Bluet; Rose Bluet

Bluet; Rose Bluet Hustonia rosea (Hedyotis rosea). A tiny, early blooming plant common in lawns, or spaces where vegetation suffers winter die back. The entire plant grows no more than 2” high, each stalk bearing a single, upright, cup-shaped flower with four petals ranging from bright blue to pale lavender to white.  Each flower appears to have a yellow cross in the middle, where the stamen form. The tiny, rounded leaves, born in opposite pairs along thin stems, are slightly succulent, and lacking petioles, clasp the soft stems.  the weakly upright, weakly branching stems loosely grow between stems of dormant grass.  New buds emerge from the crown of the plant as it grows.  Lawns (Not in Book) 2/12/19 – ; 2/18/20 – 3/22/20;

Note; light blue, four petal flowers born singly on very short stems

Privet; Glossy Privet

Privet; Glossy/Japanese Privet Ligustrum lucidum var. macrophyllum Ait;. Much bigger, more upright, and less aggressive than L sinense (Chinese privet), this vigorous, invasive, hardy, evergreen, ornamental from south-eastern Asia is more of an understory tree than bush.  The smooth, light grey bark of the trunks, often mottled with lichens, bear large (2-4”), glossy green, pointed leaves that are arranged in opposite pairs along long (6’+) arching stems.  More upright, L lucidum is an understory tree with 3-6 trunks, and though the stems might take root if they touched the ground, they rarely do. Terminal panicles of fragrant, white flowers, each with 4 rounded petals, grow out from the axils of new leaves and the ends of last year’s stems.  Flowers convert to blue-black, oblong fruit which remain on the bush through the winter, providing spring food for migrating birds.  L lucidum is common both in the thin soils of limy high ground and the deep soils of lowland flood plains. (856) 5/28/15- ; 16 not recrd; 17 not recrd; 5/26/18; 19 no obs; 5/10/20;

Glossy Privet habit; an upright, evergreen bush with tree like trunks, often mottled with lichens, which bears large, opposite, glossy, oval leaves, and terminal panicles of showy, white flowers

Note; the trunks are smooth, lacking the knobs of L sinense (Chinese privet)

Note; opposite, glossy, dark green, pointed, egg shaped leaves with a sharp drip-tip stay on the plant for several years

Note; terminal panicles of showy, white flowers with a mild fragrance, each flower composed of four rounded petals, stamen and pistol emerging beyond the flower profile

Note; each shallow tube flower has four rounded petals, two white, filamentous stamen tipped with cream colored anthers extending beyond the flower face

Privet; Chinese Privet

Privet; Chinese Privet Ligustrum sinense Lour;. This leggy, drooping, invasive, evergreen ornamental shrub was imported for its terminal spikes of fragrant white flowers and green foliage.  Privet sports multiple, small, trunk like stems which sprout from a central, shallow, bulbous root, sprouting new growth from the base and from branches in March, then developing terminal sprays of flowers which open in April or May.  Flowers convert to small, oblong, blue-black fruit that soon ripens, but does not fall until the next spring (March).  The mass of showy, fragrant flowers are white, with 4 elongated petals, arranged around a short tube, from which two filamentous stamen protrude, each tipped with a purple anther.  Pointed, elliptical leaves are born in opposite pairs along new stems, remaining for several years.  The long thin, brittle new shoots are easily snapped, but grow back quickly, gradually bending over if not supported, till they touch the ground. They will take root if they touch, so privet needs to be cut back twice a year to keep it in check.  Older trunks develop a knobby surface with sharp, spike like protuberances where opposite leaf ribs once grew. This privet has taken over large areas of moist bottom land, forming interlaced understory thickets that are nearly impenetrable without a machete or hardy nippers.  The roots are shallow and the stumps easily removed, but Privet can grow back from roots.  Privet does not colonize open grass land, as it does not tolerate full sun. (857) 4/25/15; 5/25/16; 4/18/17- ; 4/18/17; 5/20/18- ; 5/4/19; 5/15/20

Chinese Privet habit; an evergreen shrub with multiple, long, arching trunks radiating out from a central, shallow, bulbous root, stems taking root wherever they touch the ground, bearing attractive elliptical leaves and terminal sprays of fragrant white flowers

Note; evergreen, dark green leaves born in opposite pairs along stems.

Note; showy, terminal panicles of fragrant white flowers, each with four elliptical petals, and two white stamen tipped with purple anthers.

