文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月18日
Description: This is a herbaceous vine about 5-30' long that branches occasionally. Its slender stems have the capacity to twine around adjacent vegetation and fences, climbing upward and outward. The glabrous stems are light green, pale yellow, reddish green, or dark red. The stems are usually terete; less often, they are bluntly angular or narrowly ridged. Whorled and/or opposite leaves sometimes occur near the base of the vine, otherwise the leaves are alternate. At maturity, individual leaf blades are 2-4" long and 1½-3" across; they are narrowly cordate to cordate, smooth along their margins, and palmately veined (7-11 veins per leaf). The upper blade surface is medium green and glabrous, while the lower surface is pale green and sparsely short-pubescent (less often, glabrous or densely short-pubescent). Very young leaf blades are golden green in appearance. The slender petioles are 1½-6" long, light green to dark red, and glabrous or nearly so; sometimes there are tufts of hair where the petioles join the leaf blades. The leaf blades tend to hang downward from their petioles.
Wild Yam is dioecious, producing vines with either all male flowers or all female flowers. On male vines, panicles of numerous male flowers about 4-12" long develop from the leaf axils. Male flowers are arranged in small clusters of 1-3 along the branches of each panicle. Individual male flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 6 whitish green or yellowish green tepals and 6 fertile stamens. On female vines, racemes of 5-15 female flowers about 3-9" long develop from the leaf axils. Individual female flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across and 1/3" (8 mm.) long, consisting of 6 whitish green or yellowish green tepals and a large inferior ovary with 6 infertile stamens. The blooming period occurs during early summer. The female flowers are replaced by 3-celled seed capsules that are ovoid in shape and about 1" long; these capsules are strongly 3-angled and become golden green as they mature. Each cell of the capsule usually contains 2 seeds (less often, only 1). The flattened seeds have broad membranous wings; they are distributed by the wind. The root system is rhizomatous.
Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil consisting of loam or sandy loam. This vine can survive in light shade, but it is less likely to produce flowers and seed capsules. There are very few problems with insects and disease organisms.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Yam is occasional to locally common in Illinois; it is found in every county (see Distribution Map). Habitats include thinly wooded bluffs, typical savannas and sandy savannas, woodland borders, typical thickets and sandy thickets, moist sand prairies, powerline and railroad clearances in wooded areas, and fence rows. Wild Yam is found in both high quality and degraded habitats; it benefits from occasional wildfires and other kinds of disturbance that reduce competition from overhead canopy trees.
Faunal Associations: There is very little information about floral-faunal relationships for this species. The foliage appears to be avoided as a food source by mammalian herbivores. Dense tangles of this vine can enhance nesting habitat for birds and provide cover for various animals.
Photographic Location: The photograph of leaf blades was taken along a fence row in Vermilion County, Illinois, while the photographs of the seed capsules and flowers were taken in moist sandy thickets of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in NW Indiana.
Comments: Like the somewhat similar Greenbriers and Carrion Flowers (Smilax spp.), Wild Yam is a monocot, rather than a dicot. This vine is related to the tropical Yam that is found in grocery stores, but it does not produce edible tubers. Wild Yam can be readily distinguished from similar vines by the palmate venation of its leaves, its racemes or panicles of tiny flowers, and its conspicuous 3-angled seed capsules. In southern Illinois, there is the very similar Dioscorea quaternata (Whorled Wild Yam), which tends to have more whorled leaves than the common Wild Yam that is described here. There is disagreement among authorities regarding the taxonomic status of Whorled Wild Yam: While some authorities regard it as a distinct species (e.g., Mohlenbrock, 2003), other authorities consider it to be merely a variety of Wild Yam, and still others think it is unworthy of any taxonomic recognition.
Wild Yam is dioecious, producing vines with either all male flowers or all female flowers. On male vines, panicles of numerous male flowers about 4-12" long develop from the leaf axils. Male flowers are arranged in small clusters of 1-3 along the branches of each panicle. Individual male flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 6 whitish green or yellowish green tepals and 6 fertile stamens. On female vines, racemes of 5-15 female flowers about 3-9" long develop from the leaf axils. Individual female flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across and 1/3" (8 mm.) long, consisting of 6 whitish green or yellowish green tepals and a large inferior ovary with 6 infertile stamens. The blooming period occurs during early summer. The female flowers are replaced by 3-celled seed capsules that are ovoid in shape and about 1" long; these capsules are strongly 3-angled and become golden green as they mature. Each cell of the capsule usually contains 2 seeds (less often, only 1). The flattened seeds have broad membranous wings; they are distributed by the wind. The root system is rhizomatous.
Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil consisting of loam or sandy loam. This vine can survive in light shade, but it is less likely to produce flowers and seed capsules. There are very few problems with insects and disease organisms.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Yam is occasional to locally common in Illinois; it is found in every county (see Distribution Map). Habitats include thinly wooded bluffs, typical savannas and sandy savannas, woodland borders, typical thickets and sandy thickets, moist sand prairies, powerline and railroad clearances in wooded areas, and fence rows. Wild Yam is found in both high quality and degraded habitats; it benefits from occasional wildfires and other kinds of disturbance that reduce competition from overhead canopy trees.
Faunal Associations: There is very little information about floral-faunal relationships for this species. The foliage appears to be avoided as a food source by mammalian herbivores. Dense tangles of this vine can enhance nesting habitat for birds and provide cover for various animals.
Photographic Location: The photograph of leaf blades was taken along a fence row in Vermilion County, Illinois, while the photographs of the seed capsules and flowers were taken in moist sandy thickets of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in NW Indiana.
Comments: Like the somewhat similar Greenbriers and Carrion Flowers (Smilax spp.), Wild Yam is a monocot, rather than a dicot. This vine is related to the tropical Yam that is found in grocery stores, but it does not produce edible tubers. Wild Yam can be readily distinguished from similar vines by the palmate venation of its leaves, its racemes or panicles of tiny flowers, and its conspicuous 3-angled seed capsules. In southern Illinois, there is the very similar Dioscorea quaternata (Whorled Wild Yam), which tends to have more whorled leaves than the common Wild Yam that is described here. There is disagreement among authorities regarding the taxonomic status of Whorled Wild Yam: While some authorities regard it as a distinct species (e.g., Mohlenbrock, 2003), other authorities consider it to be merely a variety of Wild Yam, and still others think it is unworthy of any taxonomic recognition.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月16日
Squash plants make up a large and diverse group of plants that fall under the genus Cucurbita. Common to all squashes is their vining growth, large, dark green leaves and yellow to orange flowers. They are divided into two main types, summer and winter squash, based on their time of harvest. The appearance and characteristics of squash fruit ranges widely, from small green zucchinis to giant orange pumpkins.
Foliage and Flowers
Squash leaves tend to be very large and exhibit three to five lobes. The plant's fruits, flowers, seeds and shoots are edible, along with the leaves. Flowers are large, trumpet-shaped, yellow to orange in color and have separate males and females. Male flowers produce pollen while female flowers mature into fruit. Whether you're growing winter or summer squash, the fruit provides an abundant and continuous harvest.
Summer Squash
Summer types often grow in a compact, bushing fashion with fruit that is usually smaller than winter squash. Harvest summer squash when fruit is still soft and immature, 50 to 65 days after planting. Zucchini is a green summer variety that is quickly ready for picking. Pick it when it reaches 4 to 5 inches in length, but pick varieties like Costata Romanesco when they reach 6 to 10 inches long. This variety produces many male blossoms, ideal for frying and eating. Yellow summer squash includes both straightneck and crookneck types.
Winter Squash
The key to growing winter squash is to allow plenty of room for each plant to spread. These plants can take over a garden with their fast-growing vines. Harvest when fruit is large and mature, usually in fall or winter, 80 to 120 days after sowing. Many types require curing to harden the shell, and are best if baked prior to consumption. The main varieties of winter squash include acorn, buttercup and butternut varieties. Acorn squash is just 2 pounds in weight with a slightly tapered, round acorn shape. Buttercup squash is similar to acorn squash, but larger and slighly flattened. Many of them, including the Sweet Mama cultivar, store well and easily last until February. Butternut squash is tan-colored, exhibits a sweet flavor and has a cylindrical shape with a bulb on the bottom end.
Growth Requirements
Squash plants are heavy feeders that grow quickly. They prefer plenty of heat during germination. For summer squash, ideal germinating soil temperature is 95 F, while winter squash germinates best at about 90 F. Direct sowing is best with these plants as they grow fast and do not transplant well. Provide rich, well-drained soil. Winter squash especially needs rich soil as it has a longer growing time and needs more nitrogen than its summertime counterpart. Harvest summer squash as soon as the fruit grows large enough, but do not allow it to over ripen or grow wrinkled in appearance. For winter squash, wait until stems dry and shrivel and skin is hard. Then cure the squash in the sun so the skin can dry completely.
Foliage and Flowers
Squash leaves tend to be very large and exhibit three to five lobes. The plant's fruits, flowers, seeds and shoots are edible, along with the leaves. Flowers are large, trumpet-shaped, yellow to orange in color and have separate males and females. Male flowers produce pollen while female flowers mature into fruit. Whether you're growing winter or summer squash, the fruit provides an abundant and continuous harvest.
Summer Squash
Summer types often grow in a compact, bushing fashion with fruit that is usually smaller than winter squash. Harvest summer squash when fruit is still soft and immature, 50 to 65 days after planting. Zucchini is a green summer variety that is quickly ready for picking. Pick it when it reaches 4 to 5 inches in length, but pick varieties like Costata Romanesco when they reach 6 to 10 inches long. This variety produces many male blossoms, ideal for frying and eating. Yellow summer squash includes both straightneck and crookneck types.
Winter Squash
The key to growing winter squash is to allow plenty of room for each plant to spread. These plants can take over a garden with their fast-growing vines. Harvest when fruit is large and mature, usually in fall or winter, 80 to 120 days after sowing. Many types require curing to harden the shell, and are best if baked prior to consumption. The main varieties of winter squash include acorn, buttercup and butternut varieties. Acorn squash is just 2 pounds in weight with a slightly tapered, round acorn shape. Buttercup squash is similar to acorn squash, but larger and slighly flattened. Many of them, including the Sweet Mama cultivar, store well and easily last until February. Butternut squash is tan-colored, exhibits a sweet flavor and has a cylindrical shape with a bulb on the bottom end.
Growth Requirements
Squash plants are heavy feeders that grow quickly. They prefer plenty of heat during germination. For summer squash, ideal germinating soil temperature is 95 F, while winter squash germinates best at about 90 F. Direct sowing is best with these plants as they grow fast and do not transplant well. Provide rich, well-drained soil. Winter squash especially needs rich soil as it has a longer growing time and needs more nitrogen than its summertime counterpart. Harvest summer squash as soon as the fruit grows large enough, but do not allow it to over ripen or grow wrinkled in appearance. For winter squash, wait until stems dry and shrivel and skin is hard. Then cure the squash in the sun so the skin can dry completely.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月16日
The pear-shaped, light-green fruits known in the U.S. as vegetable pears and in Mexico as chayotes grow on vigorous cold-sensitive vines of the cucurbit family -- the same plant family that includes pumpkins, squash, melons and cucumbers. Known to ancient Aztecs as chayotli and to botanists as Sechium edule, chayote vines need a 150-day growing season between hard frosts, a circumstance hard to come by in the U.S. except for Southern locales. Where frost doesn't destroy the roots, an established chayote plant will resprout the following spring and again produce an immense quantity of fruit.
Step 1
Purchase several fresh chayote fruits in fall, even if they have been in cold storage and are wrapped in plastic. Unwrap them once you get home if they were encased in plastic.
Step 2
Store whole chayotes in a cool, dark place such as a garage or back porch cupboard. The almond-sized chayote seeds inside the fruits will sprout, emerge and lengthen in the dark. By February, the seedling will be about 6 inches long.
Step 3
Fill the 5-gallon container to within several inches of the top with thoroughly moistened potting soil. Scoop out a chayote-sized area in the center and plant the entire sprouted fruit, the tip barely showing.
