and limestone glades.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). Smaller short-tongued bees may visit the flowers, but they are less effective at cross-pollination. The caterpillars of the moth Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) feed on Triosteum spp. (Horse Gentians) and other members of the Honeysuckle family. Sometimes White-Tailed Deer chomp off the upper half of the central stem and its leaves.
Photographic Location: An upland oak woodland in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: Late Horse Gentian is easily distinguished from other species of Horse Gentian (Triosteum spp.) by its stem-surrounding opposite leaves (they are connate-perfoliate). Other species in this genus have opposite leaves that taper to narrow bases that are little wider than the central stem. Except for this difference in their leaves, Late Horse Gentian is very similar in appearance to Early Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum) and they prefer similar habitats. Another species, Triosteum angustifolium (Yellow-Flowered Horse Gentian), has yellow flowers and more narrow leaves; its state distribution is restricted to southern Illinois.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about a month. Each flower is replaced by a dry drupe about 1/3" (8 mm.) across that is globoid in shape and becomes orange at maturity. Inside each drupe, there are 3 black nutlets; these nutlets are 3-angled and oblongoid in shape. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to dappled sunlight, mesic to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with abundant organic matter.
Range & Habitat: Late Horse Gentian is occasional in central and northern Illinois, becoming uncommon or absent in southern areas of the state (see Distribution Map). This is a native wildflower. Habitats include upland deciduous woodlands, rocky wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, oak savannas, and limestone glades.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). Smaller short-tongued bees may visit the flowers, but they are less effective at cross-pollination. The caterpillars of the moth Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) feed on Triosteum spp. (Horse Gentians) and other members of the Honeysuckle family. Sometimes White-Tailed Deer chomp off the upper half of the central stem and its leaves.
Photographic Location: An upland oak woodland in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: Late Horse Gentian is easily distinguished from other species of Horse Gentian (Triosteum spp.) by its stem-surrounding opposite leaves (they are connate-perfoliate). Other species in this genus have opposite leaves that taper to narrow bases that are little wider than the central stem. Except for this difference in their leaves, Late Horse Gentian is very similar in appearance to Early Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum) and they prefer similar habitats. Another species, Triosteum angustifolium (Yellow-Flowered Horse Gentian), has yellow flowers and more narrow leaves; its state distribution is restricted to southern Illinois.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年06月04日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2-4' tall and unbranched. The central stem is light green, terete, and covered with spreading white hairs that are non-glandular. Pairs of opposite leaves occur at intervals along this stem; each pair of leaves rotates 90º from the orientation of the preceding pair of leaves. Each leaf is up to 8" long and 3½" across, narrowly ovate to ovate in shape, and smooth along its margins, tapering to a narrow sessile base. The upper surface of each leaf is dull green to dull reddish green, while its lower surface is whitish green and covered with short fine pubescence. Flowers occur individually in the axils of the leaves. Each flower has a narrow tubular corolla that is reddish brown and about ½-¾" long. The corolla has 5 lobes that are short and well-rounded. The 5 sepals are about the same length as the corolla and linear in shape; they are green to dark reddish brown. At the base of the flower, there is a 3-celled ovary that is green and hairy; there is also a pair bracts that resemble the sepals, except they are smaller in size. The style is about the same length or slightly exerted from the corolla; it has a knobby green stigma. The 5 stamens are hidden with the corolla.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a dry drupe about ½" long that is globoid-ovoid in shape and becomes orange or orange-red at maturity. Inside each drupe, there are 3 black nutlets that are 3-angled and oblongoid in shape. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to dappled sunlight, mesic to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with abundant organic matter.
Range & Habitat: Illinois Horse Gentian is occasional in most areas of the state (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include upland deciduous woodlands, rocky wooded slopes, and thinly wooded bluffs. Rarely is this species found in prairies.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). Smaller short-tongued bees may visit the flowers, but they are less effective at cross-pollination. The caterpillars of the moth Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) feed on Triosteum spp. (Horse Gentians) and other members of the Honeysuckle family.
Photographic Location: A wooded slope near Charleston, Illinois.
Comments: In spite of the common name, this wildflower is not a gentian (a member of the Gentianaceae); it is more closely related to the honeysuckles. Illinois Horse Gentian differs from the typical variety of Triosteum aurantiacum by the long non-glandular hairs along its stem; the typical variety has some glandular hairs along its stem that are often shorter. Some taxonomic botanists in Illinois consider Illinois Horse Gentian to be a separate species, Triosteum illinoense; however, this reclassification hasn't gained much acceptance from taxonomic botanists outside of the state. Another similar species, Triosteum perfoliatum (Perfoliate Horse Gentian), has opposite leaves that are joined together at the base and surround the stem; the opposite leaves of Illinois Horse Gentian are sessile and remain distinct.
The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a dry drupe about ½" long that is globoid-ovoid in shape and becomes orange or orange-red at maturity. Inside each drupe, there are 3 black nutlets that are 3-angled and oblongoid in shape. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to dappled sunlight, mesic to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with abundant organic matter.
Range & Habitat: Illinois Horse Gentian is occasional in most areas of the state (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include upland deciduous woodlands, rocky wooded slopes, and thinly wooded bluffs. Rarely is this species found in prairies.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). Smaller short-tongued bees may visit the flowers, but they are less effective at cross-pollination. The caterpillars of the moth Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) feed on Triosteum spp. (Horse Gentians) and other members of the Honeysuckle family.
Photographic Location: A wooded slope near Charleston, Illinois.
Comments: In spite of the common name, this wildflower is not a gentian (a member of the Gentianaceae); it is more closely related to the honeysuckles. Illinois Horse Gentian differs from the typical variety of Triosteum aurantiacum by the long non-glandular hairs along its stem; the typical variety has some glandular hairs along its stem that are often shorter. Some taxonomic botanists in Illinois consider Illinois Horse Gentian to be a separate species, Triosteum illinoense; however, this reclassification hasn't gained much acceptance from taxonomic botanists outside of the state. Another similar species, Triosteum perfoliatum (Perfoliate Horse Gentian), has opposite leaves that are joined together at the base and surround the stem; the opposite leaves of Illinois Horse Gentian are sessile and remain distinct.
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求助
kensong
2018年05月31日
Is my Black Prince having a baby? Why is it green in colour?
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Fion：Yes,it has a baby.It comes green because it lacks of sunshine.
文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This wildflower is a herbaceous perennial about 2-3½' tall that is unbranched. The central stem is light green, rather stout, terete, and glandular-pubescent. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along the entire length of the stem. These leaves are 4-8" long and 1½-3½" across; they are narrowly ovate to ovate in shape and their margins are smooth to slightly undulate. The leaves taper to winged sessile bases; they are not connate-perfoliate (merged together at their bases and surrounding the stem). Upper leaf surfaces are yellowish green to reddish green and glabrous to sparsely short-pubescent, while their lower surfaces are pale or whitish green and densely canescent. Some glandular hairs are usually present on the leaves. Leaf venation is pinnate; networks of secondary veins are prominent on the leaf undersides. Axillary flowers appear at the bases of lower-middle to upper leaves; they are sessile (or nearly so), occurring as either solitary flowers or in small clusters.
