文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月16日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 6" tall, although its stems can extend up to 1' long. Both basal leaves and stems with alternate leaves are produced; the latter usually sprawl across the ground. The stems are light green, reddish green, or brownish green, and glabrous to sparsely pubescent. The basal and alternate leaves are up to 3" long and across (excluding the petioles); they are yellowish green to dark green, trifoliate, and glabrous. The leaflets are obovate, broadly obovate, or rhombic in outline and their margins are shallowly to deeply cleft and coarsely dentate. The terminal leaflet has a longer petiolule (basal stalklet at its base) than either of the lateral leaflets. There is some variability in how broad and deeply cleft the leaflets are across different populations of plants. The petioles are up to 3" long, light green to reddish green, and glabrous to sparsely pubescent; they are grooved above and convex below.
Occasionally, individual flowers develop from unbranched stalks about 2-5" long. These stalks are ascending to erect, green, and glabrous to pubescent. Each flower spans about ¾" across, consisting of 5 yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, numerous yellow stamens, and a cluster of pistils in the center of the flower. The petal bases are often pale yellow with fine veins functioning as nectar guides; the remainder of the petals are bright yellow and shiny. The petals are obovate with rounded tips; they are longer than the sepals. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. After the petals fall away, the pistils are replaced by a cluster of flattened achenes with long beaks; these achenes are 2.5-3.5 mm. in length. The root system consists of a tuft of fibrous roots. The sprawling stems are able to form rootlets when their nodes establish contact with moist ground. Swamp Buttercup sometimes forms loose colonies of plants at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, wet to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with some decaying leaf mould. Standing water from spring rainfall is tolerated if it is temporary.
Range & Habitat: Swamp Buttercup is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands, soggy areas along vernal pools, swamps, partially shaded areas of seeps, and areas along springs in woodlands. This species often grows in soggy areas of woodlands that are too wet for some invasive species, such as Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard). Therefore, populations of Swamp Buttercup remain reasonably secure. This plant is also able to tolerate some degradation of its habitat from other causes.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract their fair share of flower visitors, including little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombylius spp.), Muscid flies, Anthomyiid flies, skippers, and miscellaneous beetles. The bees suck nectar or collect pollen, while the flies and beetles suck nectar or feed on pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, roots, and other parts of Swamp Buttercup and other buttercups (Ranunculus spp.). These species include the leaf beetles Prasocuris ovalis and Prasocuris vittata, larvae of the sawflies Monophadnus pallescens and Stethomostus fuliginosus, Thecabius affinis (Poplar-Buttercup Aphid) and Thecabius gravicornis (Folded-Leaf Balsam Aphid), and larvae of the moth Sparganothis sulfureana (Sparganothis Leafroller). The foliage of buttercups is more or less toxic and it is avoided by mammalian herbivores. However, the seeds of these plants are eaten to a limited extent by the Wild Turkey, Cottontail Rabbit, Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and Meadow Vole. The Wild Turkey reportedly browses on the foliage of buttercups, notwithstanding its toxicity (Martin et al., 1951/1961).
Photographic Location: A moist deciduous woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: With the exception of the weedy Ranunculus abortivus (Small-Flowered Buttercup), this is probably the most common buttercup (Ranunculus spp.) in Illinois. It is possible to confuse Swamp Buttercup with similar species, especially Ranunculus hispidus (Hispid Buttercup), Ranunculus carolinianus (Carolina Buttercup), and the introduced Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup). Unlike Swamp Buttercup, the stems of Hispid Buttercup have abundant spreading hairs and they are usually more erect. Carolina Buttercup is supposed to have longer achenes (3.5–5.0 mm. in length) than the preceding two species, however its status as a separate species is debatable. Some authorities consider Swamp Buttercup and Carolina Buttercup to be different varieties of Ranunculus hispidus (Duncan & Duncan, 1999; Yatskievych, 2000), although Mohlenbrock (2002) doesn't. The leaves of Creeping Buttercup are less deeply cleft and they are often splotched with pale green or white patterns. In addition, its achenes are less flattened than those of Swamp Buttercup.
Occasionally, individual flowers develop from unbranched stalks about 2-5" long. These stalks are ascending to erect, green, and glabrous to pubescent. Each flower spans about ¾" across, consisting of 5 yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, numerous yellow stamens, and a cluster of pistils in the center of the flower. The petal bases are often pale yellow with fine veins functioning as nectar guides; the remainder of the petals are bright yellow and shiny. The petals are obovate with rounded tips; they are longer than the sepals. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. After the petals fall away, the pistils are replaced by a cluster of flattened achenes with long beaks; these achenes are 2.5-3.5 mm. in length. The root system consists of a tuft of fibrous roots. The sprawling stems are able to form rootlets when their nodes establish contact with moist ground. Swamp Buttercup sometimes forms loose colonies of plants at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, wet to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with some decaying leaf mould. Standing water from spring rainfall is tolerated if it is temporary.
Range & Habitat: Swamp Buttercup is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands, soggy areas along vernal pools, swamps, partially shaded areas of seeps, and areas along springs in woodlands. This species often grows in soggy areas of woodlands that are too wet for some invasive species, such as Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard). Therefore, populations of Swamp Buttercup remain reasonably secure. This plant is also able to tolerate some degradation of its habitat from other causes.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract their fair share of flower visitors, including little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombylius spp.), Muscid flies, Anthomyiid flies, skippers, and miscellaneous beetles. The bees suck nectar or collect pollen, while the flies and beetles suck nectar or feed on pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, roots, and other parts of Swamp Buttercup and other buttercups (Ranunculus spp.). These species include the leaf beetles Prasocuris ovalis and Prasocuris vittata, larvae of the sawflies Monophadnus pallescens and Stethomostus fuliginosus, Thecabius affinis (Poplar-Buttercup Aphid) and Thecabius gravicornis (Folded-Leaf Balsam Aphid), and larvae of the moth Sparganothis sulfureana (Sparganothis Leafroller). The foliage of buttercups is more or less toxic and it is avoided by mammalian herbivores. However, the seeds of these plants are eaten to a limited extent by the Wild Turkey, Cottontail Rabbit, Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and Meadow Vole. The Wild Turkey reportedly browses on the foliage of buttercups, notwithstanding its toxicity (Martin et al., 1951/1961).
Photographic Location: A moist deciduous woodland at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: With the exception of the weedy Ranunculus abortivus (Small-Flowered Buttercup), this is probably the most common buttercup (Ranunculus spp.) in Illinois. It is possible to confuse Swamp Buttercup with similar species, especially Ranunculus hispidus (Hispid Buttercup), Ranunculus carolinianus (Carolina Buttercup), and the introduced Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup). Unlike Swamp Buttercup, the stems of Hispid Buttercup have abundant spreading hairs and they are usually more erect. Carolina Buttercup is supposed to have longer achenes (3.5–5.0 mm. in length) than the preceding two species, however its status as a separate species is debatable. Some authorities consider Swamp Buttercup and Carolina Buttercup to be different varieties of Ranunculus hispidus (Duncan & Duncan, 1999; Yatskievych, 2000), although Mohlenbrock (2002) doesn't. The leaves of Creeping Buttercup are less deeply cleft and they are often splotched with pale green or white patterns. In addition, its achenes are less flattened than those of Swamp Buttercup.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月16日
Description: This perennial wildflower is up to 1' tall; it has a tendency to sprawl with age. The stems are light green to pale reddish brown and more or less covered with long spreading hairs. Both basal and alternate leaves are produced; like the stems, their petioles are covered with long spreading hairs. Sometimes, the petioles are as long or longer than the compound blades of the leaves. The leaf blades are usually trifoliate (divided into 3 leaflets). The leaflets are up to 4" long and across andClose-up of Flower usually cleft into 3 lobes. The margins of the leaflets are irregularly dentate. The terminal leaflet has a short petiolule (short stalk) at its base, while the lateral leaflets are either sessile or they have even shorter petiolules. The upper surface of each leaflet is more or less medium green with scattered appressed hairs, while the lower surface has spreading hairs along the major veins. The upper leaves are smaller in size than the basal leaves and their leaflets are often lack lobes. Occasionally, solitary flowers are produced on long hairy stalks. These flowers are about ¾–1" across, consisting of 5 shiny yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, a dense cluster of pale yellowish green pistils, and a ring of numerous stamens with yellow anthers. Toward the center of each flower, the petals become semi-translucent and each petal has several fine lines that function as nectar guides. The sepals are hairy and lanceolate in shape; they are shorter than the petals. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about a month. Each flower produces several flattened achenes with long beaks; these achenes are up to 3.5 mm. in length. The root system is fibrous. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, followed by light shade during the summer. This buttercup prefers mesic to dry conditions and a rich loamy soil with some decaying leaves.
Range & Habitat: The native Hispid Buttercup occurs occasionally throughout Illinois; its distribution is somewhat patchy (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland woodlands, wooded slopes, and bluffs where oak trees are often present; unlike Ranunculus septentrionalis (Swamp Buttercup), this species is rarely found in damp habitats.
Faunal Associations: Buttercups are the summer hosts of the aphid Thecabius gravicornis. The seeds and foliage of woodland buttercups are eaten by such upland gamebirds as the Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse; the Eastern Chipmunk also eats the seeds. The foliage is toxic to mammalian herbivores and usually avoided by such animals.
Photographic Location: An upland area of Warbler Woods in Coles County, Illinois.
Comments: Hispid Buttercup and Ranunculus septentrionalis (Swamp Buttercup) are very similar to each other. Hispid Buttercup differs primarily by the long spreading hairs on its stems and petioles, and its preference for drier habitats than Swamp Buttercup. Swamp Buttercup is either hairless or it has short appressed hairs along its stems and petioles. Some authorities regard these two buttercups as different varieties of the same species. For spring wildflowers, they bloom longer than average.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight during the spring, followed by light shade during the summer. This buttercup prefers mesic to dry conditions and a rich loamy soil with some decaying leaves.
Range & Habitat: The native Hispid Buttercup occurs occasionally throughout Illinois; its distribution is somewhat patchy (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland woodlands, wooded slopes, and bluffs where oak trees are often present; unlike Ranunculus septentrionalis (Swamp Buttercup), this species is rarely found in damp habitats.
