Branching Broomrape Orobanche ramosa

Branching Broomrape Orobanche ramosa. A leafless, parasitic plant whose stems tap into the roots of other plants, like Tobacco, Potatoes, or Mint, which sends up branching clumps of dark colored stems which bear light lavender tube flowers with a white mark on the lip.  Under the ground the plant forms a bulb like nodule around the roots of some plant, then sends up a short, stout stalk that branches at the surface.  Not able to produce chlorophyll, Broomrape has no leaves, parasitizing other plants. Locally uncommon, this pest can form colonies which are not noticed, since they are very short, and get quickly overgrown after they bloom.  In Europe this species is harvested and prepared like asparagus. SWk, Not in Book, 3/25/19 – 5/4/19; 3/28/20 – 5/?/20;

Branching Broomrape habit; a leafless parasitic plant producing clumps of light blue tube flowers.

Note; Broomrape does not produce any leaves, tapping into the roots of other plants

Note; branching clumps of leafless stalks, each bearing slightly arched, blue flowers with a white spot on the lip and into the throat.

Yarrow, Common Yarrow

Common Yarrow (Milfoil) Achillea millefolium. This tall stemmed, somewhat pithy plant with slightly grooved, fuzzy stalks rises from a rosette of compound pinnate, fern-like leaves that are rounded, rather than pointed on the ends.  Leaf petioles clasp the stalk, a filamentous sheath wrapping around the entire node.  The stalk is divided at conspicuous nodes, stems arranged in an alternating spiral at each node.  Pithy stems terminate in a compound umbel of small, white flowers, nestled in a rosette of pinnate, bract like leaflets.  Each flower is composed of 5 white petals and 5 stamen tip with white anthers, all centered around a bare yellow disk with a towering, smooth pistol.  Each petal is divided in two.  Flowers convert to a mass of sticky (Velcro) seed capsules that cling to hair or clothing, but which are much larger than Hedge Parsley.  Lawns, PDU, PL (108) 4/20/15-5/20/15; 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 no obs;

Common Yarrow habit; beginning as a rosette of fine, compound pinnate leaves with rounded tips, stem leaves arranged in an alternating spiral around the grooved, hairy stalk, terminating in a compound umbel of small white flowers

Note; compound umbels of small, white flowers and stamen tipped with white anthers, arranged around a bare yellow center

Note; each petal is split in two

Note; fine compound pinnate leaves clasp the grooved stems, a filamentous sheath wrapped around the leaf nodes

Note; dense cluster of stick-tight seed capsules, nestled in a rosette of fine, pinnate leaflets

Woolyleaf, Pringle’s Woolyleaf

Pringle’s Woolyleaf Eriophylum pringlei. This miniaturized, fuzzy, grey-green plant of roadsides or heavily mowed areas rarely looks like a succulent and is rarely more than 3” tall.  Several stems arise from the same rhizome like root system, rarely branching, but retaining a crowded, compact form.  The short, elliptical leaves are densely clustered around the soft stems in a tight spiral, the uppermost leaves surrounding a dense cluster of tiny yellow-white flowers.  Seed capsules are tiny pods with 3-4 holes, like salt shakers, from which the miniscule seeds are shaken out when struck by rain drops or disturbed by passing feet.  (206 Soccer, roads, path edges, PL.) 4/28/15-5/20/15;  4/15/16; 17 not recrd; 4/22/18; 4/7/19; 20 not recrd;

Pringle’s Wooleyleaf habit; very short,  grey-green, fuzzy miniature that tolerates mowing, the alternating spiral of thick leaves supporting a compact head of tiny, yellowish flowers

Note; dense clusters of small, fuzzy, elliptical, grey green leaves which end in terminal bunch of flowers

Note; the thick leaves resemble a succulent

Note; dense bunches of tiny yellow flowers embedded in rosettes of fuzzy leaves

Note; seed capsules are punctuated with 3-4 tiny holes, like salt shakers

Three Fans

Three Fans (Ratany) Krameria lanceolata. An unusual, sprawling perennial with multiple, long (12”) reddish stems radiating out from a central taproot, working their way through surrounding vegetation.  Small (1”), slightly hairy, elongated oval leaves, with no petioles are arranged alternately along the stems.  The dark red flowers, which could be mistaken for an Orchid, are about ¾” across, born singly on short peduncles, composed of 5 pointed petals around an odd-shaped, green pistol.  The stigma is a three lobed projection, fringed in red, rising from a green bubble flanked by two “wings”, referred to as ‘fans’.  Chalky flats, otherwise uncommon locally. (328) 5/10/15-5/20/15; 5/10/16- ; 17 no observation; 5/1/18; 19 no obs; 5/5/20