Each flower is ½-¾" long, consisting of of tubular corolla that is dull red to purplish red, 5 reddish green to reddish purple sepals, an inferior ovary with a single style, and 5 inserted stamens. Along its upper rim, the corolla has 5 short lobes that are rounded and erect. The sepals are about the same length as the corolla; there are linear in shape, short pubescent, and persistent. The style is about the same length as the corolla or slightly longer; it has a swollen green stigma at its tip. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 1-2 months. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled fruits that become about ½" long at maturity. Mature fruits are orange to orange-red, ovoid-globoid in shape, and glandular-pubescent; their flesh is dry and mealy. Each fruit contains 3 bony seeds that are bluntly 3-angled and oblongoid in shape. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, rocky loam, or glacial till with decaying organic matter.
Range & Habitat: The native Early Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum aurantiacum) is occasional in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to upland woodlands, wooded slopes, open woodlands, partially shaded banks of rivers and lakes, thickets, and prairies (including the bases or edges of hill prairies). Occasional wildfires or other disturbance is beneficial when it reduces excessive shade from overhead canopy trees. This wildflower is found in average to high-quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, including bumblebees and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). These insects mostly suck nectar from the flowers; smaller bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of a moth, Phyllonorycter mariaeella, feed on Triosteum spp. (Horse Gentians); they are tentiform leaf-miners.
Photographic Location: The Coneflower Hill Prairie near Lake Shelbyville in Illinois.
Comments: This is the typical variety of Early Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum aurantiacum); it is also called Orange-Fruited Horse Gentian. Unlike the similar Illinois Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum illinoense), Early Horse Gentian has some glandular-pubescence on its stems (not to mention its leaves and fruits). Illinois Horse Gentian differs by having non-glandular hairs on its stems that are somewhat longer (exceeding 0.5 mm. in length). These two varieties are about equally common within the state and they prefer similar habitats. Another native species, Late Horse Gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum), differs by having pairs of opposite leaves that merge together and surround the stem (i.e., they are connate-perfoliate); it is found throughout the state. Yet another native species, Yellow Horse Gentian (Triosteum angustifolium), differs by having yellow flowers and its leaves are more narrow than those of either Early Horse Gentian or Illinois Horse Gentian. Yellow Horse Gentian occurs in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent.
Each flower is ½-¾" long, consisting of of tubular corolla that is dull red to purplish red, 5 reddish green to reddish purple sepals, an inferior ovary with a single style, and 5 inserted stamens. Along its upper rim, the corolla has 5 short lobes that are rounded and erect. The sepals are about the same length as the corolla; there are linear in shape, short pubescent, and persistent. The style is about the same length as the corolla or slightly longer; it has a swollen green stigma at its tip. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 1-2 months. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by 3-celled fruits that become about ½" long at maturity. Mature fruits are orange to orange-red, ovoid-globoid in shape, and glandular-pubescent; their flesh is dry and mealy. Each fruit contains 3 bony seeds that are bluntly 3-angled and oblongoid in shape. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, rocky loam, or glacial till with decaying organic matter.
Range & Habitat: The native Early Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum aurantiacum) is occasional in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to upland woodlands, wooded slopes, open woodlands, partially shaded banks of rivers and lakes, thickets, and prairies (including the bases or edges of hill prairies). Occasional wildfires or other disturbance is beneficial when it reduces excessive shade from overhead canopy trees. This wildflower is found in average to high-quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, including bumblebees and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). These insects mostly suck nectar from the flowers; smaller bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of a moth, Phyllonorycter mariaeella, feed on Triosteum spp. (Horse Gentians); they are tentiform leaf-miners.
Photographic Location: The Coneflower Hill Prairie near Lake Shelbyville in Illinois.
Comments: This is the typical variety of Early Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum aurantiacum); it is also called Orange-Fruited Horse Gentian. Unlike the similar Illinois Horse Gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum illinoense), Early Horse Gentian has some glandular-pubescence on its stems (not to mention its leaves and fruits). Illinois Horse Gentian differs by having non-glandular hairs on its stems that are somewhat longer (exceeding 0.5 mm. in length). These two varieties are about equally common within the state and they prefer similar habitats. Another native species, Late Horse Gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum), differs by having pairs of opposite leaves that merge together and surround the stem (i.e., they are connate-perfoliate); it is found throughout the state. Yet another native species, Yellow Horse Gentian (Triosteum angustifolium), differs by having yellow flowers and its leaves are more narrow than those of either Early Horse Gentian or Illinois Horse Gentian. Yellow Horse Gentian occurs in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This herbaceous wildflower is 5-12" tall, consisting of a single stem and a whorl of 3 spreading leaves at its apex. The central stem is purplish green or maroon, terete, glabrous, and rather stout. Individual leaves are 3-4" long and 2-3½" across; they are ovate or oval, smooth along their margins, sessile, glabrous, and parallel-veined. The upper leaf surface is medium green or mottled green (a mixture of both light green and medium green). The leaf bases are rounded and their tips are usually blunt.
On a mature plant, a single sessile flower develops on top of the whorl of leaves. Individual flowers consist of 3 dark maroon petals about ¾-1¼" long (rarely greenish yellow or brown), 3 green or purplish green sepals about ½-1" long, 6 stamens about ½-¾" long, and an angular superior ovary with 3 recurved stigmata at its apex. The erect petals are narrowly elliptic to elliptic in shape. The sepals are narrowly lanceolate and widely spreading to slightly ascending; they lie above the plane of the leaves. The anthers have dark maroon and yellow stripes; they are much longer than the filaments. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3 weeks. The flowers usually have a slight aroma of rotting meat. Each flower is replace by a dry 3-celled fruit that is whitish to purplish green. The fruit splits open to release the seeds. The root system consists of a stout rhizome and secondary fibrous roots. Clonal offsets occasionally develop from the rhizome.Distribution Map
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade during the spring; during the summer, more shade is tolerated. The soil should be moist, rich, and loamy with abundant organic matter (decaying leaves, etc.). This wildflower develops slowly from seed, requiring several years to reach maturity. The seeds should be kept moist and planted as soon as possible; they are often slow to germinate. It is also possible to start plants from clonal offsets.
