Tag Archives: Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink)

Hot And Dry Wildflower Walk, 6-4-23

Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy) on 6-4-23, #943-60.

Hello, everyone! I hope this post finds you well. I decided to go for a wildflower walk on Sunday afternoon even though it was bright and sunny and the temperature was already almost 90° F. There was a nice breeze, so it wasn’t so bad. We haven’t had much rain and it seems many of the wildflowers I usually see are non-existent. Only the toughest can survive in the heat with no moisture.

Species highlighted in green have their own pages. Just click on the name to visit their page.

Sisymbrium officinale (Hedge Mustard) on 6-4-23, #943-78.

The first stop was the Sisymbrium officinale (Hedge Mustard) colony that decided to come up by one of the old Chinese Elms in the chicken yard. Well, it used to be the chicken yard, but the chickens are normally confined to the chicken house these days. The fence is long gone and you never know when a fox or a wandering dog will stop by. I let the chickens out when I am close by… Hedge Mustard is an interesting plant, in my opinion, because it produces a small cluster of very small yellow flowers at the tips of racemes that get longer as the season progresses.

Sisymbrium officinale (Hedge Mustard) on 6-4-23, #943-79.

Long, slender fruit, called siliques, replace the flowers that seem to hug the stems… Ummm… I am still working on the page.

From the Hedge Mustard, I walk to the wooded area north of the chicken house.

Ribes missouriense (Missouri Gooseberry) on 6-4-23, #943-73.

There are quite a few Ribes missouriense (Missouri Gooseberry) bushes on the farm growing in wooded areas. I prefer to snack on them once the berries ripen although the green berries are used in pies and jams. As a kid, I could never understand why grandma always used green berries for pies instead of the sweeter, ripe fruit… I was never a fan of gooseberry pie.

As I was walking through the jungle, I stumbled upon…

Florinda coccinea (Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver) on 6-4-23, #943-55.

This very small Florinda coccinea (Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver) was hanging around in its web waiting for a smaller visitor. What it got was a much larger human visitor with a camera. Being such a small spider with a tiny thread of string trailing from its, umm, butt, it has to weave a “sheet” to catch its victims.

Smilax tamnoides (Bristly Greenbriar) on 6-4-23, #943-80.

While I was in the area, I thought I would check on the Smilax tamnoides (Bristly Greenbriar). It may sound a little weird, but I like this species. I have tried to find its flowers for several years, but they are normally high in the trees. They produce flowers at the end of the vines…

Smilax tamnoides (Bristly Greenbriar) on 5-10-23, #938-36.

I was working on this species page on May 10 and decided to check the vines to see if I could find flowers. Fortunately, a few of the long vines were hanging low and I found flowers… Smilax tamnoides produce male and female flowers on separate vines. I checked on June 4 to see if there were fruit but apparently, the two vines I took flower photos of were male… No fruit.

I was going to proceed with my walk from there, but when I came to the new electric fence I put up, I didn’t remember if it was on or off… The guy who leases the farm (Kevin) was going to put cows here but hasn’t yet… Since I wasn’t sure if I left the fence on, I decided to take an alternate route.

Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) on 6-4-23, #943-33.

So, I went around the barn and took a photo of the majestic Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock). They may be neat-looking plants, but this is what possibly killed Socrates. You can see them growing along highways and back roads, overgrown yards, fields, etc. Such a deadly plant growing right out in the open. Well, you know as well as I do there are A LOT of deadly plants we just ignore as common weeds. Last year was the first time it was growing here and I intended to get rid of them when I took photos of its flowers. But, the hay was baled along with it. I took the above photo on June 4, and on June 5 I mowed them off…

As I headed back to where I left off before, I had to walk through…

Galium aparine (Cleavers/Catchweed Bedstraw) on 6-4-23.

There was a big pile of dead Galium aparine (Cleavers/Catchweed Bedstraw) that I tried to avoid. One of those plants I love to hate. 🙂 Most of these plants are dried up already, in piles just waiting to hitch a ride. Right off the bat, I get them on my pants. 🙂

Elymus virginicus (Virginia Wildrye) on 6-4-23, #943-46.

There is a small area that is open in the middle and surrounded by trees. Over the years, I have found several wildflowers that have come and gone. It is always strange to me how large colonies can appear and disappear within one season. Sunday, I noticed two good-sized colonies of what I think is Elmus virginicus (Virginia Wildrye). It grows here and there on the farm in the borders of shady areas. Birds like the seeds…

Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow) on 6-4-23, #943-1.

It appears the Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow) is beginning to flower. They are a common site on the farm and throughout the countryside. They seem to take hot weather and dry conditions with no problem, although a little moisture would make them put on a better show. I have an old cultivar growing in the north bed, in front of the chicken house, and by the barn that was given to me by a friend in Mississippi (when I lived there) that I brought with me when I moved back here in 2013. I can’t forget the plant with pink flowers I found on a friend’s farm in 2019. I think his cows ate the flowers since I couldn’t find it the day after I took its photo…

Allium vineale (Field or Wild Garlic) on 6-4-23, #943-6.

In another small area in the same location, there is always a nice patch of an Allium species I was never able to identify until now. With the help of iNaturalist and the Missouri Plants website, I found out they are Allium vineale known as Wild or Field Garlic.

