However, the walk was not totally worthless, I did find three preying mantids. I watched each of these fly in front of me and land awkwardly on plant stalks.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Mantids!
The Monarch Butterfly Celebration is this Saturday and I have zero Monarchs right now, despite hours of searching for caterpillars. This morning, a short walk through the field behind the Conservation District office once again left me empty-handed.
However, the walk was not totally worthless, I did find three preying mantids. I watched each of these fly in front of me and land awkwardly on plant stalks.
However, the walk was not totally worthless, I did find three preying mantids. I watched each of these fly in front of me and land awkwardly on plant stalks.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Wildflowers of 2016 - #238 through #244
My initial goal when I started my Wildflowers of 2016 list was to match my total number of species from my 2014 list. Last Thursday (01 September), I reached that goal and sped on past. Now my goal is to reach 250 species before the end of the growing season. Here are the rules that
I gave myself for this self-imposed challenge.
Without further ado...
Wildflowers of 2016 - #238 Common Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
On Thursday 01 September 2016, I went to Mission Creek Woodland Park to search for some of the late summer/fall wildflowers that should be starting to bloom. Because of its varied woodland and wetland habitats, Mission Creek has been a reliable source of wildflowers for years. Once again, it did not disappoint. Less than a minute down the trail, I found my first new species of the day - Common Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium). With this species, I matched my 2014 total.
This species may be confused with Arrow-leaved Aster (S. urophyllum), which is also found at Mission Creek Park, but the two can be separated by differences in their leaves and flowers. The leaves of Common Heart-leaved Aster are more typically heart-shaped than those of Arrow-leaved Aster with a deeper notch (sinus) at the base of the leaf. The margins of the leaves are more coarsely toothed than those of the S. urophyllum, and the leaf petiole (stem) either lacks wings or has narrow wings (unlike the wide wings of S. urophyllum). The leaves of Common Heart-leaved Aster measure 1.5 to 6 inches long.
The flowers of Common Heart-leaved Aster measure 1/2 to 1 inch across with a central disc surrounded by 8 to 20 rays. The rays are typically blue or rarely white. The flowers grow in branching panicles that rise above the leaves - these panicles are usually wider than those of Arrow-leaved Aster. Common Heart-leaved Aster is also sometimes known as Blue Wood Aster.
This species is found in dry wooded habitats throughout the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Nationally, it is found as far west as eastern South Dakota and south to the Florida Panhandle.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #239 Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum laterifolium)
My second flower of the day was another aster - Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum laterifolium). In terms of habitat, this species is more adaptive than the Common Heart-leaved Aster. It can be found in both wet and dry soils throughout the eastern half of North America. It typically grows in shaded habitats rather than open places. Calico Aster plants can reach a height of 1 to 4 feet.
This flower is also known as the Side-flowering Aster - lateriflorum means "side-flowering". The plant's flowers grow on short stems on widely branching panicles. The panicle's branches are roughly perpendicular to the plant's main stalk. Individual flowers of the Calico Aster are small, measuring about 1/3 inch across. They consist of a central disc that starts out yellow and fades to shades of purple as it ages. The disc is surrounded by 9 to 14 short white rays. The small number of rays on each flowerhead is what distinguishes this species from similar species with small flowers such as Frost Aster (S. pilosum) and Heath Aster (S. ericoides).
Wildflowers of 2016 - #240 Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)
My third flower of the day was yet another aster - Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum). This species, also known as Bristly Aster, is a more northern species than those already described. While it can be found as far south as central Georgia it is also found as far north as Nunavut. In Michigan, it has been recorded in counties throughout the state. Swamp Aster is considered an obligate wetland species - meaning it is found almost entirely in wet habitats such as swamps, wet meadows, floodplains, and shorelines. It rarely is found in dry upland locations.
Swamp Aster plants reach heights of 1 to 8 feet tall. The plant's leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaves are oval or elliptical, with shallowly tooted or smooth margins, and measure up to 6 inches long. The main stalk of Swamp Aster plants is thick, usually reddish colored, and covered with bristly hairs. A similar species lacks these hairs and is known as Smooth Swamp Aster (S. firmum).
The flowers of Swamp Aster are arranged in a panicle (branched cluster) at the top of the plant. Individual flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch across. The flowers are composed of a central yellow disc surrounded by 30 to 60 rays (petals). The rays are normally blue or purple, but may occasionally be white.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #241 Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Fall doesn't just mean aster, it also is the season for goldenrods. Probably my favorite goldenrod species is the Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) - I have it planted in the flowerbeds next to my front steps.
Zigzag Goldenrod is one of several goldenrod species that grows in wooded areas instead of open habitats. It can be identified by its wide leaves and flowers that grow from the leaf axils of its zigzagging stem. For more information on Zigzag Goldenrod please look at this species profile that I wrote in January 2014.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #242 Beech-drops (Epifagus virginiana)
Species #242 is one of a small group of plants that lacks chlorophyll - these means that it cannot use sunlight to manufacture its own food. Instead, Beech-drops (Epifagus virginiana) is a parasite, stealing sugars from the roots of American Beech trees. If you find American Beech trees in a forest there are likely to be Beech-drops present also. Conversely, if there are no Beech trees you not find any Beech-drops. The plant has no other hosts.
