文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月30日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1-3' tall and either unbranched or sparingly branched. The central stem and any secondary stems are light green, glabrous, and terete. Each plant has 1-4 alternate leaves that are widely spreading. Individual leaves are up to 1½' long and 1½' across (excluding the petiole); they are bipinnate or tripinnate, dividing into 3 primary leaflets and subdividing into 3-5 (rarely 7) ultimate leaflets. When tertiary leaflets are present, there are typically 3 secondary leaflets in each compound leaf. The ultimate leaflets (whether secondary or tertiary) are 1¼–3½" long, more or less ovate in shape, and coarsely toothed along their margins; some ultimate leaflets are sharply divided into 1-2 smaller lobes. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is slightly more pale and either glabrous or hairy along the major veins. The petioles are up to 6" long, light green, and glabrous.
The central stem and any secondary stems terminate in solitary racemes of flowers that are 1-2" long; these racemes become slightly longer when the flowers are replaced by berries. Each flower is about ¼" across or slightly wider, consisting 4-10 white petals, several inconspicuous sepals, 15-40 white stamens, and a pistil. The petals are widely spreading and narrowly elliptic in shape, while the stamens are long and showy. The style of the pistil is very short or absent, while the stigma of the pistil is short and stout. The ascending to widely spreading pedicels are up to ½" long (or slightly more) and they are noticeably more slender than the rachis (central stalk) of the raceme. The peduncle (basal stalk) of each raceme is up to 4" long. The blooming period occurs during late spring or early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. The flowers have a rosy fragrance. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by ovoid berries that become 6-8 Distribution Mapmm. long at maturity. These berries are usually bright red and glossy at maturity, although there is a less common form of this plant that has white berries. Each berry contains a fleshy pulp and several seeds. Individual seeds are 3.0–3.5 mm. long, reddish brown, and wedge-shaped. The root system consists of a vertical rootstock with fibrous secondary rootlets below.
Cultivation: The preference is light to moderate shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a somewhat acidic soil consisting of sandy loam, loam, or clay-loam with decaying organic matter. The soil should contain abundant nitrogen, calcium, and other nutrients. The seeds are slow to germinate, typically taking 2 years or more under natural conditions. This plant prefers cool moist weather and it is winter hardy to at least Zone 4.
Range & Habitat: The native Red Baneberry occurs in northern Illinois, where it is uncommon. Illinois lies along the southern range-limit of this species. Habitats include moist to mesic woodlands, shady stream banks, and shaded areas where some seepage of ground water occurs. In Illinois, this plant is found in high quality natural areas where either deciduous trees or a mixture of deciduous trees and conifers occur. North of the state, it also occurs in conifer forests. Red Baneberry is able to survive occasional wildfires.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Red Baneberry attract miscellaneous beetles, flies, and to a lesser extent Halictid bees (Pellmyr, 1985). Only pollen is available as a floral reward. Some vertebrate animals feed on the fruits or seeds of this plant. Examples of birds that eat the fruits include the Ruffed Grouse, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, American Robin, Wood Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Brown Thrasher, and Catbird. Examples of small mammals that eat the seeds (while usually rejecting the pulp) include the Woodland Deer Mouse, White-footed Mouse, Eastern Chipmunk, Red Squirrel, and Red-backed Vole (Crane, 1990; Martin et al., 1951/1961; Hamilton, 1941). Because the foliage is somewhat toxic, it is usually avoided by mammalian herbivores. All parts of this plant, including the fruit, are toxic to humans.
Photographic Location: A woodland in Lake County, Illinois. The photographs were taken by Paul Showers (Copyright © 2015).
Comments: Because of its attractive foliage, flowers, and bright red berries, Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra) is an excellent selection for cool shade gardens. It is similar in appearance to Doll's Eyes (Actaea pachypoda), except the latter species always has white berries. When Red Baneberry produces white berries, it can be distinguished from Doll's Eyes by its more slender pedicels (basal stalklets of the flowers or berries). The pedicels of Doll's Eyes are nearly as thick as the rachis (central stalk) of the floral raceme. Doll's Eyes tends to have longer racemes, but this distinction is not always reliable. The latter species can be found throughout Illinois.
The central stem and any secondary stems terminate in solitary racemes of flowers that are 1-2" long; these racemes become slightly longer when the flowers are replaced by berries. Each flower is about ¼" across or slightly wider, consisting 4-10 white petals, several inconspicuous sepals, 15-40 white stamens, and a pistil. The petals are widely spreading and narrowly elliptic in shape, while the stamens are long and showy. The style of the pistil is very short or absent, while the stigma of the pistil is short and stout. The ascending to widely spreading pedicels are up to ½" long (or slightly more) and they are noticeably more slender than the rachis (central stalk) of the raceme. The peduncle (basal stalk) of each raceme is up to 4" long. The blooming period occurs during late spring or early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. The flowers have a rosy fragrance. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by ovoid berries that become 6-8 Distribution Mapmm. long at maturity. These berries are usually bright red and glossy at maturity, although there is a less common form of this plant that has white berries. Each berry contains a fleshy pulp and several seeds. Individual seeds are 3.0–3.5 mm. long, reddish brown, and wedge-shaped. The root system consists of a vertical rootstock with fibrous secondary rootlets below.
Cultivation: The preference is light to moderate shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a somewhat acidic soil consisting of sandy loam, loam, or clay-loam with decaying organic matter. The soil should contain abundant nitrogen, calcium, and other nutrients. The seeds are slow to germinate, typically taking 2 years or more under natural conditions. This plant prefers cool moist weather and it is winter hardy to at least Zone 4.
Range & Habitat: The native Red Baneberry occurs in northern Illinois, where it is uncommon. Illinois lies along the southern range-limit of this species. Habitats include moist to mesic woodlands, shady stream banks, and shaded areas where some seepage of ground water occurs. In Illinois, this plant is found in high quality natural areas where either deciduous trees or a mixture of deciduous trees and conifers occur. North of the state, it also occurs in conifer forests. Red Baneberry is able to survive occasional wildfires.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Red Baneberry attract miscellaneous beetles, flies, and to a lesser extent Halictid bees (Pellmyr, 1985). Only pollen is available as a floral reward. Some vertebrate animals feed on the fruits or seeds of this plant. Examples of birds that eat the fruits include the Ruffed Grouse, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, American Robin, Wood Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Brown Thrasher, and Catbird. Examples of small mammals that eat the seeds (while usually rejecting the pulp) include the Woodland Deer Mouse, White-footed Mouse, Eastern Chipmunk, Red Squirrel, and Red-backed Vole (Crane, 1990; Martin et al., 1951/1961; Hamilton, 1941). Because the foliage is somewhat toxic, it is usually avoided by mammalian herbivores. All parts of this plant, including the fruit, are toxic to humans.
Photographic Location: A woodland in Lake County, Illinois. The photographs were taken by Paul Showers (Copyright © 2015).
Comments: Because of its attractive foliage, flowers, and bright red berries, Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra) is an excellent selection for cool shade gardens. It is similar in appearance to Doll's Eyes (Actaea pachypoda), except the latter species always has white berries. When Red Baneberry produces white berries, it can be distinguished from Doll's Eyes by its more slender pedicels (basal stalklets of the flowers or berries). The pedicels of Doll's Eyes are nearly as thick as the rachis (central stalk) of the floral raceme. Doll's Eyes tends to have longer racemes, but this distinction is not always reliable. The latter species can be found throughout Illinois.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月30日
Description: This plant is a summer annual about ½–2½' tall that is either unbranched or occasionally branched. The stems are light to medium green, terete, and glabrous to sparsely pubescent. The alternate leaves are more closely spaced together along the upper stems than the lower ones, providing the plant with a flat-topped appearance. The blades of individual leaves are up to 3" long and 2¼" across, medium green, ovate to broadly ovate, and crenate-serrate along the margins. The upper surfaces of the blades are sparsely covered with fine appressed hairs or they are hairless. The long slender petioles are up to 2½" long and light to medium green; they are covered with fine appressed hairs, or hairless. Sometimes the blades of the leaves droop from their petioles.
Deam's Mercury is monoecious with separate staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers on the same plant. Both types of flowers develop together from the axils of the leaves; they are surrounded by foliaceous floral bracts that are palmately divided into 5-9 lobes. Individual bracts are about ½" tall and a little longer across; they are light to medium green and either widely open or loosely folded in one direction. Individual lobes of the floral bracts are about ¼" long, lanceolate in shape, and ciliate. From the middle of each floral bract, the staminate flowers form a single spike-like raceme on a peduncle. Together, the raceme and its peduncle are about ½" long at maturity. Individual staminate flowers are less than 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of a 4-lobed calyx, several stamens with yellow anthers, and no petals. There are also 1-3 pistillate flowers that areDistribution Map hidden at the base of each floral bract; individual pistillate flowers consist of an ovary with finely branched styles, insignificant sepals, and no petals. The ovary is sometimes finely hairy near its apex. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall and lasts about 2-3 months; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Cross-pollination occurs by wind. Each ovary matures into a seed capsule (about ¼" across) that is globoid, slightly flattened, and 2-valved. Each valve of the capsule contains a single seed. Individual mature seeds are 2-3 mm. long (or longer), ovoid, and dark-colored. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself. The leaves become copper-colored during the fall.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist conditions, and soil consisting of sandy loam or gravelly loam. Most growth and development occurs during the summer and early fall.
Range & Habitat: The native Deam's Mercury is a rare plant that has been found in a few counties of east-central and southern Illinois. This plant is also uncommon in other states where it has been found. Habitats consist of bottomland woodlands along rivers, openings in bottomland woods, areas along paths in bottomland woods, woodland edges, and semi-shaded to shaded areas along roads. Deam's Mercury appears to prefer areas that are subjected to occasional flooding during the spring. Such areas typically have flood-deposited sand, silt, or gravel and scant ground vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The flea beetles Hornaltica bicolorata and Margaridisa atriventris feed on Acalypha spp. The seeds of these plants are eaten by the Mourning Dove and Swamp Sparrow, while White-Tailed Deer browse on the foliage (primarily during the summer and fall). Deam's Mercury and similar species lack the toxic white latex that is typical of species in the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
Photographic Location: Along a path of a bottomland woodland near the Embarass River in Coles County, Illinois (Fox Ridge State Park).