Faunal Associations: Buttercups are the summer hosts of the aphid Thecabius gravicornis. The seeds and foliage of woodland buttercups are eaten by such upland gamebirds as the Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse; the Eastern Chipmunk also eats the seeds. The foliage is toxic to mammalian herbivores and usually avoided by such animals.
Photographic Location: An upland area of Warbler Woods in Coles County, Illinois.
Comments: Hispid Buttercup and Ranunculus septentrionalis (Swamp Buttercup) are very similar to each other. Hispid Buttercup differs primarily by the long spreading hairs on its stems and petioles, and its preference for drier habitats than Swamp Buttercup. Swamp Buttercup is either hairless or it has short appressed hairs along its stems and petioles. Some authorities regard these two buttercups as different varieties of the same species. For spring wildflowers, they bloom longer than average.
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成长记
Lucky Coyote
2018年05月15日
Thid developed these strange green pods on top of the flowers(?)
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meriunkat：cool
文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月13日
Description: This herbaceous plant is a biennial or short-lived perennial. During the first year, several basal leaves are produced, but thereafter this plant bolts to produce flowering stalks about 4-8' tall. The central stem is light green, stout, terete with vertical ridges, more or less covered with spreading white hairs, and usually unbranched. The interior of the this stem is hollow. Widely spreading alternate leaves are located primarily along the lower half of the central stem, becoming smaller in size above. The lower to middle alternate leaves are ternately compound (divided into 3 leaflets); they are 8-20" long and similarly across in outline. The leaflets are 4-12" long and ovate or orbicular in outline; they are shallowly to moderately cleft into 3-5 lobes and coarsely toothed. The lobes of leaflets are ovate in shape; they have broad acute tips. The upper leaflet surface is grayish green, medium green, or yellowish green and rough-textured, while the lower leaflet surface is slightly more pale and hairy along the primary and secondary veins. The petioles of lower to middle leaves are 3-10" long, light green, hairy, and relatively stout (especially at the base). The petiole bases are partially enclosed by a pair of hairy membranous sheaths. These sheaths are light green, purplish green, or nearly white from abundant hairs. Upper leaves are usually simple, ternately lobed, and coarsely toothed; they are up to 4" long and similarly across. The lobes of upper leaves are lanceolate with acute tips. The upper leaves have petioles up to 2" long.
The central stem terminates in a compound umbel up to 8" across. Additional compound umbels are produced from the axils of upper leaves on long peduncles (flowering stalks); these axillary umbels are up to 6" across. The compound umbels are more or less flat-headed. Each compound umbel has 8-30 rays that terminate in umbellets; each umbellet has 8-30 flowers. The rays of the compound umbels are 2-5" long, light green, and pubescent; the pedicels of the flowers are ¼–¾" long, light green, and pubescent. Individual flowers span a little less than ¼" across. Each flower has a light green calyx that is shaped like a saucer, 5 white petals, 5 stamens, and a whitish ovary with a pair of tiny styles. The petals are strongly incurved at their tips. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by fruits (schizocarps); each fruit consists of a pair of seeds. Individual immature fruits are about 8 mm. (1/3") in length, 6 mm. (1/4") across, and somewhat flattened; they are elliptic-obovoid in shape, light green with white margins, and there are 4 vertical dark green veins toward the center of each flattened side. Mature fruits become tan to dark brown, and their lateral margins become flattened into wings; they are distributed to a limited extent by the wind before dividing into seeds. The root system consists of a taproot or a cluster of thick roots. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist conditions, and fertile soil containing loam, silty loam, or sandy loam. The size of individual plants can vary considerably. Some protection from strong wind is desirable. Because Cow Parsnip can irritate human skin, it is best to wear gloves while handling its foliage.
Range & Habitat: The native Cow Parsnip is occasional in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is uncommon (see Distribution Map). Habitats include bottomland woodlands, terraces of floodplain woodlands, borders of woodlands, woodland openings, meadows in wooded areas, riverside prairies, thickets, streambanks, and partially shaded roadsides. Cow Parsnip can be found in both high quality natural areas and disturbed habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Cow Parsnip attract a large diversity of insects because of its easily accessed nectar and pollen. These floral visitors include honeybees, cuckoo bees (Nomada spp., Sphecodes spp.), plasterer bees (Colletes spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Andrenid bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Vespid wasps, spider wasps (Anoplius spp., etc.), Tiphiid wasps, Ichneumonid wasps, dark-winged fungus gnats (Sciara spp.), soldier flies (Stratiomys spp., etc.), Syrphid flies, dance flies (Empis spp., Rhamphomyia spp.), Tachinid flies, flesh flies (Ravinia spp., Sarcophaga spp., etc.), blow flies (Lucilia spp., etc.), Muscid flies, frit flies (Liohippelates spp., Olcella spp.), long-horned beetles (Strangalepta spp., Trigonarthris spp., etc.), tumbling flower beetles (Mordellidae), flower chafers (Trichiotinus spp., etc.), plant bugs (Miridae), and occasional butterflies (Robertson, 1929; Gosling, 1986). Some insects feed destructively on the foliage, fruit, and sap of cow parsnip. These insect feeders include the larvae of leaf-mining flies (Phytomyza spp., etc.), larvae of Euleia heraclei (Hogweed Picture-wing Fly), larvae of Depressaria pastinacella (Parsnip Webworm Moth), Orthops scutellatus (Carrot Plant Bug), Taeniothrips vulgatissima (Cow Parsnip Thrips), and such aphids as Aphis decepta, Cavariella aegopodii (Willow-Carrot Aphid), Cavariella pastinacae (Willow-Umbellifer Aphid), and Cavariella theobaldi (Willow-Parsnip Aphid); see Needham et al. (1928), Knight (1941), Stannard (1968), and Blackman & Eastop (2013). Some mammals feed on the flowers and foliage of Cow Parsnip, particularly in the western United States. There are records of bears, elk, deer, cattle, horses, and sheep feeding on this plant (Esser, 1995). However, when this plant is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation of sunlight, the foliage can become phytotoxic, causing blisters to form on the skin and possible irritation of the digestive tract (Georgia, 1913). This toxic side effect is the result of light-sensitive furanocoumarins. Cow Parsnip shares this characteristic with another species in the Carrot family, Pastinaca sativa (Parsnip).
Photographic Location: Border of a woodland along a road at Illinois Beach State Park in NE Illinois.
Comments: Because of the large size of its compound umbels, Cow Parsnip is one of the best sources of nectar and pollen for a wide variety of insects, especially small bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. This plant can be distinguished from other species in the Carrot family primarily by its large size (up to 8' tall or more), large ternately divided leaves, and hairy foliage. Other scientific names of Cow Parsnip include Heracleum lanatum and Heracleum sphondylium montanum. The latter scientific name, Heracleum sphondylium, refers to European Cow Parsnip. This plant species has compound leaves with 3-7 pinnately arranged leaflets, while the Cow Parsnip of North America, Heracleum maximum, has only 3 leaflets per compound leaf. Both plant species are about the same size. A third species that is native to Eurasia, but has naturalized in parts of North America, is Heracleum mantegazzianum, or Giant Hogweed. This is a much larger plant that becomes 6-18' tall at maturity. The compound leaves of Giant Hogweed are also larger in size than the preceding plant species in its genus; they are pinnate-pinnatifid or pinnate-bipinnatifid with narrowly acute lobes.
The central stem terminates in a compound umbel up to 8" across. Additional compound umbels are produced from the axils of upper leaves on long peduncles (flowering stalks); these axillary umbels are up to 6" across. The compound umbels are more or less flat-headed. Each compound umbel has 8-30 rays that terminate in umbellets; each umbellet has 8-30 flowers. The rays of the compound umbels are 2-5" long, light green, and pubescent; the pedicels of the flowers are ¼–¾" long, light green, and pubescent. Individual flowers span a little less than ¼" across. Each flower has a light green calyx that is shaped like a saucer, 5 white petals, 5 stamens, and a whitish ovary with a pair of tiny styles. The petals are strongly incurved at their tips. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by fruits (schizocarps); each fruit consists of a pair of seeds. Individual immature fruits are about 8 mm. (1/3") in length, 6 mm. (1/4") across, and somewhat flattened; they are elliptic-obovoid in shape, light green with white margins, and there are 4 vertical dark green veins toward the center of each flattened side. Mature fruits become tan to dark brown, and their lateral margins become flattened into wings; they are distributed to a limited extent by the wind before dividing into seeds. The root system consists of a taproot or a cluster of thick roots. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist conditions, and fertile soil containing loam, silty loam, or sandy loam. The size of individual plants can vary considerably. Some protection from strong wind is desirable. Because Cow Parsnip can irritate human skin, it is best to wear gloves while handling its foliage.
Range & Habitat: The native Cow Parsnip is occasional in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is uncommon (see Distribution Map). Habitats include bottomland woodlands, terraces of floodplain woodlands, borders of woodlands, woodland openings, meadows in wooded areas, riverside prairies, thickets, streambanks, and partially shaded roadsides. Cow Parsnip can be found in both high quality natural areas and disturbed habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Cow Parsnip attract a large diversity of insects because of its easily accessed nectar and pollen. These floral visitors include honeybees, cuckoo bees (Nomada spp., Sphecodes spp.), plasterer bees (Colletes spp.), masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Andrenid bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Vespid wasps, spider wasps (Anoplius spp., etc.), Tiphiid wasps, Ichneumonid wasps, dark-winged fungus gnats (Sciara spp.), soldier flies (Stratiomys spp., etc.), Syrphid flies, dance flies (Empis spp., Rhamphomyia spp.), Tachinid flies, flesh flies (Ravinia spp., Sarcophaga spp., etc.), blow flies (Lucilia spp., etc.), Muscid flies, frit flies (Liohippelates spp., Olcella spp.), long-horned beetles (Strangalepta spp., Trigonarthris spp., etc.), tumbling flower beetles (Mordellidae), flower chafers (Trichiotinus spp., etc.), plant bugs (Miridae), and occasional butterflies (Robertson, 1929; Gosling, 1986). Some insects feed destructively on the foliage, fruit, and sap of cow parsnip. These insect feeders include the larvae of leaf-mining flies (Phytomyza spp., etc.), larvae of Euleia heraclei (Hogweed Picture-wing Fly), larvae of Depressaria pastinacella (Parsnip Webworm Moth), Orthops scutellatus (Carrot Plant Bug), Taeniothrips vulgatissima (Cow Parsnip Thrips), and such aphids as Aphis decepta, Cavariella aegopodii (Willow-Carrot Aphid), Cavariella pastinacae (Willow-Umbellifer Aphid), and Cavariella theobaldi (Willow-Parsnip Aphid); see Needham et al. (1928), Knight (1941), Stannard (1968), and Blackman & Eastop (2013). Some mammals feed on the flowers and foliage of Cow Parsnip, particularly in the western United States. There are records of bears, elk, deer, cattle, horses, and sheep feeding on this plant (Esser, 1995). However, when this plant is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation of sunlight, the foliage can become phytotoxic, causing blisters to form on the skin and possible irritation of the digestive tract (Georgia, 1913). This toxic side effect is the result of light-sensitive furanocoumarins. Cow Parsnip shares this characteristic with another species in the Carrot family, Pastinaca sativa (Parsnip).
