tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60167702140445790222024-03-19T04:10:53.222-04:00Wildflower EcologyI blog about the ecology and natural history of wildflowers in the eastern United States. Plants currently in bloom are usually discussed, with an accompanying photograph or two.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-4424211785309295052014-12-02T19:40:00.000-05:002014-12-02T19:40:09.586-05:00Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor): A wintergreen orchid
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JCj_deTJ7bGvDveWqwpIoOAqRTwgz408QjDFuP0p7TpjEddBiaAAqUcVcDqxhJHSt5LRtKb52PmfiPUcmLy7QuVj6ObrQzmdapap7GrPOjWSIoiDg1-uATWRkJJHcH_asAx45Mzk1Ow/s1600/Tipularia+discolor-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JCj_deTJ7bGvDveWqwpIoOAqRTwgz408QjDFuP0p7TpjEddBiaAAqUcVcDqxhJHSt5LRtKb52PmfiPUcmLy7QuVj6ObrQzmdapap7GrPOjWSIoiDg1-uATWRkJJHcH_asAx45Mzk1Ow/s1600/Tipularia+discolor-59.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light';">This
relatively common orchid in moist-to-dry forests throughout much of South
Carolina has an unusual life cycle in that it is wintergreen and summer deciduous.
Its dark green 2-4 inch leaves with a purple underside emerge from a small corm
(underground food storage organ) in fall when most other deciduous plants are
beginning to drop their leaves and go dormant. Then, in spring, when most other
deciduous plants are producing new leaves and just beginning their growing
season, the leaves of cranefly orchid wither and disappear. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmniOZJUiH0Gaf69zixBq9btDOYUn5CmfWbtYin59Xfkcckvb76ek0-qCxtGAK4PpXCmw364uVt8aqfb6QmQQ71Cum5H2_j5vsi2rzuCttRpxlZA1mNDRpqPyLCV5qyOmUU7k2dbJ22Cw/s1600/Tipularia+discolor-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmniOZJUiH0Gaf69zixBq9btDOYUn5CmfWbtYin59Xfkcckvb76ek0-qCxtGAK4PpXCmw364uVt8aqfb6QmQQ71Cum5H2_j5vsi2rzuCttRpxlZA1mNDRpqPyLCV5qyOmUU7k2dbJ22Cw/s1600/Tipularia+discolor-2.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light';">Its slender flower
stalks and purplish-green to yellowish-brown flowers bloom in summer when the
plant is leafless. Because the flowers blend in with the leaf litter on the
forest floor, they are easily overlooked by wildflower enthusiasts, but are somehow
found by its pollinators – night flying moths! Hikers are most likely to notice
cranefly orchid in winter when its dark green to purple leaves stand out
against the mostly grayish brown forest floor. Worldwide, there are three
species of <i>Tipularia</i> – one in the
eastern United States, one in Japan, and a third in the Himalayas.</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-61453805484665739982012-07-14T17:21:00.005-04:002012-07-14T17:23:07.015-04:00Wildflower Hot Spots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2B4qG0TGKfQdUZGX05HbHNLWk0/edit"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pebUnTge_ZTsq84tI1dk_hHI-FueaNgGmaT9p2o15NQYedlxLSE8Wu5SM2dpTxRjsjCYU6xte_u5tYZUSKce2A4PU6UrakWZh4G3A-EkXrWE15uYP9H3bugBuI-Ai-TituZpB4L32gQ/s400/thumbnail.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
Check out <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2B4qG0TGKfQdUZGX05HbHNLWk0/edit">this article on wildflower hotspots of the world</a> from the 12 July 2012 issue of the Wall Street Journal written by Steve Mollman.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-89809331984911066862012-06-10T19:32:00.001-04:002012-06-11T10:32:48.171-04:00Black Bears and Bear corn<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXcXhWlDkq0_3xIa2iNTyW7KkAdm6NPMYXmr2Ssvf7X1NmbqV4DcOHu7lD2Zdb5pY-n_N3tmGf5QpL9Om75L7Cp5Q9fyThfhV0w0pigYEbo8oH8u5LDPpGC7Hk9JoFY2BWFSQ8iCpHu0/s1600/Conopholis+americana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXcXhWlDkq0_3xIa2iNTyW7KkAdm6NPMYXmr2Ssvf7X1NmbqV4DcOHu7lD2Zdb5pY-n_N3tmGf5QpL9Om75L7Cp5Q9fyThfhV0w0pigYEbo8oH8u5LDPpGC7Hk9JoFY2BWFSQ8iCpHu0/s400/Conopholis+americana.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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Hiking in the Smokies in early
June, I came upon a young black bear foraging in the woods. Partially hidden
behind a large dead hemlock tree, and with a pair of binoculars in hand, I
watched the bear consume the fruits and shoots on
multiple clumps of bear corn, a process that went on for nearly an hour (and
