文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月26日
Description: This perennial wildflower is about 3-5' tall; it is erect and branches occasionally. The stems are light green, pale reddish green, or purple; the upper stems have short bristly hairs, while lower stems are glabrous and sometimes glaucous. The lower and middle leaves are opposite, while the upper leaves are alternate; they spread outward from the stems. The leaf blades are up to 7" long and 3" across; they are broadly lanceolate to ovate with long slender tips and sharply serrated margins. The upper surface of each leaf is dark green and rough in texture, while the lower surface is light green and nearly hairless. The petioles of the leaves are about ½–1½" long; they are somewhat winged near the leaf blade, but become more narrow toward the stem. The upper stems terminate in yellow flowerheads on naked stalks (peduncles) of varying length. Each flowerhead is about 2–3½" across, consisting of 8-12 ray florets that surround numerous disk florets in a central disk. The petal-like ray florets are bright yellow and oblong in shape, while the disk florets are yellow and tubular. The base of each flowerhead consists of several overlapping bracts. These floral bracts are light green, linear-lanceolate, and ciliate along their margins; they often curve backward. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. Each fertile floret is replaced by a dark achene about 1/8" (3 mm.) in length (or a little longer) that is oblongoid and slightly flattened. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Vegetative colonies of plants are often formed from the rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or dappled sunlight, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. Like other perennial sunflowers, this species may spread aggressively in some situations.
Range & Habitat: The native Ten-Petal Sunflower is occasional in Illinois and widely scattered throughout the state; it is largely absent in south-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, savannas, partially shaded areas along rivers, meadows, and thickets. Occasional disturbance is beneficial if it prevents excessive shade from overhead trees.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads attract many kinds of insects, especially bees (both long-tongued & short-tongued), which suck nectar and collect pollen from the florets. Other visitors include butterflies, wasps, and various kinds of flies. An impressive variety of insects feed on various parts of Helianthus spp. (Sunflowers), including beetles, weevils, and the caterpillars of some butterflies and moths (see Insect Table for some examples). The seeds are an attractive source of food to many upland gamebirds and granivorous songbirds (see Bird Table). Muskrats occasionally feed on the leaves and stems; they use the latter in the construction of their lodges in wetlands. Young plants are occasionally eaten by rabbits, deer, and groundhogs; they are also palatable to many kinds of livestock.
Photographic Location: A woodland opening at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. The long slender bracts of a flowerbud can be seen in the upper leaf corner of the upper photograph. In the lower left of the same photograph, the long slender tip of a leaf blade is fully visible. Both photographs show the long pointed teeth along the margins of the leaf blades.
Comments: This is an attractive woodland sunflower that should be cultivated in gardens more often. There are many species of sunflowers in Illinois (both prairie and woodland) and they are often difficult to identify. Ten-Petal Sunflower has the following characteristics that are useful in identifying this species: 1) the margins of its leaf blades have teeth that are long and pointed, 2) the tips of its leaf blades are unusually long and slender, and 3) the floral bracts are unusually long and slender. However, some populations of plants may have shorter teeth on the leaf margins.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or dappled sunlight, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. Like other perennial sunflowers, this species may spread aggressively in some situations.
Range & Habitat: The native Ten-Petal Sunflower is occasional in Illinois and widely scattered throughout the state; it is largely absent in south-central Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, savannas, partially shaded areas along rivers, meadows, and thickets. Occasional disturbance is beneficial if it prevents excessive shade from overhead trees.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads attract many kinds of insects, especially bees (both long-tongued & short-tongued), which suck nectar and collect pollen from the florets. Other visitors include butterflies, wasps, and various kinds of flies. An impressive variety of insects feed on various parts of Helianthus spp. (Sunflowers), including beetles, weevils, and the caterpillars of some butterflies and moths (see Insect Table for some examples). The seeds are an attractive source of food to many upland gamebirds and granivorous songbirds (see Bird Table). Muskrats occasionally feed on the leaves and stems; they use the latter in the construction of their lodges in wetlands. Young plants are occasionally eaten by rabbits, deer, and groundhogs; they are also palatable to many kinds of livestock.
Photographic Location: A woodland opening at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. The long slender bracts of a flowerbud can be seen in the upper leaf corner of the upper photograph. In the lower left of the same photograph, the long slender tip of a leaf blade is fully visible. Both photographs show the long pointed teeth along the margins of the leaf blades.
Comments: This is an attractive woodland sunflower that should be cultivated in gardens more often. There are many species of sunflowers in Illinois (both prairie and woodland) and they are often difficult to identify. Ten-Petal Sunflower has the following characteristics that are useful in identifying this species: 1) the margins of its leaf blades have teeth that are long and pointed, 2) the tips of its leaf blades are unusually long and slender, and 3) the floral bracts are unusually long and slender. However, some populations of plants may have shorter teeth on the leaf margins.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月26日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1½–2½' tall, branching occasionally. The round stems are light green and covered with coarse spreading hairs. Both basal and cauline leaves are produced; the cauline leaves are alternate, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. The basal and lower cauline leaves are oddly pinnate (often with 5 leaflets), while the upperFlower, Stems, & Leaves cauline leaves are trifoliate or simple. The simple leaves and leaflets of the compound leaves are up to 3" long and 2½" across. They are lanceolate to ovate-oval, coarsely serrated or shallowly cleft along the margins, and largely hairless. Sometimes the leaves and leaflets are deeply cleft into 2 or 3 lobes. The terminal leaflet is larger in size than the lateral leaflets. The basal and lower cauline leaves have stout petioles, while the upper cauline leaves are nearly sessile. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of leafy stipules that are cleft or dentate; each stipule is up to ½" long. The upper stems individually terminate in 1-3 flowers; sometimes single flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves. Each flower develops from a stalk (peduncle) up to 3" long; this stalk is covered with coarse spreading hairs. Each flower is about ½" across, consisting of 5 petals that are white or cream, 5 triangular green sepals, and several stamens surrounding a large cluster of green carpels with elongated styles. The petals are shorter than the sepals. The anthers are usually dull yellow or tan. The receptacle of the flower (underneath the carpels) is hairless or nearly so. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a spheroid cluster of achenes with elongated styles that are hooked at their tips. This fruiting cluster is about ¾" across; it is initially green, but eventually turns brown. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes; vegetative offsets are often formed.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing loam or sandy loam. Full sun and light shade are also tolerated.
Range & Habitat: The native Rough Avens occurs occasionally in central and northern Illinois, but it is absent from the southern and southwestern areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include savannas, thickets, woodland borders, and moist meadows. Sometimes it is found in thickets and prairie remnants along railroads and roadsides.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is rather limited. They are probably similar to those of Geum canadense (White Avens). The nectar and pollen of the flowers probably attract small bees, wasps, and flies. Insects that feed on the foliage of Geum spp. (Avens) include the aphids Acyrthosiphon pseudodirhodum, Macrosiphum gei, Macrosiphum pallidum, and Macrosiphum pseudorosae. In addition, larvae of a moth, Tinagma obscurofasciella, mine the leaves. The achenes with hooked styles can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans; by this means, they can be distributed across considerable distances.
Photographic Location: Between a thicket and prairie remnant along a railroad in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: Rough Avens blooms a little later than Geum vernum (Spring Avens), but a little earlier than Geum canadense (White Avens) and Geum virginianum (Pale Avens). It can be confused with White Avens. However, Rough Avens has petals that are shorter than the sepals and its flowering stalks have coarse spreading hairs. White Avens has petals that are as long or longer than the sepals and its flowering stalks are finely pubescent. Pale Avens also has an appearance that is similar to Rough Avens; it is restricted to southern Illinois. Pale Avens has slightly smaller flowers (about 1/3" across) with cream petals that are much shorter than the sepals. The receptacles of its flowers are bristly-hairy, while the receptacles of Rough Avens are hairless or nearly so.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing loam or sandy loam. Full sun and light shade are also tolerated.
Range & Habitat: The native Rough Avens occurs occasionally in central and northern Illinois, but it is absent from the southern and southwestern areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include savannas, thickets, woodland borders, and moist meadows. Sometimes it is found in thickets and prairie remnants along railroads and roadsides.
Faunal Associations: Information about floral-faunal relationships for this species is rather limited. They are probably similar to those of Geum canadense (White Avens). The nectar and pollen of the flowers probably attract small bees, wasps, and flies. Insects that feed on the foliage of Geum spp. (Avens) include the aphids Acyrthosiphon pseudodirhodum, Macrosiphum gei, Macrosiphum pallidum, and Macrosiphum pseudorosae. In addition, larvae of a moth, Tinagma obscurofasciella, mine the leaves. The achenes with hooked styles can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans; by this means, they can be distributed across considerable distances.
Photographic Location: Between a thicket and prairie remnant along a railroad in Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: Rough Avens blooms a little later than Geum vernum (Spring Avens), but a little earlier than Geum canadense (White Avens) and Geum virginianum (Pale Avens). It can be confused with White Avens. However, Rough Avens has petals that are shorter than the sepals and its flowering stalks have coarse spreading hairs. White Avens has petals that are as long or longer than the sepals and its flowering stalks are finely pubescent. Pale Avens also has an appearance that is similar to Rough Avens; it is restricted to southern Illinois. Pale Avens has slightly smaller flowers (about 1/3" across) with cream petals that are much shorter than the sepals. The receptacles of its flowers are bristly-hairy, while the receptacles of Rough Avens are hairless or nearly so.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月26日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is about 1½–2½' tall, branching occasionally. The upper stems are light green and pubescent, while the lower stems are often brownish green and coarsely hairy. These stems are round in circumference, rather than angular. There are both basal leaves (produced during the spring) and alternate cauline leaves. The basal leaves are produced in a low rosette up to 6" across. The lower cauline leaves are trifoliate, while the upper cauline leaves are usually simple; they are rather variable in shape. Both simple leaves and leaflets of the compound leaves are up to 4" long and 3" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. They are medium green, lanceolate to oval-ovate, coarsely serrated, and often cleft into 3 major lobes. Their margins are often shallowly cleft or incised as well.