Beech-drops plants lack leaves. It's stalks grow up to 20 inches tall. The stalks often branch near the base. The plant's flowers are arranged in a raceme or unbranched spike at the end of each branch. The flowers are 1/4 to 3/8 inches long and shaped like an elongated tube. The flowers can be found in late summer and fall and vary in color from cream or ivory to brown or purplish-red. The flowers are often striped.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #243 Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
I was not expecting to find my next flower, but it was not a complete surprise. In more than a decade of recording the flowers in Mt. Pleasant's parks system I have never found a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) growing wild until 2014.
That year, I found one bloom at the base of the sledding hill at Mission Creek surrounded by Spotted Joe-pye Weed, Boneset, and Goldenrods. I suspect that this plant was the result either of a seed being dropped by a bird, or it was contained in fill dirt that was used to extend the sledding hill in recent years. Even though this plant is commonly planted in gardens and prairie restorations, it is probably not native to Michigan. I did not find this species last year. This year I found two plants.
Purple Coneflower is easily identifiable by its cone-shaped central disc surrounded by drooping purple ray flowers (petals). The flowerheads may be between 2 and 4 inches across. Individual plants may grow to a height of 4 feet. The plant's leaves are up to 6 inches long and three inches wide. They may be arranged either in opposite pairs or alternately along the stem.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #244 Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
My final flower of the day was one that did not appear on my Wildflowers of 2014 list, but I have found it in other years. Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia), is quite similar to Zigzag Goldenrod. Like that species, it grows in shaded locations. It also has stems that zigzag and flowers that grow in the leaf axils. One major difference is that the stems of Blue-stemmed Goldenrod have a definite bluish tint.
Bluestem Goldenrod is found throughout the eastern United States, from a line running from southeast Wisconsin to east Texas east to the Atlantic Coast. In Michigan, it has been recorded mainly in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula and in the counties up the Lake Michigan shoreline. I found this plant growing along the trail at the very south end of Mission Creek Park.
- Any native or non-native plant (including trees) can be photographed if it meets two conditions
- It must be growing in a wild population - it cannot be in a location where it was planted.
- It must be growing in one of the parks or other city properties within the city of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
- I have to photograph the plant on the day I first find the flower - but I can photograph any flower of the species that I find on that day.
- I have to be able to identify the species for it to count - unknown specimens do not count.
Without further ado...
Wildflowers of 2016 - #238 Common Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
On Thursday 01 September 2016, I went to Mission Creek Woodland Park to search for some of the late summer/fall wildflowers that should be starting to bloom. Because of its varied woodland and wetland habitats, Mission Creek has been a reliable source of wildflowers for years. Once again, it did not disappoint. Less than a minute down the trail, I found my first new species of the day - Common Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium). With this species, I matched my 2014 total.
 |
| Common Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) |
This species may be confused with Arrow-leaved Aster (S. urophyllum), which is also found at Mission Creek Park, but the two can be separated by differences in their leaves and flowers. The leaves of Common Heart-leaved Aster are more typically heart-shaped than those of Arrow-leaved Aster with a deeper notch (sinus) at the base of the leaf. The margins of the leaves are more coarsely toothed than those of the S. urophyllum, and the leaf petiole (stem) either lacks wings or has narrow wings (unlike the wide wings of S. urophyllum). The leaves of Common Heart-leaved Aster measure 1.5 to 6 inches long.
 |
| Common Heart-leaved Aster - note namesake heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins |
The flowers of Common Heart-leaved Aster measure 1/2 to 1 inch across with a central disc surrounded by 8 to 20 rays. The rays are typically blue or rarely white. The flowers grow in branching panicles that rise above the leaves - these panicles are usually wider than those of Arrow-leaved Aster. Common Heart-leaved Aster is also sometimes known as Blue Wood Aster.
 |
| Common Heart-shaped Aster flowers are pale blue or white with 8 to 20 rays (petals) |
This species is found in dry wooded habitats throughout the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Nationally, it is found as far west as eastern South Dakota and south to the Florida Panhandle.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #239 Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum laterifolium)
 |
| Calico Aster - note how flowers grow on lateral branches |
My second flower of the day was another aster - Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum laterifolium). In terms of habitat, this species is more adaptive than the Common Heart-leaved Aster. It can be found in both wet and dry soils throughout the eastern half of North America. It typically grows in shaded habitats rather than open places. Calico Aster plants can reach a height of 1 to 4 feet.
 |
| Calico Aster - note hairy stem |
This flower is also known as the Side-flowering Aster - lateriflorum means "side-flowering". The plant's flowers grow on short stems on widely branching panicles. The panicle's branches are roughly perpendicular to the plant's main stalk. Individual flowers of the Calico Aster are small, measuring about 1/3 inch across. They consist of a central disc that starts out yellow and fades to shades of purple as it ages. The disc is surrounded by 9 to 14 short white rays. The small number of rays on each flowerhead is what distinguishes this species from similar species with small flowers such as Frost Aster (S. pilosum) and Heath Aster (S. ericoides).
 |
| Calico Aster - a closer view of the flowers, note relatively small number of rays (petals) |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #240 Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)
My third flower of the day was yet another aster - Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum). This species, also known as Bristly Aster, is a more northern species than those already described. While it can be found as far south as central Georgia it is also found as far north as Nunavut. In Michigan, it has been recorded in counties throughout the state. Swamp Aster is considered an obligate wetland species - meaning it is found almost entirely in wet habitats such as swamps, wet meadows, floodplains, and shorelines. It rarely is found in dry upland locations.
