tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36158028952515324232024-03-18T03:01:40.028-07:00Native Florida WildflowersThis is a blog that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Florida's wildflowers - with a bit of a focus on growing these plants in a home landscape. Some of the wildflowers featured here are grown and sold through Hawthorn Hill Native Wildflower and Rare Plant Nursery. E-mail (Huegelc55@aol.com)or call me (727-422-6583) if there is something you want to see in this blog - or something you wish to purchase.Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.comBlogger621125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-87797119875042822722024-03-18T03:01:00.000-07:002024-03-18T03:01:08.162-07:00Tiny Bluet - Houstonia pusilla<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeB0Rq7eimwxvE3cev1ZmbY-kahgrRwmL64SGCB08OzkIFot0gBIBNSpPVvypQu1V9ZRW7Z1vUc4VvgaQAqeHyrGyMR5G1-q_LLGquWtfnyIbizepm1WN__2lEGwm8sN70c-ayUpqYu_0cgtjpv9-UD-X4c3YPHGh5MQWAfWepfK97vr3dXEHQdZrtmo/s1079/Houstoniapusilla2_floyd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeB0Rq7eimwxvE3cev1ZmbY-kahgrRwmL64SGCB08OzkIFot0gBIBNSpPVvypQu1V9ZRW7Z1vUc4VvgaQAqeHyrGyMR5G1-q_LLGquWtfnyIbizepm1WN__2lEGwm8sN70c-ayUpqYu_0cgtjpv9-UD-X4c3YPHGh5MQWAfWepfK97vr3dXEHQdZrtmo/w640-h428/Houstoniapusilla2_floyd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhzqJSA1iVQ7rr3BZZ2dXD2VDPJKLHR5rUZtHcqORejvo9lyDZD6XR3CHrGM9exxcx1Ysvya6HOBGV9-YuoSCAch-oE9HJSgXlFwpKJ4RXM8re2QxGB3ByfDEIUEVe9_N2qAhtRXeal6sFn05SyUttfpG6XS__BiaO-SpYgzo59_HKqRvv3BOuxkXSqo/s1618/Houstoniapusilla1_floyd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhzqJSA1iVQ7rr3BZZ2dXD2VDPJKLHR5rUZtHcqORejvo9lyDZD6XR3CHrGM9exxcx1Ysvya6HOBGV9-YuoSCAch-oE9HJSgXlFwpKJ4RXM8re2QxGB3ByfDEIUEVe9_N2qAhtRXeal6sFn05SyUttfpG6XS__BiaO-SpYgzo59_HKqRvv3BOuxkXSqo/w428-h640/Houstoniapusilla1_floyd.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Tiny bluet (<i>Houstonia</i> <i>pusilla</i>) is a diminutive member of a genus that also includes the widespread wildflower commonly known as Innocence (<i>Houstonia procumbens</i>). This species, however, is confined to the entire Panhandle region of Florida. It also is common throughout much of the Eastern and Midwestern portions of the U.S., except the most northern tier of states. Throughout its extensive range, it is found in a variety of mesic open habitats. Tiny bluet is an annual that makes its appearance in winter when its tiny rosette of basal leaves become noticeable. The mostly glabrous rounded leaves are about 1/4 inch long, opposite along the flower stem and sessile. </span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in very early spring. The flower stalks stand about 2 inches tall at maturity and a solitary flower is produced at the top of each. The individual flowers are also tiny - about 1/4 inches across and composed of 4 oval pink to bluish purple petals with a deeper rose center. Although each bloom is small, a patch of tiny bluet is quite showy. I suspect that they are pollinated mostly by small bees, though I have no experience with this plant. As an annual, this plant needs to reseed to persist and it requires open ground to do that effectively.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In the right conditions, I suspect that this annual would persist if grown from seed. I have never seen it offered for sale by any of the nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but seed is sometimes offered from out-of-state sources. I have never tried it or attempted to grow this species here in central Florida where it is well outside of its natural range. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The photographs in this post were taken by Floyd Griffith and used by permission.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-72510625585925752642024-03-16T06:19:00.000-07:002024-03-17T13:10:25.983-07:00Common Leopardbane - Arnica acaulis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLDbD-NeFZavkvlHQYP-ds_E0PKVePwRlydvuGdOrRPEJ-61bqDDGxQaCJXxf0qhnafxwi9_11pUYnROApTVWQq5ZQv0EhJYUe89QI9BElIbZgu08LqqzAUrXiSLnI3bDhlpmFH1BQwB5g73DdF-cOAbVIfAnU4Ctf_a5kaMkj3dmA1ZCKfZiBvaPbVY/s1079/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLDbD-NeFZavkvlHQYP-ds_E0PKVePwRlydvuGdOrRPEJ-61bqDDGxQaCJXxf0qhnafxwi9_11pUYnROApTVWQq5ZQv0EhJYUe89QI9BElIbZgu08LqqzAUrXiSLnI3bDhlpmFH1BQwB5g73DdF-cOAbVIfAnU4Ctf_a5kaMkj3dmA1ZCKfZiBvaPbVY/w640-h428/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSPqSNoIZNesIviLTooWKDeJB4Gs2DxRV4MxcR0P1M5x_a9vdAmmMwE_oF_EPjvXP6AdIjXnQyMx08D2Djx6Hz047hb2yRGuiSwU29TLRrJfPtABV4YuDIOJanLVMIFqFW1DWteitspMCktDeK95kaZCAb49CTBhJYGHC5vBytsbvJ1Rh4kbkb8i5mOU/s1618/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSPqSNoIZNesIviLTooWKDeJB4Gs2DxRV4MxcR0P1M5x_a9vdAmmMwE_oF_EPjvXP6AdIjXnQyMx08D2Djx6Hz047hb2yRGuiSwU29TLRrJfPtABV4YuDIOJanLVMIFqFW1DWteitspMCktDeK95kaZCAb49CTBhJYGHC5vBytsbvJ1Rh4kbkb8i5mOU/w428-h640/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman3.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAOCW-hBZyCPtv9-DO8eJCaQwQufcVjFPnctByZl-TUT-njLo967MPLwL02zWb8JBuE689ZaZuQ3BN0PYp6p9blECFx8aZSnSwXXcXZjimeBlJr1DywWbdSlHjzc1CcqW96bcC26YddzzbrgUhGvNY6_hXKJatHLgmmwgtAqXkaP0sOGqJckAZg2yDPc/s1079/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAOCW-hBZyCPtv9-DO8eJCaQwQufcVjFPnctByZl-TUT-njLo967MPLwL02zWb8JBuE689ZaZuQ3BN0PYp6p9blECFx8aZSnSwXXcXZjimeBlJr1DywWbdSlHjzc1CcqW96bcC26YddzzbrgUhGvNY6_hXKJatHLgmmwgtAqXkaP0sOGqJckAZg2yDPc/w640-h428/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPDaJTUSzWwstoz_oOI3xNdK4XQFV37J35lIkNFEMMHo7ZXPWnIggUJVvzgPh1xllhLO-FjiFrC19nwjgggexMH9Q_n0sKgOidr3DtVw59fnzgIh5Ev4FdYqGCNSfzg_eLIJuRFlv3JKLuBCOUHnPIB1_eBsG9p0UO1dNCHmgrv3-KhPlpO6GXdWe9ag/s1618/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPDaJTUSzWwstoz_oOI3xNdK4XQFV37J35lIkNFEMMHo7ZXPWnIggUJVvzgPh1xllhLO-FjiFrC19nwjgggexMH9Q_n0sKgOidr3DtVw59fnzgIh5Ev4FdYqGCNSfzg_eLIJuRFlv3JKLuBCOUHnPIB1_eBsG9p0UO1dNCHmgrv3-KhPlpO6GXdWe9ag/w428-h640/Arnicaacaulis_Coleman5.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Common leopardbane (<i>Arnica acaulis</i>) is a rare perennial wildflower in Florida, vouchered only from Jackson and Liberty Counties in the Panhandle, but more commonly found in the Southeast Coastal Plain north of us from Georgia to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In Florida, it is listed as a state endangered species. Like so many wildflowers of north Florida, this plant dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges again in early spring. Although it is reported to be common in wetland edges elsewhere, Florida populations occur in open sunny moist uplands such as pine flatwoods. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps what's most distinctive about this wildflower is its foliage. Common leopardbane occurs as a thick cluster of broad and stemless basal leaves - each about 2-5 inches long and covered by noticeable glandular hairs. The basal rosettes themselves are well more than 1 foot across. The flower stalks emerge from the basal rosettes in spring and eventually reach a height of 2-3 feet. The bloom season in Florida is from March to very early summer. Several flowers occur atop each of these stalks. Without the distinctive foliage, this species could be mistaken by its flowers for a good number of other yellow daisy-like blooms. Each is 2- 2 1/2 inches across, composed of numerous elongated bright yellow petals that surround a similarly yellow center of disk flowers. Like all members of the aster family, the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators. Some members of this genus are used as herbal medicine, though I could not find any records for common leopardbane. I also could not find any sources for this species - either as seed or plants, in Florida or elsewhere within its range.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These photos were taken by my friend and gifted nature photographer, Steve Coleman, and used with permission.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-36815745324203897362024-03-16T05:31:00.000-07:002024-03-16T05:31:26.021-07:00Wood Betony (Canadian lousewort) - Pedicularis canadensis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1vdpF-tgr_chjN1IH47fXhxla6s260ZQflO2x3vuotBJlt5B_fFzvjeFPFmkJAFyD_zKpoF7-qBr_icDQXkrInaHf2RX20N8g3r6ikej1gcQTKtew3inGT76v9ofNTRNXN_KFD1q4bC8PT81TbkVkvlw2swpWSgzPhAIWJWf2_rWQ_4B9acIBN-_upI/s1080/pediculariscanadensis_floyd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1vdpF-tgr_chjN1IH47fXhxla6s260ZQflO2x3vuotBJlt5B_fFzvjeFPFmkJAFyD_zKpoF7-qBr_icDQXkrInaHf2RX20N8g3r6ikej1gcQTKtew3inGT76v9ofNTRNXN_KFD1q4bC8PT81TbkVkvlw2swpWSgzPhAIWJWf2_rWQ_4B9acIBN-_upI/w640-h640/pediculariscanadensis_floyd1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEi6jgnESzDUarTPZjV0-M84A1PUr9iONtdboNmuoOvCjkFoxYdDF3dGnLBmLsLrC_y4yCrtJujitFHmgrzepfXSJhhqbhi4SMFPL6jz9aiL6Jgsd4UVJhY92xAiKlPz61kNNS34tE0sHVNw3HGUIJsEV7lyAWXi8_eQeSaHeTRXjGVBgieI2cguSJOWs/s1080/pediculariscanadensis_floyd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1080" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEi6jgnESzDUarTPZjV0-M84A1PUr9iONtdboNmuoOvCjkFoxYdDF3dGnLBmLsLrC_y4yCrtJujitFHmgrzepfXSJhhqbhi4SMFPL6jz9aiL6Jgsd4UVJhY92xAiKlPz61kNNS34tE0sHVNw3HGUIJsEV7lyAWXi8_eQeSaHeTRXjGVBgieI2cguSJOWs/w640-h462/pediculariscanadensis_floyd2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Wood betony (<i>Pedicularis canadensis</i>) is a perennial wildflower found across the eastern half of North America from east Texas north to Minnesota and Maine in the U.S. and in the adjoining lower tier of provinces in Canada, though it has been vouchered in Florida in only 6 counties in the Panhandle with a seventh disjunct population in Clay County south of Jacksonville. Although its common name would suggest it otherwise, wood betony is not a mint but a member of the Orobanchaceae - a family that includes the false foxgloves (<i>Agalinus </i>spp.), bluehearts (<i>Buchnera </i>spp.), and blacksennas (<i>Seymeria </i>spp.) among others. All of these are semi-parasitic on their neighbor's root systems. It is the only member of this genus native to Florida. Throughout this vast range, it is most often found in open upland sites such as open woodlands and clearings.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wood betony dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges again in early spring. As it emerges, the foliage appears maroon in color, but turns a more traditional green as it matures. The foliage occurs as a basal rosette of deeply dissected, almost fernlike leaves that may be up to 6 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. They tend to lie parallel to the ground so that the plants rarely stand more than 6 inches tall. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wood betony is an early spring bloomer. The flowers are formed in a cluster at the top of a single stalk that reaches about 12 inches in height. The color is quite variable and, to some extent, dependent on the amount of sunlight the plant receives according to the literature. The rich rose colored upper petals in these specimens is not typical Most commonly, the upper petals are a more brownish red and more faded. The overall color of the blooms is a butter yellow. The early bloom time makes it an important nectar source for bees - especially the larger bodied species such as bumblebees. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Although both attractive and useful in the landscape, its semi-parasitic nature on other plants growing with it, makes it a less-than-ideal choice for most garden settings. I have never seen it offered for sale by any of the nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but it is available as seed or plants from sources outside of Florida. I have not tried any of these offerings in my own landscapes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The above photos were taken in north Florida, by my friend and excellent nature photographer, Floyd Griffin and used by permission.