Comments: Deam's Mercury is the least common native Acalypha spp. in Illinois. It has 2-valved seed capsules, larger seeds (exceeding 2 mm. long), and tends to have wider leaves than other Acalypha spp. It is most similar to the very common Acalypha rhomboidea, which has similar floral bracts with 5-9 lobes, but differs from this species in the characteristics that are mentioned above. In the past, Deam's Mercury has been regarded as a variety of Acalypha rhomboidea, but it is now considered a distinct species. Other common names of Acalypha deamii are Deam's Copperleaf, Large-Seeded Copperleaf, and Large-Seeded Mercury.
Deam's Mercury is monoecious with separate staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers on the same plant. Both types of flowers develop together from the axils of the leaves; they are surrounded by foliaceous floral bracts that are palmately divided into 5-9 lobes. Individual bracts are about ½" tall and a little longer across; they are light to medium green and either widely open or loosely folded in one direction. Individual lobes of the floral bracts are about ¼" long, lanceolate in shape, and ciliate. From the middle of each floral bract, the staminate flowers form a single spike-like raceme on a peduncle. Together, the raceme and its peduncle are about ½" long at maturity. Individual staminate flowers are less than 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of a 4-lobed calyx, several stamens with yellow anthers, and no petals. There are also 1-3 pistillate flowers that areDistribution Map hidden at the base of each floral bract; individual pistillate flowers consist of an ovary with finely branched styles, insignificant sepals, and no petals. The ovary is sometimes finely hairy near its apex. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall and lasts about 2-3 months; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Cross-pollination occurs by wind. Each ovary matures into a seed capsule (about ¼" across) that is globoid, slightly flattened, and 2-valved. Each valve of the capsule contains a single seed. Individual mature seeds are 2-3 mm. long (or longer), ovoid, and dark-colored. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself. The leaves become copper-colored during the fall.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist conditions, and soil consisting of sandy loam or gravelly loam. Most growth and development occurs during the summer and early fall.
Range & Habitat: The native Deam's Mercury is a rare plant that has been found in a few counties of east-central and southern Illinois. This plant is also uncommon in other states where it has been found. Habitats consist of bottomland woodlands along rivers, openings in bottomland woods, areas along paths in bottomland woods, woodland edges, and semi-shaded to shaded areas along roads. Deam's Mercury appears to prefer areas that are subjected to occasional flooding during the spring. Such areas typically have flood-deposited sand, silt, or gravel and scant ground vegetation.
Faunal Associations: The flea beetles Hornaltica bicolorata and Margaridisa atriventris feed on Acalypha spp. The seeds of these plants are eaten by the Mourning Dove and Swamp Sparrow, while White-Tailed Deer browse on the foliage (primarily during the summer and fall). Deam's Mercury and similar species lack the toxic white latex that is typical of species in the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
Photographic Location: Along a path of a bottomland woodland near the Embarass River in Coles County, Illinois (Fox Ridge State Park).
Comments: Deam's Mercury is the least common native Acalypha spp. in Illinois. It has 2-valved seed capsules, larger seeds (exceeding 2 mm. long), and tends to have wider leaves than other Acalypha spp. It is most similar to the very common Acalypha rhomboidea, which has similar floral bracts with 5-9 lobes, but differs from this species in the characteristics that are mentioned above. In the past, Deam's Mercury has been regarded as a variety of Acalypha rhomboidea, but it is now considered a distinct species. Other common names of Acalypha deamii are Deam's Copperleaf, Large-Seeded Copperleaf, and Large-Seeded Mercury.
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求助
Lucky Coyote
2018年04月29日
Could I get some ID's, please? the two in the back are the same and have purplish red leaf tips, and the other is a dusty blue green with pinkish purple leaf colouration
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Ueca：Back: Echeveria pellucida
Front: Echeveria gibbiflora (?)
Lucky Coyote：@meriunkat does this help a little?
meriunkat：It's really dark to tell..
文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月29日
If you're a vegetable gardener who enjoys growing green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), you can choose from dozens of different varieties, all flavorful when picked at their peak from a home garden. For a bean that's equally good picked young or at a more mature stage, try a flat-podded green bean variety. Often called Italian beans, the plants thrive and produce a heavy crop when given sun, well-drained soil and a bit of extra care.
Getting Started
Like all green beans, Italian beans are frost-sensitive and grow as annuals in all parts of the United States. If winter temperatures drop below freezing and spring is cool where you live, wait until all danger of frost has passed and your soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, to ensure seed germination by eight to 10 days after planting.
You can choose Italian beans that grow as tall vines -- pole beans -- or as more upright plants -- bush beans. For example, a cultivar called 'Romano' is a pole bean that's 6 to 9 feet tall and yields beans in about 60 days, while a bush variety of 'Roma II' is only about 20 inches tall and takes 53 days to produce beans for harvest. If you grow a pole type, space seeds about 4 to 6 inches apart in rows, or plant in small hills, with four to six seeds per hill. Space rows about 3 feet apart and allow 30 inches between hills. For bush beans, plant in rows with 2 to 4 inches between seeds and 18 to 24 inches between rows. For any type, plant seeds about 1 inch deep and water well after planting.
Sun, Soil and Water
For strong plants that produce a heavy crop of beans, choose a planting spot that gets full sun for most of the day. These plants grow in any type of garden soil that's well-drained and don't require fertilization. Instead of fertilizing, boost the soil's fertility by adding about 2 inches of compost to your planting area before seeding, mixing it into the soil well.
The plants do best when they receive even moisture. One inch of water each week, including rain, is ideal. Good moisture is especially important during blooming and when pods start forming, so provide extra water during dry spells. Water with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep foliage dry and prevent fungal growth. Adding about 2 inches of mulch under the plants also helps conserve soil moisture.
Other Requirements
If you grow pole-type Italian beans, provide a trellis or fence at least 5 feet tall to keep vines off the soil, but set this in place before planting to avoid damaging plant roots. The plants produce tendrils that naturally adhere to wire or string.
Getting Started
Like all green beans, Italian beans are frost-sensitive and grow as annuals in all parts of the United States. If winter temperatures drop below freezing and spring is cool where you live, wait until all danger of frost has passed and your soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, to ensure seed germination by eight to 10 days after planting.
You can choose Italian beans that grow as tall vines -- pole beans -- or as more upright plants -- bush beans. For example, a cultivar called 'Romano' is a pole bean that's 6 to 9 feet tall and yields beans in about 60 days, while a bush variety of 'Roma II' is only about 20 inches tall and takes 53 days to produce beans for harvest. If you grow a pole type, space seeds about 4 to 6 inches apart in rows, or plant in small hills, with four to six seeds per hill. Space rows about 3 feet apart and allow 30 inches between hills. For bush beans, plant in rows with 2 to 4 inches between seeds and 18 to 24 inches between rows. For any type, plant seeds about 1 inch deep and water well after planting.
Sun, Soil and Water
For strong plants that produce a heavy crop of beans, choose a planting spot that gets full sun for most of the day. These plants grow in any type of garden soil that's well-drained and don't require fertilization. Instead of fertilizing, boost the soil's fertility by adding about 2 inches of compost to your planting area before seeding, mixing it into the soil well.
The plants do best when they receive even moisture. One inch of water each week, including rain, is ideal. Good moisture is especially important during blooming and when pods start forming, so provide extra water during dry spells. Water with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep foliage dry and prevent fungal growth. Adding about 2 inches of mulch under the plants also helps conserve soil moisture.
Other Requirements
If you grow pole-type Italian beans, provide a trellis or fence at least 5 feet tall to keep vines off the soil, but set this in place before planting to avoid damaging plant roots. The plants produce tendrils that naturally adhere to wire or string.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月29日
Bell peppers ripen in shades of yellow, orange, red, green or purple. The seeds inside the peppers appear disc-shaped and white. The small seeds require specific light and temperature settings for them to germinate. The seeds are often germinated indoors to control the conditions. Bell pepper seeds will germinate in eight to 10 weeks depending on the variety and growing environment. After the seeds germinate, you can harvest the peppers in 65 to 70 days.
Step 1
Select fresh bell peppers and cut the tops off with a knife. Scoop the insides out of the pepper with a spoon. Remove any debris from the seeds and spread them on a pepper towel in a single layer.
Step 2
Place the paper towel with the seeds on a plate. Place the seeds outdoor in the sun or next to a sunny window. Allow the bell pepper seeds to dry for five to six days.
Step 3
Store the pepper seeds in a paper envelope. Store the envelope in a dry location until early spring arrives.
Step 4
Fill seed starting pots with seed starting soil. Warm the soil to 80 degrees F by placing the pots under a heat lamp.
Step 5
Soak the bell pepper seeds in warm water for three hours. Sow two bell pepper seeds in each container. The seeds require a shallow planting, so plant them twice as deep as their diameter.
Step 6
Cover the pots with a clear plastic bag or a plastic dome that comes with seed starting pots. Inspect the soil daily to ensure that it does not dry out completely. Water the soil so that it remains moist. Avoid overwatering the seeds because it can lead to fungal infestations.
Step 7
Maintain the 80 degrees F temperature under the heat lamp. Keep the bell peppers under the heat for 16 hours a day. Always check the soil temperature to ensure that it remains between 80 and 90 degrees F during the daytime. Turn the heat lamp off for eight hours at night so that the soil temperature remains above 60 degrees F. Continue to repeat the heat and light conditions until the seeds germinate.