Three Fans habit; long, creeping reddish stems, coated with fine hairs, with alternating, elongated leaves, and dark red flowers

Note; sparse, oblong, slightly hair leaves alternating along reddish, trailing stems that are lined with soft, white hairs

Note; red flowers, each with 5 petals, arranged around a green pistol with three, fringed ‘fan’ like projections

Note; flowers born singly on short peduncles

Note; two white anthers next to a prominent stigma, mid-pistol

 

Sunflower, Engelmann’s Sunflower

Engelmann’s Sunflower/Daisy Engelmannia pinnatifida. A perennial that looks like a small sunflower, this daisy, which begins as a rosette of hairy, deeply pinnate leaves, produces multiple, branching stalks, the leaves alternating up the stems. Slender, branching flower sprays produce bright yellow ray flowers 1”-1 1/4” across, surrounding a central, green disk.  From the disk bud 20 or so yellow disk flowers, each with projecting anthers.  The 8 ray petals have linear veins, ending with three teeth, which curve back in the heat, or as they age throughout the long blooming season. Disks produce a seed capsule with a central spike, not an open head, like sunflowers. The loose panicles of flowers become bushy as the plant ages.  An invasive of disturbed soils, this flower is crowded out by perennial vegetation, unless the area is mowed down.  Most common along road sides, trail margins, and lawns.  (202) 4/6/15-; 3/27/16; 3/13/17- ; 3/26/18 – 6/15/18; 3/25/19; 3/25/20

Engelmann’s Sunflower habit; long deeply pinnate leaves on a clump of hairy, branching stems, with an open panicle of bright yellow ray flowers

Note; basal rosette of large, deeply pinnate, fuzzy leaves, arranged on stalks in an alternating spiral

Note; loose sprays of 8 petal ray flowers, each petal ending in a toothed tip, surrounding a yellow disk

Note; 8 ray petals, each with several deep veins, surrounding a green disk with embedded yellow disk flowers.

Note; petals curve back in the heat, or with age

Storksbill, Redstem Storksbill

Redstem Storksbill (Filaree) Erodium cicutarium. 3-11 14. This low growing ground cover with hairy, compound, finely pinnate leaves that branch alternately off of red, hairy stems, begins as rosette of leaves.  One of the first plants to bloom, the furry coating helps protect leaves from frost.  Small, loose sprays of hairy buds open in rapid succession to reveal tiny (1/4”) lavender-pink flowers, each with 5 linear, elliptical petals.  The central pistol is surrounded by 5 stamen with purple anthers, the pistol dividing into a five pointed star.  Flowers produce a linear cluster of straight, needle shaped seed capsules that imaginatively resemble a stork’s bill, giving the plant its moniker. Blooming continues until hot weather, then may pick up again in the fall.  Road-sides, lawns, disturbed soil. (292) 2/8/16-; 2/8/17- ; 2/10/18; 2/8/19 – ; 1/16/20

Redstem Storksbill habit; a rosette of fine, compound pinnate, hairy leaves arranged alternately along red stems, which produce umbels of tiny pink flowers, which convert into needle like seed capsules.

Note; loose spray of small lavender 5 petal flowers with purple stamen.

Note; flowers convert to long, straight, needle shaped seed capsules said to resemble storks’ bills.

Skullcap, Egg-leaf Skullcap

Egg-leaf Skullcap Scuttelaria ovata. A shade loving, slightly fuzzy plant up to 3’ tall with large, egg shaped leaves, the margin marked by rounded teeth.  Leaves and flowers are arranged in opposite pairs set at 90 degrees to the next set.  Terminal spikes bear opposite pairs of  soft, green bracts, from which emerge ¾” long lavender-blue flowers. The tube-like flowers are smooth except for the hooded “cap”, which is only slightly fuzzy.  The S shaped tube faces straight out of leafy bracts, bends sharply upward, then turns forward, broadening and opening to a lip with two pronounced, lighter colored calluses. The bottom of the throat is white, speckled with lavender-blue.  The seed capsules are shaped like skull-cap. Forested road sides, SWk, PDU, DORBA (376?) 6/3/15-; 5/16/16-7/1/16; 5/9/17- ; 5/15/18-; 19 no obs; 20 no obs

