Texas Blue Grass

Texas Blue Grass; Poa arachnifera.; comprising the largest family of grasses, the Bluegrasses are characterized by slender stems, thick mats of rhizomes, and narrow, slightly folded leaves.  Kentucky Blue Grass is actually a European introduction brought over to feed horses, but over 50 species of Poa are indigenous to the USA.  As the name arachnifera (spider like) implies, Texas Blue Grass grows outward from a dense center of roots, rhizomes reaching out in every direction.  But when crowded, the stems and leaves grow upright, forming dense stands of soft green leaves and thin, jointed flower stalks.  Tiny white flowers are widely spaced along thin spikes, the miniscule seeds hidden deep within tough bracts.  Native to prairies, Blue Grass occurs mingled in with other vegetation, as long as taller plants are kept mowed back.  Buffalo, then cattle, originally kept prairies mowed down, but where there are no large grazers, or periodic fires, shorter grasses like Blue Grass get shaded out.

Blue Grass habit; a relatively low growing grass that radiates out from a dense, central root clump, sending up flower stems ending in a loose spike of tiny, white flowers.

Note; medium height, jointed stalks amidst slightly folded, blunt tipped grass blades interspersed with other prairie vegetation.

Sand Bur

Sand Bur; Cenchrus pauciflorus. a creeping grass with a radial pattern, spreading out from a central clump of fibrous roots, notorious for its heads of sharply bristled seeds that stick in bare skin, and even puncture bicycle tires.  The jointed stems can take root wherever a node comes in contact with the ground, but pulling plants up at the central root mass usually eliminates them from any lawn.  Leaves are relatively short and broad, branching abruptly off of the stems that are 1/16″ to 1/8″ in diameter.  The plants seem harmless until mid summer, when they begin putting out flowers.  The short spikes of inconspicuous flowers quickly convert to dense columns of spiny seeds, and then the tears start.  Other than herbicides, the best way to get rid of Sand Burs is to pull them up by the roots, making sure to get all the rhizomes, creating a bur free zone.

Sand Bur habit; a sprawling, or creeping grass radiating out from a central root mass which produces spikes of very sharp, bristly seeds in mid summer.

Note; the darker green, creeping grass radiating out from a central root mass, marked by narrow, short leaves sheathing sprawling stems.

 

Vervain, Wright’s Vervain

Wright’s Vervain Verbena wrightii. A low growing, sprawling perennial consisting of tough stems radiating outward from a central tap root.  Opposite leaves are divided into three deeply pinnate lobes, which are wider than those of V hasata, Blue Vervain.  Thick, bushy, terminal spikes form a cone-shaped, tight cluster, or head, of light lavender-blue tube flowers.  Many flowers are open at the same time, creating a ring of lavender around the head, with green, unopened buds at the top.  The tubes are completely concealed in bracts, opening up to a corolla of 5 cleft petals, the bottom ‘lip’ petal being longer, and more deeply cleft.  This vervain prefers full sun, so is not found in shaded or forested areas, but is common everywhere else, specifically prairies, mowed areas, and west facing forest margins, where it forms dense clumps of bright blue flowers.  A favorite of butterflies and bees, Wright’s Vervain blooms early, goes dormant during summer heat, and resumes blooming in cooler fall weather.  PDU, CC (372) 4/2/15 – ; 3/10/16; 3/12/17- ; 3/22/18; 3/23/19; 3/25/20

Wrights Vervain habit; dense clumps of sprawling stems radiating out from a central root bearing dense heads of bright lavender blue flowers

Note; deeply pinnate, three lobed, narrow leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along smooth stems

Note; terminal spikes form thick flower heads of bracts from which the lavender blue tube flowers emerge.

Note; tube flowers open to a corolla of 5 petals, the lip petal being longer, and cleft into two lobes

 

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

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

 

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.

Storksbill, Texas Storksbill

Texas Storksbill (Desert Storksbill) Erodium texanum.  A low growing ground cover with three lobed, slightly hairy, dark green leaves, the side lobes each with two smaller lobes, and the much bigger middle lobe with three lobes.  Beginning as a rosette of branching, green stems, the plant radiates out from a central tap root to soon become a mat of overlapping, fleshy leaves.  Small clusters (3-5) of elongated buds form on short spikes at leaf nodes, from which small flowers up to ½” across, solid pink to lavender, each with 5 petals, emerge.  The central pistol is divided into 5 lobes, the 5 stamen branching off the base of the pistol.  Each flower cluster produces one or two needle shaped seed pods slightly longer than E cicutarium, the more common Storksbill.  The plant gets its name from the pods, which imaginatively resemble a stork’s bill.  Common on bare ground, like road sides, E texanum tolerates drier conditions.  No pictures of flowers (292) 5/5/15; 16 17 no observation; 18 no obs

Texas Storksbill habit; note the sprawling habit of green stems, roughly triangular, 5 lobed leaves

Note; small clusters of pink to lavender, 5 petal flowers

Note; very long, needle shaped seed capsules

Spurge, Spotted Spurge

Spotted Spurge (Prostrate Sandmat) Euphorbia maculata (Chamaesyce). A small ground cover common on disturbed or barren ground with reddish stems lined with very small (1/8”-1/4”), opposite leaves, which grows in a radial pattern out from a central tap-root, giving it a circular floor-mat appearance.  It has many alternative names, milk purslane, spotted matweed, creeping spurge, sand-mat, prostrate spurge ….  The nonsymmetric, elongated, finely toothed leaves are thicker on the trailing edge, green on the upper surface, purple on the underside.  Miniscule white flowers sprout from leaf axils and terminal buds, each with five narrow petals.  Flowers convert to small globular seed capsules. Broken stems and leaves produce a milky sap.  Most common on roadsides, bare soil and poor lawns. (not in book) 6/1/15; 6/15/16- ; 17 not recrd; 6/12/18; 19 not recrd;

Spotted Spurge habit; soft mats of leafy stems growing out in a radial pattern from a central tap root, often forming radial patterns of growth

Note; smooth, elliptical to nonsymmetric, toothed leaves arranged in opposite pairs, on reddish stems that bleed white sap when cut

Note; nonsymmetric, toothed leaves arranged in opposite pairs producing flowers from leaf axils and terminal nodes

Note; leaves are green on the upper surface, purple on lower surface.

Note; tiny white flowers and small seed capsules

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

Sida, Spreading Fanpetal Sida

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