Step 8
Thin the bell pepper seeds to one healthy seedling to each pot once one set of true leaves develops. Transplant the bell pepper seedlings outdoors once the threat of frost passes and the soil temperature remains above 50 degrees F. Space the pepper plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
Step 1
Select fresh bell peppers and cut the tops off with a knife. Scoop the insides out of the pepper with a spoon. Remove any debris from the seeds and spread them on a pepper towel in a single layer.
Step 2
Place the paper towel with the seeds on a plate. Place the seeds outdoor in the sun or next to a sunny window. Allow the bell pepper seeds to dry for five to six days.
Step 3
Store the pepper seeds in a paper envelope. Store the envelope in a dry location until early spring arrives.
Step 4
Fill seed starting pots with seed starting soil. Warm the soil to 80 degrees F by placing the pots under a heat lamp.
Step 5
Soak the bell pepper seeds in warm water for three hours. Sow two bell pepper seeds in each container. The seeds require a shallow planting, so plant them twice as deep as their diameter.
Step 6
Cover the pots with a clear plastic bag or a plastic dome that comes with seed starting pots. Inspect the soil daily to ensure that it does not dry out completely. Water the soil so that it remains moist. Avoid overwatering the seeds because it can lead to fungal infestations.
Step 7
Maintain the 80 degrees F temperature under the heat lamp. Keep the bell peppers under the heat for 16 hours a day. Always check the soil temperature to ensure that it remains between 80 and 90 degrees F during the daytime. Turn the heat lamp off for eight hours at night so that the soil temperature remains above 60 degrees F. Continue to repeat the heat and light conditions until the seeds germinate.
Step 8
Thin the bell pepper seeds to one healthy seedling to each pot once one set of true leaves develops. Transplant the bell pepper seedlings outdoors once the threat of frost passes and the soil temperature remains above 50 degrees F. Space the pepper plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月26日
Cucumbers have become a common staple in many kitchens due to their wide array of uses. They can be pickled, eaten raw or added to sandwiches and healthy green smoothies. Lemon cucumbers do not look like traditional cucumbers. They are bright yellow, baseball-sized, round and similar in appearance to lemons. Since lemon cucumbers mature faster than traditional cucumbers, they are good plants to grow in large pots fitted with a small trellis for support.
Step 1
Prepare the 15-inch pot at least one month before using. Fill the pot with equal parts vegetable potting soil and aged manure and then cover with black plastic sheeting. Place the pot outdoors in full sun so the black plastic has ample time to warm the potting soil. Lemon cucumbers, as well as all other cucumber varieties, do not like cool soil.
Step 2
Pour seed-starting mix into two or more 3-inch peat containers. You may use more or fewer peat containers according to how big you wish your lemon cucumber container garden to be. Put the peat containers on top of a tray or two or plates. The containers need something underneath them to catch the draining water.
Step 3
Push two lemon cucumber seeds into the soil of each container, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover with soil mix and water until wet. Move the container and trays to a warm area until the lemon cucumber seeds sprout, keeping the soil damp.
Step 4
Remove the black sheeting from the outdoor container when temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Dig into the soil in the 15-inch container with a garden spade to create a hole large enough to hold the 3-inch peat container.
Step 5
Insert the peat container into the planting hole and push the soil firmly to secure the pot into the dirt. Water the lemon cucumber plant and insert a round, wire cucumber cage to support the growing plant. Provide the cucumber plant water daily since containers lose more moisture than in-ground plants.
Step 6
Dilute fish emulsion with equal amounts of water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the growing lemon cucumber plant one or two times every month.
Step 1
Prepare the 15-inch pot at least one month before using. Fill the pot with equal parts vegetable potting soil and aged manure and then cover with black plastic sheeting. Place the pot outdoors in full sun so the black plastic has ample time to warm the potting soil. Lemon cucumbers, as well as all other cucumber varieties, do not like cool soil.
Step 2
Pour seed-starting mix into two or more 3-inch peat containers. You may use more or fewer peat containers according to how big you wish your lemon cucumber container garden to be. Put the peat containers on top of a tray or two or plates. The containers need something underneath them to catch the draining water.
Step 3
Push two lemon cucumber seeds into the soil of each container, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover with soil mix and water until wet. Move the container and trays to a warm area until the lemon cucumber seeds sprout, keeping the soil damp.
Step 4
Remove the black sheeting from the outdoor container when temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Dig into the soil in the 15-inch container with a garden spade to create a hole large enough to hold the 3-inch peat container.
Step 5
Insert the peat container into the planting hole and push the soil firmly to secure the pot into the dirt. Water the lemon cucumber plant and insert a round, wire cucumber cage to support the growing plant. Provide the cucumber plant water daily since containers lose more moisture than in-ground plants.
Step 6
Dilute fish emulsion with equal amounts of water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the growing lemon cucumber plant one or two times every month.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年04月24日
Description: This perennial plant is about 3-7' tall and usually unbranched, except near the inflorescence. The central stem is light green or purplish green, terete, and nearly glabrous to pubescent. The alternate leaves are densely to moderately distributed along the stem, spreading widely in all directions. These leaves are up to 9" long and 2½" across; they are narrowly ovate, lanceolate-oblong, or elliptic in shape, and their margins are serrated. The upper surface of each leaf is dark green and glabrous (or nearly so); the lower surface is a lighter shade of green and glabrous, sparsely pubescent, or somewhat hairy. The base of each leaf has a short petiole, or it is sessile.
The central stem terminates in a flat-headed panicle of flowerheads spanning 6-16" across. The base of each flowerhead consists of a short cylinder of appressed floral bracts (phyllaries) in several series spanning about 5 mm. across; the floral bracts are dark green, purplish green, or brown, broadly ovate in shape, and often finely pubescent or ciliate along their margins. The apex of each flowerhead consists of 10-30 disk florets and no ray florets. The magenta corolla of each disk floret is tubular with 5 recurved narrow lobes, while the exerted style is bifurcated and strongly recurved. The branches of the panicle and peduncles of the flowerheads are usually finely short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each disk floret is replaced by a small achene that is gray or brown and bullet-shaped; the apex of each achene has a small tuft of both short and long hair hairs (or bristles) that are pale purple to tawny. These achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system consists of short thick rhizomes with fibrous roots below. Small clumps of plants are produced from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, silt-loam, or sandy loam. Plants growing in sunny areas require more moisture than those growing in the shade.
Range & Habitat: The native Tall Ironweed is common in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is occasional to absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, areas along woodland paths, swamps, riverbottom prairies, seeps and springs, pastures, and abandoned fields. In woodlands, this plant requires occasional disturbance to prevent excessive shade from neighboring trees. Tall Ironweed is found in wooded areas to a greater extent than other Vernonia spp. (Ironweed species) in Illinois, but it also occurs in moist open areas.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and various bees (primarily long-tongued bees). Some bees also collect pollen for their larvae. The caterpillars of various moths feed on Vernonia spp. (Ironweed species), particularly the pith of their stems and their roots. These species include Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth), Papaipema cerussata (Ironweed Borer Moth), Papaipema limpida (another Ironweed Borer Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), Polygrammodes flavidalis (Pyralid Moth sp.), and Polygrammodes langdonalis (Pyralid Moth sp.). Another insect, Aphis vernoniae (Ironweed Aphid), sucks juices from the upper stems and leaf undersides. Other insects feeders include the larvae of Asphondylia vernoniae (Ironweed Bud Midge) and Youngomyia podophyllae (Ironweed Blossum Midge), which form galls on the buds and flowerheads respectively. Both Oecanthus quadripunctatus (Four-Spotted Tree Cricket) and Conocephalus brevipennis (Short-winged Meadow Katydid) have been observed feeding on the flowerheads of Tall Ironweed (Gangwere, 1961). Because of the bitter foliage, mammalian herbivores shun Ironweed species as a food source. As a result, these plants can become more abundant in pastures over time.
Photographic Location: The edge of a small woodland in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Across its range, Tall Ironweed is a rather variable species. Different populations of plants can vary in the number of disk florets per flowerhead, the width of the leaves, and the hairiness of the stems and leaf undersides. Tall Ironweed also hybridizes with other Vernonia spp. (Ironweeds), especially Vernonia missurica (Missouri Ironweed). The latter hybrid is referred to as Vernonia × illinoensis (Illinois Ironweed). Illinois Ironweed typically has flowerheads with 30-35 disk florets and is more hairy than Tall Ironweed. Missouri Ironweed has flowerheads with 35-50 disk florets and it is more hairy than Tall Ironweed; both stems and leaf undersides of Missouri Ironweed are often white-woolly from the abundance of these hairs. Another species, Vernonia fasciculata (Smooth Ironweed), has about the same number of disk florets in its flowerheads as Tall Ironweed (less than 30), but it is usually smaller in size and its stems are hairless. Unlike Tall Ironweed, Smooth Ironweed often has dark dots on the underside of its hairless leaves. A scientific synonym of Tall Ironweed is Vernonia altissima.
The central stem terminates in a flat-headed panicle of flowerheads spanning 6-16" across. The base of each flowerhead consists of a short cylinder of appressed floral bracts (phyllaries) in several series spanning about 5 mm. across; the floral bracts are dark green, purplish green, or brown, broadly ovate in shape, and often finely pubescent or ciliate along their margins. The apex of each flowerhead consists of 10-30 disk florets and no ray florets. The magenta corolla of each disk floret is tubular with 5 recurved narrow lobes, while the exerted style is bifurcated and strongly recurved. The branches of the panicle and peduncles of the flowerheads are usually finely short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each disk floret is replaced by a small achene that is gray or brown and bullet-shaped; the apex of each achene has a small tuft of both short and long hair hairs (or bristles) that are pale purple to tawny. These achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system consists of short thick rhizomes with fibrous roots below. Small clumps of plants are produced from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, silt-loam, or sandy loam. Plants growing in sunny areas require more moisture than those growing in the shade.