Note; each flower has four elongated, slightly curled, white petals arranged around a short, central tube from which two stamen, tipped with an anther, protrude

Note; flowers convert to black/dark blue, oval to round berries, eaten by many migrating birds

Hop-Tree; Common Hop-Tree

Hop-Tree; Common Hop-Tree Ptelea trifoliata L (Stinking/Wafer Ash);  Ptelea is derived from the Greek for ‘wing’, referring to the winged seeds of Elm, Ash and Hop trees.  A small, variable, deciduous shrub with reddish stems that become warty and dark grey with age, and alternating trifoliate leaves divided into three elliptical leaflets.   Clusters of small (3/16”), white, intensely fragrant, short lived flowers, each with 4 petals and 4 yellow anthers, are born in dense panicles budding from the ends of new growth.  “Leaves-of-three, leave them be”, usually warns against Poison Ivy, but the Common Hop leaves are smooth and elliptical, and wider toward the ends (spatulate), with no serration along the edge, and although strong smelling when disturbed, are harmless.  Trifoliata (three leaves) describes the foliage pattern, earning the plant comparison to Texas Ash, so it is sometimes called ‘Stinking Ash’, for its smell, or ‘wafer Ash’ for the seed shape.  Seeds are suspended in a circular wing, called a samara.  The seeds float and drift, or tumble, rather than spinning, like the samara of Elm and Ash.  The root is pungent and bitter when cut or chewed. ( 591-593) 4/13/15-5/14/15 Samara; 4/13/16; 17 no observation; 4/25/18; 3/25/19-5/4/19; 4/15/20 (samara 5/25/20);

Common Hop Tree habit; an understory shrub with corky grey trunks, reddish stems, and alternating leaves in sets of three which bears fragrant flowers that convert to oval shaped samara.

Note; leaves of three with smooth margins, the central leaflet wider toward the end, born in an alternating spiral around new stems

Note; terminal panicles of small, intensely fragrant, short lived, 4 petal flowers, with yellow anthers

Note; oval samara, seeds within filamentous ‘wings’ which completely surround the seeds, (unlike Elm and Ash samara, which have a wing on one side only, causing them to whirl like a helicopter)

Holly; Deciduous Holly

Holly; Deciduous Holly/Possumhaw Holly Ilex decidua Ait;.  A common, leggy bush that can grow to 20’ or more, the brittle knobby stems almost always arching away from the central bulbous ‘root-trunk’ of the plant.  The bark is usually a light gray and smooth, but may be mottled with darker splotches as it ages.  Sometimes evergreen, but usually losing its leaves in the fall, or in dry conditions.  Small clusters of white flowers born on 3/8” pedicles from old leaf axils along last year’s growth, or even trunks, produce clusters of bright red berries, sometimes orange or yellowish, that last through the winter.  The spatula shaped leaves, wider toward their end, are arranged alternately along twigs.  An important berry for migrating birds which eat it before they fall in the spring.  Grows everywhere, but is more abundant in stream flood basins, where it may be mistaken for invasive Chinese Privet, which is evergreen, smaller, and does not tolerate shade as well. (654-655) 4/8-4/15/15; 3/25/16-4/10/16; 3/21/17-3/28/17; 4/7/18-4/17/18; 3/29/19; 3/25/20 – 4/3/20;

Deciduous Holly habit; a leggy understory bush with many knobby trunks arching away from a central root stump, bearing spatula shaped leaves and small white flowers that convert to red-orange berries that last the winter.

Note; soft, spatula shaped leaves with smooth margins bud in an alternate pattern along new growth

Note; clusters of small, white, 4 petal flowers bud from old leaf nodes along last years stems, and even old trunks

Note; loose clusters of bright red-orange berries are born along old twigs, last all winter long

Note; American Holly, an ornamental from northern climes, also has small white flowers which convert to bright red berries which last the winter, but has sharp tips to the stiff, glossy green, evergreen leaves, and the berries are born on new growth, not old stems

Dogwood; Rough-Leaf Dogwood

Dogwood; Rough-Leaf Dogwood Cornus drummondii Meyer;. This lanky, smooth barked, woody, deciduous shrub is an understory bush which prefers at least partial shade, often found along forest margins.  The medium sized, oval, deeply veined, matte leaves which are born in opposite pairs, end in a sharp drip-tip point and are rough to the touch.  This is NOT the large, four petaled Eastern Dogwood planted in many yards.  Attractive flower heads bud from the ends of new growth, forming dense clusters of small (1/4”) creamy white, slightly fragrant flowers, each with four petals.  The flower center is a reddish disk with a protruding green pistol and 4 filament like stamen capped with cream colored anthers.  Flowers convert to green berries which turn white when ripe.  (798-799) 4/29/15-5/20/15; 3/10/16-3/30/16; 4/14/17-4/28/17; 18 no obs; 4/29/19; 4/25/20;

Rough-leaf Dogwood habit; a leggy, woody shrub of forest margins and partial shade with opposite leaves that are rough to the touch, bearing terminal clusters of white flowers

Note; oval, rough textured leaves, glossy on the upper surface, with a prominent drip tip, and lateral veins that run the length of the leaf.

Note; dense terminal clusters of white flowers, the four petals joining at a reddish disk with a protruding green pistol and 4 filamentous stamen tipped with cream anthers.