Step 4
Water the chayote pot thoroughly and place it in a sunny window until temperatures outside are warm. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Step 5
Place the pot outdoors when temperatures are warm, adjacent to the fence or trellis that will provide support. Water regularly, thoroughly saturating the soil. You may water once or twice daily during hot weather, because roots are limited to moisture available to them in the container.
Step 6
Mulch the chayote soil with several inches of mulch to conserve moisture. Tend the vine all summer; it will grow to 30 feet or more before blossoming or setting fruit. Vines will bloom in August or September and be covered with chayotes by September or October.
Step 7
Harvest fruits when pickle size, sliced-cucumber size or 1-pound-pear size. Vines will die back after the first frost, but fruits won't be damaged until the first hard frost. Protect the dormant roots by storing the pot in a cool -- not frosty -- garage or basement until spring. Water the pot lightly every month or so.
Step 1
Purchase several fresh chayote fruits in fall, even if they have been in cold storage and are wrapped in plastic. Unwrap them once you get home if they were encased in plastic.
Step 2
Store whole chayotes in a cool, dark place such as a garage or back porch cupboard. The almond-sized chayote seeds inside the fruits will sprout, emerge and lengthen in the dark. By February, the seedling will be about 6 inches long.
Step 3
Fill the 5-gallon container to within several inches of the top with thoroughly moistened potting soil. Scoop out a chayote-sized area in the center and plant the entire sprouted fruit, the tip barely showing.
Step 4
Water the chayote pot thoroughly and place it in a sunny window until temperatures outside are warm. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Step 5
Place the pot outdoors when temperatures are warm, adjacent to the fence or trellis that will provide support. Water regularly, thoroughly saturating the soil. You may water once or twice daily during hot weather, because roots are limited to moisture available to them in the container.
Step 6
Mulch the chayote soil with several inches of mulch to conserve moisture. Tend the vine all summer; it will grow to 30 feet or more before blossoming or setting fruit. Vines will bloom in August or September and be covered with chayotes by September or October.
Step 7
Harvest fruits when pickle size, sliced-cucumber size or 1-pound-pear size. Vines will die back after the first frost, but fruits won't be damaged until the first hard frost. Protect the dormant roots by storing the pot in a cool -- not frosty -- garage or basement until spring. Water the pot lightly every month or so.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月08日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2–3½' tall, sometimes branching in the upper half. The stems are light green and usually hairless; however, some variants of this species have pubescent stems. Alternate compound leaves occur at intervals along the stems; they are trifoliate and their leaflets are extended horizontally in relation to the ground. Individual leaflets are up to 3½" long and ¾" across; they are 3-6 times as long as they are wide. Some variants of this species have more narrow leaflets than others. The terminal leaflet is the same length or a little longer than the lateral leaflets. The leaflets are elliptic to oblong in shape and smooth along their margins. Their upper surfaces are medium green and glabrous, while their lower surfaces are pale to medium green and covered with appressed white hairs. The petioles of the compound leaves are up to 2" long, light green, and mostly hairless. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of tiny deciduous stipules that are linear-lanceolate; these stipules soon wither away. The petiolules (secondary petioles) of the lateral leaflets are very short (less than 1/8" or 3 mm.), while the petiolules of the terminal leaflets are longer (up to ½").
Flowers
The upper stems terminate in either racemes or narrow panicles of flowers. The branches of each inflorescence are light green and covered with hooked hairs. Individual flowers are ¼" long (or a little more), consisting of 5 petals, a short tubular calyx with teeth, an ovary with a single style, and several hidden stamens. The flowers have a typical pea-like structure, consisting of an upright banner and 2 lateral wings that enclose a central keel. The petals are pink to rosy pink; at the base of the upper petal (banner), there are 1-2 tiny patches of yellow. The green calyx is covered with hooked hairs. The slender petioles of the flowers are about ½" long; they are green to reddish purple and also covered with hooked hairs. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Fertile flowers are replaced by flat loments (a type of seedpod) that are about ½–1½" long. Each loment consists of 2-6 rounded segments, a short stipe, and sometimes a short beak. Each segment of a loment is more rounded along the bottom than along the top; it contains a single seed. The loments are covered with hooked hairs. The root system consists of an elongated caudex with fibrous roots. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and sandy or rocky soil.
Range & Habitat: The native Panicled Tick Trefoil is occasional in all areas of Illinois, except the NW section, where it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats consist of thinly wooded bluffs, rocky open woodlands, sandy open woodlands, sandy savannas and typical savannas, woodland edges, thickets, rocky glades, and partially shaded roadside embankments. This wildflower is a pioneer species that prefers some disturbance from wildfires, selective logging, and others causes.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees collect pollen from the flowers; these relatively uncommon floral visitors include bumblebees (Bombus spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), and long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.). Other insects feed on the leaves, flowers, and seeds of Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoils). For example, the caterpillars of several skippers feed on the leaves: Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing). The caterpillars of the butterfly Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) also feed on the foliage, while the caterpillars of the butterfly Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak) eat the flowers and developing seedpods. These insect feeders include many kinds of beetles, and some species of thrips, aphids, moth caterpillars, and stinkbugs (see Insect Table). The seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey) and small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while the foliage is readily eaten by White-Tailed Deer and other hoofed mammalian herbivores. The Cottontail Rabbit also consumes the foliage. The sticky seedpods (loments) cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans. As a result, the seeds are carried to new locations.
Photographic Location: A sandy savanna at Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: Among different populations of Panicled Tick Trefoil, there is significant variation in the width of the leaflets and the hairiness of the stems and leaflets. Usually, this wildflower has fairly narrow leaflets, hairless to nearly hairless stems, and hairless upper surfaces on the leaflets. It can be distinguished from other species in this genus by considering the following key characteristics: 1) the narrow leaflets are 3-6 times longer than they are across, 2) the petioles of the trifoliate leaves are fairly long (up to 2"), 3) the deciduous stipules of the trifoliate leaves are small and insignificant, and 4) the leaflets are rather long (up to 3½"). Panicled Tick Trefoil is one of the more common species of this genus in Illinois.
Flowers
The upper stems terminate in either racemes or narrow panicles of flowers. The branches of each inflorescence are light green and covered with hooked hairs. Individual flowers are ¼" long (or a little more), consisting of 5 petals, a short tubular calyx with teeth, an ovary with a single style, and several hidden stamens. The flowers have a typical pea-like structure, consisting of an upright banner and 2 lateral wings that enclose a central keel. The petals are pink to rosy pink; at the base of the upper petal (banner), there are 1-2 tiny patches of yellow. The green calyx is covered with hooked hairs. The slender petioles of the flowers are about ½" long; they are green to reddish purple and also covered with hooked hairs. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Fertile flowers are replaced by flat loments (a type of seedpod) that are about ½–1½" long. Each loment consists of 2-6 rounded segments, a short stipe, and sometimes a short beak. Each segment of a loment is more rounded along the bottom than along the top; it contains a single seed. The loments are covered with hooked hairs. The root system consists of an elongated caudex with fibrous roots. This wildflower spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry-mesic conditions, and sandy or rocky soil.
Range & Habitat: The native Panicled Tick Trefoil is occasional in all areas of Illinois, except the NW section, where it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats consist of thinly wooded bluffs, rocky open woodlands, sandy open woodlands, sandy savannas and typical savannas, woodland edges, thickets, rocky glades, and partially shaded roadside embankments. This wildflower is a pioneer species that prefers some disturbance from wildfires, selective logging, and others causes.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees collect pollen from the flowers; these relatively uncommon floral visitors include bumblebees (Bombus spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), and long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.). Other insects feed on the leaves, flowers, and seeds of Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoils). For example, the caterpillars of several skippers feed on the leaves: Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), and Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing). The caterpillars of the butterfly Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) also feed on the foliage, while the caterpillars of the butterfly Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak) eat the flowers and developing seedpods. These insect feeders include many kinds of beetles, and some species of thrips, aphids, moth caterpillars, and stinkbugs (see Insect Table). The seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey) and small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while the foliage is readily eaten by White-Tailed Deer and other hoofed mammalian herbivores. The Cottontail Rabbit also consumes the foliage. The sticky seedpods (loments) cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans. As a result, the seeds are carried to new locations.
Photographic Location: A sandy savanna at Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: Among different populations of Panicled Tick Trefoil, there is significant variation in the width of the leaflets and the hairiness of the stems and leaflets. Usually, this wildflower has fairly narrow leaflets, hairless to nearly hairless stems, and hairless upper surfaces on the leaflets. It can be distinguished from other species in this genus by considering the following key characteristics: 1) the narrow leaflets are 3-6 times longer than they are across, 2) the petioles of the trifoliate leaves are fairly long (up to 2"), 3) the deciduous stipules of the trifoliate leaves are small and insignificant, and 4) the leaflets are rather long (up to 3½"). Panicled Tick Trefoil is one of the more common species of this genus in Illinois.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年03月08日
Description: This perennial wildflower is 2–3½' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are medium green to brown and sparsely to densely covered with both hooked and straight hairs. Alternate compound leaves occur at intervals along these stems; the structure of the leaves is trifoliate. Each compound leaf has a hairy petiole up to ½" long; at the base of each petiole, there is a pair of tiny deciduous stipules that are linear-lanceolate in shape. Individual leaflets are up to 2½" long and 1¼" across; they are oval to narrowly oval in shape, smooth and slightly ciliate along their margins, and rough-textured. Their upper surfaces are medium green and sparsely covered with short stiff hairs, while their lower surfaces are light green and covered with similar hairs. The terminal leaflet is larger in size than the lateral leaflets; the lateral leaflets have very short petiolules (secondary petioles), while the petiolule of the terminal leaflet is up to ½" long.
The upper stems terminate in either panicles or racemes of flowers about ½–1½' long and about one-third as much across or less. The central stalk of a panicle branches either oppositely or in whorls of 3. Both the central stalk and its lateral branches (if any) are covered with hooked hairs. Individual flowers occur on short pedicels up to ½" long. Each flower is about ¼" long, consisting of 5 pink to rosy pink petals, a very short tubular calyx that is toothed, an ovary with a single style, and several stamens. The flower has a pea-like structure, consisting of an upper banner and two lateral wings that enclose a lower keel. At the base of the banner, there is a small patch of yellow. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. Fertile flowers are replaced by small loments (segmented flat seedpods) about ½–¾" long. Each loment usually consists of 2-3 segments; the lower side of each segment is more rounded than the upper side. Loments have veryDistribution Map short stipes and sometimes terminal beaks; their sides are covered with hooked hairs. Each segment of a loment contains a single seed. The root system consists of a narrow caudex with fibrous roots. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself, sometimes forming small colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, dry-mesic conditions, and sandy or rocky soil. Nitrogen is added to the soil through a symbiotic association between the root system and mycorrhizal bacteria.
Range & Habitat: The native Obtuse-Leaved Tick Trefoil occurs in scattered locations in southern, western, and a few other areas in Illinois; it is uncommon within the state. Illinois lies along the NW range limit of this species. Habitats include open sandy woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, sandy savannas, woodland edges, rocky glades, and powerline clearances in sandy or rocky woodlands. Occasional wildfires or other disturbance tends to increase populations of this wildflower in the preceding habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers offer only pollen as a reward to insect visitors. These floral visitors consist primarily of bumblebees (Bombus spp.), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Other insects feed on the foliage, flowers, seedpods, or plant juices of Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoil species). These insect feeders include such skipper caterpillars as Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing), and Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper); the caterpillars of the butterflies Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak) also feed on these plants. Other insects feeders include various beetles, stink bugs, aphids, thrips, and moths (see Insect Table for a listing of these species). Among vertebrate animals, the seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite, Wild Turkey) and small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while the foliage is browsed by White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit. The foliage is also palatable to cattle, horses, and sheep. The seedpods cling readily to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans; as a result, the seeds are distributed to new locations.