Range & Habitat: The native Tall Ironweed is common in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is occasional to absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, areas along woodland paths, swamps, riverbottom prairies, seeps and springs, pastures, and abandoned fields. In woodlands, this plant requires occasional disturbance to prevent excessive shade from neighboring trees. Tall Ironweed is found in wooded areas to a greater extent than other Vernonia spp. (Ironweed species) in Illinois, but it also occurs in moist open areas.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and various bees (primarily long-tongued bees). Some bees also collect pollen for their larvae. The caterpillars of various moths feed on Vernonia spp. (Ironweed species), particularly the pith of their stems and their roots. These species include Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth), Papaipema cerussata (Ironweed Borer Moth), Papaipema limpida (another Ironweed Borer Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), Polygrammodes flavidalis (Pyralid Moth sp.), and Polygrammodes langdonalis (Pyralid Moth sp.). Another insect, Aphis vernoniae (Ironweed Aphid), sucks juices from the upper stems and leaf undersides. Other insects feeders include the larvae of Asphondylia vernoniae (Ironweed Bud Midge) and Youngomyia podophyllae (Ironweed Blossum Midge), which form galls on the buds and flowerheads respectively. Both Oecanthus quadripunctatus (Four-Spotted Tree Cricket) and Conocephalus brevipennis (Short-winged Meadow Katydid) have been observed feeding on the flowerheads of Tall Ironweed (Gangwere, 1961). Because of the bitter foliage, mammalian herbivores shun Ironweed species as a food source. As a result, these plants can become more abundant in pastures over time.
Photographic Location: The edge of a small woodland in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Across its range, Tall Ironweed is a rather variable species. Different populations of plants can vary in the number of disk florets per flowerhead, the width of the leaves, and the hairiness of the stems and leaf undersides. Tall Ironweed also hybridizes with other Vernonia spp. (Ironweeds), especially Vernonia missurica (Missouri Ironweed). The latter hybrid is referred to as Vernonia × illinoensis (Illinois Ironweed). Illinois Ironweed typically has flowerheads with 30-35 disk florets and is more hairy than Tall Ironweed. Missouri Ironweed has flowerheads with 35-50 disk florets and it is more hairy than Tall Ironweed; both stems and leaf undersides of Missouri Ironweed are often white-woolly from the abundance of these hairs. Another species, Vernonia fasciculata (Smooth Ironweed), has about the same number of disk florets in its flowerheads as Tall Ironweed (less than 30), but it is usually smaller in size and its stems are hairless. Unlike Tall Ironweed, Smooth Ironweed often has dark dots on the underside of its hairless leaves. A scientific synonym of Tall Ironweed is Vernonia altissima.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月24日
Description: This wildflower is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial about 3-6' tall; it branches occasionally in the upper half. The central stem is light green, stout, 4-angled, and densely covered with long spreading hairs. Along its length are pairs of opposite leaves up to 6" long and 2¼" across; they are lanceolate to ovate and coarsely serrated along their margins. The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green, shiny, hairless to slightly hairy, and wrinkled along the veins; its lower surface is light green and more hairy. The petioles of the leaves are up to 2" long. The central stem terminates in a panicle of floral spikes up to 2' long and half as much across; the upper side stems also terminate in such panicles, although they are smaller in size. Each panicle has narrow ascending branches (up to 6" long) and an airy appearance; sessile small flowers are sparsely distributed along each of these branches. Each flower is 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of a white corolla with 5 rounded lobes and a tubular green calyx with 5 lanceolate teeth. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1½ months. Only a few flowers bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by 4 nutlets that are oblongoid and flattened. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loam, clay-loam, or silt-loam. This wildflower can be started from seed, but it is short-lived.
Range & Habitat: The native White Vervain occurs in every county of Illinois and it is quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open disturbed woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, powerline clearances in wooded areas, semi-shaded areas along paths, damp meadows along streams, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. White Vervain is usually found in habitats with a history of disturbance. It is somewhat weedy, but rarely forms colonies, existing primarily as scattered individual plants.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract long-tongued bees (honeybees, bumblebees, Little Carpenter bees, Cuckoo bees, Digger bees, & Large Leaf-Cutting bees), short-tongued bees (Halictid bees, & Dagger bees, including Calliopsis verbenae), various flies (Syrphid flies, Bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, & Tachinid flies), small butterflies, and wasps. These insects cross-pollinate the flowers. Insects that feed on the foliage and other parts of White Vervain and other Verbena spp. (Vervains) include the larvae of Crambodes talidiformis (Verbena Moth), Longitarsus suspectus (Flea Beetle sp.), larvae of Clinodiplosis verbenae (Vervain Leaf Midge), Macrosiphum verbenae (Verbena Aphid), and Melanoplus bivittatus (Two-striped Grasshopper). The seeds are eaten occasionally by various granivorous songbirds, including the Slate-Colored Junco, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, and White-Crowned Sparrow. In contrast, the bitter coarse foliage is rarely used as a food source by White-Tailed Deer and other mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: Along a path in Busey Woods at Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Considering the large size of this plant, its flowers are remarkably small. The lanky branches of the inflorescence are rather long, however, and they sprawl in different directions. This makes the inflorescence difficult to photograph in its entirety. The scientific name of this plant refers to the resemblance of its leaves to those of Urtica spp. (nettles). White Vervain resembles two of its relatives, Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) and Verbena officinalis (European Vervain). Blue Vervain has more narrow leaves and its flowers are conspicuously blue, rather than bright white. It is found in sunny wetland habitats more often than White Vervain. European Vervain has small flowers that are white or lavender. It differs from White Vervain primarily by its pinnatifid leaves, which have cleft lobes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loam, clay-loam, or silt-loam. This wildflower can be started from seed, but it is short-lived.
Range & Habitat: The native White Vervain occurs in every county of Illinois and it is quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open disturbed woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, powerline clearances in wooded areas, semi-shaded areas along paths, damp meadows along streams, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. White Vervain is usually found in habitats with a history of disturbance. It is somewhat weedy, but rarely forms colonies, existing primarily as scattered individual plants.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract long-tongued bees (honeybees, bumblebees, Little Carpenter bees, Cuckoo bees, Digger bees, & Large Leaf-Cutting bees), short-tongued bees (Halictid bees, & Dagger bees, including Calliopsis verbenae), various flies (Syrphid flies, Bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, & Tachinid flies), small butterflies, and wasps. These insects cross-pollinate the flowers. Insects that feed on the foliage and other parts of White Vervain and other Verbena spp. (Vervains) include the larvae of Crambodes talidiformis (Verbena Moth), Longitarsus suspectus (Flea Beetle sp.), larvae of Clinodiplosis verbenae (Vervain Leaf Midge), Macrosiphum verbenae (Verbena Aphid), and Melanoplus bivittatus (Two-striped Grasshopper). The seeds are eaten occasionally by various granivorous songbirds, including the Slate-Colored Junco, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, and White-Crowned Sparrow. In contrast, the bitter coarse foliage is rarely used as a food source by White-Tailed Deer and other mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: Along a path in Busey Woods at Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Considering the large size of this plant, its flowers are remarkably small. The lanky branches of the inflorescence are rather long, however, and they sprawl in different directions. This makes the inflorescence difficult to photograph in its entirety. The scientific name of this plant refers to the resemblance of its leaves to those of Urtica spp. (nettles). White Vervain resembles two of its relatives, Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) and Verbena officinalis (European Vervain). Blue Vervain has more narrow leaves and its flowers are conspicuously blue, rather than bright white. It is found in sunny wetland habitats more often than White Vervain. European Vervain has small flowers that are white or lavender. It differs from White Vervain primarily by its pinnatifid leaves, which have cleft lobes.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月24日
Description: This is a deciduous shrub about ½-3' tall that branches occasionally. Young branches are initially green, but they later become yellowish green and more or less covered with small warty dots. Young branches are usually glabrous, but sometimes they are slightly pubescent. Older branches become woody and vary in color from red to yellowish brown; on the trunk and very old branches, the bark becomes shredded. Alternate leaves occur along new branches. The blades of these leaves are ¾-2¼" long and ½-1" across; they are oval, ovate, obovate, or broadly elliptic in shape, and their margins are smooth or minutely toothed toward the tips of the blades. The upper surface of the leaf blades is medium green or yellowish green and glabrous (sometimes with reddish tints in bright sunlight), while the lower surface is pale green, glabrous, and sometimes glaucous. Less often, the lower surface of the leaf blades may be slightly pubescent. The petioles are short and slender.
Raceme-like clusters of flowers develop from second-year branches. The pedicels of the flowers are light green and glabrous. Each flower (up to 1/3" or 8 mm. in length) is longer than it is wide, consisting of a tubular corolla with 5 tiny recurved lobes, a short light green calyx with 5 broad teeth, 10 inserted stamens, and a pistil with a single style. The corolla is somewhat constricted toward its outer rim and its exterior is greenish white, pink-tinted cream, or red. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 3 weeks. The flowers are replaced by globoid berries about ¼" across that are initially green, but they later become dark blue with a whitish bloom. The berries become mature during mid- to late summer; they are juicy and sweet, containing 8-20 tiny seeds that are less than 1.5 mm. in length. The woody root system is branched and shallow, forming underground runners that can produce clonal offsets. At favorable sites, colonies of clonal plants are often formed. The leaves become red to dark red during the autumn before they fall to the ground.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and an acidic soil containing sandy or rocky material.