Note; flowers convert to green berries which turn white when ripe

Note; mature, white berries

Veronica; Birdseye Speedwell

Veronica; Birdseye Speedwell Veronica persica. This branched, creeping, lawn plant is characterized by soft stems with opposite, heart-shaped, fuzzy, clasping leaves, with lobed edges. The blue and white flowers, each with four petals, are 3/16” across, and are born singly from leaf axils.  Three petals are light blue and rounded, with heavy dark blue veining clustered around a white center.  The fourth petal is a light blue and elongated, like a lip.  Two hooked anthers arc over the central, spike-like pistol. Common in lawns and road margins, preferring shade, and intolerant of hotter weather. [Not in book] (354 related) 3/12/15-4/28/15 Rain and cool weather prolonged 5/20/15; 2/14/16-6/1/16; 2/23/17-4/?; 3/5/18; 2/8/19 – ; 2/8/20 – 5/29/20;

Veronica Speedwell habit; cool season, shade loving ground cover and lawn plant with rounded, clasping leaves bearing single, bright blue and white flowers.

Note; opposite pairs of rounded leaves clasp the creeping, soft stalks

Note; blue flowers with white centers are born singly from leaf axils

Note; low growing habit as an early season ground cover, common on lawns and margins

Note; rounded, lobed, opposite leaves with no petiole.

Note; three bright blue petals, one light blue to white petal.

Note; 4 white stamen arc over the central  spike-like pistol

Sundrop, Narrow-leaf Sundrop

Narrow-leaf Sundrop Oenothera fruticose.  A pithy, erect, if straggling plant with very narrow, toothed, strap-like leaves arranged around the tough, reddish stems in a spiral.  The leaves lack petioles but do not clasp the stems.  Leaves of the similar Drummond’s Sundrop, Calyophus drummondianus, are nearly twice as wide. The elongated buds unfurl as they open into a showy flower with four somewhat narrow, crape like petals surrounding a prominent nectar tube that leads to the ovary.  The 1” bright yellow flowers have a prominent three lobed stigma on an elongated pistol, and 8 shorter, light yellow anthers.  The 3/4 ” seed capsules are dowel-like. Chalk flats along roads (158) 5/8/15-6/1/15; 5/10/16; 4/14/17- ; 4/25/18; 19 no obs; 5/5/20

Narrowleaf Sundrop habit; clumps of pithy, reddish stems with very narrow, sharply toothed, strap-like leaves, bearing bright yellow flowers

Note; bright yellow flowers with four, narrow petals arranged around a nectar tube.

Note; elongated pistols and stamen from the rim of the nectar tube

Note; clumps of pithy, reddish stems lined with very narrow, toothed, strap like leaves

Note; reddish, dowel like seed capsules

 

Sundrop, Drummond’s Sundrop

Drummond’s Sundrop (Square-bud) Calyophus drummondianus. A weak, straggling plant with toothed, strap-like leaves that radiate around the stem, lack petioles but which do not clasp the stem.  Though narrow, the leaves are nearly twice as wide as Narrow Leaf Sundrop, Oenothera fruticose. The light green buds, also without peduncles, have 4 prominent edges (making them look ‘square’), which are lined with light purple.  The 1” bright yellow, four petal flowers have a prominent three lobed stigma on an elongated pistol, and 8 shorter, light yellow anthers set within a cup of 4 petals.  The 1” seed pods are stick-like. Chalk flats along roads (158) 5/8/15-6/1/15; 5/10/16; 4/14/17- ; 5/12/18; 4/22/19; 5/1/20

Drummond’s Sundrop habit; weak sprawling stems with straplike, toothed leaves arranged in a radial pattern around the stem, bearing square buds which open to bright yellow flowers

Note; bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers, up to 1” in diameter, each with four petals, emerge from buds with four ridges.

Note; beetle in the flower throat

Note; square buds with pronounced ridges, rimmed with purple.

Note; narrow leaves are lined with sharp looking, spine like teeth, which are harmless

Primrose, Shortfin Evening Primrose

Shortfin Evening Primrose Oenothera flava. An early blooming perennial with a thick, deep, lumpy tap-root, which grows a rosette of deeply pinnate leaves born on red petioles. Large (2”), bright yellow flowers, with 4 petals are born singly on long (3”) pedicles, the flower center leading to a long, hollow nectar tube which attracts moths which pollinate the flower.  The short-lived flowers open overnight and close by late afternoon.  A filamentous pistol, tipped with a cross-shaped stigma, extends out beyond the 8 stamen, each of which is tipped with bright yellow anthers. Flowers convert to 4 winged, paddle-wheel, seed capsules, which split open, scattering seeds as they roll about as the wind pushes them along. Common on road medians and lawns, O flava tolerates mowing.  PDU (154) 3/25/14; 2/20/16-6/10/16; 2/27/17-6/1/17; 3/4/18-5/23/18; 2/12/19 – ; 2/6/20 – 4/28/20;

Shortfin Evening Primrose habit; a rosette of deeply pinnate leaves which sprout from a deep, thick taproot, with large, yellow flowers that open in the evening

Note; a rosette of deeply pinnate leaves born on red stems.

Note; short lived, showy, yellow flowers on stems 2-3” long, which close by the afternoon.

Note; large, yellow flowers with 4 petals and 8 stamen tipped with yellow anthers surrounding a long nectar tube from which projects a green pistol

Note; four cornered seed capsules which the wind tumbles