Allium vineale (Wild or Field Garlic) on 6-4-23, #943-5.

The Missouri Plants website lists seven species of Allium and says this species is easily recognized as the flowers are replaced by bulblets… There are a number of Allium that grow in the yard that I have let mature that don’t do this. I took several photos so now I can write a page for Allium vineale (at some point)…

Sanicula canadensis (Black Snakeroot) on 6-4-23, #943-74.

In the mix of species in this shady area were a few Sanicula canadensis (Black Snakeroot). The flowers were pretty much shot already…

Phytolacca americana (American Pokeweed) on 6-4-23, #943-66.

I walked out of the shady area and had to get a photo of the Phytolacca americana (American Pokeweed). Not that anyone doesn’t know what it is… Over the years, the bank of the pond has been the subject of many territorial disputes and this year it appears to be the Pokeweed’s turn… I would say it is much better than Ragweed! Oddly, I find American Pokeweed an interesting plant and have let it grow along the garden fence, in front of the house, along the fence around the yard… I think the HUGE plant in front of the house has become annoying and perhaps three years is enough. The one along the garden fence didn’t come up this year and the ones that came up in the garden had to go… There is a limit…

I walked around a row of trees in front of the main hayfield to see what I could find…

Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) on 6-4-23, #943-39.

There were quite a few Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) growing in this area. This species can be easily overlooked, and if it weren’t for the small pink flowers you wouldn’t even notice them at all. Walking around the farm on Sunday, I noticed they were scattered around in many areas from front to back. I think with it being so dry and the grass being so thin, it has allowed many species to flourish that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Erigeron annuus (Annual or Daisy Fleabane) on 6-4-23, #943-50.

Well, what can I say? Typically in an average year, this wouldn’t have happened until after the hay is cut but I have seen it before. Overgrazed pastures and hayfields without good grass become COVERED with Erigeron annuus (Annual or Daisy Fleabane). With the lack of grass, this species will eagerly take over…

Erigeron annuus (Annual or Daisy Fleabane) on 6-4-23, #943-62.

The flowers are kind of interesting and unmistakable as Erigeron annuus with as many as 120 (or so) white ray florets (petals). Both male and female flowers can be self-fertile. Flowers are produced until a good ZAP in October so you can see how this species can get an upper hand. Many species of insects love these plants including MANY butterflies.

Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) on 6-4-23, #943-14.

Among the butterflies flying around the wildflowers was this Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary). Most of the butterflies flying around the Erigeron annuus are smaller (short-tongued) while this Great Spangled Fritillary, being larger (long-tongued) was more interested in the Red Clower. I took a few good shots then this one flew off into the brush… I suppose enough was enough. Later on, I took photos of one that wasn’t so shy… I hadn’t photographed a Great Spangled Fritillary until Sunday’s walk. 🙂

Apocynum cannabinum (Hemp Dogbane) on 6-4-23, #943-12.

Farther up into the field, maybe halfway, there is quite a scattered colony of Apocynum cannabinum (Hemp Dogbane) beginning to flower. This species is quite similar to milkweed in appearance, especially from photos. I first identified this species on the farm in 2020 from a single plant, and since then it has made itself quite at home… All parts of this plant are poisonous, the genus name meaning “poisonous to dogs.” Despite its poisonous properties, Wikipedia has a long list of medicinal uses.

It has been used as a fiber plant and also as a psychoactive drug. Native Americans used to grind the seeds down into a powder and they used the plant to make bows, nets, tie-down straps, fishing lines, and clothing.

Pontia protodice (Checkered White) on 6-4-23, #943-71.

Wandering south from the Apocynum, I found this Pontia protodice (Checkered White) fluttering about that had no time for a human visitor. I took two shots and thankfully one was good enough for a proper ID. Butterflies can be tricky and sometimes you have to chase them around. Well, I wasn’t in the mood to chase butterflies but I am glad we met briefly. I am sure there are MANY species of butterflies I haven’t identified here…

Cornus drummondii (Roughleaf Dogwood) on 6-4-23, #943-37.

Walking along the row of blackberries growing where an electric fence used to be, I ran across a few Cornus drummondii (Roughleaf Dogwood). They grow here and there along fence rows and are a favorite of the strange but true Chauliognathus marginatus (Margined Leatherwing Beetle). Hmmm… I think I spelled it right. Those critters like milkweed flowers, too.

Hmmm…

The blackberries have almost all dried up from lack of moisture…

Back pond #2.

I have never seen this pond this low. I am sure the pond behind it is already dry… I may have to fence this pond off before Kevin brings cattle here. The edge is like quicksand and I would have to have a cow get stuck. Kevin says he has had to pull cows out of the mud in the past and it wasn’t any fun.

I didn’t walk in the trees behind the pond because this time of the year it is a real jungle. I walked toward the Persimmon tree south of the pond to check on a friend…

Elephantopus carolinianus (Leafy Elephant’s Foot) on 6-4-23, #943-45.

I checked to see if the Elephantopus carolinianus (Leafy Elephant’s Foot) a while back to make sure they returned in 2023. This is one of my favorite species on the farm, although I haven’t mentioned that to them… There is a story behind my first observation on a friend’s mother’s farm in 2019, and again here in 2021 but I don’t want to repeat it or this post would be much longer. You can read about it by clicking on the name above. 🙂

Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy) on 6-4-23, #943-60.

