Wildflowers of 2014 - #120 through #131

Still catching up on wildflowers...

Last Thursday (12 June 2014) I posted wildflower species #110 -119 for the year.  These ten species were photographed on Sunday June 8th at Mission Creek Woodland Park.

The next five species were also found on Sunday June 8th, but these were photographed at Chipp-A-Waters Park.

The first four species were photographed within feet of the paved trail.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #120 Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

The first species that I found was Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).  This non-native species is identifiable by its distinctive yellow pea-like flowers - the plant is a member of the Legume Family (Fabaceae).  It was originally introduced to North America as a forage species and is now naturalized across most of the Continental United States and Canada.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #121 Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)

The next species is another that was originally introduced from Europe as a forage plant - Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis).  This large species may grow up to 8 feet tall.  It has compound leaves divided into three lobes and elongated clusters of yellow flowers.  A closely related species White Sweet Clover (Melilotus albus) has white flowers.

Yellow Sweet Clover - note the yellow flowers and three-lobed leaves

Wildflowers of 2014 - #122 King Devil (Hieracium piloselloides)

The third wildflower is another non-native - King Devil (Hieracium piloselloides).  Also known as Yellow Hawkweed or Smooth Hawkweed, King Devil is one of of 15 species of Hieracium found in Michigan.  Eight of these species were introduced from Europe and the other seven are native to North America.  These species can be very difficult to differentiate.  The basal cluster of leaves identify this plant as introduced - the native species have leaves on their stems.  I based my identification of this plant based on the hairy basal leaves and hairless branched stems.

King Devil - note basal cluster of leaves

King Devil - note the branched flower stalks.  The stalks in this photo are covered with fibers from a Cottonwood Tree.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #123 Clammy Ground-cherry (Physalis heterophylla)

A short distance down the trail I found the next plant - Clammy Ground-cherry (Physalis heterophylla).  This plant is a native relative of both the Chinese Lantern (P. alkekengi), a common garden plant native to Eurasia, and the Tomatillo (P. philadelphica), a vegetable plant native to Mexico.

Although this species is distributed across most of the United States (and the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec), it is most common in the eastern half of the country.

Clammy Ground-cherry (Physalis heterophylla)

The dangling yellow bell-shaped flowers, when pollinated, will turn into a yellow fruit covered with a papery husk.  This fruit is edible when ripe, but the rest of the plant is toxic.  The entire plant is covered with a dense coat of sticky white hairs.

Clammy Ground-cherry flower

Wildflowers of 2014 - #124 Giant Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

The final flower from Sunday June 8th was the Giant Bur-reed (Sparganiun eurycarpum).  This plant was not nearly as easy to access as the previous three species. I found it growing in the emergent marsh along the edges of the old oxbow at the rear of Chipp-A-Waters Park.  These plants were found while wading toward the open water where I took the Yellow Pond-lily photos that I shared last week. These plants were growing throughout the marsh at depths between one and three feet of water.

Also known as Common Bur-reed or Broadfruit Bur-read, this is our most common species of Bur-reed in Michigan. Its range covers most of the United States (with the exception of the Southeast, Alaska, and Hawaii) and Canada.  It can be distinguished from other Sparganium species by its size and branching flower stalks.

For more information on Giant Bur-reed please see this species profile from December 2013.

Giant Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

Giant Bur-reed flowering stalk - male (staminate) flowers are above and female (pistillate) flowers are below on the stalk

The next two flowers were photographed on Monday June 9th 2014.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #125 White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)

Flower #125 for the year is the White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata).  Also know as Sweet-scented Water Lily or Fragrant Water Lily, this plant is found growing in shallow water (down to 7 feet deep) throughout most of North America.  White Water Lily is usually found in the open water areas of marshes, in ponds and lakes, and occasionally in backwaters and slow-moving areas of rivers.

White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata) - note the floating leaves and floating white flower with a yellow center

 
The floating round leaves and white flowers with yellow centers make this plant easy to identify.  It can be mistaken for no other plant in Mid-Michigan.  At night and on cloudy days the flowers will close up and sink beneath the surface of the water.  The leaves and flowers are attached by hollow stems to a tuberous root system.  The roots, leaves, and stems are consumed by a variety of herbivores ranging in size from Muskrats to Moose.

White Water Lily - the round leaves are slit from one side nearly to the center

Wildflowers of 2014 - #126 Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

The next flower is one that I have been watching for several weeks, waiting for flowers to appear - Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum).  This plant is often called Tall Meadow Rue, but that name more properly belongs to a species that is found east of Michigan (T. pubescens)

Purple Meadow Rue is the second Thalictrum species that I have found this year.  Early Meadow Rue (T. dioicum) was #49 - found on May 21st.  The two species can be distinguished by size: Early Meadow Rue grows to a height of only 1-2 feet while Purple Meadow Rue can grow to a height of 3-6 feet.

