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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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Tosohatchee WMA, September 20, 2012

On this late afternoon visit we found carphephorus, liatris, blue bacopa, Catesby's lily, frostweed, musky mint, and a new species for me: rayless sunflower.

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Vanillaleaf (Carphephorus odoratissima, Asteraceae)
Native

Found on east side of St. Nicholas Rd, between Beehead Rd and Power Line Rd.
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Blazing star; dense gayfeather (Liatris spicata, Asteraceae)
Native

Found on east side of St. Nicholas Rd, between Beehead Rd and Power Line Rd.
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Lemon bacopa; blue waterhyssop (Bacopa caroliniana, Plantaginaceae)
Native

Small, beautiful blue, shaggy stems; found growing in the wet ditches along St. Nicholas Rd.
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Catesby's lily; pine lily (Lilium catesbaei, Liliaceae)
Native

Found on east side of St. Nicholas Rd.
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Frostweed, white crownbeard (Verbesina virginica, Asteraceae) Native

Found along Power Line Rd
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Stiff sunflower; rayless sunflower (Helianthus radula, Asteraceae)
Native

Found on the east side of St. Nicholas Rd, immediately south of Power Line Rd. This unusual sunflower has no ray florets, although there are occasional specimens with a few small ray florets.  A single flower head terminates an unbranched stem. A new species for this blog.
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Clustered bushmint; musky mint (Hyptis alata, Lamiaceae) Native

Found on east side of St. Nicholas Rd. and along Power Line Rd.
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