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-9446756274993429312024-03-10T18:35:00.000-07:002024-03-10T18:35:43.327-07:00Yellow Fumewort - Corydalis flavula<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucEk-0YBMooK9SvrICZBqdHNenmlfSvyJgFzHors_sW1ISrZ5LtziJNpg8ziehEBaCIzwVCgcls8yfcprai8aymJvuG18sGXFUjBwohwVf3oLFhLd4vYzW4M53rxEsh0gwfPKJD47bnVS9rjyJfCKUchOU95j93ss1YlPIC2CTb-hkoUH2iP4ejn4Gwg/s1286/corydalisflavula3_Coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucEk-0YBMooK9SvrICZBqdHNenmlfSvyJgFzHors_sW1ISrZ5LtziJNpg8ziehEBaCIzwVCgcls8yfcprai8aymJvuG18sGXFUjBwohwVf3oLFhLd4vYzW4M53rxEsh0gwfPKJD47bnVS9rjyJfCKUchOU95j93ss1YlPIC2CTb-hkoUH2iP4ejn4Gwg/w448-h640/corydalisflavula3_Coleman.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaskeF_WN8mV9wSEiujiryMQ-ysC-n5v2Wvmf03sw8DHiOzhAkd-US0hGPSUXHtOSq7w8mU3BfmMvKSKlTNGqHFpSXahVH1D834834qzZX6uVe1HiYAR9E0VjE1LtrXRSTLwFHr_5lmTPvBvYZwQOUSPRDG14R1QAa0aNfs1hiEdXjHpo-J3ukJeYDwyw/s1350/corydalisflavula1_Coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaskeF_WN8mV9wSEiujiryMQ-ysC-n5v2Wvmf03sw8DHiOzhAkd-US0hGPSUXHtOSq7w8mU3BfmMvKSKlTNGqHFpSXahVH1D834834qzZX6uVe1HiYAR9E0VjE1LtrXRSTLwFHr_5lmTPvBvYZwQOUSPRDG14R1QAa0aNfs1hiEdXjHpo-J3ukJeYDwyw/w512-h640/corydalisflavula1_Coleman.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQMwFlS7y97rvbZv586wSovT8HT3fACE2MD0sDjdyNZ4wbWOCjAwsuTTlONKTnJC4UIPP6lFtV45uwz0xqAfAB_Z17828JXdi5YiRS4PnRWka5NfPyT5l3A4sU_2f2sTVFXkoCq2zQiGBdbJuHn72pzdgN08c0e9pecb2C9RiCBya8kXP4MPeGLEWS6Q/s1080/corydalisflavula2_Coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1080" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQMwFlS7y97rvbZv586wSovT8HT3fACE2MD0sDjdyNZ4wbWOCjAwsuTTlONKTnJC4UIPP6lFtV45uwz0xqAfAB_Z17828JXdi5YiRS4PnRWka5NfPyT5l3A4sU_2f2sTVFXkoCq2zQiGBdbJuHn72pzdgN08c0e9pecb2C9RiCBya8kXP4MPeGLEWS6Q/w640-h512/corydalisflavula2_Coleman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Yellow fumewort (<i>Corydalis flavula</i>) is an annual wildflower found in only three Florida counties (Jackson, Calhoun, and Liberty) in the central Panhandle. It is widely distributed north of us, however, and is vouchered from the eastern Great Plains to the east coast north to New York and Massachusetts. Throughout its wide distribution, it is most commonly found in open, deciduous woodlands in moist, but well-drained soil. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a winter annual, meaning that it sets seed in the summer and reappears in winter or very early spring. It requires the heat of summer to induce seed germination - unlike many species that require cold stratification. This is a rather diminutive plant that might be overlooked when not in flower. At maturity, it only reaches a height of 12 inches, though the flower stalks may stand a few inches taller. Its distinctive foliage is easily discerned by a watchful eye, however. Each leaf is palmately veined with deeply dissected lobes. In Florida, I know of no other wildfower that is similar, though if you live or have lived north of here, the foliage is similar to that of Durchman's breeches (<i>Dicentra cucullaria</i>). The leaves occur on pinkish stems and lie mostly horizontal to the ground. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in the late winter to early spring. The flowers are bright lemon yellow in color with green markings along the interior edge of the petals, They occur in clusters at the end of the flower stalks. The upper petals are fused while the lower petal extends outward and down -reminiscent of many flowers in the mint family though yellow fumewort is in the Papaveraceae. There is a small spur at the back of each bloom. Once the blooms are finished, it produces long reddish brown seed pods that eventually dehisce and scatter the tiny black seeds. Given the shape of its flowers, I suspect it is mostly pollinated by bees. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As an annual, this is a species that requires the right soil conditions to reseed or the help of a human cultivator to collect its seed and give it the right conditions to germinate and be replanted. All of this makes it a wildflower poorly suited to most home landscapes and it has never been offered for sale by native nurseires in Florida associated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. It is available, however, from several nurseries to our north - as plants or seed. An Asian relative, (<i>Corydalis yanhusuo</i>) has been used as an herbal supplement to support cardiovascular and digestive systems, but I have found no evidence of our native species having any medicinal value. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These wonderful photos were takn by Steve Coleman and used by permission.</span></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-15102689969220905262024-02-18T12:16:00.000-08:002024-02-18T12:16:37.138-08:00Florida Water Aster - Symphyotrichum fontinale<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHel_NgnU9u4-bJyoG4K3xosY-cKjruuLkPoEQ87SGpTZooXl-6l6uD9x4_KazwKsvEya7zSPRCYZmm3ofPS1XmIKsEU9c_ZczycbriVRMWL18vCk72zivbbkPHCrIDXO7fk2ZbWB2nxDMqn2rliJbcpvj6_d4EOCCvIN1XcOPiFZpdZ64kVMvReR4OmE/s2048/Symphyotrichum%20fontinale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHel_NgnU9u4-bJyoG4K3xosY-cKjruuLkPoEQ87SGpTZooXl-6l6uD9x4_KazwKsvEya7zSPRCYZmm3ofPS1XmIKsEU9c_ZczycbriVRMWL18vCk72zivbbkPHCrIDXO7fk2ZbWB2nxDMqn2rliJbcpvj6_d4EOCCvIN1XcOPiFZpdZ64kVMvReR4OmE/w426-h640/Symphyotrichum%20fontinale.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Florida water aster (<i>Symphyotrichum fontinale</i>) is an endemic perennial member of one of the most varied and important families of wildflowers in Florida (and North America). This species occurs sporadically in Florida from Holmes County in the Panhandle to Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties at the southern tip of the state. Although its distribution appears to be scattered based on herbarium records, it is likely to have been largely overlooked. This is an aster confined to sunny to partly sunny moist freshwater habitats - marsh edges, floodplains, and ditch banks, among others.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Throughout most of its range in Florida, it dies back to a basal rosette of leaves in the early winter and reemerges shortly after in early spring. It eventually reaches a height of about 3 feet on a narrow upright stem. The leaves are a rich green in color, linear in shape and moderately covered with stout hairs. The stems are often more densely bristly. The leaves are without a petiole, alternate on the stem, and the edges are largely without teeth (entire margins).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in late fall. Like most members of this genus, a great many ray petals surround a central head of yellow disc flowers. The ray petals can vary from nearly white to lavender. They are produced atop the main stem and multiple side stems. Like other members of this genus, the flowers attract the attention of a wide diversity of pollinators. Although not specifically reported, it also likely serves as a host to the pearl crescent butterfly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have been collecting native Florida asters now for at least half a decade, but I have not seen this species in the wild nor ever seen it offered for sale by members of FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. I suspect it behaves similarly to the widely distributed Elliott's aster, but it would be easily distinguished by its stark foliage differences. I'll be looking for it more purposely in the future.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The above photo was taken recently by my friend and skilled naturalist, Roger Hammer, and used with permission.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-44217492173656813502024-02-18T06:29:00.000-08:002024-02-18T06:29:35.301-08:00Field Pansy - Viola rafinesquei<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTy76lxpCangkZ3GGu9xBEVjVYaETd_xTvzL4WrZW6382IYpONwo0_E_6EtcCALwmEl5Oy4RAZgNz-smbyYHovW1YtFvSMbPIopOslFM_Dqs5p4ATo9ZUdRwVGBm8NRRy-MPl8Wz6u-74oJbm9JmQheygqUCInGonTj4MwTKMWRivI91QShyphenhyphen-MAkbeGc/s1080/Violaraf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTy76lxpCangkZ3GGu9xBEVjVYaETd_xTvzL4WrZW6382IYpONwo0_E_6EtcCALwmEl5Oy4RAZgNz-smbyYHovW1YtFvSMbPIopOslFM_Dqs5p4ATo9ZUdRwVGBm8NRRy-MPl8Wz6u-74oJbm9JmQheygqUCInGonTj4MwTKMWRivI91QShyphenhyphen-MAkbeGc/w640-h640/Violaraf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Field pansy, also known as Johnny jump-up, (<i>Viola rafinesquei</i>) is one of at least 12 species of violets found in Florida. The taxonomy of our violets remains a bit confused, but this member is easily distinguished from the others. To me, at least, it looks quite similar to the popular horticultural pansy; hence its common name. In fact, horticultural varieties of pansies are violet hybrids. Field pansy is native to much of the Florida Panhandle with an outlying population in Marion County. It is a widespread species outside of Florida - found throughout eastern North America and west of the Mississippi to Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota. Throughout its range, it is most common in open disturbed upland habitats in a wide variety of soil types. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Field pansy is an annual that can spread rapidly by seed or by undergound rhizomes. Because of this, it is sometimes considered weedy. Like other members of this genus, it is low growing, but it forms erect upright stems with spatula-shaped leaves up the stems to just below the solitary flowers. Each bloom stands 3-4 inches high and consists of 5 dark-veined petals with the side petals being "bearded" and the lip having a distinct yellow patch. The colors of these petals varies from nearly white to blue. One characteristic that distinguishes it from other violets outside of our range is that the petals are longer than the green sepals. Like other members of the violet genus, flowering occurs in the spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In states north of Florida, violets are important host plants for butterfly species like the great spangled fritillary. In Florida, this genus is sometimes used by the variegated fritillary, though it is not considered to be a main host. Violets are pollinated mostly by small bees. The seeds are eaten by doves and other ground birds. Field pnasy is sometimes offered for sale in states outside of Florida and marketed as Johnny jump-ups and/or by its former Latin name - <i>Viola tricolor</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The photo above was taken recently by my friend and wonderful photographer, Floyd Griffith, and used by permission.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-69128521505426217232024-02-10T04:26:00.000-08:002024-02-10T04:26:54.409-08:00White sunbonnets - Chaptalia albicans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4ylHTw1d2TYnLVeLqJ32G2yEZDgbESoC3XjbIj_ZHpTes9fFiQJNdt50rFm7jgFeED52iADv3U5X-4mPioLSxpBLBAhFPTFJrAy95DGxehKP_MXTqhUhEnvKLg-4-4xRENF56LVe66f6T3eULRUMrZOdLg0SNXAbQZz_BemV3j50YWoVMscZVRLRNzw/s1183/chaptaliaalba1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4ylHTw1d2TYnLVeLqJ32G2yEZDgbESoC3XjbIj_ZHpTes9fFiQJNdt50rFm7jgFeED52iADv3U5X-4mPioLSxpBLBAhFPTFJrAy95DGxehKP_MXTqhUhEnvKLg-4-4xRENF56LVe66f6T3eULRUMrZOdLg0SNXAbQZz_BemV3j50YWoVMscZVRLRNzw/w584-h640/chaptaliaalba1.jpg" width="584" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWkF9SXtmDUSKYaivaivIdEDFhgM9Yr4pyXkhWThV09yTB9ReC-7yrb8ms-XOfkd8-l9rmoNmmA-LCjcJ3Kutg8FPrniOrlHQunIZ6Yi7bm_JJJsoO_84jOx_7d5H-QvIlzElMreKBAWxV7nze8m9gYaQHef4qTM1esSfNbNcA1GCv2cnUHuvqguECmw/s1080/chaptaliaalba2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWkF9SXtmDUSKYaivaivIdEDFhgM9Yr4pyXkhWThV09yTB9ReC-7yrb8ms-XOfkd8-l9rmoNmmA-LCjcJ3Kutg8FPrniOrlHQunIZ6Yi7bm_JJJsoO_84jOx_7d5H-QvIlzElMreKBAWxV7nze8m9gYaQHef4qTM1esSfNbNcA1GCv2cnUHuvqguECmw/w360-h640/chaptaliaalba2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">White sunbonnets (<i>Chaptalia albicans</i>) is a state-threatened perennial wildflower native to the pine rockland habitats of Miami-Dade County. It is not an endemic species, however, as it also is found in the West Indies and parts of Central America. Throughout this range, it occurs in sunny, but moist, shallow alkaline soils. As such, it is quite drought tolerant once established. It is not tolerant of salts, however.