Photographic Location: Border of a woodland along a road at Illinois Beach State Park in NE Illinois.
Comments: Because of the large size of its compound umbels, Cow Parsnip is one of the best sources of nectar and pollen for a wide variety of insects, especially small bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. This plant can be distinguished from other species in the Carrot family primarily by its large size (up to 8' tall or more), large ternately divided leaves, and hairy foliage. Other scientific names of Cow Parsnip include Heracleum lanatum and Heracleum sphondylium montanum. The latter scientific name, Heracleum sphondylium, refers to European Cow Parsnip. This plant species has compound leaves with 3-7 pinnately arranged leaflets, while the Cow Parsnip of North America, Heracleum maximum, has only 3 leaflets per compound leaf. Both plant species are about the same size. A third species that is native to Eurasia, but has naturalized in parts of North America, is Heracleum mantegazzianum, or Giant Hogweed. This is a much larger plant that becomes 6-18' tall at maturity. The compound leaves of Giant Hogweed are also larger in size than the preceding plant species in its genus; they are pinnate-pinnatifid or pinnate-bipinnatifid with narrowly acute lobes.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月13日
Description: This wildflower is a summer annual about 4-12" tall that is branched or unbranched. The stems are light green, terete, and pubescent. The opposite leaves are about 1" long and ¼" across; they are elliptic, oblong-lanceolate, or oblong-oblanceolate in shape. The margins of the leaves are smooth or they have a few blunt teeth toward their tips. The petioles of the leaves are short and slender. The foliage of American Pennyroyal has a strong medicinal-mint scent. Small axillary clusters of 1-4 flowers are produced from the base of each middle to upper leaf. Each flower is about ¼" long and half as much across, consisting of a 2-lipped tubular corolla, a tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 2 stamens, and a 4-celled ovary with a single style. The corolla is white or blue-violet with a contrasting color near its throat. Along the outer rim of the corolla, there is an upper lobe, 2 lateral lobes, and a lower lobe; they are short and rounded (although not always well-defined). The hairy ridged calyx has 3 upper triangular teeth and 2 lower teeth that are slender-lanceolate. At the base of each flower, there is a pair of a leafy bracts; these bracts are at least as long as the flower. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts 1-3 months; individual flowers are short-lived. At maturity, each fertile flower is replaced by 4 nutlets. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself. It occasionally forms colonies at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that is rocky or loamy. Plants that are grown in sunny locations require more moisture than those growing in shade. Barren or disturbed locations that are largely devoid of ground vegetation are preferred, as this reduces competition from taller plants.
Range & Habitat: The native American Pennyroyal is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois, except the NW section of the state, where it is less common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland woodlands, rocky woodlands, areas along woodland trails, rocky glades, areas along railroads, roadsides, pastures, and fallow fields. This species prefers areas (whether sunny or shaded) that have been subjected to some disturbance.
Faunal Associations: Small bees pollinate the flowers, where they seek nectar and pollen. These visitors include little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Halictid bees (Augochlorella spp., Halictus spp., & Lasioglossum spp.), and the dagger bee Calliopsis andreniformis. Syrphid flies may visit the flowers occasionally, but they feed on the pollen and are less effective at pollination. The strong scent of the foliage protects this plant from mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: An upland area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The most remarkable thing about this little plant is the strong scent of the foliage. Otherwise, it is rather easy to overlook. The only other species in this genus that occurs in Illinois, Hedeoma hispida (Rough Pennyroyal), has linear leaves and a milder scent; it also prefers sunnier habitats. American Pennyroyal superficially resembles Gratiola neglecta (Clammy Hedge Hyssop), but this latter species lacks any fragrance and its prefers soggy habitats (e.g., damp depressions in woodlands). Native pennyroyal species (Hedeoma spp.) have only 2 stamens per flower, while other similar species in the Mint family often have 4 stamens per flower. Because the flowers are so small, this requires a 10x hand lens to see clearly.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that is rocky or loamy. Plants that are grown in sunny locations require more moisture than those growing in shade. Barren or disturbed locations that are largely devoid of ground vegetation are preferred, as this reduces competition from taller plants.
Range & Habitat: The native American Pennyroyal is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois, except the NW section of the state, where it is less common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland woodlands, rocky woodlands, areas along woodland trails, rocky glades, areas along railroads, roadsides, pastures, and fallow fields. This species prefers areas (whether sunny or shaded) that have been subjected to some disturbance.
Faunal Associations: Small bees pollinate the flowers, where they seek nectar and pollen. These visitors include little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Halictid bees (Augochlorella spp., Halictus spp., & Lasioglossum spp.), and the dagger bee Calliopsis andreniformis. Syrphid flies may visit the flowers occasionally, but they feed on the pollen and are less effective at pollination. The strong scent of the foliage protects this plant from mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: An upland area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The most remarkable thing about this little plant is the strong scent of the foliage. Otherwise, it is rather easy to overlook. The only other species in this genus that occurs in Illinois, Hedeoma hispida (Rough Pennyroyal), has linear leaves and a milder scent; it also prefers sunnier habitats. American Pennyroyal superficially resembles Gratiola neglecta (Clammy Hedge Hyssop), but this latter species lacks any fragrance and its prefers soggy habitats (e.g., damp depressions in woodlands). Native pennyroyal species (Hedeoma spp.) have only 2 stamens per flower, while other similar species in the Mint family often have 4 stamens per flower. Because the flowers are so small, this requires a 10x hand lens to see clearly.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年05月12日
Description: This is a herbaceous perennial plant about ½–2' tall that branches occasionally. The stems are light green to pale red, terete, slightly hairy, and shiny. Both basal and alternate leaves are produced. Basal leaves are compound or simple with long petioles; compound leaves are odd-pinnate with 3-7 leaflets. Simple leaves are orbicular, shallowly cleft, and dentate; the leaflets of compound leaves are ovate, shallowly or deeply cleft, and dentate. Alternate leaves are usually trifoliate with short petioles; their leaflets are narrowly ovate, cleft, and dentate. The upper surfaces of these leaves are medium to dark green and hairless to hairy. At the base of each leaf, there is a pair of large leafy stipules; these stipules are deeply cleft and dentate along their margins.
Flowers develop from the upper stems on long branching stalks; each stalk terminates in an individual flower about ¼" across. Individual flowers also develop from the axils of the upper leaves on long unbranched stalks. These flowering stalks are slightly hairy, shiny, and terete like the stems. Each flower has 5 yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, and a dense cluster of pistils and stamens in the middle. The petals are about the same length as the sepals (less than 1/8" or 3 mm.); the sepals are ovate and hang downward from the rest of the flower. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by dense cluster of bristly achenes; the receptacle of this clustered fruit is exerted from the calyx on a short stout stalk. The individual achenes are ellipsoid in shape and hairless to pubescent; the hooked bristles at their tips are persistent styles. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. Most growth and development occurs during the spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Spring Avens is common in the southern half of Illinois, while in the northern half of the state it is occasional, uncommon, or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, open woodlands, areas along woodland paths, shaped seeps, woodland borders, and fence rows with woody vegetation. Spring Avens can be found in both disturbed and undisturbed areas that receive some shade.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract small bees primarily, including little carpenter bees, Halictid bees, cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), and masked bees (Hylaeus spp.); these small bees suck mostly nectar, although some of the Halictid bees collect pollen for their larvae. Occasionally, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, and other flies also visit the flowers. The leaves of Spring Avens and other woodland Geum spp. (Avens) are grazed sparingly by White-tailed Deer. The bristly achenes can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans. By this means, they are distributed into new areas.
Photographic Location: A floodplain woodland in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This is the first woodland Geum sp. (Avens) to bloom in Illinois. Because the yellow petals of its flowers are quite small and short-lived, Spring Avens is not very showy. In contrast, its leaves are moderately attractive and variable in shape. Other woodland species in this genus include Geum canadensis (White Avens) and Geum laciniatum (Rough Avens). These species have flowers with white or cream petals and they bloom a little latter in the year (late spring to early summer). Unlike other species in the genus, the bristly fruits of Spring Avens are exserted from their calyces on short stout stalks. The fruits of other Avens lack these stalks. Thus, Spring Avens is easily identified by this peculiar characteristic.
Flowers develop from the upper stems on long branching stalks; each stalk terminates in an individual flower about ¼" across. Individual flowers also develop from the axils of the upper leaves on long unbranched stalks. These flowering stalks are slightly hairy, shiny, and terete like the stems. Each flower has 5 yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, and a dense cluster of pistils and stamens in the middle. The petals are about the same length as the sepals (less than 1/8" or 3 mm.); the sepals are ovate and hang downward from the rest of the flower. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by dense cluster of bristly achenes; the receptacle of this clustered fruit is exerted from the calyx on a short stout stalk. The individual achenes are ellipsoid in shape and hairless to pubescent; the hooked bristles at their tips are persistent styles. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. Most growth and development occurs during the spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Spring Avens is common in the southern half of Illinois, while in the northern half of the state it is occasional, uncommon, or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, open woodlands, areas along woodland paths, shaped seeps, woodland borders, and fence rows with woody vegetation. Spring Avens can be found in both disturbed and undisturbed areas that receive some shade.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract small bees primarily, including little carpenter bees, Halictid bees, cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), and masked bees (Hylaeus spp.); these small bees suck mostly nectar, although some of the Halictid bees collect pollen for their larvae. Occasionally, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, and other flies also visit the flowers. The leaves of Spring Avens and other woodland Geum spp. (Avens) are grazed sparingly by White-tailed Deer. The bristly achenes can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans. By this means, they are distributed into new areas.
