Thursday, September 29, 2011

Southeastern Sunflowers, September 28, 2011

The St Johns River marshlands near SR 520 are suddenly ablaze with bright yellow southeastern sunflowers (Helianthus agrestis). Last week there were none. This week, a spectacular show like molten gold is spread across the eastern edge of the marsh.






In the first four of the above photos, I panned across the field of sunflowers, from left to right. Next is a telephoto shot. The final two shots are close-ups of the same flowers in F. Burton Smith Park, near the St. Johns River. All photos were taken in late afternoon sun.



Monday, September 19, 2011

Mostly Galls, Turkey Creek Sanctuary, September 18, 2011

This short visit resulted in a number of photos of galls and members of the pea family. I found galls on rusty staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea) and goldenrod (probably Solidago odora var. chapmanii).
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Rusty staggerbush galls

Various online resources say that these galls are caused by a fungus (a variant or subspecies of Exobasidium vaccinii). The galls form on leaves. In some cases they replace the leaf; in other cases, only a portion of the leaf is affected. As the galls age they turn brown and harden.
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Goldenrod galls

These galls were on a single goldenrod plant. Online resources show various types of galls that form on the stems of goldenrods; however, I was not able to find any goldenrod galls that looked like these. These galls appeared to be formed from leaves and were on stems. I opened one of the galls to reveal several larva inside.
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Rusty staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea, Ericaceae)
Native
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Turkey oak (Quercus laevis, Fagaceae)
Native
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American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana, Lamiaceae)
Native
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Florida scrub roseling (Callisia ornata, Commelinaceae)
Native, endemic
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Blazing star, Chapman's gayfeather (Liatris chapmanii, Asteraceae)
Native


This plant had a shape I had never seen before: a single stem came out of the ground and then at a node about 6 inches above the ground split into 14 new stems.
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Partridge pea ( Chamaecrista fasciculata, Fabaceae)
Native

This is the first of six members of the pea family that I photographed on this visit.
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Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta, Fabaceae)
Native
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Dixie ticktrefoil (Desmodium tortuosum, Fabaceae)
Not native

This plant was on the east edge of the parking lot. It's new to this blog and new to me.
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Lanceleaf rattlebox (Crotalaria lanceolata, Fabaceae)
Not native

This small plant was near the beginning of the nature trail. It's new to this blog and new to me.
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 Smooth rattlebox (Crotalaria pallida var. obovata, Fabaceae)
Not native

This species has tri-foliate leaves. (Roger Hammer informed me of the correct identification of this specimen, Apr 12, 2014. Previously, I had labeled it Crotalaria spectabilis.)
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Powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa, Fabaceae)
Native

These plants were located on the east edge of the parking lot.
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Shed skin of a cicada

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Native Plants Report, September 16, 2011

Early in 2011 we were the lucky winners of door prizes at a meeting of the Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. The prizes were three small potted native plants: bluecurls, blue porterweed, and frog fruit. We planted them in the front of our house, where they thrived and are now in bloom.
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Forked bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum, Lamiaceae)
Native

This plant grew rapidly and put out the first blooms early in September. The plant blooms early in the morning; by noon the blossoms have all withered away. The bottom photo shows the seeds, resembling tiny eggs in a nest. There are usually 4 seeds in a cup; seeds are about 1 mm in diameter and turn black when mature.
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Blue porterweed; joee (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Verbenaceae)
Native
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Turkey tangle fogfruit; capeweed (Phyla nodiflora, Verbenaceae)
Native

This plant is also known as frogfruit.
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Friday, September 16, 2011

Chrysopsis Study, September 14, 2011

A type of goldenaster recently appeared near the pool deck in our backyard (Satellite Beach). I let it grow until it flowered so I could determine which species of Chryopsis it was. The answer is Coastalplain goldenaster (C. scabrella). That is the closest fit to any of the five species of goldenaster that the online Florida plant atlas shows as being found in Brevard County. One species, C. delaneyi, is rare;  C. linearfolia subsp. dressii is occasional; and the other three--C. scabrella, C. mariana, and C. subulata--are frequent.) C. subulata is ruled out because it has reflexed bracts and my plant does not. C. mariana is ruled out because it has cobwebby leaves and stems and my plant does not. Which leaves C. scabrella as the most likely species.

The particular plant in our backyard has multiple branches near the base and has put up long branches that are unbranched until the inflorescence. Its leaves, bracts, and stems are all covered in short hairs (mostly under 0.4 mm, but some 1 mm long), which gives the plant a rough feel. One authority says that C. scabrella is odoriferous and sticky. Crushed leaves of this plant give off a piney odor, and the plant is sticky. Lower leaves are stemmed; upper leaves are stemless.

Coastalplain goldenaster is currently blooming alongside bike paths and medians in Satellite Beach area. Some have been forced to grow low due to constant mowing.

Following are photos of various parts of the plant.
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Coastalplain goldenaster (Chrysopsis scabrella, Asteraceae)
Native

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