文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月15日
Everyone knows what a watermelon fruit looks like, but far fewer can recognize the vine from which it grows. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a sun-loving tropical vine that has distinctively lobed leaves of a light green color. They feel hairy, as do the whitish pale green stems. The flowers are yellowy green and are pollinated by bees, leading to the formation of the first round fruits of solid green that elongate and show the characteristic mottling or stripes of light and dark green.
Step 1
Look at the habit of the plant you think is a watermelon. Watermelons are vines, usually sprawling across the ground in a sunny location. At maturity, each vine is 10 to 15 feet in length, from stem base to vine tip and has tiny tendrils, or thread-like curling stems at leaf bases.
Step 2
Note the time of year. Watermelons prosper in warm temperatures and do not survive frosts. If it is early in spring when temperatures are still below 60 degrees F, or in autumn after a frost has occurred, chances are the vine you encounter will not be a watermelon.
Step 3
Look at the vine's foliage and feel its texture with your fingers. Watermelon leaves are light green with a hint of silvery white in their color. More importantly, the leaves are deeply lobed, having three to five finger-like lobes that have coarse rounded teeth. The leaves will have a gentle, sandpapery texture.
Step 4
Search the length of the stem for any flowers or fruits. The flowers are yellow and occur singly, and look like papery petunia-like blossoms with five united petals. Flowers occur at the newest parts of a vine, usually at the tips, while further back on the vine you may encounter a green, smooth, round fruit that is developing. The skin of the fruit may or may not yet have dark and light green spots or irregular striping.
Step 5
Cut open a fruit. The flesh of a watermelon is easily recognized when nearing ripeness, with the red flesh and black seeds. However, young developing fruits' flesh is pale green to white with small white seeds.
Step 1
Look at the habit of the plant you think is a watermelon. Watermelons are vines, usually sprawling across the ground in a sunny location. At maturity, each vine is 10 to 15 feet in length, from stem base to vine tip and has tiny tendrils, or thread-like curling stems at leaf bases.
Step 2
Note the time of year. Watermelons prosper in warm temperatures and do not survive frosts. If it is early in spring when temperatures are still below 60 degrees F, or in autumn after a frost has occurred, chances are the vine you encounter will not be a watermelon.
Step 3
Look at the vine's foliage and feel its texture with your fingers. Watermelon leaves are light green with a hint of silvery white in their color. More importantly, the leaves are deeply lobed, having three to five finger-like lobes that have coarse rounded teeth. The leaves will have a gentle, sandpapery texture.
Step 4
Search the length of the stem for any flowers or fruits. The flowers are yellow and occur singly, and look like papery petunia-like blossoms with five united petals. Flowers occur at the newest parts of a vine, usually at the tips, while further back on the vine you may encounter a green, smooth, round fruit that is developing. The skin of the fruit may or may not yet have dark and light green spots or irregular striping.
Step 5
Cut open a fruit. The flesh of a watermelon is easily recognized when nearing ripeness, with the red flesh and black seeds. However, young developing fruits' flesh is pale green to white with small white seeds.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月12日
If you enjoy growing vegetables, then don't overlook snow peas (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) and snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon). These peas don't produce ordinary, round, green peas you'll find in cans at the grocery store. Instead, they both offer special kinds of peas with edible pea pods that have a crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor, with snap peas being a bit sweeter. Snow peas and snap peas share many similarities, but each has a unique and clearly distinguishable pod. These varieties are also harvested at different maturity levels. Both plants grow as annuals in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones.
Dissimilar Pods
Although snow peas and snap peas both have edible pea pods, their pods are very different. The snow pea pod is especially large, up to 5 inches long. It is broad, flat and very thin. Snow pea pods are also translucent, allowing you to see light through them. These peas taste best when picked young, before the peas inside them produce visible bulges along the back of the pod. The flatter the pod the better. Snap peas, in contrast, produce narrow, oval-shaped pods. These pods are thick, fleshy and opaque. You can't see the peas inside snap pea pods because the pod itself is so thick. Despite this fleshy cocoon, snap peas remain quite crisp and produce an audible snap when broken in half. This is how the plant got its name. The best time to pick snap peas is when the pods are full-size and filled with young but well-developed peas.
Growth Supports
Like all pea varieties, snap and snow pea plants grow as trailing vines that have tendrils capable of attaching to a support. Some snow pea varieties have shorter vines than those of snap peas and can grow well without any support. For example, the snow pea cultivar "Oregon Sugar Pod II" has vines that are only about 28 inches long or tall, while the cultivar "Snowbird" has even shorter vines, about 18 inches. Snap pea vines, however, are tall and almost always require the support of a fence or trellis. If necessary, you can make your own simple support by stringing stiff wire between two stakes in the ground.
Climate
Both snow and snap peas are cool-season crops, thriving during cool spring or fall weather. Plant either type early in spring, as soon as the soil becomes workable, or in early fall while time remains for a crop before winter arrives. Both plants are frost-resistant and will likely survive until the first killing frost. Snap peas also resist a short hot spell well, growing a bit faster in warm temperatures but still producing a sweet, crunchy crop. Because snow peas need picking before the peas grow inside the pods, however, they're a bit more sensitive than snap peas to heat. If a heat wave lasts more than one or two days, your peas may mature a bit too rapidly. If they do, the peas may be a bit tougher than normal but will still have a pleasant taste.
Soil and Water
Snow and snap peas both grow in any type of garden soil, provided it is well-drained. They need even moisture to set a good crop and do best with about 1 inch of water weekly, including rain. Provide supplemental water during dry spells, but avoid overhead watering to lower the risk of fungal disorders. Instead, use a soaker hose or drip-irrigation system. Adding a 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch, such as straw or shredded bark, helps conserve soil moisture and keeps down weeds that compete with the pear for moisture and soil nutrients. Don't allow the mulch to touch the plant stems.
Dissimilar Pods
Although snow peas and snap peas both have edible pea pods, their pods are very different. The snow pea pod is especially large, up to 5 inches long. It is broad, flat and very thin. Snow pea pods are also translucent, allowing you to see light through them. These peas taste best when picked young, before the peas inside them produce visible bulges along the back of the pod. The flatter the pod the better. Snap peas, in contrast, produce narrow, oval-shaped pods. These pods are thick, fleshy and opaque. You can't see the peas inside snap pea pods because the pod itself is so thick. Despite this fleshy cocoon, snap peas remain quite crisp and produce an audible snap when broken in half. This is how the plant got its name. The best time to pick snap peas is when the pods are full-size and filled with young but well-developed peas.
Growth Supports
Like all pea varieties, snap and snow pea plants grow as trailing vines that have tendrils capable of attaching to a support. Some snow pea varieties have shorter vines than those of snap peas and can grow well without any support. For example, the snow pea cultivar "Oregon Sugar Pod II" has vines that are only about 28 inches long or tall, while the cultivar "Snowbird" has even shorter vines, about 18 inches. Snap pea vines, however, are tall and almost always require the support of a fence or trellis. If necessary, you can make your own simple support by stringing stiff wire between two stakes in the ground.
Climate
Both snow and snap peas are cool-season crops, thriving during cool spring or fall weather. Plant either type early in spring, as soon as the soil becomes workable, or in early fall while time remains for a crop before winter arrives. Both plants are frost-resistant and will likely survive until the first killing frost. Snap peas also resist a short hot spell well, growing a bit faster in warm temperatures but still producing a sweet, crunchy crop. Because snow peas need picking before the peas grow inside the pods, however, they're a bit more sensitive than snap peas to heat. If a heat wave lasts more than one or two days, your peas may mature a bit too rapidly. If they do, the peas may be a bit tougher than normal but will still have a pleasant taste.
Soil and Water
Snow and snap peas both grow in any type of garden soil, provided it is well-drained. They need even moisture to set a good crop and do best with about 1 inch of water weekly, including rain. Provide supplemental water during dry spells, but avoid overhead watering to lower the risk of fungal disorders. Instead, use a soaker hose or drip-irrigation system. Adding a 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch, such as straw or shredded bark, helps conserve soil moisture and keeps down weeds that compete with the pear for moisture and soil nutrients. Don't allow the mulch to touch the plant stems.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月11日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 2-6' tall and unbranched, except sometimes toward the apex, where the flowers occur. The central stem is relative stout, pale green, terete, and usually short-pubescent (less often glabrous). The opposite leaves are up to 8" long and 3½" wide, broadly oblong in shape, and smooth along their margins. The upper leaf surface is pale-medium to dark green and hairless above, while the lower leaf surface is densely covered with woolly hairs that are very short. There is a prominent central vein along the length of each leaf, and finer side veins that radiate outward toward the smooth margins. When either the central stem or leaves are torn, a milky sap oozes out that has variable toxicity in the form of cardiac glycosides.