Photographic Location: A floodplain woodland in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This is the first woodland Geum sp. (Avens) to bloom in Illinois. Because the yellow petals of its flowers are quite small and short-lived, Spring Avens is not very showy. In contrast, its leaves are moderately attractive and variable in shape. Other woodland species in this genus include Geum canadensis (White Avens) and Geum laciniatum (Rough Avens). These species have flowers with white or cream petals and they bloom a little latter in the year (late spring to early summer). Unlike other species in the genus, the bristly fruits of Spring Avens are exserted from their calyces on short stout stalks. The fruits of other Avens lack these stalks. Thus, Spring Avens is easily identified by this peculiar characteristic.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月12日
Description: This sub-shrub is 3–8" (5–20 cm.) tall. It has ascending semi-woody stems that are sparingly branched. These stems are light green to bright red and more or less terete; they are sparsely to moderately covered with appressed white hairs. Alternate evergreen leaves occur along these stems. The leaves are ¾–2" (2–5 cm.) long and about one-third to one-half as much across; they are elliptic, ovate, obovate, or oval in shape. The margins of the leaves are sparsely serrated with bristly teeth. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green, hairless, and shiny, while the lower leaf surface is light green, hairless to sparsely appressed-hairy, and dull. Leaf texture is somewhat stiff and leathery, while leaf venation is pinnate. The petioles of the leaves are light green to bright red and less than ¼" (6 mm.) long; they are sparsely to moderately covered with appressed white hairs. The foliage of this sub-shrub has a minty (or wintergreen) fragrance, especially when it is crushed. Either solitary or short racemes of 2-5 nodding flowers develop from the upper leaf axils.
Each flower is about 1/3" (8 mm.) in length, consisting of a white bell-shaped corolla (sometimes tinted pink) with 5 short outwardly curled lobes, a white calyx with 5 ovate-oval lobes, 5 inserted stamens, and a pistil with a single stout style. The calyx is much shorter than the corolla. At the base of each flower, there is a pair of tiny ovate to heart-shaped bracts; these bracts can be light green, white, or red, and they have membranous margins. The pedicels of the flowers are up to 1/3" (8 mm.) in length, light green to red, and more or less terete; they are sparsely to moderately covered with appressed white hairs. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer, lasting about 3 weeks. The flowers are reported to be fragrant. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by berry-like fruits that become mature during late summer or early autumn. Mature fruits are about 1/3" (8 mm.) or slightly more across, bright red, and globoid in shape; they have a fleshy interior that is slightly sweet and minty (wintergreen) in flavor. Each fruit contains many tiny seeds. The root system has shallow rhizomes, from which clonal subshrubs develop. The evergreen foliage becomes reddish or purplish during the autumn.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to dry-mesic conditions, relatively cool temperatures, and somewhat acidic soil containing either sand or loam with decaying organic matter. Growth and development are relatively slow. Flowers and fruits are more likely to be produced in brighter locations. The seeds are difficult to germinate.
Range & Habitat: Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is native to northern Illinois, where it is rare and state-listed as 'endangered' (see Distribution Map). Elsewhere within the state, it is absent from natural areas. Wintergreen occurs primarily in the Great Lakes region, northeastern USA, and adjacent areas of Canada; it also occurs in the Appalachian mountains in high-altitude areas. In Illinois, the habitats of this sub-shrub are largely restricted to upland oak woodlands, wooded hillsides, forested bogs, and shrubby bogs. In more northern areas, it is often found in coniferous woodlands, mixed woodlands, and shrubby meadows. Wintergreen occurs in high quality natural areas in Illinois. It is easily topkilled by wildfires, although the thinning of the tree canopy and reduction of taller shrubs can cause populations of this sub-shrub to increase.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees are the primary pollinators of the flowers. Other floral visitors include cuckoo bumblebees (Psithyrus spp.) and the honeybee. Nectar is the primary floral reward for these insect visitors (Mirick & Quin, 1981; Reader, 1977; Lovell, 1898). Other insects feed on the plant sap or foliage of Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). These species include an aphid (Illinoia borealis) and larvae of two moths, Cameraria gaultheriella and Rhopobota naevana (Blackman & Eastop, 2013; Ferguson, 1975; Needham et al., 1928). Birds and mammals also use Wintergreen as a source of food. The Ruffed Grouse eats the buds, leaves, and fruits; the Bobwhite Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, and the extinct Passenger Pigeon eat (or ate) the fruits (Bennetts, 1900; Martin et al., 1951/1961; Coladonato, 1994; Schorger, 1955). This sub-shrub provides protective cover for the nests of the rare Kirtland's Warbler in Jack Pine barrens in the state of Michigan (Buech, 1980). Mammals feeding on this sub-shrub include the American Black Bear (leaves & fruits), Red Fox (fruits), Eastern Chipmunk (leaves & fruits), Elk (leaves & twigs), White-tailed Deer (leaves & twigs), Deer Mouse (fruits), and White-footed Mouse (fruits); see Coladonato (1994), Martin et al. (1951/1961), Schneider et al. (2006), Hamilton (1941), and Schloyer (1976) for more information. Fruit-eating birds and mammals spread the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: A flower garden at the Urbana Free Library in Urbana, Illinois, and a wooded hillside at the Pine Hills Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: The most striking characteristic of this plant is the mint (or wintergreen) fragrance of its crushed leaves, from which oil of wintergreen is made. Even without flowers or fruits, Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) can be identified by the size, shape, and fragrance of its leathery evergreen leaves. Another species in this genus, Creeping Snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula), is found north of Illinois in more boreal areas. Its crushed leaves have the same wintergreen fragrance, but Creeping Snowberry differs from Wintergreen by its prostrate habit of growth, white berry-like fruits, and smaller leaves. Other similar species in the Heath family (Ericaceae) are either larger shrubs or their leaves lack the wintergreen fragrance. Other common names of Gaultheria procumbens are Teaberry and Checkerberry.
Each flower is about 1/3" (8 mm.) in length, consisting of a white bell-shaped corolla (sometimes tinted pink) with 5 short outwardly curled lobes, a white calyx with 5 ovate-oval lobes, 5 inserted stamens, and a pistil with a single stout style. The calyx is much shorter than the corolla. At the base of each flower, there is a pair of tiny ovate to heart-shaped bracts; these bracts can be light green, white, or red, and they have membranous margins. The pedicels of the flowers are up to 1/3" (8 mm.) in length, light green to red, and more or less terete; they are sparsely to moderately covered with appressed white hairs. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer, lasting about 3 weeks. The flowers are reported to be fragrant. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by berry-like fruits that become mature during late summer or early autumn. Mature fruits are about 1/3" (8 mm.) or slightly more across, bright red, and globoid in shape; they have a fleshy interior that is slightly sweet and minty (wintergreen) in flavor. Each fruit contains many tiny seeds. The root system has shallow rhizomes, from which clonal subshrubs develop. The evergreen foliage becomes reddish or purplish during the autumn.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to dry-mesic conditions, relatively cool temperatures, and somewhat acidic soil containing either sand or loam with decaying organic matter. Growth and development are relatively slow. Flowers and fruits are more likely to be produced in brighter locations. The seeds are difficult to germinate.
Range & Habitat: Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is native to northern Illinois, where it is rare and state-listed as 'endangered' (see Distribution Map). Elsewhere within the state, it is absent from natural areas. Wintergreen occurs primarily in the Great Lakes region, northeastern USA, and adjacent areas of Canada; it also occurs in the Appalachian mountains in high-altitude areas. In Illinois, the habitats of this sub-shrub are largely restricted to upland oak woodlands, wooded hillsides, forested bogs, and shrubby bogs. In more northern areas, it is often found in coniferous woodlands, mixed woodlands, and shrubby meadows. Wintergreen occurs in high quality natural areas in Illinois. It is easily topkilled by wildfires, although the thinning of the tree canopy and reduction of taller shrubs can cause populations of this sub-shrub to increase.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees are the primary pollinators of the flowers. Other floral visitors include cuckoo bumblebees (Psithyrus spp.) and the honeybee. Nectar is the primary floral reward for these insect visitors (Mirick & Quin, 1981; Reader, 1977; Lovell, 1898). Other insects feed on the plant sap or foliage of Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). These species include an aphid (Illinoia borealis) and larvae of two moths, Cameraria gaultheriella and Rhopobota naevana (Blackman & Eastop, 2013; Ferguson, 1975; Needham et al., 1928). Birds and mammals also use Wintergreen as a source of food. The Ruffed Grouse eats the buds, leaves, and fruits; the Bobwhite Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, and the extinct Passenger Pigeon eat (or ate) the fruits (Bennetts, 1900; Martin et al., 1951/1961; Coladonato, 1994; Schorger, 1955). This sub-shrub provides protective cover for the nests of the rare Kirtland's Warbler in Jack Pine barrens in the state of Michigan (Buech, 1980). Mammals feeding on this sub-shrub include the American Black Bear (leaves & fruits), Red Fox (fruits), Eastern Chipmunk (leaves & fruits), Elk (leaves & twigs), White-tailed Deer (leaves & twigs), Deer Mouse (fruits), and White-footed Mouse (fruits); see Coladonato (1994), Martin et al. (1951/1961), Schneider et al. (2006), Hamilton (1941), and Schloyer (1976) for more information. Fruit-eating birds and mammals spread the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: A flower garden at the Urbana Free Library in Urbana, Illinois, and a wooded hillside at the Pine Hills Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: The most striking characteristic of this plant is the mint (or wintergreen) fragrance of its crushed leaves, from which oil of wintergreen is made. Even without flowers or fruits, Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) can be identified by the size, shape, and fragrance of its leathery evergreen leaves. Another species in this genus, Creeping Snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula), is found north of Illinois in more boreal areas. Its crushed leaves have the same wintergreen fragrance, but Creeping Snowberry differs from Wintergreen by its prostrate habit of growth, white berry-like fruits, and smaller leaves. Other similar species in the Heath family (Ericaceae) are either larger shrubs or their leaves lack the wintergreen fragrance. Other common names of Gaultheria procumbens are Teaberry and Checkerberry.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月12日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1-3' tall, branching occasionally. The slender stems have a tendency to sprawl; they are light green to reddish green, angular, and strongly ridged. Usually, there are a few short hairs that provide the stems with a slightly rough texture. At intervals along the stems, there are whorls of 6 sessile leaves. These leaves are up to 2½" long and ½" across; they are oblanceolate in shape, while their margins are smooth and ciliate. Each leaf abruptly tapers to a short pointed tip (cuspidate). Occasionally, 1-3 stalks of flowers develop from the middle to upper whorled leaves; these stalks are often longer than the leaves, and they can be axillary or terminal. Each of these stalks may produce 1-3 flowers on slender pedicels.