I first identified Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy) on Kevin’s farm in 2019, and then I found several in the north end of the south hayfield in 2021. Last year I had to cross the fence to get photos so I am glad a colony has made its way to the north pasture.

Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy) on 6-4-23, #943-62.

I like these because the flowers are much larger than the other white members of the family Asteraceae on the farm. I hadn’t been a big fan of daisy-type flowers until I read about how complex they are. Now, I have learned to respect them…

On farther down in the same area…

Helenium flexuosum (Southern Sneezeweed) on 6-4-23, #943-57.

Hmmm… I was walking fairly close to the fence where I had driven the tractor several days before (you can see where the tractor tires have been) and ran across a plant I couldn’t identify. Although it looked kind of familiar in some ways, I just wasn’t sure…

Helenium flexuosum (Southern Sneezeweed) on 6-4-23, #943-58.

Hmmm… When I uploaded photos on iNaturalist, its top suggestion was Helenium flexuosum (Southern Sneezeweed)… Could it really be true? I haven’t seen this species here, or anywhere else, since 2013!!! I guess it is true since another member of iNaturalist agreed and the observation became Research Grade.

Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue) on 6-4-23, #943-64.

I walked down to the lower end of the south pasture to check on the Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue). They have only been coming up here on the farm since 2020 in the lower section of the back pasture. They probably came up here before that but the cows ate them off since the colony was quite large.

Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue) on 6-4-23, #943-65.

The flowers are neat, but I really like their leaves…

There were several of these growing more out in the open, but their flowers had already started turning brown. I took the above two photos in the shade among the…

Dichanthelium clandestinum (Deertongue) on 6-4-23, #943-42.

Dichanthelium clandestinum (Deertongue)… I may be somewhat strange to some, but I kind of like this grass. We have a little history because it took several years to properly identify it. In fact, it wasn’t until I started using iNaturalist in 2019… Even then, I wasn’t sure and thought it was possibly Dichanthelium latifolium (Broad-Leaved Panic Grass). Another member asked if I was sure it wasn’t D. clandestinum?

Dichanthelium clandestinum (Deertongue) on 6-4-23, #943-43.

The latter species produces normal flowers this time of the year and “exerted” flowers later on while D. latifolium only produces exerted flowers at the end of the summer. I made it a goal to keep an eye on the colony in 2021 and positively identified it as D. clandestinum… There is a lot of green in the above photos, but I am holding a stem of flowers. 🙂 Very difficult to get good photos of such thin stems and tiny flowers. I seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, so I didn’t really notice if these were flowers or if they were already in the fruiting stage. Hmmm… There was no need to be in a hurry…

Potentilla simplex (Common Cinquefoil) on 6-4-23, #943-73.

Potentilla simplex (Common Cinquefoil) grows around the same area and seems to have spread out somewhat since it was first identified here in 2021. This species seems to do best in the shade, while the Potentilla recta (Sulfur Cinquefoil) prefers a sunnier location on the rest of the farm…

The back pasture/hayfield on 6-4-23…

Looking toward the north at the back hayfield looks pretty normal at this view…

Hmmm…

Looking down into the grass shows a different story. The blades of grass are very thin and dry. Once the seed dries, we are just going to top it instead of baling it. I stopped grazing this area a couple of years before dad died because it made great hay…

I circled around to go back to the main hayfield and didn’t notice anything special. I walked along the “other” blackberries on the south side to see if they were doing better…

Blackberries…

There were a few that were fair, but still many were dried up. These are a different species from those on the rest of the farm. They are earlier, much bigger, and only produce if there isn’t a frost in early April… The last time they produced a good crop I put 10 gallons in the freezer and gave a lot away… Just along 40′ or so. They are GREAT!

Walking a little further, I looked over into the hayfield and saw purple flowers with a bird on top. I zoomed in with my camera and realized it appeared to be a new species of milkweed, and it wasn’t a bird… I had to get a closer look. 🙂

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) and Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) on 6-4-23, #943-25.

Shhhhh……. What the heck?!?!?! I can’t sneak up on anything with this crunchy grass! Strangely, the butterfly didn’t fly off. This is a new milkweed to photograph and more photos of the Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) would be great. Which one do I choose first? Well, I already have photos of the butterfly and none of the milkweed. But, the butterfly could fly off while the milkweed will still be here. How about both at once?

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) and Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) on 6-4-23, #943-17.

This milkweed species, Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) hasn’t been here before. There are two other plants 40′ or so away and not together. I feel like I am whispering in my mind even when I am writing this. Like the butterfly will fly out of the photo… GEEZ!

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) and Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) on 6-4-23, #943-18.

It’s like the butterfly is so busy it didn’t even notice me…

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) and Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) on 6-4-23, #943-22.

Woooo… I think it said, “Don’t push it.”

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) and Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary) on 6-4-23, #943-24.

You have to admit the Great Spangled Fritillary is one magnificent creature. Just look at the size and color!

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) on 6-4-23, #943-27.