 |
| Swamp Aster in a cedar swamp at Mission Creek |
Swamp Aster plants reach heights of 1 to 8 feet tall. The plant's leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaves are oval or elliptical, with shallowly tooted or smooth margins, and measure up to 6 inches long. The main stalk of Swamp Aster plants is thick, usually reddish colored, and covered with bristly hairs. A similar species lacks these hairs and is known as Smooth Swamp Aster (S. firmum).
 |
| Swamp Aster - a closer view of the flowers |
The flowers of Swamp Aster are arranged in a panicle (branched cluster) at the top of the plant. Individual flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch across. The flowers are composed of a central yellow disc surrounded by 30 to 60 rays (petals). The rays are normally blue or purple, but may occasionally be white.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #241 Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Fall doesn't just mean aster, it also is the season for goldenrods. Probably my favorite goldenrod species is the Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) - I have it planted in the flowerbeds next to my front steps.
 |
| Zigzag Goldenrod often grows in large colonies |
Zigzag Goldenrod is one of several goldenrod species that grows in wooded areas instead of open habitats. It can be identified by its wide leaves and flowers that grow from the leaf axils of its zigzagging stem. For more information on Zigzag Goldenrod please look at this species profile that I wrote in January 2014.
 |
| Zigzag Goldenrod - note zigzagging stem and flowers growing in leaf axils |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #242 Beech-drops (Epifagus virginiana)
Species #242 is one of a small group of plants that lacks chlorophyll - these means that it cannot use sunlight to manufacture its own food. Instead, Beech-drops (Epifagus virginiana) is a parasite, stealing sugars from the roots of American Beech trees. If you find American Beech trees in a forest there are likely to be Beech-drops present also. Conversely, if there are no Beech trees you not find any Beech-drops. The plant has no other hosts.
 |
| Beech-drops lack chlorophyll and have no leaves. They are parasites of the American Beech. |
Beech-drops plants lack leaves. It's stalks grow up to 20 inches tall. The stalks often branch near the base. The plant's flowers are arranged in a raceme or unbranched spike at the end of each branch. The flowers are 1/4 to 3/8 inches long and shaped like an elongated tube. The flowers can be found in late summer and fall and vary in color from cream or ivory to brown or purplish-red. The flowers are often striped.
 |
| Beech-drops - a closer view of the flowers |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #243 Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
I was not expecting to find my next flower, but it was not a complete surprise. In more than a decade of recording the flowers in Mt. Pleasant's parks system I have never found a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) growing wild until 2014.
 |
| A pair of Purple Coneflowers at the base of the Mission Creek sledding hill |
That year, I found one bloom at the base of the sledding hill at Mission Creek surrounded by Spotted Joe-pye Weed, Boneset, and Goldenrods. I suspect that this plant was the result either of a seed being dropped by a bird, or it was contained in fill dirt that was used to extend the sledding hill in recent years. Even though this plant is commonly planted in gardens and prairie restorations, it is probably not native to Michigan. I did not find this species last year. This year I found two plants.
Purple Coneflower is easily identifiable by its cone-shaped central disc surrounded by drooping purple ray flowers (petals). The flowerheads may be between 2 and 4 inches across. Individual plants may grow to a height of 4 feet. The plant's leaves are up to 6 inches long and three inches wide. They may be arranged either in opposite pairs or alternately along the stem.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #244 Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
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| Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) |
My final flower of the day was one that did not appear on my Wildflowers of 2014 list, but I have found it in other years. Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia), is quite similar to Zigzag Goldenrod. Like that species, it grows in shaded locations. It also has stems that zigzag and flowers that grow in the leaf axils. One major difference is that the stems of Blue-stemmed Goldenrod have a definite bluish tint.
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| Bluestem Goldenrod - note bluish stem |
Bluestem Goldenrod is found throughout the eastern United States, from a line running from southeast Wisconsin to east Texas east to the Atlantic Coast. In Michigan, it has been recorded mainly in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula and in the counties up the Lake Michigan shoreline. I found this plant growing along the trail at the very south end of Mission Creek Park.
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| Bluestem Goldenrod - note how flowers grow in leaf axils |
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
A New Project - The Alphabet
I am starting a new project - an alphabet based on the trees and other plants of Mid-Michigan. Once I have the full series complete, I will make it available to teachers in Isabella County (as well as others who are interested).
Here is one of the first pages that I have completed.
Here is one of the first pages that I have completed.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Wildflowers of 2016 - #235 through #237
Earlier this week I made two trips to different areas of Mill Pond Park to collect leaves and photograph wildflowers. One Monday (29 August) I found two new species for my 2016 list and on Tuesday (30 August) I added one additional species, bringing my year's total to two hundred thirty-seven species.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #235 Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
My first flower was growing along the edge of the Chippewa River near the Leaton St. parking lot. Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) did not appear on my 2014 list - I am pretty sure that I saw these plants in 2014, but misidentified them as Pale-leaved Sunflower (H. strumosus).
Misidentifying sunflowers is not difficult to do. Both of these species grow tall (3 to 8+ ft.). Both species have many composite flower heads composed of a yellow disc surrounded by rays - 8 to 15 for the Rough-leaves Sunflower, 10 to 20 for the Jerusalem Artichoke. The flowers of Rough-leaved Sunflower measure 1.25 to 4 inches across; Jerusalem Artichoke flowers measure 2 to 3.5 inches across.