Umbels of flowers, each about 2½-4" across, emerge from the axils of the upper leaves. These flowers are quite fragrant, with a scent resembling violets or pansies, and they range in color from faded light pink to reddish purple. Each flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 reflexed petals and 5 raised hoods with curved horns. The hoods are more light-colored than the petals. The pedicels of the flowers are light green to pale red and hairy. The blooming period lasts about 1-1½ months from early to mid-summer. The seedpods (follicles) are 3-4" long, broadly lanceoloid, and covered with soft prickles and short woolly hairs. At maturity, each seedpod split along one side to release numerous seeds that have large tufts of white hair. Dispersion of seed is by wind. The root system has long creeping rhizomes, promoting the vegetative spread of this plant.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, rich loamy soil, and mesic conditions, but this robust plant can tolerate a variety of situations, including partial sun and a high clay or sand content in the soil. Under ideal conditions, Common Milkweed can become 6' tall and spread aggressively, but it is more typically about 3-4' tall. This plant is very easy to grow once it becomes established.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Milkweed occurs in every county of Illinois and it is quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to dry black soil prairies, sand prairies, sand dunes along lake shores, thickets, woodland borders, fields and pastures, abandoned fields, vacant lots, fence rows, and areas along railroads and roadsides. This plant is a colonizer of disturbed areas in both natural and developed habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very popular with many kinds of insects, especially long-tongued bees, wasps, flies, skippers, and butterflies, which seek nectar. Other insect visitors include short-tongued bees, various milkweed plant bugs, and moths, including Sphinx moths. Among these, the larger butterflies, predatory wasps, and long-tongued bees are more likely to remove the pollinia from the flowers. Some of the smaller insects can have their legs entrapped by the flowers and die. Common Milkweed doesn't produce fertile seeds without cross-pollination. The caterpillars of Danaus plexippes (Monarch Butterfly) feed on the foliage, as do the caterpillars of a few moths, including Enchaetes egle (Milkweed Tiger Moth), Cycnia inopinatus (Unexpected Cycnia), and Cycnia tenera (Delicate Cycnia). Less common insects feeding on this plant include Neacoryphus bicrucis (Seed Bug sp.) and Gymnetron tetrum (Weevil sp.); see Insect Table for other insect feeders). Many of these insects are brightly colored – a warning to potential predators of the toxicity that they acquired from feeding on milkweed. Mammalian herbivores don't eat this plant because of the bitterness of the leaves and their toxic properties.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and along a roadside ditch in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Depending on the local ecotype, Common Milkweed is highly variable in appearance. The color of the flowers may be highly attractive, or faded and dingy-looking. This plant is often regarded as a weed to be destroyed, but its flowers and foliage provide food for many kinds of insects. Common Milkweed can be distinguished from other milkweeds by its prickly follicles (seedpods) – other Asclepias spp. within Illinois have follicles that are smooth, or nearly so.
Umbels of flowers, each about 2½-4" across, emerge from the axils of the upper leaves. These flowers are quite fragrant, with a scent resembling violets or pansies, and they range in color from faded light pink to reddish purple. Each flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 reflexed petals and 5 raised hoods with curved horns. The hoods are more light-colored than the petals. The pedicels of the flowers are light green to pale red and hairy. The blooming period lasts about 1-1½ months from early to mid-summer. The seedpods (follicles) are 3-4" long, broadly lanceoloid, and covered with soft prickles and short woolly hairs. At maturity, each seedpod split along one side to release numerous seeds that have large tufts of white hair. Dispersion of seed is by wind. The root system has long creeping rhizomes, promoting the vegetative spread of this plant.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, rich loamy soil, and mesic conditions, but this robust plant can tolerate a variety of situations, including partial sun and a high clay or sand content in the soil. Under ideal conditions, Common Milkweed can become 6' tall and spread aggressively, but it is more typically about 3-4' tall. This plant is very easy to grow once it becomes established.
Range & Habitat: The native Common Milkweed occurs in every county of Illinois and it is quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist to dry black soil prairies, sand prairies, sand dunes along lake shores, thickets, woodland borders, fields and pastures, abandoned fields, vacant lots, fence rows, and areas along railroads and roadsides. This plant is a colonizer of disturbed areas in both natural and developed habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are very popular with many kinds of insects, especially long-tongued bees, wasps, flies, skippers, and butterflies, which seek nectar. Other insect visitors include short-tongued bees, various milkweed plant bugs, and moths, including Sphinx moths. Among these, the larger butterflies, predatory wasps, and long-tongued bees are more likely to remove the pollinia from the flowers. Some of the smaller insects can have their legs entrapped by the flowers and die. Common Milkweed doesn't produce fertile seeds without cross-pollination. The caterpillars of Danaus plexippes (Monarch Butterfly) feed on the foliage, as do the caterpillars of a few moths, including Enchaetes egle (Milkweed Tiger Moth), Cycnia inopinatus (Unexpected Cycnia), and Cycnia tenera (Delicate Cycnia). Less common insects feeding on this plant include Neacoryphus bicrucis (Seed Bug sp.) and Gymnetron tetrum (Weevil sp.); see Insect Table for other insect feeders). Many of these insects are brightly colored – a warning to potential predators of the toxicity that they acquired from feeding on milkweed. Mammalian herbivores don't eat this plant because of the bitterness of the leaves and their toxic properties.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and along a roadside ditch in Champaign, Illinois.
Comments: Depending on the local ecotype, Common Milkweed is highly variable in appearance. The color of the flowers may be highly attractive, or faded and dingy-looking. This plant is often regarded as a weed to be destroyed, but its flowers and foliage provide food for many kinds of insects. Common Milkweed can be distinguished from other milkweeds by its prickly follicles (seedpods) – other Asclepias spp. within Illinois have follicles that are smooth, or nearly so.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月11日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant forms both basal leaves and erect to ascending stems with alternate leaves; the latter are 2-4' tall, branching occasionally. The stems are grayish green to nearly white, densely canescent, and terete, becoming more glabrous and slightly woody with age. Both the basal and lower alternate leaves are 2–4½" long and ¾–1¾" across (excluding their petioles); they are bipinnatifid to tripinnatifid. These leaves are deeply divided into primary lobes, while their ultimate lobes are more shallow and cleft. The ultimate lobes are 2-4 mm. across and narrowly oblong to narrowly oblanceolate in shape, tapering abruptly into bluntly acute tips. The middle alternate leaves are less divided and slightly smaller in size, while the upper alternate leaves are simple or sparingly lobed and even smaller in size. Both the upper and lower sides of the leaves are grayish green and sparsely to moderately canescent. The basal and lower alternate leaves have long petioles, while the middle alternate leaves have shorter petioles, and the upper alternate leaves are sessile or nearly so. Like the leaves, the petioles are grayish green and canescent. The foliage of this plant has a sage-like aroma with slightly bitter overtones. The upper stems terminate in panicles of flowers. Along the primary rachises of these panicles, there are primary leafy bracts at the bases of the secondary rachises; these primary bracts are up to 1" long, linear-oblong in shape, grayish green to nearly white, and canescent.
Secondary leafy bracts also occur at the bases of the peduncles on the secondary rachises; these secondary bracts are similar to the primary leafy bracts, except they are smaller in size. Both the primary and secondary rachises of the panicles are grayish green to nearly white and moderately to densely canescent; they are flat or slightly concave along their upper sides and rounded along their lower sides. The nodding flowerheads are 3-5 mm. across and 2-3 mm. tall; they are subgloboid in shape. Each flowerhead has 20-40 perfect disk florets that are surrounded by 10-20 pistillate disk florets; both types of florets are fertile. The florets are seperated by abundant silky hairs that originate from the receptacle. The tiny corollas of these florets are tubular in shape and 5-lobed along their upper rims. Overall, the appearance of these florets is yellowish brown. Along the sides of each flowerhead, there are small appressed phyllaries (floral bracts) in several overlapping series; these floral bracts are whitish green, densely canescent, and oblong to ovate in shape. The flowerheads have short curved peduncles that are whitish green and densely canescent. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early autumn, lasting 2-3 weeks for a colony of plants. The florets are cross-pollinated by the wind. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by small achenes. Mature achenes are 0.5–1 mm. long, narrowly oblongoid-oblanceoloid in shape, and light brown; they lack tufts of hair. The root system consists of a taproot up to ½" across. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, or some gravel. The soil should be well-drained. The size of individual plants can be highly variable depending on their age, moisture conditions, and soil fertility. For a herbaceous wormwood species (Artemisia), Absinthe tends to be long-lived.