Another feature that can be used to identify them is the shape of their leaves.  Both species have lobed leaved.  Those of Early Meadow Rue have five to nine rounded lobes; the leaves of Purple Meadow Rue are more pointed and have three (sometimes five) lobes.

Like other Meadow Rue Species, male and female flowers are found on separate plants.  Male plants have dangling flowers on widely branching pyramidal clusters (panicles).  Male flowers are whitish with a purple or brown tint.  Female flowers are also located on panicles, but the flowers are erect instead of dangling.

Male flowers of Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

Female flowers of Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) - also note the three-lobed compound leaves

Purple Meadow Rue - note the purple tint of the stem

On Thursday 12 June 2014, I found an additional five species in bloom.  All five flowers belonged to non-native species.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #127 Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is another Eurasian legume (Fabaceae) species that was originally planted in North America as a forage crop.  It has naturalized across the continent and has been documented in all fifty states and every Canadian province and territory with the exception of Nunavut.  It is commonly found along roadsides, in old fields, and in other dry weedy disturbed habitats.

The plant superficially resembles Yellow Sweet Clover (#121), Alfalfa can be identified by its blue-purple flowers and three lobed compound leaves.  The flowers resemble those of several other Legume species including Hairy Vetch (#116), but the leaves help narrow down its identity.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #128 Silvery Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)

The next species is one of nine non-native Potentilla species found in Michigan - there are also six native species.

Silvery Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea) is a low-growing plant found in dry fields, roadsides, and other weedy places.  It reaches a height of only 4-18 inches.  The plant's yellow flowers have five petals and grow in clusters at the ends of branched stems.

The leaves of Silvery Cinquefoil have five lobed leaflets arranged in a palmate fashion (lobes that radiate outward from a central point).  The underside of the leaves are covered with a dense coating of hairs giving it a silvery appearance.

Silvery Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)

Silvery Cinquefoil - note the flowers with five petals and palmate leaves with five lobes

Wildflowers of 2014 - #129 Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is considered an invasive species or noxious weed by twelve states.  It was long planted for erosion control and for wildlife habitat, but has spread when wildlife consume its fruit (hips) and deposit the seeds in their droppings.

Multiflora Rose can be distinguished from other Rose species by its many white flowers - multiflora means "many-flowered".  Most native species produce single pink blooms.  Many of the other introduced species also produce pink flowers.  Individual Multiflora Rose blooms have five petals surrounding a yellow center.

Mutliflora Rose has compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets (sometimes as few as three on the upper part of the stem).  The leaflets have serrated edges.  The plant's woody stems are covered with curved thorns.

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Multiflora Rose - note the serrated leaflets and many flower buds

Multiflora Rose - note the hairless stem and curved thorns

Multiflora Rose bloom - note the five white petals and yellow stamen.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #130 Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

The next flower is another weedy introduced species from Europe - Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius).  Like many non-native species it prefers disturbed sites such as fields and roadsides where it is able to grow with less competition from native plants.

Bitter Dock initially grows as a basal cluster of leaves.  The leaves may be up to six inches wide.  Later in the season one or more flowering stalks arise from this basal rosette.  The flowers are small and greenish-red.  They grow directly along the branching stalks.  Smaller leaves may also grow along the stalks.

Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Bitter Dock - a closeup of the flowers

Wildflowers of 2014 - #131 Common Goat's Beard (Tragopogon pratensis)

The final flower of the week was Common Goat's Beard (Tragopogon pratensis).  Also known as Showy Goat's Beard, this is one of two Goat's Beard species that are found in Michigan.  This species can be distinguished from Fistulous Goat's Beard (T. dubius) by two features that are present in the latter, but not the former.  Fistulous Goat's Beard (#88 on the list) has long bracts that extend out beyond the rays of the composite flower head, these bracts are absent in Showy Goat's Beard.  Also, the stalk of T. dubius swells below the flower head, the stalk of T. pratensis is not swollen.

Showy Goat's Beard - note the grass-like leaves

Showy Goat's Beard - note the absence of long bracts that would be found on Fistulous Goat's Beard

Showy Goat's Beard - a composite flower composed of disc flowers surrounded by rays

Hall's Lake Wetland Walk (13 June 2014)

Last Friday (13 June 2014) I met up with Chippewa Watershed Conservancy Executive Director Stan Lilley and a small group of fellow wetlands enthusiasts at Hall's Lake in the very western part of Isabella County.  Much of the land around the lake has been either purchased by or donated to the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy and protected as a series of connected nature preserves.  These preserves contain a variety of woodland and wetland habitats.  Our goal during this outing was to find and document as many wetland species as possible during a short three-hour walk.

Here are a few photos from this trip.