delayed quite a few hikers, too). A subsequent look at the literature revealed
that the flowering and fruiting structures of bear corn are an important part
of the diet of black bears. White-tailed deer as well as smaller mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks, and mice also feed on the flowers and fruits. In addition to obtaining nutrients, it's thought
that bears seek out squawroot to stimulate bowel activity, particularly after
emerging from hibernation.</div>
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What about the plant? Does it
benefit from this interaction with mammals? As you may have guessed, the answer is yes, as
viable seeds of bear corn have been recovered in the scat of black bears and white-tailed deer. While the tiny seeds of bear corn can be transported
short distances by rainwater flowing across the soil surface, black bears and other mammals feeding
on ripe fruits play an important role in dispersing the seeds over a larger
area. This increases the chance that at least some seeds will be deposited in
close proximity to the roots of a suitable host plant, required for successful establishment as
bear corn is an obligate root parasite (mainly on oaks). </div>
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There's a human connection to
bear corn as well in that Native Americans of eastern North America used it as
a medicinal plant.</div>
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<br /></div>Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-55864408802159722432011-09-29T18:23:00.005-04:002011-10-02T12:06:52.656-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTesR1aCbyobs2GnZvSz9YRW3qRHNF6kuGuzzKOElHvQkYqbRyogHOgw3SWtvtNcCkzhY3tDAhmsEYnOvxxNzylcAc6hlMkGg0gAL9kBHf0cXOOK6d3Txah2QVp8I-hRJ5ztl-PhAxSU/s1600/DryFalls-22.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTesR1aCbyobs2GnZvSz9YRW3qRHNF6kuGuzzKOElHvQkYqbRyogHOgw3SWtvtNcCkzhY3tDAhmsEYnOvxxNzylcAc6hlMkGg0gAL9kBHf0cXOOK6d3Txah2QVp8I-hRJ5ztl-PhAxSU/s320/DryFalls-22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657911699610773746" border="0" /></a>Wildflowers & Waterfalls <br /> George Ellison and Tim Spira Team up Oct. 21 to benefit Discover Life in America<br /><br />This post first appeared in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Compleat Naturalist </span>e-newsletter and was written by Laura Mahan, co-owner of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Compleat Naturalist</span>, and the person who is organizing this presentation.<br /><br /> George Ellison writes the Nature Journal column for the Asheville Citizen-Times, among other things. He is well-known in our area as an excellent naturalist, writer, and teacher. This spring he wrote a review of the new book by Dr. Tim Spira, Wildflowers & Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachians & Piedmont, about which he said, "I never thought I'd see anything this good on this topic for this region in my lifetime." When he finally got to meet Tim, the two hit it off as fellow botanizers and they came up with the idea of doing a program together.<br /><br /> So that's how this program idea was born. George and Tim came to Laura Mahan and volunteered to do a presentation. The speakers did not want to be paid, but instead suggested that proceeds be given to a non-profit group. Compleat Naturalist owner Laura Mahan serves on the board of directors of Discover Life in America, and they agreed that this would be an excellent organization to support.<br /><br />The next question was location-- where to have the program. The group decided to ask the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village, just a block away from The Compleat Naturalist, if they could have a presentation in the Parish Hall, and the church was most agreeable and supportive. Afterward participants will go to The Compleat Naturalist for a party and socializing.<br />We think this is a wonderful event that celebrates the beauty and biological diversity of the mountains while supporting a worthwhile cause, and giving everyone the opportunity for fun and socializing with other nature-minded folk. We hope you can come!