The basal leaves are similar to the cauline leaves, except they are dark green and odd-pinnate with more than 3 leaflets. The wrinkled upper surface of each leaf is either hairless or it has scattered hairs that are very short and bristly; the lower surface is either hairless or it has a few hairs along the major veins. The lower leaves have stout petioles up to 1" long, while the upper leaves have either short petioles or they are sessile. At the base of each petiole, there are a pair of leafy stipules up to ½" long that are usually toothed along their margins. Each upper stem often terminates in an inflorescence of 1-3 flowers; sometimes individual flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves. The peduncles are up to 3" long and finely pubescent; they divide into shorter pedicels when there is more than one flower in the inflorescence.
Each flower is about ½" across, consisting of 5 bright white petals, 5 triangular green sepals, and numerous stamens surrounding a cluster of green carpels with elongated styles. The sepals are the same length or shorter than the petals; they are initially spreading, but curve downward with age. The anthers of the stamens are initially white, but they soon turn brown. The receptacle of each flower (the surface underneath the carpels) is pubescent. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 1-2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a spheroid cluster of achenes with persistent styles that are hooked at their tips. This fruiting cluster spans about ¾" across; it is initially green, but eventually turns brown. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes; from the latter, vegetative offsets can be produced. This plant occasionally forms loose colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or partial sun, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a loam or clay-loam soil. At favorable sites, this plant can spread aggressively and is somewhat weedy. White Avens is able to grow underneath Black Walnut trees (Juglans nigra) because of its tolerance to the phytotoxic chemicals that are released by the fallen leaves and roots of this tree.
Range & Habitat: The native White Avens is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, partially shaded seeps, fence rows with woody vegetation, powerline clearances in wooded areas, and edges of yards. Sometimes White Avens can be found in disturbed meadows and tall-grass prairies, but this is less typical. It adapts well to disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract various insects, including bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. These insects suck nectar; some bees also collect pollen, while Syrphid flies often feed on the pollen. Insects that feed on the foliage of White Avens and other Aven species (Geum spp.) consist primarily of aphids, including Acyrthosiphon pseudodirhodum, Amphorophora rossi (White Avens is the preferred host plant), Macrosiphum gei, Macrosiphum pallidum, and Macrosiphon pseudorosae. In addition, the larvae of a moth, Tinagma obscurofasciella, mine the leaves. Apparently the foliage of White Avens is not attractive to mammalian herbivores; it is not often grazed by White-Tailed Deer. The hooked achenes can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans; by this means, they are distributed far and wide.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken near a powerline clearance at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, at a tallgrass prairie of Meadowbrook Park in the same city, and along a woodland border at Chief Shemauger Park in the same city.
Comments: The flowers of White Avens resemble those of various Rubus spp. (Blackberries), except that they are a little smaller. The structure of its flowers is typical of many species in the Rose family. This is probably the most common Geum sp. (Avens) in Illinois. In general, White Avens can be distinguished from other species of Avens by its bright white petals, which are as long or longer than the sepals. Its lower cauline leaves are trifoliate, whereas the lower cauline leaves of other species of Avens are often oddly pinnate with 5 or more leaflets. In particular, Geum laciniatum (Rough Avens) resembles White Avens and occurs in many of the same habitats. However, the petals of its flowers are shorter than the sepals. The flowering stalks of White Avens are finely pubescent, while the flowering stalks of Rough Avens have coarse spreading hairs. Another species, Avens virginianum (Pale Avens), is restricted to southern Illinois. The petals of its flowers are cream rather than bright white, and they are substantially shorter than the sepals. Unlike White Avens, its lower cauline leaves are often odd-pinnate with 5 leaflets.
The basal leaves are similar to the cauline leaves, except they are dark green and odd-pinnate with more than 3 leaflets. The wrinkled upper surface of each leaf is either hairless or it has scattered hairs that are very short and bristly; the lower surface is either hairless or it has a few hairs along the major veins. The lower leaves have stout petioles up to 1" long, while the upper leaves have either short petioles or they are sessile. At the base of each petiole, there are a pair of leafy stipules up to ½" long that are usually toothed along their margins. Each upper stem often terminates in an inflorescence of 1-3 flowers; sometimes individual flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves. The peduncles are up to 3" long and finely pubescent; they divide into shorter pedicels when there is more than one flower in the inflorescence.
Each flower is about ½" across, consisting of 5 bright white petals, 5 triangular green sepals, and numerous stamens surrounding a cluster of green carpels with elongated styles. The sepals are the same length or shorter than the petals; they are initially spreading, but curve downward with age. The anthers of the stamens are initially white, but they soon turn brown. The receptacle of each flower (the surface underneath the carpels) is pubescent. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 1-2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a spheroid cluster of achenes with persistent styles that are hooked at their tips. This fruiting cluster spans about ¾" across; it is initially green, but eventually turns brown. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes; from the latter, vegetative offsets can be produced. This plant occasionally forms loose colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade or partial sun, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a loam or clay-loam soil. At favorable sites, this plant can spread aggressively and is somewhat weedy. White Avens is able to grow underneath Black Walnut trees (Juglans nigra) because of its tolerance to the phytotoxic chemicals that are released by the fallen leaves and roots of this tree.
Range & Habitat: The native White Avens is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, partially shaded seeps, fence rows with woody vegetation, powerline clearances in wooded areas, and edges of yards. Sometimes White Avens can be found in disturbed meadows and tall-grass prairies, but this is less typical. It adapts well to disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract various insects, including bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. These insects suck nectar; some bees also collect pollen, while Syrphid flies often feed on the pollen. Insects that feed on the foliage of White Avens and other Aven species (Geum spp.) consist primarily of aphids, including Acyrthosiphon pseudodirhodum, Amphorophora rossi (White Avens is the preferred host plant), Macrosiphum gei, Macrosiphum pallidum, and Macrosiphon pseudorosae. In addition, the larvae of a moth, Tinagma obscurofasciella, mine the leaves. Apparently the foliage of White Avens is not attractive to mammalian herbivores; it is not often grazed by White-Tailed Deer. The hooked achenes can cling to the fur of mammals, feathers of birds, and clothing of humans; by this means, they are distributed far and wide.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken near a powerline clearance at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois, at a tallgrass prairie of Meadowbrook Park in the same city, and along a woodland border at Chief Shemauger Park in the same city.
Comments: The flowers of White Avens resemble those of various Rubus spp. (Blackberries), except that they are a little smaller. The structure of its flowers is typical of many species in the Rose family. This is probably the most common Geum sp. (Avens) in Illinois. In general, White Avens can be distinguished from other species of Avens by its bright white petals, which are as long or longer than the sepals. Its lower cauline leaves are trifoliate, whereas the lower cauline leaves of other species of Avens are often oddly pinnate with 5 or more leaflets. In particular, Geum laciniatum (Rough Avens) resembles White Avens and occurs in many of the same habitats. However, the petals of its flowers are shorter than the sepals. The flowering stalks of White Avens are finely pubescent, while the flowering stalks of Rough Avens have coarse spreading hairs. Another species, Avens virginianum (Pale Avens), is restricted to southern Illinois. The petals of its flowers are cream rather than bright white, and they are substantially shorter than the sepals. Unlike White Avens, its lower cauline leaves are often odd-pinnate with 5 leaflets.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月24日
Many vegetables make good home crops, and the cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus) is one of the best. Usually quite productive and easy to grow, a failing cucumber plant can leave you wondering if your green thumb has turned brown. Sometimes, however, cucumbers develop but fail to turn green or start out green only to become orange or yellow. Yellowing cucumbers might signal a problem but they are sometimes a natural occurrence. Knowing the difference is the first step, followed by making some changes to prevent abnormal yellowing.
Baby I Was Born This Way
Although most cucumbers are dark green, yellow varieties do exist. The "Lemon" cultivar is a good example. Like all cucumbers, it grows as an annual in all parts of the United States. It differs from other cucumber varieties in that it produces ball-shaped, 4-inch wide cucumbers in bright yellow. Whether you start cucumber plants from seed or purchase seedlings at a nursery, check the label and know what you're growing. It's possible your cucumbers were always destined to turn yellow.
Cucumbers left on the vine too long will also turn yellow and orange as they start to fade. They may also become overly large. While you certainly won't enjoy eating these bitter vegetables, leaving them on the vine slows or stops the production of new cucumbers. It's best to remove and discard them.
Food and Water
Improper watering and fertilizing can both result in yellow cucumbers. Cukes have shallow roots that crave moisture, but leaving them with wet feet can make them turn yellow. Cucumber plants do best when watered once weekly during dry spells, or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. A particularly rainy growing season may lead to a disappointing crop.
Adequate nutrition also helps ensure healthy green cucumbers. A lack of nutrients can cause yellowing of both the leaves and cucumbers, which may stay small rather than reaching their full size. To prevent this, mix 1 cup of a 10-10-10 granular fertilizer into each 10-foot row at planting time. When the young vines reach 1 foot in length, mix 1 tablespoon of fertilizer into the soil beside each plant.
Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Mosaics are often attractive works of art, but this is not so when it comes the cucumber mosaic virus. This disease is incurable and caused by an organism that creates a yellow, mottles appearance on the cucumber plant's leaves. It also causes small, stunted cucumbers with yellow or white mottling. Remove and destroy any plants that show signs of this virus and keep a close eye on any remaining cucumbers in your garden.
Aphids and cucumber beetles spread the cucumber mosaic virus, so controlling them is important. Early in the season, cover the plants with floating row covers. You'll need to remove the covers by early summer to allow pollination, but they will offer young plants protection early in the growing season. For pest control after you uncover the plants, spray them with insecticidal soap, diluted at a rate of 5 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Spray on a still, windless day and repeat every two weeks as needed.
Other Cucumber Crises
While the cucumber mosaic virus is the biggie, several other issues can cause yellow, wilted plant leaves and small cucumbers with an orange or yellow color. These include bacterial wilt and fungal problems. Striped cucumber beetles spread bacterial wilt and are best controlled with the same floating row covers used to discourage aphids. Later in the season, handpick the beetles off the plants when you see them. This is a much safer alternative than pesticides since you'll want to know your cucumbers are chemical-free and safe to eat.
Fungal disorders are best controlled by keeping air flowing through your crop. Space your plants 8 to 15 inches apart and avoiding wetting the foliage when watering. Growing plants on trellises also improves air circulation while keeping cucumbers up and off of moist soil.
If you do experience disease problems, choose disease-resistant varieties next year and try again, "Marketmore 76" and "Fanfare" are two excellent options. Rotate your planting location every two years, as well. Cucumber beetles can overwinter in your garden soil and easily find (and infect) your cucumbers again if you plant them in the same location.
Baby I Was Born This Way
Although most cucumbers are dark green, yellow varieties do exist. The "Lemon" cultivar is a good example. Like all cucumbers, it grows as an annual in all parts of the United States. It differs from other cucumber varieties in that it produces ball-shaped, 4-inch wide cucumbers in bright yellow. Whether you start cucumber plants from seed or purchase seedlings at a nursery, check the label and know what you're growing. It's possible your cucumbers were always destined to turn yellow.
Cucumbers left on the vine too long will also turn yellow and orange as they start to fade. They may also become overly large. While you certainly won't enjoy eating these bitter vegetables, leaving them on the vine slows or stops the production of new cucumbers. It's best to remove and discard them.
Food and Water
Improper watering and fertilizing can both result in yellow cucumbers. Cukes have shallow roots that crave moisture, but leaving them with wet feet can make them turn yellow. Cucumber plants do best when watered once weekly during dry spells, or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. A particularly rainy growing season may lead to a disappointing crop.
Adequate nutrition also helps ensure healthy green cucumbers. A lack of nutrients can cause yellowing of both the leaves and cucumbers, which may stay small rather than reaching their full size. To prevent this, mix 1 cup of a 10-10-10 granular fertilizer into each 10-foot row at planting time. When the young vines reach 1 foot in length, mix 1 tablespoon of fertilizer into the soil beside each plant.
Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Mosaics are often attractive works of art, but this is not so when it comes the cucumber mosaic virus. This disease is incurable and caused by an organism that creates a yellow, mottles appearance on the cucumber plant's leaves. It also causes small, stunted cucumbers with yellow or white mottling. Remove and destroy any plants that show signs of this virus and keep a close eye on any remaining cucumbers in your garden.
Aphids and cucumber beetles spread the cucumber mosaic virus, so controlling them is important. Early in the season, cover the plants with floating row covers. You'll need to remove the covers by early summer to allow pollination, but they will offer young plants protection early in the growing season. For pest control after you uncover the plants, spray them with insecticidal soap, diluted at a rate of 5 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Spray on a still, windless day and repeat every two weeks as needed.
Other Cucumber Crises
While the cucumber mosaic virus is the biggie, several other issues can cause yellow, wilted plant leaves and small cucumbers with an orange or yellow color. These include bacterial wilt and fungal problems. Striped cucumber beetles spread bacterial wilt and are best controlled with the same floating row covers used to discourage aphids. Later in the season, handpick the beetles off the plants when you see them. This is a much safer alternative than pesticides since you'll want to know your cucumbers are chemical-free and safe to eat.
Fungal disorders are best controlled by keeping air flowing through your crop. Space your plants 8 to 15 inches apart and avoiding wetting the foliage when watering. Growing plants on trellises also improves air circulation while keeping cucumbers up and off of moist soil.
If you do experience disease problems, choose disease-resistant varieties next year and try again, "Marketmore 76" and "Fanfare" are two excellent options. Rotate your planting location every two years, as well. Cucumber beetles can overwinter in your garden soil and easily find (and infect) your cucumbers again if you plant them in the same location.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月23日
Habanero peppers are one of the world's hottest peppers. They take a while to ripen after you transplant them or grow them from seeds. The peppers turn from green to red or orange when they ripen. Habanero peppers thrive in hot weather and acidic soil. The peppers do not require much water. In fact, too much water can cause the produce to have a bitter flavor. While the peppers are very hot in flavor, they are also rich in vitamin C. You can create salsa with the peppers or add them to your favorite dish to add a spicy flavor.
Hunker Source Material - Midcentury Design
00:00
Habanero Care
Grow the peppers when the threat of frost passes, because they do not tolerate the frost. Habanero plants require temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit before they produce peppers. Habaneros can often tolerate higher temperatures during the daytime. Remove small flowers until the plants become established if you are growing them from transplants. Water the plants only once a week to stress the plants to produce the hottest peppers. Watering the plants more often will create milder peppers.
Harvest Time
Inspect the habanero peppers between 100 to 120 days after you plant them. The time it takes for the peppers to ripen will depend on sunlight, water and soil conditions. Habanero peppers will remain green when they sprout on the plants, but they will change in color when it gets closer to harvest time. Check on the habanero peppers daily to determine when they are ready for harvesting.
Harvest Signs
Habanero peppers will transform from green to red or orange in color. You will no longer notice any green on the peppers when they ripen completely. Inspect the size of the habanero peppers. Peppers that are three-quarters inch or larger in diameter are ready for harvest because they have reached the desired size. Harvest the habanero peppers as they ripen so that the plant can dedicate its energy into producing new peppers.
Harvest Tips
Wear gloves when handling the habanero peppers to prevent irritation to your skin or eyes. Cut the habanero peppers from the plants with pruning shears. Cut the peppers off at the stem, leaving up to an inch of the stem attached to the peppers. Avoid pulling or tearing the peppers from the plant, because you can damage it. Store the harvested peppers in a paper bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Wash the habanero peppers off with cool water before you use them.
Hunker Source Material - Midcentury Design
00:00
Habanero Care
Grow the peppers when the threat of frost passes, because they do not tolerate the frost. Habanero plants require temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit before they produce peppers. Habaneros can often tolerate higher temperatures during the daytime. Remove small flowers until the plants become established if you are growing them from transplants. Water the plants only once a week to stress the plants to produce the hottest peppers. Watering the plants more often will create milder peppers.
Harvest Time
Inspect the habanero peppers between 100 to 120 days after you plant them. The time it takes for the peppers to ripen will depend on sunlight, water and soil conditions. Habanero peppers will remain green when they sprout on the plants, but they will change in color when it gets closer to harvest time. Check on the habanero peppers daily to determine when they are ready for harvesting.
Harvest Signs
Habanero peppers will transform from green to red or orange in color. You will no longer notice any green on the peppers when they ripen completely. Inspect the size of the habanero peppers. Peppers that are three-quarters inch or larger in diameter are ready for harvest because they have reached the desired size. Harvest the habanero peppers as they ripen so that the plant can dedicate its energy into producing new peppers.
Harvest Tips
Wear gloves when handling the habanero peppers to prevent irritation to your skin or eyes. Cut the habanero peppers from the plants with pruning shears. Cut the peppers off at the stem, leaving up to an inch of the stem attached to the peppers. Avoid pulling or tearing the peppers from the plant, because you can damage it. Store the harvested peppers in a paper bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Wash the habanero peppers off with cool water before you use them.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月22日
Red hot cherry peppers also are referred to as cherry bomb peppers. The hot peppers are added to dishes such as salsa and chili due to their extreme heat. The peppers have a similar appearance to cherries. The thick-fleshed oval peppers mature from green to red in color. After the peppers ripen on the plant, they are then harvested carefully to prevent injury to the plant. Harvesting the peppers regularly will allow the cherry pepper plant to continue to produce peppers throughout the growing season.
Step 1
Inspect the red hot cherry peppers daily, 65 to 70 days after you transplant them. The cherry peppers are ready to harvest once they reach 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches in size.
Step 2
Examine the color of the cherry peppers. Cherry peppers start out green in color and then ripen to a bright red. Harvest the cherry peppers when they are uniformly red in color.
Step 3
Slice the stem of the pepper plant with a sharp knife. Leave 1 inch of the stem attached to the pepper.
Step 4
Harvest the pepper plants as they ripen. Harvest all the cherry peppers when the threat of frost arrives because the cold weather will damage them.
Step 1
Inspect the red hot cherry peppers daily, 65 to 70 days after you transplant them. The cherry peppers are ready to harvest once they reach 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches in size.
Step 2
Examine the color of the cherry peppers. Cherry peppers start out green in color and then ripen to a bright red. Harvest the cherry peppers when they are uniformly red in color.
Step 3
Slice the stem of the pepper plant with a sharp knife. Leave 1 inch of the stem attached to the pepper.