Tamarack (Larix laricina) - a deciduous needleleaf tree

A small mushroom growing in sphagnum moss

Taking time to make an identification

Indian Cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana) - this was a new plant for me

Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)

Tufted Loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora)

  

Bladderwort flowers - possibly Common Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris)

Stan Lilley photographs a Wild Calla (Calla palustris)

My photo of a Wild Calla

Sallow Moth caterpillar on Witch-hazel - either a Mustard Sallow or a Citrine Sallow

 

Fungi

False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens)

Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) - leaves (left) and flower (right)

Dewberry (Rubus spp)

Yellow Pond-lily Pictures

On Sunday June 1st, I photographed wildflower species #98 for the year - a Yellow Pond-lily (Nuphar variegatum) at Chipp-A-Waters Park.  The photo was taken at a distance with a telephoto lens and was not very good.  The following Sunday (June 8th) I went back to Chipp-A-Waters Park with a pair of waders.

I had photographed these flowers up close once before, back in the 2005 when I was using a film camera.  For one reason or another I had not gotten up close to these plants since then.

As promised, here are some closer photos of the Yellow Pond Lily.  To learn more about this plant read this species profile from December 2013.

And a bonus non-wildflower picture - a young Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans formerly Rana clamitans) surrounded by Greater Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza).

Wildflowers of 2014 - #110 through #119

Still catching up on the wildflower list...

On Sunday June 8th, I took a walk around several of the parks in Mt. Pleasant to search for more flowers to add to the 2014 list.  My first stop was Mission Creek Woodland Park.  I like this park for the diverse range of habitats that it provides - woodlands (mature and young Sugar Maple/Beech Forest), wetlands  (Cedar Swamp and Red Maple Swamp), brush, dry lawns, etc.  This park will soon be changing when portions of the brushy areas are cleared to make way for a dog park - I do not think that the addition of this feature will have a positive impact on the flora and fauna in the park.


Wildflowers of 2014 - #110 Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

The first species that I found at Mission Creek was on with a circumpolar distribution - this means it is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in both North America and Eurasia.  Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) can be found in every single American state and Canadian province.  Some of the plants are native, some of the plants are introductions from Eurasia, and some are hybrids that contain genes from both.  Yarrow easily grows in almost any type of habitat but is most common in Mid-Michigan in dry habitats like roadsides and old fields.  Common Yarrow can be easily identified by its flat-topped flower clusters made up of many small (1/4 inch) white flowers and also by its feathery leaves.

Common Yarrow growing in dry soil along the edge of a woodland

Common Yarrow - note the flat cluster of small white flowers and the feathery leaves

Wildflowers of 2014 - #111 Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)

The next flower was found growing in moist soil along edge of the cedar swamp that borders Mission Creek.  Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) is found in moist to dry shaded habitats across eastern North America.  The plant can be identified by its small white flowers and leaves with three deeply divided lobes and serrated margins.  Honewort is also known as Wild Chervil.

Honewort - note the three part leaves and small white flowers

Wildflowers of 2014 - #112 Northern Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

A few short yards from the Honewort was the next plant - Northern Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor).  This is the second Iris species on the list; Southern Blue Flag (I. virginica) was listed at #94.

I identified these flowers as Northern Blue Flag based on the following: the yellow-green spot at the base of the sepal, dark prominent veins, and purple color at base of plants (Iris virginica typically has brown base according to Michigan Flora).  The flower stalks are also significantly taller than those that identified as Southern Blue Flag.

A colony of Northern Blue Flag Iris

Northern Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

Northern Blue Flag is generally more colorful than Southern Blue Flag

Northern Blue Flag - note prominent veins on sepals and yellow-green spot at base of sepals

 Northern Blue Flag Iris - note the purple blush at the base of the stalk

Wildflowers of 2014 - #113 Running Strawberry Bush (Euonymus obovatus)

Most of the flowers that I have found this year are ones that I could easily identify.  Some of them I could narrow down to genus or family which made identification easier.  This one stumped me for nearly two days -  I searched through all of my wildflower books and could not find any small flower that looked like this one.

This flower had me puzzled.

I finally identified it by dumb luck.  I was looking at information on the Winged Euonymus (#101) on the Michigan Flora website.  I noticed that there were four additional Euonymus species listed for the state.  When I look up a species on this site, I often look at the other related species to be sure of my identification.  At the very bottom of the list was Running Strawberry Bush (Euonymus obovatus).

This was my mystery plant.  If this plant had been larger, identification might have been easier.  Running Strawberry Bush typically grows as a small shrub - the plants that I found were small examples that did not look like shrubs.

Running Strawberry Bush can be identified by its opposite leaves with finely serrated margins and small greenish-purple flowers with five petals, a green center, and five short bright yellow stamen.  The flowers originate in the leaf axils (the point where the leaf joins the stem).