The Purple Milkweed is nice, too. Much brighter and darker than the other milkweeds here. Strangely, I didn’t notice any Green Milkweed when I saw them in flower along the highway. Maybe I just haven’t located them yet. I just found the Green Milkweed on the farm in 2021 and there were only a couple of plants last year. Hmmm…

I walked on down to the front pasture and in front of the walnut trees…

Verbesina virginica (White Crownbeard/Frostweed) on 6-4-23, #943-81.

“What are you doing here?” The Verbesina virginica (White Crownbeard/Frostweed) just smiled and chuckled a little. It is a good 200′ away from the colony along the fence in more sun. That’s OK since it is another favorite wildflower.

Verbesina virginica (White Crownbeard/Frostweed) on 6-4-23, #943-82.

I really like the winged stems!!!

I guess that wraps up this post. We did get about 5/10″ of rain overnight (early Thursday morning). It sure cooled off.

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, always be thankful, and GET DIRTY!

 

 

 

 

 

Past Week Wildflowers

Asclepias stenophylla (Narrowleaf Milkweed) on 7-16-19. #602-1.

Hello everyone! I hope all is well with you. The past week has been fairly hot with no rain. I went back to check on the status of the thistles at Kevin’s farm north of town on Tuesday and Wednesday. I think I have them pretty well whipped but there are always a few I missed from before. The Bull Thistles are always a one-time shot and not that big of a problem. The Musk Thistles have been a different story. The bigger plants are all gone but small ones continue to sprout a flowering stem here and there. It is almost like they do this overnight. Supposedly they grow a rosette the first year and flower their second. Well, I can argue that point after spending two months with them. The plants that continue to shoot up flowers are less than a foot tall while earlier the bigger plants were up to around 4′ tall. It has really been an experience.

I have continued to take photos of wildflowers while I worked. There is a combination of two days of photographs in this post but I wanted them in alphabetical order. The Asclepias stenophylla (Narrowleaf Milkweed) in the above photo is getting with it now.

 

Asclepias stenophylla (Narrowleaf Milkweed) on 7-16-19, #602-2.

The bumblebees really like them.

 

Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) seed pod on 7-16-19, #602-4.

I had to take a photo of the seed pod of the Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed). Its unique seed pods are one of the identifying features of this species of milkweed.

 

Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) on 7-16-19.

While taking photos, a cow walked by and ate the tops right off this Common Milkweed. You can see the sap oozing out of the stems… Hmmm…

 

Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) on 7-16-19, # 602-6.

The Common Milkweed is a very robust plant that can grow to over 6′ tall. In pastures, they don’t get that chance and this group is only around 3′ tall, possibly multi-stemmed perhaps from an earlier pruning.

 

Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) seeds on 7-16-19, #602-7.

The Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) are among the first of the milkweeds to flower at the farm then are among the first to go to seed.

 

Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) seeds on 7-16-19, #602-8.

By contrast to many other plants, the large seed pods are mainly filled with fluff which helps the seeds float through the air. The distance they travel depends on a few things including wind speed and the height of neighboring plants. Rain can also spoil their trip by making the fluff heavy and wet and then the seeds just fall to the ground close to the parent plant.

 

Asclepias viridis on 7-17-19, #603-3.

While there are still a few Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) flowering, most have gone to seed.

 

Asclepias sp. on 7-17-19, #603-1.

While most of the milkweeds are pretty easy to identify, especially when flowering, I have found one that has me stumped… When I first saw this plant and took a couple of photos, I didn’t realize what a difficult time I would have identifying it. If I had have known, I would have taken more photos and looked around for other plants like it while I was working.

 

Asclepias sp. on 7-17-19, #603-2.

If I have a plant I cannot figure out, I contact Pamela Trewatha from the Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri). I am not sure if she is a botanist, horticulturalist or what but she maintains their Midwest Weeds and Wildflowers website and I think she took most of the photographs. She was stumped on this one as well which was very surprising. She thought it could be Asclepias sullivantii although she said she has never seen one in person. I looked at hundreds of photos online and I haven’t figured it out. This plant does not have the growth habit like Asclepias sullivantii nor are their leaves similar. There are many other differences as well that ruled out A. sullivantii. There were a few possibilities but not close enough. The one species that came close does not grow here and where it does grow it is very rare. There were no flowers on this plant and I didn’t notice any old flowers or seed pods. When I go back I will scout the area and see if there are other plants like this clump and possibly find flowers or seed pods. The spent flower in the above photo is a Red Clover…

There are several wildflower websites I use for ID. While there are milkweeds with similar leaves, some species leaves are “variable” and can be “oval” or have a slight point at the tip. However, the veining on this species leaves are not that “refined”, the tips are round, the midribs are light green (some species can have either maroonish or green midribs), and the central stems on this milkweed are brownish and not green like most… The leaves are also fairly small.

 

Cotinis nitida (Green June Beetle) on 7-16-19, #602-9.

I found a good-sized group of Bull Thistle I had somehow overlooked right in the middle of a large area. When I was getting ready to spray, the plants came to life as these HUGE beetles started flying out. It was very hot, so apparently, the beetles were farther down inside the thistles. I couldn’t get any photos at first because the beetles were moving pretty fast. Then, several feet away, I noticed this beetle along with a Japanese Beetle on a stem of an old Musk Thistle.