Step 4
Harvest the pepper plants as they ripen. Harvest all the cherry peppers when the threat of frost arrives because the cold weather will damage them.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月21日
Gardeners often place matchsticks in the soil beneath green peppers (Capsicum annuum Grossum Group) when setting them out to feed those plants' love of sulfur. Because peppers prefer a pH between 6.0 and 6.8, the acidifying chemical does help provide optimum conditions for them, so their use isn't just an old wives' tale. The number of matches recommended varies from two or three per plant to an entire book (20) per plant. If you have other uses for matches, you can add a small amount of garden sulfur to each planting hole instead.
Await Warmth
Peppers must have warm conditions to thrive, so don't set them out until after the last spring frost. Wait until the soil temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures have climbed above 55 degrees F., daytime ones above 70 degrees F.
Harden Seedlings
If you started pepper plants indoors, begin taking them outdoors for a few hours every day. Set them in the shade at first, and gradually extend their outdoor time while moving them into more sun.
Prepare Holes
Plant peppers in full sun, in fertile, well-drained soil. First, make a 6-inch-deep hole, partially filling that excavation with 2 inches of compost and about 1/2 cup of 5-10-10 organic fertilizer. Work those amendments into the bottom of the hole with a trowel.
Add Matchsticks
After removing the cover from a book of matches, place the matches atop the just-worked soil. If you prefer to use garden sulfur instead, add 1 teaspoon of it. To avoid shocking the seedling, cover the matches or sulfur with 1 to 2 additional inches of soil so the amendments don't come in direct contact with the plant until it is well-established. You then can set a pepper in the hole, loosening its roots if they have become matted together, and positioning the plant slightly deeper than it grew in its container.
After filling in the soil around its roots, pat the soil down and water it well. If you wish to set out more than one pepper, space the plants 18 inches apart and their rows 24 inches apart.
Water Plants
Keep the peppers' soil damp while they are becoming established, providing them with at least 1 inch of water per week, via rain or irrigation. To help maintain their soil's moisture and discourage weeds, mulch the plants with up to 2 inches of a light organic material such as straw or shredded dead leaves.
Await Warmth
Peppers must have warm conditions to thrive, so don't set them out until after the last spring frost. Wait until the soil temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures have climbed above 55 degrees F., daytime ones above 70 degrees F.
Harden Seedlings
If you started pepper plants indoors, begin taking them outdoors for a few hours every day. Set them in the shade at first, and gradually extend their outdoor time while moving them into more sun.
Prepare Holes
Plant peppers in full sun, in fertile, well-drained soil. First, make a 6-inch-deep hole, partially filling that excavation with 2 inches of compost and about 1/2 cup of 5-10-10 organic fertilizer. Work those amendments into the bottom of the hole with a trowel.
Add Matchsticks
After removing the cover from a book of matches, place the matches atop the just-worked soil. If you prefer to use garden sulfur instead, add 1 teaspoon of it. To avoid shocking the seedling, cover the matches or sulfur with 1 to 2 additional inches of soil so the amendments don't come in direct contact with the plant until it is well-established. You then can set a pepper in the hole, loosening its roots if they have become matted together, and positioning the plant slightly deeper than it grew in its container.
After filling in the soil around its roots, pat the soil down and water it well. If you wish to set out more than one pepper, space the plants 18 inches apart and their rows 24 inches apart.
Water Plants
Keep the peppers' soil damp while they are becoming established, providing them with at least 1 inch of water per week, via rain or irrigation. To help maintain their soil's moisture and discourage weeds, mulch the plants with up to 2 inches of a light organic material such as straw or shredded dead leaves.
1
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月21日
Cucumbers add fresh, cool flavors to tossed green salads and stand on their own as a cold side dish. However, when cucumbers produce a particularly high-yielding harvest, gardeners seek solutions on what to do with excess cucumbers. Many possibilities exist with this versatile vegetable.
Culinary Uses
Although some cucumber types are specifically bred for pickling, you can use any variety to make sweet or dill pickles. If you use them within a month, there will be no need to go through the canning process; you can use the same canning pickling brine, and keep them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Alternately, toss peeled cucumbers into the blender with savory smoothie ingredients, or add cucumber juice to citrus-based cocktails for a refreshing change. Instead of traditional gazpacho, base the cold soup on cucumbers, and use freshly chopped tomatoes and corn kernels for garnish. Highlight the flavors of fish tacos or traditional enchiladas with a cucumber salsa spiced with jalapenos, corn and tomatoes. Add sliced cucumbers to a conventional stir-fry for a creamy, crunchy difference.
Beauty and Health Applications
To get rid of puffy eyes or temporarily lessen the appearance of wrinkles or cellulite, place raw cucumber slices on the areas, and watch the phytochemicals firm the top layer of skin. In addition, freshen your breath without mints by placing a cucumber slice against the top of your mouth to kill odor-causing bacteria. Instead of drinking a sugary drink for a late-afternoon energy boost, eat a cucumber, and enjoy the natural energizing effects of the carbohydrates and B vitamins in the vegetable.
Home and Garden Care
Remove the fog from bathroom mirrors with a cucumber slice, and fill the room with a fresh fragrance. Remove ink and crayon stains from walls with cucumber peelings. In addition, make stainless steel sinks and faucets shine by rubbing a cucumber slice over them. Cure squeaky hinges with a swipe of a piece of cucumber. Placing pieces of cucumber in aluminum pans in garden beds deters grubs and slugs as the vegetable emits a repellent odor only detectable by the pests when it interacts with the metal.
Homeopathic Treatments
To prevent a hangover, eat some cucumber slices before retiring. The sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes may replace the nutrients lost during drinking and help you feel fine the next morning. Or, boil cucumbers to create an aromatic steam that helps to relieve stress and helps people relax.
Culinary Uses
Although some cucumber types are specifically bred for pickling, you can use any variety to make sweet or dill pickles. If you use them within a month, there will be no need to go through the canning process; you can use the same canning pickling brine, and keep them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Alternately, toss peeled cucumbers into the blender with savory smoothie ingredients, or add cucumber juice to citrus-based cocktails for a refreshing change. Instead of traditional gazpacho, base the cold soup on cucumbers, and use freshly chopped tomatoes and corn kernels for garnish. Highlight the flavors of fish tacos or traditional enchiladas with a cucumber salsa spiced with jalapenos, corn and tomatoes. Add sliced cucumbers to a conventional stir-fry for a creamy, crunchy difference.
Beauty and Health Applications
To get rid of puffy eyes or temporarily lessen the appearance of wrinkles or cellulite, place raw cucumber slices on the areas, and watch the phytochemicals firm the top layer of skin. In addition, freshen your breath without mints by placing a cucumber slice against the top of your mouth to kill odor-causing bacteria. Instead of drinking a sugary drink for a late-afternoon energy boost, eat a cucumber, and enjoy the natural energizing effects of the carbohydrates and B vitamins in the vegetable.
Home and Garden Care
Remove the fog from bathroom mirrors with a cucumber slice, and fill the room with a fresh fragrance. Remove ink and crayon stains from walls with cucumber peelings. In addition, make stainless steel sinks and faucets shine by rubbing a cucumber slice over them. Cure squeaky hinges with a swipe of a piece of cucumber. Placing pieces of cucumber in aluminum pans in garden beds deters grubs and slugs as the vegetable emits a repellent odor only detectable by the pests when it interacts with the metal.
Homeopathic Treatments
To prevent a hangover, eat some cucumber slices before retiring. The sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes may replace the nutrients lost during drinking and help you feel fine the next morning. Or, boil cucumbers to create an aromatic steam that helps to relieve stress and helps people relax.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月19日
Description: This annual or biennial wildflower develops ascending to sprawling stems about 1½–3' long. The stems are light green to reddish green and pubescent with short spreading hairs. Either opposite or alternate leaves occur at intervals along the stems; the leaf blades are up to 3" long and 3" across and deeply cleft into 3-5 palmate lobes. The leaf margins are sparingly dentate or further divided into small secondary lobes. The upper leaf surfaces are medium green and hairless (or sparingly so), while the their lower surfaces are pale green and pubescent. The petioles are light green and pubescent. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of small linear stipules. From the axils of the middle to upper leaves, clusters of 2 or more flowers develop on slender pubescent stalks; these stalks are about ¾–1½" long at maturity.
Each flower is about 1/3" (8 mm.) across, consisting of 5 light pink petals, 5 green sepals, 10 stamens, and a pistil. Fine pink lines radiate from the throat of each flower. The petals are oblong in shape and slightly notched at their tips. The sepals are lanceolate to ovate and pubescent; each sepal has an awn-like tip about 1.5 mm. long. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 2 months. Usually, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a narrow columnar fruit about ½–¾" long that tapers to a short beak. At maturity, the fruit splits open into 5 slender sections from the bottom, remaining connected together at the apex. By this process, the seeds are mechanically ejected from the mother plant.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and cool to warm summer temperatures. Different kinds of soil are tolerated, including those that are sandy or rocky.
Range & Habitat: Northern Cranesbill is restricted to NE Illinois, where it is rare and native to the area (see Distribution Map). This species is state-listed as 'endangered.' Illinois lies at the southern range-limit of this boreal wildflower. Habitats include woodland openings, sandy Black Oak woodlands, typical and sandy savannas, and rocky outcrops. This wildflower becomes more abundant after a wildfire; there is some evidence that its seeds germinate in response to heat and/or light.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are pollinated by small flies (particularly Syrphid flies) and small bees (particularly Halictid bees). Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards to such visitors. One insect that sucks on the juices of Geranium spp. is Macrosiphum geranii (Geranium Aphid). The seeds of some Geranium spp. are eaten by such birds as the Mourning Dove and Bobwhite Quail to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: A nature preserve in Cook County, Illinois. The photographs were taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2009).