Each flower spans about 1/6" (4.5 mm.) across, consisting of 4 greenish white to white petals, 4 stamens, and a bristly 2-celled ovary. Each petal tapers to a narrow tip. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about 2 months. Each flower is replaced by a bristly 2-celled carpel; each globoid cell contains a single small seed. The cells of the carpel eventually separate. The root system produces rhizomes. This plant can spread by reseeding itself, or by forming vegetative offshoots from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist conditions, and a fertile loamy soil.
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet-Scented Bedstraw occurs in most areas of Illinois, where it is occasional to locally common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands, rocky bluffs, areas along woodland paths, thickets, moist meadows, partially shaded seeps and springs, partially shaded riverbanks, and bogs. In badly degraded woodlands, this plant is replaced by Galium aparine (Cleavers).
Faunal Associations: The flowers are occasionally visited by small bees or flies; these insects usually suck nectar. The caterpillars of several moths feed on Galium spp. (Bedstraws), including Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), Epirrhoe alternata (White-Banded Toothed Carpet), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Other insect feeders include larvae of Dasineura americana (Bedstraw Midge), larvae of the sawfly Halidamia affinis, and the polyphagous aphid Abstrusomyzus phloxae. Deer usually leave the foliage alone. The bristly carpels of Sweet-Scented Bedstraw can cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans; by this means, the seeds are distributed to new locations.
Photographic Location: Along a woodland path in a moist area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The common name refers to the vanilla scent of the dried foliage. Sweet-Scented Bedstraw is typically found in moist woodlands. It can be distinguished from other Galium spp. (Bedstraws) by considering the following set of features: 1) there are 6 leaves per whorl, 2) the carpels are bristly rather than glabrous, 3) the leaves are oblanceolate with short pointed tips, and 4) the petals of the flowers taper to narrow tips. Sweet-Scented Bedstraw is one of the larger Bedstraws and its stems can be smooth or slightly rough. Its appearance is similar to Galium aparine (Cleavers), although the latter is an annual plant that occasionally produces 8 leaves per whorl and its bristly stems and leaf margins are more likely to cling to adjacent objects.
Each flower spans about 1/6" (4.5 mm.) across, consisting of 4 greenish white to white petals, 4 stamens, and a bristly 2-celled ovary. Each petal tapers to a narrow tip. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about 2 months. Each flower is replaced by a bristly 2-celled carpel; each globoid cell contains a single small seed. The cells of the carpel eventually separate. The root system produces rhizomes. This plant can spread by reseeding itself, or by forming vegetative offshoots from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist conditions, and a fertile loamy soil.
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet-Scented Bedstraw occurs in most areas of Illinois, where it is occasional to locally common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to mesic deciduous woodlands, rocky bluffs, areas along woodland paths, thickets, moist meadows, partially shaded seeps and springs, partially shaded riverbanks, and bogs. In badly degraded woodlands, this plant is replaced by Galium aparine (Cleavers).
Faunal Associations: The flowers are occasionally visited by small bees or flies; these insects usually suck nectar. The caterpillars of several moths feed on Galium spp. (Bedstraws), including Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), Epirrhoe alternata (White-Banded Toothed Carpet), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Other insect feeders include larvae of Dasineura americana (Bedstraw Midge), larvae of the sawfly Halidamia affinis, and the polyphagous aphid Abstrusomyzus phloxae. Deer usually leave the foliage alone. The bristly carpels of Sweet-Scented Bedstraw can cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans; by this means, the seeds are distributed to new locations.
Photographic Location: Along a woodland path in a moist area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: The common name refers to the vanilla scent of the dried foliage. Sweet-Scented Bedstraw is typically found in moist woodlands. It can be distinguished from other Galium spp. (Bedstraws) by considering the following set of features: 1) there are 6 leaves per whorl, 2) the carpels are bristly rather than glabrous, 3) the leaves are oblanceolate with short pointed tips, and 4) the petals of the flowers taper to narrow tips. Sweet-Scented Bedstraw is one of the larger Bedstraws and its stems can be smooth or slightly rough. Its appearance is similar to Galium aparine (Cleavers), although the latter is an annual plant that occasionally produces 8 leaves per whorl and its bristly stems and leaf margins are more likely to cling to adjacent objects.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月12日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 4-20" tall at maturity, developing weak branching stems that have a tendency to lean on adjacent vegetation as they become longer. These stems are light green, angular, and branched; their edges are either smooth or slightly rough from short bristly hairs. Along the stems, there are whorls of mostly 6 leaves; often there are whorls of 4 leaves immediately below the cymes or panicles of flowers. Individual leaves are up to ¾" long and 1/8" (3 mm.) across; they are linear-elliptic in shape with short bristly hairs along their margins. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green, hairless, and shiny. The leaves are sessile at their bases, while their tips are either blunt or acute.
The upper stems terminate in either small cymes or large panicles of flowers; the size of an inflorescence is variable depending on the size of the plant and environmental conditions. Each inflorescence is abundantly branched, terminating in groups of 2-3 flowers on short divergent pedicels. The pedicels of the flowers are light green, angular, and hairless. Each flower is about 1/8" across or a little less, consisting of a white corolla with 4 pointed lobes, 4 stamens, 2 styles, and a 2-celled ovary that is without bristles. Each cell of the ovary is globoid-ovoid in shape and joined together with the other cell along one side. The blooming period occurs during early summer, lasting about 2-3 weeks. The flowers are later replaced with smooth 2-celled fruits that change color from light green to purple and finally brown. Each cell of the fruit usually contains a single seed (or sometimes none). The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Small colonies of plants often develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to dappled sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, or rocky material with decaying organic matter. This bedstraw is more tolerant of dry conditions than most species in its genus. It could be cultivated as a ground cover underneath trees.
Range & Habitat: The native Shining Bedstraw is common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, upland woodlands, open rocky woodlands, sandy woodlands, upper slopes and tops of bluffs, shaded cliffs, and woodland edges. Generally, this bedstraw is found in upland wooded areas where deciduous trees, especially oaks, are present.
Faunal Associations: The small flowers are cross-pollinated by small bees and flies, including Masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), and Syrphid flies. These insects suck nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed on the foliage, flower tissue, or plant juices of Galium spp. (bedstraws). These insect feeders include the caterpillars of such moths as Epirrhoe alternata (White-Banded Toothed Carpet), Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Another insect, Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid), uses bedstraws as summer host plants. Because the stiff bristly hairs of the leaves can cling to passing objects, animals may play a minor role in distributing the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a wooded bluff in east-central Illinois and the edge of a sandy woodland in NW Indiana.
Comments: Shining Bedstraw can be identified by its attractive shiny leaves in whorls of 6, its smooth fruits, and its preference for upland wooded locations.
The upper stems terminate in either small cymes or large panicles of flowers; the size of an inflorescence is variable depending on the size of the plant and environmental conditions. Each inflorescence is abundantly branched, terminating in groups of 2-3 flowers on short divergent pedicels. The pedicels of the flowers are light green, angular, and hairless. Each flower is about 1/8" across or a little less, consisting of a white corolla with 4 pointed lobes, 4 stamens, 2 styles, and a 2-celled ovary that is without bristles. Each cell of the ovary is globoid-ovoid in shape and joined together with the other cell along one side. The blooming period occurs during early summer, lasting about 2-3 weeks. The flowers are later replaced with smooth 2-celled fruits that change color from light green to purple and finally brown. Each cell of the fruit usually contains a single seed (or sometimes none). The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Small colonies of plants often develop from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is medium shade to dappled sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, or rocky material with decaying organic matter. This bedstraw is more tolerant of dry conditions than most species in its genus. It could be cultivated as a ground cover underneath trees.
Range & Habitat: The native Shining Bedstraw is common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include rich mesic woodlands, upland woodlands, open rocky woodlands, sandy woodlands, upper slopes and tops of bluffs, shaded cliffs, and woodland edges. Generally, this bedstraw is found in upland wooded areas where deciduous trees, especially oaks, are present.
Faunal Associations: The small flowers are cross-pollinated by small bees and flies, including Masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), and Syrphid flies. These insects suck nectar from the flowers. Other insects feed on the foliage, flower tissue, or plant juices of Galium spp. (bedstraws). These insect feeders include the caterpillars of such moths as Epirrhoe alternata (White-Banded Toothed Carpet), Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Another insect, Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid), uses bedstraws as summer host plants. Because the stiff bristly hairs of the leaves can cling to passing objects, animals may play a minor role in distributing the seeds to new locations.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a wooded bluff in east-central Illinois and the edge of a sandy woodland in NW Indiana.
Comments: Shining Bedstraw can be identified by its attractive shiny leaves in whorls of 6, its smooth fruits, and its preference for upland wooded locations.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月11日
Description: This perennial wildflower is ¾–2' tall with erect to ascending stems. These stems are sometimes branched at the base, otherwise they are unbranched (except when axillary inflorescences are present). The stems are light green, 4-angled, and glabrous to sparsely hairy. At intervals along these stems, there are whorls of 4 leaves. The leaves are up to 2½" long and 1" across, lanceolate-ovate to ovate, medium green, sessile, and sparsely pubescent on both the lower and upper sides. Their margins are smooth and ciliate. Each leaf has 3 prominent parallel veins. Usually, the leaves toward the middle of each stem are largest. Each major stem terminates in a dichotomously forked inflorescence that produces only a few flowers; sometimes smaller inflorescences develop from the axils of the upper leaves. Like the stems, the branches of each inflorescence are 4-angled, light green, and glabrous to sparsely hairy. At each fork of the inflorescence, there are 0-4 small bracts that are linear or linear-lanceolate in shape.
