Peach Tree

Peach; Peach Tree Prunus persica;.  Peaches originated in the “Mediterranean” climate of western China and eastern Persia, as the scientific name persica indicates.  Wild Peaches will sometimes grow  from pits of hybrid peaches, but otherwise they do not naturally propagate in this area.  Called “clings”, the flesh clings to the seeds of wild peaches, rather than separating easily, as commercial hybrids do.  However, the flowers and leaves look similar.  Trees have smooth to scaly bark, and the long limbs tend to droop when laden with fruit, or sometimes even split apart from the trunk.  The leaves are slightly folded, long and narrow, with very short petioles, with a pronounced drip-tip, and are born alternately along stems.  Flowers form before new growth emerges, budding from leaf scars on last year’s stems.  Dark red bud sepals open, allowing the five showy, pink petals to unfold, which like other members of the Rosacea family, sport a dome of filamentous stamen, each tipped with an anther, surrounding a central pistol.  Fruit are hairy, scored by a central cleft, and have one hard, flattened pit with a convoluted surface.  The sweet fruit are eaten by birds and wasps alike if left on trees too long.  Like Almonds, the seed inside is laced with cyanide, making them taste bitter, and potentially poison if too many are eaten.  (406-407) 3/5/16; 2/25/17 – 3/15/17; 18 no obs (drupe 5/24/18); 2/28/19 – 3/23/19 (drupe 6/22/19); 2/18/20 – 3/15/20 (drupe 6/12/20);

Peach habit; a readily branching, short tree with smooth to scaly bark.

Note; large, showy five petal, pink flowers with multiple filamentous stamen.

Note; flowers convert to fleshy drupe scored by a cleft, with a flattened, rough seed inside.

Note; alternating, narrow, deciduous, elongated leaves with finely serrated, slightly undulating margins partly obscure fruit

Note; the large fruit on short stems, bud directly from nodes along last years growth.  hard, and reddish, and covered with fine fuzz, peaches will ripen and turn soft if picked when fully grown.

Mimosa; Mimosa Silk Tree

Mimosa; Mimosa/Silk Tree Albizia julibrissin Durazz;. A native of Asia, this deciduous, smooth barked tree of medium height thrives in hot weather and tolerates drought, winning it popular use in decorating southern coastal cities.  Otherwise, unlike the Neem tree, it does not take over wild lands.  The alternating leaves are doubly compound, being fronds up to 12” long composed of leaflets up to 4” long arranged in opposite pairs along leaf ribs, themselves composed of tiny, oblong leaflets in opposite pairs.  The fragrant flowers, born on terminal spikes, are pink-red, fading to white toward the center, so covered in silky stamen that they appear as fluffy hemispheres. The flattened seed-pods are up to a foot long, the seeds forming regular lumps under the surface. (500-501) 5/18/16; 5/20/17- ; 5/22/18; 5/25/19; 5/24/20;

Mimosa habit; a medium sized, smooth barked tree with soft wood, compound leaves and silky, pink flowers that convert to flattened bean like pods

Note; doubly pinnate leaves made up of ‘fronds’ lined with opposite sets of pinnate leaflets composed of opposite, slightly curved leaflets

Note; pink flowers, whitening toward the center, so covered with filamentous stamen that they appear to be fuzzy hemispheres

Note; flowers convert to flattened bean like pods, the seeds embedded in fibrous pod sections

Buckeye; Mexican Buckeye

Buckeye; Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa Endl;.  A deciduous bush with many leggy, smooth barked trunks, which forms dense clumps of small arching, boughs nver more than 3″ in diameter, growing from a central woody knot just under ground level.  Common on chalky limestone, it reaches tree proportions in some areas with deeper soil.  Clusters of attractive, pale pink, fragrant, peach-like flowers about ½” across bud directly from nodes on trunks and old stems, new growth coming in after the flowers have bloomed.  Each flower has 5 petals, the curved anthers and pistol protruding beyond them.  A deciduous plant, the flowers emerge shortly before the compound leaves bud out, each with 5-7 leaflets, on new, fast growing stems.  Blooming in mid-March, U speciosa overlaps somewhat with Redbud.  The fruit is a three lobed, pear-shaped, internally divided capsule, each of which has a single, shiny, black, slightly toxic seed about ½ across and ¾” long, with a pronounced white spot on one end.  Archaeological evidence of stashes of seeds mixed with Mountain Laurel (Mescal) seeds in remote caves suggests that Amerinds did not devise a method to detoxify the seeds for food, but used them in conjunction with Mountain Laurel as a ritual stimulant (686) 3/28-4/17/15; 3/23/16-4/20/16; 3/11/17-3/30/17; 3/22/18-4/15/18; 3/20/19-4/14/19; 3/17/20 – 3/27/20;

Mexican Buckeye habit; multiple, leggy, arching, small, smooth trunks growing from a common base bear clumps of pink flowers directly off of old stems before foliage emerges

Note; clumps of flowers bud directly from old leaf nodes on trunks and older stems.