Comments: This is one of several annual or biennial Geraniums (Geranium spp.) in Illinois. The majority of these species have been introduced from Eurasia, although some of them are native. All of these species have relatively small flowers, palmately cleft simple leaves (see exception below), and a sprawling to ascending habit. As a result, they can be difficult to distinguish from each other. Northern Cranesbill can be identified through the following combination of characteristics: 1) It produces small flowers (about 1/3" across) in clusters of 2 or more, 2) the stems and stalks of the flowers are pubescent with short spreading hairs, 3) the pedicels of the flowers/fruits are longer than the sepals, and 4) the sepals have awn-like tips. One aberrant species in this group, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), differs from the others by its leaves, which are palmately divided into leaflets with petioles.
Each flower is about 1/3" (8 mm.) across, consisting of 5 light pink petals, 5 green sepals, 10 stamens, and a pistil. Fine pink lines radiate from the throat of each flower. The petals are oblong in shape and slightly notched at their tips. The sepals are lanceolate to ovate and pubescent; each sepal has an awn-like tip about 1.5 mm. long. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 2 months. Usually, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a narrow columnar fruit about ½–¾" long that tapers to a short beak. At maturity, the fruit splits open into 5 slender sections from the bottom, remaining connected together at the apex. By this process, the seeds are mechanically ejected from the mother plant.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and cool to warm summer temperatures. Different kinds of soil are tolerated, including those that are sandy or rocky.
Range & Habitat: Northern Cranesbill is restricted to NE Illinois, where it is rare and native to the area (see Distribution Map). This species is state-listed as 'endangered.' Illinois lies at the southern range-limit of this boreal wildflower. Habitats include woodland openings, sandy Black Oak woodlands, typical and sandy savannas, and rocky outcrops. This wildflower becomes more abundant after a wildfire; there is some evidence that its seeds germinate in response to heat and/or light.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are pollinated by small flies (particularly Syrphid flies) and small bees (particularly Halictid bees). Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards to such visitors. One insect that sucks on the juices of Geranium spp. is Macrosiphum geranii (Geranium Aphid). The seeds of some Geranium spp. are eaten by such birds as the Mourning Dove and Bobwhite Quail to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: A nature preserve in Cook County, Illinois. The photographs were taken by Lisa Culp (Copyright © 2009).
Comments: This is one of several annual or biennial Geraniums (Geranium spp.) in Illinois. The majority of these species have been introduced from Eurasia, although some of them are native. All of these species have relatively small flowers, palmately cleft simple leaves (see exception below), and a sprawling to ascending habit. As a result, they can be difficult to distinguish from each other. Northern Cranesbill can be identified through the following combination of characteristics: 1) It produces small flowers (about 1/3" across) in clusters of 2 or more, 2) the stems and stalks of the flowers are pubescent with short spreading hairs, 3) the pedicels of the flowers/fruits are longer than the sepals, and 4) the sepals have awn-like tips. One aberrant species in this group, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), differs from the others by its leaves, which are palmately divided into leaflets with petioles.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月19日
Description: This wildflower is an annual or biennial about ½–2' tall. Small plants are unbranched or sparingly branched, while large plants form frequent lateral stems in the upper leaf axils. The stems are light green to reddish purple, 4-angular, and slightly winged; the central stem is erect, while the lateral stems curve upward. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along each stem, each pair rotating about 90° from the pair of leaves immediately below. The leaves are up to 2½" long and about half as much across, becoming slightly smaller as they ascend the stems. The leaves are ovate-cordate to ovate, sessile or slightly clasping at their bases, and smooth along their margins. Their upper surfaces are yellowish green, green, or tinted slightly purple; each leaf has 3-5 parallel veins. Both the stems and leaves are hairless.
The central stem and upper lateral stems (if present) terminate in clusters of 3-7 flowers on short pedicels. Frequently, there are additional clusters of 1-5 flowers from the axils of the upper leaves. All of these flowers are held stiffly erect. Each flower is about ¾" long and ¼" across; it has a long tubular corolla and a short green calyx with 5 slender teeth. The apex of each corolla has 5 triangular lobes that fold together to form a point; the corolla is closed or nearly so. There are no interconnecting fringes to join these lobes. The corollas are blue-violet, purple, or nearly white; they have fine purple veins along their sides. Inside each corolla, there are five stamens and a pistil. The erect lobes of the calyx are narrowly oblong-lanceolate in shape. Underneath the clustered flowers, the leaves are reduced to leafy bracts. The blooming period occur from late summer to mid-fall and lasts about 1-2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule that dividesDistribution Map into 2 parts to release the numerous tiny seeds. These seeds are distributed by wind and water. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself; it does not spread vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist to dry conditions, and a somewhat barren soil containing clay or rocky material. Competition from taller plants should be restricted. The size of individual plants and the abundance of their flowers can vary considerably depending on the availability of moisture and nutrients.
Range & Habitat: The native Stiff Gentian is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, while in the southern half of the state it is rare or absent. Populations of this species may be declining. Habitats include hill prairies, upland savannas, thinly wooded slopes, rocky meadows, banks of streams in wooded areas, calcareous seeps, and edges of cliffs. This species is usually found in high quality natural habitats, often where limestone is close to the ground surface.
Faunal Associations: So far, information about floral-faunal relationships for this species has not been encountered. The long tubular shape of the closed corollas suggests that long-tongued bees cross-pollinate the flowers.
Photographic Location: The edge of a partially shaded cliff at the Pine Hills Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Like several other gentian species, the flowers of Stiff Gentian provide attractive blue-violet color during the fall; this is one of the last species to remain in bloom. Stiff Gentian in Illinois consists of var. occidentalis; the typical variety is found east of Ohio. Stiff Gentian is easily distinguished by its peculiar flowers, which are shorter (1" long or less) and more narrow (¼" across) than the flowers of other gentians with closed corollas. Sometimes, Stiff Gentian is still referred to as Gentiana quinquefolia, but this genus has been reserved for the perennial gentians, of which there are several species still extant in Illinois.
The central stem and upper lateral stems (if present) terminate in clusters of 3-7 flowers on short pedicels. Frequently, there are additional clusters of 1-5 flowers from the axils of the upper leaves. All of these flowers are held stiffly erect. Each flower is about ¾" long and ¼" across; it has a long tubular corolla and a short green calyx with 5 slender teeth. The apex of each corolla has 5 triangular lobes that fold together to form a point; the corolla is closed or nearly so. There are no interconnecting fringes to join these lobes. The corollas are blue-violet, purple, or nearly white; they have fine purple veins along their sides. Inside each corolla, there are five stamens and a pistil. The erect lobes of the calyx are narrowly oblong-lanceolate in shape. Underneath the clustered flowers, the leaves are reduced to leafy bracts. The blooming period occur from late summer to mid-fall and lasts about 1-2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule that dividesDistribution Map into 2 parts to release the numerous tiny seeds. These seeds are distributed by wind and water. The root system consists of a taproot. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself; it does not spread vegetatively.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade, moist to dry conditions, and a somewhat barren soil containing clay or rocky material. Competition from taller plants should be restricted. The size of individual plants and the abundance of their flowers can vary considerably depending on the availability of moisture and nutrients.
Range & Habitat: The native Stiff Gentian is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, while in the southern half of the state it is rare or absent. Populations of this species may be declining. Habitats include hill prairies, upland savannas, thinly wooded slopes, rocky meadows, banks of streams in wooded areas, calcareous seeps, and edges of cliffs. This species is usually found in high quality natural habitats, often where limestone is close to the ground surface.
Faunal Associations: So far, information about floral-faunal relationships for this species has not been encountered. The long tubular shape of the closed corollas suggests that long-tongued bees cross-pollinate the flowers.
Photographic Location: The edge of a partially shaded cliff at the Pine Hills Nature Preserve in west-central Indiana.
Comments: Like several other gentian species, the flowers of Stiff Gentian provide attractive blue-violet color during the fall; this is one of the last species to remain in bloom. Stiff Gentian in Illinois consists of var. occidentalis; the typical variety is found east of Ohio. Stiff Gentian is easily distinguished by its peculiar flowers, which are shorter (1" long or less) and more narrow (¼" across) than the flowers of other gentians with closed corollas. Sometimes, Stiff Gentian is still referred to as Gentiana quinquefolia, but this genus has been reserved for the perennial gentians, of which there are several species still extant in Illinois.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月19日
Description: This perennial plant is 1-2' tall, with a stout smooth stem that is unbranched. The yellowish or olive green leaves are opposite and strongly clasp the central stem. However, the three leaves beneath the uppermost flowers are whorled. These leaves are broadly lanceolate, ovate, or cordate, and extend up to 3" long and 2" across. There is a prominent central vein, and two side veins that parallel the smooth margins. In the upper half of the plant, 2-7 flowers emerge from the axils of the leaves, with a greater number of flowers at the apex. The tube-shaped flowers are individually about 1½" long and ¾" across, and have 5 petals with small erect tips. They are white, greenish white, or yellowish white, depending on the local ecotype. The blooming period is late summer, and lasts about 1 or 1½ months. There is no noticeable fragrance to the flowers. The seed capsules split into 2 sections, releasing numerous small seeds that can be dispersed by wind or water. The root system consists of a long stout taproot.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and moist to average soil conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, clay, gravel, or sand. Starting plants from seed can be tricky, while transplants are much easier to manage. A yellowish appearance of the leaves is a common reaction to strong sunlight or dry weather, and does not necessarily signify disease or poor health.