 

Cotinis nitida (Green June Beetle) on 7-16-19, #602-10.

The Cotinis nitida (Green June Beetle) is a pretty good-sized bug. They feed on flowers in pastures but also eat fruit. I attempted to pick up this guy (or gal) but it wanted no part of a new friendship. Beetles are not the most graceful flyers and sometimes you wonder if they even have a clue as to where they are going. These beetles sound like a small plane (very small) when they fly. When there are hundreds flying at once you might want to take cover because you will get run into.

 

Croton capitatus (Hogwort) on 7-16-19, #602-11.

This interesting species is the Croton capitatus, commonly known as Hogwort, Wooly Croton, and Goatweed. Croton is a very large genus consisting of 1,173 species (as of this post date) and this species is found through much of the United States. The Missouri Department of Conservation says there are three species of Croton in Missouri. I have two species growing on the farm.

 

Croton capitatus (Hogwort) flowers on 7-16-19, #602-13.

Their flowers aren’t that particularly interesting unless you take a closer look… The cluster of flowers consists of male flowers toward the tip and female flowers below. Male flowers have 5 tiny white petals and 10-14 anthers. The female flowers don’t have petals but have 6-9 calyx lobes which are split 2-3 times making a total of 12-24 lobes. The fruits are about 1/4” wide and contain only three seeds each. Apparently doves and quail like their seeds.

While many wildflower species have many medicinal benefits, this plant produces Croton Oil which is a powerful laxative.

 

Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) on 7-17-19, #603-5.

The Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) grow throughout the farm here as well as at Kevin’s. The flowers are so small it is very hard to get good photos of, especially close-ups. The plants are very short and have narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Although not an original US native, they can be found growing throughout most of the US and Canada.

 

Dipsacus laciniatus (Cutleaf Teasel) on 7-16-19, #602-14.

While I was walking around the area where the Cutleaf Teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) were I noticed more flowers. I guess the photos I had taken for a previous post were their buds and now they are flowering.

 

Dipsacus laciniatus (Cutleaf Teasel) flower on 7-16-19, #602-15.

There were a lot of bumblebees on the flowers as well as a few Japanese Beetles. It was funny watching for a few seconds. It was like the bumblebees were on a mission and no Japanese Beetles were going to get in their way.

 

Echinacea paradoxa (Yellow Coneflower) on 7-17-19, #603-6.

I needed to go visit a friend Wednesday afternoon so I decided to drive by the large colony of Echinacea paradoxa (Yellow Coneflower). This is where I was going to dig some plants up this spring but… Well, it didn’t happen. Maybe I can collect some seeds later. I love the way the native coneflowers petals droop.

Ummm… While I was taking photos of the Yellow Coneflower, I noticed some really neat leaves but there were no flowers… Then later I spotted them again with flowers… The name begins with an “S” so it is farther down in the post. 🙂

 

Lotus corniculatus (Bird’s Foot Trefoil) on 7-17-19, #603-7.

I have seen this plant growing along highways for MANY years and have always wondered with it was. Usually, I don’t have time or I don’t have the camera, but mainly because I didn’t want to stop along the highway. Well, when I went to visit my friend on Wednesday I noticed them growing along a different road. Not only them but the plants that begin with the “S”.

The plants in the above photo are Lotus corniculatus commonly known as the Bird’s Foot Trefoil. Hmmm… OK, I know how common the Bird’s Foot Trefoil is but I had never seen any up close and personal until now.

The Lotus corniculatus isn’t a US native. The Wikipedia says the plant is native to parts of North Africa and Eurasia. Hmmm… I learned something. I had to click on Eurasia to find out where it was. I don’t think they taught it was Eurasia when I was in school… It is the largest continent on Earth consisting of all of Europe and Asia with 70% of the world’s population. Hmmm… I didn’t even realize Africa was considered an Asian country. Well, I got stuck reading about Eurasia so I better get back to…

Where was I anyway? Oh yeah! Lotus corniculatus!

 

Lotus corniculatus (Bird’s Foot Trefoil) on 7-17-19, #603-8.

I lost my train of thought while reading about Eurasia and kind of went blank because I didn’t know… Anyway, it was interesting.

Bird’s Foot Trefoil is grown as a high-quality forage plant for pastures, hay, and silage that does not cause bloat.

 

Lotus corniculatus (Bird’s Foot Trefoil) on 7-17-19, #603-9.

The flowers are particularly interesting. What is even more interesting is that a plant guy didn’t even realize these yellow flowers growing along the road were Bird’s Foot Trefoil! Several people have asked me what they were over the years but I never knew until now. Now I know and I am thankful. I am also thankful for learning where Eurasia is. 🙂

Ummm… The Lotus genus is a member of the Fabaceae (Pea Family) and contains 124 accepted species.

What we usually think of as a Lotus is the Nelumbo nucifera, also known as the Sacred Lotus Flower, Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, Egyptian Bean or simply lotus. It is the only genus in the family Nelumbonaceae with two accepted species. Strange the Water Lily isn’t in the same family, but they are in the Nymphaeaceae family. Hmmm…

I had to check on that because I was wondering why Bird’s Foot Trefoil was a Lotus. Then I find out the Lotus isn’t a Lotus. Double hmmm…

 

Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange) on 7-16-19, #602-16.