Note; showy, pink, fragrant flowers with curved pistol and stamen that protrude out beyond the 5 petals

Note; three lobed seed capsules, each with three large, lustrous, black, oval seeds that rattle when the boughs are shaken.

Note; compound leaves do not emerge until flowers have bloomed

Pea, Trailing Wild Bean

Trailing Wild Bean Straphostyles helvola.  A wild bean with trifoliate leaves arranged in an alternating pattern around long, fibrous stems common in well watered areas, like stream banks, marshes or lake shores.  Each of the three leaflets of the dark, glossy green leaves are broadly egg shaped.  Showy pink flowers, ¾” across, are born on long pedicles from leaf axils, 3-5 buds opening in slow succession so that buds, one open pink flower and pendulant been pods might be present at the same time.  The banner petal is pink, and slightly folded, forming a peaked hood over the wing petals and ovaries.  A conspicuous, dark purple keel petal is coiled in the hood, and a bright yellow dot is clearly visible at the base of the ovary.  Green bean pods hang straight down from the vines.  Flowers lack fragrance, but are most notable for their curled keel petal, unique among legumes.  Several Amerind tribes used parts of the plant medicinally, or ate the bean, both in green form and dried seed.  The seeds float, helping spread the plant along water sheds.  (Not in Book, 326 similar sp.) Stream beds along DORBA and Big Tree Circuit. 9/10/18; 19 not recrd;

Trailing Wild Bean habit; a long vine with glossy trifoliate leaves alternating along fibrous stems, and bearing single, showy, pink flowers which transform to long, round bean pods

Note; each of the three glossy, smooth leaflets is a broadly ovate (egg shape), the middle one born on a longer petiole

Note; round bean pods hang straight down from pedicles

Note; pink flowers open in slow succession so that buds, beans and flowers can be seen on the same pedicle at the same time.

Note; showy pink pea flowers are composed of a folded banner petal that forms a hood over the coiled, purple keel petal

Note; the visible yellow dot at the back of the hooded banner petal

 

Vetch, Spring Vetch

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

Primrose, Pink Ladies

Pink Ladies (Showy Evening Primrose) Oenothera speciosa. This short (10-15”), pithy, thin stemmed annual has alternating, lance shaped leaves, the older leaves pinnate towards the stem, while younger leaves have a smooth margin.  The 4 petals of the large (2-3”), paper thin, pink flowers unfurl in slow succession from tightly rolled buds arranged on a drooping, terminal spike. The rounded petals are deeply veined with red, while the color of the petals shifts to yellow around the nectar tube in the center.  Eight long stamens, each holding a pair of yellow anthers, rise from the inner rim of the petals.  A filamentous pistol, with a cross-shaped stigma, emerges from the central tube.  Occasionally growing in full sun, the plant prefers partial shade, such as forest margins Flowers begin white, blushing pink over their short (2-3 day) life.  Roadsides, PDU, PL (278) 4/6/15-5/5/15; 3/27/16; 3/15/17-6/5/17; 3/25/18; 4/7/19; 3/28/20;

Pink Ladies habit; fibrous stems with alternating lance-shaped leaves, and terminal spikes of large, white to pink flowers

Note; deep red veining in the 4 petals, with a yellow zone in the center around the nectar tube,

 

Note; pistol in central nectar tube has an X shaped stigma

Note; 8 filamentous stamen on the rim of the hollow, yellow nectar tube have two anthers per stamen,

Mallow, Rose Mallow

Rose Mallow (Wright’s Pavonia) Pavonia lasiopetala.  A woody perennial with alternating, deeply veined, heart shaped leaves on long (2”) petioles.  Leaves are tough, but pliable and soft, almost fuzzy to the touch.  Bright, soft pink flowers, between 1 and 2” across emerge from tapering, pentagonal buds wrapped in leaf-like green sepals, which sit in a cradle of 5 thin, tough bracts.  The hibiscus like flowers have a central pistol that sprouts pollen bearing stamen toward the tip, the stigma dividing into five heads.  Pavon, meaning Pea Cock, reflects the eye-catching attractiveness of the flowers.  Flowers convert to round, ribbed capsules.  This attractive Mallow tolerates the climate, but is native to south central and west Texas, so rarely occurs in the wild here, the only local specimens occasionally found in yards. (Vines 742) 6/14/16; 6/15/17; 6/?/18; 6/14/19; 6/2/20