Both Rough-leaved Sunflower and Jerusalem Artichoke have large leaves (4 to 10 inches long) with rough surfaces and toothed margins. They differ in the fact that Rough-leaves Sunflower leaves are either stalkless or have very short stalks. Jerusalem Artichoke leaves have stalks up to 3 inches long. Another critical difference between the two plants is that the stalks of Rough-leaved Sunflower are smooth, while this plant had hairy stalks (a characteristic of Jerusalem Artichoke).
Jeusalem Artichoke prefers wet soils found in floodplains and riverbanks, but can survive in drier soils. It is often cultivated for its edible starchy roots, and escapes cultivation. In Michigan it has mainly been recorded in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula and the western UP. It has a wide national distribution (45 states plus seven Canadian provinces), but is most common in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #236 Purplestem Beggar-ticks (Bidens connata)
Purplestem Beggar-ticks (Bidens connata) can be found throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada as far south as Alabama and Georgia and as far west as central Nebraska. It has been recorded in all but nine of Michigan's counties. Purplestem Beggar-ticks are normally found in wetland habitats such as shorelines, swamps, wet meadows, marshes, etc..
Purplestem Beggar-ticks can grow to heights of greater than 3 feet. Their stems can be either purple (as the name suggests) or green. Leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The leaves are sharply pointed, have toothed margins, and can be as long as 8 inches.
The plant's flowers are arranged in groups of 1 to 3 at the ends of the stems. The flowers are yellow-green and composed of a central disc that usually lacks rays (petals). If rays are present they are small and few in number. These ray-less flower are 1/4 to 3/4 inches across. After these flowers are pollinated, they will develop seeds with four spikes growing off of one end. These spikes stick the fur or feathers of animals that come in contact with them, pulling the seeds free from the flowerhead and dispersing them away from the parent plant.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #237 False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens)
My only find of Tuesday 30 August was a new species that did not appear on my Wildflowers of 2014 list. False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens) is a native species that is found throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada. In Michigan, it has been recorded in thirty-eight counties in the Lower Peninsula and in Gogebic County in the far western UP. This species is sometimes listed as Polygonum scandens. I am using Fallopia scandens because that is how Michigan Flora lists it.
False Buckwheat grows as a climbing or trailing vine up to 20 feet long. It has heart-shaped or oval leaves that grow up to 5 inches long and are arranged alternately along the vine. False Buckwheat flowers are small (less than 1/4 inch), have five petals, and are arranged on racemes (elongated clusters) that rise vertically from leaf axils. Once pollinated, the flowers are replaced by winged fruit.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #235 Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
My first flower was growing along the edge of the Chippewa River near the Leaton St. parking lot. Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) did not appear on my 2014 list - I am pretty sure that I saw these plants in 2014, but misidentified them as Pale-leaved Sunflower (H. strumosus).
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| Jerusalem Artichoke growing along the Chippewa River at Mill Pond Park |
Misidentifying sunflowers is not difficult to do. Both of these species grow tall (3 to 8+ ft.). Both species have many composite flower heads composed of a yellow disc surrounded by rays - 8 to 15 for the Rough-leaves Sunflower, 10 to 20 for the Jerusalem Artichoke. The flowers of Rough-leaved Sunflower measure 1.25 to 4 inches across; Jerusalem Artichoke flowers measure 2 to 3.5 inches across.
 |
| Jerusalem Artichoke flowers have a central disc surrounded by 10 to 20 yellow rays |
Both Rough-leaved Sunflower and Jerusalem Artichoke have large leaves (4 to 10 inches long) with rough surfaces and toothed margins. They differ in the fact that Rough-leaves Sunflower leaves are either stalkless or have very short stalks. Jerusalem Artichoke leaves have stalks up to 3 inches long. Another critical difference between the two plants is that the stalks of Rough-leaved Sunflower are smooth, while this plant had hairy stalks (a characteristic of Jerusalem Artichoke).
 |
| Jerusalem Artichoke - note large stalked leaves and hairy stem |
Jeusalem Artichoke prefers wet soils found in floodplains and riverbanks, but can survive in drier soils. It is often cultivated for its edible starchy roots, and escapes cultivation. In Michigan it has mainly been recorded in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula and the western UP. It has a wide national distribution (45 states plus seven Canadian provinces), but is most common in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #236 Purplestem Beggar-ticks (Bidens connata)
Purplestem Beggar-ticks (Bidens connata) can be found throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada as far south as Alabama and Georgia and as far west as central Nebraska. It has been recorded in all but nine of Michigan's counties. Purplestem Beggar-ticks are normally found in wetland habitats such as shorelines, swamps, wet meadows, marshes, etc..
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| Purplestem Beggar-ticks surrounded by other wetland species |
Purplestem Beggar-ticks can grow to heights of greater than 3 feet. Their stems can be either purple (as the name suggests) or green. Leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The leaves are sharply pointed, have toothed margins, and can be as long as 8 inches.
