Broadleaf Plantain Plantago major. The broad, (2”) cross-hatched 7 veined leaves are up to 10” long, bearing large bare flower spike (396) The flower spike is short (3-4”), the flower head cylindrical (not cone shaped) and the white anthers barely project beyond the profuse bracts that hide the miniscule, green flowers, giving the bloom head a scaly look. Most common along paths, PDU, PL, roadsides (396) no pix 4/10/15-5/20/15; 4/17/16- ; 17 no obs; 4/?/18; 19 no obs; 20 no obs;
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
Blue (Tall) Vervain Verbena hastata. A tall (1-3’), stringy, perennial with strongly upright, weakly branching, slightly grooved stems off of which leaves with deeply pinnate lobes are arranged in opposite pairs. Sparse, tiny, blue, tube flowers bud directly off long terminal spikes, deeply enough embedded within shallow bracts so that no peduncle (stem) can be seen. The tube opens into a corolla of 5 petals, each cleft with a small wedge. Although it tolerates full sun to partial shade, this plant is widely scattered in yards, as well as open fields, since it is tall enough to compete with other leggy plants. Though tiny, flowers attract many butterflies. PDU, CC and CA (372) 4/10/15; 4/18/16; 3/21/17- ; 4/22/18; 4/20/19; 3/25/20
Blue (tall) Vervain habit. Note; very leggy, branching plant with tall, erect, grooved stems, lined with very narrow, deeply pinnate leaves in opposite pairs, bearing terminal spikes of tiny blue tube flowers.
Note; tiny, blue tube flowers deeply embedded in smooth, terminal flower spikes.
Note; tube flowers open to a five lobed corolla, each petal with a wedge shaped cleft.
Threadleaf (Bishop’s weed) Ptilimnium capillaceum. A short (10-12”), fibrous plant that derives its name from its thread-like, compound pinnate leaves which divide into many threads per petiole, this annual blooms early, before it gets crowded out by taller vegetation. The leaves clasp the slightly ribbed stems, the petioles wrapping them in a transparent sheath. The weakly upright stems would sprawl if not supported by surrounding vegetation. The flowers head are composed of tiny white flowers, born in a compound umbel, much like Hedge Parsley, each flower composed of 5 spatula shaped petals arranged around a yellow center. Flowers convert to smooth, elongated seeds with slight “winglike” projections. The plant differs from Hedge Parsley (Torilis arvensis) in the shape of the leaf, the season, and that flowers do not form sticky “velcro” seeds like Hedge Parsley. PDU, DK, PL (60) 4/22/15-6/5/15; 4/14/16-6/25/16; 3/27/17- ; 5/10/18; 4/1/19; 3/18/20
Threadleaf habit; low growing masses of soft, fibrous stems, with thread-like leaves, and bearing umbels of small white flowers
Note; each stem ends in a compound umbel of 5 spatula shaped petals arranged around yellow centers
Note; five, tiny basal stamen bear yellow anthers above the flower head, making them look slightly fuzzy
Note; low growing, soft, feathery, thread like leaf pattern
Note; compound pinnate leaves with thread-like leaflets which clasp the fibrous, ribbed stems,arranged in an alternating spiral
Note; leaf petiole clasps the stem, wrapping it in a sheath
Note; a low growing spread of Threadleaf, (and taller Delphinium)
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.