The flowers occur individually along these branches and they are usually sessile (or nearly so). Each flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of a corolla with 4 lobes, a double-ovoid ovary, 4 stamens, and a pair of styles. The corolla is usually greenish white or greenish yellow; less often, it is purple. The immature ovary is green, bristly, and 2-celled. The blooming period usually occurs during the early summer and lasts about a month. At maturity, each ovary becomes a dry fruit that is black or dark brown, globoid in shape, and covered with hooked bristles. One cell of this fruit produces a single nutlet, while the other cell becomes a small fleshy elaiosome (food appendage). The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself or vegetatively through its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, mesic to dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with some decaying organic matter (e.g., fallen leaves). The foliage usually remains in good condition throughout the summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Licorice is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry deciduous woodlands, bluffs, woodland borders, areas along woodland paths, thickets, and limestone glades.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are visited sparingly by small bees and miscellaneous flies; these insects usually seek nectar. The caterpillars of several moths feed on Galium spp. (Bedstraws), including Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), Pleuroprucha insulsaria (Common Tan Wave), Scopula limboundata (Large Lace Border), Epirrhoe alternata (White-banded Toothed Carpet), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Bedstraws are summer hosts of Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid); another aphid, Aphis gossypii (Cotton Aphid), has been found on the leaves of Wild Licorice. Among vertebrate animals, the Eastern Box Turtle occasionally eats the foliage of bedstraws in woodlands; White-tailed Deer also eat the foliage of these plants to a limited extent. The hooked bristles of the fruits can cling to the fur of mammals and the clothing of humans; this distributes the seeds into new areas. Because each fruit contains an elaiosome that is attractive to ants, these insects also help to distribute the seeds.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at Pine Hills Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: While the flowers are not very showy, the foliage is reasonably attractive. Wild Licorice has larger leaves than most Galium spp. (Bedstraws). In addition to this characteristic, it can be distinguished from other bedstraws by its whorls of 4 leaves, pubescent leaves, bristly fruit, and/or flowers that are sessile along the branches of each inflorescence. A very similar species, Galium lanceolatum (Lance-Leaved Wild Licorice), has hairless leaves that are more narrow toward their tips, and its flowers are usually purple. Both of these species prefer shaded habitats that are rather dry.
The flowers occur individually along these branches and they are usually sessile (or nearly so). Each flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of a corolla with 4 lobes, a double-ovoid ovary, 4 stamens, and a pair of styles. The corolla is usually greenish white or greenish yellow; less often, it is purple. The immature ovary is green, bristly, and 2-celled. The blooming period usually occurs during the early summer and lasts about a month. At maturity, each ovary becomes a dry fruit that is black or dark brown, globoid in shape, and covered with hooked bristles. One cell of this fruit produces a single nutlet, while the other cell becomes a small fleshy elaiosome (food appendage). The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself or vegetatively through its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, mesic to dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with some decaying organic matter (e.g., fallen leaves). The foliage usually remains in good condition throughout the summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Licorice is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry deciduous woodlands, bluffs, woodland borders, areas along woodland paths, thickets, and limestone glades.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are visited sparingly by small bees and miscellaneous flies; these insects usually seek nectar. The caterpillars of several moths feed on Galium spp. (Bedstraws), including Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), Pleuroprucha insulsaria (Common Tan Wave), Scopula limboundata (Large Lace Border), Epirrhoe alternata (White-banded Toothed Carpet), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Bedstraws are summer hosts of Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid); another aphid, Aphis gossypii (Cotton Aphid), has been found on the leaves of Wild Licorice. Among vertebrate animals, the Eastern Box Turtle occasionally eats the foliage of bedstraws in woodlands; White-tailed Deer also eat the foliage of these plants to a limited extent. The hooked bristles of the fruits can cling to the fur of mammals and the clothing of humans; this distributes the seeds into new areas. Because each fruit contains an elaiosome that is attractive to ants, these insects also help to distribute the seeds.
Photographic Location: A deciduous woodland at Pine Hills Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: While the flowers are not very showy, the foliage is reasonably attractive. Wild Licorice has larger leaves than most Galium spp. (Bedstraws). In addition to this characteristic, it can be distinguished from other bedstraws by its whorls of 4 leaves, pubescent leaves, bristly fruit, and/or flowers that are sessile along the branches of each inflorescence. A very similar species, Galium lanceolatum (Lance-Leaved Wild Licorice), has hairless leaves that are more narrow toward their tips, and its flowers are usually purple. Both of these species prefer shaded habitats that are rather dry.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月11日
Description: This perennial plant is ½–1½' tall and up to 3½' long, developing as a dwarf shrub or a short woody vine. The central stem is either ascending or sprawling, branching occasionally. The central stem and any lateral stems are light green or purple, terete or angular, and hairless. Pairs of opposite leaves occur at interval along these stems. Individual leaves are up to 2½" long and 1¾" across, obovate, hairless, and finely serrate-crenate along their margins. The upper surface of each leaf is medium green, while the lower surface is slightly more pale with raised pinnate veins. The petioles are about 1/8" (3 mm.) long. Cymes of 1-4 flowers occasionally develop from the axils of the leaves. The peduncle of each cyme is about 1-2" long, while the pedicels of individual flowers are much shorter. Individual flowers are up to 1/3" (8 mm.) across, consisting of 5 pale greenish purple petals, a short green calyx with 5 lobes, 5 short stamens, and a central pistil. The petals are nearly orbicular in shape and slightly overlapping.
The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. Each fertile flower is replaced by a tuberculate globoid fruit about ¾" across. This fruit usually has 3 lobed cells (less often, there are 5). The outer surface of the fruit is orange or pink. When it splits open along its lobes, the fleshy arils covering the seeds are revealed; they are scarlet. New rootlets can develop where the stems have contact with the ground; as a result, this plant can reproduce vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and soil that is loamy or rocky. Well-drained areas are preferred. Because of its habitat of growth, Running Strawberry Bush can be used as a ground cover.
Range & Habitat: Running Strawberry Bush is an uncommon plant that is found only in NE Illinois, east-central Illinois, and southern Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Illinois lies along the NW edge of its range. Habitats include upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, and shaded to semi-shaded areas along the edges of cliffs. Running Strawberry is a conservative species that is found in high quality habitats.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this particular species is limited. The nectar and pollen of the flowers probably attract small bees and miscellaneous flies. Some insects that are known to feed on Euonymus spp. include Taedia evonymi (Euonymus Plant Bug), Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Black Vine Weevil), Unaspis euonymi (Euonymus Scale), caterpillars of Herpetogramma thestealis (Pyralid Moth sp.), caterpillars of Yponomeuta multipunctella (American Ermine Moth), and the larvae of Stenocorus cinnamopterus (Long-Horned Beetle sp.). The larvae of this latter insect bore through branches. The fruit of Running Strawberry Bush is probably eaten by the Wild Turkey and other birds, while the foliage is occasionally eaten by White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbits, even though both the fruit and foliage are supposed to be somewhat toxic.
Photographic Location: Along the wooded slope of a bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This interesting shrub should be cultivated more often. Running Strawberry Bush differs from other Euonymus spp. by its low habit of growth (less than 2' tall) and stems that often sprawl across the ground (less than 4' long). Other Euonymus spp. are either taller or they have longer stems. The flowers of Running Strawberry Bush have 5 petals, while the flowers of most Eurasian Euonymus spp. in Illinois have only 4 petals. This low shrub can be confused with a small Euonymus americanus (Strawberry Bush). Running Strawberry Bush usually has obovate leaves that are widest above the middle, while the latter shrub has leaves that are widest at or below the middle. A mature specimen of Strawberry Bush is about 3-6' tall.
The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. Each fertile flower is replaced by a tuberculate globoid fruit about ¾" across. This fruit usually has 3 lobed cells (less often, there are 5). The outer surface of the fruit is orange or pink. When it splits open along its lobes, the fleshy arils covering the seeds are revealed; they are scarlet. New rootlets can develop where the stems have contact with the ground; as a result, this plant can reproduce vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to slightly dry conditions, and soil that is loamy or rocky. Well-drained areas are preferred. Because of its habitat of growth, Running Strawberry Bush can be used as a ground cover.
Range & Habitat: Running Strawberry Bush is an uncommon plant that is found only in NE Illinois, east-central Illinois, and southern Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Illinois lies along the NW edge of its range. Habitats include upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, and shaded to semi-shaded areas along the edges of cliffs. Running Strawberry is a conservative species that is found in high quality habitats.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this particular species is limited. The nectar and pollen of the flowers probably attract small bees and miscellaneous flies. Some insects that are known to feed on Euonymus spp. include Taedia evonymi (Euonymus Plant Bug), Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Black Vine Weevil), Unaspis euonymi (Euonymus Scale), caterpillars of Herpetogramma thestealis (Pyralid Moth sp.), caterpillars of Yponomeuta multipunctella (American Ermine Moth), and the larvae of Stenocorus cinnamopterus (Long-Horned Beetle sp.). The larvae of this latter insect bore through branches. The fruit of Running Strawberry Bush is probably eaten by the Wild Turkey and other birds, while the foliage is occasionally eaten by White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbits, even though both the fruit and foliage are supposed to be somewhat toxic.