The plant's flowers are arranged in groups of 1 to 3 at the ends of the stems. The flowers are yellow-green and composed of a central disc that usually lacks rays (petals). If rays are present they are small and few in number. These ray-less flower are 1/4 to 3/4 inches across. After these flowers are pollinated, they will develop seeds with four spikes growing off of one end. These spikes stick the fur or feathers of animals that come in contact with them, pulling the seeds free from the flowerhead and dispersing them away from the parent plant.
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| Purplestem Beggar-tick flowers are composed of a central disc (usually) lacking rays |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #237 False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens)
My only find of Tuesday 30 August was a new species that did not appear on my Wildflowers of 2014 list. False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens) is a native species that is found throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada. In Michigan, it has been recorded in thirty-eight counties in the Lower Peninsula and in Gogebic County in the far western UP. This species is sometimes listed as Polygonum scandens. I am using Fallopia scandens because that is how Michigan Flora lists it.
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| False Buckwheat - note twining vines and heart-shaped leaves |
False Buckwheat grows as a climbing or trailing vine up to 20 feet long. It has heart-shaped or oval leaves that grow up to 5 inches long and are arranged alternately along the vine. False Buckwheat flowers are small (less than 1/4 inch), have five petals, and are arranged on racemes (elongated clusters) that rise vertically from leaf axils. Once pollinated, the flowers are replaced by winged fruit.
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| False Buckwheat - note small white flowers and winged fruits |
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Upcoming Event - Monarch Butterfly Celebration (Saturday 17 September 2016)
Join me on Saturday September 17th from 1:00PM to 4:00PM for the annual Monarch Butterfly Celebration at the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways. The Ziibiwing Center is located at 6650 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant.
As always, I will have information about ways to help Monarchs (and other pollinators) and free posters at this event. I hope to have butterflies to tag and release at the event - unfortunately I am not having much luck finding caterpillars this year.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Wildflowers of 2016 - #226 through #234
Last Thursday (25 August) I stopped at Island Park and Mill Pond Park to search for wildflowers. I found three new species at Island Park and an additional six species at Mill Pond Park to bring my 2016 total to two hundred thirty-four species. This leaves me only four species away from equaling my 2014 total and gives me a real shot at finding two hundred fifty species before the end of the growing season.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #226 Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
I found my first species of the day growing on the southwest corner of Island Park - Turtlehead (Chelone glabra). This is the first time that I have ever found Turtlehead growing in this location. This wetland species can be found in both sun and shade conditions throughout Michigan and the eastern half of North America. Three other, less common, Turtlehead species can also be found in eastern North America.
For more information on this species, please see this species profile from August 2013.
One really cool fact about the Turtlehead is that they are pollinated mainly by bumblebees. These two photos show a bumblebee forcing open a flower and crawling inside.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #227 Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
My second species of the day was the Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
Panicled Aster is one of many twenty-nine white- or blue-flowered native Aster species that can be found in Michigan. These species used to all be lumped under the genus Aster - Panicled Aster was formerly Aster lanceolatus. In recent years, the species have been divided into six genera, with the majority (including Panicled Aster) being lumped into the genus Sympyotrichum. What makes Aster identification even more confusing is the fact that many species can hybridize.
Panicled Aster does have some characteristics that can be used to differentiate it from other Aster species. It has narrow oval, elliptical, or linear leaves. The leaves may be 3 to 6 inches long. The leaves taper to a point at both ends.
The plant's flowers are arranged in a panicle (as its name suggests) at the top of the plant central stem. This panicle (branched cluster) can be up to 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. Smaller panicles often grow from leaf axils and from smaller stems that branch off of the plant's main stem. Its flowers are 3/4 to 1 inch across, with a yellow disc surrounded by 20 to 40 blue, purple, or white rays.
Another factor that can help distinguish Panicled Aster from other similar species is its habitat preference. It is mostly found in wet habitats such as floodplains, wets woods, and the borders of swamps. Panicled Aster is found across the Lower Forty-eight states and much of Canada. From county records on the USDA Plants database it appears to be most common in the Great Lakes and Northeast.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #228 Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris)
My third species of the day was one that did not appear on my Wildflowers of 2014 list. Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris) is a weedy native of Europe that has naturalized across almost all of North America. It has been recorded in every state, with the exception of Hawaii, and every Canadian province except Nunavut. In Michigan it has been recorded in 65 of 83 counties.
Butter-and-eggs prefers dry habitats and is commonly found along roadsides, in fields, and other disturbed habitats. It is usually crowded out by thick vegetation.
Butter-and-eggs is named for the color of its tubular flowers. The flowers are primarily pale yellow, with a dark yellow/orange lip. These flowers measure between 3/4 and 1 1/4 inches long. The plant's grey-green leaves are narrow, measure up to 2 1/2 inches long, and are arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. Plants grow to a height of 1 to 4 feet.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #229 Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
After leaving Island Park, I went to Mill Pond Park where I photographed the next six species.
My fourth flower of the day and the first at Mill Pond Park was Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia). This non-descript plant with its spikes of small greenish flowers is responsible for many seasonal allergies. Also known as Annual Ragweed, this plant can be found across most of North America both as a native and an introduced species. It has been recorded in almost every county in Michigan. Common Ragweed grows in a variety of habitats including fields, roadsides, lawns, meadows, savannas, and woodland edges. It is more common in dry soils than in wet ones.