Range & Habitat: The native Sessile Trillium is found primarily in NE and southern Illinois, where it is uncommon. It is more common further to the east. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, floodplain woodlands in valleys, lower slopes of shady ravines, and swamps. These habitats are dominated by such deciduous canopy trees as Sugar Maple, American Beech, American Basswood, and Green Ash. In Illinois, Sessile Trillium occurs in high quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: Robertson (1929) observed a small weevil, Centrinites strigicollis, visiting the flowers for pollen. Because of the malodorous odor and color of the petals, the flowers are probably visited by beetles and flies that are attracted to rotting flesh. The polyphagous caterpillars of two moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades), have been observed to feed on trilliums. The seeds are distributed by ants (and possibly some beetles), which are attracted to their elaisomes (food appendages). White-Tailed Deer readily browse on the foliage of trilliums, although Sessile Trillium may be eaten less often than some trillium species because of its dark-colored and less conspicuous flowers.
Photographic Location: A soggy area of Goff Woods Nature Preserve in NW Ohio. This woodlands is a small remnant of what was once called the 'Great Black Swamp,' which covered large areas of NW Ohio and NE Indiana.
Comments: In many ways, Sessile Trillium resembles the more common Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum), which is also found in wooded habitats in Illinois. Sessile Trillium can be distinguished from the latter species by its sessile rounded leaves and widely spreading or ascending sepals, which are held above the leaves. In contrast, the leaves of Prairie Trillium taper gradually into petioles and the sepals of its flowers hang downward below the leaves. Both Sessile Trillium and Prairie Trillium can have flowers with greenish yellow petals, but this is rather uncommon. Other trilliums in Illinois have petals that are never colored dark maroon, or their flowers have conspicuous pedicels (flowering stalks). Other common names of Trillium sessile are Toadshade and Wake Robin.
On a mature plant, a single sessile flower develops on top of the whorl of leaves. Individual flowers consist of 3 dark maroon petals about ¾-1¼" long (rarely greenish yellow or brown), 3 green or purplish green sepals about ½-1" long, 6 stamens about ½-¾" long, and an angular superior ovary with 3 recurved stigmata at its apex. The erect petals are narrowly elliptic to elliptic in shape. The sepals are narrowly lanceolate and widely spreading to slightly ascending; they lie above the plane of the leaves. The anthers have dark maroon and yellow stripes; they are much longer than the filaments. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3 weeks. The flowers usually have a slight aroma of rotting meat. Each flower is replace by a dry 3-celled fruit that is whitish to purplish green. The fruit splits open to release the seeds. The root system consists of a stout rhizome and secondary fibrous roots. Clonal offsets occasionally develop from the rhizome.Distribution Map
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade during the spring; during the summer, more shade is tolerated. The soil should be moist, rich, and loamy with abundant organic matter (decaying leaves, etc.). This wildflower develops slowly from seed, requiring several years to reach maturity. The seeds should be kept moist and planted as soon as possible; they are often slow to germinate. It is also possible to start plants from clonal offsets.
Range & Habitat: The native Sessile Trillium is found primarily in NE and southern Illinois, where it is uncommon. It is more common further to the east. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, floodplain woodlands in valleys, lower slopes of shady ravines, and swamps. These habitats are dominated by such deciduous canopy trees as Sugar Maple, American Beech, American Basswood, and Green Ash. In Illinois, Sessile Trillium occurs in high quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: Robertson (1929) observed a small weevil, Centrinites strigicollis, visiting the flowers for pollen. Because of the malodorous odor and color of the petals, the flowers are probably visited by beetles and flies that are attracted to rotting flesh. The polyphagous caterpillars of two moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades), have been observed to feed on trilliums. The seeds are distributed by ants (and possibly some beetles), which are attracted to their elaisomes (food appendages). White-Tailed Deer readily browse on the foliage of trilliums, although Sessile Trillium may be eaten less often than some trillium species because of its dark-colored and less conspicuous flowers.
Photographic Location: A soggy area of Goff Woods Nature Preserve in NW Ohio. This woodlands is a small remnant of what was once called the 'Great Black Swamp,' which covered large areas of NW Ohio and NE Indiana.
Comments: In many ways, Sessile Trillium resembles the more common Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum), which is also found in wooded habitats in Illinois. Sessile Trillium can be distinguished from the latter species by its sessile rounded leaves and widely spreading or ascending sepals, which are held above the leaves. In contrast, the leaves of Prairie Trillium taper gradually into petioles and the sepals of its flowers hang downward below the leaves. Both Sessile Trillium and Prairie Trillium can have flowers with greenish yellow petals, but this is rather uncommon. Other trilliums in Illinois have petals that are never colored dark maroon, or their flowers have conspicuous pedicels (flowering stalks). Other common names of Trillium sessile are Toadshade and Wake Robin.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is ½-1¼' tall and unbranched. The erect central stem is light green to reddish purple, terete, rather stout, and glabrous. At the apex of this stem, there are 3 spreading leaves surrounding a single sessile flower. Immature plants, however, produce only leaves without the flower. The leaves are 3-6" long and 1½-3½" across; they are ovate in shape and smooth along their margins, tapering into distinct petioles. The upper leaf surface is medium green and heavily mottled with patches of light green and dark green; it is glabrous. The lower leaf surface is pale green and unmottled; it is also glabrous. On rare occasions, some plants will have leaves with solid green upper surfaces. Leaf venation is parallel with occasional interconnecting secondary veins.
The flower has 3 maroon petals, 3 green sepals, 6 stamens with long black anthers, and an ovary with 3 stigmata. The petals are 1–1¼" long and rhombic-elliptic in shape; they curve inward toward their tips. The sepals are ¾–1" long, lanceolate-triangular in shape, and smooth along their often purplish margins; they hang downward from the base of the flower. The stamens are about ½" long, curving inward toward the other stamens. The blooming period is mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. Individual flowers are relatively long-lived. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, each flower is replaced by a single fruit (technically a berry). These fruits are a little less than ½" (10 mm.) long, rhomboid-ovoid in shape, 6-angled, and pale green to purplish green. Each fruit contains several small seeds; they are dark brown with white food appendages. The main rootstock is thickened and elongated, with numerous feeder roots. Rhizomes are also produced, causing this plant to form clonal colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to dappled sunlight, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam or clay-loam. The foliage is rarely bothered by pests or disease. Trilliums are slow to develop because of the short period of active growth during the spring, and up to 10 years may be required before a plant reaches flowering size in the wild.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Trillium is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is found primarily in rich woodlands, open woodlands, and savannas, where deciduous trees are dominant (including oak-hickory woodlands and maple-dominated woodlands). Sometimes this species survives degradation of woodland habitats, and it can be found along fence rows with woody vegetation, overgrown areas near railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas with partial or light shade.
Faunal Associations: The maroon flowers of the Prairie Trillium may attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, although little is known about the insect pollinators of this trillium (Trillium sp.) because floral visitors are rare. Only pollen is available as a floral reward. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) feed on trilliums (Covell, 1984/2005). The seeds of these plants are often distributed by ants because of their food appendages. Among mammalian herbivores, White-tailed Deer are especially known to eat the flowers and foliage of trilliums. There is also some evidence that the seeds of trilliums can pass through their digestive tracts and remain viable. Therefore, White-tailed Deer may help to distribute the seeds across long distances (Vellend et al., 2003). Where White-tailed Deer are too abundant, however, they may destroy local populations of these plants. It is possible that the mottled pattern of the foliage of the Prairie Trillium is an adaptation to deer predation as this type of pattern may help to camoflage the plant with the surrounding forest floor.