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like its only other Florida relative, wooly sunbonnets (<i>C</i>. <i>tomentosa</i>), it spends much of the year as a rosette of basal leaves. It differs as these leaves are not tomentose and have noticeable teeth along the leaf margins. They are elliptical and 6-8 inches long. Flowering can occur at any time of the year. The 8-12 inch flower stalks emerge from the center of the basal leaves and each produces a single bloom at the tip. The white-petaled flowers are similar to those of wooly sunbonnets, but much smaller in size. They often are less than 1 inch across. the buds also are more elongated. Like all members of the <i>Asteraceae</i>, they attract the attention of pollinators.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">White sunbonnets is occasionally offered for sale by native plant nuseries in South Florida. I purchased these 3 specimens recently and have yet to add them to the native wildflower planting I'm developing at the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens. I hope that they are adaptable to my conditions and that I can propagate them, as I am doing with wooly sunbonnets, for sale in the future. </span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-44091410731056273822024-02-04T04:03:00.000-08:002024-02-04T04:03:24.400-08:00White Screwstem - Bartonia verna<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZyNgUTJkwtJCIdabyrBMPcFx21aihopctBBCiSmHO5XDyJWsOzpE9Hm0PUSk26cOiHEdpvjqaUfVYhJ4B9BJUsa9E0hjxAoWXw3ccRvLeEqOdfMloVPKGjUhO04VAV9se4Ky-eHCZsXjvaaV25Oa6lBkK3Rx6siK7WjtJ5BPmTayggdYc5VJphg4NK4/s1143/bartonoaverna_Coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZyNgUTJkwtJCIdabyrBMPcFx21aihopctBBCiSmHO5XDyJWsOzpE9Hm0PUSk26cOiHEdpvjqaUfVYhJ4B9BJUsa9E0hjxAoWXw3ccRvLeEqOdfMloVPKGjUhO04VAV9se4Ky-eHCZsXjvaaV25Oa6lBkK3Rx6siK7WjtJ5BPmTayggdYc5VJphg4NK4/w448-h640/bartonoaverna_Coleman.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">White screwstem (<i>Bartonia verna</i>) is an annual member of the Genian family found nearly statewide in Florida in the edges of open shallow sunny wetlands. It has not been reported in Miami-Dade or Monroe Counties. It is a plant of coastal counties throughout the Southeast Coastal Plain as well - from eastern Louisiana to North Carolina with one report from eastern Texas. It is considered an obligate wetland species throughout this range. It is one of many plants first described by French naturalist Andre Michaux.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One must look closely to find this species and you are likely only to see it when it is in bloom. The frail stem stands only 4-8 inches in height and is nearly leafless. These stems are smooth and reddish in color. They are topped by delicate white flowers - often branching near the top, each with a single bloom at the end of the stem as can be seen in the photo above. Each flower typically has four bright white petals surrounding a noticeable bright green ovary and four stamens. As the Latin name suggests, the flowers are most commonly produced in spring, but can occur from November through May in Florida. It flowers are reported to attract bees and butterflies.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because of its overall nature, white screwstem is not a good candidate for home landscapes and has not been propagated by any of the nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. It is simply a beautiful wildflower to be looked for if exploring wet flatwoods or the edges of marshes and bogs from winter to spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The above photo was taken by Steve Coleman and used by permission.</span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-91063270040157047102024-02-01T03:50:00.000-08:002024-02-01T03:50:48.775-08:00Fourleaf Vetch - Vicia acutifolia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPEWVnlbx4gvBU901AAJsyfEXNuPcJzTt4755FiCOo2gj7x5jNM7bfKela7BOdZMRgnHx2U-Rfh7JjNatcLrXU2cLKZRgaHx1_Me2Vrg9rCakHrFKXaDdvLBvuNBktg0IAxkBF5PnkFDHTqcjkqhOy7TSJ3evS0wq1Hvo3jxHwnB5n7jqyncU0kG-fyw/s1759/viciaacut3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPEWVnlbx4gvBU901AAJsyfEXNuPcJzTt4755FiCOo2gj7x5jNM7bfKela7BOdZMRgnHx2U-Rfh7JjNatcLrXU2cLKZRgaHx1_Me2Vrg9rCakHrFKXaDdvLBvuNBktg0IAxkBF5PnkFDHTqcjkqhOy7TSJ3evS0wq1Hvo3jxHwnB5n7jqyncU0kG-fyw/w392-h640/viciaacut3.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtOXZZixyu42p499riJGiy49wADiVKkz219BxEJGL13TqFZr65SKY0S0WBpa8azCEoCeQcUgX8H9EgA7T-KPU_JCNYN8OS_hZlT926oqE_KqPbcCC3F0QydSvHKqJhg_4h3EAItSHBG9loX8nV3dTGxApKgnPBcDhwWG18cvmlaNHfUYAgtKylCoc_sk/s1080/viciaacut2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtOXZZixyu42p499riJGiy49wADiVKkz219BxEJGL13TqFZr65SKY0S0WBpa8azCEoCeQcUgX8H9EgA7T-KPU_JCNYN8OS_hZlT926oqE_KqPbcCC3F0QydSvHKqJhg_4h3EAItSHBG9loX8nV3dTGxApKgnPBcDhwWG18cvmlaNHfUYAgtKylCoc_sk/w360-h640/viciaacut2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-iLGi_THYqO6rSO83iQpMbCYjcbfXS6ORIDfVDt4rI43-ZoicDeymSPI840whVD7qMNtYf1jjfPQAe-Rc1o5VeNx65fpsqM3pbvAbaWlQaVXvyBKaCIq_4GyjuXrhAehouNlRKuXEWpy1aMDpNXclNMeymU_fDWAjgFqGaBtVhGCf7bzxsUsHaxqSfw/s1080/viciaacut1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-iLGi_THYqO6rSO83iQpMbCYjcbfXS6ORIDfVDt4rI43-ZoicDeymSPI840whVD7qMNtYf1jjfPQAe-Rc1o5VeNx65fpsqM3pbvAbaWlQaVXvyBKaCIq_4GyjuXrhAehouNlRKuXEWpy1aMDpNXclNMeymU_fDWAjgFqGaBtVhGCf7bzxsUsHaxqSfw/w360-h640/viciaacut1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Fourleaf vetch (<i>Vicia acutifolia</i>) is a member of the bean family (Fabaceae) that occurs widely throughout peninsular Florida and much of the Panhandle in a wide variety of wet to moist open habitats such as pond and depressional wetland edges. It's overall range is mostly confined to Florida, though it extends along the coastal counties of Georgia and South Carolina. It is a perennial that dies back in the late fall and reemerges again in winter. Here in central Florida it is present yearround. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As a whole, vetches are sprawling herbaceous plants and fourleaf vetch is no exception. Its thin stems can extend up to 3 feet from the main stem. The narrow leaves that come to a point at the end are bipinnate and alternate along the stem. They are deciduous for a brief time from late fall to early winter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering mostly occurs from early January through May though some flowers can occur in other months - especially in South Florida. The blooms are white to light lavender with a decided deep lavender spot in the throat. The shape is typical for members of the bean family and they are arranged as a raceme along the axils of the stems. Each flower is about 1/4 inch long. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Legumes in general are widely used host plants for a variety of the smaller sulfur butterflies and some of the skippers. Fourleaf vetch might serve as a host for several of these, but it is reported to be used by the barred yellow. The flowers are likely pollinated by small bees; as are many members of the legume family. This sprawling perennial can cover over diminutive plants in the habitats it occurs in, but for the most part it does no real harm to the grasses such as maindencane and sawgrass that it often uses for support. It can be easily grown from the ripe seed that is produced in the 1-inch narrow pods that it produces from late winter to early summer.</span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-23124556417315177942023-11-23T05:57:00.000-08:002023-11-23T05:57:49.207-08:00Wiregrass Gentian - Gentiana pennelliana<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6RMtNEzK8oJBEvXvKZkvQhyFcrHiBSbWQeIsYZVrpf4gOY_lhfPs9_-y9VCRymbp2SXMEq4KO_B6o1Ewh1EUts3kZRYCf1k57j1T7ksq63dduoofDzFkshNLGuoRlmikujCfiRz-gYs50ChZNpw5eeKi4DbL3e2OCVuAVJ5wSJ3-mM96-Fh7fVg0cJ0/s1350/wiregrassgentian2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6RMtNEzK8oJBEvXvKZkvQhyFcrHiBSbWQeIsYZVrpf4gOY_lhfPs9_-y9VCRymbp2SXMEq4KO_B6o1Ewh1EUts3kZRYCf1k57j1T7ksq63dduoofDzFkshNLGuoRlmikujCfiRz-gYs50ChZNpw5eeKi4DbL3e2OCVuAVJ5wSJ3-mM96-Fh7fVg0cJ0/w512-h640/wiregrassgentian2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDUjyIP7E9oc03fPM1NDC9qxFPovWKkVS2fNan3emHxzjLXoWZw7VGidRC-2yBc8UPenVN6_pKcT5kxlXIkwegqC2n4O0K1hgJI8IIXE-BBCvqa33jNjiqNNg7mDmIVrqy2FiBjJDzMuWOl-8RqbNxSm7HoWWCWZIXKvHGfYN4eoxpe8BtvQJ4SmXXqQ/s1350/wiregrassgentian3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDUjyIP7E9oc03fPM1NDC9qxFPovWKkVS2fNan3emHxzjLXoWZw7VGidRC-2yBc8UPenVN6_pKcT5kxlXIkwegqC2n4O0K1hgJI8IIXE-BBCvqa33jNjiqNNg7mDmIVrqy2FiBjJDzMuWOl-8RqbNxSm7HoWWCWZIXKvHGfYN4eoxpe8BtvQJ4SmXXqQ/w512-h640/wiregrassgentian3.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNwCKsNPdapcPE-T4prmVjExAgJQWiHD8eQN0ot1rXSrXkhNIA7YfrRAk2rpXeHot6FAWyZNTC8xbDEiJ6fwk4g2Y7dQs6XIR_DJ7sCDAWoRcRoxnTenrh2sG39TqJ7zncQeACrJgrnWGe5XGGs5XkhKXdPft3JKzCYnxGiPsr9Bbi4y7umJHHukzSH8/s1080/wiregrassgentian1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1080" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNwCKsNPdapcPE-T4prmVjExAgJQWiHD8eQN0ot1rXSrXkhNIA7YfrRAk2rpXeHot6FAWyZNTC8xbDEiJ6fwk4g2Y7dQs6XIR_DJ7sCDAWoRcRoxnTenrh2sG39TqJ7zncQeACrJgrnWGe5XGGs5XkhKXdPft3JKzCYnxGiPsr9Bbi4y7umJHHukzSH8/w640-h512/wiregrassgentian1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><p>Wiregrass gentian (<i>Gentiana pennelliana</i>) is a rare and endemic herbaceous perennial wildflower native to ten counties in the central Florida Panhandle. This state-listed endangered species is found in open moist habitats such as wet pine flatwoods, prairies, pitcher plant bogs, and seepage slopes. Like most wildflowers restricted to north Florida, it dies back to the ground in very late winter and reemerges shortly after. Its common name comes from its affinity to wet wiregrass prairies and not from its foliage.</p><p>Wiregrass gentian eventually reaches a mature height of about 1 inch with weak herbaceous
stems produced from a woody node at the ground. The leaves are opposite, widely
spaced along the stem, linear elliptic, and 1-1.5 inches long. They are difficult to find within the adjacent vegetation when the plant is not blooming.</p><p>The distinctive showy
white tubular flowers are produced in early winter - well after most wildflowers have bloomed. It is at this time of year that this wildflower makes its presence known. A single bloom is produced at the tip of the stem. Each is 2 to nearly 3 inches long, with 5 bright white petals that flare outward from a green center. Between each petal is a fringed membrane.</p><p>Wiregrass gentian responds to fire like many species native to open graminoid-dominated systems. It is most commonly observed in these systems during its blooming season in the year following a prescribed burn or natural fire. I could find no information on its value to pollinators and the lateness of its blooming season in north Florida likely restricts the number of pollinators present to visit it. Although this is a beautiful wildflower, its restricted habitat needs do not make it a good candidate for home landscapes and it is not propagated by any nursery affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. This is a plant to admire if encountered and left alone.</p><p>The above photos were taken by Steve Coleman and used with permission.