OK, I realize the Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange) isn’t a wildflower and maybe most wouldn’t find them that interesting. For me, though, I think they are a magnificent tree especially when they get very old.

 

Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange), 7-16-19, #602-17.

Just look at that massive trunk… This tree isn’t quite as large as the old one at my place, but it is still pretty good sized.

 

Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange) on 7-16-19, #602-21.

This tree, like most very old Osage Orange, have stood the test of time. Just think of how many high winds, thunderstorms, heavy snows, and ice they have been through. If you ever have a chance to visit a very old and large Osage Orange, look up into the tree and you can see how they have twisted and turned over the years. They tell a tale of a long life in the elements of nature and have endured them all. This tree was really talking and I enjoyed our brief visit and feeling the energy surrounding it. It is more than alive, it is A LIFE! 🙂

 

Nepeta cataria (Catnip) on 7-17-19, #603-10.

While I was spraying in a little area I had rarely gone, I noticed a plant I completely didn’t expect to see in the wild. I said, “It’s a mint! What in the world are you doing here?” Of all places next to a Gooseberry bush and Osage Orange tree where an old fence row had been. Just goes to show you just never know what you might find… Oh! It is a Nepeta cataria… Catnip! They have different leaves and flowers than Spearmint.

I suppose the Catnip has to grow in the wild somewhere and there are several mints that are native to Missouri. I have just never seen any in the wild. Of course, they are members of the Lamiaceae family along with 234 other genera of aromatic and tasty culinary herbs.

 

Physalis longifolia (Common or Smooth Ground Cherry) flower on 7-16-19, #602-22.

Had I not noticed something weird about this plant, I could have easily passed it off as a Horsenettle. All I saw at first was a nearly hidden yellow flower drooping downward so I thought I would have a peek because Horsenettle does not have yellow flowers. Then I saw what else was hidden beneath the leaves. As it turns out this plant is a Physalis longifolia, commonly known as the Common or Smooth Ground Cherry.

 

Physalis longifolia (Common or Smooth Ground Cherry) flower, on 7-16-19, #602-23.

AH HA, you say! 🙂 Well, at least I thought it looks like the plant called Chinese Lantern, which is actually Physalis peruviana. Perhaps you were thinking about the Tomatillo or Mexican Husk Tomato which is the Physalis philadelphica and/or Physalis ixocarpa. Well, inside of these small lanterns is a fruit which is also edible…

 

Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia) on 7-16-19, #602-24.

The Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia, etc.) are growing here and there on Kevin’s farm as where I live. They seem to be growing as solitary plants rather than in colonies except for in my ditch where there are several. I think there are more in the ditch in front of the house than on the entire pasture and hayfield. While they flower over a long period, they seem to only produce one flower at a time. While one bud is beginning to open, the one before it is fading. Some information online says the flowers open in the morning and fall off in the evening. Hmmm… These plants are very easy to recognize in the wild because, after all, they are a petunia. Not saying all Ruellia species are the same, but all do have similar characteristics. Plants of the World Online currently list 357 accepted species in the genus.

Now that I am down to the mystery plant… Well, maybe I should save it for a post of its own. Just kidding. 🙂 But I do feel a nap coming on…

 

Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) leaves on 7-17-19, #603-13.

OK… The above photo, although taken out of numerical order, is the leaves of the plant with no flowers I saw when photographing the Echinacea paradoxa. They were by the road so apparently, their flower stems had been mowed off. I took the photo because I thought they were quite strange and unusual.

 

Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) on 7-17-19. #603-20.

Hmmm… I realize you are laughing at me AGAIN because anyone who has driven on most highways and backroads has seen this plant. Of course, like me, maybe you just passed them off as some kind of sunflower. I had no idea this plant had so much interest whatsoever.

Found throughout Missouri except for the southeast corner, the Silphium laciniatum is easily identified by its pinnatifid leaves, hairy stems, and big yellow flower heads. Its common name is the Compass Plant because their flowerheads follow the sun across the sky (heliotropism) like many species in the Asteraceae family such as sunflowers.

 

Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) leaves on 7-17-19, #603-14.

Silphium laciniatum has been used as a worm expelling, coughs, lung problems, asthma, and as an emetic. The resin produced on the upper part of the stems was chewed by Native Americans. The mouth cleansing gum is said to be fragrant but bitter.

Contrary to what you might think, the common name comes from their leaves and not their flowers. Pioneers believed that the leaves of the Compass Plant pointed in a north-south direction. The basal leaves do usually grow on a north-south axis thought to minimize intense overhead sun exposure. Of course, their flowers follow an east to west movement following the sun…

 

Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) flower on 7-17-19, #603-23.

The Compass Plant grow from 6-12 feet tall and their flowers can be up to 5″ across. It can take several years for these plants to develop into a full-sized plant but they can live up to 100 YEARS! Their taproots can grow 15′ deep! The basal leaves can grow to 18″ long while the upper leaves are much smaller.

So now we know these plants are Compass Plants and not just another sunflower. 🙂

 

Solanum carolinense (Horsenettle) on 7-17-19, #603-25.

