I've placed all the iris photos at the beginning of this post, although they were found in several places: the ditch on the south sides of Beehead Rd and Power Line Rd and in the field beneath the power lines on the north side of Power Line Rd.
This post also includes about 40 other species of wildflowers and plants, all shown in the order in which I encountered them. Three of the species are new to this blog.
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Dixie iris, prairie iris (Iris hexagona, Iridaceae)
Native
Native
We spotted our first few irises in the ditch on the south side of Beehead Rd.
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Irises along Power Line Rd.
We found large numbers of irises in the ditch along the south side of Power Line Rd.
The iris blossom consists of 3 sepals and 3 petals. The sepals curve downward from the center of the blossom and are known as "falls." The petals are smaller and narrower than the sepals; they display up from the center and are known as "standards." The bright yellow patch on the sepals is known as the "signal." The veins and signal guide pollinators to the nectar.
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Irises and Butterflies
The irises attracted many butterflies, especially two kinds of Swallowtails. The mostly black butterflies with yellow spots are Eastern Black Swallowtails. The mostly yellow ones with black "tiger" stripes on the leading edge of the wings are Eastern Tiger Swallowtails.
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White Irises
We found one small patch of the rare white form of iris. They were growing in a boggy area beneath the power lines, north of Power Line Rd.
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Dark Irises
Some dark blue irises were growing near the white irises.
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This bee appeared to have found a shortcut to the nectar.
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Beehead Rd.
Entrance road, looking east. The following set of photos were taken along Beehead Rd.
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The Photographer
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Butterweed (Packera glabella, Asteraceae)
Native
Native
Succulent, bright yellow.
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American black nightshade (Solanum americanum, Solanceae)
Native
Native
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Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata, Lamiaceae)
Native
Native
Square stem, leaves hairy and usually with a brown/purple patch in center.
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White crownbeard; frostweed (Verbesina virginica, Asteraceae)
Native
Blooms later in the year; stem usually is winged.
Native
Blooms later in the year; stem usually is winged.
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Carolina cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum, Geraniaceae)
Native
Too late for blossoms. These are the seed capsule. Its leaves are distinctive.
Too late for blossoms. These are the seed capsule. Its leaves are distinctive.
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Bog white violet (Viola lanceolata, Violaceae)
Native
Native
The one on the left was photographed early in the day, when the dew was still present, along Beehead Rd. The one on the right was photographed much later, along Fish Hole Rd.
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Purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum, Asteraceae)
Native
Native
Vicious thorns around the florescence and elsewhere. The butterfly is an Eastern Black Swallowtail.
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Starrush whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata, Cyperaceae)
Native
Native
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Leavenworth's tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii, Asteraceae)
Native
Native
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Cutleaf evening-primrose (Oenothera laciniata, Onagraceae)
Native
Native
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Orange milkwort (Polygala lutea, Polygalaceae)
Native
Also, found along St. Nicholas Rd.
Native
Also, found along St. Nicholas Rd.
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Southern beeblossom (Gaura angustifolia, Onagraceae)
Native
Native
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Florida sensitive brier (Mimosa quadrivalvis var. floridana, Fabaceae)
Native
Native
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St. Nicholas Rd.
The following plants were found along St. Nicholas Rd, between Beehead Rd and Power Line Rd.
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Netted pawpaw (Asimina reticulata, Annonaceae)
Native
Native
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Unidentified
Found along the roadside, moist soil. Perhaps some type of rush?
Found along the roadside, moist soil. Perhaps some type of rush?
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Bay lobelia (Lobelia feayana, Campanulaceae)
Native, Florida endemic
Native, Florida endemic
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Manyflower marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata, Araliaceae)
Native
Native
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Dwarf live oak (Quercus minima, Fagaceae)
Native
This is the first appearance of dwarf liveoak in this blog.
Native
This is the first appearance of dwarf liveoak in this blog.
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Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, Ericaceae)
Native
This is the first appearance of highbush blueberry in this blog. If all the blossoms made berries, you could make a good-sized pie from this one bush.
Native
This is the first appearance of highbush blueberry in this blog. If all the blossoms made berries, you could make a good-sized pie from this one bush.
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Oakleaf fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius, Asteraceae)
Native
Native
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Axilflower (Mecardonia acuminata subsp. peninsularis, Plantaginaceae)
Native, Florida endemic.
Note (Aug 4, 2014): I had previously incorrectly identified these plants as Savannah false pimpernel (Lindernia grandiflora).
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Meadowbeauty
Empty seed containers.
Empty seed containers.
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Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius, Rosaceae)
Native
Native
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Yellow hatpins (Syngonanthus flavidulus, Eriocaulaceae)
Native
Native
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Walter's groundcherry (Physalis walteri, Solanaceae)
Native
Native
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Fish Hole Rd.
The next group of photos were taken along Fish Hole Rd.
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Blackeyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta, Asteraceae)
Native
Native
Only found a few of these. There will be more later in the year.
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Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium, Convolvulaceae)
Native
Native
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Mock bishopsweed (Ptilimnium capillaceum, Apiaceae)
Native
Native
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Shrubby false buttonweed (Spermacoce verticillata, Rubiaceae)
Not native
Not native
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Pitted stripeseed; piriqueta (Piriqueta cistoides, Turneraceae)
Native
Native
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American snowbell (Styrax americanus, Styracaceae)
Native
Native
Last year at this time, the snowbell was in bloom. It must have bloomed early this year due to our warm winter and spring.
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Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Iridaceae)
Native
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Lake Charlie
The final group of photos were taken at Lake Charlie.
The final group of photos were taken at Lake Charlie.
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Lake Charlie
Lake Charlie is near the southern end of Fish Hole Rd.
Left: view of left side of lake. Right: view of island near center of lake.
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Lizard's tail (Saururus cernuus, Saururaceae)
Native
Native
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Burrmarigold; smooth beggarticks (Bidens laevis, Asteraceae)
Native
Native
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Bulltongue arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia, Alismataceae)
Native
Mussel Shells
Looks like a raccoon had a feast!
Native
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Looks like a raccoon had a feast!
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Mexican primrosewillow (Ludwigia octovalvis, Onagraceae)
Native
Native
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Common dayflower (Commelina diffusa, Commelinaceae)
Not native
Not native
The small, center petal is blue in this species. Most of my previous dayflower photos have been of C. erecta, or whitemouth dayflower, in which the small, center petal is white.
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Wild bushbean (Macroptilium lathyroides, Fabaceae)
Not native
Not native
It may be a foreign weed to most, but I like the pretty-colored blossoms.
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Canadian toadflax (Linaria canadensis, Plantaginaceae)
Native
Native
The long spurs on the blossoms indicate that this is L. canadensis; with short spurs it would be Apalachicola toadflax, L. floridana.
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Swamp dock (Rumex verticillatus, Polygonaceae)
Native
Native
This is the first appearance of any dock in this blog.
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Swamp smartweed (Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonaceae)
Native
Native
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Unidentified grass
Growing near edge of lake.
Growing near edge of lake.
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wow!
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