Photographic Location: A mesic woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and an upland savanna in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: The common name is misleading because the Prairie Trillium occurs in woodlands like other trilliums (Trillium spp.), rather than prairies. However, it is especially common in Illinois and the surrounding states where prairies occur. This trillium species is relatively easy to identify for the following reasons: 1) its sepals hang downward from the flower, whereas in other Trillium spp. the sepals are usually spreading to ascending; 2) its flowers are sessile against the central stem and leaves, whereas the flowers of some trilliums (e.g., Trillium erectum) are held above the foliage on short stalks; and 3) the leaves taper gradually at their bases into short petioles, whereas the leaves of some trilliums are sessile and quite rounded at their bases. There are different forms of the Prairie Trillium that have yellow or maroon flowers, yellow or black anthers, and mottled or solid green leaves. The form described here, Trillium recurvatum recurvatum, is by far the most common.
The flower has 3 maroon petals, 3 green sepals, 6 stamens with long black anthers, and an ovary with 3 stigmata. The petals are 1–1¼" long and rhombic-elliptic in shape; they curve inward toward their tips. The sepals are ¾–1" long, lanceolate-triangular in shape, and smooth along their often purplish margins; they hang downward from the base of the flower. The stamens are about ½" long, curving inward toward the other stamens. The blooming period is mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. Individual flowers are relatively long-lived. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, each flower is replaced by a single fruit (technically a berry). These fruits are a little less than ½" (10 mm.) long, rhomboid-ovoid in shape, 6-angled, and pale green to purplish green. Each fruit contains several small seeds; they are dark brown with white food appendages. The main rootstock is thickened and elongated, with numerous feeder roots. Rhizomes are also produced, causing this plant to form clonal colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to dappled sunlight, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam or clay-loam. The foliage is rarely bothered by pests or disease. Trilliums are slow to develop because of the short period of active growth during the spring, and up to 10 years may be required before a plant reaches flowering size in the wild.
Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Trillium is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is found primarily in rich woodlands, open woodlands, and savannas, where deciduous trees are dominant (including oak-hickory woodlands and maple-dominated woodlands). Sometimes this species survives degradation of woodland habitats, and it can be found along fence rows with woody vegetation, overgrown areas near railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas with partial or light shade.
Faunal Associations: The maroon flowers of the Prairie Trillium may attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, although little is known about the insect pollinators of this trillium (Trillium sp.) because floral visitors are rare. Only pollen is available as a floral reward. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades) feed on trilliums (Covell, 1984/2005). The seeds of these plants are often distributed by ants because of their food appendages. Among mammalian herbivores, White-tailed Deer are especially known to eat the flowers and foliage of trilliums. There is also some evidence that the seeds of trilliums can pass through their digestive tracts and remain viable. Therefore, White-tailed Deer may help to distribute the seeds across long distances (Vellend et al., 2003). Where White-tailed Deer are too abundant, however, they may destroy local populations of these plants. It is possible that the mottled pattern of the foliage of the Prairie Trillium is an adaptation to deer predation as this type of pattern may help to camoflage the plant with the surrounding forest floor.
Photographic Location: A mesic woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and an upland savanna in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: The common name is misleading because the Prairie Trillium occurs in woodlands like other trilliums (Trillium spp.), rather than prairies. However, it is especially common in Illinois and the surrounding states where prairies occur. This trillium species is relatively easy to identify for the following reasons: 1) its sepals hang downward from the flower, whereas in other Trillium spp. the sepals are usually spreading to ascending; 2) its flowers are sessile against the central stem and leaves, whereas the flowers of some trilliums (e.g., Trillium erectum) are held above the foliage on short stalks; and 3) the leaves taper gradually at their bases into short petioles, whereas the leaves of some trilliums are sessile and quite rounded at their bases. There are different forms of the Prairie Trillium that have yellow or maroon flowers, yellow or black anthers, and mottled or solid green leaves. The form described here, Trillium recurvatum recurvatum, is by far the most common.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月29日
Description: This perennial plant is 2½–6" tall and unbranched. It produces a single glabrous stem that terminates in a whorl of 3 leaves. The stem is light green, sometimes with reddish brown tints. The leaves are up to 2½" long; they are green or olive green, oval to ovate, hairless, and smooth along the margins. Their leaf venation is parallel. The base of each leaf is more rounded than its tip; it has a short petiole. Mature plants produce a single flower on a short peduncle about ½" long that is straight or arching (usually the latter).
The flower is up to 2" across, consisting of 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, 6 yellow stamens, and a a tripartite style. The petals are oval-ovate and often slightly undulate along their margins. The recurved sepals are lanceolate and often slightly reddish or yellowish on the outer surface. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-spring and lasts about 2 weeks. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a 3-lobed fruit that is about ½" long. The root system consists of a thickened rootstock, secondary feeder roots, and rhizomes. Snow Trillium can reseed itself, but it more often produces vegetative clones from the rhizomes. At favorable sites, colonies are often formed.
Cultivation: The preference is filtered sunlight during the spring (before the trees leaf out), and light shade during the summer. The soil should be mesic to dry, and loamy or rocky with a shallow layer of decaying leaves. There should not be too much competition from other ground layer plants during the late spring or the summer. The foliage withers away by the end of summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Snow Trillium occurs in central and northern Illinois, where it is rather uncommon (see Distribution Map). However, it is locally common at a few high quality sites. Habitats include thinly wooded bluffs, upper slopes of bluffs (especially along rivers), and upper banks of rivers. This is an indicator species of high quality woodlands. It grows where the layer of decaying leaves is not too thick.
Faunal Associations: Very few insects visit the early-blooming flowers for nectar or pollen. Most likely, the flowers are pollinated by Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), queen bumblebees, and other bees that become active early in the spring. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades), feed on trilliums (Trillium spp.) occasionally. The fruits are probably eaten by small mammals and birds, although there is a lack of information regarding the particular species that do this. Such animals can help to introduce the seeds into new areas. Deer are very partial to the foliage of trilliums, although the Snow Trillium may be less vulnerable to their browsing than others because of its small size and strong tendency to grow on inaccessible slopes.
Photographic Location: The slope of a bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois, and a river bank at Allerton Park in Piatt County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in woodlands and it is the smallest trillium (Trillium sp.). The Snow Trillium can be distinguished from other white-flowered Trilliums by considering the following features: 1) It is only 2-4" tall while in bloom, 2) it blooms earlier in the spring than other trilliums, 3) it has white flowers on a short stalk that is erect or arching, and 4) each fruit has 3 conspicuous lobes. The common name refers to the fact that snow can be found on the ground when the flowers bloom. This cute little trillium should be protected wherever it is found.