<br /> <br />Oct. 21, 7-9 pm: Wildflowers & Waterfalls: A Closer Look (starts at Cathedral of All Souls; party at The Compleat Naturalist; Biltmore Village, Asheville, NC)Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-83620833747462961902011-07-25T10:33:00.005-04:002011-07-25T10:43:08.542-04:00Sassafras Arching Trunks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZaACx19whyphenhyphen81CIcFVdXG31rRRGRzCY1ZsvGhOTHXLXFlr8yKTGuCt6l987e455nyll-yuW3fA6w8BRAU7GWFRR2db1NO90GP5SMh3bf7MpYwSCOAPout3R796WfK37ysZ8tbSzcHwP4/s1600/Sassafras+tree+in+bloom.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZaACx19whyphenhyphen81CIcFVdXG31rRRGRzCY1ZsvGhOTHXLXFlr8yKTGuCt6l987e455nyll-yuW3fA6w8BRAU7GWFRR2db1NO90GP5SMh3bf7MpYwSCOAPout3R796WfK37ysZ8tbSzcHwP4/s320/Sassafras+tree+in+bloom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633300100216768850" border="0" /></a>Trees such as sourwood, black gum, and river birch often having a pronounced bend to their trunks. I've always assumed that it is a phototrophic response whereby the stems are simply growing towards the area where light is most readily available. But in the Sassafras trees growing in our home landscape (Clemson) something else seems to be going on. In the last 5 years or so there have been two years in which the female trees have had a super abundant fruit crop and the weight of all those developing fruits caused the stems to bend downward during the several weeks that the fruits matured. These periodic heavy fruit loads, I believe, contribute to the permanent bend often seen in Sassafras trunks. Additional support for this hypothesis is that male trees, which lack the burden of producing weighty fruits, generally have much straighter trunks than do the females, at least in our landscape. It would be interesting to see if this pattern holds true for <span style="font-style: italic;">Sassafras</span> "in the wild".Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-66647021937689470232011-07-10T18:27:00.002-04:002011-07-10T18:36:23.102-04:00Black cohosh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nvJEKU666obd8HsDgaXJNOP7ysVdRGp0cyh89YKosElmIXVT_-wB_2RpD7yN8DP8oHEYnAL7eXcgO5tsOiym__O39ksWIAkH1rA1gdxkW4MXPnrDoCOJVUwvYIRSMPkW8IYBl1hT1-Y/s1600/Actaea+racemosa-5.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nvJEKU666obd8HsDgaXJNOP7ysVdRGp0cyh89YKosElmIXVT_-wB_2RpD7yN8DP8oHEYnAL7eXcgO5tsOiym__O39ksWIAkH1rA1gdxkW4MXPnrDoCOJVUwvYIRSMPkW8IYBl1hT1-Y/s320/Actaea+racemosa-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627856057513522850" border="0" /></a>Black cohosh (<span style="font-style: italic;">Actaea racemosa</span>) is currently in flower off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's easily recognizable by its 3-8 ft tall flower stalks with tassel-like white flowers and coarsely toothed leaflets. The fetid smelling flowers attract carrion flies and beetles which function as pollinators. In a pinch, you can rub the flowers on your exposed skin to ward off mosquitoes; however, in so doing you may attract carrion flies and beetles which think you're dead meat (not to worry, they don't bite).Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-35715904942607936302011-05-30T20:46:00.003-04:002011-05-30T21:12:15.533-04:00Fire pink (Silene virginica)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGToov_0FxbOvF1GYiFWYJVJkPJB8Ye4VSlmiPJ0U3NRCs21reOa0T2eoTodczFOdTtO46BK5JxCL5qMg6p-rV3W4ihKr6du1lE27A2Y7F84eeGyxRK-br0UE6bKAWc7FRd3TNzOkGOYg/s1600/Silene+virginica-3.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGToov_0FxbOvF1GYiFWYJVJkPJB8Ye4VSlmiPJ0U3NRCs21reOa0T2eoTodczFOdTtO46BK5JxCL5qMg6p-rV3W4ihKr6du1lE27A2Y7F84eeGyxRK-br0UE6bKAWc7FRd3TNzOkGOYg/s400/Silene+virginica-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612680442268702402" border="0" /></a>Fire pink (Silene virginica) tends to be restricted to relatively open areas (such as rocky slopes with shallow soils) as it is a poor competitor. So, if you add this plant to your garden, you'll want to prevent neighboring plants from getting too close and overtopping it.<br /><br />Fire pink is a classic hummingbird-pollinated plant as it has tubular red flowers with abundant nectar, no landing platforms (as is typically found in bee or butterfly-pollinated plants) and no detectable floral odor.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span> The flowers depend on hummingbirds to transfer pollen from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>for successful fruit and seed production.