Photographic Location: A sandy savanna at the Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of several Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoil species) in Illinois. Many of these species are found in savannas and open woodlands; their small pinkish flowers are very similar to each other. Obtuse-Leaved Tick Trefoil has wider leaflets than most other species in this genus (about 2-3 times as long as they are wide). Other critical features for identification include the following: 1) the stipules are tiny and deciduous, 2) the loments usually consist of only 2-3 segments, 3) the segments of the loments are rounded on both sides, although more so on their lower sides than their upper sides, and 4) the leaflets are relatively large (up to 2½" long and 1¼" across) and rough-textured. Another common name of this species is Stiff Tick Trefoil, which is derived from an obsolete scientific name, Desmodium rigidum.
The upper stems terminate in either panicles or racemes of flowers about ½–1½' long and about one-third as much across or less. The central stalk of a panicle branches either oppositely or in whorls of 3. Both the central stalk and its lateral branches (if any) are covered with hooked hairs. Individual flowers occur on short pedicels up to ½" long. Each flower is about ¼" long, consisting of 5 pink to rosy pink petals, a very short tubular calyx that is toothed, an ovary with a single style, and several stamens. The flower has a pea-like structure, consisting of an upper banner and two lateral wings that enclose a lower keel. At the base of the banner, there is a small patch of yellow. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1–1½ months. Fertile flowers are replaced by small loments (segmented flat seedpods) about ½–¾" long. Each loment usually consists of 2-3 segments; the lower side of each segment is more rounded than the upper side. Loments have veryDistribution Map short stipes and sometimes terminal beaks; their sides are covered with hooked hairs. Each segment of a loment contains a single seed. The root system consists of a narrow caudex with fibrous roots. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself, sometimes forming small colonies.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, dry-mesic conditions, and sandy or rocky soil. Nitrogen is added to the soil through a symbiotic association between the root system and mycorrhizal bacteria.
Range & Habitat: The native Obtuse-Leaved Tick Trefoil occurs in scattered locations in southern, western, and a few other areas in Illinois; it is uncommon within the state. Illinois lies along the NW range limit of this species. Habitats include open sandy woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, sandy savannas, woodland edges, rocky glades, and powerline clearances in sandy or rocky woodlands. Occasional wildfires or other disturbance tends to increase populations of this wildflower in the preceding habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers offer only pollen as a reward to insect visitors. These floral visitors consist primarily of bumblebees (Bombus spp.), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Other insects feed on the foliage, flowers, seedpods, or plant juices of Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoil species). These insect feeders include such skipper caterpillars as Achalarus lyciades (Hoary Edge), Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing), Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing), and Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper); the caterpillars of the butterflies Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak) also feed on these plants. Other insects feeders include various beetles, stink bugs, aphids, thrips, and moths (see Insect Table for a listing of these species). Among vertebrate animals, the seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite, Wild Turkey) and small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while the foliage is browsed by White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit. The foliage is also palatable to cattle, horses, and sheep. The seedpods cling readily to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans; as a result, the seeds are distributed to new locations.
Photographic Location: A sandy savanna at the Hooper Branch Savanna Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of several Desmodium spp. (Tick Trefoil species) in Illinois. Many of these species are found in savannas and open woodlands; their small pinkish flowers are very similar to each other. Obtuse-Leaved Tick Trefoil has wider leaflets than most other species in this genus (about 2-3 times as long as they are wide). Other critical features for identification include the following: 1) the stipules are tiny and deciduous, 2) the loments usually consist of only 2-3 segments, 3) the segments of the loments are rounded on both sides, although more so on their lower sides than their upper sides, and 4) the leaflets are relatively large (up to 2½" long and 1¼" across) and rough-textured. Another common name of this species is Stiff Tick Trefoil, which is derived from an obsolete scientific name, Desmodium rigidum.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月08日
Description: This herbaceous plant is a summer annual about 2-6' tall. It branches regularly from the central stem, while the side stems branch very little. These stems are somewhat pubescent and green to reddish green. The opposite leaves are up to 12" and 4" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. The lower leaves are pinnately lobed, cleft, and coarsely toothed, while the upper leaves are lanceolate-oblong and smooth along the margins. The petioles of the leaves become progressively shorter toward the apex of the plant; the upper leaves are often sessile. Both lower and upper leaves are hairless, or nearly so.
The upper stems terminate in spike-like racemes of yellow flowers. These racemes vary ½–3' in length, depending on the size of the plant. Each flower is about ½" long, consisting of a yellow tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes and a green calyx with 5 blunt teeth. The tubular corolla is rather short and broad; its throat is partially obstructed by an abundance of fine yellow hairs. The two upper lobes of the corolla fold backward, while the 3 lower lobes function as a landing pad for visiting insects. The blooming period is mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1½ months; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule is globoid-ovoid; it eventually turns brown and contains several seeds. The root system consists of a taproot and secondary feeder roots. The feeder roots can attach themselves to the roots of oak trees; they suck moisture and possibly some nutrients from the host tree. Thus, Mullein Foxglove is partially parasitic. Reproduction is by seed.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a loam, clay-loam, or rocky soil. This plant benefits from the proximity of oak trees. Its size is highly variable, depending on growing conditions.
Range & Habitat: The native Mullein Foxglove occurs occasionally throughout most of Illinois; it is least common in the NW and south-central areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, oak savannas, paths through woodlands, thinly wooded bluffs, woodland borders, thickets, and rocky slopes along rivers. This species tolerates low to moderate levels of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The most important pollinators of the flowers are bumblebees, which suck nectar and collect pollen. Other long-tongued bees also visit the flowers, including honeybees and Miner bees. Occasionally, butterflies and skippers suck nectar from the flowers, but they are ineffective pollinators. The caterpillars of the moth Rhodoecia aurantiago (Orange Sallow) bore into the seed capsules and feed on the seeds. It possible that the foliage is eaten by the caterpillars of the butterflies Junonia coenia (Buckeye) and Euphydryas phaeton ozarkae (Baltimore). The latter variety of the Baltimore is confined to southern Illinois. Both of these butterfly species are known to feed on the foliage of Aureolaria spp. (False Foxgloves), which are closely related to Mullein Foxglove.
Photographic Location: Along a path at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This annual plant can achieve an impressive size. It closely resembles several Aureolaria spp. (False Foxgloves), which are also parasitic on the roots of oaks. The flowers of Mullein Foxglove are a little shorter than the flowers of the latter species (which can exceed ¾" in length), and the throat of its flowers are partially obstructed by an abundance of fine hairs. The flowers of the False Foxgloves are quite open at the throat because they lack these hairs. Another scientific name for Mullein Foxglove is Seymeria macrophylla.
The upper stems terminate in spike-like racemes of yellow flowers. These racemes vary ½–3' in length, depending on the size of the plant. Each flower is about ½" long, consisting of a yellow tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes and a green calyx with 5 blunt teeth. The tubular corolla is rather short and broad; its throat is partially obstructed by an abundance of fine yellow hairs. The two upper lobes of the corolla fold backward, while the 3 lower lobes function as a landing pad for visiting insects. The blooming period is mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1½ months; only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule is globoid-ovoid; it eventually turns brown and contains several seeds. The root system consists of a taproot and secondary feeder roots. The feeder roots can attach themselves to the roots of oak trees; they suck moisture and possibly some nutrients from the host tree. Thus, Mullein Foxglove is partially parasitic. Reproduction is by seed.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a loam, clay-loam, or rocky soil. This plant benefits from the proximity of oak trees. Its size is highly variable, depending on growing conditions.
Range & Habitat: The native Mullein Foxglove occurs occasionally throughout most of Illinois; it is least common in the NW and south-central areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open rocky woodlands, oak savannas, paths through woodlands, thinly wooded bluffs, woodland borders, thickets, and rocky slopes along rivers. This species tolerates low to moderate levels of disturbance.
Faunal Associations: The most important pollinators of the flowers are bumblebees, which suck nectar and collect pollen. Other long-tongued bees also visit the flowers, including honeybees and Miner bees. Occasionally, butterflies and skippers suck nectar from the flowers, but they are ineffective pollinators. The caterpillars of the moth Rhodoecia aurantiago (Orange Sallow) bore into the seed capsules and feed on the seeds. It possible that the foliage is eaten by the caterpillars of the butterflies Junonia coenia (Buckeye) and Euphydryas phaeton ozarkae (Baltimore). The latter variety of the Baltimore is confined to southern Illinois. Both of these butterfly species are known to feed on the foliage of Aureolaria spp. (False Foxgloves), which are closely related to Mullein Foxglove.
Photographic Location: Along a path at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: This annual plant can achieve an impressive size. It closely resembles several Aureolaria spp. (False Foxgloves), which are also parasitic on the roots of oaks. The flowers of Mullein Foxglove are a little shorter than the flowers of the latter species (which can exceed ¾" in length), and the throat of its flowers are partially obstructed by an abundance of fine hairs. The flowers of the False Foxgloves are quite open at the throat because they lack these hairs. Another scientific name for Mullein Foxglove is Seymeria macrophylla.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月08日
Description: This is a shrub about 1-3½' tall that has ascending to widely spreading branches. The bark of branches and twigs is gray or reddish brown, more or less smooth, and terete with scattered white lenticels. Young shoots are light green to light brown, terete, and very pubescent, becoming less pubescent with age. Alternate leaves occur along the twigs and shoots. These leaves are 2-6" long and ¼-1" across; they are narrowly oblong to oblong-elliptic in shape and pinnatifid with 3-8 pairs of oblique lobes. The upper surface of mature leaves is medium green and glabrous to slightly short-pubescent, while the lower surface is light green and nearly glabrous to short-pubescent. Immature leaves, in contrast to the mature leaves, are yellowish green and more heavily covered with silky hairs (especially along their undersides). The leaves also have glandular resin-dots; crushed leaves and twigs are fragrant. The petioles are less than ½" in length, light green, more or less pubescent, and relatively stout.
Sweet Fern can be dioecious or monoecious with unisexual florets that are arranged in greenish catkins toward the tips of twigs or young shoots. The male catkins are ¾-1½" long and cylindrical in shape, consisting of numerous male florets and their overlapping scales. Each male floret has 4-8 stamens on short filaments; it is partially hidden by a small scale (about 2-3 mm. in length) that is broadly ovate and ciliate along its margins. The female catkins are about ½" long and ovoid to globoid in shape, consisting of a small cluster of female florets and their scales. Each female floret has a naked ovary with a pair of stigmata at its apex; it is partially hidden by a small scale (about 2-3 mm. in length) that is broadly ovate and ciliate along its margins. In addition to this scale, there is a pair of linear bractlets that originate from the base of the ovary; they are up to twice the length of the scale. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring as the vernal leaves begin to develop, lasting about 2 weeks. Afterwards, the female catkins are replaced by bristly fruits that span about ¾" across; each fruit contains a cluster of nutlets at its center and numerous bristly bractlets. At maturity, individual nutlets are 3-5 mm. long, ovoid in shape, truncate-dentate on one side, and rounded on the other. TheDistribution Map root system can develop clonal offsets from underground runners. Clonal colonies of plants are common from such offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy soil. The root system of Sweet Fern can fix nitrogen in the soil. This shrub is an alternate host of a blister rust that infects Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana).
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Fern is rare in Illinois, where it is largely restricted to the NE section of the state. It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Habitats include upland sand prairies, sandy shrub prairies, and sandy upland savannas. Dominant trees in these savannas are oak trees (especially Black Oak) and sometimes pine trees are present (especially Jack Pine). Sweet Fern benefits from occasional wildfires as this reduces competition from taller shrubs and trees. The seeds can lie dormant in the soil for several decades while waiting for such wildfires to occur.
