White Sunnybell - Schoenolirion albiflorum

White sunnybell (Schoenolirion albiflorum) is a perennial member of the agave family. It occurs throughout peninsular Florida in the eastern half of the state with additional occurrences on the west coast in the Big Bend region.  There are additional populations in southeastern Georgia as well.  Throughout its range, it is found in open, sunny wetland depressions and is considered an obligate wetland species.

The narrow linear leaves arise from the tops of an upright base in spring and eventually wither as the stalk matures.  The single unbranched stalk reaches a mature height of 3-5 feet by late spring. The flower buds are clustered near the top of this stalk and each occurs singly on a long reddish pedicel.  Each flower is composed of 3 white petals and 3 idendical white sepals (6 tepals).  The flowers open from the bottom of the stalk and proceed upwards over several weeks. Pollinated flowers produce a dry capsule that eventually splits to release a great many tiny seeds.

Although quite showy, white sunnybell is not propagated by any of the native plant nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries nor by any nurseries in Georgia to the best of my knowledge.  It would require seasonally wet conditions and good sunlight to prosper and this would limit its landscape use to lake and marsh edges that might have several inches of standing water during the summer rainy season.

These photos were taken by my friend Steve Coleman and used by permission.

Small's Skullcap - Scutellaria multiglandulosa

 

Small's skullcap (Scutellaria multiglandulosa) is one of 11 native species in this genus in Florida and distributed from the central Panhandle south to the central peninsula.  It also occurs sporadically in Georgia and in a few counties of western South Carolina.  It is sometimes considered to be a variety of the more widespread and common S. integrifolia, but  several distinctive traits give it full species status by most taxonomists.  This is a perennial deciduous forb native to well-drained sandy habitats such as sandhills and xeric oak forest clearings in full sun to partial shade.

It makes its appearance in early spring and reaches a mature height of about 2 feet tall by early summer.  The narrow elliptical leaves occur opposite along the stem and, as the Latin name suggests, they are covered by glands. The stems and leaves also are covered by noticeable hairs.

Like others in this genus, the flowers are produced in pairs in the leaf axils near the tops of each stem.  They are typical of the genus, light lavender to almost white with a broad lower lip and a "helmeted" petal above.  The blooms have a very narrow open throat and are pollinated mostly by large-bodied bees.  Flowering can occur from late spring through summer.  

Skullcaps in general are popular wildflowers and propagated by a great many nurseries associated with native plants. Small's skullcap, however, has only very rarely been offered in the past and seemingly not at present.  Like other members of this genus, it would make an attractive addition to a mixed wildflower meadow, given good sun and well-drained soils.

The photos above were taken by my friend, Steve Coleman, and used by permission.

Physalis walteri - Walter's groundcherry

Walter's groundcherry (Physalis walteri) is a perennial herbaceous species known more for its edible fruit than for its flowers.  It is common statewide in Florida in a variety of upland habitats and also occurs in coastal counties within the Southeast Coastal Plain from Mississippi to Virginia.  

Walter's groundcherry reaches a mature height of 12-18 inches and a width equal to that.  Its leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 2-4 inches long and without teeth along the margins.  They occur opposite each other on the stems and both the stems and leaves are covered in gray hairs.

Flowering can occur yearround in areas that don't freeze.  The bell-shaped yellow blooms are distinctive and often have reddish lines/markings on both the outside and inside of the petals - unlike the photo above.  Pollinated flowers produce a yellow "tomato" inside a dry papery husk - hence another common name of "husk tomato".  The widely grown tomatillo (P. philadelphica) is a close relative and a better choice for the table, though Walter's groundcherry has been a staple food plant of native peoples for centuries.

This species is very infrequently offered for sale by nurseries associated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries.  It is easy to grow, but will spread over time if not kept controlled a bit.  Although it cannot be considered "showy", it has value as a food source for wildlife and human consumption and it is a host for the Carolina sphinx moth. 

These photos were taken in the propagation area at the USF Botanical Gardens, Tampa, where we have it under cultivation.  