</p></span><p></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-43340082453421788922023-11-19T03:49:00.000-08:002023-11-23T05:58:46.562-08:00Catesby's/Coastal Plain Gentian - Gentiana catesbyi <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9v3Pnfi29ugDQ8EJN1T8e__vBoFq7GUZRLWe7rIWorZxEK1XXILavqB0lzH3p_ukACKroxSx5NEyZodY6gBcc1wgnlyIr4Nk6wk7F0TUb5L8nNcQnQNwycbCNYwoP7fHnpl-mxw2X4aiEtXnY2yFmq1sih2UwqAU1t-mst9geF0N8Pv1sm82ad4Oqk/s1079/Gentiancatesbaei1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9v3Pnfi29ugDQ8EJN1T8e__vBoFq7GUZRLWe7rIWorZxEK1XXILavqB0lzH3p_ukACKroxSx5NEyZodY6gBcc1wgnlyIr4Nk6wk7F0TUb5L8nNcQnQNwycbCNYwoP7fHnpl-mxw2X4aiEtXnY2yFmq1sih2UwqAU1t-mst9geF0N8Pv1sm82ad4Oqk/w640-h428/Gentiancatesbaei1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHPCHj40HpeMfI4yUZn0gckEiYAscJw-RPAkoYQlGLkP7CdnEWW7CzeNB_bqkArSbCLE1C6fnPAERXalCAsIQmUUTIf7AqzWI80WkyCf8TAt9D2x1oID7yY4jGAXWarIbuRv5J01I8bcfldRx-z7GOLqmLpX5510dY5m27J3e3qVz2e2u0QI2weqbFBc/s1618/Gentiancatesbaei2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHPCHj40HpeMfI4yUZn0gckEiYAscJw-RPAkoYQlGLkP7CdnEWW7CzeNB_bqkArSbCLE1C6fnPAERXalCAsIQmUUTIf7AqzWI80WkyCf8TAt9D2x1oID7yY4jGAXWarIbuRv5J01I8bcfldRx-z7GOLqmLpX5510dY5m27J3e3qVz2e2u0QI2weqbFBc/w428-h640/Gentiancatesbaei2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTWYMvAhdkM-MpIg-U7Trqb1vipqJ2BBCcJ4xx4kIna-U-aJyyVEaOJrV-XugzQjkkiUPW1cUuVGtkBDlaMk17eChGvKfl-rYnS1C6nvcLlemcckZAYoG3F88LEE4jwlL3c4TY-U3fkONCS91-ACtn2nWdp3lioV8SQX2RhlkcKhn3avX1MS2lvooNsI/s1079/Gentiancatesbaei3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTWYMvAhdkM-MpIg-U7Trqb1vipqJ2BBCcJ4xx4kIna-U-aJyyVEaOJrV-XugzQjkkiUPW1cUuVGtkBDlaMk17eChGvKfl-rYnS1C6nvcLlemcckZAYoG3F88LEE4jwlL3c4TY-U3fkONCS91-ACtn2nWdp3lioV8SQX2RhlkcKhn3avX1MS2lvooNsI/w640-h428/Gentiancatesbaei3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Catesby's gentian (<i>Gentiana catesbyi</i>) is a perennial herbaceous wildflower found throughout most of the Florida Panhandle in organic-rich moist to wet soils from moist pine savannas, moist hardwood hammocks and seepage slopes. In these habitats it prefers partial shade. It also occurs throughout much of the Southeast Coastal Plain from Mississippi north to the edge of the Piedmont in New Jersey. </span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Like other members of this genus, Catesby's gentian dies back to the ground in late fall and reemerges again in spring. By early summer the stems are 6-18 inches tall, but often droop a bit. The stems are unbranched and pubescent while the leaves are dark green and shiny. They also are opposite each other on the stem, elliptical in shape and without teeth along the leaf margins. Most are without petioles as is evidenced in the above photos.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs from late September into early November; towards the latter end of this period in Florida. The deep blue flowers occur in terminal clusters of up to 6 blooms and the weight of these also causes them to droop a bit. Flowers are sessile. The calyx is green in color, glabrous, with lobes longer than the tube. The corolla is funnelform and is dark to light blue in color. Some flowers are almost white. The corolla lobes part only slightly at the apex. The fruit is a capsule. It is reported that hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers, but most have migrated south of the range of this plant by blooming time. This species is sometimes offered for sale by native nurseries north of Florida. I have not tried to grow it in any of my landscapes. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: UniversCondensed, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">These photos were taken by my friend Floyd Griffith and used by permission.</p></div>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-31446599297836971702023-11-01T12:10:00.001-07:002023-11-06T11:25:02.012-08:00Chapman's Sage - Savia chapmanii<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDNaGz4UjZooX1uvglDnHb5A38SkEnLXSxalR7bkZfKjUQNv7dVkSDLqcqYtMMfx4p5t_W5AILU7Owa-5UW-bbTMvIi2VOx-F0e-1BHcVr_uiULGZsc1p7uRiYeqhEMdKJpal1hENsDdWHag1b70QnWCf4YXJFVLu1V5-NHw40pLznn4pFjyS1X_6Om4/s1079/salviachapmanii1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDNaGz4UjZooX1uvglDnHb5A38SkEnLXSxalR7bkZfKjUQNv7dVkSDLqcqYtMMfx4p5t_W5AILU7Owa-5UW-bbTMvIi2VOx-F0e-1BHcVr_uiULGZsc1p7uRiYeqhEMdKJpal1hENsDdWHag1b70QnWCf4YXJFVLu1V5-NHw40pLznn4pFjyS1X_6Om4/w640-h428/salviachapmanii1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3BSVZT2Cbewws4-OCzqv5DBvtPNWb1aJTDI3M5fZ3bPAmDLqM74ottWzL01N850-sMAHnhXkQuM_ARh7t5cX1bVlGz4UYX-sLdGwo0pOSCECcnQKelrYK_2NgiKzDRG8APtHqaGibURFQNnNa4c4GS0bbFwQ-Qo-FbKgpHZB2DpAERbYGbJP_jB6Xa8/s1618/salviachapmanii2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3BSVZT2Cbewws4-OCzqv5DBvtPNWb1aJTDI3M5fZ3bPAmDLqM74ottWzL01N850-sMAHnhXkQuM_ARh7t5cX1bVlGz4UYX-sLdGwo0pOSCECcnQKelrYK_2NgiKzDRG8APtHqaGibURFQNnNa4c4GS0bbFwQ-Qo-FbKgpHZB2DpAERbYGbJP_jB6Xa8/w428-h640/salviachapmanii2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToR3TTqFYAkYgaxpFzflZPIb-Kbewd8NduhEkoARURMoLLUb2oCSshTCakcu9TKcGcnkwwhLR_wD5IoDDH3I9pL_sy16zZotIS06YUVUGwXZPlKahzXkkS7JwOpQSAp6OouTWx1AJ3QTXyby5x1Eu4WRbuTcDiSNwouBe5D0eXnlDsLs5ZEs45x_HQIY/s1080/salviachapmanii3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToR3TTqFYAkYgaxpFzflZPIb-Kbewd8NduhEkoARURMoLLUb2oCSshTCakcu9TKcGcnkwwhLR_wD5IoDDH3I9pL_sy16zZotIS06YUVUGwXZPlKahzXkkS7JwOpQSAp6OouTWx1AJ3QTXyby5x1Eu4WRbuTcDiSNwouBe5D0eXnlDsLs5ZEs45x_HQIY/w640-h640/salviachapmanii3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Chapman's sage (<i>Salvia chapmanii</i>) was formerly lumped with <i>S</i>. <i>urticifolia</i> but has since been determined to be separate. While <i>S</i>. <i>chapmanii</i> flowers in the fall, <i>S</i>. <i>urticifolia </i>blooms in the spring. It also tends to be noticeably taller. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a very rare species in Florida and classified as state endangered. It only has been vouchered from Jackson, Gadsden, and Alachua Counties in north Florida though it may have been missed in others. It also has been vouchered in Alabama (in three counties) and occurs in a variety of upland habitats - p</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">rairies, cedar glades, open hardwood forests, roadsides and rights-of-way. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This perennial member of the mint family and a widely occurring genus is easily distinguished from other native salvias in Florida by its wide arrow-shaped foliage. The leaves are opposite on the stem, pubescent, and slightly toothed along the leaf margins as can be seen in these photographs. Chapman's sage spreads by underground rhizomes. Though it tends to die back in winter, it reaches a mature height of 3-6 feet by fall. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As stated above, the flowers are produced in the fall. They occur in terminal and axillary clusters and also are dotted with noticeable glands and hairs. The shape of the blooms is typical for the genus and the color is most often a deep purple with a white spot on the lower lip. Flowers are reported to sometimes be whitish. Each flower is rather small - about 1/4-1/3 in length. I suspect that it is visited by much the same type of pollinators that are attracted by <i>S</i>. <i>coccinea </i>and <i>S</i>. <i>lyrata</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I have not personally seen this in its native range. These photos were taken by my friend, Floyd Griffith and used by permission. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-46306268450950278072023-10-08T03:23:00.000-07:002023-10-08T03:23:39.974-07:00Willowleaf aster - Sypmphyotrichum praealtum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14eMgLY1HA0n-FLfGPHMfZP30SeNRUwN1rjAEvxeivH2Rk5IFnVa_M3xnUlOPRSMkVytw4U1jgKlAdKJk4-J2izmdCqIH0ETJdEYVKKaGvfaMmGkNKO2zlf_8QeEnw09om_kre2yEUzXEEztC2NeWOOu5fi13xe2jjWKLIe0L0X8AL19bculabU9kXzw/s1080/willowleafaster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14eMgLY1HA0n-FLfGPHMfZP30SeNRUwN1rjAEvxeivH2Rk5IFnVa_M3xnUlOPRSMkVytw4U1jgKlAdKJk4-J2izmdCqIH0ETJdEYVKKaGvfaMmGkNKO2zlf_8QeEnw09om_kre2yEUzXEEztC2NeWOOu5fi13xe2jjWKLIe0L0X8AL19bculabU9kXzw/w360-h640/willowleafaster1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MDCAN9JlhjeMdUJoDjWwPWjBaXrdMxk0hk_kKX-iasjab7dmFElVLsMfQz-JHDxAzSerzaMVpGPFQO5bfMkEgSd1sQtxQRpVHlzNCB5IPMcGQtkT8PAE4cmWB6jlEaovgEd9gMN2jSiiO94ALLjda07xMi-TpId4lbpmu6NIKqdFJjw8wtu3Vs-ZdDs/s1080/willowleafaster3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MDCAN9JlhjeMdUJoDjWwPWjBaXrdMxk0hk_kKX-iasjab7dmFElVLsMfQz-JHDxAzSerzaMVpGPFQO5bfMkEgSd1sQtxQRpVHlzNCB5IPMcGQtkT8PAE4cmWB6jlEaovgEd9gMN2jSiiO94ALLjda07xMi-TpId4lbpmu6NIKqdFJjw8wtu3Vs-ZdDs/w360-h640/willowleafaster3.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Willowleaf aster (<i>Symphyotrichum praelatum</i>) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to only five counties in the Florida Panhandle, but common to nearly every state in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. Throughout this region, it is most common in open to partly shady savannas in moist soil, though it is adaptable to a variety of sites. Willowleaf aster dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges again in spring; eventually reaching a mature height of 4-6 feet on stout stems. This species can spread aggressively to form dense colonies over time. As its common name implies, it is characterized by its willow-like leaves that alternate along the stems. Each leaf is 3-5 inches long and no more than 3/4's inches wide.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The numerous flowers are produced in early fall. They are in various shades of lavender though white forms are sometimes produced. Numerous thin ray petals surround a yellow central disc. Like all asters, the blooms are especially attractive to pollinators and the plants serve as a host for the pearl crescent butterfly. I am currently experimenting with this species here in west-central Florida. As a landscape plant that suckers freely, it should form striking colonies that would create great interest in a large open pollinator garden. I'm hoping to see that by next (2024) fall. Willowleaf aster has never been propagated by native nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but it is sold by native nurseries north of Florida.</span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-44758421373303376802023-10-02T04:53:00.002-07:002023-10-02T04:53:45.346-07:00Camphor daisy - Rayjacksonia phyllocephala<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMoxTtZJHp7LjLnpjtQqgx8J2LN7IkH08_P6ZzMGSgNeqv_PdGH61_XbkW0F7sYkCBplqV-ULPm2EG0Wan76vkGNJokK4IfAJugKVD75-8lCMl0fuUrFJ7o9uBLsECJPBVgMYghQd_3zHr0UgMIl_LCmYBFnpk2B-kNHHVpiY9_3QXpo272_1raMQkFY/s3888/IMG_6006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMoxTtZJHp7LjLnpjtQqgx8J2LN7IkH08_P6ZzMGSgNeqv_PdGH61_XbkW0F7sYkCBplqV-ULPm2EG0Wan76vkGNJokK4IfAJugKVD75-8lCMl0fuUrFJ7o9uBLsECJPBVgMYghQd_3zHr0UgMIl_LCmYBFnpk2B-kNHHVpiY9_3QXpo272_1raMQkFY/w426-h640/IMG_6006.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWvL0i5Be3QX7x9Xgdueyn9zx7AGJ_iK_OR6cNxZ3fajZuqV6gG3zXhEV4yKct0zSZviDblWW_uGw_kGMxqQxg4MMKbMzO8cvlSspceMZUyNWL6faZVCYkuW5VP-5PQ7u2XxOTtzuteUqJL47rg56NsRIJUpQf_4ijIgSPKRI1Ocyct6oH69s8wsTOqo/s3888/IMG_6007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWvL0i5Be3QX7x9Xgdueyn9zx7AGJ_iK_OR6cNxZ3fajZuqV6gG3zXhEV4yKct0zSZviDblWW_uGw_kGMxqQxg4MMKbMzO8cvlSspceMZUyNWL6faZVCYkuW5VP-5PQ7u2XxOTtzuteUqJL47rg56NsRIJUpQf_4ijIgSPKRI1Ocyct6oH69s8wsTOqo/w426-h640/IMG_6007.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Camphor daisy (<i>Rayjacksonia phyllocephala</i>) occurs in coastal habitats in scattered locations along the west coast of Florida. There are vouchered specimens from Santa Rosa County in the extreme western Panhandle, a cluster of counties in west-central Florida, and records from the Florida Keys. In this range, it is most common on beach dunes, salt flats, and disturbed open uplands. Part of the anomaly in its seemingly disjunct range in Florida might be based on the fact that it shares many similarities to the ubiquitous camphorweed (<i>Heterotheca subaxillaris</i>). Camphor daisy also occurs along the western Gulfcoast from Mississippi to the tip of Texas and northern Mexico. In the more-tropical parts of its range it grows more like a perennial, but elsewhere it is considered to be an annual.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like camphorweed, this wildflower produces a large number of yellow daisy-like flowers and smells strongly of camphor when the foliage is crushed, The major distinguishing characters are the many bristly hairs along the stems and the toothed leaf margins. Camphor daisy reaches a mature height of 2-4 feet and has a bushy aspect. The 2-inch long leaves alternate along the stems and have very widely spaced shallow teeth along the margins. They are somewhat linear in shape.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs throughout the year in the warmer parts of its range and from summer to late fall elsewhere. The bright yellow daisy-like flowers are about 1-inch wide. Like most, if not all, asters they attract the attention of a great many pollinators.