Woolywhite

Woolywhite (Old Plainsman) Hymenopappus artemisiifolius. A pithy stemmed flower over 2” tall, which begins as a rosette of coarse, narrow, compound pinnate leaves in which the pointed end leaflet is longer and more lance-like than side leaflets.  Leaves have no stem but do not clasp the stiff stalk.  As the smooth stalk grows, the leaves are arranged in an alternating spiral around it, becoming less complex toward the top.  The loose inflorescence branches frequently from leaf nodes in a spiral pattern, dividing into sprays of small flower heads.  Each head is composed of tiny, white, papery flowers with yellow centers,  so tightly clustered they look like one large, complex flower.  Pistols and stamen protrude beyond the flowers.  PL, PDU (100) 4/17/16-6/15/16; 4/7/17- ; 4/22/18; 4/28/19; 4/11/20

Wooleywhite habit; a rosette of deeply pinnate leaves that produces a tall, pithy stalk with alternate, pinnate leaves, turning into a branching flower spike composed of clusters of small, papery, white flowers

Note; the inflorescence branches readily at leaf axils, each side spike bearing dense heads of  tiny, white flowers

Note; narrow, deeply pinnate leaves in which the center lobe much longer than the side lobes, arranged in an alternating spiral around smooth, pithy stems

Note; sprays divide into stems tipped with tight flower head, which look like a complex flower, but which are composed of papery, white flowers with yellow centers

Note; pistol and stamen protrude beyond the ends of the tiny flowers

Thistle, Texas Thistle

Texas Thistle Cirsium texanum.  A lanky thistle with long, ribbed, pithy stems, and dusty green, deeply pinnate leaves lined with only 4-5 spines per side of leaf.  This is the most common thistle on the ILC.  Rising from one pithy tap root, the main stem soon branches into multiple stems which are slightly grooved, but lack spines, like Nodding Thistle (C nutans).  Branching does not follow a symmetric pattern, and each long (6-10”) flower stalk bears only one elongated, slightly tapering flower-head, lined with prickly scales.    The lavender to rose-purple, hair-like petals are longer than Bull Thistle.  Not as robust or squat as Bull Thistle, Texas Thistle has shorter spines, does not have as sharp or thick of spines on stems, has much longer flower stalks, lacks spines on flower stalks, is a lighter lavender color, has longer hair-like petals, and has longer, more tapered buds.  However, it is only slightly less noxious.  (332) 4/28/15; 5/1/16, 4/17/17- ; 5/4/18; 4/28/19; 4/25/20

Texas Thistle habit; a lanky, readily branching annual with alternating, pinnate leaves bearing multiple, smooth flower stems, each capped with a single, lavender head of thread like petals on a tapering, scaly bud.

Note; lavender to rose globe flowers have longer filaments than Bull Thistle or Nodding Thistle

Note; prickly scales lining the elongated buds

Note; thin, pinnate leaves with only a few, short spines on each leaf are arranged in an alternating spiral around slightly grooved flower stems

Note; flower stems are smooth, lacking spines, like those of Nodding or Bull Thistle

Thistle, Bull Thistle

Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare. An invasive pest, this thick stemmed weed has sharp, stiff spines on every part of the plant; stalks, leaf margins, buds and stems included.  The plant begins as a rosette of deeply pinnate, dark green, wavy leaves with sharp, stiff spines on every lobe, which rises from an underground, corm like root.  As the flower stem grows, the thick, pithy stalk is sheathed in ridges that have spines, with leaves arranged in an alternating spiral. “Bull” comments on the stout, thick-stemmed growth habit, vulgare comments on its ubiquity, the “common thistle”.  Each undivided stalk produces a dense cluster of squat, tapering flower-heads that take on a bowl shape as they open, a dense tuft of short, dark red-purple, hair like petals pushing its way out of the bud.  Bull Thistle does not branch, unlike Nodding and Texas Thistles, unless the main stem is cut, in which case the plant will bud several side stalks.  Black honey bees and small black and grey beetles, which can often be found wallowing in the flower heads, pollinate the flowers, which convert to heads of achenes.  Finches each the seeds, tearing the seed apart in the process.  Otherwise, achenes are carried off by the wind.  (332) 4/20/15; 5/10/16; 4/17/17- ; 5/4/18; 19 no obs; 20 no obs

Bull Thistle habit; a squat, thick stemmed plant with grey-green, undulating, thorny leaves, bearing a dense terminal cluster of rose-red, hair like flower heads

Note; dark green, clasping, pinnate leaves, with a sharp thorn on the tip of every projection, arranged in an alternating spiral

Note, every surface of the plant has sharp spines, flower stems included

 

Boneset; Late Boneset

Boneset; Late Boneset Eupatorium serotinum. A tall, slightly hairy looking , with opposite, long, lance shaped leaves that are rough to the touch, born on stems 2” long.  The leaves have 3 prominent, longitudinal veins and a deeply toothed margin.  Common in marshy areas.  The plant is stiff and strongly upright, but rarely branches until the nearly flat topped flower head forms.  Flower sprays bud from the axils of upper leaves and terminus, forming dense panicles of small flower heads, each with 5-7 filamentous flowers. The normal range of E serotinum is Illinois.  The more common Boneset, E perfoliatum, native to North Texas, has clasping leaves that grow together so that the plant stem seems to run through the leaf, leading early homeopathic herbalist to believe it might help in healing broken bones.  In fact, tea made from the leaves and flower heads can cause sweating, thereby reducing fevers, but it does not heal bones.  Marshy areas. (Not in book, 110 related). 9/18/18; 19 no obs; 20 no obs;