Range & Habitat: The native Cream Gentian is a rare plant that occurs in scattered counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map). It can be found in mesic black soil prairies, where it will occasionally form sizeable colonies. Other habitats include the edges of upland forests, sandy oak savannas, limestone glades, and rocky bluffs. Populations of this plant may have occurred in other habitats, such as sand or gravel prairies, but were destroyed before they could be identified.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, where they seek nectar. Some beetles, such as Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle), have been known to knaw on the flowers. White-tailed Deer occasionally chomp off the tops of Cream Gentian plants, but it is not preferred as a food source because of the bitter leaves (personal observation). The relationship of Cream Gentian to other mammalian herbivores is not known at the present time.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This gentian can be easily distinguished from the others by the absence of blue in the flower. The flowers are not as closed as the Bottle Gentians (e.g., Gentiana andrewsii), but less open than the Prairie Gentian (Gentiana puberulenta). Cream Gentian also blooms about 3 weeks earlier than other gentians. Because it blends into the background of a prairie quite well, this plant can be easy to overlook, even when it is in flower. Like many other gentians, Cream Gentian has an otherworldly beauty that is oddly attractive. Another scientific name for this plant is Gentiana flavida.
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, and moist to average soil conditions. The soil can contain significant amounts of loam, clay, gravel, or sand. Starting plants from seed can be tricky, while transplants are much easier to manage. A yellowish appearance of the leaves is a common reaction to strong sunlight or dry weather, and does not necessarily signify disease or poor health.
Range & Habitat: The native Cream Gentian is a rare plant that occurs in scattered counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map). It can be found in mesic black soil prairies, where it will occasionally form sizeable colonies. Other habitats include the edges of upland forests, sandy oak savannas, limestone glades, and rocky bluffs. Populations of this plant may have occurred in other habitats, such as sand or gravel prairies, but were destroyed before they could be identified.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, where they seek nectar. Some beetles, such as Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle), have been known to knaw on the flowers. White-tailed Deer occasionally chomp off the tops of Cream Gentian plants, but it is not preferred as a food source because of the bitter leaves (personal observation). The relationship of Cream Gentian to other mammalian herbivores is not known at the present time.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This gentian can be easily distinguished from the others by the absence of blue in the flower. The flowers are not as closed as the Bottle Gentians (e.g., Gentiana andrewsii), but less open than the Prairie Gentian (Gentiana puberulenta). Cream Gentian also blooms about 3 weeks earlier than other gentians. Because it blends into the background of a prairie quite well, this plant can be easy to overlook, even when it is in flower. Like many other gentians, Cream Gentian has an otherworldly beauty that is oddly attractive. Another scientific name for this plant is Gentiana flavida.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月19日
Description: This low deciduous shrub is 1-3' tall, branching occasionally. Young stems are yellowish green to reddish brown, pubescent or hairless, while older stems are light gray to nearly black. The wood of the stems is relatively brittle and weak. The blades of alternate leaves are 1-2¼" long and ½-1" across; they are oblong-ovate, obovate, or narrowly oval and smooth along their margins. The upper surface of the blades is yellowish green and slightly shiny, while the lower surface is dull yellowish green and more or less covered with fine resinous dots that are yellow (more visible with a 10x hand lens). The petiole is short and slender. Short fine hairs are often present on the lower blade surface and petioles. The flowers develop in raceme-like clusters from the axils of the leaves. Individual flowers are up to 1/3" (8 mm.) long and a little less across, consisting of a short yellowish green calyx with 5 broad lobes and a tubular corolla with 5 tiny lobes along its rim that are strongly recurved. The red corolla (rarely white) is slightly constricted toward its throat, forming an urn-like shape. Each flower also has 10 inserted stamens and a pistil with a single style. The pedicels and calyces of the flowers are covered with short fine hairs and/or yellow resinous dots. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Later, the flowers are replaced by globoid berries up to 1/3" (8 mm.) across. These berries are initially green, but they become blue-black at maturity. The interior of each berry is fleshy and sweet; it contains 10 seeds, which are individually up to 2 mm. long. The woody root system is shallow and branching; it can develop clonal offsets from underground runners. Colonies of plants are often produced. The leaves turn red during the autumn before falling to the ground.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and an acidic soil that is sandy or rocky. Plants that are grown in too much shade may fail to produce flowers and fruit. The flowers are self-fertile, but fruit production is better when there is cross-pollination.
Range & Habitat: Black Huckleberry is a native shrub that is found primarily in northern and southern Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is occasional in sandy or rocky areas. Elsewhere in the state, it is rare or absent. Habitats consist of upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, sandy savannas, openings in sandy woodlands, sandy shrub prairies, rocky bluffs and sandstone cliffs, sandy or rocky thickets, and stabilized sand dunes. Outside of Illinois, this shrub is sometimes found in bogs. Because it is able to resprout from underground runners, this shrub adapts to fire-prone habitats. In sandy shrub prairies, it is occasionally the dominant plant.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by honeybees, bumblebees, and Andrenid bees. Other floral visitors include the Karner Blue butterfly and various Syrphid flies. These insects seek primarily nectar from the flowers, although the Syrphid flies probably feed on the pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Callophrys henrici (Henry's Elfin) feed on Black Huckleberry, as do the caterpillars of several moths, specifically: Amorbia humerosana (White-Lined Leafroller), Chrysanympha formosa (Formosa Looper Moth), Croesia curvalana (Blueberry Leaftier), Cyclophora pendulinaria (Sweet Fern Geometer), Melanomma auricinctaria (Gold-Lined Melanomma), Pangrapta decoralis (Decorated Owlet), Psectraglaea carnosa (Pink Sallow), Sphinx gordius (Gordian Sphinx), Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald), and Zomaria interruptolineana (Broken-Lined Zomaria). Another insect that feeds on Black Huckleberry is Melanoplus fasciatus (Huckleberry Spur-Throated Grasshopper).
Among vertebrate animals, the fruit is eaten by many species of upland gamebirds and songbirds (see Bird Table). Mammals that eat the fruit include the Gray Fox, Red Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and White-Footed Mouse. Dense colonies of Black Huckleberry in shrub prairie provide nesting habitat for the Northern Harrier and probably other birds. Such colonies provide protective cover for small animals.
Photographic Location: The photo of the flowers was taken in a sandy savanna at the Oak Opening Nature Preserve in NW Ohio, while the photos of the leafy shrub, twig, and leaf underside were taken in an upland rocky woodland near a ravine at The Potholes in west-central Indiana.
Comments: The berries of huckleberries are very similar to the berries of blueberries, except the latter usually contain more seeds (8-20) that are smaller in size. The foliage and woody stems of Black Huckleberry are quite similar to those of low-bush blueberries (particularly Vaccinium pallidum), except the leaf undersides of the former shrub are covered with resinous yellow dots, while the leaf undersides of blueberries lack such resinous dots. In Illinois, Black Huckleberry is the only species in its genus, although other huckleberry species can be found in the southeastern United States.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and an acidic soil that is sandy or rocky. Plants that are grown in too much shade may fail to produce flowers and fruit. The flowers are self-fertile, but fruit production is better when there is cross-pollination.
Range & Habitat: Black Huckleberry is a native shrub that is found primarily in northern and southern Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is occasional in sandy or rocky areas. Elsewhere in the state, it is rare or absent. Habitats consist of upland rocky woodlands, wooded slopes, sandy savannas, openings in sandy woodlands, sandy shrub prairies, rocky bluffs and sandstone cliffs, sandy or rocky thickets, and stabilized sand dunes. Outside of Illinois, this shrub is sometimes found in bogs. Because it is able to resprout from underground runners, this shrub adapts to fire-prone habitats. In sandy shrub prairies, it is occasionally the dominant plant.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by honeybees, bumblebees, and Andrenid bees. Other floral visitors include the Karner Blue butterfly and various Syrphid flies. These insects seek primarily nectar from the flowers, although the Syrphid flies probably feed on the pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Callophrys henrici (Henry's Elfin) feed on Black Huckleberry, as do the caterpillars of several moths, specifically: Amorbia humerosana (White-Lined Leafroller), Chrysanympha formosa (Formosa Looper Moth), Croesia curvalana (Blueberry Leaftier), Cyclophora pendulinaria (Sweet Fern Geometer), Melanomma auricinctaria (Gold-Lined Melanomma), Pangrapta decoralis (Decorated Owlet), Psectraglaea carnosa (Pink Sallow), Sphinx gordius (Gordian Sphinx), Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald), and Zomaria interruptolineana (Broken-Lined Zomaria). Another insect that feeds on Black Huckleberry is Melanoplus fasciatus (Huckleberry Spur-Throated Grasshopper).
Among vertebrate animals, the fruit is eaten by many species of upland gamebirds and songbirds (see Bird Table). Mammals that eat the fruit include the Gray Fox, Red Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and White-Footed Mouse. Dense colonies of Black Huckleberry in shrub prairie provide nesting habitat for the Northern Harrier and probably other birds. Such colonies provide protective cover for small animals.
Photographic Location: The photo of the flowers was taken in a sandy savanna at the Oak Opening Nature Preserve in NW Ohio, while the photos of the leafy shrub, twig, and leaf underside were taken in an upland rocky woodland near a ravine at The Potholes in west-central Indiana.