Photographic Location: Along the wooded slope of a bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: This interesting shrub should be cultivated more often. Running Strawberry Bush differs from other Euonymus spp. by its low habit of growth (less than 2' tall) and stems that often sprawl across the ground (less than 4' long). Other Euonymus spp. are either taller or they have longer stems. The flowers of Running Strawberry Bush have 5 petals, while the flowers of most Eurasian Euonymus spp. in Illinois have only 4 petals. This low shrub can be confused with a small Euonymus americanus (Strawberry Bush). Running Strawberry Bush usually has obovate leaves that are widest above the middle, while the latter shrub has leaves that are widest at or below the middle. A mature specimen of Strawberry Bush is about 3-6' tall.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月10日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 3-10" tall, consisting of one or more stems with alternate leaves and compound umbels of flowers. The light green to reddish brown stems are stout, longitudinal ridged, and glabrous; sometimes they are erect, but more often sprawl across the ground. The leaves are up to 5" long and 3" across; they are ternately compound (typically divided into 3 leaflets). Each leaflet is irregularly cleft into about 3 narrow lobes; these lobes are oblong, elliptic-oblong, or narrowly oblanceolate and their margins lack teeth. The blades of the leaves (i.e., their leaflets) are light to medium green and glabrous, while their long petioles are sheathed at the base.
The stems terminate in compound umbels of white flowers. Each compound umbel consists of 1-4 umbellets, while each umbellet has 1-6 flowers. The flowers of each umbellet are closely bunched together because their pedicels are quite short. At the base of each umbellet, there is a small leafy bract. Each flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 narrow white petals, 5 stamens, a divided white style, and no sepals. The anthers of the stamens are initially dark red, but they soon turn black. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-spring and lasts about 1 month. Each flower is replaced by a slightly flattened globoid fruit (a schizocarp) that contains a single seed. The root system consists of a corm with fibrous roots. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself. Occasionally, it forms loose colonies of plants.
Cultivation: Some dappled sunlight is required during the spring, otherwise shade is tolerated. Moist to mesic conditions and a rich loamy soil with some rotting organic matter are preferred. Most vegetative growth and development occurs during thePlant in Bloom spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Harbinger-of-Spring has a scattered distribution throughout most of Illinois, but it is absent from the NW section of the state (see Distribution Map). It is occasional in some woodlands, but mysteriously absent from many others. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands with deciduous trees, wooded areas at the base of bluffs, rocky bluffs, wooded bottomland of rocky canyons, gentle wooded slopes along rivers, and areas along woodland paths. This wildflower is normally found in high quality deciduous woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract primarily small to medium-size bees and miscellaneous flies. Bee visitors include Little Carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Mason bees (Osmia spp.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), and Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp., Halictus spp., etc.). Fly visitors include Calliphorid flies, Anthomyiid flies, Frit flies (Chloropidae), Lance flies (Lonchaeidae), and flower flies (Syrphidae). These insects seek primarily nectar from the flowers.
Photographic Location: A wooded area at the base of a bluff in Kickapoo State Park, Vermilion County, Illinois. This location is not far from an abandoned coal mine.
Comments: This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in our deciduous woodlands. Because of its small flowers and low growth habit, it is rather easy to overlook. Also, when observed from a distance, Harbinger-of-Spring can be confused with other wildflowers with small white flowers. Another common name is 'Pepper-and-Salt Plant,' which refers to the anthers of the flowers (after they have become black) and the bright white petals. This wildflower is fairly distinctive because of its period of early bloom, stout stems, oddly colored anthers, and tight umbellets of flowers with narrow white petals.
The stems terminate in compound umbels of white flowers. Each compound umbel consists of 1-4 umbellets, while each umbellet has 1-6 flowers. The flowers of each umbellet are closely bunched together because their pedicels are quite short. At the base of each umbellet, there is a small leafy bract. Each flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 narrow white petals, 5 stamens, a divided white style, and no sepals. The anthers of the stamens are initially dark red, but they soon turn black. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-spring and lasts about 1 month. Each flower is replaced by a slightly flattened globoid fruit (a schizocarp) that contains a single seed. The root system consists of a corm with fibrous roots. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself. Occasionally, it forms loose colonies of plants.
Cultivation: Some dappled sunlight is required during the spring, otherwise shade is tolerated. Moist to mesic conditions and a rich loamy soil with some rotting organic matter are preferred. Most vegetative growth and development occurs during thePlant in Bloom spring.
Range & Habitat: The native Harbinger-of-Spring has a scattered distribution throughout most of Illinois, but it is absent from the NW section of the state (see Distribution Map). It is occasional in some woodlands, but mysteriously absent from many others. Habitats include rich mesic woodlands with deciduous trees, wooded areas at the base of bluffs, rocky bluffs, wooded bottomland of rocky canyons, gentle wooded slopes along rivers, and areas along woodland paths. This wildflower is normally found in high quality deciduous woodlands.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract primarily small to medium-size bees and miscellaneous flies. Bee visitors include Little Carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Mason bees (Osmia spp.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), and Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp., Halictus spp., etc.). Fly visitors include Calliphorid flies, Anthomyiid flies, Frit flies (Chloropidae), Lance flies (Lonchaeidae), and flower flies (Syrphidae). These insects seek primarily nectar from the flowers.
Photographic Location: A wooded area at the base of a bluff in Kickapoo State Park, Vermilion County, Illinois. This location is not far from an abandoned coal mine.
Comments: This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in our deciduous woodlands. Because of its small flowers and low growth habit, it is rather easy to overlook. Also, when observed from a distance, Harbinger-of-Spring can be confused with other wildflowers with small white flowers. Another common name is 'Pepper-and-Salt Plant,' which refers to the anthers of the flowers (after they have become black) and the bright white petals. This wildflower is fairly distinctive because of its period of early bloom, stout stems, oddly colored anthers, and tight umbellets of flowers with narrow white petals.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月10日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is up to 1' tall, branching sparingly. It produces both basal and alternate compound leaves with a similar appearance. The stems are reddish green, hairless, and slender. The compound leaves are trifoliate and they have slender petioles. The terminal leaflet has a longer petiolule (basal stalklet) than the two lateral leaflets. These leaflets are up to 1" long and ¾" across. They are ternately lobed, cleft, and hairless. The white flowers occur individually or in groups of 2-3. Each flower spans about ¾" across, consisting of 5 petal-like sepals that are white, no petals, several slender stamens with yellow anthers, and a few green pistils in the center. The blooming period occurs during mid-spring and lasts about 3 weeks. Afterwards, the pistils are replaced by beaked follicles (seedpods that split open along one side) that individually contain several seeds. The root system is fibrous and occasionally small tubers are produced. Vegetative clones of the mother plant are often produced from these tubers; reproduction also occurs by the seeds. False Rue Anemone often forms dense colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant leaf mould.
Range & Habitat: The native False Rue Anemone is fairly common in the majority of counties in Illinois, otherwise it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include in rich mesic woodlands and low woodlands along streams where deciduous trees are dominant. This species can be extirpated from a woodlands by an invasion of Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard) and non-native shrubs.
Faunal Associations: Except for visitors of the flowers, little is known about the floral-faunal relations of this species. The pollen of the flowers attracts medium- to small-sized bees and flies primarily, including Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp., etc.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), honeybees, Syrphid flies, and other flies. The bees collect pollen, while the flies feed on pollen. Occasionally various beetles also feed on the pollen, but they are less effective at cross-pollination. Some of these insects probably search in vain for nectar, as the flowers lack nectaries. The foliage of False Rue Anemone is rarely browsed by mammalian herbivores (personal observation).
Photographic Location: A mesic deciduous woodlands at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Another scientific name for False Rue Anemone is Isopyrum biternatum. This species blooms a little earlier than many other spring wildflowers in a woodlands, and it has attractive flowers and foliage. Two other members of the Buttercup family that occur in woodlands, Anemone quinequefolia (Wood Anemone) and Anemonella thalictroides (Rue Anemone), resemble False Rue Anemone. Wood Anemone has leaflets that are coarsely serrated along the margins and their lobes taper to sharp points; it also differs from False Rue Anemone by the whorl of leaves underneath its flowers. Rue Anemone also has whorled leaves underneath its flowers, otherwise its foliage is very similar to that of False Rue Anemone (which has alternate leaves along the stems). While Wood Anemone and Rue Anemone produce small clusters of beaked achenes (each containing a single seed within a hardened exterior), False Rue Anemone produces small clusters of beaked follicles that each contain 2 or more seeds. Sometimes the white flowers of Wood Anemone and Rue Anemone have more than 5 petal-like sepals, while the flowers of False Rue Anemone never have more than 5 petal-like sepals.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant leaf mould.
Range & Habitat: The native False Rue Anemone is fairly common in the majority of counties in Illinois, otherwise it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include in rich mesic woodlands and low woodlands along streams where deciduous trees are dominant. This species can be extirpated from a woodlands by an invasion of Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard) and non-native shrubs.
Faunal Associations: Except for visitors of the flowers, little is known about the floral-faunal relations of this species. The pollen of the flowers attracts medium- to small-sized bees and flies primarily, including Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp., etc.), Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), honeybees, Syrphid flies, and other flies. The bees collect pollen, while the flies feed on pollen. Occasionally various beetles also feed on the pollen, but they are less effective at cross-pollination. Some of these insects probably search in vain for nectar, as the flowers lack nectaries. The foliage of False Rue Anemone is rarely browsed by mammalian herbivores (personal observation).
Photographic Location: A mesic deciduous woodlands at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Another scientific name for False Rue Anemone is Isopyrum biternatum. This species blooms a little earlier than many other spring wildflowers in a woodlands, and it has attractive flowers and foliage. Two other members of the Buttercup family that occur in woodlands, Anemone quinequefolia (Wood Anemone) and Anemonella thalictroides (Rue Anemone), resemble False Rue Anemone. Wood Anemone has leaflets that are coarsely serrated along the margins and their lobes taper to sharp points; it also differs from False Rue Anemone by the whorl of leaves underneath its flowers. Rue Anemone also has whorled leaves underneath its flowers, otherwise its foliage is very similar to that of False Rue Anemone (which has alternate leaves along the stems). While Wood Anemone and Rue Anemone produce small clusters of beaked achenes (each containing a single seed within a hardened exterior), False Rue Anemone produces small clusters of beaked follicles that each contain 2 or more seeds. Sometimes the white flowers of Wood Anemone and Rue Anemone have more than 5 petal-like sepals, while the flowers of False Rue Anemone never have more than 5 petal-like sepals.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月10日
Description: This wildflower is a spring annual about 4-16" tall; it branches occasionally and is more or less erect. The stems are rather thick and succulent, pale green to pale purple, and glaucous; they have widely scattered to dense tufts of long white hairs. The lower leaves are opposite, while the upper leaves are alternate; they are widely spreading. Each leaf is up to 4" long and 1" across; it is simple pinnate or pinnate-pinnatifid in structure and oblong-ovate in outline. There are 7-13 narrow leaflets (or narrow lobes) on each leaf; they can be opposite or alternate. Each leaflet has 3-5 large teeth or cleft lobes. The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green and hairy. At the base of each leaf, there is a stout petiole that is flattened on top and somewhat hairy.