Faunal Associations: Various insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Sweet Fern. These species include the leaf beetles Cryptocephalus insertus, Neochlamisus comptoniae, and Paria frosti (Clark et al., 2004). The leafhopper Eratoneura parallela occasionally sucks sap from this shrub. The caterpillars of several moths feed primarily on the leaves of Sweet Fern, including Cleora sublunaria (Double-Lined Gray), Cyclophora pendulinaria (Sweetfern Geometer), Coleophora comptoniella (Sweetfern Casebearer Moth), Agonopterix atrodorsella (Brown-Collared Agonopterix), Nemoria rubrifrontaria (Red-Fronted Emerald), and Catocala antinympha (Sweetfern Underwing); see the Moth Table for a more complete list of these species (Covell, 2005; Wagner, 2005). Some vertebrate animals also use Sweet Fern as a source of food. The Ruffed Grouse and Greater Prairie Chicken feed on the buds, catkins, and foliage, while White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit browse on the twigs and foliage (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because of its tendency to form colonies, Sweet Fern also provides good cover for various animals.
Photographic Location: A garden at the Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in NW Ohio.
Comments: This shrub belongs to a monotypic genus that is endemic to North America. It is related to the Bayberry shrubs (Myrica spp.) that are found on sandy coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Unlike Sweet Fern, Bayberry shrubs produce waxy fruits. In spite of its common name and the appearance of its attractive leaves, Sweet Fern is not related to the true ferns. Perhaps its most notable characteristic is the pleasant fragrance of its crushed leaves and twigs.
Sweet Fern can be dioecious or monoecious with unisexual florets that are arranged in greenish catkins toward the tips of twigs or young shoots. The male catkins are ¾-1½" long and cylindrical in shape, consisting of numerous male florets and their overlapping scales. Each male floret has 4-8 stamens on short filaments; it is partially hidden by a small scale (about 2-3 mm. in length) that is broadly ovate and ciliate along its margins. The female catkins are about ½" long and ovoid to globoid in shape, consisting of a small cluster of female florets and their scales. Each female floret has a naked ovary with a pair of stigmata at its apex; it is partially hidden by a small scale (about 2-3 mm. in length) that is broadly ovate and ciliate along its margins. In addition to this scale, there is a pair of linear bractlets that originate from the base of the ovary; they are up to twice the length of the scale. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring as the vernal leaves begin to develop, lasting about 2 weeks. Afterwards, the female catkins are replaced by bristly fruits that span about ¾" across; each fruit contains a cluster of nutlets at its center and numerous bristly bractlets. At maturity, individual nutlets are 3-5 mm. long, ovoid in shape, truncate-dentate on one side, and rounded on the other. TheDistribution Map root system can develop clonal offsets from underground runners. Clonal colonies of plants are common from such offsets.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy soil. The root system of Sweet Fern can fix nitrogen in the soil. This shrub is an alternate host of a blister rust that infects Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana).
Range & Habitat: The native Sweet Fern is rare in Illinois, where it is largely restricted to the NE section of the state. It is state-listed as 'endangered.' Habitats include upland sand prairies, sandy shrub prairies, and sandy upland savannas. Dominant trees in these savannas are oak trees (especially Black Oak) and sometimes pine trees are present (especially Jack Pine). Sweet Fern benefits from occasional wildfires as this reduces competition from taller shrubs and trees. The seeds can lie dormant in the soil for several decades while waiting for such wildfires to occur.
Faunal Associations: Various insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Sweet Fern. These species include the leaf beetles Cryptocephalus insertus, Neochlamisus comptoniae, and Paria frosti (Clark et al., 2004). The leafhopper Eratoneura parallela occasionally sucks sap from this shrub. The caterpillars of several moths feed primarily on the leaves of Sweet Fern, including Cleora sublunaria (Double-Lined Gray), Cyclophora pendulinaria (Sweetfern Geometer), Coleophora comptoniella (Sweetfern Casebearer Moth), Agonopterix atrodorsella (Brown-Collared Agonopterix), Nemoria rubrifrontaria (Red-Fronted Emerald), and Catocala antinympha (Sweetfern Underwing); see the Moth Table for a more complete list of these species (Covell, 2005; Wagner, 2005). Some vertebrate animals also use Sweet Fern as a source of food. The Ruffed Grouse and Greater Prairie Chicken feed on the buds, catkins, and foliage, while White-Tailed Deer and the Cottontail Rabbit browse on the twigs and foliage (Martin et al., 1951/1961). Because of its tendency to form colonies, Sweet Fern also provides good cover for various animals.
Photographic Location: A garden at the Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in NW Ohio.
Comments: This shrub belongs to a monotypic genus that is endemic to North America. It is related to the Bayberry shrubs (Myrica spp.) that are found on sandy coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Unlike Sweet Fern, Bayberry shrubs produce waxy fruits. In spite of its common name and the appearance of its attractive leaves, Sweet Fern is not related to the true ferns. Perhaps its most notable characteristic is the pleasant fragrance of its crushed leaves and twigs.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月08日
Description: This perennial plant is a woody vine up to 20' long. Its stems can twine about fences and adjacent vegetation and they branch occasionally. These stems are initially green or dull red, but they eventually turn brown and woody. Young stems are sparsely pubescent, terete or angular, and they become somewhat enlarged at the petiole bases. The opposite leaves are primarily trifoliate, although some of them are simple. The petioles of these leaves (whether simple or compound) are up to 2" long; they are green or dull red and sparsely pubescent, like the stems. The leaflets and simple leaves are up to 4" long and 2" across; they are ovate, dentate or shallowly cleft along their margins, and mostly glabrous. However, the undersides of the leaves or leaflets are sometimes slightly pubescent, especially along the major veins. The upper surfaces of leaves and leaflets are yellowish green to dark green, while their lower surfaces are pale green with elevated major veins. The petiolules (basal stalklets) of the leaflets are similar to the petioles, except they are shorter. The petiolule of the terminal leaflet is longer than those of the lateral leaflets.
Occasionally, flat-headed panicles of white flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. Each panicle can span several inches across. A single vine can produce all staminate flowers (male), all pistillate flowers (female), or all perfect flowers (both male & female). Regardless of gender, individual flowers are about ¾" across and they have 4 petaloid sepals that are white or cream-colored and oblong-elliptic in shape. Each staminate flower has abundant long stamens that have white filaments and pale yellow anthers. Each pistillate flower has a cluster of green carpels at its center; each carpel has a short curled style. In addition to the carpels, each pistillate flower has a circle of pseudo-stamens that are sterile. Each perfect flower has a cluster of green carpels at its center, which are surrounded by one or two rows of stamens. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about a month. The staminate flowers quickly wither away, but each of the pistillate and perfect flowers develop a cluster of pubescent achenes with slender styles (up to 2" long) that are more or less hairy. These achenes and their persistent styles are initially green and silky in appearance, but they eventually turn brown. Each achene contains a single large seed. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile soil that is loamy or silty. Full sun is also tolerated, although the leaves may turn yellowish green.
Range & Habitat: The native Virgin's Bower occurs occasionally throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is a little more common in northern and western Illinois than other areas of the state. Habitats include edges of woodlands, moist thickets, moist meadows in floodplain areas, banks of rivers, slopes of drainage ditches, low ground along railroads, and fence rows. Virgin's Bower can be found in both disturbed and natural areas. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the staminate flowers attracts Halictid bees (including Sphecodes clematidis), wasps, and various kinds of flies. No information is available for pistillate flowers. Insects that feed destructively on Virgin's Bower and other Clematis spp. include larvae of Contarinia clematidis (Clematis Bud Gall Midge) and Prodiplosis floricola (Clematis Flower Midge), larvae of the leaf-mining fly Phytomyza loewii, caterpillars of Horisme intestinata (Brown Bark Carpet Moth), caterpillars of two moths, Thyris maculata (Spotted Thyris) and Thyris sepulchralis (Mournful Thyris), and Myzus varians (Peach Leaf-Roll Aphid). These vines are the summer hosts of this introduced aphid. The toxic foliage is avoided by mammalian herbivores. However, the foliage of Virgin's Bower can provide significant cover and nesting habitat for many songbirds.
Photographic Location: A moist thicket near a drainage canal in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: The flowers of Virgin's Bower are attractive and often abundantly produced; the staminate flowers are slightly more showy than the pistillate flowers. The achenes with their silky-hairy styles are also interesting because of their unusual appearance. The only other species that resembles Virgin's Bower in Illinois is Clematis terniflora (Autumn Clematis), which has been introduced from East Asia as an ornamental plant. Autumn Clematis is also a woody vine that produces masses of white or cream flowers. The flowers of this latter species, in my experience, are slightly larger (about 1" across) and more fragrant than those of Virgin's Bower; they also bloom later in the year. These two species can be easily distinguished by their foliage: The leaf- and leaflet-margins of Virgin's Bower are dentate or shallowly cleft, while those of Autumn Clematis are smooth (entire). While there are other native Clematis spp. within Illinois, their flowers have a completely different appearance.
Occasionally, flat-headed panicles of white flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. Each panicle can span several inches across. A single vine can produce all staminate flowers (male), all pistillate flowers (female), or all perfect flowers (both male & female). Regardless of gender, individual flowers are about ¾" across and they have 4 petaloid sepals that are white or cream-colored and oblong-elliptic in shape. Each staminate flower has abundant long stamens that have white filaments and pale yellow anthers. Each pistillate flower has a cluster of green carpels at its center; each carpel has a short curled style. In addition to the carpels, each pistillate flower has a circle of pseudo-stamens that are sterile. Each perfect flower has a cluster of green carpels at its center, which are surrounded by one or two rows of stamens. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about a month. The staminate flowers quickly wither away, but each of the pistillate and perfect flowers develop a cluster of pubescent achenes with slender styles (up to 2" long) that are more or less hairy. These achenes and their persistent styles are initially green and silky in appearance, but they eventually turn brown. Each achene contains a single large seed. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile soil that is loamy or silty. Full sun is also tolerated, although the leaves may turn yellowish green.
Range & Habitat: The native Virgin's Bower occurs occasionally throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is a little more common in northern and western Illinois than other areas of the state. Habitats include edges of woodlands, moist thickets, moist meadows in floodplain areas, banks of rivers, slopes of drainage ditches, low ground along railroads, and fence rows. Virgin's Bower can be found in both disturbed and natural areas. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the staminate flowers attracts Halictid bees (including Sphecodes clematidis), wasps, and various kinds of flies. No information is available for pistillate flowers. Insects that feed destructively on Virgin's Bower and other Clematis spp. include larvae of Contarinia clematidis (Clematis Bud Gall Midge) and Prodiplosis floricola (Clematis Flower Midge), larvae of the leaf-mining fly Phytomyza loewii, caterpillars of Horisme intestinata (Brown Bark Carpet Moth), caterpillars of two moths, Thyris maculata (Spotted Thyris) and Thyris sepulchralis (Mournful Thyris), and Myzus varians (Peach Leaf-Roll Aphid). These vines are the summer hosts of this introduced aphid. The toxic foliage is avoided by mammalian herbivores. However, the foliage of Virgin's Bower can provide significant cover and nesting habitat for many songbirds.
Photographic Location: A moist thicket near a drainage canal in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: The flowers of Virgin's Bower are attractive and often abundantly produced; the staminate flowers are slightly more showy than the pistillate flowers. The achenes with their silky-hairy styles are also interesting because of their unusual appearance. The only other species that resembles Virgin's Bower in Illinois is Clematis terniflora (Autumn Clematis), which has been introduced from East Asia as an ornamental plant. Autumn Clematis is also a woody vine that produces masses of white or cream flowers. The flowers of this latter species, in my experience, are slightly larger (about 1" across) and more fragrant than those of Virgin's Bower; they also bloom later in the year. These two species can be easily distinguished by their foliage: The leaf- and leaflet-margins of Virgin's Bower are dentate or shallowly cleft, while those of Autumn Clematis are smooth (entire). While there are other native Clematis spp. within Illinois, their flowers have a completely different appearance.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月07日
Description: This perennial vine is up to 12' long and slightly woody. The young stems are angular or terete, slightly pubescent, and green or red. Older stems become hairless, brown, and woody, otherwise they resemble the young stems. Pairs of opposite leaves occur at intervals along the vine. These leaves are simple or compound; if the latter, they are odd pinnate. Simple leaves and leaflets are up to 3" long and 2" across. They are ovate or cordate-ovate in shape, smooth along their margins, and largely hairless; sometimes 1 or 2 lateral lobes are present. The major veins of each leaf are parallel, while the secondary veins criss-cross between them. These veins are often elevated and conspicuous on the lower surface. The petioles (basal stalks) of the leaves and petiolules (basal stalklets) of the leaflets are slender and slightly pubescent.