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Camphor daisy has never been offered for sale commercially by any nursery in Florida affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, nor by any nursery that I'm aware of outside of Florida. It is easy to propagate from ripe seed, however. Though a bit weedy in aspect, it would make a good addition to a coastal pollinator garden.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbjrJz2VVhCcc-Cwab-vZ4-qqdhoqwRKBqwhEyLqI4kn97LlyoxLk_GH6xlqum9uI8W_e6CnTqqZH_kb6L3hpTAt3W4FzbK1f8dnp3SWCERDBreY5YIWIJZ8DSwCsRrn4MJsgRjGuJmhpvKQMsPbELeHTB_MWiJwSL_CebnE0FfrcPpJt6WUgklYGiww/s1080/rayjacksonia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbjrJz2VVhCcc-Cwab-vZ4-qqdhoqwRKBqwhEyLqI4kn97LlyoxLk_GH6xlqum9uI8W_e6CnTqqZH_kb6L3hpTAt3W4FzbK1f8dnp3SWCERDBreY5YIWIJZ8DSwCsRrn4MJsgRjGuJmhpvKQMsPbELeHTB_MWiJwSL_CebnE0FfrcPpJt6WUgklYGiww/w360-h640/rayjacksonia1.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span><p></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-34750271755412301042023-10-02T04:07:00.000-07:002023-10-02T04:07:43.274-07:00Mossier's False Boneset - Brickellia mosieri<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qDZrAQ7rTjkae-lM6ZhUc8LOXst279p3HB5VLZ0vIe0yOUGKPHqQ03jRLX3a1T3HCSUORjqG9Ax0oKfZ8m4vNfPWkYX9niJRh_UZ_A5__jwJdTYrrvGEah72qDNQnHwfEQNpYrB0c_ZVdl3bVN6tbsrVbsu6ylheiPODeXU9nRVnrayBRFQAXbbBR24/s1080/Brickellia%20mosieri1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qDZrAQ7rTjkae-lM6ZhUc8LOXst279p3HB5VLZ0vIe0yOUGKPHqQ03jRLX3a1T3HCSUORjqG9Ax0oKfZ8m4vNfPWkYX9niJRh_UZ_A5__jwJdTYrrvGEah72qDNQnHwfEQNpYrB0c_ZVdl3bVN6tbsrVbsu6ylheiPODeXU9nRVnrayBRFQAXbbBR24/w360-h640/Brickellia%20mosieri1.jpg" width="360" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPS8UXJvoFNSvsPQ5_4M6uWd933Io8jqcVDVmyKJUumpSjdkJA0Xn6ckU9TNcX-AqGwB5PGfQWMHPbNj69evY5y9dpPCyTz1ZRlGoHR2HOikcD5DPqmPqy5YQwRvohI1vyUMuWPiVL4toOdgu2Gzr7YmP6sxElEspzEZlB9Ke5Cq5DmtQcvRXVSvr2As/s3888/IMG_6002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPS8UXJvoFNSvsPQ5_4M6uWd933Io8jqcVDVmyKJUumpSjdkJA0Xn6ckU9TNcX-AqGwB5PGfQWMHPbNj69evY5y9dpPCyTz1ZRlGoHR2HOikcD5DPqmPqy5YQwRvohI1vyUMuWPiVL4toOdgu2Gzr7YmP6sxElEspzEZlB9Ke5Cq5DmtQcvRXVSvr2As/w426-h640/IMG_6002.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-EqJPml3JOtIyQ9-WOLW0I23JGMAp5VpuShMhQyMWJ_ontgJCNr4_m2H_aVAUf_qpAl70__OUC2bY657TGWg2PPtog7ENBJk5u9JrXnrKiFp59ox0A0MSthyoDg761nzTuZUJQFt4Un2PELv2rpRZ5JNQe5HAdXgQb4y9xV9rlU9bniPvFr3ya5wGZ8/s3888/IMG_6000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-EqJPml3JOtIyQ9-WOLW0I23JGMAp5VpuShMhQyMWJ_ontgJCNr4_m2H_aVAUf_qpAl70__OUC2bY657TGWg2PPtog7ENBJk5u9JrXnrKiFp59ox0A0MSthyoDg761nzTuZUJQFt4Un2PELv2rpRZ5JNQe5HAdXgQb4y9xV9rlU9bniPvFr3ya5wGZ8/w426-h640/IMG_6000.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mosier's false boneset (<i>Brickellia mosieri</i>) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower endemic to a small area of pine rockland habitat in Miami-Dade County. It is listed as a state and federal endangered species. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A relative of the much showier Flyr's nemesis (<i>B</i>. <i>cordifolia</i>), Mosier's false boneset is a thin-stemmed evergreen plant that stands 1-3 feet tall. The stems are grooved and very finely pubescent. The thin linear leaves alternate along these stems and are up to 1 inch long. As the photo above shows, they typically droop downwards and have a distinctive twist. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs year-round. The small whitish petals are mostly hidden by the cream-colored anthers that extrude from each flower head. These are produced in succession along the stems as the plant grows upward. As they ripen, the seeds (achenes) occur in the axils and are dispersed via the fluffy white pappuses attached to each.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mosier's false boneset is a very rare plant and rare in cultivation as well. I was given a few seeds (legal) by a friend and it has proven to be quite easy to propagate. As such, I hope to be able to offer it to others in the future. This is a connoisseur plant that is interesting, but not especially valuable as an extra addition to a pollinator garden. I do not know its sensitivity to freezing temperatures. </span></p><p> </p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-57766481680400346412023-09-03T12:40:00.002-07:002023-09-03T12:40:23.485-07:00Pink Bogbutton - Sclerolepis uniflora<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDA3jEBorTpBocQpLxNsBiJyGzNevezLytIRYMhhgCKc-UwZSPJA7pLGPrmeYJwhndZHNyLtpSnaZmQ_hAeiOZa7WgQzkPGvO9tbRAmmEHJpJCrZgk1zHeQEF_3bdiACXBS33ekdEYVN8lr0BZl_aW6iRvwGewMR7FMbLw8p-7RcFA_Z1eVt2vnsMZd0/s1350/sclerolepis4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDA3jEBorTpBocQpLxNsBiJyGzNevezLytIRYMhhgCKc-UwZSPJA7pLGPrmeYJwhndZHNyLtpSnaZmQ_hAeiOZa7WgQzkPGvO9tbRAmmEHJpJCrZgk1zHeQEF_3bdiACXBS33ekdEYVN8lr0BZl_aW6iRvwGewMR7FMbLw8p-7RcFA_Z1eVt2vnsMZd0/w512-h640/sclerolepis4.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX2FFQlEleeKgv-7uXP9GCRVCY3cwAlMWrETCt6HbcXKQ1aef36BBuLTzAy0jGEcoSk0zE8H5KtofM7Har6Hro_gqrZaUdlwxhNxN1StIQ0_JCRpukiGWdCzw00ogJqVKu2er05pLI1EPTc68wkDsWNbHs4WEzcI4ycU-xFdzFQt11M9oX-_Pre8b-Wc/s1350/sclerolepis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX2FFQlEleeKgv-7uXP9GCRVCY3cwAlMWrETCt6HbcXKQ1aef36BBuLTzAy0jGEcoSk0zE8H5KtofM7Har6Hro_gqrZaUdlwxhNxN1StIQ0_JCRpukiGWdCzw00ogJqVKu2er05pLI1EPTc68wkDsWNbHs4WEzcI4ycU-xFdzFQt11M9oX-_Pre8b-Wc/w512-h640/sclerolepis3.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp3CTfmn0WE4veYRW793gfPlmlIB46Oa8Ob8X5BHL9glH1Cw1l-Aj2ZLB72lohT4gQYvZy446j8ort3hVxm-aSK4AdkBa2NNxPQC9kdwTeOB4REhJWiXVcnJSnRTUmuN5h8bDFnnO8PPG1nz9yElmFoACAP7n4YJvXfwhp8XXs1lCfyYpAsZB0D-YPNk/s1350/sclerolepis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp3CTfmn0WE4veYRW793gfPlmlIB46Oa8Ob8X5BHL9glH1Cw1l-Aj2ZLB72lohT4gQYvZy446j8ort3hVxm-aSK4AdkBa2NNxPQC9kdwTeOB4REhJWiXVcnJSnRTUmuN5h8bDFnnO8PPG1nz9yElmFoACAP7n4YJvXfwhp8XXs1lCfyYpAsZB0D-YPNk/w512-h640/sclerolepis2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTXmTnUdHVgfSJZolbVkRlJ9SqdgZF0UUVOIdFhq7IN37GSb_LwfLG1PwbrKez6G281eZcBe6XTkCpkZFUictj5APO2wcMcmiSag-mMlAnnQAKw6QeN8bTqrbMaUfhlL2WKtgMTZdEAeRx5Qetf4I3nJpY-1J8Tqfs4_-IMYSZRKEIAw2vlioQpfrO7o/s1350/sclerolepis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTXmTnUdHVgfSJZolbVkRlJ9SqdgZF0UUVOIdFhq7IN37GSb_LwfLG1PwbrKez6G281eZcBe6XTkCpkZFUictj5APO2wcMcmiSag-mMlAnnQAKw6QeN8bTqrbMaUfhlL2WKtgMTZdEAeRx5Qetf4I3nJpY-1J8Tqfs4_-IMYSZRKEIAw2vlioQpfrO7o/w512-h640/sclerolepis1.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pink bogbutton (<i>Sclerolepis</i> <i>uniflora</i>) is an aquatic plant native to most of the U.S Atlantic Seaboard. In Florida, its recorded distribution is mostly on the west coast south to Pasco County. It is the only member of its genus and can often go unnoticed because of its growth habits. It is most likely to occur in freshwater ponds and innundated wetlands where it lives underwater, producing long stems and flaccid elongated leaves. Under these conditions, it does not flower. The erect stems, needle-like leaves and bright pink blooms only occur in years/times when the water recedes and exposes the now-muddy soil to the sun. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pink bogbutton is a perennial and it forms extensive vegetative mats in the shallow-water habitats it frequents. There is little information on its habits as a submerged plant, but its striking aspect in its emergent form easily draws attention to it. The emergent stems may reach 2 feet tall at maturity in early summer. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The tiny, simple, linear leaves are arranged in whorls up the stems. </span><span style="font-size: large;">As its Latin name implies, a solitary flower bud is formed at the tip of each stem. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Flowering occurs in summer and fall, largely dependent on water conditions. The individual flower heads are comprised of a great many spidery pink rayless blooms. In many ways, they closely resemble those of Flyr's nemesis (<i>Brickellia cordifolia</i>). I suspect, that like Flyr's nemesis, it is eagerly sought out by a variety of invertebrate pollinators, but I've found no information on this in the literature.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This unique and interesting plant is sometimes available from native plant nurseries outside of Florida. It has never been offered, to the best of my knowledge, by members of FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The above photos were posted on the Facebook site of the Florida Native Plant Society without reference to the photographer and have been shared elsewhere without reference as well. I am using them here under the assumption that they are shareable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><br />Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-78923964009660256012023-08-30T08:38:00.000-07:002023-08-30T08:38:01.702-07:00Scareweed - Baptisia simplicifolia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacwjbk7DHceXgvRMd1QJkPkcDKtw0HzLl6q1-QQq_hzy8Qw8buEthctbXbBYEa6AFtIUw3ijeFCc6siP3LA7TKduEihbl-q4cbV-gXe7eHza9JnpfWpEPwOEKtsLSPJVoetHJhu6Tp_MATopS1awsj_XGnvrdXkbiIdnUhe14SWjy4nKyWqiFPeGDNqk/s1619/baptisiasimplicifolia4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacwjbk7DHceXgvRMd1QJkPkcDKtw0HzLl6q1-QQq_hzy8Qw8buEthctbXbBYEa6AFtIUw3ijeFCc6siP3LA7TKduEihbl-q4cbV-gXe7eHza9JnpfWpEPwOEKtsLSPJVoetHJhu6Tp_MATopS1awsj_XGnvrdXkbiIdnUhe14SWjy4nKyWqiFPeGDNqk/w426-h640/baptisiasimplicifolia4.jpg" width="426" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEjYXXVUU0wT4AJ-PF_9qfRsuanUn9329-STjXBRgoIZGN9qpWssWQgLoC7JEKY6A2-3Wlso9-jV032Ioh0jsip0oMD_W4WiOTOzmrIo1yqisRCjTqJ9noLHJQIAD9vx-aOoTz8_OE7qJmanWD6ezs3zIh6EnFpem3aopSX3JouUTZWGl4BW8Atl4010/s1619/baptisiasimplicifolia3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEjYXXVUU0wT4AJ-PF_9qfRsuanUn9329-STjXBRgoIZGN9qpWssWQgLoC7JEKY6A2-3Wlso9-jV032Ioh0jsip0oMD_W4WiOTOzmrIo1yqisRCjTqJ9noLHJQIAD9vx-aOoTz8_OE7qJmanWD6ezs3zIh6EnFpem3aopSX3JouUTZWGl4BW8Atl4010/w426-h640/baptisiasimplicifolia3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXpbauB-Vo2ubM-2yJqOI_SZGJi6YynNjRqBAfE--TLWHLcZRADWpbyQ3t0uHajUMm5zGltATSZersUZP4adqecS6VnG7jUVnZrH0M7d4JPrWBgUPlR1JcoouNorGHJldsoAP6FzwAx-aKhpoHLEAHce7fswo5tqatfYli8KGG67LNGj60X2eNP2wQYo/s1619/baptisiasimplicifolia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXpbauB-Vo2ubM-2yJqOI_SZGJi6YynNjRqBAfE--TLWHLcZRADWpbyQ3t0uHajUMm5zGltATSZersUZP4adqecS6VnG7jUVnZrH0M7d4JPrWBgUPlR1JcoouNorGHJldsoAP6FzwAx-aKhpoHLEAHce7fswo5tqatfYli8KGG67LNGj60X2eNP2wQYo/w426-h640/baptisiasimplicifolia2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOWZNwUJZ3OlpfJgGmP-G3ICAxlk7mzrpYnOt9g2XMvLRmx-rZiZuwlm-d_9HH5bD5v49Fk7iRfFf2qJXFkhNXx9FeSDnYCqgCK_K_i8bJlJ7r1_vM1tPP4NIUcSSeaZbI8uSkidzyzUv_x3LX3wwZrNfQlki9BHwqjAn_WucYcZw6QN66znmeBbu2Lc/s1619/baptisiasimplicifolia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOWZNwUJZ3OlpfJgGmP-G3ICAxlk7mzrpYnOt9g2XMvLRmx-rZiZuwlm-d_9HH5bD5v49Fk7iRfFf2qJXFkhNXx9FeSDnYCqgCK_K_i8bJlJ7r1_vM1tPP4NIUcSSeaZbI8uSkidzyzUv_x3LX3wwZrNfQlki9BHwqjAn_WucYcZw6QN66znmeBbu2Lc/w426-h640/baptisiasimplicifolia1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The truly awful common name, scareweed, does no justice to this wonderful endemic member of the wild indigo genus. <i>Baptisia lanceolata </i>has a very restricted range - vouchered only in a five-county area of the central Panhandle in open upland pinelands. It is listed as a state-threatened species, but is reported to be relatively common in the right habitats within Apalachicola National Forest and nearby Tate's Hell - two of Florida's true natural treasures.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like other <i>Baptisias</i>, scareweed is a perennial forb that dies back to the ground in winter. It reemerges much later in spring than most other wildflowers; often as late as May when other members of this genus are in full bloom. It quickly reaches its mature height of about three feet by early summer. Unlike most legumes, the leaves are compound but appear as a single leaflet and these alternate up the stems. This character distinguishes it from all other <i>Baptisias </i>in Florida which clearly have three leaflets per leaf.