Of course, this is the common ‘ol run of the mill Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) we may all love to hate. One of its common names, Tread Softly, says a lot! While it is a member of the Nightshade family (along with tomatoes) and its fruit may look like cherry tomatoes, DO NOT EAT! The Wikipedia says:

“All parts of the plant, including its tomato-like fruit, are poisonous to varying degrees due to the presence of solanine glycoalkaloids which is a toxic alkaloid and one of the plant’s natural defenses. While ingesting any part of the plant can cause fever, headache, scratchy throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, ingesting the fruit can cause abdominal pain, circulatory and respiratory depression, or even death. “

I may have not taken a photo of the Horsenettle if it weren’t for the flower below which I noticed the day before…

 

Solanum carolinense (Horsenettle) on 7-16-19, #602-25.

Ummm… As I was working I noticed something a little unusual… While I do have a lot of Horsenettle in my pastures and hayfield, some of the colonies in Kevin’s pasture have these blue flowers. While it is true that some in my pasture do have a slight tint, they are mainly all white. So, I took photos and found that these are also Solanum carolinense. I thought maybe they were a different species, but no, just a different shade.

 

Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain) on 7-16-19, #602-29.

One of my favorite wildflowers is Verbena. The interesting thing is that the species growing on Kevin’s farm are different than the ones growing where I live. This one is Verbena stricta commonly known as the Hoary Vervain. The species growing in my pastures and hayfield is the Verbena hastata commonly known as the Blue Vervain. I mainly noticed the difference by the Verbena stricta‘s broader leaves and larger flowers. The one thing that makes them very similar is getting photos that aren’t blurry… While Plants of the World Online list 147 species in the Verbena genus native to most parts of the world, Verbena hastata and Verbena stricta are native to most of the US and Canada.

I am finished for now because I ran out of photos. 🙂 I thoroughly enjoyed this post because I learned A LOT. I am thankful I found out about Eurasia, too!

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, and always, always, be thankful! After a week of heat and no rain, I am thankful we finally had rain this morning and as I am finishing this post.

 

 

 

 

More Wildflower ID & New Friends

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you doing well. I took a few wildflower photos as I was working on Wednesday. It only takes a couple of seconds to whip the camera out of my pocket and take a few photos.

The thistle battle continues at a friend’s farm but I think I have made great progress. On Thursday I was at one small area along the boundary fence and almost fell over. I looked across the fence and saw a patch of hundreds of Musk Thistle flowers laughing at me. I had very few thistles here this year but that doesn’t mean there won’t be A LOT more next year. The seed is good in the soil for many years. You have to have a plan and understand you have to stick with it. Not that you can’t amend it, but you have to have a goal in mind. Even though the seeds will come up every year no matter what you do, the goal is to get rid of the flowers before they go to seed. They come up from seed and remain in a flattish rosette the first year and flower their second year. I am not a fan of spraying, believe me, but sometimes you have to do it. For the most part, digging them up here has worked fine because I never did have that many and just in the front pasture and a few on the pond bank. My friend has a MUCH BIGGER pasture and digging them all would have driven me nuttier than I already am. 🙂

OK, here we go… In alphabetical order…

Asclepias viridis (Green-Flowered Milkweed) on 5-30-19, #578-2.

I first posted about the Asclepias viridis (Green-Flowered Milkweed) a few weeks ago. I have none of this species here but there are quite a few of them in Kevin’s pasture.

Asclepias viridis (Green-Flowered Milkweed) seed pods on 6-19-19, #592-3.

This Milkweed is also known as the Green Milkweed, Green Antelopehorn, and Spider Milkweed. Many Milkweeds are favored by the Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed Tussock Moths, but apparently, this species sheds its leaves before they arrive. The latex sap is toxic to humans and animals so I guess that is one reason the cows avoid them.

Cichorium intybus (Chicory or Road Aster) on 6-19-19, #592-12.

There are quite a few Cichorium intybus, commonly known as Chicory or Road Aster growing in the pasture, and along the highways and back roads. You can’t miss them as they are one of the very few blue wildflowers blooming now. It is one of the many members of the Asteraceae Family along with Dandelions. The roots of the Cichorium intybus var. sativum are ground, baked, and used as a coffee substitute. Although the leaves are strange, they can be eaten in salads. It is also closely related to Cichorium endivia which is also called Chickory and Curly Endive which is popular in salads. An extract from the root of Cichorium intybus, inulin, is used as a sweetener and a source of dietary fiber. Other common names include Blue Daisy, Blue Dandelion, Blue Sailors, Blue Weed, Bunk, Coffeeweed, Cornflower, Hendibeh, Horseweed, Ragged Sailors, Succory, Wild Bachelor’s Buttons, and Wild Endive. I found all that information on Wikipedia… There’s more but I am exhausted… OH, one more thing… I found a cluster of these plants with near-white flowers, kind of bi-colored, but the photos were blurry. So, I will have to locate them again and take better photos.

Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) on 6-19-19, #592-14.

This delightful Dianthus armeria commonly known as Deptford Pink or Pink Grass grows just about everywhere in Kevin’s pasture and a few areas here on the farm. Although it is considered a native Missouri plant, it is not originally from North America. Although they are plentiful in “poorer” soils, they don’t compete well with other plants where the ground is more fertile. In other words, they are not pushy. The leaves are high in saponins which makes them fairly unattractive to livestock. Most photos online show plants with white spots on the petals, but as you can see in the above photo, these seem to have maroon spots. Hmmm…

Erigeron sp. on 6-19-19, #592-16.