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-16277878354026789672011-05-30T20:39:00.004-04:002011-05-30T21:13:27.362-04:00Mountain laurel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dpWuCzycumzAeV2_z2joVUelajpE_5HieuCuKcgE8NqrJSmj272TeB77mj29IqNIGifOwobJ_k-go3ZLQVR3CDwQlHcRgYF0kksZGE4-CqNmbbABnANDIQ3H7UsJ6B4yQ_Q5dBp_0L8/s1600/Kalmia+latifolia5.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dpWuCzycumzAeV2_z2joVUelajpE_5HieuCuKcgE8NqrJSmj272TeB77mj29IqNIGifOwobJ_k-go3ZLQVR3CDwQlHcRgYF0kksZGE4-CqNmbbABnANDIQ3H7UsJ6B4yQ_Q5dBp_0L8/s400/Kalmia+latifolia5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612674812547835138" border="0" /></a><br />Mountain laurel (<span style="font-style: italic;">Kalmia latifolia</span>) is currently in flower off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of North Carolina. Look for the white to pink bowl shaped flowers in dense showy clusters. While plants can be found both in open sunny areas and in shaded sites under a forest canopy, it's those plants that receive more sunlight that flower most prolifically.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-90794128295890940562011-05-20T09:16:00.004-04:002011-05-20T09:29:23.776-04:00Beargrass in flower<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_k4qrTfs1XWzj7571dp7tCCi8LwlfI4qi5RLoOxpXqy7f_FWa2_o9kPX-f2Z2v_zDu8qoPs6R8rqyUFuDVNdPVDd7FiQs3VPLF0qLrluq3xYKskwF9fnB92cv2S8eWWMYyRY90cqI0Y/s1600/Yucca+filamentosa.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_k4qrTfs1XWzj7571dp7tCCi8LwlfI4qi5RLoOxpXqy7f_FWa2_o9kPX-f2Z2v_zDu8qoPs6R8rqyUFuDVNdPVDd7FiQs3VPLF0qLrluq3xYKskwF9fnB92cv2S8eWWMYyRY90cqI0Y/s400/Yucca+filamentosa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608789168482635202" border="0" /></a>Beargrass (<span style="font-style: italic;">Yucca filamentosa</span>) is now in flower in dry open woodlands, on rock outcrops, and along roadsides in the piedmont and mountains. For fruits to form, this plant requires the pollination services of a tiny moth (the Yucca moth). Unlike all but a few pollinators, the Yucca moth intentionally pollinates the flowers. After pollinating a flower, a female moth lays eggs in the ovary, the larvae hatch, and then feed on the developing seeds. Usually about 30 % of the developing seeds are eaten. In this plant-insect mutualism, the flowers get pollinated and the moth is rewarded not by pollen or by nectar (the usual floral rewards) but by seeds for its larvae. Look for the tiny cream-colored moths hanging out in the flowers during the day.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-11143542792231882662011-05-02T21:36:00.006-04:002011-05-02T22:07:32.781-04:00Listen to Rudy Mancke discuss my new wildflower bookRudy Mancke did a nice audio piece on <a href="http://scetv.org/podcastmedia/audio/Naturenotes/04_29_11.mp3">Nature Notes about Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont, UNC Press.<br /></a>Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-23279496822835298252011-05-02T20:46:00.003-04:002011-05-02T20:58:11.238-04:00Wildflower pilgrimage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneI-UGLv3MYHt15wsUbTg1zqmXScQLSPQbaLQYd0ndNzQl5vYXp_lHiBMIAWy1rRT0YLlh0H6HjEKrLqPH4vrjH1ofM7TtqTgCAM0Rrh-nM-LNK7noPVyKYgvbetjXCQoKMFCImEVQko/s1600/Cypripedium+parviflorum-4.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneI-UGLv3MYHt15wsUbTg1zqmXScQLSPQbaLQYd0ndNzQl5vYXp_lHiBMIAWy1rRT0YLlh0H6HjEKrLqPH4vrjH1ofM7TtqTgCAM0Rrh-nM-LNK7noPVyKYgvbetjXCQoKMFCImEVQko/s400/Cypripedium+parviflorum-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602287201228791986" border="0" /></a>I had the opportunity to participate in the wildflower and bird pilgrimage in Asheville, NC the last weekend in April. It was wonderful! There were hikes in the woods, abundant wildflowers, and interesting people to share the fun. Yellow lady's slipper (<span style="font-style: italic;">Cypripedium parviflorum</span>) was just one of the many species we saw in bloom in the southern Appalachian mountains.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-69891097715033958972011-04-14T19:51:00.003-04:002011-04-14T19:59:51.015-04:00Sweet Betsy flower color morphs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqVlPUm0nkHmN512Gp1b-6Vq0eexDSfoBzJV-ZjVqVAU-v1LH-ijLbmi2Yr6hJpCxHz6KPOmunuLZKNGgl32aeivvPzHUd3ZAiebAuDYiww9CmAaoMXPa0hPKL16fAMp5x2Nh4JbrY-Y/s1600/Trillium+cuneatum.