Mid-Michigan is the very northern limit of this species range - there are no herbarium records listed north of Isabella County.  Running Strawberry Bush can be found growing only in high quality wooded habitats.

Running Strawberry Bush - note the opposite leaves and five-petaled greenish-purple flowers.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #114 Black Snakeroot (Sanicula odorata)

While I found only a couple examples of Running Strawberry Bush, I found a profusion of Common Black Snakeroot (Sanicula odorata).  There were hundred, possibly thousands, of these plants lining the trail along Mission Creek.  There are four Sanicula species found in Michigan, but this is the only one with yellow-green flowers.  (The other species have whitish-green blooms.)  Each globe-shaped flower cluster is small, measuring about 1/2 inch across.  The flowers grow in clusters of one to five from the leaf axils and at the upper part of stems.

Another feature that can be used to identify this plant is the deeply lobed leaves with either five parts (low on the plant) or three (higher on the plant) 

Wildflowers of 2014 - # 115 Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

Flower #115 was one that I have been seeking for several weeks.  To the best of my knowledge there is only one population of Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) growing in any of the Mt. Pleasant parks.  After much searching I was able to find less than ten widely scattered plants along the northern edge of the Red Maple swamp at Mission Creek.  There may be more plants deeper in the swamp, but I did not search any further on this date.

Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

Virginia Waterleaf can be identified by its leaves with five lobes and it white to violet colored flowers.  The flowers grow in a cluster (cyme) at the end of the stem.  Individual flowers are up to 1/2 inch long and have five short petals with stamen that extend beyond the petals.

For more information on Virgina Waterleaf, please see this profile from June 2013.

Virginia Waterleaf - note the five-lobed leaves and whitish flowers

A closer view of the flowers showing the stamen extending well beyond the five short petals

Wildflowers of 2014 - #116  Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa)

The next flower is a non-native species - Hairy Vetch (Vicia cracca). This plant was probably introduced  to North America as a forage crop. Hairy Vetch usually has purple flowers, but is occasionally found with white or pink blooms.  All parts of this plant (stems, leaves, flowers) are covered with long dense hairs.  This plant grows as either an annual or biennial vine and may grow up to 3 foot in length.  It is usually found in open dry habitats.

Hairy Vetch growing in dry disturbed soil

Hairy vetch - note the purple flowers, compound leaves, and climbing tendrils

Wildflowers of 2014 - #117 Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)


The next flower is another introduced species - Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).  This native of Eurasia can be found in every American state and all Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Nunavut).  Ox-eye Daisy can be found throughout most of Michigan growing in dry soils such as roadsides, fields, shorelines, and forest edges and clearings.  It rarely grows in wetlands.  The species is considered a noxious weed by several states.

Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Ox-eye Daisy has the classic Daisy look with a yellow disc surrounded by 15 to 40 rays.  Each flower may be up to 2 inches across.  Plants may grow up to three foot tall.

The classic Daisy look - a yellow disc surrounded by white rays

Wildflowers of 2014 - #118 English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

The third non-native plant is a row is English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).  It has naturalized throughout most of North America with the exception of the Canadian Arctic.  English Plantain commonly grows in lawns, fields, along roadsides, forest clearings, cracks in concrete, and any other area where dry disturbed soil can be found. 

Identification of this plant is easy.  Look for a round basal cluster of long narrow lanceolate (shaped like a lance head) leaves that can be up to 10 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.  Growing from the center of this basal rosette will be one or more flowering stalks. 

English Plantain - note the basal rosette of leaves and elongated flower stalks

Each narrow stalk will be topped by a single flower head that looks like the short fuzzy "spike" formed when a deer begins to grow antlers - giving this plant another one of its common names, "Buckhorn".  The flowers are densely packed along this cylindrical spike and are grey-green in color.  The flowers bloom in succession from the bottom of the spike to the top.  As each flower blooms it will extend long white stamen outward from the spike.  English Plantain is wind pollinated and attracts few pollinators.

"Buckhorn" or English Plantain flower spikes - note the stamen extending out from the densely packed flowers

Wildflowers of 2014 - #119 Mossy Stonecrop (Sedum acre)

The final flower of the day from Mission Creek Woodland Park was another introduced species - Mossy Stonecrop (Sedum acre).  This is yet another non-native species that does well in dry disturbed sites such as lawns, roadsides, and shorelines.  Mossy Stonecrop forms dense colonies of 2-4 inch tall plants.  Plants are topped with bright yellow flowers that resemble a five-pointed star.

Mossy Stonecrop - note the bright yellow flowers with five petals

The Sunday June 8th trip to Mission Creek brought the year total to 119 species.  After leaving Mission Creek, I found an addition five new flowers in bloom at Chipp-A-Waters Park.  Those flowers will be shown in the next post.