From the axils of the upper leaves, develops one or more flowers on long ascending pedicels; these flowers nod downward. Each flower is about ½-¾" long and bell-shaped. It consists of 4 thick leathery sepals and no petals; within the flower, there are several stamens and styles. The sepals are glabrous to slightly pubescent and light purple, except near their recurved tips, where they are light green or white. The blooming period occurs during the summer (usually mid-summer) and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a cluster of flattened achenes with long beaks; these beaks are persistent styles. The tips of these styles are slightly hairy, becoming hairless with age. The achenes are light green or burgundy; clustered together, they have a spidery appearance. The achenes become brown or black with age. They are blown about by the wind to a limited extent.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil that is loamy or rocky. Full sun and drier conditions are also tolerated, but the leaves have a tendency to turn yellow during hot dry weather.
Range & Habitat: The native Pitcher's Leather Flower is occasional to common throughout Illinois, except for the upper two tiers of counties in NE and north-central areas of the state, where it is absent (see Distribution Map). This is one of the more common Clematis spp. in Illinois. Habitats include open woodlands, rocky bluffs, woodland borders, areas along woodland paths, powerline clearances through wooded areas, thickets, and fence rows. This species tolerates human-caused disturbance to some extent; it doesn't spread to new areas readily because of the large size of its achenes.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees pollinate the flowers, where they suck nectar and collect pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, flowers, or stems of Pitcher's Leather Flower and other Clematis spp. These insects include flower-feeding thrips (Thrips varipes), the Clematis Flower Midge (Prodiplosis floricola), the Clematis Bud Gall Midge (Contarinia clematidis), larvae of a leaf-mining fly (Phytomyza loewii), caterpillars of the Brown Bark Carpet Moth (Horisme intestinata), caterpillars of the moths, Spotted Thyris (Thyris maculata) and Mournful Thyris (Thyris sepulchralis), and the Peach Leaf-roll Aphid (Myzus varians). These vines are summer hosts of this introduced aphid. The foliage is probably poisonous to mammalian herbivores. Pitcher's Leather Flower provides useful cover and nesting habitat for many songbirds in open wooded areas and other habitats where this vine occurs.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a powerline clearance in Busey Woods of Urbana, Illinois, and a roadside fence row in rural Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: The Clematis spp. that are Leather Flowers have similar-appearing bell-shaped flowers that nod downward. Other Clematis spp., such as Clematis virginiana (Virgin's Bower), have showier flowers with spreading white sepals and conspicuous stamens and styles. However, both groups of Clematis spp. have clusters of flattened achenes with long beaks that are persistent styles. Pitcher's Leather Flower is somewhat variable in appearance, especially in the western part of its range. There are significant variations in the size of its leaves or leaflets, the thickness of its leaves or leaflets, the elevation of the veins on the undersides of its leaves or leaflets, the size of its flowers (larger in areas west of Illinois), the color of its flowers, and the hairiness of its achenes. Pitcher's Leather Flower has a similar appearance to Clematis viorna (Leather Flower). However, the persistent styles of Pitcher's Leather Flower are glabrous to short-hairy toward their tips, while the persistent styles of Leather Flower have abundant plumose hairs. Sometimes the leaf undersides of Pitcher's Leather Flower have conspicuous elevated veins, while the leaf undersides of Leather Flower are more smooth. However, this distinction is not always reliable. Leather Flower is an uncommon species that occurs in only a few counties in southern Illinois. It is more common outside of the state in areas that are further to the east and south.
From the axils of the upper leaves, develops one or more flowers on long ascending pedicels; these flowers nod downward. Each flower is about ½-¾" long and bell-shaped. It consists of 4 thick leathery sepals and no petals; within the flower, there are several stamens and styles. The sepals are glabrous to slightly pubescent and light purple, except near their recurved tips, where they are light green or white. The blooming period occurs during the summer (usually mid-summer) and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a cluster of flattened achenes with long beaks; these beaks are persistent styles. The tips of these styles are slightly hairy, becoming hairless with age. The achenes are light green or burgundy; clustered together, they have a spidery appearance. The achenes become brown or black with age. They are blown about by the wind to a limited extent.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil that is loamy or rocky. Full sun and drier conditions are also tolerated, but the leaves have a tendency to turn yellow during hot dry weather.
Range & Habitat: The native Pitcher's Leather Flower is occasional to common throughout Illinois, except for the upper two tiers of counties in NE and north-central areas of the state, where it is absent (see Distribution Map). This is one of the more common Clematis spp. in Illinois. Habitats include open woodlands, rocky bluffs, woodland borders, areas along woodland paths, powerline clearances through wooded areas, thickets, and fence rows. This species tolerates human-caused disturbance to some extent; it doesn't spread to new areas readily because of the large size of its achenes.
Faunal Associations: Bumblebees pollinate the flowers, where they suck nectar and collect pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, flowers, or stems of Pitcher's Leather Flower and other Clematis spp. These insects include flower-feeding thrips (Thrips varipes), the Clematis Flower Midge (Prodiplosis floricola), the Clematis Bud Gall Midge (Contarinia clematidis), larvae of a leaf-mining fly (Phytomyza loewii), caterpillars of the Brown Bark Carpet Moth (Horisme intestinata), caterpillars of the moths, Spotted Thyris (Thyris maculata) and Mournful Thyris (Thyris sepulchralis), and the Peach Leaf-roll Aphid (Myzus varians). These vines are summer hosts of this introduced aphid. The foliage is probably poisonous to mammalian herbivores. Pitcher's Leather Flower provides useful cover and nesting habitat for many songbirds in open wooded areas and other habitats where this vine occurs.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a powerline clearance in Busey Woods of Urbana, Illinois, and a roadside fence row in rural Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: The Clematis spp. that are Leather Flowers have similar-appearing bell-shaped flowers that nod downward. Other Clematis spp., such as Clematis virginiana (Virgin's Bower), have showier flowers with spreading white sepals and conspicuous stamens and styles. However, both groups of Clematis spp. have clusters of flattened achenes with long beaks that are persistent styles. Pitcher's Leather Flower is somewhat variable in appearance, especially in the western part of its range. There are significant variations in the size of its leaves or leaflets, the thickness of its leaves or leaflets, the elevation of the veins on the undersides of its leaves or leaflets, the size of its flowers (larger in areas west of Illinois), the color of its flowers, and the hairiness of its achenes. Pitcher's Leather Flower has a similar appearance to Clematis viorna (Leather Flower). However, the persistent styles of Pitcher's Leather Flower are glabrous to short-hairy toward their tips, while the persistent styles of Leather Flower have abundant plumose hairs. Sometimes the leaf undersides of Pitcher's Leather Flower have conspicuous elevated veins, while the leaf undersides of Leather Flower are more smooth. However, this distinction is not always reliable. Leather Flower is an uncommon species that occurs in only a few counties in southern Illinois. It is more common outside of the state in areas that are further to the east and south.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月07日
Description: This herbaceous plant is a summer annual up to 4' tall that usually branches abundantly. The lanky stems are erect, ascending, or sprawling (especially the latter if they become entangled with vines). In addition, the stems are light green, glabrous or sparingly white-mealy, and terete or somewhat angular; smaller stems are often finely striated (with many narrow ridges). The alternate leaves are up to 2½" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across; the lower and middle leaves are narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, while the upper leaves are linear-oblong or linear. The leaf margins are smooth or slightly undulate; some of the lower leaves may have 1 or 2 obtuse basal lobes. The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green and glabrous, while its lower surface has the same characteristics; however, some of the uppermost leaves may be slightly white-mealy on the lower surface. Each leaf has a prominent central vein, and some of the larger leaves may have a pair of lateral veins that are conspicuous. The slender petioles of the leaves are up to one-third the length of the blades.
The upper stems terminate in elongated panicles of flowers up to 6" long; these flowers are organized into tight clusters along the branches of each panicle. There are also non-terminal spikes of flowers that originate from the axils of the upper leaves. The branches of each inflorescence are more or less white-mealy. Each flower is up to 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 5 sepals, 5 stamens, no petals, and a pair of short styles above the ovary. The sepals are green, yellowish green, or purplish green, and more or less white-mealy. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall and can last 1-2 months for a colony of plants. The flowers are cross-pollinated by the wind; in the absence of cross-pollination, they are self-pollinating. Afterward, each flower is replaced a single small seed about 1 mm. across; the persistent sepals barely cover the upper sides of this seed. Each seed is flattened and round; it is covered by a thin papery membrane that is easy to remove. Once this membrane is removed, the surface of the seed is smooth, shiny, and black. The root system consists of a branching taproot. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or dappled sunlight, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam, clay-loam, or stony material. The size and growth habit of this plant is variable, depending on environmental conditions.
Range & Habitat: The native Woodland Goosefoot occurs occasionally throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). However, populations of this species may be declining. Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, rocky bluffs, and partially shaded roadsides. Disturbance that reduces the overhead tree canopy probably benefits populations of this plant in wooded areas.
Faunal Associations: Caterpillars of the skippers Pholisora catullus (Common Sootywing) and Staphylus hayhurstii (Hayhurst's Scallopwing) feed on the foliage of Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot species), as do the caterpillars of the moths Amyna octo (Eight-Spot), Blepharomastix ranalis (Hollow-spotted Snout Moth), Emmelina monodactyla (Common Plume Moth), and Grammia virgo (Virgin Tiger Moth). Other insects that feed on Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot species) include Chaetocnema concinna (Brassy Flea Beetle), Disonycha triangularis (Three-spotted Flea Beetle), Erynephala puncticollis (Beet Leaf Beetle), maggots of Pegomya hyosyami (Spinach Leafminer), Hayhurstia atriplicis (Chenopodium Aphid), and Pemphigus populivenae (Sugar Beet Root Aphid). Some gamebirds and many granivorous songbirds eat the seeds of goosefoots (see the Bird Table for a listing of these species). Livestock (e.g., pigs & sheep) eat the foliage of goosefoot species; young plants are occasionally eaten by rabbits.
Photographic Location: A thicket near a little-used railroad in Urbana, Illinois. To some extent, neighboring vines smothered this plant and caused its stems to sprawl.
Comments: Woodland Goosefoot is one of the few Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot species) that is native to Illinois. This plant is rather weedy in appearance, but it shouldn't be destroyed unnecessarily. In general, the different species of Goosefoots are difficult to distinguish from each other. Woodland Goosefoot differs from the others by the following combination of characteristics: 1) It has narrow lanceolate-oblong leaves, 2) the lower surface of its leaves is usually as dark and glabrous as the upper surface, and 3) the thin papery membranes covering its seeds are easy to remove. Other goosefoots have wider leaves, and/or the lower surface of their leaves is more pale and white-mealy, and/or the thin papery membranes covering their seeds are persistent and difficult to remove. Other goosefoots with narrow leaves (e.g., Chenopodium lanceolatum, Chenopodium dessicatum, and Chenopodium pratericola) usually occur in sunnier habitats than Woodland Goosefoot. However, the lower surface of their leaves is conspicuously white-mealy. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the various goosefoots in Illinois can be found in Mohlenbrock (2001).
The upper stems terminate in elongated panicles of flowers up to 6" long; these flowers are organized into tight clusters along the branches of each panicle. There are also non-terminal spikes of flowers that originate from the axils of the upper leaves. The branches of each inflorescence are more or less white-mealy. Each flower is up to 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 5 sepals, 5 stamens, no petals, and a pair of short styles above the ovary. The sepals are green, yellowish green, or purplish green, and more or less white-mealy. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall and can last 1-2 months for a colony of plants. The flowers are cross-pollinated by the wind; in the absence of cross-pollination, they are self-pollinating. Afterward, each flower is replaced a single small seed about 1 mm. across; the persistent sepals barely cover the upper sides of this seed. Each seed is flattened and round; it is covered by a thin papery membrane that is easy to remove. Once this membrane is removed, the surface of the seed is smooth, shiny, and black. The root system consists of a branching taproot. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun or dappled sunlight, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil that contains loam, clay-loam, or stony material. The size and growth habit of this plant is variable, depending on environmental conditions.