Common Ragweed plants grow to a height of up to 36 inches, but they are rarely noticed because of their small flowers. The flowers grow on elongated spikes at the top of the plant. The petals measure only 1/4 inch across and lack petals. The flowers are green but turn yellowish-green to brown after pollination. The plant does not need to be showy because it relies on the wind for pollination rather than insects. The leaves of Common Ragweed are deeply lobed, oval, or elliptical and arranged both as opposite pairs (lower) and alternately (upper).
Wildflowers of 2016 - #230 Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
Growing near the Ragweed, I found my next species - Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana). This plant is also known as Virginia Knotweed. Sometimes listed as Polygonum virginianum, it is native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Mid-Michigan is at the northern edge of its range.
Jumpseed plants grow from 1 to 4 feet tall, with the majority of the height being a flowering raceme (spike). The leaves of the plant are arranged alternately on the lower part of the plant. Individual leaves may be 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, oval shaped, with a pointed tip.
The flowers of Jumpseed are small (1/8 inch). The flowers are white or whitish-green (rarely pink) and have four pointed petals. There is normally only one flowering spike per plant but that spike may branch.
This plant is named Jumpseed because when ripe the plant's seeds may be propelled up to 10 feet away from the parent plant when disturbed. (Another plant that can propel its seeds is the Spotted Touch-me-not.)
Wildflowers of 2016 - #231 Nodding Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia)
My sixth species was another Persicaria - Nodding Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia). This plant is considered native to North America, but some populations are probably introduced from Europe, where is also a common weed species. It is found across the continental United States (no Alaska or Hawaii) and the lower tier of Canadian provinces/territories. It is not common in the Southeast and most populations there are probably introduced. The plant is typically found in wet soils.
There are fourteen Persicaria species that have been found in Michigan. Nodding Smartweed is easy to identify by its flower head. It is the only species that has a densely packed raceme (spike) of flowers that nod or droop downward. The majority of other Smartweed species have erect flower racemes. The flowerhead can be 2 to 8 inches long, but the individual flower are only about 1/8 inch long. The flowers have 5 tepals (petals) that rarely open completely and are white, green, or pink.
Nodding Smartweed plants can be up to 4 feet tall. The leaves of the plant are large (2 inches wide and up to 8 inches long), lance-shaped, and are arranged alternately on the plant's stems. The petiole (stalk) of the leaf has a sheathe that wraps around the plant's stem.
Nodding Smartweed is known by a variety of names including Willow-weed, Pale Smartweed, and Curly-top Knotweed. Smartweeds used to be lumped with Knotweeds (Polygonum), and this plant used to have the scientific name of Polygonum lapathifolium.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #232 Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
My eighth flower of the day was a new one for me in Mt. Pleasant - Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). Michigan Flora does not list this species for Isabella County, but does have it in several nearby counties. In Michigan it has only been recorded in the Lower Peninsula. Nationally, the species can be found east of a line running from Texas north to Minnesota, with scattered counties in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico also reporting the species. It has also been recorded in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. This species is usually found in rich moist soils, especially in disturbed areas such as fields and gardens. It also commonly grows in woodlands and woodland edges.
Pokeweed is a large perennial plant, annually reaching heights of up to 10 feet before dying back to the roots over the winter. The plant's thick stems are somewhat woody and may be as much as 2 inches thick. These stems vary in color from light green to red. The plant's leaves are large, measuring up to 4 inches wide and 12 inches long.
Pokeweed flowers are arranged in a raceme (elongated, cylindrical cluster) that can measure 3 to 8 inches long. Individual flowers are small (1/4 inch) and are usually white, greenish-white, or pink. The stem of this raceme is pink. After pollination, the flowers are replaced by 1/4 inch, shiny purple fruits.
This plant is considered toxic (especially the root), but the leaves have often been eaten as a cooked green (poke sallete/poke salad/polk salad).
Wildflowers of 2016 - #233 Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
The next species is a common weed of disturbed soils such as roadsides, fields, and pastures. Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) is generally considered native to North America, but it has naturalized in Europe. This plant is found in all fifty states. It is native in the Lower Forty-eight and has been introduced to Alaska and Hawaii.
Horseweed plants have a single unbranching stem that can grow up to seven feet tall, but it can flower when the plant is as short as a few inches tall. The flowers of Horseweed grow on long upward-growing panicles (branches) that form a pyramid or plume-shaped inflorescence. The individual flowers are small (less than 1/8 inch) and 20 to 40 white to pink rays (petals) surrounding a yellow central disc. A large plant may have several hundred individual flower heads.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #234 Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
The final wildflower of the day was Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Also known as Common Goldenrod, this species is found throughout almost all of the United States and Canada, with the exceptions of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Nunavut. It grows in a variety of open habitats in both wet and dry soil conditions. This is the species that most people think about when they hear the word goldenrod.
On August 1st, I added Smooth Goldenrod (S. gigantea) as Species #197 for the year. Smooth Goldenrod and Canada Goldenrod are very similar and often grow in the same patches. There are a couple ways to distinguish them. Smooth Goldenrod has stems covered with a waxy, whitish bloom, compared to the stems of common goldenrod which are pale green. The stems of Smooth Goldenrod are, as the name suggests, smooth and hairless; those of Common Goldenrod are covered with short stiff hairs. Smooth Goldenrod seems to be nearing the end of its blooming cycle for the year, while Canada Goldenrod is just getting started.