Rose Mallow habit; a medium height, woody perennial with branching stems, coarse, heart shaped leaves, and bright pink hibiscus like flowers

Note; heart shaped, deeply veined leaves that tend toward being three lobed, that are soft, almost fuzzy to the touch, born in an alternating spiral

Note; showy, if small, bright pink flowers, each of the 5 petals deeply veined with darker red.

Note; central pistol with a 5 pointed stigma, the tip of the column lined with yellow anthers

Note; pentagonal buds in coarse sepals, braced by 5 narrow bracts,

Note; the five, broad, spatula shaped petals overlap each other clockwise.

Geranium, Carolina Geranium

Carolina Geranium Geranium carolinianum. A short, branching plant that sprawls if not supported by surrounding vegetation.  Small (1.5”) palmate (hand-shaped) leaves are deeply cleft into 3-5 lobes, each itself deeply cleft. Buds are surrounded by tough, bract-like sepals. Small (1/2”) pink flowers with red veining open briefly, transforming into Christmas-light shaped seed-pods. Thus, the plant is sometimes called “Storks Bill”.  Bracts turn bronze after seed capsules have fallen off.  Common on lawns and roadsides. (292) 4/10/15 – 5/10/15; 4/20/16; 17 no obs; 18 no obs; 19 no obs; 20 no obs;

Carolina Geranium habit; sprawling, readily branching stems, with sparse, deeply cleft, palmate leaves, bearing pink flowers

Note; dark, almost black flowers with 5 rounded petals nestled against 5 bronze bract-like sepals

Note; the Christmas light like, “Storks Bill” seed pods

Centaury, Rosita

Rosita (Arizona Centaury) Centaurium calycosum (Zeltnera calycosa).  This short (12-18”), upright, branching annual has opposite, lanceolate leaves which are stemless but do not clasp the stems.  The leathery, strap like leaves have parallel veins.  Attractive, bright pink flowers are born in a loose head, each of the 5, 3/8”, pointed petals arranged around a white, tube like center, from which bright yellow stamen and pistols emerge.  The flowers emerges from a swollen, elongated (1/2”), green bract, distinguishing Rosita from Ladybird’s Centaury, whose bracts are only half as long.  Rosita petals are broadly elliptical, not narrow, fully filling out a circular pattern.  The curved pistol is far longer than the bright yellow stamen.  Rosita are drought resistant, blooming longer than other flowers in dry summers.  SWk, PDU, DKN. (242) 5/24/15; 5/15/16-7/1/16; 5/14/17- ; 5/25/18; 5/16/19; 5/15/20

Rosita habit; a short clump of stems, or a single, branching, pithy stem with alternating, leathery leaves and bright pink flowers with yellow anther

Note; opposite pairs of strap like leaves

Note; the five elliptical petals are arranged around a white central tube, which is embedded in the long green calyx.

Note; long pistol and filamentous stamen, each tipped with bright yellow anthers, emerge from calyx

Bindweed, Sea Bindweed

Bindweed; Sea Bindweed Calystegia soldanella. A twining vine much longer than Field Bindweed which would look very much like Hedge Bindweed, except that the 1” flowers are light pink, tube flowers with a white center and 5 white rays along the ribs.  The tube opens into a corolla of 5 fused petals, a mere crease marking where they join.  Pistol and anthers emerge from the center of the tube, the filamentous stamen tipped with light purple anthers. The arrow-head shaped leaves have a smooth, but undulating margin.  It is common along beach shores, hence the name, but grows readily elsewhere, like your back yard. (Not in book) 5/9/15-6/15/15; 5/2/16- ; 17, 18, 19, 20 no obs;

Sea Bindweed habit; a long, thin, vining plant with alternating, narrow, arrow head shaped leaves bearing loose clusters of round, pink and white flowers

Note; alternating, narrow, arrow head shaped leaves which have a slightly undulating margin, but no teeth

Note; pinkish lavender and white tube flowers unfolding to a corolla of five fused petals, born in loose clusters

Note; white center and white rays along each central vein

Note; pistol and stamen emerge from the central tube, the stamen bearing purple anthers