Range & Habitat: The native Woodland Goosefoot occurs occasionally throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). However, populations of this species may be declining. Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, rocky bluffs, and partially shaded roadsides. Disturbance that reduces the overhead tree canopy probably benefits populations of this plant in wooded areas.
Faunal Associations: Caterpillars of the skippers Pholisora catullus (Common Sootywing) and Staphylus hayhurstii (Hayhurst's Scallopwing) feed on the foliage of Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot species), as do the caterpillars of the moths Amyna octo (Eight-Spot), Blepharomastix ranalis (Hollow-spotted Snout Moth), Emmelina monodactyla (Common Plume Moth), and Grammia virgo (Virgin Tiger Moth). Other insects that feed on Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot species) include Chaetocnema concinna (Brassy Flea Beetle), Disonycha triangularis (Three-spotted Flea Beetle), Erynephala puncticollis (Beet Leaf Beetle), maggots of Pegomya hyosyami (Spinach Leafminer), Hayhurstia atriplicis (Chenopodium Aphid), and Pemphigus populivenae (Sugar Beet Root Aphid). Some gamebirds and many granivorous songbirds eat the seeds of goosefoots (see the Bird Table for a listing of these species). Livestock (e.g., pigs & sheep) eat the foliage of goosefoot species; young plants are occasionally eaten by rabbits.
Photographic Location: A thicket near a little-used railroad in Urbana, Illinois. To some extent, neighboring vines smothered this plant and caused its stems to sprawl.
Comments: Woodland Goosefoot is one of the few Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot species) that is native to Illinois. This plant is rather weedy in appearance, but it shouldn't be destroyed unnecessarily. In general, the different species of Goosefoots are difficult to distinguish from each other. Woodland Goosefoot differs from the others by the following combination of characteristics: 1) It has narrow lanceolate-oblong leaves, 2) the lower surface of its leaves is usually as dark and glabrous as the upper surface, and 3) the thin papery membranes covering its seeds are easy to remove. Other goosefoots have wider leaves, and/or the lower surface of their leaves is more pale and white-mealy, and/or the thin papery membranes covering their seeds are persistent and difficult to remove. Other goosefoots with narrow leaves (e.g., Chenopodium lanceolatum, Chenopodium dessicatum, and Chenopodium pratericola) usually occur in sunnier habitats than Woodland Goosefoot. However, the lower surface of their leaves is conspicuously white-mealy. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the various goosefoots in Illinois can be found in Mohlenbrock (2001).
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Miss Chen
2018年03月07日
Description: This plant is a winter or spring annual about ½–1½' tall. Several branching stems develop from the base of the plant; they often sprawl across the ground or lean on adjacent vegetation for support. The stems are light green to purplish green, more or less hairy, and shiny; the hairs occur in lines along the stems or in tufts where the stems branch. The blades of the alternate leaves are up to 4" long and 2" across; they are medium green, hairless to mostly hairless, double-pinnate, and triangular-lanceolate in shape. The pinnatifid leaflets are shallowly to deeply cleft and their tips are obtuse. The petioles of the lower leaves are about as long as the blades, while the upper leaves have short petioles or they are nearly sessile. A membranous sheath wraps around the base of each petiole.
The upper stems terminate in compound umbels of small white flowers. The typical compound umbel has about 3 umbellets, and each umbellet has 3-7 flowers; the divergent stalks of the umbels and umbellets are green and glabrous. The flowers often bloom before the compound umbels have fully expanded. Each flower is less than 1/8" across; it has 5 white petals, 5 stamens, a divided style, insignificant sepals, and a cylindrical green ovary. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer. Upon reaching maturity, each flower is replaced by a single-seeded fruit. The fruits are about ¼" long, narrowly oblongoid-ellipsoid, and broadest toward the middle; usually the fruits are glabrous, although less often they are finely pubescent. Each fruit has a few longitudinal ridges that are broad and flat; these ridges are separated by narrow grooves. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. This species is somewhat weedy.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Chervil is common in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Typical habitats include lowland woodlands, open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, rocky glades, areas adjacent to buildings, and areas along roads and railroads. Habitats with a history of disturbance and some shade are preferred.Immature Fruits
Faunal Associations: The flowers are occasionally visited by small bees (especially Halictid bees), parasitic wasps, flies (especially Syrphid flies), and beetles. These insects usually suck nectar from the flowers, although some bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage.
Photographic Location: Along a building on the campus of the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. The photographed plant is the typical variety, Chaerophyllum procumbens procumbens.
Comments: The foliage of this native wildflower is similar to cultivated species of parsley and chervil. Cultivated Parsley is a biennial that doesn't naturalize in Illinois because its rosettes are unable to survive the cold weather of winter. However, Anthriscus cerefolium (Cultivated Chervil) and Anthriscus sylvestris (Bur Chervil) occasionally naturalize in Illinois (especially the latter species). Unlike Wild Chervil, both Cultivated and Bur Chervil lack bractlets underneath their umbellets. The species Chaerophyllum tainturieri (Southern Wild Chervil), which occurs in southern Illinois, is even more similar to Wild Chervil than the preceding species. The single-seeded fruits of Southern Wild Chervil are broadest below the middle and the pedicels of its flowers/fruits have a wider diameter toward the top than the bottom. In contrast, the single-seeded fruits of Wild Chervil are broadest toward the middle and the pedicels of its flowers/fruits have the same diameter throughout. Two varieties of Wild Chervil have been described: the typical variety, Chaerophyllum procumbens procumbens, has glabrous fruits, while Chaerophyllum procumbens shortii has fruits that are finely pubescent. This latter variety is less common in Illinois than the typical variety.
The upper stems terminate in compound umbels of small white flowers. The typical compound umbel has about 3 umbellets, and each umbellet has 3-7 flowers; the divergent stalks of the umbels and umbellets are green and glabrous. The flowers often bloom before the compound umbels have fully expanded. Each flower is less than 1/8" across; it has 5 white petals, 5 stamens, a divided style, insignificant sepals, and a cylindrical green ovary. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer. Upon reaching maturity, each flower is replaced by a single-seeded fruit. The fruits are about ¼" long, narrowly oblongoid-ellipsoid, and broadest toward the middle; usually the fruits are glabrous, although less often they are finely pubescent. Each fruit has a few longitudinal ridges that are broad and flat; these ridges are separated by narrow grooves. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, moist conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. This species is somewhat weedy.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Chervil is common in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Typical habitats include lowland woodlands, open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, rocky glades, areas adjacent to buildings, and areas along roads and railroads. Habitats with a history of disturbance and some shade are preferred.Immature Fruits
Faunal Associations: The flowers are occasionally visited by small bees (especially Halictid bees), parasitic wasps, flies (especially Syrphid flies), and beetles. These insects usually suck nectar from the flowers, although some bees also collect pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage.
Photographic Location: Along a building on the campus of the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. The photographed plant is the typical variety, Chaerophyllum procumbens procumbens.
Comments: The foliage of this native wildflower is similar to cultivated species of parsley and chervil. Cultivated Parsley is a biennial that doesn't naturalize in Illinois because its rosettes are unable to survive the cold weather of winter. However, Anthriscus cerefolium (Cultivated Chervil) and Anthriscus sylvestris (Bur Chervil) occasionally naturalize in Illinois (especially the latter species). Unlike Wild Chervil, both Cultivated and Bur Chervil lack bractlets underneath their umbellets. The species Chaerophyllum tainturieri (Southern Wild Chervil), which occurs in southern Illinois, is even more similar to Wild Chervil than the preceding species. The single-seeded fruits of Southern Wild Chervil are broadest below the middle and the pedicels of its flowers/fruits have a wider diameter toward the top than the bottom. In contrast, the single-seeded fruits of Wild Chervil are broadest toward the middle and the pedicels of its flowers/fruits have the same diameter throughout. Two varieties of Wild Chervil have been described: the typical variety, Chaerophyllum procumbens procumbens, has glabrous fruits, while Chaerophyllum procumbens shortii has fruits that are finely pubescent. This latter variety is less common in Illinois than the typical variety.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月07日
Description: This is a perennial herbaceous vine up to 10' long that often climbs over other plants, shrubs, and fences. The twining stems are light green to red, glabrous to slightly hairy, and terete; alternate leaves are sparsely to moderately distributed along these stems. The leaves are about 2½-5" long and 1-2" across; they are sagittate-triangular or hastate-triangular in shape, while their margins are smooth and slightly ciliate. The basal lobes of these leaves are rather angular and squared-off in shape, although sometimes they are more rounded. The sinuses of the leaves are strongly indented between the basal lobes and either flattened or rounded. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous (or nearly so), while the lower leaf surface is light green and glabrous to finely hairy. The slender petioles are about one-half as long as the leaves. The large buds produce flowers with funnelform corollas that are 2-3" across and similarly long; they are slightly 5-lobed. These corollas are usually white, although sometimes they are pale pink with spreading white stripes. However, deep within their throats the corollas are yellow.
At the base of each flower, there are 5 light green sepals that are largely hidden by a pair of large bracts. These bracts are light to medium green (often with reddish margins), broadly ovate in shape, keeled, and about ½-1½" long. Within the throat of each corolla, there is a white style with a pair of stigmata and 5 stamens (the latter adhere to the corolla). Usually the flowers are produced individually from the axils of the leaves, although there exists one subspecies of Hedge Bindweed (ssp. silvatica) that produces flowers in pairs from the axils of the leaves. The slender peduncles and/or pedicels of these flowers are shorter than the leaves. The flowers open during the morning and usually close at around noon, although they may remain open longer on cloudy days. The blooming period occurs intermittently during the summer for about 1-3 months. However, individual flowers last only a single day. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by broadly ovoid seed capsules a little less than ½" (about 8-10 mm.) across. At maturity, these capsules split open to release their seeds (2-4 seeds per capsule). These seeds are dull brown to black, 3-angled (two flat sides & one rounded side), and rather irregular in shape; they are a little less than ¼" (about 4-5 mm.) long. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous, and it may extend into the ground up to 10'. Hedge Bindweed spreads by clonal offshoots from its rhizomes or by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: This is an adaptable vine, preferring full to partial sun and moist to mesic conditions. It tolerates poor soil, often flourishing in areas that are gravelly or sandy. Hedge Bindweed readily climbs a trellis, fences, and neighboring plants, while in open areas it sprawls haphazardly across the ground. The climbing ability is the result of the stems twining tightly about slender objects. This vine can spread aggressively and become a nuisance in some locations. It is known to produce allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants.