Range & Habitat: Naturalized populations of Absinthe can be found in NE Illinois and scattered counties elsewhere, where it is relatively rare (see Distribution Map). All of these naturalized plants have escaped from cultivation. Absinthe was introduced into North America from Europe as an ornamental and medicinal plant. It is still cultivated occasionally in herb gardens today. In North America, this plant is more common in the northern plains of the United States and south-central Canada, where it is regarded as a weed of pastures. Habitats include pastures, sunny fence rows, gravelly areas along railroads, old homestead sites, and waste areas. Habitats with a history of disturbance are strongly preferred. In Illinois, Absinthe has difficulty to competing with taller native plants in natural areas.
Faunal Associations: Several species of aphids are known to feed on Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium); many of these species originated from Europe. Examples include such species as Coloradoa absinthii, Coloradoa angelicae, Coloradoa artemisiae, Macrosiphoniella absinthii (Absinthe Aphid), and other Macrosiphoniella spp. (Blackman & Eastop, 2013; Robinson & Bradley, 1965). Other insects that feed on wormwood species (Artemisia spp.) include Aphis middletonii(Erigeron Root Aphid), larvae of the leaf-miner fly Calycomyza artemisiae (Wormseed Webworm), larvae of the Gelechiid moth, Scrobipalpula artemisiella (Wormseed Webworm), and larvae of the Tortricid moths Eucosma agricolana and Phaneta dorsiatomana (Hottes & Frison, 1931; Spencer & Steyskal, 1986; Marcovitch, 1916; Miller, 1987). Some grasshoppers feed on these plants as well, including Hesperotettix viridis (Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper), Hypochloa alba (Cudweed Grasshopper), and Melanoplus angustipennis (Narrow-winged Sand Grasshopper); see Vickery & Kevan (1985). Because the foliage of Absinthe is aromatic and bitter, it is not preferred as a source of food by herbivorous mammals. However, cattle and other domesticated livestock will feed on the foliage of Absinthe if little else is available. The consumption of a large quantity of foliage is potentially harmful as it contains the neurotoxin, thujone.
Photographic Location: An herb garden at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium) has been used to flavor an alcoholic liquor by the same name. Excessive consumption of this liquor has the potential to cause toxic effects and its use in some countries has been banned. Absinthe is similar in appearance to several other wormseed species (Artemisia spp.); both native and non-native species are present in Illinois. A native species that occurs in sandy areas, Beach Wormwood (Artemisia campestris), can be distinguished by the longer length and narrowness of the lobes of its leaves, the sterile florets in the center of its flowerheads, and the lack of villous hairs on the receptacle of its flowerheads. The presence of the last characteristic (villous hairs on the receptacles of the flowerheads) distinguishes Absinthe from all other wormseed species in Illinois, except for Prairie Sagebrush (Artemisia frigida). Prairie Sagebrush has smaller leaves with more narrow lobes (1 mm. across or less) than Absinthe, while its flowerheads are slightly larger in size (5-6 mm. across and 3-5 mm. tall). It is primarily a western species that is rarely found in Illinois.
Secondary leafy bracts also occur at the bases of the peduncles on the secondary rachises; these secondary bracts are similar to the primary leafy bracts, except they are smaller in size. Both the primary and secondary rachises of the panicles are grayish green to nearly white and moderately to densely canescent; they are flat or slightly concave along their upper sides and rounded along their lower sides. The nodding flowerheads are 3-5 mm. across and 2-3 mm. tall; they are subgloboid in shape. Each flowerhead has 20-40 perfect disk florets that are surrounded by 10-20 pistillate disk florets; both types of florets are fertile. The florets are seperated by abundant silky hairs that originate from the receptacle. The tiny corollas of these florets are tubular in shape and 5-lobed along their upper rims. Overall, the appearance of these florets is yellowish brown. Along the sides of each flowerhead, there are small appressed phyllaries (floral bracts) in several overlapping series; these floral bracts are whitish green, densely canescent, and oblong to ovate in shape. The flowerheads have short curved peduncles that are whitish green and densely canescent. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early autumn, lasting 2-3 weeks for a colony of plants. The florets are cross-pollinated by the wind. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by small achenes. Mature achenes are 0.5–1 mm. long, narrowly oblongoid-oblanceoloid in shape, and light brown; they lack tufts of hair. The root system consists of a taproot up to ½" across. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, or some gravel. The soil should be well-drained. The size of individual plants can be highly variable depending on their age, moisture conditions, and soil fertility. For a herbaceous wormwood species (Artemisia), Absinthe tends to be long-lived.
Range & Habitat: Naturalized populations of Absinthe can be found in NE Illinois and scattered counties elsewhere, where it is relatively rare (see Distribution Map). All of these naturalized plants have escaped from cultivation. Absinthe was introduced into North America from Europe as an ornamental and medicinal plant. It is still cultivated occasionally in herb gardens today. In North America, this plant is more common in the northern plains of the United States and south-central Canada, where it is regarded as a weed of pastures. Habitats include pastures, sunny fence rows, gravelly areas along railroads, old homestead sites, and waste areas. Habitats with a history of disturbance are strongly preferred. In Illinois, Absinthe has difficulty to competing with taller native plants in natural areas.
Faunal Associations: Several species of aphids are known to feed on Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium); many of these species originated from Europe. Examples include such species as Coloradoa absinthii, Coloradoa angelicae, Coloradoa artemisiae, Macrosiphoniella absinthii (Absinthe Aphid), and other Macrosiphoniella spp. (Blackman & Eastop, 2013; Robinson & Bradley, 1965). Other insects that feed on wormwood species (Artemisia spp.) include Aphis middletonii(Erigeron Root Aphid), larvae of the leaf-miner fly Calycomyza artemisiae (Wormseed Webworm), larvae of the Gelechiid moth, Scrobipalpula artemisiella (Wormseed Webworm), and larvae of the Tortricid moths Eucosma agricolana and Phaneta dorsiatomana (Hottes & Frison, 1931; Spencer & Steyskal, 1986; Marcovitch, 1916; Miller, 1987). Some grasshoppers feed on these plants as well, including Hesperotettix viridis (Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper), Hypochloa alba (Cudweed Grasshopper), and Melanoplus angustipennis (Narrow-winged Sand Grasshopper); see Vickery & Kevan (1985). Because the foliage of Absinthe is aromatic and bitter, it is not preferred as a source of food by herbivorous mammals. However, cattle and other domesticated livestock will feed on the foliage of Absinthe if little else is available. The consumption of a large quantity of foliage is potentially harmful as it contains the neurotoxin, thujone.
Photographic Location: An herb garden at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium) has been used to flavor an alcoholic liquor by the same name. Excessive consumption of this liquor has the potential to cause toxic effects and its use in some countries has been banned. Absinthe is similar in appearance to several other wormseed species (Artemisia spp.); both native and non-native species are present in Illinois. A native species that occurs in sandy areas, Beach Wormwood (Artemisia campestris), can be distinguished by the longer length and narrowness of the lobes of its leaves, the sterile florets in the center of its flowerheads, and the lack of villous hairs on the receptacle of its flowerheads. The presence of the last characteristic (villous hairs on the receptacles of the flowerheads) distinguishes Absinthe from all other wormseed species in Illinois, except for Prairie Sagebrush (Artemisia frigida). Prairie Sagebrush has smaller leaves with more narrow lobes (1 mm. across or less) than Absinthe, while its flowerheads are slightly larger in size (5-6 mm. across and 3-5 mm. tall). It is primarily a western species that is rarely found in Illinois.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月09日
Description: This plant is a summer annual about 1-3' tall that is either sparingly branched or unbranched. The central stem is stout, round, light green, and more or less covered with white hairs; it also has fine longitudinal veins that are white. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 4" across (excluding the petioles), becoming smaller in the upper half of the central stem. They are cordate-ovate or elliptic and smooth or slightly undulate along the margins. The base of each leaf is rounded or wedge-shaped, while its tip is rounded and blunt. The lower surface of each leaf is usually pubescent, while the upper surface is less pubescent or hairless.