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in mid-summer and into September. The small (about 1/2 inch long) yellow flowers occur at the ends of the stems in distinctive racemes. These are of greatest interest to bees - their primary pollinator. Small, dark seed capsules ripen by fall. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The common name "scareweed" may result from the fact that the upper portions of this plant break off at the ground after it dies in late fall and act like "tumbleweeds" - blowing across the landscape in the wind. Although it is a narrow/restricted endemic species, it is sometimes offered as a landscape plant by native nurseries, though I am not aware of it being commercially propagated by those affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. While there might be other <i>Baptisias </i>that are showier and more commonly sold, this species is likely used as a host plant for various legume-feeding butterfly and moth caterpillars and would make a valuable addition to landscapes devoted to them if its growing requirements are met.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These photos were taken by my friend, Lily Byrd, and used by permission.</span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-62573588446425938942023-08-14T15:23:00.001-07:002023-08-14T15:23:12.016-07:00Whiteleaf Leather-flower - Clematis glaucophylla<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4po-HvCtgVFtT_fMtDmXJfW35mk84I-BB0PLihvcGM4MkBN9c4fJbvdQFrbmMndMAKeVglllJrcZwVE9OEaespSGNLvWrjvw1939BdBOHufkDR4mtmF1kmFdEhEbcX84oISA-zZcd6KSdYMXr8R1g5Vkny_kgX_vW8DnWAVKYpraGc6NI23eaNdw6GY/s1079/clematisglauco1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4po-HvCtgVFtT_fMtDmXJfW35mk84I-BB0PLihvcGM4MkBN9c4fJbvdQFrbmMndMAKeVglllJrcZwVE9OEaespSGNLvWrjvw1939BdBOHufkDR4mtmF1kmFdEhEbcX84oISA-zZcd6KSdYMXr8R1g5Vkny_kgX_vW8DnWAVKYpraGc6NI23eaNdw6GY/w428-h640/clematisglauco1.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjZbnH1IeX_fyInNTYpJAZxPO3G0zk7r3-oLmcCO5LBElTrIOQtyATt8JFrL5xyrpOJmspe7LJvpvPh2c8WeW77M42TaXvPZyFUVcj6h6F0rBonx0jm7fLHaNhMvp-pJ08hsP-jsVdxV41TRLGWBn-KNgNdyTOoTsOqLzZW5XUQ76gv53yc0rUD7B9iw/s1079/clematisglauco2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjZbnH1IeX_fyInNTYpJAZxPO3G0zk7r3-oLmcCO5LBElTrIOQtyATt8JFrL5xyrpOJmspe7LJvpvPh2c8WeW77M42TaXvPZyFUVcj6h6F0rBonx0jm7fLHaNhMvp-pJ08hsP-jsVdxV41TRLGWBn-KNgNdyTOoTsOqLzZW5XUQ76gv53yc0rUD7B9iw/w428-h640/clematisglauco2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The genus <i>Clematis </i>has given us a great many beautiful landscape plants from regions around the world. Many of the species and their cultivars that were used in my gardens of the Upper Midwest have large showy blooms. That's not really the case with Florida's six native species, but they have a charm of their own. I've written about most of these previously in this blog. Today, I'm writing about one I haven't yet featured - whiteleaf leather-flower - <i>C</i>. <i>glaucophylla</i>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Whiteleaf leather-flower is yet another vining herbaceous perennial that produces upside-down tulip-shaped blooms. My oldest granddaughter, Caroline, thinks that they look like fairy hats....... This species has a fairly restricted distribution in Florida; it is found in a 6-county region of the central Panhandle and has been reported also in Levy County. It also has a fairly restricted range outside of Florida, having been vouchered in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi - with a disjunct population in Oklahoma. Throughout this range, it seems to prefer the rich moist soils in the semi-shaded conditions found in habitats such as streambanks.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDIzRVwffkb_WKML-LgAmb_YsE9vM2iWMopv3E06LdDqbAWcrLQPe5ajx5VaxGFTQnT57Rw55XP8mpi4dlAqka39KPSAIdU-4ZXQRv5mprKC7uMcIjdlyLH5Qs66zcvHM0HcxNlkcXFnRhTCdpfKt05zpfs3yqfdvVlVx3eQt9dSnLAI7cJQgFlOE2fo/s1024/clematisglauco3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDIzRVwffkb_WKML-LgAmb_YsE9vM2iWMopv3E06LdDqbAWcrLQPe5ajx5VaxGFTQnT57Rw55XP8mpi4dlAqka39KPSAIdU-4ZXQRv5mprKC7uMcIjdlyLH5Qs66zcvHM0HcxNlkcXFnRhTCdpfKt05zpfs3yqfdvVlVx3eQt9dSnLAI7cJQgFlOE2fo/w640-h480/clematisglauco3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Like others in this genus, the herbaceous stems die back to the ground each winter and reemerge again in spring. Each of the many stems can reach a mature length of 15 feet and it sprawls up and over everything in its path. If it wasn't for its spectacular flowers, it could be considered a nuisance - and adding it to a landscape should be well considered beforehand. The leaves are wider than long and have 3 distinct lobes. As the common name suggests, the undersides of this foliage has a whitish blush, but the leaves are, in fact, glabrous. They are positioned opposite each other along the stems. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Flowering occurs in late spring to very early summer. Buds are produced in the leaf axils all along the stem. Each turns downward as it matures and begins to turn a rich lavender-pink in color. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The inner side of each flower is white - as shown in the above photos. </span><i style="font-size: large;">Clematis </i><span style="font-size: large;">flowers are favorites of bees (especially bumblebees) and butterflies. As such they are an excellent addition to a pollinator garden. They simply need a trellis to climb on and relatively moist soil. Although beautiful, native </span><i style="font-size: large;">Clematis</i><span style="font-size: large;"> are only rarely propagated by nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. I have not seen this species offered at any time. I have grown other species of vining <i>Clematis</i> successfully from cuttings and from seed - though ripe seed may take 3-4 months to germinate.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The lower photo was taken by Charlotte Glen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-25561674175855014162023-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:002023-08-14T10:13:32.091-07:00Missouri Ironweed - Vernonia missurica<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXXXo6GpWcVv8D52kTsD-Uv_0q8ga70-xKddegdF6JANwMEVdBoXSiVt-jS6UbQXWbq17WowA951QEFLw98txItyB98dqx16JvqB7FsXkleVahq0t2VP4a_6koNAoIzDUWxE-E1lWOrN2NJbe0kNPu10FHUvlgk-63YWUWLLQX4o7dtu8umPAA8TJZPQ/s1848/vernoniamissurica1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXXXo6GpWcVv8D52kTsD-Uv_0q8ga70-xKddegdF6JANwMEVdBoXSiVt-jS6UbQXWbq17WowA951QEFLw98txItyB98dqx16JvqB7FsXkleVahq0t2VP4a_6koNAoIzDUWxE-E1lWOrN2NJbe0kNPu10FHUvlgk-63YWUWLLQX4o7dtu8umPAA8TJZPQ/w374-h640/vernoniamissurica1.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUZ4JL9o0415y39oO2htLNlEHFBRrpWSx5SRZrvt2nn0rKiqFv7wYvFIu_uTaT0Vr4IWc5ofSHoDdqZibjEOfCrAjF-Cbhwmr-oC-z8XXjC5jbBpKaYeAJ9NElrZ4JoYaDboBLfh7hodnOLCTNgv13syuoZCbolglz4KkO-wYJkhkWMei-UaX21nbMYM/s1080/vernoniamissurica2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUZ4JL9o0415y39oO2htLNlEHFBRrpWSx5SRZrvt2nn0rKiqFv7wYvFIu_uTaT0Vr4IWc5ofSHoDdqZibjEOfCrAjF-Cbhwmr-oC-z8XXjC5jbBpKaYeAJ9NElrZ4JoYaDboBLfh7hodnOLCTNgv13syuoZCbolglz4KkO-wYJkhkWMei-UaX21nbMYM/w480-h640/vernoniamissurica2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Florida is home to six distinct species of ironweeds (<i>Vernonia </i>spp.) - all of them relatively robust with rich purple flowers. All of this makes distinguishing them from each other a bit problematic. What's most useful is a close look at the foliage, the overall growth form, and the habitat it occurs in. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Missouri ironweed (<i>V</i>. <i>missurica</i>), despite its common name, is a Florida native though restricted to five counties in the far western Panhandle and in two others in the central portion of that region. It also is reported in the central swath of states in the U.S. - from directly north of Florida (Georgia and Alabama), east to Texas and then north to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan. Throughout this region, it is most often found in sunny open habitats with extra moisture; though it is not considered to require wetland soils. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><em>Vernonia missurica</em> is best distinguished from other ironweeds by the usually greater number of disk florets per flower head and by the hairy stems and leaf undersides. This is an upright perennial that typically grows 3-5 feet tall on stiff, leafy stems which branch at the top. Narrow, lance-shaped to narrow-ovate leaves (to 7 inches long) have serrate margins.The leaves alternate along the stems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in summer to early fall. The individual blooms lack ray petals (which is true for all ironweeds) and occur near the tops of the main stem and in corymbose cymes arising from the upper leaf axils. Each "head" is composed of fluffy deep purple disc flowers. These are exceedingly attractive to butterflies and bees - a trait of all ironweeds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I've been growing this wonderful species here at Hawthorn Hill in south Pasco County for several years and find that it's an easy species to maintain. The seed germinates readily without cold stratification and it has adapted well to my created wetland conditions - growing in pretty much the same conditions as New York ironweed (<i>V</i>. <i>novaboracensis</i>). If you wish to add this species to your landscape, you likely will have to purchase it from sources outside of Florida. I do not know of anyone (other than myself) in Florida that has ever propagated it and my original seed source did not come from a Florida population.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-23865256982984814552023-08-09T15:00:00.002-07:002023-08-09T15:00:56.062-07:00Florida skullcap - Scutellaria floridana<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTFoPIpo2z5uvxj8ysM3kSH6cvn9uu_tcchxW2rCcvq0vYO7QCMYninmC-ns5tnEAtKuHBL7Ae_yGUNeE3sHhEN16fSjKrXNiApSvyXI46odYzUtEMW1svSw-nAaVuU-CkSUC1kLgd0M2GyuQ9lcV5qhMJFMHXvtcTuKLhTt49H6Mw5FHQvO0TAdzDPQ/s1079/Scutellariafloridana1_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTFoPIpo2z5uvxj8ysM3kSH6cvn9uu_tcchxW2rCcvq0vYO7QCMYninmC-ns5tnEAtKuHBL7Ae_yGUNeE3sHhEN16fSjKrXNiApSvyXI46odYzUtEMW1svSw-nAaVuU-CkSUC1kLgd0M2GyuQ9lcV5qhMJFMHXvtcTuKLhTt49H6Mw5FHQvO0TAdzDPQ/w640-h428/Scutellariafloridana1_Floyd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw6wOk4gIh4bMXhz880xyA6OR-Iv3BkI7VQmEF4944JluXv0he5xj16GbgqD5b0rdFclJh9ftKpMtSGjpPdYNEwLHbN8VsGNbwoWhJFq5IfYeXJOUwamyMsFwMrEverKEwX5OGYsVPPSfYHIXJUFHOTKC3vMo2YWGpr4MzbJEN6nkl-YjwQqrjtPuugQ/s1079/Scutellariafloridana2_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw6wOk4gIh4bMXhz880xyA6OR-Iv3BkI7VQmEF4944JluXv0he5xj16GbgqD5b0rdFclJh9ftKpMtSGjpPdYNEwLHbN8VsGNbwoWhJFq5IfYeXJOUwamyMsFwMrEverKEwX5OGYsVPPSfYHIXJUFHOTKC3vMo2YWGpr4MzbJEN6nkl-YjwQqrjtPuugQ/w640-h428/Scutellariafloridana2_Floyd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQcT3nZFctb-cU2kj-zeLucFHdfwBH-LKAiARSZjEwIh9rQCpFn-LEoZhKH5rl0_DJv7qOE5YiJtkaoCz6W5vExrN4LbKlz4AMV832AGUBc9OjgFko8O7KD8UWkW6tomcYdvZjLWsTfoUVT3xUE5y2N0AFd8wZNy-myWRGCm5JTKrkwlsP2PVxTHXRVk/s1618/Scutellariafloridana3_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQcT3nZFctb-cU2kj-zeLucFHdfwBH-LKAiARSZjEwIh9rQCpFn-LEoZhKH5rl0_DJv7qOE5YiJtkaoCz6W5vExrN4LbKlz4AMV832AGUBc9OjgFko8O7KD8UWkW6tomcYdvZjLWsTfoUVT3xUE5y2N0AFd8wZNy-myWRGCm5JTKrkwlsP2PVxTHXRVk/w428-h640/Scutellariafloridana3_Floyd.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxx1mtsXFaboPwQWL4XGqNzY7IyPnNi5cp7u9AVYUJkfn7hywrCkVvvvLIv8HjP-QF7wVk6kjheDVnz1tWxYFrBhZwoOcDrPmyUhwgSmC9zvSKAFOXxuR3qjD_nLK2LCpzllq0jiUPg5M921bZeL-30fjah6bXTPG76mVJfRdiza_0ylMdcCYFvyNn4w/s1618/Scutellariafloridana4_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxx1mtsXFaboPwQWL4XGqNzY7IyPnNi5cp7u9AVYUJkfn7hywrCkVvvvLIv8HjP-QF7wVk6kjheDVnz1tWxYFrBhZwoOcDrPmyUhwgSmC9zvSKAFOXxuR3qjD_nLK2LCpzllq0jiUPg5M921bZeL-30fjah6bXTPG76mVJfRdiza_0ylMdcCYFvyNn4w/w428-h640/Scutellariafloridana4_Floyd.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Florida skullcap (<i>Scutellaria</i> <i>floridana</i>) is an exceedingly rare plant, endemic to Florida and only vouchered from Bay, Franklin, Gulf, and Liberty Counties in the central Gulf Coast side of the Panhandle. It is listed as a federally threatened species.