The flower is up to 2" across, consisting of 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, 6 yellow stamens, and a a tripartite style. The petals are oval-ovate and often slightly undulate along their margins. The recurved sepals are lanceolate and often slightly reddish or yellowish on the outer surface. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-spring and lasts about 2 weeks. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a 3-lobed fruit that is about ½" long. The root system consists of a thickened rootstock, secondary feeder roots, and rhizomes. Snow Trillium can reseed itself, but it more often produces vegetative clones from the rhizomes. At favorable sites, colonies are often formed.
Cultivation: The preference is filtered sunlight during the spring (before the trees leaf out), and light shade during the summer. The soil should be mesic to dry, and loamy or rocky with a shallow layer of decaying leaves. There should not be too much competition from other ground layer plants during the late spring or the summer. The foliage withers away by the end of summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Snow Trillium occurs in central and northern Illinois, where it is rather uncommon (see Distribution Map). However, it is locally common at a few high quality sites. Habitats include thinly wooded bluffs, upper slopes of bluffs (especially along rivers), and upper banks of rivers. This is an indicator species of high quality woodlands. It grows where the layer of decaying leaves is not too thick.
Faunal Associations: Very few insects visit the early-blooming flowers for nectar or pollen. Most likely, the flowers are pollinated by Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), queen bumblebees, and other bees that become active early in the spring. The caterpillars of two polyphagous moths, Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis) and Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades), feed on trilliums (Trillium spp.) occasionally. The fruits are probably eaten by small mammals and birds, although there is a lack of information regarding the particular species that do this. Such animals can help to introduce the seeds into new areas. Deer are very partial to the foliage of trilliums, although the Snow Trillium may be less vulnerable to their browsing than others because of its small size and strong tendency to grow on inaccessible slopes.
Photographic Location: The slope of a bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois, and a river bank at Allerton Park in Piatt County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in woodlands and it is the smallest trillium (Trillium sp.). The Snow Trillium can be distinguished from other white-flowered Trilliums by considering the following features: 1) It is only 2-4" tall while in bloom, 2) it blooms earlier in the spring than other trilliums, 3) it has white flowers on a short stalk that is erect or arching, and 4) each fruit has 3 conspicuous lobes. The common name refers to the fact that snow can be found on the ground when the flowers bloom. This cute little trillium should be protected wherever it is found.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2-6' tall and usually unbranched, except toward the apex where the flowerheads occur. The glabrous central stem is light green to purple. The alternate leaves are up to 8" long and 6" across (excluding the petioles), becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the central stem. They are quite variable in shape; the lower leaves are often divided palmately into 3 lobes (or less often 5 lobes), while the upper leaves often lack lobes (ovate or deltoid). The margins of the leaves are undulate, dentate, or entire (smooth). The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green and hairless, becoming yellowish green with age. The petioles are as long as the leaf blades or somewhat shorter. The foliage of this plant contains a white latex.
The central stem terminates in a panicle of flowerheads that is about as wide as it is tall; smaller panicles often develop from the axils of the upper leaves. The typical panicle will have 2-4 widely spreading branches at the apex of a central stalk (peduncle); from each of these branches, several flowerheads and their buds hang downward from shorter branches (pedicels). These branches are hairless or slightly pubescent and light green to pale purple. Each flowerhead is up to ¾" long and ½" across when it is fully open; it has 5-6 outer ray florets and no disk florets. The ray florets are greenish white, cream-colored, or greenish yellow. The cylindrical base of each flowerhead has about 5 primary bracts (phyllaries) that are light green and hairless; each of these bracts is linear in shape and about ½" in length. At the very bottom of each flowerhead, there are also several secondary bracts that are much shorter than the primary bracts. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about a month. Each ray floret is replaced by an achene with a small tuft of hair; these hairs are either light tan (var. altissima) or orange-brown (var. cinnamomea). The achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system is tuberous. Sometimes this species forms small colonies of plants.
Cultivation: Preferred growing conditions consist of light shade to dappled sunlight and fertile loamy soil that is moist to slightly dry. Rocky or sandy soil is also tolerated. The size of individual plants can be highly variable depending on soil fertility, moisture conditions, and light levels.
Range & Habitat: The native Tall White Lettuce is occasional in southern and extreme eastern Illinois, otherwise it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). This species is more common further to the east. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, rocky upland woodlands, sandy woodlands, bluffs and shaded ravines, woodland borders, swamps and seeps, and shaded to partially shaded riverbanks. This species is found in deciduous woodlands where Sugar Maple, American Basswood, and/or American Beech are often present as canopy trees.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is limited. Bumblebees suck nectar from the flowerheads and cross-pollinate them; Halictid bees, beetles, and other insects may feed on the pollen, but they are not effective pollinators. Even though it has a bitter taste, White-Tailed Deer occasionally browse on the foliage.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at Turkey Run State Park in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Two major groups of woodland lettuce can be found in Illinois and neighboring states: species of Wild Lettuce (Lactuca spp.) and species of White Lettuce (Prenanthes spp.). Species in the former group have flowerheads that are erect or hang sideways, while species in the latter group have flowerheads that droop downward. Tall White Lettuce can be easily distinguished from other species of White Lettuce in Illinois by examining the primary bracts (or phyllaries) of the flowerheads: each flowerhead has 5 primary bracts (phyllaries) that are light green and hairless (less often there are 4 or 6 bracts). Other species of White Lettuce in Illinois have 8 or more primary bracts; depending on the species, these bracts may be hairy or pale purple. As a general rule, leaf shape is unreliable as a guide to identification because it is highly variable within each species of White Lettuce. Other common names that are sometimes applied to Prenanthes altissima and similar species include Lion's Foot and Rattlesnake Root.
The central stem terminates in a panicle of flowerheads that is about as wide as it is tall; smaller panicles often develop from the axils of the upper leaves. The typical panicle will have 2-4 widely spreading branches at the apex of a central stalk (peduncle); from each of these branches, several flowerheads and their buds hang downward from shorter branches (pedicels). These branches are hairless or slightly pubescent and light green to pale purple. Each flowerhead is up to ¾" long and ½" across when it is fully open; it has 5-6 outer ray florets and no disk florets. The ray florets are greenish white, cream-colored, or greenish yellow. The cylindrical base of each flowerhead has about 5 primary bracts (phyllaries) that are light green and hairless; each of these bracts is linear in shape and about ½" in length. At the very bottom of each flowerhead, there are also several secondary bracts that are much shorter than the primary bracts. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall and lasts about a month. Each ray floret is replaced by an achene with a small tuft of hair; these hairs are either light tan (var. altissima) or orange-brown (var. cinnamomea). The achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system is tuberous. Sometimes this species forms small colonies of plants.