The central stem terminates in a stout panicle of spikes with whitish green flowers. This terminal inflorescence is up to 6" long (rarely longer in large plants). There are also shorter axilllary panicles of flowering spikes or simple spikes that develop from the axils of the middle to upper leaves. The flowering spikes are bristly in appearance from the crowded flowers and pointed bracts. Rough Pigweed is usually monoecious with separate pistillate (female) and staminate (male) flowers on the same plant. The pistillate flowers have 5 pale white sepals, an ovary with 3 styles, and no petals. The staminate flowers have 5 pale white sepals, 5 stamens, and no petals. The sepals are oblong and about 3 mm. in length; their tips are either short and pointed or flattened. At the base of each flower, there are one or more green bracts about 3-6 mm. long. These bracts have long pointed tips. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Cross-pollination of the flowers is by wind. Each pistillate flower develops a single seed in a membranous bladder (utricle). This utricle splits up to release the seed. Each small seed is dark brown or black, flattened, and circular; it has a smooth and shiny surface. The root system consists of a short stout taproot that is usually tinted red. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: This plant is typically found in full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a soil containing loam, clay-loam, or gravelly material. Its size can vary significantly according to moisture levels and the fertility of the soil. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for 30 years or more.
Range & Habitat: The non-native Rough Pigweed is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is originally from South America. Habitats include degraded upland prairies, cropland, fallow fields, farm lots, gardens, gravelly areas along roads and railroads, sunny areas along the foundations of buildings, and waste areas. Highly disturbed areas are preferred.
Faunal Associations: Insects rarely visit the wind-pollinated flowers. The caterpillars of the skipper Pholisora catullus (Common Sootywing) feed on the foliage, as do the caterpillars of several moths, including Holomelina aurantiaca (Orange Holomelina), Hymenia perspectalis (Spotted Beet Webworm Moth), Spilosoma congrua (Agreeable Tiger Moth), and Spoladea recurvalis (Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth). Sometimes Disonycha spp. (Flea Beetles) chew little holes in the leaves. The seeds of pigweeds are very popular with granivorus birds as a source of food during the fall and winter (see Bird Table). Pigs and cattle eat pigweeds readily, although the foliage can cause bloating and other symptoms of nitrate poisoning if an excessive amount of the foliage is eatened. Deer and rabbits eat pigweeds to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: Along the pebbly foundation of the webmaster's apartment building in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Rough Pigweed is another weedy member of the Amaranth family, although its seeds are an important source of food to birds. It is quite similar in appearance to another common weed, Amaranthus hybridus (Slender Amaranth), and prefers similar habitats (perhaps those that are slightly drier). Rough Pigweed tends to be shorter and stouter in its growth habit than Slender Pigweed. The flowering spikes of Rough Pigweed are usually more stout and bristly than those of Slender Pigweed; the flowering spikes of Rough Pigweed are whitish green while in bloom, while the flowering spikes of Slender Pigweed are more green (because its sepals are less conspicuous). Using a 10x hand lense, it is possible to observe that the sepals of Rough Pigweed often have flattened tips, while the sepals of Slender Pigweed are more pointed at their tips. Furthermore, the floral bracts of Rough Pigweed are up to 6 mm. in length, while those of Slender Pigweed are up to 4 mm. in length. Red forms of Rough Pigweed apparently don't occur; reddish pigweeds are usually Slender Pigweed, or less often a cultivated Amaranth that has escaped from gardens.
The central stem terminates in a stout panicle of spikes with whitish green flowers. This terminal inflorescence is up to 6" long (rarely longer in large plants). There are also shorter axilllary panicles of flowering spikes or simple spikes that develop from the axils of the middle to upper leaves. The flowering spikes are bristly in appearance from the crowded flowers and pointed bracts. Rough Pigweed is usually monoecious with separate pistillate (female) and staminate (male) flowers on the same plant. The pistillate flowers have 5 pale white sepals, an ovary with 3 styles, and no petals. The staminate flowers have 5 pale white sepals, 5 stamens, and no petals. The sepals are oblong and about 3 mm. in length; their tips are either short and pointed or flattened. At the base of each flower, there are one or more green bracts about 3-6 mm. long. These bracts have long pointed tips. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about 1-2 months. Cross-pollination of the flowers is by wind. Each pistillate flower develops a single seed in a membranous bladder (utricle). This utricle splits up to release the seed. Each small seed is dark brown or black, flattened, and circular; it has a smooth and shiny surface. The root system consists of a short stout taproot that is usually tinted red. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: This plant is typically found in full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a soil containing loam, clay-loam, or gravelly material. Its size can vary significantly according to moisture levels and the fertility of the soil. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for 30 years or more.
Range & Habitat: The non-native Rough Pigweed is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is originally from South America. Habitats include degraded upland prairies, cropland, fallow fields, farm lots, gardens, gravelly areas along roads and railroads, sunny areas along the foundations of buildings, and waste areas. Highly disturbed areas are preferred.
Faunal Associations: Insects rarely visit the wind-pollinated flowers. The caterpillars of the skipper Pholisora catullus (Common Sootywing) feed on the foliage, as do the caterpillars of several moths, including Holomelina aurantiaca (Orange Holomelina), Hymenia perspectalis (Spotted Beet Webworm Moth), Spilosoma congrua (Agreeable Tiger Moth), and Spoladea recurvalis (Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth). Sometimes Disonycha spp. (Flea Beetles) chew little holes in the leaves. The seeds of pigweeds are very popular with granivorus birds as a source of food during the fall and winter (see Bird Table). Pigs and cattle eat pigweeds readily, although the foliage can cause bloating and other symptoms of nitrate poisoning if an excessive amount of the foliage is eatened. Deer and rabbits eat pigweeds to a limited extent.
Photographic Location: Along the pebbly foundation of the webmaster's apartment building in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Rough Pigweed is another weedy member of the Amaranth family, although its seeds are an important source of food to birds. It is quite similar in appearance to another common weed, Amaranthus hybridus (Slender Amaranth), and prefers similar habitats (perhaps those that are slightly drier). Rough Pigweed tends to be shorter and stouter in its growth habit than Slender Pigweed. The flowering spikes of Rough Pigweed are usually more stout and bristly than those of Slender Pigweed; the flowering spikes of Rough Pigweed are whitish green while in bloom, while the flowering spikes of Slender Pigweed are more green (because its sepals are less conspicuous). Using a 10x hand lense, it is possible to observe that the sepals of Rough Pigweed often have flattened tips, while the sepals of Slender Pigweed are more pointed at their tips. Furthermore, the floral bracts of Rough Pigweed are up to 6 mm. in length, while those of Slender Pigweed are up to 4 mm. in length. Red forms of Rough Pigweed apparently don't occur; reddish pigweeds are usually Slender Pigweed, or less often a cultivated Amaranth that has escaped from gardens.
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Miss Chen
2018年07月09日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 6-20" tall, consisting of a dense tuft of basal leaves from tightly clustered bulbs. The basal leaves are erect, ascending, or arching-spreading; they are medium green, filiform, terete, hollow, glabrous, and sometimes glaucous. One or more flowering stalks develop from within the basal leaves. These stalks are more stiffly erect than the leaves; they are 8-20" long, medium green, filiform, terete, and glabrous. Usually, the stalks are leafless, although on rare occasions 1-2 cauline leaves may develop from an individual stalk. At the apex of each stalk, there is a crowded umbel of 30-50 flowers that spans about 1–1½" across; this umbel is held erect and it is globoid to subgloboid (globoid, but slightly flattened) in shape. Initially, the umbel is enclosed by a pair of membranous spathes with a sheath-like appearance, but the latter shrivel away when the flowers begin to bloom. Each flower is up to 2/3" (15 mm.) long, consisting of 6 pink or lavender tepals, 6 stamens, and a pistil with a single white style. The filaments of the stamens are white, while their anthers are variably colored. The tepals are narrowly elliptic in shape and strongly ascending; they often have fine lines of purple where their midribs occur. The style has a knobby tip. At the bases of these flowers, there are short pedicels up to ¼" long; these pedicels are largely hidden by the flowers when the latter are in bloom. Both the foliage and flowers have a mild onion-like aroma. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks. Afterwards, individual flowers are replaced by 3-valved seed capsules (3-4 mm. across) that split open to release their seeds. These seeds are 2–2.5 mm. (less than 1/8") in length with a 3-angled ellipsoid shape; 2 sides of each seed are flat, while the remaining side is curved. In addition, the seeds are black, somewhat wrinkled, and glabrous. The root system consists of slender bulbs that are ellipsoid in shape and up to ¾" (20 mm.) in length; these bulbs have fibrous roots underneath. The outermost layers of the bulbs are brown and membranous. Clonal offshoots are created by the formation of new bulbs in the ground. This plant also reproduces by reseeding itself. The leaves die down during the winter.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Chives is winter-hardy and easy to cultivate.