Range & Habitat: Hillside Blueberry is occasional in northern Illinois, southern Illinois, and sandy areas along the Illinois River in central Illinois. Elsewhere in the state, it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland rocky forests, thinly wooded bluffs and rocky hillsides, sandy forests and sandy savannas, openings in sandy forests, sandstone cliffs and glades, sandy roadside embankments, sandy ditches, and abandoned sandy fields. Hillside Blueberry is often found in fire-adapted habitats because it is able to resprout from its underground runners. Dominant trees in these habitats are either oaks or pines.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by honeybees, bumblebees, and Andrenid bees. These bees suck nectar from the flowers and, to a lesser extent, collect pollen. Various insects eat the leaves and other parts of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). These species include the caterpillars of the butterflies Callophrys henrici (Henry's Elfin), Callophrys augustinus (Brown Elfin), and Colias interior (Pink-Edged Sulfur). The caterpillars of Hemaris gracilis (Graceful Clearwing), Sphinx canadensis (Canadian Sphinx), and other moths also use blueberry shrubs as a food source (see Moth Table). Other insect feeders include Oberea myops (Rhododendron Stem Borer), Melanoplus fasciatus (Huckleberry Spur-Throated Grasshopper), Altica sylvia (Blueberry Flea Beetle), Neochlamisus cribripennis (Blueberry Case Beetle), Tricholochmaea vaccinii (Blueberry Leaf Beetle), Dasineura cyanococci (Gall Fly sp.), Dasineura oxycoccana (Blueberry Gall Midge), Rhagoletis mendax (Blueberry Maggot Fruit Fly), Mesoleucanium nigrofasciatum (Terrapin Scale), Illinoia azaleae (Aphid sp.), and Clastoptera saintcyri (Heath Spittlebug). The species Acalitus vaccinii (Blueberry Bud Mite) forms galls on the flower buds. The edible berries are eaten by many upland gamebirds and songbirds (see Bird Table). Mammals that eat the berries include the Black Bear, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Striped Skunk, Opossum, Red Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Fox Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, White-Footed Mouse, Woodland Deer Mouse, and Jumping Mouse. The berries are also eaten by Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) and Clemmys insculpta (Wood Turtle). The leaves and twigs of blueberries are occasionally browsed by White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit. Colonies of Hillside Blueberry and other low-bush blueberries provide cover for many small animals in upland areas.
Comments: There is some variability in the shape of leaves, the hairiness of leaves and young stems, and the color of the flowers. As a result, different varieties of Hillside Blueberry have been described by some authors. In areas where their ranges overlap, this species is capable of hybridizing with the similar Vaccinium angustifolium (Northern Low-Bush Blueberry). This latter species tends to have more slender leaves than Hillside Blueberry, and they are usually more serrated along their margins. While the lower leaf surface of Hillside Blueberry is lighter (pale green) than the upper leaf surface, the lower and upper leaf surfaces of Northern Low-Bush Blueberry are about the same color (medium green). An obsolete scientific name of Hillside Blueberry is Vaccinium vacillans. Other common names of this species are Early Low-Bush Blueberry and Blue Ridge Blueberry.
Raceme-like clusters of flowers develop from second-year branches. The pedicels of the flowers are light green and glabrous. Each flower (up to 1/3" or 8 mm. in length) is longer than it is wide, consisting of a tubular corolla with 5 tiny recurved lobes, a short light green calyx with 5 broad teeth, 10 inserted stamens, and a pistil with a single style. The corolla is somewhat constricted toward its outer rim and its exterior is greenish white, pink-tinted cream, or red. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 3 weeks. The flowers are replaced by globoid berries about ¼" across that are initially green, but they later become dark blue with a whitish bloom. The berries become mature during mid- to late summer; they are juicy and sweet, containing 8-20 tiny seeds that are less than 1.5 mm. in length. The woody root system is branched and shallow, forming underground runners that can produce clonal offsets. At favorable sites, colonies of clonal plants are often formed. The leaves become red to dark red during the autumn before they fall to the ground.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and an acidic soil containing sandy or rocky material.
Range & Habitat: Hillside Blueberry is occasional in northern Illinois, southern Illinois, and sandy areas along the Illinois River in central Illinois. Elsewhere in the state, it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland rocky forests, thinly wooded bluffs and rocky hillsides, sandy forests and sandy savannas, openings in sandy forests, sandstone cliffs and glades, sandy roadside embankments, sandy ditches, and abandoned sandy fields. Hillside Blueberry is often found in fire-adapted habitats because it is able to resprout from its underground runners. Dominant trees in these habitats are either oaks or pines.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by honeybees, bumblebees, and Andrenid bees. These bees suck nectar from the flowers and, to a lesser extent, collect pollen. Various insects eat the leaves and other parts of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). These species include the caterpillars of the butterflies Callophrys henrici (Henry's Elfin), Callophrys augustinus (Brown Elfin), and Colias interior (Pink-Edged Sulfur). The caterpillars of Hemaris gracilis (Graceful Clearwing), Sphinx canadensis (Canadian Sphinx), and other moths also use blueberry shrubs as a food source (see Moth Table). Other insect feeders include Oberea myops (Rhododendron Stem Borer), Melanoplus fasciatus (Huckleberry Spur-Throated Grasshopper), Altica sylvia (Blueberry Flea Beetle), Neochlamisus cribripennis (Blueberry Case Beetle), Tricholochmaea vaccinii (Blueberry Leaf Beetle), Dasineura cyanococci (Gall Fly sp.), Dasineura oxycoccana (Blueberry Gall Midge), Rhagoletis mendax (Blueberry Maggot Fruit Fly), Mesoleucanium nigrofasciatum (Terrapin Scale), Illinoia azaleae (Aphid sp.), and Clastoptera saintcyri (Heath Spittlebug). The species Acalitus vaccinii (Blueberry Bud Mite) forms galls on the flower buds. The edible berries are eaten by many upland gamebirds and songbirds (see Bird Table). Mammals that eat the berries include the Black Bear, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Striped Skunk, Opossum, Red Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Fox Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, White-Footed Mouse, Woodland Deer Mouse, and Jumping Mouse. The berries are also eaten by Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) and Clemmys insculpta (Wood Turtle). The leaves and twigs of blueberries are occasionally browsed by White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit. Colonies of Hillside Blueberry and other low-bush blueberries provide cover for many small animals in upland areas.
Comments: There is some variability in the shape of leaves, the hairiness of leaves and young stems, and the color of the flowers. As a result, different varieties of Hillside Blueberry have been described by some authors. In areas where their ranges overlap, this species is capable of hybridizing with the similar Vaccinium angustifolium (Northern Low-Bush Blueberry). This latter species tends to have more slender leaves than Hillside Blueberry, and they are usually more serrated along their margins. While the lower leaf surface of Hillside Blueberry is lighter (pale green) than the upper leaf surface, the lower and upper leaf surfaces of Northern Low-Bush Blueberry are about the same color (medium green). An obsolete scientific name of Hillside Blueberry is Vaccinium vacillans. Other common names of this species are Early Low-Bush Blueberry and Blue Ridge Blueberry.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月24日
Description: This small deciduous shrub is ½-2' tall with spreading leafy branches. The trunk and branches of older shrubs are often woody with shredded bark, while young shoots and twigs are green to brownish red, terete, and finely warty. Sometimes the twigs and shoots are slightly short-pubescent. Alternate leaves along the twigs and shoots are ¾-1½" long and about ¼-¾" across; they are elliptic in shape and very finely serrated along their margins. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are medium to dark green and glabrous (or nearly so). The short petioles are up to 1/8" (3 mm.) in length.
Small clusters of nodding flowers develop from the preceding year's twigs. Each flower is about ¼" long and a little less across, consisting of a short green calyx with 5 teeth, a short-tubular corolla that is white or pinkish white, 10 inserted stamens, and an inferior ovary with a single style. The corolla is slightly indented along its upper rim, where 5 tiny lobes occur that are recurved. The peduncle and pedicels of the clustered flowers are light green to reddish brown and glabrous. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer for about 3 weeks. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by globoid berries up to 1/3" (8 mm.) across that become dark blue with a whitish bloom at maturity. At this time, the fleshy interior of each berry is juicy and sweet and it typically contains 10-15 tiny seeds. The root system is usually shallow and spreading, although a taproot may develop on an older shrub. Vegetative colonies are produced from underground runners. The deciduous leaves often become red or burgundy during the the autumn.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, mesic to dry conditions, and an acidic soil that is sandy. Cross-pollination between genetically distinct shrubs increases the production of fruit. This shrub may fail to produce flowers and fruit in areas that are too shady.
Close-up of TwigRange & Habitat: The native Lowbush Blueberry is occasional in NE Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include sand prairies, shrub prairies, sandy savannas, sandy woodlands, rocky upland woodlands, rocky bluffs, sand dunes along Lake Michigan, and bogs. Lowbush Blueberry is sometimes the dominant understory shrub in some of these habitats, especially when they are sandy. This shrub becomes more abundant in response to occasional wildfires and the openings that such wildfires create.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by various bees, including Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), bumblebees, and honeybees. Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. The pollen is released from the anthers in response to the "buzz pollination" of the bees (high frequency vibration of the thoracic muscles). In addition to these floral visitors, many insects feed on the foliage, stems, and other parts of blueberry shrubs. For example, the larvae of two beetles, Oberea myops (Rhododendron Stem Borer) and Oberea tripunctata (Dogwood Twig Borer), bore through the twigs of these shrubs, while the larvae of two flies, Dasineura cyanococci and Dasineura oxycoccum (Blueberry Gall Midge), form galls on the buds or developing flowers. Other insect feeders include the leaf beetles Altica sylvia and Tricholochmea vaccinii, the larvae of Rhagoletis mendax (Blueberry Fruit Fly), Clastoptera saintcyri (Heath Spittlebug), Limotettix vaccinii (Blunt-Nosed Leafhopper), and Mesolecanium nigrofasciatum (Terrapin Scale). The caterpillars of two butterflies, Callophrys augustinus (Brown Elfin) and Callophrys henrici (Henry's Elfin), feed on the flowers and developing fruits of blueberry shrubs. In addition to these insects, the caterpillars of such moths as Hemaris gracilis (Slender Clearwing), Sympistis dentata (Blueberry Cinder), and Xestia dilucida (Reddish Heath Dart) also feed on these shrubs (see the Moth Table for a more complete listing of these species). Blueberries fruits are an important source of food to many vertebrate animals. These species include the terrestrial turtles, Clemmys insculpta (Wood Turtle) and Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle); such birds as the Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Blue Jay, American Robin, Yellow-Breasted Chat, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Bluebird (see the Bird Table for a more complete listing of species); and such mammals as the Black Bear, Red Fox, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Opossum, Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, Jumping Mouse, Deer Mouse, and White-Footed Mouse. In addition to the fruits, the White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit also browse on the foliage and twigs. Because Lowbush Blueberry is a densely branched shrub that often forms large colonies, it provides significant protective cover for ground-nesting birds and other wildlife.