Range & Habitat: The native Hedge Bindweed is common in most areas of Illinois, especially in the central and northern sections of the state (see Distribution Map). This vine is considered a noxious weed in some states, although it is not listed as such in Illinois. In addition to its wide distribution in North America, Hedge Bindweed is also native to Eurasia. It is likely that some populations of this species within the state have been introduced from other areas of North America or Eurasia. Habitats include edges of moist to mesic prairies, railroad prairies, thickets, woodland borders, open floodplain areas along lakes and rivers, edges of cropland, abandoned fields, fence rows, roadsides, areas along railroads, poorly maintained hedges, and urban waste areas. Hedge Bindweed is more common in disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), and such oligolectic bees as Melitoma taurea (Mallow Bee), Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa (Squash & Gourd Bee), and Cemolobus ipomoea (Morning Glory Bee). It is likely that day-flying Sphinx moths visit the flowers during the morning. These insects obtain primarily nectar from the flowers. Several species of tortoise beetles feed on the foliage of Hedge Bindweed and similar species in the Bindweed family, including Agroiconota bivittata (Striped Tortoise Beetle), Charidotella sexpunctata (Golden Tortoise Beetle), Chelymorpha cassidea (Argus Tortoise Beetle), Deloyala guttata (Mottled Tortoise Beetle), and Jonthonota nigripes (Black-legged Tortoise Beetle). Other insect feeders include Chaetocnema confinis (Sweet Potato Flea Beetle), Typophorus nigritus (Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle), larvae of Neolasioptera convolvuli (Bindweed Stem Gall Midge), larvae of Bedellia somnulentella (Morning Glory Leafminer Moth), and larvae of Emmelina monodactyla (Morning Glory Plume Moth). Mammalian herbivores tend to ignore this plant when other food sources are available as the foliage is toxic. To a limited extent, the Bobwhite Quail and Ring-Necked Pheasant eat the seeds.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken along a railroad in Urbana, Illinois, and at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: Many varieties and subspecies of Hedge Bindweed have been described that vary in regards to such characteristics as the shape of the basal lobes of their leaves, the relative sizes of their sepals and floral bracts, the relative size of their corollas, and whether 1 or 2 flowers are produced per leaf axil. These varieties and subspecies are not further discussed here, although see Mohlenbrock (2002) for a dichotomous key to those that occur in Illinois. The flowers of Hedge Bindweed are large and showy when they are fully open. They are just as attractive as many cultivated varieties of Ipomoea purpurea (Common Morning Glory). Hedge Bindweed can be readily distinguished from this latter species by the shape of its leaves, which are sagittate-triangular or hastate-triangular with angular to rounded basal lobes. In contrast, the leaves of Common Morning Glory and 2 native species, Ipomoea pandurata (Wild Sweet Potato) and Ipomoea lacunosa (Small White Morning Glory), are more cordate in shape. Another common species, Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed), differs by having smaller sagittate leaves with narrow basal lobes, and its funnelform flowers are also smaller in size (less than 1½" across).
At the base of each flower, there are 5 light green sepals that are largely hidden by a pair of large bracts. These bracts are light to medium green (often with reddish margins), broadly ovate in shape, keeled, and about ½-1½" long. Within the throat of each corolla, there is a white style with a pair of stigmata and 5 stamens (the latter adhere to the corolla). Usually the flowers are produced individually from the axils of the leaves, although there exists one subspecies of Hedge Bindweed (ssp. silvatica) that produces flowers in pairs from the axils of the leaves. The slender peduncles and/or pedicels of these flowers are shorter than the leaves. The flowers open during the morning and usually close at around noon, although they may remain open longer on cloudy days. The blooming period occurs intermittently during the summer for about 1-3 months. However, individual flowers last only a single day. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by broadly ovoid seed capsules a little less than ½" (about 8-10 mm.) across. At maturity, these capsules split open to release their seeds (2-4 seeds per capsule). These seeds are dull brown to black, 3-angled (two flat sides & one rounded side), and rather irregular in shape; they are a little less than ¼" (about 4-5 mm.) long. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous, and it may extend into the ground up to 10'. Hedge Bindweed spreads by clonal offshoots from its rhizomes or by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: This is an adaptable vine, preferring full to partial sun and moist to mesic conditions. It tolerates poor soil, often flourishing in areas that are gravelly or sandy. Hedge Bindweed readily climbs a trellis, fences, and neighboring plants, while in open areas it sprawls haphazardly across the ground. The climbing ability is the result of the stems twining tightly about slender objects. This vine can spread aggressively and become a nuisance in some locations. It is known to produce allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants.
Range & Habitat: The native Hedge Bindweed is common in most areas of Illinois, especially in the central and northern sections of the state (see Distribution Map). This vine is considered a noxious weed in some states, although it is not listed as such in Illinois. In addition to its wide distribution in North America, Hedge Bindweed is also native to Eurasia. It is likely that some populations of this species within the state have been introduced from other areas of North America or Eurasia. Habitats include edges of moist to mesic prairies, railroad prairies, thickets, woodland borders, open floodplain areas along lakes and rivers, edges of cropland, abandoned fields, fence rows, roadsides, areas along railroads, poorly maintained hedges, and urban waste areas. Hedge Bindweed is more common in disturbed areas.
Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), and such oligolectic bees as Melitoma taurea (Mallow Bee), Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa (Squash & Gourd Bee), and Cemolobus ipomoea (Morning Glory Bee). It is likely that day-flying Sphinx moths visit the flowers during the morning. These insects obtain primarily nectar from the flowers. Several species of tortoise beetles feed on the foliage of Hedge Bindweed and similar species in the Bindweed family, including Agroiconota bivittata (Striped Tortoise Beetle), Charidotella sexpunctata (Golden Tortoise Beetle), Chelymorpha cassidea (Argus Tortoise Beetle), Deloyala guttata (Mottled Tortoise Beetle), and Jonthonota nigripes (Black-legged Tortoise Beetle). Other insect feeders include Chaetocnema confinis (Sweet Potato Flea Beetle), Typophorus nigritus (Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle), larvae of Neolasioptera convolvuli (Bindweed Stem Gall Midge), larvae of Bedellia somnulentella (Morning Glory Leafminer Moth), and larvae of Emmelina monodactyla (Morning Glory Plume Moth). Mammalian herbivores tend to ignore this plant when other food sources are available as the foliage is toxic. To a limited extent, the Bobwhite Quail and Ring-Necked Pheasant eat the seeds.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken along a railroad in Urbana, Illinois, and at the Red Bison Railroad Prairie in Savoy, Illinois.
Comments: Many varieties and subspecies of Hedge Bindweed have been described that vary in regards to such characteristics as the shape of the basal lobes of their leaves, the relative sizes of their sepals and floral bracts, the relative size of their corollas, and whether 1 or 2 flowers are produced per leaf axil. These varieties and subspecies are not further discussed here, although see Mohlenbrock (2002) for a dichotomous key to those that occur in Illinois. The flowers of Hedge Bindweed are large and showy when they are fully open. They are just as attractive as many cultivated varieties of Ipomoea purpurea (Common Morning Glory). Hedge Bindweed can be readily distinguished from this latter species by the shape of its leaves, which are sagittate-triangular or hastate-triangular with angular to rounded basal lobes. In contrast, the leaves of Common Morning Glory and 2 native species, Ipomoea pandurata (Wild Sweet Potato) and Ipomoea lacunosa (Small White Morning Glory), are more cordate in shape. Another common species, Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed), differs by having smaller sagittate leaves with narrow basal lobes, and its funnelform flowers are also smaller in size (less than 1½" across).
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Miss Chen
2018年03月04日
Description: This perennial herbaceous plant is 2½–4½' tall, sending up one or more leafy stems that are branched above. The central stem is more or less erect, while the lateral stems are ascending. All stems are light green to purple, terete, and moderately to densely pubescent. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along these stems, becoming gradually smaller in size as they ascend. These leaves are 2½–7" long, ¾–2½" across, lanceolate to elliptic in outline, and shallowly to deeply pinnatifid, although the lowest leaves may be bipinnatifid, while the uppermost leaves may be nearly unlobed. The lobes of the leaves are irregular in size and shape; they are often lanceolate, triangular, triangular-curved (shaped like a cresting wave), or rounded. In addition, the leaf margins may be undulate and they may have a few coarse teeth. The leaf surface is yellow green, medium to dark green, or purplish green; the lower leaf surface is slightly more pale than the upper leaf surface. In addition, the leaf surface is sparsely covered with very short hairs.
The leaves are nearly sessile to short-petioled; their petioles are slightly winged and sparsely short-pubescent. The central stem and lateral stems terminate in racemes of flowers with leafy bracts that are about ½–1¼' long. The leafy bracts are ¾–2½" long and ¼–¾" across; these bracts are lanceolate or elliptic in shape and they usually have 2 or more shallow to moderately deep lobes, although some bracts may lack lobes. Except for their smaller size and fewer lobes, the leafy bracts are similar to the leaves below the floral racemes. Individual flowers are about 1½–2¼" long, consisting of a large yellow corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a light green calyx with 5 ascending to spreading lobes, 4 stamens, and an ovary with a single slender style. The corolla is tubular-campanulate (tubular and bell-shaped) in shape, becoming wider towards its mouth; it has a hairless exterior. The lobes of the corolla are oval-orbicular in shape, slightly overlapping, and similar in size. The calyx tube is about ½–¾" long, campanulate in shape, finely ridged, and covered with short fine pubescence.
The lobes of the calyx are elliptic or lanceolate in shape, medium green, and sparsely covered with very short pubescence. The central stalks of the racemes and pedicels of the flowers are light green, terete, and pubescent. In addition, the pedicels are 3-8 mm. long and upturned when the flowers bloom, becoming somewhat longer afterwards when the seed capsules develop. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early autumn, lasting about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by ovoid-globoid seed capsules about ½–¾" long that are brown and glabrous. The capsules eventually split open to release theirs seeds. These seeds are about 2 mm. long, ellipsoid-oblong in shape, somewhat flattened, and slightly winged. The root system consists of a caudex with fibrous roots, some of which attach themselves to the roots of trees in the white oak group, from which they withdraw water and nutrients. As a result, this plant is a hemiparasite (partially parasitic).
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, sandy loam, clay-loam or rocky soil. The seeds should be planted near a host plant (a tree in the white oak group). This plant will not harm its host plant to any significant degree if the latter is larger in size than a sapling.
Range & Habitat: Large-flowered False Foxglove (Aureolaria grandiflora) is occasional in western and northern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies along the eastern range-limit of this plant. Its range occurs primarily in north-central and south-central USA. Habitats include upland oak savannas, edges of limestone glades, thinly wooded bluffs, open woodlands, woodland borders along roadsides, and wooded slopes at the edges of fens. This plant is found in habitats where trees in the white oak group are present in slightly disturbed to high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily bumblebees. Other floral visitors include the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), and Syrphid flies (Robertson, 1929). Syrphid flies, which feed on the pollen, are unlikely to be effective at cross-pollinating the flowers. Other insects feed on either the foliage, sap, or developing seeds of False Foxgloves (Aureolaria spp.). These insects include the larvae of two butterflies, Euphydryas phaeton ozarkae (Baltimore) and Junonia coenia (Buckeye), and the larvae of two moths, Pyrrhia aurantiago (Orange Sallow) and Endothenia hebesana (Verbena Bud Moth). Other insects that have been observed to feed on False Foxgloves include an aphid, Aphis gerardiae, and a skeletonizing leaf beetle, Kuschelina horni.
Photographic Location: Beside an oak tree in a savanna not far from the edge of a fen in Lake County, Illinois.
Comments: Large-flowered False Foxglove (Aureolaria grandiflora) is one of three Aureolaria spp. in Illinois, although there are additional species outside of the state further to the east and south. They are all hemiparasites on the roots of other plants, especially oaks (Quercus spp.). Smooth False Foxglove (Aureolaria flava) has a similar appearance to Large-flowered False Foxglove, except it has hairless stems, hairless pedicels, and hairless calyces on its flowers. In addition, the leafy floral bracts of Smooth False Foxglove are more likely to lack teeth or lobes along their margins. Another species, Fern-leaved False Foxglove (Aureolaria pedicularis), has smaller-sized flowers (1–1½" long) and it is more likely to occur in sandy places where trees in the black oak group occur. The leaves of this latter species are more likely to be bipinnatifid, while the lobes of its calyces are toothed or lobed themselves, instead of smooth along their margins.
Downy False Foxglove (Aureolaria virginica) doesn't occur in Illinois, although it is found in neighboring Indiana. This latter species also has a similar appearance to Large-flowered False Foxglove, except its middle to upper leaves are less lobed or unlobed, and the pedicels of its flowers are shorter (only 1-3 mm. long). The flowers of Downy False Foxglove also tend to be a little shorter in length (1¼–1¾"). Across its range, Large-flowered False Foxglove has been divided into different varieties by some authorities. So far, the only variety that has been reported from Illinois is Aureolaria grandiflora pulchra. At one time, Aureolaria spp. were classified in the Gerardia genus. Thus, a scientific synonym of Large-flowered False Foxglove is Gerardia grandiflora. Another common name for this species is Western False Foxglove, because its range doesn't extend as far to the east as other Aureolaria spp. in eastern North America.