Range & Habitat: As a wild plant, Chives has naturalized in only a few counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is uncommon. While it is native to boreal areas of both Eurasia and North America, Chives was introduced into Illinois as a culinary herb. It is still commonly cultivated in gardens, from where this plant occasionally escapes. Habitats include grassy areas along railroads and roadsides, areas that are adjacent to gardens, weedy meadows, banks of streams, and waste areas. Habitats with a history of disturbance are preferred. Chives is less aggressive than either Allium vineale (Field Garlic) and Allium canadense (Wild Garlic).
Faunal Association: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees and flower flies primarily. Some insect species are known to feed destructively on Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and other Allium spp. Insects that feed on the foliage and/or flowers include Thrips tabaci (Onion Thrips), Myzus ascalonicus (Shallot Aphid), Neotoxoptera formosa (Onion Aphid), Lindbergocapsus allii (Onion Plant Bug), and Lindbergocapsus ainsliei; see Marshall (2006), Blackman & Eastop (2013), Knight (1941), and Henry (1982). The larvae of several insects also feed on the bulbs of these plants, including Strigoderma arbicola (False Japanese Beetle), Delia antiqua (Onion Maggot), Tritoxa flexa (Black Onion Fly), Eumerus strigatus (Onion Bulb Fly), and Eumerus tuberculatus (Lesser Onion Bulb Fly). Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of the foliage of Chives and other Allium spp., although it is occasionally consumed by White-tailed Deer and domesticated cattle (Sotala & Kirkpatrick, 1973; Georgia, 1913), especially during the spring when little else is available. When dairy cattle consume these plants, this taints the flavor of milk that they produce.
Photographic Location: Along a sidewalk at the webmaster's apartment complex. This plant was established from seed that had blown across the sidewalk from a neighboring pot of herbs.
Comments: The chopped leaves of Chives has a mild onion flavor that can be used to season various dishes and sauces, including salads and sour cream. The umbels of flowers are also edible if they are picked while they are still young; like the leaves, they have an onion flavor. This plant is rich a source of antioxidants, especially the leaves (Stajner et al., 2004). It also contains significant amounts of Vitamin A (as beta-carotene), folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, protein, and other nutrients. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is fairly easy to distinguish from other Allium spp. cause of its dense umbels of flowers and dense tufts of very narrow leaves. The umbels of other Allium spp. are typically more loose and there are conspicuous gaps between their flowers. The basal leaves of other Allium spp. are either solid and flattened or they are more terete and hollow. If they are the latter, then they are somewhat broader in circumference at their bases than the leaves of chives. Chives doesn't produce aerial bulblets, whereas Allium vineale (Field Garlic), Allium canadense (Wild Garlic), and some cultivated Allium spp. almost always do. Two varieties of Chives are sometimes described: the typical variety and var. sibiricum. The latter tends to be a taller and more robust plant, otherwise these two varieties are very similar to each other and they have a tendency to intergrade.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Chives is winter-hardy and easy to cultivate.
Range & Habitat: As a wild plant, Chives has naturalized in only a few counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is uncommon. While it is native to boreal areas of both Eurasia and North America, Chives was introduced into Illinois as a culinary herb. It is still commonly cultivated in gardens, from where this plant occasionally escapes. Habitats include grassy areas along railroads and roadsides, areas that are adjacent to gardens, weedy meadows, banks of streams, and waste areas. Habitats with a history of disturbance are preferred. Chives is less aggressive than either Allium vineale (Field Garlic) and Allium canadense (Wild Garlic).
Faunal Association: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees and flower flies primarily. Some insect species are known to feed destructively on Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and other Allium spp. Insects that feed on the foliage and/or flowers include Thrips tabaci (Onion Thrips), Myzus ascalonicus (Shallot Aphid), Neotoxoptera formosa (Onion Aphid), Lindbergocapsus allii (Onion Plant Bug), and Lindbergocapsus ainsliei; see Marshall (2006), Blackman & Eastop (2013), Knight (1941), and Henry (1982). The larvae of several insects also feed on the bulbs of these plants, including Strigoderma arbicola (False Japanese Beetle), Delia antiqua (Onion Maggot), Tritoxa flexa (Black Onion Fly), Eumerus strigatus (Onion Bulb Fly), and Eumerus tuberculatus (Lesser Onion Bulb Fly). Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of the foliage of Chives and other Allium spp., although it is occasionally consumed by White-tailed Deer and domesticated cattle (Sotala & Kirkpatrick, 1973; Georgia, 1913), especially during the spring when little else is available. When dairy cattle consume these plants, this taints the flavor of milk that they produce.
Photographic Location: Along a sidewalk at the webmaster's apartment complex. This plant was established from seed that had blown across the sidewalk from a neighboring pot of herbs.
Comments: The chopped leaves of Chives has a mild onion flavor that can be used to season various dishes and sauces, including salads and sour cream. The umbels of flowers are also edible if they are picked while they are still young; like the leaves, they have an onion flavor. This plant is rich a source of antioxidants, especially the leaves (Stajner et al., 2004). It also contains significant amounts of Vitamin A (as beta-carotene), folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, protein, and other nutrients. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is fairly easy to distinguish from other Allium spp. cause of its dense umbels of flowers and dense tufts of very narrow leaves. The umbels of other Allium spp. are typically more loose and there are conspicuous gaps between their flowers. The basal leaves of other Allium spp. are either solid and flattened or they are more terete and hollow. If they are the latter, then they are somewhat broader in circumference at their bases than the leaves of chives. Chives doesn't produce aerial bulblets, whereas Allium vineale (Field Garlic), Allium canadense (Wild Garlic), and some cultivated Allium spp. almost always do. Two varieties of Chives are sometimes described: the typical variety and var. sibiricum. The latter tends to be a taller and more robust plant, otherwise these two varieties are very similar to each other and they have a tendency to intergrade.
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Miss Chen
2018年07月08日
Description: This herbaceous plant is a biennial or short-lived perennial that becomes 4-8' tall. The stout central stem is unbranched or sparingly branched; it is light green, terete, and more or less hairy. The blades of the alternate leaves are up to 8" long and across; they are palmately lobed (with 3-7 blunt lobes each) and crenate along their margins. Each leaf blade is orbicular or oval in outline and indented at the base where the petiole joins the blade. The upper surface of each leaf blade is medium green, slightly pubescent to hairless, and wrinkled from fine veins; the lower surface is light green and pubescent. The petioles of the leaves are as long or a little longer than their blades; they are light green and hairy.
The central stem terminates in a spike-like raceme of flowers; axillary flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves as well. These flowers occur individually or in small clusters along the central stem; they nod sideways from short hairy pedicels. Each flower spans about 3-5" when it is fully open; it has 5 petals, 5 sepals, 6-9 sepal-like bracts, and a columnar structure in the center with the reproductive organs (stamens toward the tip, thread-like stigmas below). The overlapping petals provide the flower with a funnelform shape; they are usually some shade of white, pink, or purplish red. The sepals are light green, ovate, and much smaller than the petals. The bracts of each flower are located underneath the sepals; they are light green, hairy, ovate, and joined together at the base. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall; a colony of plants will bloom for about 2 months. Each flower is replaced by a fruit containing a ring of 15-20 seeds (technically, a schizocarp). These seeds are oval, flattened, and notched on one side. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.Central Stem & Flowerbud
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Lower leaves will wither away during hot dry weather. Hollyhock is vulnerable to foliar disease, including rust.