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqVlPUm0nkHmN512Gp1b-6Vq0eexDSfoBzJV-ZjVqVAU-v1LH-ijLbmi2Yr6hJpCxHz6KPOmunuLZKNGgl32aeivvPzHUd3ZAiebAuDYiww9CmAaoMXPa0hPKL16fAMp5x2Nh4JbrY-Y/s400/Trillium+cuneatum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595592786670113906" border="0" /></a>The flowers of Sweet Betsy (<span style="font-style: italic;">Trillium cuneatum</span>) are usually purple in color, but some plants have yellow or greenish flowers. Here, we see the purple and yellow flower morphs on adjacent plants. The flowers often have a faint spice-like odor, but you usually have to get your nose up close to the plant to detect it.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-47141627346517845922011-04-14T18:54:00.003-04:002011-04-14T19:03:50.028-04:00Bloodroot in bloom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVxXCEkoPQu3EtSFS_rkbLP9-q_DaMr7SBktHbbPG6W_CcBeN0hrSx7abeJz6lvBJ-x73lINzgH332_CNoRQNUT28URII0Hv2RQz2U6oRWUfwVw1cvh6NKNSeR-GpQcb6-tz18bKzMKE/s1600/Sanguinaria+canadensis-5.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVxXCEkoPQu3EtSFS_rkbLP9-q_DaMr7SBktHbbPG6W_CcBeN0hrSx7abeJz6lvBJ-x73lINzgH332_CNoRQNUT28URII0Hv2RQz2U6oRWUfwVw1cvh6NKNSeR-GpQcb6-tz18bKzMKE/s400/Sanguinaria+canadensis-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595578359337275378" border="0" /></a>It's hard to resist taking a photo of bloodroot, especially when they've just emerged and are so fresh-looking with gobs of golden pollen. The flowers lack nectar, so it's pollen alone that attracts (and rewards) bees and flies that function as pollinators. If the flower fails to attract a pollinator within 3-4 days, the anthers curl into the stigma brushing pollen onto its surface, thereby self-pollinating the flower, a useful backup mechanism since low temperatures and wet conditions frequently reduce insect activity in early spring .Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-61597957984835717442011-04-03T21:48:00.002-04:002011-04-03T21:57:02.470-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xwu1BkJ99ch4LhSuSOBiiaY6yAZgrQByXSAbHfEu6goXNaaq47sY3b7djEpYWsQcR6y7XkyPjL75hdBpxYh4wQXdODJ9K0oA-gAM9F0jbaBnFEpW0flUayE0OMisqjEMOjzusxt677g/s1600/Aesculus+pavia.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xwu1BkJ99ch4LhSuSOBiiaY6yAZgrQByXSAbHfEu6goXNaaq47sY3b7djEpYWsQcR6y7XkyPjL75hdBpxYh4wQXdODJ9K0oA-gAM9F0jbaBnFEpW0flUayE0OMisqjEMOjzusxt677g/s400/Aesculus+pavia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591541467411006130" border="0" /></a><br />We saw our first hummingbird this year on the first day of April. While it was visiting our feeder, another good source of sugar water (actually nectar) for it are the flowers of red buckeye (<span style="font-style: italic;">Aesculus pavia</span>) which are currently in bloom in our yard.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-64342536142259894012011-03-28T21:46:00.004-04:002011-03-28T22:02:58.230-04:00Halberdleaf yellow violet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfWVB1j1nhjC4QLRNizDMnABsnImeTa-SAbyhgbHK9QEg0rZGkUoa4rocMm5rrSWhc5vdRjnju6mOvtdRQYybt0IU69uHitGOEARDyZX3wEHE102gL9FggjP9bwx6Y6QpuSgi-76iL98/s1600/Viola+hastata.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfWVB1j1nhjC4QLRNizDMnABsnImeTa-SAbyhgbHK9QEg0rZGkUoa4rocMm5rrSWhc5vdRjnju6mOvtdRQYybt0IU69uHitGOEARDyZX3wEHE102gL9FggjP9bwx6Y6QpuSgi-76iL98/s400/Viola+hastata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589315710333988338" border="0" /></a>An early spring wildflower in deciduous forests of the eastern United States is halberdleaf yellow violet (<span style="font-style: italic;">Viola hastata</span>). Look for its arrowhead-shaped leaves (the upper surfaces typically mottled with silvery blotches) clustered towards the stem tip and bright yellow flowers. When two or more species of violets occur in close proximity, it's not unusual for hybrids to form. Because hybrids have traits of both parental species, identification to species can be difficult.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-46049933889768409512011-03-27T17:18:00.006-04:002011-03-27T17:37:42.783-04:00Bloodroot in fruit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9SJRQK1rb1kdMq5NfXBR_JbyMOipOyGNH78Kdbg0AusX3L_GTujJ5VXjI1j6dqR08IJ-AWBhsfnTbQEE_yQOg0Tb2jJKpvSM-8Dr0cv7hmZjmanv3AQBe1gWnVInqL054WFI1LUIqYE/s1600/Sanguinaria+canadensis+fruitJPG.