Comments: Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) is one of the primary sources of commercial blueberries, particularly in the New England region of the United States. The flavor of the berries is sweet and mild. Because this shrub is somewhat variable across its range, different varieties have been described, although none of these are currently recognized in Illinois. Compared to the Hillside Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), Lowbush Blueberry has more narrow leaves and its leaf undersides are less pale. It differs from another species, Canada Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides), by having leaf undersides that are glabrous, rather than pubescent. These species usually occupy drier habitats than the taller Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum); the latter is typically found in forested bogs and similar wet habitats.
Small clusters of nodding flowers develop from the preceding year's twigs. Each flower is about ¼" long and a little less across, consisting of a short green calyx with 5 teeth, a short-tubular corolla that is white or pinkish white, 10 inserted stamens, and an inferior ovary with a single style. The corolla is slightly indented along its upper rim, where 5 tiny lobes occur that are recurved. The peduncle and pedicels of the clustered flowers are light green to reddish brown and glabrous. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer for about 3 weeks. Afterwards, fertile flowers are replaced by globoid berries up to 1/3" (8 mm.) across that become dark blue with a whitish bloom at maturity. At this time, the fleshy interior of each berry is juicy and sweet and it typically contains 10-15 tiny seeds. The root system is usually shallow and spreading, although a taproot may develop on an older shrub. Vegetative colonies are produced from underground runners. The deciduous leaves often become red or burgundy during the the autumn.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, mesic to dry conditions, and an acidic soil that is sandy. Cross-pollination between genetically distinct shrubs increases the production of fruit. This shrub may fail to produce flowers and fruit in areas that are too shady.
Close-up of TwigRange & Habitat: The native Lowbush Blueberry is occasional in NE Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include sand prairies, shrub prairies, sandy savannas, sandy woodlands, rocky upland woodlands, rocky bluffs, sand dunes along Lake Michigan, and bogs. Lowbush Blueberry is sometimes the dominant understory shrub in some of these habitats, especially when they are sandy. This shrub becomes more abundant in response to occasional wildfires and the openings that such wildfires create.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by various bees, including Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), bumblebees, and honeybees. Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. The pollen is released from the anthers in response to the "buzz pollination" of the bees (high frequency vibration of the thoracic muscles). In addition to these floral visitors, many insects feed on the foliage, stems, and other parts of blueberry shrubs. For example, the larvae of two beetles, Oberea myops (Rhododendron Stem Borer) and Oberea tripunctata (Dogwood Twig Borer), bore through the twigs of these shrubs, while the larvae of two flies, Dasineura cyanococci and Dasineura oxycoccum (Blueberry Gall Midge), form galls on the buds or developing flowers. Other insect feeders include the leaf beetles Altica sylvia and Tricholochmea vaccinii, the larvae of Rhagoletis mendax (Blueberry Fruit Fly), Clastoptera saintcyri (Heath Spittlebug), Limotettix vaccinii (Blunt-Nosed Leafhopper), and Mesolecanium nigrofasciatum (Terrapin Scale). The caterpillars of two butterflies, Callophrys augustinus (Brown Elfin) and Callophrys henrici (Henry's Elfin), feed on the flowers and developing fruits of blueberry shrubs. In addition to these insects, the caterpillars of such moths as Hemaris gracilis (Slender Clearwing), Sympistis dentata (Blueberry Cinder), and Xestia dilucida (Reddish Heath Dart) also feed on these shrubs (see the Moth Table for a more complete listing of these species). Blueberries fruits are an important source of food to many vertebrate animals. These species include the terrestrial turtles, Clemmys insculpta (Wood Turtle) and Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle); such birds as the Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Blue Jay, American Robin, Yellow-Breasted Chat, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Bluebird (see the Bird Table for a more complete listing of species); and such mammals as the Black Bear, Red Fox, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Opossum, Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, Jumping Mouse, Deer Mouse, and White-Footed Mouse. In addition to the fruits, the White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit also browse on the foliage and twigs. Because Lowbush Blueberry is a densely branched shrub that often forms large colonies, it provides significant protective cover for ground-nesting birds and other wildlife.
Comments: Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) is one of the primary sources of commercial blueberries, particularly in the New England region of the United States. The flavor of the berries is sweet and mild. Because this shrub is somewhat variable across its range, different varieties have been described, although none of these are currently recognized in Illinois. Compared to the Hillside Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), Lowbush Blueberry has more narrow leaves and its leaf undersides are less pale. It differs from another species, Canada Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides), by having leaf undersides that are glabrous, rather than pubescent. These species usually occupy drier habitats than the taller Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum); the latter is typically found in forested bogs and similar wet habitats.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月23日
Description: This perennial plant is 3-7' tall and usually unbranched, although short stems may develop from the leaf axils. The central stem is light green and stout; it has several flat ridges that are separated by narrow channels. The central stem is sparsely covered with stiff white hairs of variable length; these hairs can penetrate the skin and sting. Along the central stem are pairs of opposite leaves that droop downward slightly. The leaf blades are up to 8" long and 2½" across; they are medium to dark green, lanceolate, and coarsely serrated. The base of each leaf blade is rounded or slightly cordate. The upper surface of each leaf blade is heavily veined and glabrous, while the lower surface has sparse stiff hairs that can also sting. The slender petioles of the leaves are up to 1" long. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of stipules up to ½" long.
Panicles of flowers develop from the axils of the middle to upper leaves. These panicles are much branched and droop downward; their pubescent branches are heavily covered with flowers. Slender Nettle is monoecious to slightly dioecious; some plants have male flowers entirely or predominantly, while other plants have female flowers entirely or predominately. The male flowers are 1/8" (3 mm.) across with 4 green sepals and 4 white stamens. The female flowers are 1/8" across with 4 green sepals; the 2 inner sepals that enclose the ovary are larger in size than the 2 outer sepals. The sepals of both male and female flowers are pubescent; neither kind of flower has petals. The blooming period occurs during the summer and can last 1-2 months for a colony of plants. Pollination of the flowers is by wind. The brown seeds are 1.0–1.5 mm. long and irregular in shape. They can remain viable in the ground for 10 years. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Clonal colonies are often produced from the long rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Most growth occurs during late spring and mid-summer. This plant can spread aggressively in favorable situations. The leaves are often attacked by insects.
Range & Habitat: The native Slender Nettle is occasional to locally common in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include disturbed open woodlands, floodplain woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, meadows in wooded areas, partially shaded seeps, fence rows, and moist waste areas. Areas with a history of disturbance are preferred.
Faunal Associations: Caterpillars of the butterflies Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral), Nymphalis milberti (Milbert's Tortoiseshell), Polygonia comma (Comma), and Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark) feed on the foliage of Urtica spp. (nettles). Other insects that feed on nettles include leaf-mining larvae of the beetle Sumitrosis inaequalis, stem-boring larvae of the lizard beetle Acropteroxys gracilis, leaf-mining larvae of the midge Agromyza subnigripes, larvae of Dasineura urnicola (Nettle Urn Gall Midge), larvae of the moth Glyphipterix quadragintapunctata, and the leafhopper Empoasca vergena. The presence of stinging hairs in nettles provides some protection from the browsing of mammalian herbivores. Because Slender Nettle is relatively tall and often forms clonal colonies, it provides cover and protection for various insects, mammals, and birds.
Photographic Location: The edge of a woodland in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Slender Nettle is less heavily armed with stinging hairs than Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) and Laportea canadensis (Wood Nettle). Sometimes Slender Nettle is regarded as a variety of Stinging Nettle, in which case it is referred to as Urtica dioica gracilis. Stinging Nettle is adventive from Eurasia and has rarely naturalized in Illinois. It is shorter in stature and has wider leaves than Slender Nettle. The native Wood Nettle is similar in appearance to Stinging Nettle, except that it has alternate leaves. Unfortunately, these 3 species are often confused with each other. While many people dislike Urtica spp. (Nettles) and similar species because of their stinging hairs, they are important food plants to several species of butterflies. The young leaves of Nettles are edible if they are boiled in water and transformed into a creamy soup; they are supposed to be an excellent source of several vitamins and minerals.
Panicles of flowers develop from the axils of the middle to upper leaves. These panicles are much branched and droop downward; their pubescent branches are heavily covered with flowers. Slender Nettle is monoecious to slightly dioecious; some plants have male flowers entirely or predominantly, while other plants have female flowers entirely or predominately. The male flowers are 1/8" (3 mm.) across with 4 green sepals and 4 white stamens. The female flowers are 1/8" across with 4 green sepals; the 2 inner sepals that enclose the ovary are larger in size than the 2 outer sepals. The sepals of both male and female flowers are pubescent; neither kind of flower has petals. The blooming period occurs during the summer and can last 1-2 months for a colony of plants. Pollination of the flowers is by wind. The brown seeds are 1.0–1.5 mm. long and irregular in shape. They can remain viable in the ground for 10 years. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Clonal colonies are often produced from the long rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Most growth occurs during late spring and mid-summer. This plant can spread aggressively in favorable situations. The leaves are often attacked by insects.
Range & Habitat: The native Slender Nettle is occasional to locally common in central and northern Illinois, while in the southern section of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include disturbed open woodlands, floodplain woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, meadows in wooded areas, partially shaded seeps, fence rows, and moist waste areas. Areas with a history of disturbance are preferred.