Range & Habitat: The non-native Hollyhock occasionally escapes from cultivation, but it rarely persists. Escaped plants have been collected primarily in NE and east central Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include areas along railroads, roadsides, vacant lots, and waste areas, especially in urban areas. Areas with a history of disturbance are preferred. Because of the showy flowers, Hollyhock is often cultivated in gardens. It is native to Eurasia.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by several kinds of bees. Various insects feed on the leaves and other parts of Hollyhock. These include caterpillars of Pyrgus communis (Common Checkered Skipper), caterpillars of the butterflies Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak), and caterpillars of such moths as Acontia aprica (Exposed Bird-Dropping Moth), Anomis erosa (Yellow Scallop Moth), Autographa precationis (Common Looper Moth), Mamestra configurata (Bertha Armyworm), and Astrotischeria omissa (Bouseman et al., 2006; Wagner, 2005; Covell, 1984/2005; Needham et al., 1928). Other insects that feed on Hollyhock include both adults and larvae of Apion longirostre (Hollyhock Weevil), adults of Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle), Acyrthosiphon malvae (Geranium Aphid) and Aphis gossypii (Cotton Aphid), Brooksetta althaeae (Hollyhock Plant Bug), and larvae of the flies Calycomyza malvae and Melanagromyza hicksi (Cranshaw, 2004; personal observation; Blackman & Eastop, 2013; Pepper, 1965; Knight, 1941; Spencer & Steyskal, 1986). The foliage is palatable to cattle and other hoofed mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the flower was taken at The Arboretum in Urbana, Illinois; the photographs of the stem and leaf were taken at a flower garden of the same city.
Comments: The meaning of the common name is probably 'Holy Mallow.' Hollyhock is one of the taller members of the Mallow family. It superficially resembles one of the native Hibiscus spp. (Rose Mallows), which are perennial wetland plants. Hollyhock differs in having floral bracts that are ovate, while a Rose Mallow has floral bracts that are narrowly linear. The structures of their fruits also differ: the fruit of Hollyhock consists of a ring of seeds, while the fruit of Rose Mallow is a 5-celled capsule. Some of the taller Malva spp. (Mallows) also resemble Hollyhock, but they have only 1-3 bracts per flower; Hollyhock has 6-9 bracts per flower. An alternative scientific name for this species is Althaea rosea.
The central stem terminates in a spike-like raceme of flowers; axillary flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves as well. These flowers occur individually or in small clusters along the central stem; they nod sideways from short hairy pedicels. Each flower spans about 3-5" when it is fully open; it has 5 petals, 5 sepals, 6-9 sepal-like bracts, and a columnar structure in the center with the reproductive organs (stamens toward the tip, thread-like stigmas below). The overlapping petals provide the flower with a funnelform shape; they are usually some shade of white, pink, or purplish red. The sepals are light green, ovate, and much smaller than the petals. The bracts of each flower are located underneath the sepals; they are light green, hairy, ovate, and joined together at the base. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall; a colony of plants will bloom for about 2 months. Each flower is replaced by a fruit containing a ring of 15-20 seeds (technically, a schizocarp). These seeds are oval, flattened, and notched on one side. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.Central Stem & Flowerbud
Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil. Lower leaves will wither away during hot dry weather. Hollyhock is vulnerable to foliar disease, including rust.
Range & Habitat: The non-native Hollyhock occasionally escapes from cultivation, but it rarely persists. Escaped plants have been collected primarily in NE and east central Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include areas along railroads, roadsides, vacant lots, and waste areas, especially in urban areas. Areas with a history of disturbance are preferred. Because of the showy flowers, Hollyhock is often cultivated in gardens. It is native to Eurasia.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by several kinds of bees. Various insects feed on the leaves and other parts of Hollyhock. These include caterpillars of Pyrgus communis (Common Checkered Skipper), caterpillars of the butterflies Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak), and caterpillars of such moths as Acontia aprica (Exposed Bird-Dropping Moth), Anomis erosa (Yellow Scallop Moth), Autographa precationis (Common Looper Moth), Mamestra configurata (Bertha Armyworm), and Astrotischeria omissa (Bouseman et al., 2006; Wagner, 2005; Covell, 1984/2005; Needham et al., 1928). Other insects that feed on Hollyhock include both adults and larvae of Apion longirostre (Hollyhock Weevil), adults of Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle), Acyrthosiphon malvae (Geranium Aphid) and Aphis gossypii (Cotton Aphid), Brooksetta althaeae (Hollyhock Plant Bug), and larvae of the flies Calycomyza malvae and Melanagromyza hicksi (Cranshaw, 2004; personal observation; Blackman & Eastop, 2013; Pepper, 1965; Knight, 1941; Spencer & Steyskal, 1986). The foliage is palatable to cattle and other hoofed mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photograph of the flower was taken at The Arboretum in Urbana, Illinois; the photographs of the stem and leaf were taken at a flower garden of the same city.
Comments: The meaning of the common name is probably 'Holy Mallow.' Hollyhock is one of the taller members of the Mallow family. It superficially resembles one of the native Hibiscus spp. (Rose Mallows), which are perennial wetland plants. Hollyhock differs in having floral bracts that are ovate, while a Rose Mallow has floral bracts that are narrowly linear. The structures of their fruits also differ: the fruit of Hollyhock consists of a ring of seeds, while the fruit of Rose Mallow is a 5-celled capsule. Some of the taller Malva spp. (Mallows) also resemble Hollyhock, but they have only 1-3 bracts per flower; Hollyhock has 6-9 bracts per flower. An alternative scientific name for this species is Althaea rosea.
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Miss Chen
2018年07月08日
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1-2½' tall, consisting of basal leaves and flowering stalks with alternate leaves. The stalks are light green and glabrous. The basal and lower leaves are bipinnate with 6-9 leaflets, while the upper leaves are pinnate with 3 leaflets. When the leaves are bipinnate, they are ternately divided into 3 groups of leaflets (2 lateral groups & a terminal group); each group has 2-3 leaflets. The leaflets of basal and lower leaves are 2-3" long and 1¼-2" across; they are medium to dark green, more or less ovate in shape, serrate or doubly serrate along their margins, and hairless or nearly so. Some leaflets may be deeply cleft into two lobes. The leaflets of upper leaves are smaller in size and more narrow in shape (lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate), otherwise they are similar to the leaflets of the preceding leaves. The petioles of basal and lower leaves are 4-12" long, while the petioles of upper leaves are less than 4" long. These petioles are light green and hairless; the petioles of alternate leaves are sheathed at their bases. The petiolule (basal stalklet) of the terminal group of leaflets is 2-3" long, while the petiolules of the lateral groups of leaflets are about 1" long. In each group of leaflets, the lateral leaflets are sessile or nearly so, while the terminal leaflet has a secondary basal stalklet that is nearly sessile to 1" long.
The stalks terminate in compound umbels of flowers about 1½-3½" across that are flat-topped. Each compound umbel is divided into 10-20 umbellets, while each umbellet is divided into 10-25 flowers. The compound umbels lack floral bracts and the umbellets lack floral bractlets. Individual flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 5 white petals with incurved tips and an inferior ovary with a pair of styles. The peduncles of the compound umbels are 3-6" long, light green, glabrous, angular, and grooved. The pedicels of individual flowers are about ¼" in length, light green, and glabrous. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month. The flowers are replaced by ovoid-oblongoid fruits that are ridged and somewhat flattened; they are about 1/8" (3 mm.) long and release their seeds at maturity during the autumn. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Goutweed often forms clonal colonies from the spreading rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, or sandy loam. This plant has few problems with either insects or disease organisms. It can spread aggressively, particularly in locales with cool moist climates.
Range & Habitat: So far, Goutweed has rarely escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in Illinois. It has been found as an escaped plant in only a few counties of NE Illinois (see Distribution Map). Because of its aggressive nature, Goutweed may become more common in the future. It was introduced into North America from Eurasia as an ornamental plant. Habitats include deciduous woodlands (sandy & non-sandy), shaded ravines, woodland borders, cemeteries, roadsides, and waste areas. Cultivated forms of Goutweed include those with variegated and non-variegated leaves. However, wild specimens of Goutweed almost always have non-variegated leaves.
Faunal Associations: Floral-faunal relationships for this plant in North America are poorly understood. Müller (1873/1883) observed miscellaneous flies, beetles, wasps, small bees, and sawflies visiting the flowers for either nectar or pollen in Germany. Apparently the young foliage of Goutweed is considered edible to humans as it has been used in the Old World as a source of food and a medicinal herb.