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There is limited information available for this species and I've had no personal experience myself. The above wonderful photos were taken by Floyd Griffith and used with permission. Florida skullcap is a perennial species that dies back to the ground in winter; reemerging again in early spring. It occurs in moist, fire-dependent plant communities that include moist flatwoods, wet prairies and savannas. It is reported that flowering does not occur in areas where fire is absent for more than 3 years. This fire dependency may account for some of its rarity.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plants reach a mature height of 12-15 inches by late spring to summer. As for most mints, the stems are square. The short linear leaves occur as whorls along the main stem(s). Each is often tipped in red. Flowers are typical in structure to the genus - the upper petals form a "helmet" above the broad lower lip. Flowers occur up the top of each stem and emege from the axils of the upper leaves. They are produced from May to June. Each is a rich purple in color with a white patch on the inside of the lower lip and covered by soft white "hairs". </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Limited research reports that they are primarily pollinated by megachilid bees. Although skullcaps in general are wonderful additions to a wildflower planting in a home landscape, this is not one of those species. It's restricted habitat requirements make it unsuitable for most locations. Therefore, it is one of those wonderful wildflowers, restricted solely to our state, that should simply be admired for what it is.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-50343093103510583902023-08-09T14:23:00.003-07:002023-08-09T14:23:39.260-07:00Gulf Coast Barbara's Buttons - Marshallia angustifolia<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxgCvLUF2icLMhLN1Rfc63jCvfTRlMPsAHSIdyMd8pUvePXemK1c3Aee-j2n2uEuwpHDS8PJdozC-Qj2buYYWwD2vRDh0PAxhYJgCOguGo-p7DVGtWad3IAuM0_7kpAVQPkbvde4OnF_8JiDJjEBUPvfdnab3jM5dwx4_vIUSmLPtbctfdAjzGJxNrcc/s1079/Marshalliaangustifolia3_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxgCvLUF2icLMhLN1Rfc63jCvfTRlMPsAHSIdyMd8pUvePXemK1c3Aee-j2n2uEuwpHDS8PJdozC-Qj2buYYWwD2vRDh0PAxhYJgCOguGo-p7DVGtWad3IAuM0_7kpAVQPkbvde4OnF_8JiDJjEBUPvfdnab3jM5dwx4_vIUSmLPtbctfdAjzGJxNrcc/w640-h428/Marshalliaangustifolia3_Floyd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNZMEcNCi69cE8u_n4P6JaO3CZTb8bFkGJoURWsswaKFvZiOOPmuTG7Qk_ou0V27_H6ehrLlHZBbSVAXnIQdSsH6h7ObSrhVBqDsubjGPMztgCnEfeiNozxyLs0aJNaGjiJAD_gbm8_vmm84im3eSChZFl2K2hz1wPIMV4Og21tn3MaajBVBGqMZX_Yo/s1618/Marshalliaangustifolia2_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNZMEcNCi69cE8u_n4P6JaO3CZTb8bFkGJoURWsswaKFvZiOOPmuTG7Qk_ou0V27_H6ehrLlHZBbSVAXnIQdSsH6h7ObSrhVBqDsubjGPMztgCnEfeiNozxyLs0aJNaGjiJAD_gbm8_vmm84im3eSChZFl2K2hz1wPIMV4Og21tn3MaajBVBGqMZX_Yo/w428-h640/Marshalliaangustifolia2_Floyd.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzJzkM6-zngaQbLL72FASZt64JXlaw9cDArf8G1I3EKjdaDy8_TWCgjrF_1wNzU46tzzaZSIhCCqvj0hBwE9OcjctoFgykWODyQ52GlU3s4jxFwZbCeNeKcLpY6-CTqAXhmYAaN73ip7LrEAQC7J2GdTYMPtZYAu9qWEl_z0wj8v3pEQo94Ke_TKa0No/s1618/Marshalliaangustifolia1_Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzJzkM6-zngaQbLL72FASZt64JXlaw9cDArf8G1I3EKjdaDy8_TWCgjrF_1wNzU46tzzaZSIhCCqvj0hBwE9OcjctoFgykWODyQ52GlU3s4jxFwZbCeNeKcLpY6-CTqAXhmYAaN73ip7LrEAQC7J2GdTYMPtZYAu9qWEl_z0wj8v3pEQo94Ke_TKa0No/w428-h640/Marshalliaangustifolia1_Floyd.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5E1rjEfT4xMacyAX2wvN5JMn5_5XMbPFonZjw1khhw3p1g164uEvxtWRbMcjVOPRPEzYbzc1yH5y3OIAUgH3Zxmx6BbJ6cVNK_MLwhQ9KC3xyvGYpNlCbEGP7YEfNltczlozGM700U31zHifMVbG9byLfPHM5PlHyYHqXeFeG2OHjcO33IdfU2lFmT4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5E1rjEfT4xMacyAX2wvN5JMn5_5XMbPFonZjw1khhw3p1g164uEvxtWRbMcjVOPRPEzYbzc1yH5y3OIAUgH3Zxmx6BbJ6cVNK_MLwhQ9KC3xyvGYpNlCbEGP7YEfNltczlozGM700U31zHifMVbG9byLfPHM5PlHyYHqXeFeG2OHjcO33IdfU2lFmT4=w400-h276" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">While some taxonomists include this species with <i>Marshallia graminifolia</i>, others separate <i>Marshallia angustifolia </i>from it as a distinct species. They are very similar, but there are distinct differences as described below per Weakley's Flora:</span><p></p><table class="pure-table-striped pure-table" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(203, 203, 203); color: black; empty-cells: show; font-family: sans-serif;"><tbody><tr class="fkl K40593L3" id="K40593L3a"><td colspan="2" style="border-left-color: rgb(203, 203, 203); border-left-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0.5em 1em;"><div class="keylinetext"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Lower stem leaves (and basal leaves) spreading, oblanceolate or spatulate, with rounded or obtuse apices, relatively thin in texture, the 2 lateral nerves (parallel to the midnerve) often obscure; caudex lacking fibrous remnants of the previous year's leaves; phyllaries thin, linear-subulate, abruptly narrowing to the next series; [e. GA southward and westward; disjunct in Eastern Highland Rim of TN]</span><div style="float: right;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> <a href="https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/show-taxon-detail.php?taxonid=6222">Marshallia angustifolia</a></span></div></div></td></tr><tr class="fkl K40593L3" id="K40593L3b"><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left: 1px solid rgb(203, 203, 203); border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0.5em 1em;"><div class="keylinetext"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lower stem leaves (and basal leaves) erect, narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, with attenuate or long-acuminate apices, relatively thick in texture, the 2-4 lateral nerves (parallel to the midnerve) prominent; caudex with fibrous remnants of the previous year's leaves (if not burned off); phyllaries thick, ovate-attenuate, gradually narrowing to the next series; [NC, SC, and extreme e. GA]</span><div style="float: right;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> <a href="https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/show-taxon-detail.php?taxonid=6215" style="background-color: transparent;">Marshallia graminifol</a>ia</span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These photos, taken by Floyd Griffith and used with permission show the lower stem leaves as spreading instead of erect.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">While grassleaf Barbara's buttons is vouchered from much of central peninsular Florida, Gulf Coast Barbara's buttons is confined to the northern third of the state. It also is reported from Georgia west to Louisiana along the southern Gulf Coast. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Like its close relative, it is a perennial species most commonly found in open moist habitats such as pine savannas and seepage bogs. It dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges in early spring. As the above photos show, the leaves are simple with entire margins (no teeth) and they alternate along the stem. A single stem arises from the basal leaves and reaches a mature height by summer of 1-2 feet. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A single flower head is produced at the tip of this main stem. Ray petals are absent and the disc flowers that form the head are pink and quite showy. Like other asters, the flowers open from the outer perimeter and proceed to the interior over several weeks. Most flowering in Florida occurs during the summer months. The flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Though all members of this genus share a great many qualities that would make them desirable in a moist setting in a home landscape, none are grown (to the best of my knowledge) by members of FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. Hopefully, that will be corrected someday in the future. I have never had ripe achenes to attempt it myself, but I suspect it would not be difficult from seed.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-82267659636366921372023-08-09T12:57:00.001-07:002023-08-09T12:57:20.947-07:00Swamp Milkwort - Polygala appendiculata<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kdtK0wVT11xnvtGEJdkQvNsFlL4gFa_Kx5ElKZjXMZKdPtWgJ58myY5sd6obSCv7zB4PTQEBEN91JK9jRR4raM-vcqQ-SYNv3kJCBPQxQyf3tJP9aXQxI9R-C3Z33-FZM9Urpy8qDKtKXGk2hWeMCSzB3K94zknQQkaLaYlG3DXz99RhVw_kAPB5Gpw/s1543/Polygala_appendiculata3_SteveColman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kdtK0wVT11xnvtGEJdkQvNsFlL4gFa_Kx5ElKZjXMZKdPtWgJ58myY5sd6obSCv7zB4PTQEBEN91JK9jRR4raM-vcqQ-SYNv3kJCBPQxQyf3tJP9aXQxI9R-C3Z33-FZM9Urpy8qDKtKXGk2hWeMCSzB3K94zknQQkaLaYlG3DXz99RhVw_kAPB5Gpw/w448-h640/Polygala_appendiculata3_SteveColman.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlDyEayKJMtSojXYJ64l6Ul72o6IjPQ_JF_-tYPP3O3Oo1_V0rNu_x_WGPsgOMXNpJriAvgx9oYxXcTVtnpK1po_QnPkKm-nisFQBqQ94rgN5DXqe24V9Djs-ZJ_2j88PEZmHICz1eAifhTnkNkXSdn2FJyeeilD6wDH0DluJel7Mt1rLJGXv1gM7DU8/s1542/Polygala_appendiculata2_SteveColman.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="1080" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlDyEayKJMtSojXYJ64l6Ul72o6IjPQ_JF_-tYPP3O3Oo1_V0rNu_x_WGPsgOMXNpJriAvgx9oYxXcTVtnpK1po_QnPkKm-nisFQBqQ94rgN5DXqe24V9Djs-ZJ_2j88PEZmHICz1eAifhTnkNkXSdn2FJyeeilD6wDH0DluJel7Mt1rLJGXv1gM7DU8/s600/Polygala_appendiculata2_SteveColman.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviTeVPRTFuY2rRauVhvBJQg1-sODozpE9A-KjtUkrLufMGjej-6CXMf4gvxQ7wtWmN0y89VfQCrw4scl50VMB7xSwV-19LVhninS79-1eKNM85ajNdG6F6N4A5BnfqyeGLXsJX4bXRhzM0J03MfCGSazlmDW6CtN-ST8KQxUqgGVGHFtb4KUeJ7G97RM/s1543/Polygala_appendiculata_SteveColman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviTeVPRTFuY2rRauVhvBJQg1-sODozpE9A-KjtUkrLufMGjej-6CXMf4gvxQ7wtWmN0y89VfQCrw4scl50VMB7xSwV-19LVhninS79-1eKNM85ajNdG6F6N4A5BnfqyeGLXsJX4bXRhzM0J03MfCGSazlmDW6CtN-ST8KQxUqgGVGHFtb4KUeJ7G97RM/w448-h640/Polygala_appendiculata_SteveColman.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As its name implies, swamp milkwort (<i>Polygala appendiculata</i>) is a wetland species, vouchered in Florida only in seven counties in the extreme northern part of the state. It also is reported in Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and Texas as well as Mexico, the West Indies, and portions of Central and South America. This is most definitely not a plant suited for below-freezing temperatures. Throughout its extensive range, it occurs in <span style="font-family: inherit;">s<span style="background-color: white;">avannas, pastures, bogs, open wet pine woods, and pond margins.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Like other members of this genus, it is considered to be an annual. Slender stems emerge in the early spring and reach a mature height of about 18 inches. The narrow linear leaves are appressed on the stems and alternate along it. Flowering occurs at the tips of these stems in late spring to early summer. The blooms are often a pinkish lavender (as they appear in these photos), but can be white or a deeper purple. Each of these flowers are tiny - no more then 1/4-inch long, but they atttract the attention of small bees and other pollinators. Small brownish seed capsules result from pollination.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Swamp milkwort is one of 22 species of milkworts native to Florida. Because they are annuals and habitat specific, even the showier members are not often offered for sale by native plant nurseries. That is especially true for this species. Despite that, it is an interesting species and should be looked for in various wetland habitats during its blooming season.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">These photos were taken by Steve Coleman and used by permission.