Comments: The berries of huckleberries are very similar to the berries of blueberries, except the latter usually contain more seeds (8-20) that are smaller in size. The foliage and woody stems of Black Huckleberry are quite similar to those of low-bush blueberries (particularly Vaccinium pallidum), except the leaf undersides of the former shrub are covered with resinous yellow dots, while the leaf undersides of blueberries lack such resinous dots. In Illinois, Black Huckleberry is the only species in its genus, although other huckleberry species can be found in the southeastern United States.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月18日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is a twining vine up to 20' long that can climb adjacent vegetation and fences, otherwise it sprawls across the ground. The slender stems are light green to bright red and round, angular, or slightly ridged. They are largely hairless, except for minute stiff hairs along the ridges. At the base of the petioles, the stems are slightly swollen and have short ocreae (membranous sheaths) that are without bristles. The alternate leaves are up to 4" long and 2" across (excluding the petioles). They are cordate or ovate, smooth along the margins, hairless, and indented at the base. Their slender petioles are up to 1½" long and similar in appearance to the stems. The lower leaves have long petioles, while the smaller upper leaves are nearly sessile. From the axils of the leaves, there develops one or more racemes of flowers about 2-8" long. These racemes are usually more or less erect (although sometimes horizontal) and their central stalks are often terete with numerous fine ridges. The greenish white flowers occur in loose whorls along these racemes. They are initially semi-erect while in bloom, but dangle downward from their slender pedicels while developing their fruits. Each flower is about 1/6" (4 mm.) long, consisting of 5 greenish white tepals, 8 stamens, and an ovary with a tripartite style. The 3 outer tepals are conspicuously winged. The wings of these tepals can be smooth, undulate, or slightly jagged. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a winged fruit about 1/3" (8 mm.) long that consists of the 3 outer tepals enclosing a single achene. This fruit is initially greenish white like the flower, but it eventually becomes brown. The 3-angled achenes are about 1/8" (3 mm.) in length (or slightly longer). They are dark brown or black and shiny. The mature fruits can float on water or be blown about by the wind, thereby distributing the achenes. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself and can form sizable colonies at favorable sites.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil, although full sun, drier conditions, and rocky or gravelly soil are also tolerated. This vine develops rapidly during the summer and can smother small shrubs. It is quite aggressive.
Range & Habitat: The native Climbing Buckwheat is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map; the distribution of each variety for this species has been combined). Habitats include open woodlands in floodplain areas, woodland borders, thickets, riverbanks, ditches, sloping ground along bridges, and fence rows. This species is often found in moist areas along the edges of woodlands or near sources of water. It is thrives on disturbance and is rather weedy, although regular mowing and cultivation of the soil isn't tolerated because of its perennial habit.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers primarily attracts short-tongued bees, wasps, and flies. Some of the bees may also collect pollen. Less common visitors include butterflies, skippers, and beetles. The caterpillars of the moth Timandra amaturaria (Cross-Lined Wave) feed on Fallopia spp. (Climbing Buckwheats), as does the aphid, Macrosiphum venaefuscae. It seems likely that many of the insects that feed on Persicaria spp. (Smartweeds) and Polygonum spp. (Knotweeds) also feed on Climbing Buckwheats. The large seeds are an important source of food to many birds, especially upland gamebirds (see Bird Table). The White-Footed Mouse and other small mammals also eat the seeds. The foliage isn't usually eaten by mammalian herbivores, although cattle and other livestock may browse on it. The dense foliage provides cover for small mammals and nesting bird.
Photographic Location: Along a bridge in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is a luxuriant vine that can smother everything in its path. However, the flowers and fruits are produced in abundance and are rather showy. There is a lack of consensus regarding the taxonomy of this variable species. Some botanists (the 'splitters') divide Fallopia scandens (Climbing Buckwheat) into 2 or 3 species, while others (the 'lumpers') recognize only a single species with different varieties. Similar to Yatskievych (2000), I prefer the taxonomy of the latter and regard Fallopia cristata (Crested Climbing Buckwheat) as a variety of Climbing Buckwheat, or Fallopia scandens cristata, as specimen plants tend to intergrade. However, according to Mohlenbrock (2002), Climbing Buckwheat has winged fruits that exceed 10 mm. in length, while the winged fruits of Crested Buckwheat are shorter. An older scientific name of Climbing Buckwheat is Polygonum scandens, while Crested Climbing Buckwheat has been referred to as Polygonum cristatum and Polygonum scandens cristatum. Another species in this genus, Fallopia convolvulus (Black Bindweed), is an adventive annual vine from Europe that is up to 6' long. The flowers and fruits of Black Bindweed are keeled, rather than conspicuously winged, and the sides of its 3-angled achenes are dull, rather than shiny.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil, although full sun, drier conditions, and rocky or gravelly soil are also tolerated. This vine develops rapidly during the summer and can smother small shrubs. It is quite aggressive.
Range & Habitat: The native Climbing Buckwheat is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map; the distribution of each variety for this species has been combined). Habitats include open woodlands in floodplain areas, woodland borders, thickets, riverbanks, ditches, sloping ground along bridges, and fence rows. This species is often found in moist areas along the edges of woodlands or near sources of water. It is thrives on disturbance and is rather weedy, although regular mowing and cultivation of the soil isn't tolerated because of its perennial habit.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers primarily attracts short-tongued bees, wasps, and flies. Some of the bees may also collect pollen. Less common visitors include butterflies, skippers, and beetles. The caterpillars of the moth Timandra amaturaria (Cross-Lined Wave) feed on Fallopia spp. (Climbing Buckwheats), as does the aphid, Macrosiphum venaefuscae. It seems likely that many of the insects that feed on Persicaria spp. (Smartweeds) and Polygonum spp. (Knotweeds) also feed on Climbing Buckwheats. The large seeds are an important source of food to many birds, especially upland gamebirds (see Bird Table). The White-Footed Mouse and other small mammals also eat the seeds. The foliage isn't usually eaten by mammalian herbivores, although cattle and other livestock may browse on it. The dense foliage provides cover for small mammals and nesting bird.
Photographic Location: Along a bridge in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This is a luxuriant vine that can smother everything in its path. However, the flowers and fruits are produced in abundance and are rather showy. There is a lack of consensus regarding the taxonomy of this variable species. Some botanists (the 'splitters') divide Fallopia scandens (Climbing Buckwheat) into 2 or 3 species, while others (the 'lumpers') recognize only a single species with different varieties. Similar to Yatskievych (2000), I prefer the taxonomy of the latter and regard Fallopia cristata (Crested Climbing Buckwheat) as a variety of Climbing Buckwheat, or Fallopia scandens cristata, as specimen plants tend to intergrade. However, according to Mohlenbrock (2002), Climbing Buckwheat has winged fruits that exceed 10 mm. in length, while the winged fruits of Crested Buckwheat are shorter. An older scientific name of Climbing Buckwheat is Polygonum scandens, while Crested Climbing Buckwheat has been referred to as Polygonum cristatum and Polygonum scandens cristatum. Another species in this genus, Fallopia convolvulus (Black Bindweed), is an adventive annual vine from Europe that is up to 6' long. The flowers and fruits of Black Bindweed are keeled, rather than conspicuously winged, and the sides of its 3-angled achenes are dull, rather than shiny.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月18日
Description: This perennial plant is 3-7' tall and usually unbranched. The central stem is light green and glabrous, except where the whorls of leaves of occur, where it is slightly swollen and purple. There are 3-4 leaves in each whorl along the stem. The leaves are about 6" long and 3½" across, or sometimes larger; they are broadly lanceolate or ovate and crenate-serrated along the margins. Each leaf is dull green and hairless on the upper surface; the lower surface is pale green and hairless to finely pubescent. The foliage may be vanilla-scented, although this varies with the local ecotype.
The central stem terminates in one or more panicles of compound flowers that are bunched together; this inflorescence is usually more dome-shaped than flat-topped. Unlike the central stem, the stalks of the inflorescence are sometimes finely pubescent. Each compound flower consists of 5-8 disk florets and several overlapping series of bracts at its base. There are no ray florets. The corolla of each disk floret is whitish pink to purplish pink; it is tubular in shape and has 5 tiny teeth along its upper rim. A divided white style is strongly exerted from each disk floret. The floral bracts are pale pink and oblong. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about a month. Each floret is replaced by a bullet-shaped achene with a small tuft of hair. These achenes are dispersed by the wind. The root system is shallow and fibrous.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. The leaves will turn an unattractive yellowish green in the presence of strong sunlight.
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Joe-Pye Weed occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois, except for a few counties in SE Illinois and elsewhere in the state, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, savannas, woodland borders, thickets, partially shaded seeps, and partially shaded riverbanks. This plant can survive in wooded areas that are somewhat degraded. However, populations have a tendency to decline when the shade of overhead canopy trees becomes too dense.
Faunal Associations: The flower nectar attracts primarily long-tongued bees, butterflies, skippers, and moths. Bee visitors include Bombus spp. (bumblebees), Melissodes spp. (miner bees), and Megachile spp. (leaf-cutting bees). Some bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of various moths feed on leaves and other parts of Eutrochium spp. (Joe-Pye Weed species), including Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth), Emmelina monodactyla (Common Plume Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), Schinia trifasciata (Three-Lined Flower Moth), Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Ruby Tiger Moth), and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug).