Photographic Location: A flower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Like many other species in the Carrot family, Goutweed has compound umbels of small white flowers and compound leaves. It can be identified by the absence of floral bracts and bractlets underneath its flowers, and by the structure and shape of its leaves. Generally, its compound leaves have ternately arranged leaflets (divided into groups of 3), although the leaflets within a group sometimes occur in pairs. Compared with many other species in the Carrot family, these leaflets are relatively large in size and relatively broad in shape when one considers the size of the plant. Among native wildflowers, Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) is similar in appearance to Goutweed, but the flowers of Honewort are even smaller in size and its compound leaves have only 3 leaflets, rather than 3 groups of leaflets.
The stalks terminate in compound umbels of flowers about 1½-3½" across that are flat-topped. Each compound umbel is divided into 10-20 umbellets, while each umbellet is divided into 10-25 flowers. The compound umbels lack floral bracts and the umbellets lack floral bractlets. Individual flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, consisting of 5 white petals with incurved tips and an inferior ovary with a pair of styles. The peduncles of the compound umbels are 3-6" long, light green, glabrous, angular, and grooved. The pedicels of individual flowers are about ¼" in length, light green, and glabrous. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, lasting about 1 month. The flowers are replaced by ovoid-oblongoid fruits that are ridged and somewhat flattened; they are about 1/8" (3 mm.) long and release their seeds at maturity during the autumn. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Goutweed often forms clonal colonies from the spreading rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, or sandy loam. This plant has few problems with either insects or disease organisms. It can spread aggressively, particularly in locales with cool moist climates.
Range & Habitat: So far, Goutweed has rarely escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in Illinois. It has been found as an escaped plant in only a few counties of NE Illinois (see Distribution Map). Because of its aggressive nature, Goutweed may become more common in the future. It was introduced into North America from Eurasia as an ornamental plant. Habitats include deciduous woodlands (sandy & non-sandy), shaded ravines, woodland borders, cemeteries, roadsides, and waste areas. Cultivated forms of Goutweed include those with variegated and non-variegated leaves. However, wild specimens of Goutweed almost always have non-variegated leaves.
Faunal Associations: Floral-faunal relationships for this plant in North America are poorly understood. Müller (1873/1883) observed miscellaneous flies, beetles, wasps, small bees, and sawflies visiting the flowers for either nectar or pollen in Germany. Apparently the young foliage of Goutweed is considered edible to humans as it has been used in the Old World as a source of food and a medicinal herb.
Photographic Location: A flower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Like many other species in the Carrot family, Goutweed has compound umbels of small white flowers and compound leaves. It can be identified by the absence of floral bracts and bractlets underneath its flowers, and by the structure and shape of its leaves. Generally, its compound leaves have ternately arranged leaflets (divided into groups of 3), although the leaflets within a group sometimes occur in pairs. Compared with many other species in the Carrot family, these leaflets are relatively large in size and relatively broad in shape when one considers the size of the plant. Among native wildflowers, Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) is similar in appearance to Goutweed, but the flowers of Honewort are even smaller in size and its compound leaves have only 3 leaflets, rather than 3 groups of leaflets.
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Miss Chen
2018年07月06日
Purple hull peas (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata), a type of southern pea, produce pale green beans with a pink eye in dull purple pods. They take about 90 days to reach maturity from planting. The seeds require warm soil and frost-free weather to sprout successfully, and they don't transplant well, so sow them directly in the garden in late spring or early summer after frost danger passes.
Garden Selection
Purple hull peas can tolerate light afternoon shade, especially in hot climates, but they grow best when they receive full, all-day sunlight. They thrive in any well-drained loam garden soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5. Heavy clay or soil that doesn't drain quickly after rain or watering can slow germination or cause the seeds or seedlings to rot. Purple hull peas grow on vines, so select a site with room for stakes or supports and where the peas won't block sunlight to lower-growing plants.
Soil Preparation
Adding compost and a light fertilization about 10 days before planting gives the purple hull peas the nutrients they need for initial growth. Cover the bed with a 2-inch layer of compost and sprinkle 1 pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer along every 50-foot row. Turn the compost into the top 6 inches of soil. Right before planting, lightly moisten the seed and place it in a bag with Rhizobium bacteria powder, shaking the bag gently to coat the seeds. The bacteria treatment allows the purple hull peas to fix their own nitrogen in the soil after planting, minimizing the need for later fertilization.
Planting Basics
The seeds sprout and begin putting on healthy growth when soil temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit and air temperatures are above 70 F. Plant the seeds about 1 ½ inches deep, spacing them 4 to 6 inches apart. Plant along the base of a bean trellis for support, or erect bean tepees and sow one seed at the base of each tepee pole. You can also install a 4-foot stake for each individual plant if you are only growing a few. If you plant multiple rows, set them about 2 feet apart so you have room to move between the plants for weeding, maintenance and harvest.
Early Care
Sprouting usually occurs within a week if you keep the soil moist. Water as needed so the top 6 inches of soil remains moist but not wet until germination. After sprouting, continue to water once or twice weekly, giving the plants about 1 inch of water a week or enough so the soil doesn't dry completely. Purple hull peas don't require watering if there is sufficient rain to keep the soil moist. Overhead watering can lead to flower loss or fungal problems as the plants mature, so water near the base of the plants to keep the foliage dry. Pull weeds as soon as they sprout so they don't compete with the peas for water or nutrients.
Garden Selection
Purple hull peas can tolerate light afternoon shade, especially in hot climates, but they grow best when they receive full, all-day sunlight. They thrive in any well-drained loam garden soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5. Heavy clay or soil that doesn't drain quickly after rain or watering can slow germination or cause the seeds or seedlings to rot. Purple hull peas grow on vines, so select a site with room for stakes or supports and where the peas won't block sunlight to lower-growing plants.
Soil Preparation
Adding compost and a light fertilization about 10 days before planting gives the purple hull peas the nutrients they need for initial growth. Cover the bed with a 2-inch layer of compost and sprinkle 1 pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer along every 50-foot row. Turn the compost into the top 6 inches of soil. Right before planting, lightly moisten the seed and place it in a bag with Rhizobium bacteria powder, shaking the bag gently to coat the seeds. The bacteria treatment allows the purple hull peas to fix their own nitrogen in the soil after planting, minimizing the need for later fertilization.
Planting Basics
The seeds sprout and begin putting on healthy growth when soil temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit and air temperatures are above 70 F. Plant the seeds about 1 ½ inches deep, spacing them 4 to 6 inches apart. Plant along the base of a bean trellis for support, or erect bean tepees and sow one seed at the base of each tepee pole. You can also install a 4-foot stake for each individual plant if you are only growing a few. If you plant multiple rows, set them about 2 feet apart so you have room to move between the plants for weeding, maintenance and harvest.
Early Care
Sprouting usually occurs within a week if you keep the soil moist. Water as needed so the top 6 inches of soil remains moist but not wet until germination. After sprouting, continue to water once or twice weekly, giving the plants about 1 inch of water a week or enough so the soil doesn't dry completely. Purple hull peas don't require watering if there is sufficient rain to keep the soil moist. Overhead watering can lead to flower loss or fungal problems as the plants mature, so water near the base of the plants to keep the foliage dry. Pull weeds as soon as they sprout so they don't compete with the peas for water or nutrients.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月05日
Split peas are made when regular peas, such as English peas, green peas and lentils are grown and dried. The peas are shelled, skinned and left out for drying. Once they are completely dry, the peas begin to split in half naturally along a center line. They can also be split mechanically to speed things up. After the peas have been naturally or mechanically split, they are packaged and sold as split peas, which are used in soups, stews and other recipes.
Step 1
Plant your peas in late winter or early spring when the temperatures are still cool. The plants should receive full sunlight for at least six hours every day.
Step 2
Til at least the top 6 inches of the soil to loosen the dirt. Remove any large rocks, sticks or other debris. Add 2 to 3 inches of organic compost into the soil to provide the peas with enough nitrogen to become established. Peas will not need additional fertilizer.
Step 3
Use a hoe to make 2-inch deep rows. Drag the corner of the hoe down the garden in a straight line to make a small trench. Rows should be 18 to 24 inches apart.
Step 4
Drop 3 to 4 seeds together in groups into the rows. Place the groups of seed at least 1 inch apart. Lightly cover the peas with native soil to fill the rows slightly higher than the surrounding ground.
Step 5
Apply 1 to 2 inches of water on the growing peas every week.
Step 6
Harvest the peas every few days when they begin to get full and swollen. Harvesting usually occurs 45 to 60 days after the pea plants have emerged.