Egg Leaf Skullcap habit; tall pithy plants with opposite, egg shaped leaves, ending in terminal spikes of blue flowers

Note; opposite pairs of egg shaped leaves with rounded teeth

Note; S shaped profile of blue, smooth, tube flowers, sporting two calluses on an abruptly down turned lip

Note; soft, fuzzy green bracts in opposite pairs along the flower spikes

Note; upturned “skullcap” shaped seed capsules

Skullcap, Drummond’s Skullcap

Drummond’s Skullcap Scuttelaria drummondii. A rather short plant (5-10”), with square stems, and fuzzy, oval leaves arranged in opposite pairs, each rotated 90.  Dark to medium blue, tube shaped flowers rise singly or in pairs from soft, fuzzy, green bracts at the axils of uppermost leaves.  Tube open to a corolla of a hairy cap and a lip of 4 lobes, which unlike sage flowers, does not angle sharply downward. Two white stripes, which begin under the cap, run down the winged lip. A nectar tube begins under the hood, running back into the flower tube.  The dried seed heads are flattened disks, said to look like little skull-caps. Common on open prairies during mild spring temperatures.  PDU (376) 4/28/15-6/5/15; 5/10/16-6/10/16; 4/25/17-5/15/17; 4/25/18; 4/22/19; 4/25/20

Drummond’s Skullcap habit; short, square, fuzzy stems with opposite sets of oval leaves, each pair rotated 90 degrees, supporting spikes of bright blue tube flowers

Note; blue tube flowers with a fuzzy hood and a four lobed lip marked by two white stripes

Note; the winged lip is not as sharply bent down as the Sages.

Note; seed capsules are convex disks, like tiny, hairy skull caps

Sage, Texas Sage

Texas Sage Salvia texana.  Not to be confused with the flowering shrub Leucophyllum frutescens by the same name, this diminutive, native flower is a short, low growing (10”), weakly erect fuzzy plant with short, upturned, needle like leaves arranged opposite each other along thin stems.  Light blue tube flowers set in deep, fuzzy bracts emerge in opposite pairs from along the upper end of the stems.   Flowers have a smooth, arching, narrow upper cap and a wide, four lobed lip set at right angles.  The lip is marked by a set of parallel white stripes, and white anthers set deep within the tube.  Unlike other salvia (sage plants), the leaves of this species do not have an aromatic smell.  Chalky flats (not in book) 5/10/16- ; 5/10/17;  18 no obs. 4/22/19; 4/20/20

Texas Sage habit; a low growing, weakly upright flower with fuzzy stems, small, upturned opposite leaves, and bright blue tube flowers set in fuzzy, green bracts.

Note; short, weakly upright, fuzzy plants with flowers emerging singly from leaf nodes along the upper end of the stems

Note; the light blue, tube shaped flowers that open to a smooth, arching cap and a wide, 4 lobed lip set at 90 degrees to the column.

Note; light blue tube flowers set in deep, fuzzy, green bracts

Note; light blue flowers, down-turned 4 lobed lip with twin white dots, and white anthers deep within the tube

Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace Daucus carota. A very tall (3’), pithy annual of the carrot family, this plant produces a thick, fibrous, white tap root which only remotely looks like a carrot, but is inedible.  A flower spike rises out of a basal rosette of deeply pinnate, fine, fern-like leaves, producing a cup shaped compound flower head nested on a dense mat of fine bract like leaflets.  The bud unfolds into an umbrella like, white, umbel flower head that looks like a lace coaster, earning the plant its moniker.  Flower heads, made up of individual flowers with four small petals, can reach up to 4” in diameter, the outermost flowers producing larger petals.  Although it looks like a very large version of Hedge Parsley, the seeds do not stick to clothing or hair.  A wide-spread invasive, it is commonly found on disturbed soil, but gets crowded out in established prairies or lawns.  (60) 5/1/15; 3/27/16; 3/15/17- ; 4/15/18; 4/28/19; 4/25/20

Queen Ann’s Lace habit; tall, pithy spikes bearing a single umbel of white flowers rise from rosettes of deeply pinnate, fern-like leaves.

Note; fern like compound pinnate leaves alternating along slightly fuzzy, pithy stems

Note; cup like head, nested in a cushion of fine bracts open up into a dome of fine, white flowers

Note; a single, compound umbel of tiny white flowers look like a lace coaster