Spring Vetch (Garden Vetch) Vicia sativa. This early blooming, sprawling legume grows thick bunches of compound pinnate, frond-like leaves that alternate along the short, vine like stem. Each leaf is comprised of 8 paired leaflets on a mid-rib, which ends with a forked climbing tendril. Foliage resembles Locoweed, or Milk Vetches except that only Spring Vetch has climbing tendrils on the ends of leaves. Pairs of small, pea-like, lavender and pink flowers are born on three inch stems that branch directly off central stalks, opposite the leaves. Seed pods are round and bean-like, turning black before they crack and curl open. Vetches bloom until the weather turns hot. Common on all open spaces, but ceasing to bloom when the weather gets hot, and going dormant as other vegetation outgrows them. (324) 2/12/14; 3/19/15 – 5/5/15; 2/25/16; 2/27/17-5/2/17; 3/5/18; 3/23/19 ; 1/27/20 – 4/?/20;
Spring Vetch habit; dense clumps of vine-like stems with alternating, pinnate (frond-like) leaves, each ending with a forked tendril, bearing pairs of pink, pea like flowers
Note; alternating, pinnate (frond-like) leaves, each ending with a forked tendril, form sprawling clumps
Note; bean-like seed pods that turn black and curl, expelling the bean like seeds
Note; pairs of small lavender and pink, pea like flowers, born on 3” stems, branching off vines opposite the leaves
Note; each flower is composed of a large, flat, banner petal, and two perpendicular wing petals that house the pistol and stamen
Spreading Fanpetal Sida Sida abutifolis (filicaulis). A tough-stemmed, sprawling weed that invades lawns and heavily mowed areas, with narrow, lance-shaped, deeply veined, leaves with rounded, toothed margins. Buds and seed capsules are five cornered pyramids. Light yellow flowers have 5 irregular petals, the left-most lobe being longer than the right, giving the flowers a shape reminiscent of an electric fan blade, earning it the moniker, “Fan-Petal Sida”. Like the related mallows and hibiscus, the anthers form a bottle brush around the upper end of the pistol, near the stigma. Flowers are easily confused with Three Lobed False Mallow M coromandelianum, except that plant is strongly upright. Common on Lawn, mowed roadsides, and short grasses, this Sida cannot compete with taller growing plants. (166) 5/12/15; 6/1/16; 4/22/17- ; 4/22/18; 19 no obs; 20 no obs;
Spreading Fanpetal Sida habit; a sprawling plant with narrow, toothed, lance shaped leaves, and yellow flowers with lopsided petals.
Note; anthers form a brush around the upper end of the pistol.
Note; one lobe of each petal is larger than the others, like a fan blade
Note; pyramidal, five sided bud
Yellow Salsify (Goatsbeard) Tragopogon dubius. This invasive, annual, rising from a thick, fibrous root, has long (10”), narrow, grass-like leaves with longitudinal veins that clasp the pithy stem. The thick root is edible. The leaves tend to curl down, due to being so thin. A single, ridged, tapering bud forms on the end of a long (6-8”) pedicle that opens up like a heavy, spiky bract, framing the 2-3” yellow starburst ray flower. Dark stamens are clustered among disk petals in the flower head. Flowers soon convert to a large, coarse blowball, made up of dozens of achenes the wind blows away. A blue variety is common elsewhere, but has not been recorded locally. Road sides, mowed fields (218) 4/12/15-5/10/15; 5/1/16; 3/26/17-5/25/17; 4/17/18; 4/1/19; 5/5/20
Yellow Salsify habit; long stems with narrow clasping grass like leaves, tipped with a single, tapering bud, which opens to a single bright yellow ray flower.
Note; basal, grass like, parallel veined leaves, often curling under, which clasp the smooth stem.
Note; smooth flower stems tipped with a single, ridged, tapering bud
Note; sepal bracts unfold into a spiky green backdrop framing a single, yellow, ray flower, set off by dark stamen in the disk.
Note; flowers convert to a large, coarse blowball of wind blown achenes.
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
Wright’s Plantain Plantago wrightiana/ Desert Plantain (Indian Wheat) Plantago insularis/helleri. A diminutive (2-3”), fuzzy leafed annual with 4-5 bands on each very narrow, elongated leaf, this plantain produces a short (4-6”) spike with a short (.5-1”) head of visible, whitish, paper-thin, 4 petal flowers with a dark central disk. Although it is the smallest plantain, it produces the largest (1/4”) flowers, no stamen project beyond the flower face. More common in arid areas, it is most commonly found on lawns and roadsides that are regularly mowed. The tiny, granule like seeds can be ground to a flour, like a grain, though Amerinds did not practice this way of preparing the plant for food, as plantains are an invasive species brought to the US by settlers. PL (396) 5/7/15; 5/2/16; 5/25/17- ; 5/25/18; 4/22/19; 5/10/20
Wrights Plantain habit; a miniscule plant with very narrow, fuzzy leaves, and short flower spikes of papery 4 petal flowers
Note; short, fuzzy flower heads of relatively large, paper thin flowers, each with four pointed petals arranged around a dark, central disk
Note, no stamens project beyond the flower face.
Note; fuzzy short (6-8”) stems, and narrow, elongated, slightly fuzzy leaves.
Note; compared to other plantains, Wright’s Plantain has relatively large seeds that can be ground into flour
Trail Trotter's Flower Guide 