Cultivation: Preferred growing conditions consist of light shade to dappled sunlight and fertile loamy soil that is moist to slightly dry. Rocky or sandy soil is also tolerated. The size of individual plants can be highly variable depending on soil fertility, moisture conditions, and light levels.
Range & Habitat: The native Tall White Lettuce is occasional in southern and extreme eastern Illinois, otherwise it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). This species is more common further to the east. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, rocky upland woodlands, sandy woodlands, bluffs and shaded ravines, woodland borders, swamps and seeps, and shaded to partially shaded riverbanks. This species is found in deciduous woodlands where Sugar Maple, American Basswood, and/or American Beech are often present as canopy trees.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is limited. Bumblebees suck nectar from the flowerheads and cross-pollinate them; Halictid bees, beetles, and other insects may feed on the pollen, but they are not effective pollinators. Even though it has a bitter taste, White-Tailed Deer occasionally browse on the foliage.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at Turkey Run State Park in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Two major groups of woodland lettuce can be found in Illinois and neighboring states: species of Wild Lettuce (Lactuca spp.) and species of White Lettuce (Prenanthes spp.). Species in the former group have flowerheads that are erect or hang sideways, while species in the latter group have flowerheads that droop downward. Tall White Lettuce can be easily distinguished from other species of White Lettuce in Illinois by examining the primary bracts (or phyllaries) of the flowerheads: each flowerhead has 5 primary bracts (phyllaries) that are light green and hairless (less often there are 4 or 6 bracts). Other species of White Lettuce in Illinois have 8 or more primary bracts; depending on the species, these bracts may be hairy or pale purple. As a general rule, leaf shape is unreliable as a guide to identification because it is highly variable within each species of White Lettuce. Other common names that are sometimes applied to Prenanthes altissima and similar species include Lion's Foot and Rattlesnake Root.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is 2-5' tall; it has an erect central stem and often develops short side stems in the upper half. The central stem is terete, light green to purple (usually the latter), glabrous, and glaucous. The alternate leaves are up to 8" long and 6" across (excluding the petioles), becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stems. The leaves are variable in shape; they are usually 3-5 lobed and less often deltate or ovate. The margins of these leaves are dentate, undulate, or smooth. The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green and glabrous. The winged petioles are as long as their leaf blades or shorter. Both the stems and leaves contain a milky white latex. The central stem and upper stems (if any) terminate in panicles of flowerheads up to 2' long and 1' across. Each panicle has a central stalk that divides at its apex into 2-4 spreading branches; there may be some lower branches below. From each branch, several flowerheads droop downward from very short branchlets and peduncles. The light green to purple branches, branchlets, and peduncles of each panicle are glabrous.
Each flowerhead is about ¾" long and ½" across. The cylindrical base of each flowerhead has 8 primary bracts (phyllaries) that are linear in shape, pale greenish purple to purple, and glabrous. There are also several secondary bracts at the very bottom of the flowerhead that are much shorter than the primary bracts. The upper flowerhead has 8-14 outer ray florets and no disk florets; the petaloid rays of these florets spread outward widely when the flowerhead is in bloom. These petaloid rays are pale purple, lavender, or white; they are linear in shape with minutely toothed truncate tips. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall. A pleasant floral fragrance is sometimes present. The florets are replaced by small oblongoid achenes with tufts of cinnamon-brown hair at their apices; the achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system is fleshy.
Cultivation: Preferred growing conditions consist of light shade to dappled sunlight, average levels of moisture, and a fertile loamy soil. Soil that is sandy or rocky is also tolerated. The size of individual plants is strongly influenced by moisture amounts, light levels, and soil fertility.
Range & Habitat: The native White Lettuce is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, but it is rare or absent elsewhere within the state (see Distribution Map). This species is more common in areas that lie north and east of the state. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, stabilized sand dunes with scattered trees, bluffs, wooded slopes, rocky ravines and cliff bases in wooded areas, and woodland borders. White Lettuce can be found in oak, maple-basswood, and other deciduous woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads are cross-pollinated by bumblebees, which seek nectar. The following aphids have been observed on White Lettuce: Hyperomyzus nabali, Uroleucon ambrosiae, and Uroleucon chrysanthemi. Even though the foliage of this species has a bitter taste, it is sometimes browsed by White-Tailed Deer.
Photographic Location: A stabilized sand dune at Indiana Dunes State Park near Lake Michigan.
Comments: White Lettuce is one of five Prenanthes spp. in Illinois; two of these species occur in prairies, while the other three species occur in woodlands. The prairie species in this genus have narrow spikes of flowerheads and lanceolate leaves. The woodland species in this genus have spreading panicles of flowerheads and their leaves are often lobed (particularly the lower ones). White Lettuce can be distinguished from the other woodland species in Illinois by its primary bracts (phyllaries): Each flowerhead has 8 primary bracts that are pale purple-green and hairless. In contrast, each flowerhead of Prenanthes altissima (Tall White Lettuce) has 5 primary bracts that are light green and hairless, while the flowerhead of Prenanthes crepidinea (Great White Lettuce) has 12-15 primary bracts that are light green and hairy. These species also differ in the number of outer ray florets per flowerhead. Other common names of Prenanthes alba are Lion's Foot and Rattlesnake Root.
Each flowerhead is about ¾" long and ½" across. The cylindrical base of each flowerhead has 8 primary bracts (phyllaries) that are linear in shape, pale greenish purple to purple, and glabrous. There are also several secondary bracts at the very bottom of the flowerhead that are much shorter than the primary bracts. The upper flowerhead has 8-14 outer ray florets and no disk florets; the petaloid rays of these florets spread outward widely when the flowerhead is in bloom. These petaloid rays are pale purple, lavender, or white; they are linear in shape with minutely toothed truncate tips. The blooming period occurs from late summer into the fall. A pleasant floral fragrance is sometimes present. The florets are replaced by small oblongoid achenes with tufts of cinnamon-brown hair at their apices; the achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system is fleshy.
Cultivation: Preferred growing conditions consist of light shade to dappled sunlight, average levels of moisture, and a fertile loamy soil. Soil that is sandy or rocky is also tolerated. The size of individual plants is strongly influenced by moisture amounts, light levels, and soil fertility.
Range & Habitat: The native White Lettuce is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, but it is rare or absent elsewhere within the state (see Distribution Map). This species is more common in areas that lie north and east of the state. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, stabilized sand dunes with scattered trees, bluffs, wooded slopes, rocky ravines and cliff bases in wooded areas, and woodland borders. White Lettuce can be found in oak, maple-basswood, and other deciduous woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads are cross-pollinated by bumblebees, which seek nectar. The following aphids have been observed on White Lettuce: Hyperomyzus nabali, Uroleucon ambrosiae, and Uroleucon chrysanthemi. Even though the foliage of this species has a bitter taste, it is sometimes browsed by White-Tailed Deer.