Faunal Associations: Caterpillars of the butterflies Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral), Nymphalis milberti (Milbert's Tortoiseshell), Polygonia comma (Comma), and Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark) feed on the foliage of Urtica spp. (nettles). Other insects that feed on nettles include leaf-mining larvae of the beetle Sumitrosis inaequalis, stem-boring larvae of the lizard beetle Acropteroxys gracilis, leaf-mining larvae of the midge Agromyza subnigripes, larvae of Dasineura urnicola (Nettle Urn Gall Midge), larvae of the moth Glyphipterix quadragintapunctata, and the leafhopper Empoasca vergena. The presence of stinging hairs in nettles provides some protection from the browsing of mammalian herbivores. Because Slender Nettle is relatively tall and often forms clonal colonies, it provides cover and protection for various insects, mammals, and birds.
Photographic Location: The edge of a woodland in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Slender Nettle is less heavily armed with stinging hairs than Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) and Laportea canadensis (Wood Nettle). Sometimes Slender Nettle is regarded as a variety of Stinging Nettle, in which case it is referred to as Urtica dioica gracilis. Stinging Nettle is adventive from Eurasia and has rarely naturalized in Illinois. It is shorter in stature and has wider leaves than Slender Nettle. The native Wood Nettle is similar in appearance to Stinging Nettle, except that it has alternate leaves. Unfortunately, these 3 species are often confused with each other. While many people dislike Urtica spp. (Nettles) and similar species because of their stinging hairs, they are important food plants to several species of butterflies. The young leaves of Nettles are edible if they are boiled in water and transformed into a creamy soup; they are supposed to be an excellent source of several vitamins and minerals.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月22日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1-3' tall, branching sparingly. The stems are round, hairless, and dull green to reddish brown. They may be slightly glaucous. The larger leaves are doubly compound, while the smaller upper leaves may be singly compound. They are arranged alternately along the stems. In each compound leaf, the leaflets form groups of three (trifoliate). A lower compound leaf may be 12" long and 6" across, while the upper compound leaves are much smaller. There is a sheath at the base of each compound leaf. A typical leaflet is about 1" long and ½" across. It is dull green with a smooth surface and edges, and oval, ovate, or oblanceolate in shape. The terminal leaflet has a conspicuous petiole, while the side leaflets are usually sessile, or nearly so. Some of the upper stems terminate in compound umbels of tiny yellow flowers. When fully mature, a compound umbel will span about 4-7" and consist of about 12-15 umbellets. The umbellets will be widely spaced, giving the compound umbel and airy appearance. Each umbellet will consist of about 12 flowers. Each flower is less than 1/8" (3 mm.) across and has 5 yellow petals. The blooming period occurs during late spring or early summer and lasts about one month. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is eventually replaced by a 5-angled fruit. The root system consists of taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun and dry conditions. Poor soil is preferred, consisting of clay, rocky material, or some sand, as this reduces the competition from other plants. This plant adapts well to slopes, although it may not remain very erect. Disease doesn't appear to disfigure the foliage very often. Drought resistance is very good.
Range & Habitat: The native Yellow Pimpernel occurs occasionally in northern and central Illinois, but is uncommon or absent in southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland prairies, edges of hill prairies, upland savannas, rocky upland forests, bluffs, areas along woodland paths, eroded clay banks in semi-shaded areas, and thickets. This plant typically occurs at the edge of dry wooded areas, especially where slopes occur.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract small bees, wasps (including parasitic wasps), flies, and beetles. These insects seek nectar primarily, although some bees may collect pollen and some flies and beetles may feed on pollen. Some of the fly visitors include Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Chloropid flies, March flies, and Blow flies, while bee visitors include Nomadine bees, Little Carpenter bees, Halictid bees, Carder bees, and Andrenid bees. The caterpillars of the butterflies Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) and Papilio joanae (Ozark Swallowtail) feed on the foliage of this plant; the latter insect has not been observed in Illinois, although it has been found in Missouri and western Kentucky. Little information is available about this plant's relationships to birds and mammals as a possible food source.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken along a path in an upland woodland near Charleston, Illinois, and at the edge of a hill prairie in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: Among members of the Carrot family, Yellow Pimpernel has an unusual appearance because the leaflets lack any lobes or teeth. This makes the species easy to identify in the field. Also, the compound umbels are unusually open and airy in appearance. This member of the Carrot family is rarely seen in cultivation, but should be grown more often as the tiny flowers attract many beneficial insects.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun and dry conditions. Poor soil is preferred, consisting of clay, rocky material, or some sand, as this reduces the competition from other plants. This plant adapts well to slopes, although it may not remain very erect. Disease doesn't appear to disfigure the foliage very often. Drought resistance is very good.
Range & Habitat: The native Yellow Pimpernel occurs occasionally in northern and central Illinois, but is uncommon or absent in southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland prairies, edges of hill prairies, upland savannas, rocky upland forests, bluffs, areas along woodland paths, eroded clay banks in semi-shaded areas, and thickets. This plant typically occurs at the edge of dry wooded areas, especially where slopes occur.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract small bees, wasps (including parasitic wasps), flies, and beetles. These insects seek nectar primarily, although some bees may collect pollen and some flies and beetles may feed on pollen. Some of the fly visitors include Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Chloropid flies, March flies, and Blow flies, while bee visitors include Nomadine bees, Little Carpenter bees, Halictid bees, Carder bees, and Andrenid bees. The caterpillars of the butterflies Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) and Papilio joanae (Ozark Swallowtail) feed on the foliage of this plant; the latter insect has not been observed in Illinois, although it has been found in Missouri and western Kentucky. Little information is available about this plant's relationships to birds and mammals as a possible food source.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken along a path in an upland woodland near Charleston, Illinois, and at the edge of a hill prairie in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: Among members of the Carrot family, Yellow Pimpernel has an unusual appearance because the leaflets lack any lobes or teeth. This makes the species easy to identify in the field. Also, the compound umbels are unusually open and airy in appearance. This member of the Carrot family is rarely seen in cultivation, but should be grown more often as the tiny flowers attract many beneficial insects.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月22日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1½–3' tall and more or less erect, forming occasional side branches. The stems usually have lines of hair, although sometimes they are glabrous; young stems are light to medium green, while older stems become brown. The alternate leaves along these stems are up to 4" long and ¾" across; they are narrowly ovate, lanceolate, or oblanceolate, smooth along the margins, and sessile. The upper surface of each leaf is dark green and hairless. The central stem terminates in a panicle of flowerheads that is usually longer than wide; some of the side stems also produce flowerheads in smaller panicles. The branches of each panicle are stiffly ascending; they are covered with small scale-like bracts. Each flowerhead is about ¾–1½" across, consisting of 15-25 ray florets and a similar number of disk florets. The ray florets are lavender to blue-violet, while the disk florets are yellow to reddish purple. Both kinds of florets are fertile. The base of each mature flowerhead (the involucre) is often shaped like a top or turban (turbinate) and it is about 7-11 mm. in length. The exterior of the involucre is covered with appressed scales (phyllaries) in several series; the apex of each scale is obtuse, rather than pointed. The blooming period occurs during early to mid-fall and lasts about 3 weeks. Each floret is replaced by an achene with a tuft of tawny hairs. This small achene is oblongoid with several ribs and often finely pubescent. On mature plants, the root system consists of a woody caudex with fibrous roots underneath. Occasionally, rhizomes are produced that can form vegetative offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with a somewhat acidic pH. The lower leaves often become withered or discolored before the blooming period occurs during the fall. If this wildflower is spoiled in the garden with fertilizer and too much water, it may become top-heavy and require staking later in the year.
Range & Habitat: The native Turbinate Aster is occasional in the southern half of Illinois and absent in the northern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies in the NE corner of its range in the United States. Habitats include prairies, savannas, openings in upland woodlands, borders of upland woodlands, thinly wooded slopes and bluffs, cliffs, rocky glades, and roadsides. This species is often found where sandstone, chert, or granite is close to the surface of the ground.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various bees, bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and other insects. Bee visitors include honeybees, bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), digger bees (Melissodes spp.), and Halictid bees. The caterpillars of the butterflies Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent) feed on the foliage of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.); the caterpillars of many species of moths also feed on various parts of asters. Leaf Beetles that often feed on asters include Exema canadensis, Microrhopala xerene, Ophraella pilosa, and Sumitrosis inaequalis. The value of asters to vertebrate animals is somewhat limited. The Wild Turkey sometimes eats the seeds and foliage; White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit also eat the foliage.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This aster is one of the last wildflowers to bloom during the fall. It has attractive flowerheads that are larger than average in size; underneath these flowerheads, the stiffly ascending branches appear nearly naked because their scale-like bracts are so small. The Turbinate Aster (Symphyotrichum turbinellum) can be distinguished from other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) as follows: 1) its flowerheads are at least ¾" across, 2) the branches of each panicle are covered with small scale-like bracts, 3) the leaves along the stems are sessile and never cordate at the base, 4) the margins of the leaves are entire or slightly crenate, 5) the tips of the phyllaries are obtuse, rather than pointed, and 6) the stems often have lines of hairs. Sometimes, this wildflower is called the Prairie Aster, but it is more common in savannas or thin upland woodlands (at least in Illinois).
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to slightly dry conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil with a somewhat acidic pH. The lower leaves often become withered or discolored before the blooming period occurs during the fall. If this wildflower is spoiled in the garden with fertilizer and too much water, it may become top-heavy and require staking later in the year.
Range & Habitat: The native Turbinate Aster is occasional in the southern half of Illinois and absent in the northern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies in the NE corner of its range in the United States. Habitats include prairies, savannas, openings in upland woodlands, borders of upland woodlands, thinly wooded slopes and bluffs, cliffs, rocky glades, and roadsides. This species is often found where sandstone, chert, or granite is close to the surface of the ground.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various bees, bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and other insects. Bee visitors include honeybees, bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), digger bees (Melissodes spp.), and Halictid bees. The caterpillars of the butterflies Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent) feed on the foliage of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.); the caterpillars of many species of moths also feed on various parts of asters. Leaf Beetles that often feed on asters include Exema canadensis, Microrhopala xerene, Ophraella pilosa, and Sumitrosis inaequalis. The value of asters to vertebrate animals is somewhat limited. The Wild Turkey sometimes eats the seeds and foliage; White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit also eat the foliage.