There are LOTS of this Fleabane (Erigeron sp.) growing just about everywhere. I haven’t correctly identified the species because there are likely to be several that look so much alike that it is hard to tell. The same is true for Symphytotrichum species. 🙂 The two genera mainly differ in petal length and type of calyces, but there may be up to three species of each growing here on the farm. When I got more into wildflower ID here on the farm, I became somewhat frustrated with my many trips back and forth from the computer to the plants. Then there was a group growing along the fence in the front pasture that was 3x taller than normal. Not to mention some of the colonies had pinkish flowers. When I realized they were, I was quite amused with my bewilderment, they said, “We are quite variable.” Quite…

Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-Eye Daisy) on 6-19-19, #592-21.

The Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-Eye Daisy) was growing in a few isolated areas on Kevin’s farm but I have not seen any here. They are also not originally native to the United States.

Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-Eye Daisy) on 6-19-19, #592-22.

They have larger flowers than the Fleabane mentioned above. They have many common names including Ox-Eye Daisy, Dog Daisy, Field Daisy, Marguerite, Moon Daisy, Moon-Penny, Poor-Land Penny, Poverty Daisy, and White Daisy.

Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) on 6-19-19, #592-25.

I have seen a lot of Dragonflies over the years, but this was the first time I have seen a Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). It flew down right next to where I was working and I got this photo first shot. That was good because it quickly flew to another spot. I chased it down and took a few other photos but they turned out blurry. I didn’t spend much time because I was on the clock… 🙂

Melilotus officinalis (Yellow Sweet Clover) on 6-19-19, #592-26.

The Melilotus officinalis (Yellow Sweet Clover) is a native of Eurasia. They can grow 4-6 feet tall but rarely have that opportunity in a pasture. Hay containing this clover must be properly dried because the plants contain coumarin that converts to dicoumarol when the plants become moldy. Dicoumarol is a powerful anticoagulant toxin that can lead to bleeding diseases (internal hemorrhaging) and death in cattle. Although a sweet clover, it has somewhat of a bitter taste because of the coumarin which cows have to get used to. As with all sweet clovers, they provide nectar for honeybees.

Rosa setigera (Climbing Rose) on 6-19-19, #592-30.

There are a few trees with Climbing Roses (Rosa setigera) growing in them along a creek. I have several Multiflora Roses (Rosa multiflora) on the farm but none of these (Although I have seen them along the trail next to the farm).

Terrapene carolina triunguis (Three-Toed Box Turtle) on 6-19-19, #592-37.

I almost stepped on this Three-Toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis). I love turtles and wish I would see more of them. I am not sure how many turtle photos I have taken over the years but there are A LOT in the folder.

Terrapene carolina triunguis (Three-Toes Box Turtle) on 6-19-19, #592-38.

This one was very shy and may have not ever encountered a human before. It would not show its face and I didn’t have time to encourage it. I always like to take photos of their faces because they come in many colors. Turtles are very long-lived, up to 50 years or longer.

Verbascum blattaria (Moth Mullein) on 6-19-19, #592-41.

Last week I photographed the Moth Mullein Verbascum blattaria f. albaflora in the front part of the pasture, and this week I found Verbascum blattaria. The same species just a different color of flowers. Although they are beautiful flowers, several states have declared them a noxious weed… Verbascum blattaria are native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa but are flourishing in the United States (even Hawaii) and southern Canada. The Wikipedia article says “A study conducted in 1974 reported that when a number of Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae were exposed to a methanol extract of moth mullein, at least 53% of the larvae were killed. V. blattaria has also long been known to be an effective cockroach repellent, and the name blattaria is actually derived from the Latin word for cockroach, blatta.” Hmmm…

It further says: “In a famous long-term experiment, Dr. William James Beal, then a professor of botany at Michigan Agriculture College, selected seeds of 21 different plant species (including V. blattaria) and placed seeds of each in 20 separate bottles filled with sand. The bottles, left uncorked, were buried mouth down (so as not to allow moisture to reach the seeds) in a sandy knoll in 1879. The purpose of this experiment was to determine how long the seeds could be buried dormant in the soil, and yet germinate in the future when planted. In 2000, one of these bottles was dug up, and 23 seeds of V. blattaria were planted in favorable conditions, yielding a 50% germination rate.” That’s after 121 YEARS!

Of all the hours I have spent digging and spraying thistles, I have only taken photos a couple of days while I was working. Most days I haven’t had my camera with me. Most of the wildflowers on Kevin’s farm are the same as here, but there have been exceptions. Once you have a good camera and some experience, it only takes a few seconds to get good photos. I am using a Canon SX610 HS which I carry in my back pocket. I have used more expensive cameras in the past, but this one takes even better photos and is so handy. Even so, some flowers are hard to take photos of.

I didn’t work today because we had a storm come in. It was nice! (I laughed at that one…) Maybe I am a little strange, but I am not the only one. Dad and I used to sit on the back porch together in many storms. We were under the roof of course.

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, and continue giving thanks. As always, a little dirt is good for you.