Photographic Location: A stabilized sand dune at Indiana Dunes State Park near Lake Michigan.
Comments: White Lettuce is one of five Prenanthes spp. in Illinois; two of these species occur in prairies, while the other three species occur in woodlands. The prairie species in this genus have narrow spikes of flowerheads and lanceolate leaves. The woodland species in this genus have spreading panicles of flowerheads and their leaves are often lobed (particularly the lower ones). White Lettuce can be distinguished from the other woodland species in Illinois by its primary bracts (phyllaries): Each flowerhead has 8 primary bracts that are pale purple-green and hairless. In contrast, each flowerhead of Prenanthes altissima (Tall White Lettuce) has 5 primary bracts that are light green and hairless, while the flowerhead of Prenanthes crepidinea (Great White Lettuce) has 12-15 primary bracts that are light green and hairy. These species also differ in the number of outer ray florets per flowerhead. Other common names of Prenanthes alba are Lion's Foot and Rattlesnake Root.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This herbaceous plant is about 1½–4½' tall, branching occasionally. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial. The erect to ascending stems are light green to dull reddish brown, terete, and densely covered with long hairs. The alternate or opposite leaves are up to 12" long and 8" across, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stems. They have pubescent petioles up to 4" long that are grooved above and convex below. The lower to middle leaves are pinnately lobed and somewhat dentate or undulate along their margins; they usually have 5-7 major lobes with pointed tips. The upper leaves have pairs of basal lobes or they lack lobes; they are ovate, broadly hastate, or sometimes another shape.
The upper leaf surface is dull medium green; it is usually hairless for older leaves and appressed-hairy for younger leaves. The lower leaf surface is pale green and pubescent primarily along the major veins. At the bases of petioles, there are pairs of large green stipules. These stipules are connate (merged together) and their margins are coarsely dentate. Small cymes of several flowerheads develop from the upper stems and the axils of upper leaves. The branches of these cymes are green and pubescent. Sometimes there are 1-2 small linear bracts where the branches diverge, and sometimes they are found underneath the flowerheads. These bracts are green, pubescent, and about 8 mm. (1/3") in length. Each flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of several disk florets in the center and 5-8 ray florets around its circumference.
The small disk florets have cream-colored tubular corollas with 5 lobes; they are staminate. The petaloid rays of the flowerheads are white, obovate, short, and 3-lobed; sometimes they are absent. Only the ray florets produce achenes. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are 5 floral bracts (phyllaries) that are light green, pubescent, and lanceolate in shape; they become recurved when the flowerheads bloom. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall, lasting about 2 months. Only a few flowerheads are in bloom at the same time. Somewhat later, the flowerheads turn brown and their ray florets are replaced by obovoid achenes that are 3-angled, dark brown, and 3-4 mm. in length. These achenes lack tufts of hair. The root system is fibrous, although a poorly developed taproot is sometimes present.
Cultivation: This species is typically found in light to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and loamy to slightly rocky soil with abundant organic matter. The size of individual plants is variable, depending on moisture conditions and soil fertility. In the flower garden, this species may be short-lived.
Range & Habitat: Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis) is uncommon to occasional throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, bases of bluffs, shaded moist ravines, wooded slopes, shaded areas along streams, and edges of limestone or sandstone glades. This wildflower is associated with oak-hickory, maple-linden, and maple-beech woodlands; it is usually found in higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract honeybees, bumblebees, and miscellaneous flies (Sharp, 2002). Small bees probably visit the flowerheads in some areas as well. Ants feed on nectar from the disk florets of the flowerheads, but they are ineffective at cross-pollination (personal observation). Other insects suck plant juices or feed on the leaves of Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis). These species include several plant bugs (Macrolophus spp., Dicyphus gracilentus, Plagiognathus albifascies), the aphids Uroleucon zinzalae and Capitophorus hippophaes, and the leaf beetle Sumitrosis inaequalis. The larvae of this latter species are leaf-miners. Several species in the Orthoptera feed destructively on the flowerheads (Gangwere, 1961); they include Neoxabea bipunctata (Two-spotted Tree Cricket), Oecanthus niveus (Narrow-winged Tree Cricket), Scudderia furcata (Fork-tailed Bush Katydid), and Anaxipha exigua (Say's Trig). The relationships of Leaf-Cup to vertebrate animals is currently unavailable.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at the Portland Arch Conservation Area in west-central Indiana.
Comments: This woodland wildflower is a medium-large leafy plant. However, Leaf-Cup isn't very well known among members of the public because its small flowerheads are not very showy. These flowerheads are somewhat similar in appearance to those of a weedy introduced plant, Galinsoga quadriradiata (Peruvian Daisy). However, this latter species is a much smaller plant of open areas. The closest relative of Leaf-Cup is Smallanthus uvedalius (Bear's Foot), which has larger yellow flowerheads and palmately lobed leaves. This latter species can become up to 8' tall. In Illinois, it is restricted to the southern part of the state.
The upper leaf surface is dull medium green; it is usually hairless for older leaves and appressed-hairy for younger leaves. The lower leaf surface is pale green and pubescent primarily along the major veins. At the bases of petioles, there are pairs of large green stipules. These stipules are connate (merged together) and their margins are coarsely dentate. Small cymes of several flowerheads develop from the upper stems and the axils of upper leaves. The branches of these cymes are green and pubescent. Sometimes there are 1-2 small linear bracts where the branches diverge, and sometimes they are found underneath the flowerheads. These bracts are green, pubescent, and about 8 mm. (1/3") in length. Each flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of several disk florets in the center and 5-8 ray florets around its circumference.
The small disk florets have cream-colored tubular corollas with 5 lobes; they are staminate. The petaloid rays of the flowerheads are white, obovate, short, and 3-lobed; sometimes they are absent. Only the ray florets produce achenes. Surrounding the base of each flowerhead, there are 5 floral bracts (phyllaries) that are light green, pubescent, and lanceolate in shape; they become recurved when the flowerheads bloom. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall, lasting about 2 months. Only a few flowerheads are in bloom at the same time. Somewhat later, the flowerheads turn brown and their ray florets are replaced by obovoid achenes that are 3-angled, dark brown, and 3-4 mm. in length. These achenes lack tufts of hair. The root system is fibrous, although a poorly developed taproot is sometimes present.
Cultivation: This species is typically found in light to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and loamy to slightly rocky soil with abundant organic matter. The size of individual plants is variable, depending on moisture conditions and soil fertility. In the flower garden, this species may be short-lived.