Photographic Location: The wildflower garden of the webmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This aster is one of the last wildflowers to bloom during the fall. It has attractive flowerheads that are larger than average in size; underneath these flowerheads, the stiffly ascending branches appear nearly naked because their scale-like bracts are so small. The Turbinate Aster (Symphyotrichum turbinellum) can be distinguished from other asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) as follows: 1) its flowerheads are at least ¾" across, 2) the branches of each panicle are covered with small scale-like bracts, 3) the leaves along the stems are sessile and never cordate at the base, 4) the margins of the leaves are entire or slightly crenate, 5) the tips of the phyllaries are obtuse, rather than pointed, and 6) the stems often have lines of hairs. Sometimes, this wildflower is called the Prairie Aster, but it is more common in savannas or thin upland woodlands (at least in Illinois).
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Miss Chen
2018年04月22日
Description: This is a perennial plant about 1-3' tall that branches occasionally, often leaning toward one side. The stems are light green or reddish brown, and they have lines of white hairs. The alternate leaves are up to 4½" long and ½" across, becoming much smaller as they ascend the stems. They are narrowly lanceolate, oblanceolate, or elliptic, becoming linear near the flowerheads. There are usually a few teeth toward the tips of the larger leaves, otherwise they have smooth margins. Some hairs may be present along the major veins on the undersides of the leaves. The upper leaf surface is medium green, while the lower leaf surface is light green. The upper stems and some of the side stems produce panicles of flowerheads up to 10" long and 6" across. Each flowerhead has numerous small disk florets that are surrounded by about 8-12 ray florets. The corollas of the disk florets are initially pale yellow, but they later become brown or reddish purple; they are short-tubular in shape and 5-lobed. The petaloid rays are white and linear-oblong in shape. A typical flowerhead is about 1/3" (8 mm.) across. Each flowerhead is subtended by small green bracts (phyllaries) that are appressed together, or they are only slightly spreading.
The blooming period occurs from late summer to the fall, lasting about 1-2 months. There is little or no floral scent. The small achenes are slightly pubescent and they have small tufts of white hair. Distribution of the achenes is by wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous; an older plant may develop a small caudex. Clonal offsets occasionally develop from the rhizomes. This plant occasionally forms colonies at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun and moist conditions. Full sun is tolerated if the site is not too dry. Growth is best in rich organic soil, or a moisture retaining clay-loam. During dry weather, the lower leaves often wither away, and stressed out plants are vulnerable to many kinds of foliar disease.
Range & Habitat: The native Calico Aster occurs in most counties of Illinois, where it is native and quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist meadows near woodlands and rivers, floodplain forests and flatwoods, woodland borders, seeps and swamps, semi-shaded sloughs near fields, and moist depressions in waste areas. This plant is primarily a woodland species, but it often strays into moist sunny areas nearby. It prefers areas with a history of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The florets of Calico Aster have shorter nectar tubes than many other species of asters, and they seem to attract a wide variety of insects, particularly in sunny areas. More common insect visitors include short-tongued bees, wasps, and flies, and less common visitors include long-tongued bees, small butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects seek nectar primarily, although the short-tongued bees may collect pollen, while some beetles and flies feed on the pollen. Caterpillars of the butterflies, Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent), feed on the foliage of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), as do the caterpillars of many kinds of moths (see Moth Table). The White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit browse on the foliage occasionally.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This aster is more attractive in woodland areas, where it has a delicate appearance. It closely resembles Symphyotrichum pilosum (Frost Aster), Symphyotrichum ericoides (Heath Aster), and other species in the genus with small white flowerheads. The Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) is a somewhat lanky plant with smaller flowerheads (about 1/3" or 8 mm. across) and fewer ray florets per flowerhead (about 10) than many similar asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). In this regard, it is similar to the Heath Aster, but the latter species is a more compact plant with leaves that are shorter and more narrow than those of the Calico Aster. While the Heath Aster is often found in open prairies, the Calico Aster usually doesn't stray far from woodland and semi-shaded wetland areas. Its common name refers to the diverse colors of the disk florets as they mature. Another common name of this species is the Side-Flowering Aster, and another scientific name is Aster lateriflorus.
The blooming period occurs from late summer to the fall, lasting about 1-2 months. There is little or no floral scent. The small achenes are slightly pubescent and they have small tufts of white hair. Distribution of the achenes is by wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous; an older plant may develop a small caudex. Clonal offsets occasionally develop from the rhizomes. This plant occasionally forms colonies at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun and moist conditions. Full sun is tolerated if the site is not too dry. Growth is best in rich organic soil, or a moisture retaining clay-loam. During dry weather, the lower leaves often wither away, and stressed out plants are vulnerable to many kinds of foliar disease.
Range & Habitat: The native Calico Aster occurs in most counties of Illinois, where it is native and quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist meadows near woodlands and rivers, floodplain forests and flatwoods, woodland borders, seeps and swamps, semi-shaded sloughs near fields, and moist depressions in waste areas. This plant is primarily a woodland species, but it often strays into moist sunny areas nearby. It prefers areas with a history of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The florets of Calico Aster have shorter nectar tubes than many other species of asters, and they seem to attract a wide variety of insects, particularly in sunny areas. More common insect visitors include short-tongued bees, wasps, and flies, and less common visitors include long-tongued bees, small butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects seek nectar primarily, although the short-tongued bees may collect pollen, while some beetles and flies feed on the pollen. Caterpillars of the butterflies, Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent), feed on the foliage of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), as do the caterpillars of many kinds of moths (see Moth Table). The White-Tailed Deer and Cottontail Rabbit browse on the foliage occasionally.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This aster is more attractive in woodland areas, where it has a delicate appearance. It closely resembles Symphyotrichum pilosum (Frost Aster), Symphyotrichum ericoides (Heath Aster), and other species in the genus with small white flowerheads. The Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) is a somewhat lanky plant with smaller flowerheads (about 1/3" or 8 mm. across) and fewer ray florets per flowerhead (about 10) than many similar asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). In this regard, it is similar to the Heath Aster, but the latter species is a more compact plant with leaves that are shorter and more narrow than those of the Calico Aster. While the Heath Aster is often found in open prairies, the Calico Aster usually doesn't stray far from woodland and semi-shaded wetland areas. Its common name refers to the diverse colors of the disk florets as they mature. Another common name of this species is the Side-Flowering Aster, and another scientific name is Aster lateriflorus.
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Miss Chen
2018年04月20日
Acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo) is an annual vining winter squash plant that produces ribbed fruit with green or gold rinds. When harvested ripe, the fruits store for about three months. To determine if an acorn squash is ripe, consider the appearance and texture of its skin, the condition of the vine and the number of days since sowing.
Skin Appearance
An orange patch appears on the area of the acorn squash that rests on the ground when the fruit is ripe, and skin is matte. An immature acorn squash is shiny. As the fruit ripens, it loses its shine and looks dry and dull.
Skin Texture
A ripe acorn squash has a very tough skin. To test whether an acorn squash is ripe, try to pierce the skin with your thumbnail. Your nail won't easily leave a mark on a ripe acorn squash.
Vine Condition
As an acorn squash matures, the vine deteriorates. When an acorn squash plant turns yellow and dies back, the fruit are usually ripe.
Harvest Time
Acorn squash are usually ready to harvest about 80 to 100 days after sowing. The seeds are sown in spring after the final local average frost date, and the fruits mature as fall approaches.
Unripe Fruit
An unripe acorn squash doesn't ripen after harvest. Acorn squash fruit texture and flavor develops as the fruit ripens. Unripe fruit are watery and taste bland, and store badly.
'Jersey Golden Acorn'
'Jersey Golden Acorn' is an acorn squash variety that produces fruit that can be picked unripe without losing flavor. The flesh of this variety is sweet when the fruit is golfball-sized, and the skin is soft. You can eat unripe 'Jersey Golden Acorn' fruit raw or cooked.
Fruit Harvest
Harvest acorn squash by cutting the stem 1 inch from the fruit, and store the fruit in a dry place at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. An acorn squash fruit stores best at 50 to 75 percent humidity.
Skin Appearance
An orange patch appears on the area of the acorn squash that rests on the ground when the fruit is ripe, and skin is matte. An immature acorn squash is shiny. As the fruit ripens, it loses its shine and looks dry and dull.
Skin Texture
A ripe acorn squash has a very tough skin. To test whether an acorn squash is ripe, try to pierce the skin with your thumbnail. Your nail won't easily leave a mark on a ripe acorn squash.
Vine Condition
As an acorn squash matures, the vine deteriorates. When an acorn squash plant turns yellow and dies back, the fruit are usually ripe.
Harvest Time
Acorn squash are usually ready to harvest about 80 to 100 days after sowing. The seeds are sown in spring after the final local average frost date, and the fruits mature as fall approaches.
Unripe Fruit
An unripe acorn squash doesn't ripen after harvest. Acorn squash fruit texture and flavor develops as the fruit ripens. Unripe fruit are watery and taste bland, and store badly.
'Jersey Golden Acorn'
'Jersey Golden Acorn' is an acorn squash variety that produces fruit that can be picked unripe without losing flavor. The flesh of this variety is sweet when the fruit is golfball-sized, and the skin is soft. You can eat unripe 'Jersey Golden Acorn' fruit raw or cooked.
Fruit Harvest
Harvest acorn squash by cutting the stem 1 inch from the fruit, and store the fruit in a dry place at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. An acorn squash fruit stores best at 50 to 75 percent humidity.
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