Sabatia campanulata - Slender Rosegentian

 

Slender rosegentian (Sabatia campanulata) is one of 12 rosegentians native to Florida and found throughout much of the Panhandle counties in moist soil and sunny habitats. It also occurs throughout much of the Southeast and a few Midwestern and eastern states in similar conditions.  This is a perennial herbaceous wildflower that dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges again in spring when it eventually reaches a mature height of about 2 feet.  

The basal leaves are lost very early and the stems appear leafless for the first inches.  The stem leaves are simple, opposite on the stem, and with no teeth along the margins.  The flowers are produced at the top of each stem in summer.  They are a deep rose in color (rarely white) and composed of five petals, fused at the base.  Other characteristics of the blooms are shown in the second photo above - all taken by my friend Floyd Griffin and used by permission.

Members of this genus are mostly pollinated by bees and the resulting fruit is a dry capsule. Slender rosegentian is not offered commercially by any of the native nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries nor by any out-of-state nurseries that I am aware of.  Given its restricted habitat needs, this is not too suprising, though it would make an attractive addition to a wetland (lake or marsh edge) planting.  This is one species to be admired when encountered, but not to be sought for for a home landscape.  

Rhynchosia minima - Least snoutbean

 Least snoutbean (Rhynchosia minima) is one of nine native snoutbeans that occur in Florida and one of the most widely distributed.  It is vouchered from nearly every county and its range also includes the southern tier of counties from southern Georgia west to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.  Throughout its range, it occurs in a wide variety of habitats and is exceptionally adaptable to growing conditions. Snoutbeans are legumes so they can play a major role in improving soil fertility.  Least snoutbean is no exception.

As its common name suggests, this is a diminutive member of the genus.  It is a perennial that dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges again in spring.  Like other members of the genus, it produces multiple stems that extend many feet in all directions.  The compound leaves are composed of three leaflets, each broadly ovate ending in a distinct tip.  They are arranged alternate along the stem.

Flowering occurs throughout much of the late spring into fall.  Each inflorescence is a raceme that may consist of up to 15 small yellow flowers.  Each bloom is only about 1/4-inch in length and typical in shape for most legumes - a noticeable upper keel and a fused lower lip. The flowers are pollinated mostly by small bees and the pollinated flowers produce small beans.  The seeds inside are eaten mostly by ground-nesting birds.  Snoutbeans are used as hosts by several skipper butterflies.

Like all members of this genus, least snoutbean improves soil fertility, provides leafy food for herbivores, and seeds for various birds.  Its small flowers and sprawling nature, however, do not make it a good candidate for a typical mixed wildflower garden.  It would be a great addition, however, to a pasture or expansive meadow planting.  Least snoutbean is not offered commercially in Florida by any of the native plant nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but seed is available from out-of-state sources.  The plants photographed above were grown from such and have been added to the wildflower meadow I've been planting at the USF Botanical Gardens in Tampa.  

Lespedeza virginica - Slender bush clover

Slender bush clover (Lespedeza virginica) is one of 10 native bush clovers that occur in Florida.  Its range is restricted to the western half of the Panhandle, but it ranges across much of the eastern half of the U.S. where it is common in the open to shady well-drained soils of a variety of habitats. This perennial herbaceous species, as its common name suggests, is distinguished by its very slender aspect.  It dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges again in spring,  The slender stem reaches a mature height of 2-3 feet. The compound leaves alternate up the stem and consist of 3 slender leaflets.

Flowering occurs in late spring to summer.  The pink flowers occur in small clusters near the top of the stems within the leaf axils.  They are shaped typical to other legumes with a distinct upper keel and a fused lower lip.  The flowers of all bush clovers attract the attention of a wide variety of pollinators while the plants themselves serve as hosts for several cloudywing skippers, the eastern tailed blue, and several moths.  The seeds are an important food source for bobwhite quail and various songbirds and the leaves are a nutritious food source for deer, rabbits and other herbivores.

Though not exceptionally showy, slender bush clover is an attractive and useful addition to a landscape designed for wildlife.  It has not been propagated, to the best of my knowledge, by any of the nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but seed is available from several out-of-state sources.  The plants pictured (rather poorly) above were grown from such seed and I will add them to the wildflower landscape I'm developing at the USF Botanical Gardens in Tampa.  At this time, I do not know how adaptable it is to conditions south of its natural range.  I'll keep you posted.