Other insect feeders include larvae of the leaf-mining flies Liriomyza pusilla and Phytobia allecta, larvae of Dasineura purpurea (Joe-Pye Blossum Midge), the warty leaf beetle Exema dispar, the aphid Uroleucon eupatoricolens, and the treehopper Entylia bactriana. White-Tailed Deer browse on the leaves of Sweet Joe-Pye Weed sparingly (personal observation), while the Swamp Sparrow eats the seeds of various Joe-Pye Weed species to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: A small opening in a wooded area at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) is one of the taller wildflowers in wooded areas. It is often found in habitats that are more shady and dry than other Eutrochium spp. (Joe-Pye Weed species) in the state. To identify a Joe-Pye Weed, it is helpful to examine the central stem: the stem of Sweet Joe-Pye Weed is solid in cross-section and purple where the bases of leaf petioles occur, otherwise it is green and glabrous. The species Eutrochium maculatum (Spotted Joe-Pye Weed) has solid stems that are either purple-spotted and glabrous or solid purple throughout from dark-colored hairs, while Eutrochium fistulosum (Hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye Weed) has hollow stems that are glabrous and glaucous. Sweet Joe-Pye Weed usually has only 3-4 leaves per whorl, while Spotted Joe-Pye Weed has 4-5 leaves per whorl and Hollow-Stemmed Joe-Pye Weed has 4-7 leaves per whorl. Joe-Pye Weed species have been assigned recently to the Eutrochium genus; in the past, they have been assigned to the Eupatorium genus and the Eupatoriadelphus genus. Thus, Eupatorium purpureum and Eupatoriadelphus purpureus are scientific synonyms of Sweet Joe-Pye Weed.
The central stem terminates in one or more panicles of compound flowers that are bunched together; this inflorescence is usually more dome-shaped than flat-topped. Unlike the central stem, the stalks of the inflorescence are sometimes finely pubescent. Each compound flower consists of 5-8 disk florets and several overlapping series of bracts at its base. There are no ray florets. The corolla of each disk floret is whitish pink to purplish pink; it is tubular in shape and has 5 tiny teeth along its upper rim. A divided white style is strongly exerted from each disk floret. The floral bracts are pale pink and oblong. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about a month. Each floret is replaced by a bullet-shaped achene with a small tuft of hair. These achenes are dispersed by the wind. The root system is shallow and fibrous.
Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. The leaves will turn an unattractive yellowish green in the presence of strong sunlight.
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Joe-Pye Weed occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois, except for a few counties in SE Illinois and elsewhere in the state, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open woodlands, savannas, woodland borders, thickets, partially shaded seeps, and partially shaded riverbanks. This plant can survive in wooded areas that are somewhat degraded. However, populations have a tendency to decline when the shade of overhead canopy trees becomes too dense.
Faunal Associations: The flower nectar attracts primarily long-tongued bees, butterflies, skippers, and moths. Bee visitors include Bombus spp. (bumblebees), Melissodes spp. (miner bees), and Megachile spp. (leaf-cutting bees). Some bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of various moths feed on leaves and other parts of Eutrochium spp. (Joe-Pye Weed species), including Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth), Emmelina monodactyla (Common Plume Moth), Perigea xanthioides (Red Groundling), Schinia trifasciata (Three-Lined Flower Moth), Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Ruby Tiger Moth), and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug).
Other insect feeders include larvae of the leaf-mining flies Liriomyza pusilla and Phytobia allecta, larvae of Dasineura purpurea (Joe-Pye Blossum Midge), the warty leaf beetle Exema dispar, the aphid Uroleucon eupatoricolens, and the treehopper Entylia bactriana. White-Tailed Deer browse on the leaves of Sweet Joe-Pye Weed sparingly (personal observation), while the Swamp Sparrow eats the seeds of various Joe-Pye Weed species to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: A small opening in a wooded area at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) is one of the taller wildflowers in wooded areas. It is often found in habitats that are more shady and dry than other Eutrochium spp. (Joe-Pye Weed species) in the state. To identify a Joe-Pye Weed, it is helpful to examine the central stem: the stem of Sweet Joe-Pye Weed is solid in cross-section and purple where the bases of leaf petioles occur, otherwise it is green and glabrous. The species Eutrochium maculatum (Spotted Joe-Pye Weed) has solid stems that are either purple-spotted and glabrous or solid purple throughout from dark-colored hairs, while Eutrochium fistulosum (Hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye Weed) has hollow stems that are glabrous and glaucous. Sweet Joe-Pye Weed usually has only 3-4 leaves per whorl, while Spotted Joe-Pye Weed has 4-5 leaves per whorl and Hollow-Stemmed Joe-Pye Weed has 4-7 leaves per whorl. Joe-Pye Weed species have been assigned recently to the Eutrochium genus; in the past, they have been assigned to the Eupatorium genus and the Eupatoriadelphus genus. Thus, Eupatorium purpureum and Eupatoriadelphus purpureus are scientific synonyms of Sweet Joe-Pye Weed.
0
0
文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月18日
Description: This perennial wildflower consists of a rosette of basal leaves that produces a single flowering stalk about ½–2' tall. The basal leaves are up to 5" long and 3" across; they are oval to obovate in shape, medium green on their upper surfaces, and bluntly dentate toward their tips. The alternate cauline leaves are smaller in size than the basal leaves; they are oblanceolate to oblong and clasp the flowering stalk. Both the basal and cauline leaves are more or less pubescent, particularly on their undersides.
The stout flowering stalk is terete, conspicuously hairy, and unbranched; it terminates in a corymb of several daisy-like flowerheads (typically 1-6 flowerheads, but sometimes more). Each flowerhead is ¾–1¼" across, consisting of 50-100 ray florets that surround numerous yellow disk florets in the center. The ray florets are usually white, less often they are light pink or light violet. The base of each flowerhead has an outer surface consisting of numerous green bracts (phyllaries); these floral bracts are linear in shape and organized into a single series. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks. Both the ray and disk florets are fertile, each one producing a single bullet-shaped achene with a tuft of white hairs. These achenes are distributed by the wind. After the blooming period, the flowering stalks die down, but the basal leaves persist. The root system consists of a crown of fibrous roots; rhizomes or stolons are often produced, resulting in small colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight or partial sun and average to dry conditions. Different kinds of soil are acceptable, including those that contain clay-loam, rocky material, or sand. The best site consists of a partially shaded slope under trees where the ground vegetation is somewhat sparse.
Range & Habitat: The native Robin's Plantain is occasional throughout Illinois in suitable habitats, but it is more common in the northern and west-central sections of the state than elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, wooded sand dunes, slopes of wooded bluffs, savannas and sandy savannas, banks of streams, and clearings in wooded areas. Robin's Plantain is found in less disturbed areas than other species in this genus.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads attract small bees, various flies, small butterflies, and skippers. These insects seek nectar primarily, although some of the bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of several moths feed on the flowers of Erigeron spp. (Fleabanes), including Schinia lynx (Lynx Flower Moth), Schinia obscurata (Obscure Flower Moth), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug), and Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald). Some aphids that feed on species in this genus include Aphis middletonii (Erigeron Root Aphid) and Prociphilus erigeronensis. The foliage is palatable to mammalian herbivores (rabbits, deer, livestock, etc.), while the seeds are eaten to a limited extent by the White-Footed Mouse and other small rodents.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the flowerheads was taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois, while the photograph of the basal leaves was taken on the slope of a wooded bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: The flowerheads of Robin's Plantain are slightly larger than those of other Erigeron spp. (Fleabanes) and rather showy. Other fleabanes in the state are rather weedy annual or biennial species that lack the basal leaves of Robin's Plantain; they usually bloom a little later during the early summer and can be found in sunny habitats with a history of disturbance.
The stout flowering stalk is terete, conspicuously hairy, and unbranched; it terminates in a corymb of several daisy-like flowerheads (typically 1-6 flowerheads, but sometimes more). Each flowerhead is ¾–1¼" across, consisting of 50-100 ray florets that surround numerous yellow disk florets in the center. The ray florets are usually white, less often they are light pink or light violet. The base of each flowerhead has an outer surface consisting of numerous green bracts (phyllaries); these floral bracts are linear in shape and organized into a single series. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks. Both the ray and disk florets are fertile, each one producing a single bullet-shaped achene with a tuft of white hairs. These achenes are distributed by the wind. After the blooming period, the flowering stalks die down, but the basal leaves persist. The root system consists of a crown of fibrous roots; rhizomes or stolons are often produced, resulting in small colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is dappled sunlight or partial sun and average to dry conditions. Different kinds of soil are acceptable, including those that contain clay-loam, rocky material, or sand. The best site consists of a partially shaded slope under trees where the ground vegetation is somewhat sparse.
Range & Habitat: The native Robin's Plantain is occasional throughout Illinois in suitable habitats, but it is more common in the northern and west-central sections of the state than elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, wooded sand dunes, slopes of wooded bluffs, savannas and sandy savannas, banks of streams, and clearings in wooded areas. Robin's Plantain is found in less disturbed areas than other species in this genus.
Faunal Associations: The flowerheads attract small bees, various flies, small butterflies, and skippers. These insects seek nectar primarily, although some of the bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of several moths feed on the flowers of Erigeron spp. (Fleabanes), including Schinia lynx (Lynx Flower Moth), Schinia obscurata (Obscure Flower Moth), Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug), and Synchlora aerata (Wavy-Lined Emerald). Some aphids that feed on species in this genus include Aphis middletonii (Erigeron Root Aphid) and Prociphilus erigeronensis. The foliage is palatable to mammalian herbivores (rabbits, deer, livestock, etc.), while the seeds are eaten to a limited extent by the White-Footed Mouse and other small rodents.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the flowerheads was taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois, while the photograph of the basal leaves was taken on the slope of a wooded bluff in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Comments: The flowerheads of Robin's Plantain are slightly larger than those of other Erigeron spp. (Fleabanes) and rather showy. Other fleabanes in the state are rather weedy annual or biennial species that lack the basal leaves of Robin's Plantain; they usually bloom a little later during the early summer and can be found in sunny habitats with a history of disturbance.
0
0