Canada Goldenrod can reach heights of 1 to 6 1/2 feet. It has leaves that are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaves are typically narrow (linear, oval, or elliptic) and may be up to 6 inches long. The flowers are arranged in a pyramid-shaped panicle (branched cluster) at the top of the plant. The branches of the panicle curve upward and outward from the stem before then curving downward. The small (1/8 inch) flowers are arranged in a line on the upper side of the branches. The panicle may be up to 16 inches tall.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #226 Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
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| Turtlehead grows in a variety of wetland habitats including floodplain forests. |
I found my first species of the day growing on the southwest corner of Island Park - Turtlehead (Chelone glabra). This is the first time that I have ever found Turtlehead growing in this location. This wetland species can be found in both sun and shade conditions throughout Michigan and the eastern half of North America. Three other, less common, Turtlehead species can also be found in eastern North America.
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| Turtlehead - the origin of the name of this species is obvious |
For more information on this species, please see this species profile from August 2013.
One really cool fact about the Turtlehead is that they are pollinated mainly by bumblebees. These two photos show a bumblebee forcing open a flower and crawling inside.
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| A bumblebee pries open a Turtehead flower |
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| The bumblebee crawls inside the flower to reach its nectar |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #227 Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
My second species of the day was the Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
Panicled Aster is one of many twenty-nine white- or blue-flowered native Aster species that can be found in Michigan. These species used to all be lumped under the genus Aster - Panicled Aster was formerly Aster lanceolatus. In recent years, the species have been divided into six genera, with the majority (including Panicled Aster) being lumped into the genus Sympyotrichum. What makes Aster identification even more confusing is the fact that many species can hybridize.
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| A Panicled Aster surrounded by Poison Ivy |
Panicled Aster does have some characteristics that can be used to differentiate it from other Aster species. It has narrow oval, elliptical, or linear leaves. The leaves may be 3 to 6 inches long. The leaves taper to a point at both ends.
The plant's flowers are arranged in a panicle (as its name suggests) at the top of the plant central stem. This panicle (branched cluster) can be up to 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. Smaller panicles often grow from leaf axils and from smaller stems that branch off of the plant's main stem. Its flowers are 3/4 to 1 inch across, with a yellow disc surrounded by 20 to 40 blue, purple, or white rays.
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| Panicled Aster - note many small flowers |
Another factor that can help distinguish Panicled Aster from other similar species is its habitat preference. It is mostly found in wet habitats such as floodplains, wets woods, and the borders of swamps. Panicled Aster is found across the Lower Forty-eight states and much of Canada. From county records on the USDA Plants database it appears to be most common in the Great Lakes and Northeast.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #228 Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris)
My third species of the day was one that did not appear on my Wildflowers of 2014 list. Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris) is a weedy native of Europe that has naturalized across almost all of North America. It has been recorded in every state, with the exception of Hawaii, and every Canadian province except Nunavut. In Michigan it has been recorded in 65 of 83 counties.
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| Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris) |
Butter-and-eggs prefers dry habitats and is commonly found along roadsides, in fields, and other disturbed habitats. It is usually crowded out by thick vegetation.
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| Butter-and-eggs - a closer view of the flowers |
Butter-and-eggs is named for the color of its tubular flowers. The flowers are primarily pale yellow, with a dark yellow/orange lip. These flowers measure between 3/4 and 1 1/4 inches long. The plant's grey-green leaves are narrow, measure up to 2 1/2 inches long, and are arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. Plants grow to a height of 1 to 4 feet.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #229 Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
After leaving Island Park, I went to Mill Pond Park where I photographed the next six species.
My fourth flower of the day and the first at Mill Pond Park was Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia). This non-descript plant with its spikes of small greenish flowers is responsible for many seasonal allergies. Also known as Annual Ragweed, this plant can be found across most of North America both as a native and an introduced species. It has been recorded in almost every county in Michigan. Common Ragweed grows in a variety of habitats including fields, roadsides, lawns, meadows, savannas, and woodland edges. It is more common in dry soils than in wet ones.
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| Common Ragweed - note small flowers and deeply lobed leaves |
Common Ragweed plants grow to a height of up to 36 inches, but they are rarely noticed because of their small flowers. The flowers grow on elongated spikes at the top of the plant. The petals measure only 1/4 inch across and lack petals. The flowers are green but turn yellowish-green to brown after pollination. The plant does not need to be showy because it relies on the wind for pollination rather than insects. The leaves of Common Ragweed are deeply lobed, oval, or elliptical and arranged both as opposite pairs (lower) and alternately (upper).
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| The small flowers of Common Ragweed are wind pollinated |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #230 Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
Growing near the Ragweed, I found my next species - Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana). This plant is also known as Virginia Knotweed. Sometimes listed as Polygonum virginianum, it is native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Mid-Michigan is at the northern edge of its range.
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| Jumpseed in is habitat - It's the plant with the pale green leaves. |
Jumpseed plants grow from 1 to 4 feet tall, with the majority of the height being a flowering raceme (spike). The leaves of the plant are arranged alternately on the lower part of the plant. Individual leaves may be 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, oval shaped, with a pointed tip.
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| A closer view of the flower stalk |
The flowers of Jumpseed are small (1/8 inch). The flowers are white or whitish-green (rarely pink) and have four pointed petals. There is normally only one flowering spike per plant but that spike may branch.