Step 1
Plant your peas in late winter or early spring when the temperatures are still cool. The plants should receive full sunlight for at least six hours every day.
Step 2
Til at least the top 6 inches of the soil to loosen the dirt. Remove any large rocks, sticks or other debris. Add 2 to 3 inches of organic compost into the soil to provide the peas with enough nitrogen to become established. Peas will not need additional fertilizer.
Step 3
Use a hoe to make 2-inch deep rows. Drag the corner of the hoe down the garden in a straight line to make a small trench. Rows should be 18 to 24 inches apart.
Step 4
Drop 3 to 4 seeds together in groups into the rows. Place the groups of seed at least 1 inch apart. Lightly cover the peas with native soil to fill the rows slightly higher than the surrounding ground.
Step 5
Apply 1 to 2 inches of water on the growing peas every week.
Step 6
Harvest the peas every few days when they begin to get full and swollen. Harvesting usually occurs 45 to 60 days after the pea plants have emerged.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月05日
Green beans are a popular vegetable for the home garden. They grow quickly and require only sun and water. Pole varieties grow between 5 and 10 feet high, according to Cornell University, and require staking. Bush beans are compact and need no support.
Time Frame
Bean seeds germinate within 8 to 10 days under optimal conditions. They emerge as a tiny hooked stem with one single lobe and perhaps a cracked seed coat. Within a few days, the first real leaves emerge. Green beans are harvested within 60 to 75 days, depending on the variety. Dried bean varieties may take as long as three or four months to mature, according to Purdue University.
Considerations
Bean seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They are slow to germinate when soil temperatures are below 60 F. They are not at all frost hardy, and are planted outdoors when daytime temperatures are above 75 F. They don't transplant well.
Warning
Bean seeds are damaged by soaking in water or by being planted in very wet soil. Plant them in warm, moist, but not soggy, soil at a depth of 1 inch beneath the surface.
Time Frame
Bean seeds germinate within 8 to 10 days under optimal conditions. They emerge as a tiny hooked stem with one single lobe and perhaps a cracked seed coat. Within a few days, the first real leaves emerge. Green beans are harvested within 60 to 75 days, depending on the variety. Dried bean varieties may take as long as three or four months to mature, according to Purdue University.
Considerations
Bean seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They are slow to germinate when soil temperatures are below 60 F. They are not at all frost hardy, and are planted outdoors when daytime temperatures are above 75 F. They don't transplant well.
Warning
Bean seeds are damaged by soaking in water or by being planted in very wet soil. Plant them in warm, moist, but not soggy, soil at a depth of 1 inch beneath the surface.
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文章
Miss Chen
2018年07月03日
Description: This perennial wildflower is about 1-2' tall. It is unbranched, except near the apex, where the flowerheads occur. The central stem is pale green and more or less covered with white cobwebby hairs. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 1" across, becoming slightly smaller as they ascend the stems. Each fern-like leaf is pale to medium green, elliptic in outline, and widest in the middle – however, its structure is either simple-pinnate or double-pinnate and its overlapping leaflets are either simple-pinnate or pinnatifid. The leaves and sometimes their leaflets (when they are simple-pinnate) are upward-angled along their rachises (central stalks), while pinnatifid leaflets and subleaflets are either curled, crinkled, or flat. Like the stems, the leaves and their subdivisions often have fine cobwebby hairs. The leaves are sessile.
The upper stems produce flat-headed panicles (compound corymbs) of small flowerheads. Each flowerhead is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 ray florets (their petaloid rays are white, rarely rose or other pastel colors) and a similar number of disk florets that have cream or pale yellow corollas. The petaloid rays are often slightly notched at their tips. The floral bracts (phyllaries) are pale green and lanceolate-oblong; they often have cobwebby hairs. All parts of this plant exude a distinctive aroma that is somewhat soapy and astringent. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer and lasts about a month. Each floret is replaced by an achene that is oblong and somewhat flattened; it lacks a tuft of hairs. The root system produces abundant rhizomes, often forming clonal colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat heavy clay-loam soil.
Range & Habitat: Yarrow is a common plant that has naturalized in all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). The variety of Yarrow that occurs in Illinois is probably native to Eurasia, although there is a variety of this plant that is native to western North America. This latter variety tends to be smaller in size and its foliage is more heavily covered with woolly hairs. Habitats include mesic to dry prairies, pastures, fallow fields, grassy waste areas, and edges of paths, yards, or hedges. Disturbed areas are preferred; Yarrow persists in native habitats (e.g., prairies) to a limited extent. Yarrow is often cultivated in flower and herbal gardens, from where it occasionally escapes.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, especially flies and wasps. Among the flies are such visitors as bee flies, Syrphid flies (including drone flies), thick-headed flies, Tachinid flies, flesh flies, Anthomyiid flies, and others. Halictid and other short-tongued bees occasionally visitor the flowers, where they suck nectar and collect pollen. Many species of grasshoppers feed on Yarrow (see Grasshopper Table), as do several aphids, a seed bug, a flower thrips, leaf beetles, and caterpillars of some moths (see Insect Table). Sometimes Mordella spp. (Tumbling Flower Beetles) are found on the flowerheads. Because the foliage of Yarrow has a bitter and biting taste, it is rarely consumed by most mammalian herbivores. However, sheep will eat it when the opportunity arises.
Photographic Location: Judge Webber Park and Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Among members of the Aster family, the fern-like foliage of Yarrow is rather unusual and it has a distinctive odor. Other members of the Aster family with this kind of foliage include Anthemis spp. (Mayweed), Matricaria spp. (Chamomile), and Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy). Unlike Yarrow, species of Mayweed and Chamomile produce daisy-like flowerheads with long petaloid rays. Tansy is a larger plant with medium to dark green foliage. While its flowerheads have a similar size and structure as compared to those of Yarrow, they are bright yellow and their petaloid rays are even smaller in size or absent.
The upper stems produce flat-headed panicles (compound corymbs) of small flowerheads. Each flowerhead is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 ray florets (their petaloid rays are white, rarely rose or other pastel colors) and a similar number of disk florets that have cream or pale yellow corollas. The petaloid rays are often slightly notched at their tips. The floral bracts (phyllaries) are pale green and lanceolate-oblong; they often have cobwebby hairs. All parts of this plant exude a distinctive aroma that is somewhat soapy and astringent. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer and lasts about a month. Each floret is replaced by an achene that is oblong and somewhat flattened; it lacks a tuft of hairs. The root system produces abundant rhizomes, often forming clonal colonies of plants.
Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat heavy clay-loam soil.
Range & Habitat: Yarrow is a common plant that has naturalized in all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). The variety of Yarrow that occurs in Illinois is probably native to Eurasia, although there is a variety of this plant that is native to western North America. This latter variety tends to be smaller in size and its foliage is more heavily covered with woolly hairs. Habitats include mesic to dry prairies, pastures, fallow fields, grassy waste areas, and edges of paths, yards, or hedges. Disturbed areas are preferred; Yarrow persists in native habitats (e.g., prairies) to a limited extent. Yarrow is often cultivated in flower and herbal gardens, from where it occasionally escapes.
Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, especially flies and wasps. Among the flies are such visitors as bee flies, Syrphid flies (including drone flies), thick-headed flies, Tachinid flies, flesh flies, Anthomyiid flies, and others. Halictid and other short-tongued bees occasionally visitor the flowers, where they suck nectar and collect pollen. Many species of grasshoppers feed on Yarrow (see Grasshopper Table), as do several aphids, a seed bug, a flower thrips, leaf beetles, and caterpillars of some moths (see Insect Table). Sometimes Mordella spp. (Tumbling Flower Beetles) are found on the flowerheads. Because the foliage of Yarrow has a bitter and biting taste, it is rarely consumed by most mammalian herbivores. However, sheep will eat it when the opportunity arises.
Photographic Location: Judge Webber Park and Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Among members of the Aster family, the fern-like foliage of Yarrow is rather unusual and it has a distinctive odor. Other members of the Aster family with this kind of foliage include Anthemis spp. (Mayweed), Matricaria spp. (Chamomile), and Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy). Unlike Yarrow, species of Mayweed and Chamomile produce daisy-like flowerheads with long petaloid rays. Tansy is a larger plant with medium to dark green foliage. While its flowerheads have a similar size and structure as compared to those of Yarrow, they are bright yellow and their petaloid rays are even smaller in size or absent.
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