Individual flowers up to ¼" across are produced from the axils of the upper leaves; their pedicels are short, slender, and hairy. Each flower has a white or pale blue corolla with 5 petal-like lobes and a hairy green calyx with 5 large teeth. There may be fine purple lines within the interior of the corolla and tiny specks of purple on the petal-like lobes. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. The flowers open up during the day; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. The corollas soon fall off, while the teeth of the calyxes become enlarged, spreading outward from their seed capsules. Each seed capsule is globoid, slightly bifid, and hairy; it contains 4 seeds. The seeds are brown, ovoid, and finely pitted. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with abundant organic matter. Most vegetative growth occurs during the spring; the foliage turns yellow and withers away during the summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Aunt Lucy is occasional to locally common in most areas of Illinois, except the SE section of the state, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include deciduous woodlands, gardens and nurseries, partially shaded areas along buildings, and waste places. This wildflower prefers locations where the ground vegetation is scant as a result of overhead shade or a recent disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts various kinds of bees, including mason bees (Osmia spp.), little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Halictid bees, and Andrenid bees. Bee flies (Bombyliidae) are also attracted to the nectar of the flowers, while Syrphid flies feed mostly on the pollen. According to Ada Georgia in A Manual of Weeds (1913), the bruised foliage of Aunt Lucy has a rank disagreeable odor, therefore it is avoided by livestock and probably other mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois, where this wildflower developed spontaneously.
Comments: Aunt Lucy is an oddball member of the Waterleaf family. It is not very showy and often omitted from many wildflower guides. Aunt Lucy occurs in two quite different habitats: deciduous woodlands and disturbed areas where the ground is bare or lightly mulched. In the former habitat, it is one of our native spring wildflowers, while in the latter habitat it is a minor weed of nurseries and bare open ground in cities. The leaves of Aunt Lucy are fairly distinctive and help to distinguish it from many other kinds of plants. It resembles to some extent Floerkia proserpinacoides (False Mermaid), except the latter species has greenish flowers with only 3 petals and 3 sepals, and its leaflets (or lobes) are more narrow and smooth.
Individual flowers up to ¼" across are produced from the axils of the upper leaves; their pedicels are short, slender, and hairy. Each flower has a white or pale blue corolla with 5 petal-like lobes and a hairy green calyx with 5 large teeth. There may be fine purple lines within the interior of the corolla and tiny specks of purple on the petal-like lobes. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 1½ months. The flowers open up during the day; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. The corollas soon fall off, while the teeth of the calyxes become enlarged, spreading outward from their seed capsules. Each seed capsule is globoid, slightly bifid, and hairy; it contains 4 seeds. The seeds are brown, ovoid, and finely pitted. The root system consists of a taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with abundant organic matter. Most vegetative growth occurs during the spring; the foliage turns yellow and withers away during the summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Aunt Lucy is occasional to locally common in most areas of Illinois, except the SE section of the state, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include deciduous woodlands, gardens and nurseries, partially shaded areas along buildings, and waste places. This wildflower prefers locations where the ground vegetation is scant as a result of overhead shade or a recent disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts various kinds of bees, including mason bees (Osmia spp.), little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Halictid bees, and Andrenid bees. Bee flies (Bombyliidae) are also attracted to the nectar of the flowers, while Syrphid flies feed mostly on the pollen. According to Ada Georgia in A Manual of Weeds (1913), the bruised foliage of Aunt Lucy has a rank disagreeable odor, therefore it is avoided by livestock and probably other mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois, where this wildflower developed spontaneously.
Comments: Aunt Lucy is an oddball member of the Waterleaf family. It is not very showy and often omitted from many wildflower guides. Aunt Lucy occurs in two quite different habitats: deciduous woodlands and disturbed areas where the ground is bare or lightly mulched. In the former habitat, it is one of our native spring wildflowers, while in the latter habitat it is a minor weed of nurseries and bare open ground in cities. The leaves of Aunt Lucy are fairly distinctive and help to distinguish it from many other kinds of plants. It resembles to some extent Floerkia proserpinacoides (False Mermaid), except the latter species has greenish flowers with only 3 petals and 3 sepals, and its leaflets (or lobes) are more narrow and smooth.
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Miss Chen
2018年05月09日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 4-8" tall. It consists of a rosette of basal leaves spanning about 6" across. These basal leaves are greyish green to green and glabrous. Each of these leaves is ternately compound and divided into 3 primary leaflets, while each primary leaflet is divided into 3 secondary leaflets. These secondary leaflets are pinnately cleft into linear or oblanceolate lobes. The long petioles of the compound leaves are slender and glabrous; they are pale red, tan, or brown. From the center of the rosette, there develops a semi-erect raceme of 2-6 pairs of white flowers on a long peduncle (flowering stalk). This raceme tends to bend to one side, while the flowers droop upside-down from their pedicels. Both the peduncle and pedicels are pale red or yellowish brown, terete, glabrous, and sometimes glaucous. The pedicels are about ¼" in length; in the middle of each pedicel, there is a pair of tiny linear bracts.
Each flower is about ¾" long and assumes the form of an upside-down Dutchman's Breeches, hence the common name of the plant. It consists of 2 outer petals that are white and 2 inner petals that are pale yellow. The two outer petals form two nectar spurs that are long and spreading; they are joined together at the base. The two inner petals are much smaller and form the base of the flower; they have small wings that curl upward. The 2 sepals of each flower are white and more or less ovate in shape; they are much shorter than the petals. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-spring and lasts about 2-3 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. The flowers are replaced by oblongoid-ovoid seed capsules that taper into points at both ends. These capsules eventually split apart into 2 segments to release their seeds. The root system consists of a bulbous base with fleshy scales and secondary roots.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight of woodlands, mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with abundant organic matter. This plant develops early and can resist moderate frost without damage.
Range & Habitat: Dutchman's Breeches is a common plant that occurs in nearly every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include deciduous mesic woodlands, especially along gentle slopes, ravines, or ledges along streams. This species occurs in original woodland that has never been plowed under or bulldozed over. It's abundance in such woodlands can be highly variable – from uncommon to common.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees primarily, including honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees (Osmia spp.), and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora ursina, Synhalonia spp., Habropoda laboriosus). Less common visitors include short-tongued Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Bombylius major (Giant Bee Fly), various butterflies, and skippers. The butterflies and skippers are not effective cross-pollinators of the flowers. Because the seeds have elaisomes (fleshy or oily appendages), they are distributed by ants. Ants carry the seeds to their nests, eat the elaisomes, and discard the seeds some distance from the mother plant. The foliage is toxic to mammalian herbivores and it is not often eaten by them.
Photographic Location: A mesic area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and an upland woodlands in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: This is a delightful spring wildflower of woodlands – both the flowers and foliage are attractive. Dutchman's Breeches is one of the earlier woodland wildflowers to bloom. The only other species with a similar appearance is Dicentra canadensis (Squirrel Corn). Squirrel Corn also occurs in mesic deciduous woodlands and blooms only a little later than Dutchman's Breeches. The nectar spurs of Squirrel Corn are shorter and more rounded than those of Dutchman's Breeches, and its white flowers are fragrant. It also has a root system that produces small edible tubers. Within the Fumitory family, Dicentra spp. differ from Corydalis spp. by the structure of their flowers – the former have flowers with 2 nectar spurs, while the latter have flowers with a single nectar spur.
Each flower is about ¾" long and assumes the form of an upside-down Dutchman's Breeches, hence the common name of the plant. It consists of 2 outer petals that are white and 2 inner petals that are pale yellow. The two outer petals form two nectar spurs that are long and spreading; they are joined together at the base. The two inner petals are much smaller and form the base of the flower; they have small wings that curl upward. The 2 sepals of each flower are white and more or less ovate in shape; they are much shorter than the petals. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-spring and lasts about 2-3 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. The flowers are replaced by oblongoid-ovoid seed capsules that taper into points at both ends. These capsules eventually split apart into 2 segments to release their seeds. The root system consists of a bulbous base with fleshy scales and secondary roots.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight of woodlands, mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with abundant organic matter. This plant develops early and can resist moderate frost without damage.
Range & Habitat: Dutchman's Breeches is a common plant that occurs in nearly every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is native. Habitats include deciduous mesic woodlands, especially along gentle slopes, ravines, or ledges along streams. This species occurs in original woodland that has never been plowed under or bulldozed over. It's abundance in such woodlands can be highly variable – from uncommon to common.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees primarily, including honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees (Osmia spp.), and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora ursina, Synhalonia spp., Habropoda laboriosus). Less common visitors include short-tongued Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Bombylius major (Giant Bee Fly), various butterflies, and skippers. The butterflies and skippers are not effective cross-pollinators of the flowers. Because the seeds have elaisomes (fleshy or oily appendages), they are distributed by ants. Ants carry the seeds to their nests, eat the elaisomes, and discard the seeds some distance from the mother plant. The foliage is toxic to mammalian herbivores and it is not often eaten by them.
Photographic Location: A mesic area of Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, and an upland woodlands in McLean County, Illinois.
Comments: This is a delightful spring wildflower of woodlands – both the flowers and foliage are attractive. Dutchman's Breeches is one of the earlier woodland wildflowers to bloom. The only other species with a similar appearance is Dicentra canadensis (Squirrel Corn). Squirrel Corn also occurs in mesic deciduous woodlands and blooms only a little later than Dutchman's Breeches. The nectar spurs of Squirrel Corn are shorter and more rounded than those of Dutchman's Breeches, and its white flowers are fragrant. It also has a root system that produces small edible tubers. Within the Fumitory family, Dicentra spp. differ from Corydalis spp. by the structure of their flowers – the former have flowers with 2 nectar spurs, while the latter have flowers with a single nectar spur.
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