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| Jumpseed - note small 5-petaled flower |
This plant is named Jumpseed because when ripe the plant's seeds may be propelled up to 10 feet away from the parent plant when disturbed. (Another plant that can propel its seeds is the Spotted Touch-me-not.)
Wildflowers of 2016 - #231 Nodding Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia)
My sixth species was another Persicaria - Nodding Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia). This plant is considered native to North America, but some populations are probably introduced from Europe, where is also a common weed species. It is found across the continental United States (no Alaska or Hawaii) and the lower tier of Canadian provinces/territories. It is not common in the Southeast and most populations there are probably introduced. The plant is typically found in wet soils.
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| Nodding Smartweed |
There are fourteen Persicaria species that have been found in Michigan. Nodding Smartweed is easy to identify by its flower head. It is the only species that has a densely packed raceme (spike) of flowers that nod or droop downward. The majority of other Smartweed species have erect flower racemes. The flowerhead can be 2 to 8 inches long, but the individual flower are only about 1/8 inch long. The flowers have 5 tepals (petals) that rarely open completely and are white, green, or pink.
Nodding Smartweed plants can be up to 4 feet tall. The leaves of the plant are large (2 inches wide and up to 8 inches long), lance-shaped, and are arranged alternately on the plant's stems. The petiole (stalk) of the leaf has a sheathe that wraps around the plant's stem.
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| Nodding Smartweed can be identified by its drooping (nodding) flower racemes |
Nodding Smartweed is known by a variety of names including Willow-weed, Pale Smartweed, and Curly-top Knotweed. Smartweeds used to be lumped with Knotweeds (Polygonum), and this plant used to have the scientific name of Polygonum lapathifolium.
Wildflowers of 2016 - #232 Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
My eighth flower of the day was a new one for me in Mt. Pleasant - Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). Michigan Flora does not list this species for Isabella County, but does have it in several nearby counties. In Michigan it has only been recorded in the Lower Peninsula. Nationally, the species can be found east of a line running from Texas north to Minnesota, with scattered counties in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico also reporting the species. It has also been recorded in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. This species is usually found in rich moist soils, especially in disturbed areas such as fields and gardens. It also commonly grows in woodlands and woodland edges.
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| Pokeweed - looks like a small shrub, but is a non-woody perennial |
Pokeweed is a large perennial plant, annually reaching heights of up to 10 feet before dying back to the roots over the winter. The plant's thick stems are somewhat woody and may be as much as 2 inches thick. These stems vary in color from light green to red. The plant's leaves are large, measuring up to 4 inches wide and 12 inches long.
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| Pokeweed - leaves and flowers |
Pokeweed flowers are arranged in a raceme (elongated, cylindrical cluster) that can measure 3 to 8 inches long. Individual flowers are small (1/4 inch) and are usually white, greenish-white, or pink. The stem of this raceme is pink. After pollination, the flowers are replaced by 1/4 inch, shiny purple fruits.
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| Pokeweed - a closer view of the flowers |
This plant is considered toxic (especially the root), but the leaves have often been eaten as a cooked green (poke sallete/poke salad/polk salad).
Wildflowers of 2016 - #233 Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
The next species is a common weed of disturbed soils such as roadsides, fields, and pastures. Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) is generally considered native to North America, but it has naturalized in Europe. This plant is found in all fifty states. It is native in the Lower Forty-eight and has been introduced to Alaska and Hawaii.
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| Horseweed |
Horseweed plants have a single unbranching stem that can grow up to seven feet tall, but it can flower when the plant is as short as a few inches tall. The flowers of Horseweed grow on long upward-growing panicles (branches) that form a pyramid or plume-shaped inflorescence. The individual flowers are small (less than 1/8 inch) and 20 to 40 white to pink rays (petals) surrounding a yellow central disc. A large plant may have several hundred individual flower heads.
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| Individual Horseweed flowers are tiny (less than 1/8 inch) |
Wildflowers of 2016 - #234 Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
The final wildflower of the day was Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Also known as Common Goldenrod, this species is found throughout almost all of the United States and Canada, with the exceptions of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Nunavut. It grows in a variety of open habitats in both wet and dry soil conditions. This is the species that most people think about when they hear the word goldenrod.
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| A stand of Canada Goldenrod |
On August 1st, I added Smooth Goldenrod (S. gigantea) as Species #197 for the year. Smooth Goldenrod and Canada Goldenrod are very similar and often grow in the same patches. There are a couple ways to distinguish them. Smooth Goldenrod has stems covered with a waxy, whitish bloom, compared to the stems of common goldenrod which are pale green. The stems of Smooth Goldenrod are, as the name suggests, smooth and hairless; those of Common Goldenrod are covered with short stiff hairs. Smooth Goldenrod seems to be nearing the end of its blooming cycle for the year, while Canada Goldenrod is just getting started.
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| Canada Goldenrod - note short hairs on the stem and leaves |
Canada Goldenrod can reach heights of 1 to 6 1/2 feet. It has leaves that are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaves are typically narrow (linear, oval, or elliptic) and may be up to 6 inches long. The flowers are arranged in a pyramid-shaped panicle (branched cluster) at the top of the plant. The branches of the panicle curve upward and outward from the stem before then curving downward. The small (1/8 inch) flowers are arranged in a line on the upper side of the branches. The panicle may be up to 16 inches tall.
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| Canada Goldenrod - a closer view of the flower |
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