Range & Habitat: Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis) is uncommon to occasional throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, bases of bluffs, shaded moist ravines, wooded slopes, shaded areas along streams, and edges of limestone or sandstone glades. This wildflower is associated with oak-hickory, maple-linden, and maple-beech woodlands; it is usually found in higher quality woodlands where the original ground flora is still intact.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract honeybees, bumblebees, and miscellaneous flies (Sharp, 2002). Small bees probably visit the flowerheads in some areas as well. Ants feed on nectar from the disk florets of the flowerheads, but they are ineffective at cross-pollination (personal observation). Other insects suck plant juices or feed on the leaves of Leaf-Cup (Polymnia canadensis). These species include several plant bugs (Macrolophus spp., Dicyphus gracilentus, Plagiognathus albifascies), the aphids Uroleucon zinzalae and Capitophorus hippophaes, and the leaf beetle Sumitrosis inaequalis. The larvae of this latter species are leaf-miners. Several species in the Orthoptera feed destructively on the flowerheads (Gangwere, 1961); they include Neoxabea bipunctata (Two-spotted Tree Cricket), Oecanthus niveus (Narrow-winged Tree Cricket), Scudderia furcata (Fork-tailed Bush Katydid), and Anaxipha exigua (Say's Trig). The relationships of Leaf-Cup to vertebrate animals is currently unavailable.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at the Portland Arch Conservation Area in west-central Indiana.
Comments: This woodland wildflower is a medium-large leafy plant. However, Leaf-Cup isn't very well known among members of the public because its small flowerheads are not very showy. These flowerheads are somewhat similar in appearance to those of a weedy introduced plant, Galinsoga quadriradiata (Peruvian Daisy). However, this latter species is a much smaller plant of open areas. The closest relative of Leaf-Cup is Smallanthus uvedalius (Bear's Foot), which has larger yellow flowerheads and palmately lobed leaves. This latter species can become up to 8' tall. In Illinois, it is restricted to the southern part of the state.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月28日
Description: This herbaceous plant is 1-2½' tall with an ascending leafy stem that is unbranched. The central stem is light to medium green, slightly zigzag, and glabrous to short-pubescent. Alternate leaves occur along this stem that are 2-5" long and 1-2½" long; they are broadly elliptic in shape, smooth (entire) along their margins, and sessile. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is pale to medium green and finely short-hairy along the major veins (a 10x hand lens may be required to see this). Leaf venation is parallel with 3-7 prominent veins. Flowers are produced individually or in groups of 2-3 from the axils of most leaves; they are suspended below the leaves on short peduncles and pedicels. Each flower is 8-14 mm. in length and narrowly cylindrical in shape, consisting of 6 pale greenish yellow to greenish white tepals, 6 inserted stamens, and a 3-celled ovary with a single style. Around the outer rim of each flower, there are 6 straight to slightly recurved lobes about 2-3 mm. in length. The filaments of the stamens are minutely warty and terete. The peduncles and pedicels are light green, slender, and glabrous; they are about ¼-½" in length during the blooming period, but become about ½-1" in length when berries are produced.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3 weeks. During the summer, the flowers are replaced by berries. At maturity, these berries are dark blue-violet to black, globoid in shape, and often glaucous; they are 6-9 mm. across. The interior of these berries is fleshy with several seeds. Individual seeds are 1.5-3.0 mm. long, globoid in shape, and either tan or straw-colored. The root system has knotty rhizomes up to ½" thick. Small clonal colonies are often produced from these rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist conditions, and soil containing either loam or sandy loam with decaying organic matter. Most growth and development occurs during the cool weather of spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Solomon's Seal is rare in northern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (Distribution Map). It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Illinois lies along the southern range limit of this species (excluding mountainous areas in the Appalachians). Habitats include moist to mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, and lower slopes of forested sand dunes near Lake Michigan. In Illinois, Hairy Solomon's Seal is found in higher quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, honeybees, bumblebees, and probably other bees. These floral visitors feed primarily on the nectar, although some of the bees also collect pollen for their larvae. A small number of insects feed destructively on the foliage and plant juices of Polygonatum spp. (Solomon's Seal species). These insects include the aphids Catamergus kickapoo and Macrosiphum gei, the thrips Ctenothrips bridwelli, and caterpillars of the moth Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis). The berries are probably eaten by such woodland birds as the Ruffed Grouse, various thrushes, and the Veery. These birds spread the seeds to new areas. White-tailed Deer occasionally graze on the foliage of Solomon's Seal species.
Photographic Location: A moist sandy woodland at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: This species can be easily confused with the more common Polygonatum commutatum (Smooth Solomon's Seal). Hairy Solomon's Seal tends to be a smaller plant that produces fewer flowers and berries underneath its leaves (usually only 1-2 flowers or berries per leaf). It also has a tendency to bloom a little earlier in the year than the latter plant. However, the most distinctive characteristics of Hairy Solomon's Seal are 1) the short fine hairs along the veins of its leaf undersides, and 2) the warty filaments of its flowers.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3 weeks. During the summer, the flowers are replaced by berries. At maturity, these berries are dark blue-violet to black, globoid in shape, and often glaucous; they are 6-9 mm. across. The interior of these berries is fleshy with several seeds. Individual seeds are 1.5-3.0 mm. long, globoid in shape, and either tan or straw-colored. The root system has knotty rhizomes up to ½" thick. Small clonal colonies are often produced from these rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist conditions, and soil containing either loam or sandy loam with decaying organic matter. Most growth and development occurs during the cool weather of spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Hairy Solomon's Seal is rare in northern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (Distribution Map). It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Illinois lies along the southern range limit of this species (excluding mountainous areas in the Appalachians). Habitats include moist to mesic woodlands, sandy woodlands, and lower slopes of forested sand dunes near Lake Michigan. In Illinois, Hairy Solomon's Seal is found in higher quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, honeybees, bumblebees, and probably other bees. These floral visitors feed primarily on the nectar, although some of the bees also collect pollen for their larvae. A small number of insects feed destructively on the foliage and plant juices of Polygonatum spp. (Solomon's Seal species). These insects include the aphids Catamergus kickapoo and Macrosiphum gei, the thrips Ctenothrips bridwelli, and caterpillars of the moth Clepsis melaleucana (Black-Patched Clepsis). The berries are probably eaten by such woodland birds as the Ruffed Grouse, various thrushes, and the Veery. These birds spread the seeds to new areas. White-tailed Deer occasionally graze on the foliage of Solomon's Seal species.
Photographic Location: A moist sandy woodland at the Indiana Dunes State Park in NW Indiana.
Comments: This species can be easily confused with the more common Polygonatum commutatum (Smooth Solomon's Seal). Hairy Solomon's Seal tends to be a smaller plant that produces fewer flowers and berries underneath its leaves (usually only 1-2 flowers or berries per leaf). It also has a tendency to bloom a little earlier in the year than the latter plant. However, the most distinctive characteristics of Hairy Solomon's Seal are 1) the short fine hairs along the veins of its leaf undersides, and 2) the warty filaments of its flowers.
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