The leaves are nearly sessile to short-petioled; their petioles are slightly winged and sparsely short-pubescent. The central stem and lateral stems terminate in racemes of flowers with leafy bracts that are about ½–1¼' long. The leafy bracts are ¾–2½" long and ¼–¾" across; these bracts are lanceolate or elliptic in shape and they usually have 2 or more shallow to moderately deep lobes, although some bracts may lack lobes. Except for their smaller size and fewer lobes, the leafy bracts are similar to the leaves below the floral racemes. Individual flowers are about 1½–2¼" long, consisting of a large yellow corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a light green calyx with 5 ascending to spreading lobes, 4 stamens, and an ovary with a single slender style. The corolla is tubular-campanulate (tubular and bell-shaped) in shape, becoming wider towards its mouth; it has a hairless exterior. The lobes of the corolla are oval-orbicular in shape, slightly overlapping, and similar in size. The calyx tube is about ½–¾" long, campanulate in shape, finely ridged, and covered with short fine pubescence.
The lobes of the calyx are elliptic or lanceolate in shape, medium green, and sparsely covered with very short pubescence. The central stalks of the racemes and pedicels of the flowers are light green, terete, and pubescent. In addition, the pedicels are 3-8 mm. long and upturned when the flowers bloom, becoming somewhat longer afterwards when the seed capsules develop. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early autumn, lasting about 1–1½ months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by ovoid-globoid seed capsules about ½–¾" long that are brown and glabrous. The capsules eventually split open to release theirs seeds. These seeds are about 2 mm. long, ellipsoid-oblong in shape, somewhat flattened, and slightly winged. The root system consists of a caudex with fibrous roots, some of which attach themselves to the roots of trees in the white oak group, from which they withdraw water and nutrients. As a result, this plant is a hemiparasite (partially parasitic).
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, sandy loam, clay-loam or rocky soil. The seeds should be planted near a host plant (a tree in the white oak group). This plant will not harm its host plant to any significant degree if the latter is larger in size than a sapling.
Range & Habitat: Large-flowered False Foxglove (Aureolaria grandiflora) is occasional in western and northern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies along the eastern range-limit of this plant. Its range occurs primarily in north-central and south-central USA. Habitats include upland oak savannas, edges of limestone glades, thinly wooded bluffs, open woodlands, woodland borders along roadsides, and wooded slopes at the edges of fens. This plant is found in habitats where trees in the white oak group are present in slightly disturbed to high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily bumblebees. Other floral visitors include the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), and Syrphid flies (Robertson, 1929). Syrphid flies, which feed on the pollen, are unlikely to be effective at cross-pollinating the flowers. Other insects feed on either the foliage, sap, or developing seeds of False Foxgloves (Aureolaria spp.). These insects include the larvae of two butterflies, Euphydryas phaeton ozarkae (Baltimore) and Junonia coenia (Buckeye), and the larvae of two moths, Pyrrhia aurantiago (Orange Sallow) and Endothenia hebesana (Verbena Bud Moth). Other insects that have been observed to feed on False Foxgloves include an aphid, Aphis gerardiae, and a skeletonizing leaf beetle, Kuschelina horni.
Photographic Location: Beside an oak tree in a savanna not far from the edge of a fen in Lake County, Illinois.
Comments: Large-flowered False Foxglove (Aureolaria grandiflora) is one of three Aureolaria spp. in Illinois, although there are additional species outside of the state further to the east and south. They are all hemiparasites on the roots of other plants, especially oaks (Quercus spp.). Smooth False Foxglove (Aureolaria flava) has a similar appearance to Large-flowered False Foxglove, except it has hairless stems, hairless pedicels, and hairless calyces on its flowers. In addition, the leafy floral bracts of Smooth False Foxglove are more likely to lack teeth or lobes along their margins. Another species, Fern-leaved False Foxglove (Aureolaria pedicularis), has smaller-sized flowers (1–1½" long) and it is more likely to occur in sandy places where trees in the black oak group occur. The leaves of this latter species are more likely to be bipinnatifid, while the lobes of its calyces are toothed or lobed themselves, instead of smooth along their margins.
Downy False Foxglove (Aureolaria virginica) doesn't occur in Illinois, although it is found in neighboring Indiana. This latter species also has a similar appearance to Large-flowered False Foxglove, except its middle to upper leaves are less lobed or unlobed, and the pedicels of its flowers are shorter (only 1-3 mm. long). The flowers of Downy False Foxglove also tend to be a little shorter in length (1¼–1¾"). Across its range, Large-flowered False Foxglove has been divided into different varieties by some authorities. So far, the only variety that has been reported from Illinois is Aureolaria grandiflora pulchra. At one time, Aureolaria spp. were classified in the Gerardia genus. Thus, a scientific synonym of Large-flowered False Foxglove is Gerardia grandiflora. Another common name for this species is Western False Foxglove, because its range doesn't extend as far to the east as other Aureolaria spp. in eastern North America.
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Miss Chen
2018年03月04日
Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is 1½-3' tall, consisting of an unbranched stem with several pairs of opposite leaves. The erect central stem is light green to purplish green and more or less pubescent in either patches or lines. The leaves are 3-6" long and 1-3" across; they are oblong-ovate to oblong-obovate in shape and smooth along their margins. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous, while the lower surface is pale green. The leaves taper abruptly to oblique tips, while their bases are either rounded or wedge-shaped. The petioles are ¼-1¼" long, light green to purplish green, and appressed-hairy. Leaf venation is pinnate. The central stem terminates in 1-4 umbels of white flowers on peduncles ½-2" long. In addition to the terminal umbels, 1-2 axillary umbels of flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves, although this is uncommon. The peduncles of these umbels are light green to purplish green and short-pubescent. Individual umbels of flowers span about 2-3" across, consisting of 15-35 flowers; the umbels are dome-shaped to nearly globoid. The flowers are usually densely arranged within the umbels, although in shaded situations the umbels can be more open.
Umbel of Flowers
Each flower spans about 8-10 mm. across, consisting of a short light green calyx with 5 teeth, 5 white petals, a corona with 5 white hoods, and a short central column containing the reproductive organs. Each flower usually has a narrow purple ring between the petals and the corona. The petals are obovate in shape and 6-8 mm. long; they are widely spreading to drooping. Each hood (about 4-5 mm. in length) contains an exerted slender horn that bends toward the center of the flower. The pedicels of the flowers are about 1-1½" long, light green to pale purplish green, and finely pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks. The flowers are fragrant. Cross-pollinated flowers are replaced by lanceoloid seedpods (follicles) about 4-5" long and ¾" across; their outer surfaces are smooth and downy. During the late summer or fall, each seedpod splits open along one side to release its seeds. The seeds have tufts of white hair and they are distributed by the wind. The rhizomatous root system can produce small colonies of clonal plants.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing clay-loam, loam, or rocky material. Most growth and development occurs during the spring after the danger of hard frost has passed.
Range & Habitat: The native White Milkweed is occasional in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies along the NW range limit of this species. Habitats include upland savannas, barren rocky bluffs, upland rocky woodlands, wooded hillsides, rocky banks of streams, and woodland edges along roadsides. Occasional wildfires and other kinds of disturbance are beneficial if they reduce competition from woody vegetation. This wildflower is found in average to high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: Little is known specifically about the floral-faunal relationships of White Milkweed, although it is probably similar to other milkweeds that are found in wooded areas. The nectar of the showy flowers attracts butterflies, skippers, and possibly moths; other likely floral visitors include various long-tongued bees and wasps. The Insect Table lists the various species that feed on the foliage, stems, plant juices, and other parts of milkweeds. White Milkweed is one of the food plants for the caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Because the bitter white sap of the foliage contains toxic cardiac glycosides, it is avoided by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A woodland border along a dusty gravel road. The leaves of the photographed plants would appear more green, but they are covered by a layer of dust that was generated by passing motor vehicles.
Comments: This milkweed has very showy flowers and it should be cultivated more often. The flowers are mostly white, except for a narrow purple ring between the petals and the hooded corona. This is the source of another common name, 'Red-Ring Milkweed.' Illinois has several native species of milkweed with white flowers, although most of these have rather restricted ranges within the state. A species that is found in northern Illinois, Asclepias ovalifolia (Oval-Leaved Milkweed), has flowers and leaves that are similar in appearance to those of White Milkweed. However, Oval-Leaved Milkweed is a smaller plant (typically only ¾-1½' tall) and its leaves are more pubescent. Another northern species with white flowers, Asclepias lanuginosa (Woolly Milkweed), has stems with spreading hairs and its leaves are more narrow. A third species, Asclepias perennis (Swamp White Milkweed), also has more narrow leaves and its umbels of flowers are more flat-topped. This latter species also occurs in southern Illinois, but it is found in more soggy habitats such as swamps. Another white-flowered species, Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed), has a very different appearance from the preceding species because of its whorls of narrowly linear leaves.
Umbel of Flowers
Each flower spans about 8-10 mm. across, consisting of a short light green calyx with 5 teeth, 5 white petals, a corona with 5 white hoods, and a short central column containing the reproductive organs. Each flower usually has a narrow purple ring between the petals and the corona. The petals are obovate in shape and 6-8 mm. long; they are widely spreading to drooping. Each hood (about 4-5 mm. in length) contains an exerted slender horn that bends toward the center of the flower. The pedicels of the flowers are about 1-1½" long, light green to pale purplish green, and finely pubescent. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks. The flowers are fragrant. Cross-pollinated flowers are replaced by lanceoloid seedpods (follicles) about 4-5" long and ¾" across; their outer surfaces are smooth and downy. During the late summer or fall, each seedpod splits open along one side to release its seeds. The seeds have tufts of white hair and they are distributed by the wind. The rhizomatous root system can produce small colonies of clonal plants.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing clay-loam, loam, or rocky material. Most growth and development occurs during the spring after the danger of hard frost has passed.
Range & Habitat: The native White Milkweed is occasional in southern Illinois, while in the rest of the state it is absent (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies along the NW range limit of this species. Habitats include upland savannas, barren rocky bluffs, upland rocky woodlands, wooded hillsides, rocky banks of streams, and woodland edges along roadsides. Occasional wildfires and other kinds of disturbance are beneficial if they reduce competition from woody vegetation. This wildflower is found in average to high quality natural areas.
Faunal Associations: Little is known specifically about the floral-faunal relationships of White Milkweed, although it is probably similar to other milkweeds that are found in wooded areas. The nectar of the showy flowers attracts butterflies, skippers, and possibly moths; other likely floral visitors include various long-tongued bees and wasps. The Insect Table lists the various species that feed on the foliage, stems, plant juices, and other parts of milkweeds. White Milkweed is one of the food plants for the caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Because the bitter white sap of the foliage contains toxic cardiac glycosides, it is avoided by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A woodland border along a dusty gravel road. The leaves of the photographed plants would appear more green, but they are covered by a layer of dust that was generated by passing motor vehicles.
Comments: This milkweed has very showy flowers and it should be cultivated more often. The flowers are mostly white, except for a narrow purple ring between the petals and the hooded corona. This is the source of another common name, 'Red-Ring Milkweed.' Illinois has several native species of milkweed with white flowers, although most of these have rather restricted ranges within the state. A species that is found in northern Illinois, Asclepias ovalifolia (Oval-Leaved Milkweed), has flowers and leaves that are similar in appearance to those of White Milkweed. However, Oval-Leaved Milkweed is a smaller plant (typically only ¾-1½' tall) and its leaves are more pubescent. Another northern species with white flowers, Asclepias lanuginosa (Woolly Milkweed), has stems with spreading hairs and its leaves are more narrow. A third species, Asclepias perennis (Swamp White Milkweed), also has more narrow leaves and its umbels of flowers are more flat-topped. This latter species also occurs in southern Illinois, but it is found in more soggy habitats such as swamps. Another white-flowered species, Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed), has a very different appearance from the preceding species because of its whorls of narrowly linear leaves.
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