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9SJRQK1rb1kdMq5NfXBR_JbyMOipOyGNH78Kdbg0AusX3L_GTujJ5VXjI1j6dqR08IJ-AWBhsfnTbQEE_yQOg0Tb2jJKpvSM-8Dr0cv7hmZjmanv3AQBe1gWnVInqL054WFI1LUIqYE/s400/Sanguinaria+canadensis+fruitJPG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588875943655132946" border="0" /></a>Already, bloodroot (<span style="font-style: italic;">Sanguinaria canadensis</span>) is going to fruit here in the piedmont of South Carolina. Most bloodroot flowers successfully mature fruit because if cross-pollination fails to occur, the flowers can self-pollinate. Once the fruit (an elongate green capsule) matures, the ripe seeds are usually quickly carried off by ants which utilize a lipid-rich food body attached to the seed and drop the seeds unharmed, usually near their nests. So, when you see bloodroot, think too of the ants, which play a key role in dispersing the seeds of this plant.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-9772221651957699852011-03-17T19:53:00.004-04:002011-03-27T17:41:18.957-04:00Mocha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvVofzwO6DF8xy2KTxH4uWfjewb1BRKzvkHyQ2bNFbbBLc1b2MOGT7V4RDPtOwYGpIDH_WysikdcD3jxDDsV2aIRm5yYo8DlVn93c-7L-9CoAnrVgKCmwhy8mJtD6VDLnHPg2mOuL-SQ/s1600/Mocha+patiently+waiting+during+photo+session.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvVofzwO6DF8xy2KTxH4uWfjewb1BRKzvkHyQ2bNFbbBLc1b2MOGT7V4RDPtOwYGpIDH_WysikdcD3jxDDsV2aIRm5yYo8DlVn93c-7L-9CoAnrVgKCmwhy8mJtD6VDLnHPg2mOuL-SQ/s400/Mocha+patiently+waiting+during+photo+session.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585203214344409890" border="0" /></a>We lost our beloved dog Mocha this week to a sudden and serious illness (he was nearly 11). He had accompanied us on many a wildflower foray in the woods, often waiting patiently while I snapped photos of plants in bloom. He once scared off a bear coming around a trail very close to where we were perched. And, on hot summer days, he was always on the alert for a stream to get a drink and soak in. He'll be missed greatly!Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-75987144720517092382011-03-12T21:25:00.003-05:002011-03-27T17:42:46.152-04:00Tag alder in flower<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm42vdAK607bul9llXupF4QsT9tbntvEJTpQQvUzUlLOx4_IPqLStokE6xO_qrIzvXtgDX5jcJlmzWHErsmlwMCjfIl2yT-WHoCNsAS4MSB-Zl6r3c0K9P3BxCBKYKLDmM0PPJzpxEqFs/s1600/Alnus+serrulata.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm42vdAK607bul9llXupF4QsT9tbntvEJTpQQvUzUlLOx4_IPqLStokE6xO_qrIzvXtgDX5jcJlmzWHErsmlwMCjfIl2yT-WHoCNsAS4MSB-Zl6r3c0K9P3BxCBKYKLDmM0PPJzpxEqFs/s400/Alnus+serrulata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583388833258275122" border="0" /></a>Another late winter flowering shrub is Tag alder (<span style="font-style: italic;">Alnus serrulata</span>). This wind-pollinated plant produces long narrow male catkins that release enormous amounts of pollen from March to April, depending on elevation and latitude. The attached photo shows both a male (pollen producing) catkin and several female catkins with tiny red hair-like structures (the stigmas) whose function is to catch wind-blown pollen. If all goes well, the female catkins eventually mature ripe seeds within small cone-like structures.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-35176550588767183912011-03-12T21:03:00.004-05:002011-03-27T17:43:41.934-04:00Spicebush in flower<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jPrls-rW268yZwx6fcjr5Jrv85rWz252cLV-dLks2ISyhB3ZsYXlk36eHHAWfaOSfqrDwl02Dh6aLnQNjfqiBTCacP0ZH9_nhxWpU2eRH1TXerN2aVKCPNHDHuiJHQXdkLTj9AyQLgo/s1600/Lindera+benzoin-2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jPrls-rW268yZwx6fcjr5Jrv85rWz252cLV-dLks2ISyhB3ZsYXlk36eHHAWfaOSfqrDwl02Dh6aLnQNjfqiBTCacP0ZH9_nhxWpU2eRH1TXerN2aVKCPNHDHuiJHQXdkLTj9AyQLgo/s400/Lindera+benzoin-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583383907160804546" border="0" /></a>One of the first shrubs to flower in spring is Spicebush (<span style="font-style: italic;">Lindera benzoin</span>). It produces tiny yellow flowers in clusters that are visited and potentially pollinated by flies and small bees. Because plants have either male or female flowers, the species is considered to be dioecious. Look for this widespread shrub in moist forests and bottomlands in the eastern United States .Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-25921646637007191472011-03-08T19:42:00.005-05:002011-03-08T20:10:34.820-05:00Bloodroot in bloomToday I saw my first bloodroot (<span style="font-style: italic;">Sanguinaria canadensis</span>) of the year. It was a cool, somewhat cloudy morning so the large white flowers were slow to open fully. This ti<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lCiZzR9aiRW8I81h_5oFsfqyjuWsn3Wbuydn1pbH2muXyY8E5jkZIhxdFY0NRRXkpMlwolFRwoGgwJvHXsTecSiJWZrtD-aPlBniEtkBv2Hd9NfjJQVZrkSp50EXgcj-f1Qq1wyk2Tg/s1600/Sanguinaria+canadensis.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lCiZzR9aiRW8I81h_5oFsfqyjuWsn3Wbuydn1pbH2muXyY8E5jkZIhxdFY0NRRXkpMlwolFRwoGgwJvHXsTecSiJWZrtD-aPlBniEtkBv2Hd9NfjJQVZrkSp50EXgcj-f1Qq1wyk2Tg/s400/Sanguinaria+canadensis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581878208329677442" border="0" /></a>me of year the lobed leaf at the base of each flower stalk has a vertical orientation whereas in summer the leaf gets even larger and has a horizontal orientation (to better capture light under a leafy canopy). Bees and flies occasionally visit the nectarless flowers for pollen, and in the process, may function as pollinators.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-21855992429295962852011-03-07T20:44:00.003-05:002011-03-07T21:02:33.717-05:00Round-lobed Hepatica<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7qOND23kNIKGWxN6zYhnDm4SolVTNfrJoHVxUt40uAxPcULThAW4FAOIxulA2mm8KlzVR8muN1uCmJ7ZcpFxVrhqRMSFHFSErq4Szo835d3TsU7PXybssWnYZmqKne8S7O_v_M7FLUM/s1600/Hepatica+americana+flower3.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7qOND23kNIKGWxN6zYhnDm4SolVTNfrJoHVxUt40uAxPcULThAW4FAOIxulA2mm8KlzVR8muN1uCmJ7ZcpFxVrhqRMSFHFSErq4Szo835d3TsU7PXybssWnYZmqKne8S7O_v_M7FLUM/s400/Hepatica+americana+flower3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581523438049577122" border="0" /></a><br />I saw my first <span style="font-style: italic;">Hepatica</span> of the season today at the State Botanical Garden in Clemson, South Carolina. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hepatica</span> is one of the very first woodland herbs to bloom in "spring" (or in this case, late winter) and it's always a treat to see.<br /><br />The genus <span style="font-style: italic;">Hepatica</span> is native to eastern North America, Europe, and Asia so I like to think that plant enthusiasts on all three continents are excited to see this early blooming species with its lovely flowers.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-10529824020984602572011-03-07T20:11:00.005-05:002011-03-07T20:43:41.714-05:00Dimpled Trout LilyToday I found Trout lily (<span style="font-style: italic;">Erythronium umbilicatum</span>) in full bloom near Clemson, South Carolina. It's both one of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring and one of the most beautiful with nodding yellow fl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFZPVLONVs-LUBt_lnRzYFK9kTsXPOznhG19N8TP9FinXZS_jtylo8PQwmBs02hGys6fVBSGngQq1l3y2lm5EflAHeG5NooefYUTKYIHByUn0pVhyphenhyphenySjBrlipa6dvNhUaXTJ4f54eVCI/s1600/Erythronium+umbilicatum.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFZPVLONVs-LUBt_lnRzYFK9kTsXPOznhG19N8TP9FinXZS_jtylo8PQwmBs02hGys6fVBSGngQq1l3y2lm5EflAHeG5NooefYUTKYIHByUn0pVhyphenhyphenySjBrlipa6dvNhUaXTJ4f54eVCI/s400/Erythronium+umbilicatum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581518380850958578" border="0" /></a>owers that close up tight at night and gradually open the next morning. On warmer days, look for bumblebees visiting the nectar-rich flowers.<br /><br />Trout lily is a classic example of a spring ephemeral. It emerges from an underground bulb as the soil begins to warm in late winter and dies back in spring as the canopy trees leaf out (thereby shading the forest floor). In a matter of just a few weeks it emerges, leafs out, flowers, sets fruit, and matures seeds. The rest of the year (10+ months) it persists underground as a dormant bulb. So, enjoy this plant while you can as it will soon retreat to its underground refuge.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-64981002162098472352010-04-15T20:59:00.003-04:002010-04-15T21:18:18.273-04:00Coral honeysuckle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBsLmYL7Mhd93MegsgXpFi76ge1vW6tzZrBe6fPRd4fuDDJo0VI807FkubKs7E2XspYwNp1t9n3CCP8Y2ZWPvAtwYgGZUh97BCfVrE0X8Y9f1Ug_gVdNz4UQrHanu-4pRbAqYyu3yPrE/s1600/Lonicera+sempervirens_.