<br /></span><br /></div>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-88808358395819951472023-07-01T05:45:00.000-07:002023-07-01T05:45:37.049-07:00Georgia Milkwort - Polygala leptostachys<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTcNpoAYmTmbW2t6oT8m4Ijn36EBGNlFhJo3GBVUQLbIjvc1KGBQY_DzoSzBoOzSQBzSblx_1WM1D0mfQyF1TX2QnNJj6WpelWjdPB-zsNz97e1pxGZsbShzjGDhYtvEeTKfZEjsl5XLFdBW6lXgXEbpJ2e7t3RI-iWTptqLAsueJOtMfvk3oSbKGSRM/s1619/polygalaleptostachys1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTcNpoAYmTmbW2t6oT8m4Ijn36EBGNlFhJo3GBVUQLbIjvc1KGBQY_DzoSzBoOzSQBzSblx_1WM1D0mfQyF1TX2QnNJj6WpelWjdPB-zsNz97e1pxGZsbShzjGDhYtvEeTKfZEjsl5XLFdBW6lXgXEbpJ2e7t3RI-iWTptqLAsueJOtMfvk3oSbKGSRM/w426-h640/polygalaleptostachys1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nWBrVj58BIi7Ha-aS_8TiFazeuyvVT9Bm8DeXgxkDVPLylCzxzunDAR_unkVlBKS3A9milgbAnqfcRSNj_h16M9YibRxua3hHWo-M8IblCcY59sTNyrwp_GkSKQyx-V5W8QC30Va-Cvqv7nWVcuVkabzjL0xAJKjP8CnRIoY5h46tJzRZ9Au9na9qpQ/s960/polygalaleptostachys2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="960" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nWBrVj58BIi7Ha-aS_8TiFazeuyvVT9Bm8DeXgxkDVPLylCzxzunDAR_unkVlBKS3A9milgbAnqfcRSNj_h16M9YibRxua3hHWo-M8IblCcY59sTNyrwp_GkSKQyx-V5W8QC30Va-Cvqv7nWVcuVkabzjL0xAJKjP8CnRIoY5h46tJzRZ9Au9na9qpQ/w640-h428/polygalaleptostachys2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Georgia milkwort (<i>Polygala leptostachys</i>) is an annual member of a large genus of wildflowers native to Florida. Despite its common name, it is far more widespread in Florida than it is in Georgia - or the rest of the Southeast for that matter. It has been vouchered in many of the counties in north Florida and its range extends down the west coast to Pasco County. It is sporadically reported from the extreme southern counties of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Throughout its range, it occurs in well-drained soils and open habitats such as sandhills and disturbed roadsides.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Georgia milkwort is easily overlooked due to its small stature and tiny flowers. The thin stem can reach a maximum height of about 12 inches at maturity. It is unbranched along most of that height until near the top where it forms 2-3 flowering stems. The leaves are 1/2-1 inch long and linear; arranged in whorls along the stem.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in early to mid-summer. Clusters of greenish white flowers are produced at the tips of the stems. Each inflorescence is only about 1 inch long and composed of more than a dozen blooms that are less than 0.1 inch long. As in other members of the milkwort genus, they are composed of 2 winged sepals and 3 smaller side ones as well 3 petals of which one is "keeled" and bearing a fringed crest. All of this is difficult to distinguish without a good hand or macro lens due to their small size. The flowers bloom from the bottom of the inflorescence up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Milkworts are primarily pollinated by bees, but I have no reports of this wildflower's significance to pollinators. Its small size and its status as an annual make it very unlikely to be propagated by native plant nurseries. It is an interesting species, however, and should be looked for in the right habitat conditions during its summer blooming period. It may be more widespread than it has been reported.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The photos above were taken by my friend and wonderful nature photographer, Floyd Griffith, and used by permission.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-40840152832151974262023-06-30T03:48:00.000-07:002023-06-30T03:48:53.689-07:00Halberd-leaved Hibiscus - Hibiscus laevis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uXuKRqDVWZ9_xfu-M3wY8aQBAirwdGH9sno5aqUVHwO_af8GOb4sYycb3zWuqNM3hEWrXIpQU2sO90obW3zCRaoXN5FZTvQVyYgClgyVf09cGpGL1SHJYuUOkndzSWAZevMr0T-yM4j_QiqB6Jxpq2kT6Kxi6fN3nnIXiHmYnHgMAyiYvvXeVgds68c/s1440/hibiscuslaevis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uXuKRqDVWZ9_xfu-M3wY8aQBAirwdGH9sno5aqUVHwO_af8GOb4sYycb3zWuqNM3hEWrXIpQU2sO90obW3zCRaoXN5FZTvQVyYgClgyVf09cGpGL1SHJYuUOkndzSWAZevMr0T-yM4j_QiqB6Jxpq2kT6Kxi6fN3nnIXiHmYnHgMAyiYvvXeVgds68c/w480-h640/hibiscuslaevis1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_6TjhwGEaBIQUYmMvsGO4NbC-Atee3QAzSIzVrD0Q4BDSqM6Q5n0oRacuaghTkZqc_roMy3ec303A3bcKNS9OC0auMXMT9VT5HuhuoOi2BNZ_8kPP0KYBYp4j3d4Wg3OO5KMTkH2qxMxb0leBl6UPwfg7O2Rf80cvYMHJWDOym8Be83rKj5qQBv1Ryk/s1080/hibiscuslaevis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_6TjhwGEaBIQUYmMvsGO4NbC-Atee3QAzSIzVrD0Q4BDSqM6Q5n0oRacuaghTkZqc_roMy3ec303A3bcKNS9OC0auMXMT9VT5HuhuoOi2BNZ_8kPP0KYBYp4j3d4Wg3OO5KMTkH2qxMxb0leBl6UPwfg7O2Rf80cvYMHJWDOym8Be83rKj5qQBv1Ryk/w480-h640/hibiscuslaevis2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu01_0p8bGPf5jwFyfDmHbX-pmStzy2NatH-Z-o6SQ3GQVhPld1yS9pDn2O0hsOZFDQ-C5yDZvDHL-PoUUVDL53zzrUDCVQWLaZDv7aaQjBMwZA_iYHsL7sN2OAoY3XjuL5iGmul28OWBJjQ1GiURPwMjVswTIsoShvZQS_ACIysg_ZcCIbX4q_1HRpw/s1080/hibiscuslaevis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu01_0p8bGPf5jwFyfDmHbX-pmStzy2NatH-Z-o6SQ3GQVhPld1yS9pDn2O0hsOZFDQ-C5yDZvDHL-PoUUVDL53zzrUDCVQWLaZDv7aaQjBMwZA_iYHsL7sN2OAoY3XjuL5iGmul28OWBJjQ1GiURPwMjVswTIsoShvZQS_ACIysg_ZcCIbX4q_1HRpw/w480-h640/hibiscuslaevis3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhqxrX4AERWRnEa3fCzor35fgsT39xL2FM8jJ-YywXWpS5TFh4c5cj0z_ZlJACjkNEsUyrC8055rVnvhiCRDdZoaw-bZ4uc85VU9mPvphDyO9GsMNks_W2BI4QPgKDnGGMFvzlacXPnM2jf48QjsfolI0O-d7zSfodYFYMNxhrltJ_5GRB6J1itm9U4s/s1080/hibiscuslaevis4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhqxrX4AERWRnEa3fCzor35fgsT39xL2FM8jJ-YywXWpS5TFh4c5cj0z_ZlJACjkNEsUyrC8055rVnvhiCRDdZoaw-bZ4uc85VU9mPvphDyO9GsMNks_W2BI4QPgKDnGGMFvzlacXPnM2jf48QjsfolI0O-d7zSfodYFYMNxhrltJ_5GRB6J1itm9U4s/w480-h640/hibiscuslaevis4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Halberd-leaved hibiscus (<i>Hibiscus laevis</i>) is yet another perennial native Florida hisbicus species common to wet soils. This one is rather uncommon here; native to only 10 counties in the Florida Panhandle. It is extremely widespread elsewhere, however, and occurs throughout the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and in Ontario as well. As would be expected, it dies back to the ground each winter and reemerges in spring. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like most of our native hibiscus, halberd-leaved hibiscus eventually attains a mature height of about 6 feet in early summer. It has a straight stout main stem and numerous small side branches. The leaves alternate on the stem and are distinctive in shape - as evidenced by the last photo above. As the common name signifies, they are halberd-shaped - a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 13th-16th centuries. The </span><span style="background-color: white;">halberd</span><span style="background-color: white;"> consists of a specially shaped axe blade not too different than the blade of these leaves.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">The flowers are produced at the axils of the leaves beginning near the top of the stem. Multiple blooms are produced singly or a few at a time during the early to late summer as the plant reaches its final height. They remain open only for a day. Flower color can be quite variable; from white (very similar to <i>H</i>. <i>moscheutos</i>) to a deep rosy pink (not unlike <i>H</i>. <i>grandiflorus</i>) but always with a bright crimson-colored center. The flowers above are between those two extremes. Each flower is about 3 inches across.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Halberd-leaved hibiscus, like other members of this genus, attract the attention of a wide variety of pollinators. Hibiscus as a genus are hosts for several moths, including the Io. Although many of our native hibiscus are widely propagated and sold by native plant nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, this species has been ignored to date. Hopefully, this will change and this beautiful species will become more available to native plant gardeners. I have been growing this now for 2 years at Hawthorn Hill and hope to continue its propagation through the years to come.</span></span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615802895251532423.post-24973522076637063622023-06-25T05:24:00.002-07:002023-06-25T05:24:53.606-07:00Fringed loosestrife - Lysimachia ciliata<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zp2DYNa-dMkiZ1Nw1pgiAytGDQMVof4nCBZn2P0OZ4TDn7EHVYcj4P_j-tSXy2inD8OwOy1rKq_nnbrAJBC7vbdYuqt2dw5zXeLOcrc9iWxXOjHBybdswHOShpg72cZ2zBiyAL5pUBxV0ZXCxGW6yPypRzIwNg--aV61vIc6wddZPIih4i0UddL2nEM/s1079/lysimachia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zp2DYNa-dMkiZ1Nw1pgiAytGDQMVof4nCBZn2P0OZ4TDn7EHVYcj4P_j-tSXy2inD8OwOy1rKq_nnbrAJBC7vbdYuqt2dw5zXeLOcrc9iWxXOjHBybdswHOShpg72cZ2zBiyAL5pUBxV0ZXCxGW6yPypRzIwNg--aV61vIc6wddZPIih4i0UddL2nEM/w640-h428/lysimachia1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP6ZRn5QIzqzwcOsdEOvFr7hIy1FywjbLQqJeWKSgSWXK09TnJqrDivjKccoeGzDTpw26Diu4guS2n3XE_31pb6-ys6MPFlhBa2iI2DRj1TQy8j3wnPmAIsMY48syO1B_5SxlixBHn8fQhoJ0xljN1ZcfqYJ_yWSu1qrThZcsQ8kugXGZJEFJ7IF0VTQ/s1079/lysimachia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1079" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP6ZRn5QIzqzwcOsdEOvFr7hIy1FywjbLQqJeWKSgSWXK09TnJqrDivjKccoeGzDTpw26Diu4guS2n3XE_31pb6-ys6MPFlhBa2iI2DRj1TQy8j3wnPmAIsMY48syO1B_5SxlixBHn8fQhoJ0xljN1ZcfqYJ_yWSu1qrThZcsQ8kugXGZJEFJ7IF0VTQ/w640-h428/lysimachia2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjShAM7b_OlOSB019S5dhQ9fZh-cmkjYX4Rbmbpa7VGW-lNql2sMWvBkrMfO3QXo6kuvsBc1utnUDaIAT3cG2mg8eAAcTydtjSEBNaeYyWVVh_CwmUwXeNIyHQaWNUj4X8SqldB43M9tQKMpEKh_vwFn8mh7Z9tqvpvap2LmBQ4ZVgSJjZUj68KytWQM/s1697/lysimachia3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjShAM7b_OlOSB019S5dhQ9fZh-cmkjYX4Rbmbpa7VGW-lNql2sMWvBkrMfO3QXo6kuvsBc1utnUDaIAT3cG2mg8eAAcTydtjSEBNaeYyWVVh_CwmUwXeNIyHQaWNUj4X8SqldB43M9tQKMpEKh_vwFn8mh7Z9tqvpvap2LmBQ4ZVgSJjZUj68KytWQM/w408-h640/lysimachia3.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwBiAKZZDFdn42GhkEiOyBullKcXtpPQcTMGmpCaSi5eeq5wxN3cNuJgV5MqSQHzqtRRtalbW8eALMyQUtdXhGMAZ7oRC_j3RAKXO75gGBY0RxuqjDpw5z_BOXeC0CW2IksDg6UyFn2VK0u6eM1O9BXIJ1B9UpM4qGjtvbhCY1eQnrvc3EgjEexdaUDE/s1080/lysimachia4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1080" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwBiAKZZDFdn42GhkEiOyBullKcXtpPQcTMGmpCaSi5eeq5wxN3cNuJgV5MqSQHzqtRRtalbW8eALMyQUtdXhGMAZ7oRC_j3RAKXO75gGBY0RxuqjDpw5z_BOXeC0CW2IksDg6UyFn2VK0u6eM1O9BXIJ1B9UpM4qGjtvbhCY1eQnrvc3EgjEexdaUDE/w640-h428/lysimachia4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Fringed loosestrife (<i>Lysimachia ciliata</i>) is a perennial wildflower native to only Jackson, Gadsden, and Liberty Counties in the central Panhandle region of Florida, but it is common throughout much of the U.S. except California and Nevada in the far Southwest. Throughout its vast range in our nation, it occurs in seasonally wet soils along stream banks and similar habitats with rich organic soils and in shady to partially sunny areas.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This species dies back to the ground in early winter and reemerges in early spring. Eventually, it reaches a mature height of nearly 3 feet. It produces an upright thin stalk that is unbranched or slightly branched. The leaves are simple and lanceolate, and they occur opposite each other. As its name implies, the leaf stems are covered with simple hairs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flowering occurs in early summer (May, June). The bright yellow blooms are about 1 inch across and are produced in open clusters atop the main stem. They are especially attractive to bees. Pollinated flowers form rounded seed capsules</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This showy wildflower would make a nice addition to a moist area in the understory of a deciduous woodland or partly sunny wetland edge. It has never, to my knowledge, been sold commercially by members of FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but it is available by many native nurseries north of us. How these seeds/plants would fare in Florida is unknown.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These photos were taken by my friend, Floyd Griffith and used by permission.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Hawthorn Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879920186201900051noreply@blogger.com0