Sunday, November 25, 2012

Scrub Ridge Trail, November 25, 2012

The wildflowers shown here were found near the entrance to the Scrub Ridge Trail from SR 3, Merritt Island NWR.
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Juba's bush (Iresine diffusa, Amaranthaceae)
Native
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Simmonds' aster (Symphyotrichum simmondsii, Asteraceae)
Native
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Muck sunflower (Helianthus simulans, Asteraceae)
Not native

This sunflower is primarily distinguished from its close relative, swamp sunflower (H. angustifolius),  by the width of its leaves. According to Flora of North America (eFlora.org), H. angustifolius is 50-150 cm tall; leaves are 8-15 cm long and 0.15-0.5(-1) cm wide. H. simulans is 150-260 cm tall; leaves are 9-22 cm long and 0.7-4 cm wide.

The leaves shown here are about 11 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, thus identifying them as H. simulans.

Both species have leaves with margins rolled under; however, because of the very narrow width of leaves in H. angustifolius, the rolled margins nearly obscure the underside of the leaves.

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Cruickshank Sanctuary, November 21, 2012

A few early winter finds.
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Groundsel tree; saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia, Asteraceae)
Native

The seeds have all flown away...
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Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Iridaceae)
Native
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Tall jointweed (Polygonella gracilis, Polygonaceae)
Native

A tentative identification.
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Feay's palafox (Palafoxia feayi, Asteraceae)
Native, Florida endemic
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Unidentified pea

These unidentified pea pods split into two spiral shells.
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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Sebastian Preserve, October 21, 2012

Wildflowers near equestrian camp on north side of the preserve.
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American bluehearts (Buchnera americana, Orobanchaceae)
Native

This is a white variant; bluehearts are usually blue.
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Shortleaf gayfeather (Liatris tenuifolia, Asteraceae)
Native

Basal leaves are grass-like; stem leaves are short and lay against the stem.
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Liatris with skipper and swallowtail butterflies.
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Sensitive pea (Chamaecrista nictitans var. aspera, Fabaceae)
Native

Leaves sometimes sensitive to touch, folding when disturbed (these plants were not). Petiole gland stalked (bottom photo), positioned below the last pair of leaflets.
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Pitted stripeseed (Piriqueta cistoides subsp. caroliniana, Turneraceae)
Native
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Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia, Asteraceae)
Native
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Slender flattop goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana, Asteraceae)
Native
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Unidentified grass
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Saturday, October 20, 2012

Muck Sunflowers, October 7, 2012

Returning home from Atlanta, we noticed patches of tall, bright yellow flowers in the wet ditches along SR 100 east of Lake City, Florida. A short distance past Starke on SR100 we finally found a safe place to pull off and photograph the flowers. After a bit of research, I decided they were Helianthus angustifolius, common name swamp sunflower or narrowleaf sunflower. The rough, narrow leaves are the main identifying characteristic. The leaves and stems are rough.

However, an anonymous commenter (see Comments) pointed out that these plants were probably Helianthus simulans, common name muck sunflower. Although their leaves are narrow, they are wider than H. angustifolius. After more investigation and measuring leaf widths, I concluded that the commenter was correct. The sunflowers shown here are H. simulans.

The USF Plant Atlas characterizes H. simulans as "Not Native." Wunderlin states it is native to Louisiana, but has escaped cultivation and is now found throughout the southeast.
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Swamp sunflower; narrowleaf sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius, Asteraceae)
Native
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