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBsLmYL7Mhd93MegsgXpFi76ge1vW6tzZrBe6fPRd4fuDDJo0VI807FkubKs7E2XspYwNp1t9n3CCP8Y2ZWPvAtwYgGZUh97BCfVrE0X8Y9f1Ug_gVdNz4UQrHanu-4pRbAqYyu3yPrE/s400/Lonicera+sempervirens_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460538492759832626" border="0" /></a><br />The long trumpet-shaped red flowers of coral honeysuckle (<span style="font-style: italic;">Lonicera sempervirens</span>) really pop out at you! Both hummingbirds and butterflies visit the flowers for nectar and in so doing pollinate the flowers.<br /><br />Loosely scattered in the eastern United States, this native twining vine is not aggressive and weedy like the introduced Japanese honeysuckle (<span style="font-style: italic;">Lonicera japonica</span>).<br /><br />Fun to see out in the wild, it also makes a wonderful garden plant as it flowers prolifically in full sun, has a long blooming season, and tolerates dry soils.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-11187467217228389172010-04-11T20:21:00.004-04:002010-04-11T20:52:46.016-04:00Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK8cQEgeSu2yZyepa3iwbC4Re6aq0ut706Q7Ehs0W7b9JwsfVmjwUArCUDuHVGoK4-M6V_1w658J9evRs_MrDBuB9ZxFdqvnfd1gvFvDUzHAROKSP8I58NbWxNcfF3AeVWQGcEtVxmTE/s1600/Claytonia+virginica-2.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK8cQEgeSu2yZyepa3iwbC4Re6aq0ut706Q7Ehs0W7b9JwsfVmjwUArCUDuHVGoK4-M6V_1w658J9evRs_MrDBuB9ZxFdqvnfd1gvFvDUzHAROKSP8I58NbWxNcfF3AeVWQGcEtVxmTE/s400/Claytonia+virginica-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459046145541208466" border="0" /></a>This low growing perennial is a classic example of a spring ephemeral as it emerges in late winter, grows vegetatively, flowers, and produces seeds all within just a few weeks. The remaining weeks (about 48) each year it persists underground as a dormant plant.<br /><br />By emerging in late winter, spring beauty (<span style="font-style: italic;">Claytonia virginica</span>) is able to take advantage of the high light levels reaching the forest floor. Once the trees leaf out the forest becomes shaded, after which its ability to photosynthesize and grow is diminished, causing spring beauty to go dormant.<br /><br />Other spring ephemerals include trout lily (<span style="font-style: italic;">Erythronium</span> species) and Dutchman's britches (<span style="font-style: italic;">Dicentra cucullaria</span>).<br /><br />The conspicuous pink veins on spring beauty's flowers guide small bees and flies to the nectar at the base of each petal, increasing the likelihood of successful pollination.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span>Enjoy this plant when you come upon it because next time you visit it's likely to be gone, at least until next year.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6016770214044579022.post-42706025587341050052010-04-09T12:45:00.003-04:002010-04-09T13:04:11.950-04:00Yellow buckeye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDgBJJO4rRi0Tl1HJztWqIZuTdsQQ8OJPf3zt7s5VF8BUm9HNlAu5Qc64IbR3yWMrbRmD8rlzvhGfKO6LvSd2CdbenPZqNa1wobZRs1aFGzx0Aqk5TFScQnhE9X1z91PhL_eq6utb7DY/s1600/Aesculus+flava-7.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDgBJJO4rRi0Tl1HJztWqIZuTdsQQ8OJPf3zt7s5VF8BUm9HNlAu5Qc64IbR3yWMrbRmD8rlzvhGfKO6LvSd2CdbenPZqNa1wobZRs1aFGzx0Aqk5TFScQnhE9X1z91PhL_eq6utb7DY/s400/Aesculus+flava-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458183421813246226" border="0" /></a>Yellow buckeye (<span style="font-style: italic;">Aesculus flava</span>) is beginning to bloom, at least at lower elevations in the southern Appalachians. In rich cove forests and northern hardwood forests at higher elevations, flowering is probably a couple of weeks or more away.<br /><br />This medium to large tree has palmately compound leaves and yellow tubular flowers that are actively visited by bumblebees and occasionally by hummingbirds, both of which function as pollinators.<br /><br />While the flower clusters (inflorescences) typically have numerous flowers, relatively few mature fruit. Two main factors limit fruit set -- the unusually large fruits are energetically expensive to produce and most flowers within an inflorescence are staminate (only produce pollen).<br /><br />Buckeyes make attractive landscape plants. Once established they can tolerate relatively dry conditions due to a deep taproot.<br /><br />The unusually large seeds are considered a good luck charm.Tim Spirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04040140475323577511noreply@blogger.com1