Late Boneset habit; a tall, rough or hairy looking plant, with opposite, rough, deeply toothed leaves, bearing panicles of white flower heads

Note; opposite, lanceolate leaves have prominent, longitudinal veins and deeply toothed margins, and are born on stems nearly 2″ long

Note; readily branching flower head, composed of buds from leaf axils and terminal buds, forms a nearly flat topped panicle

Note, panicle is made up of many flower heads, each containing 5-7 filamentous, white flowers

Sunflower, Kansas Sunflower

Kansas Sunflower Helianthus annuus. A very tall (4-7’), pithy-stemmed, branching annual with coarse bristles on all parts of the plant.  Sunflowers, unlike daisies, have only one stalk per plant.  The large (4-10”) heart-shaped leaves are dull green, born alternately along the stalk in an open spiral, droop slightly.  Unlike commercial sunflowers, Kansas Sunflowers produce a loose, branching terminal and axillary flower sprays.  The large (4-6”) flower-heads (larger on the terminal sprays) sport flat, yellow, pointed ray flowers nearly 2” long arranged around a disk comprised of tiny reddish flowers.  The larger, terminal flowers emerge first, then those budding from leaf axils.  The seeds are embedded in the disk, appearing as a composite spiral.  Common in disturbed soils (198) 5/20/15; 6/1/16- ; 5/20/17- ; 5/28/18; 19 not recrd; 5/20/20;

Kansas Sunflower habit; tall, thick stemmed plant with heart shaped, alternate leaves, and loose terminal and axillary sprays of large, showy, bright yellow ray flowers.

Note; all parts of the plant covered in bristle like hairs.

Note; large, heart shaped leaves are arranged around the stem in a loose, alternating spiral

Note; flowers comprise a ring of large, pointed ray flowers around a disk of tiny reddish flowers

Note; ray petals, with 4 or 5 linear veins, end in pointed tips

Note; seeds are embedded in the brown disk in a spiral pattern

Note; flowers born singly on a loose spray,

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

Rayweed, Bitter Rayweed

Bitter Rayweed (Santa Maria Feverfew, Whitetop Weed) Parthenium hysterophorus. A medium height (1-3’), noxious invasive with fluted, pithy stems, and deeply pinnate leaves with pointed tips, Rayweed produces loosely branching flower heads of small (1/4”), pentagonal flowers composed of a central, rough dome with a petal in each of the five corners.  The foliage is “bitter”, livestock refusing to eat it, as it produces an astringent smell if crushed or cut when dry.  It colonizes bare and disturbed soil, ruining overgrazed pastures. Common along roadsides, bare ground, and overgrazed land. (Not in book, see p 98 for comparison). 6/25/15; 5/2/16; 6/1/17- ; 6/10/19; 5/24/20

Bitter Rayweed habit; rosette of compound pinnate leaves giving rise to fluted, pithy stems which bear loosely branching, sprays of small, white, pentagonal flowers.

Note; deeply pinnate, leaves arranged in a spiral around the stems.

Note: white flowers composed of a small, rough pentagonal dome with a petal in each of 5 corners

Note; colonizes bare, disturbed, or overgrazed land

Rosinweed, Roughstem Rosinweed

Roughstem (Starry) Rosinweed Silphium radula. A lanky, unbranching, pithy plant with clasping, lance-shaped leaves up to 2” long by ¾” wide which grow all the way up the stem.  Like the Compass Plant S albiflorum (another Rosinweed) Amerind kids used to chew the stems for their pithy texture and sweet taste. The leaves and stem are rough to the touch, giving the plant its descriptive name. The 3” bright yellow flower, which looks remotely like a sunflower, is born singly, cradled in a bed of rough, heart-shaped bracts.  An Aster, the flowers are composed of as many as 25 smooth ray florets, each with two linear veins, surrounding a flat disk of over 100 yellow disk florets.  Prominent stamen have a black speck on the tip, and a filamentous yellow anther.  Only observed along shaded roadsides on forest margins. (not in book) 6/8/17- ; 18 no obs; 19 no obs

Roughstem Rosinweed habit; tall, unbranched, pithy stems with rough, alternating leaves, bearing a loose spray of large, bright yellow ray flowers.

Note; flowers couched in layers of stiff, pointed bracts

Note; the  stems and leave have a rough surface of bumps and bristles

Note; thick, lance shaped, clasping, leaves alternating along the pithy stem

Note; 25 bright yellow, smooth ray flowers, each with two linear veins which end in sharp points

Note; central disk of green pistols surrounded by filamentous stamen, each with a black dot, and tipped with yellow anthers.

Ragweed, Giant Ragweed

Giant Ragweed Ambrosia trifida. Though many plants are called ‘ragweed’, at up to 10’ tall, this pithy, mostly unbranched, late blooming weed is by far the largest.  This plant is responsible for many of the late summer allergies in central Texas.  Palmate (hand-shaped) drooping, leaves with 3-5 ‘fingers’ that can reach 10” across, branch in opposite pairs from regularly spaced nodes.  Small spikes of knobby, greenish flowers sprout from leaf nodes and terminal buds.  Leaves and stems are covered in short bristles, or hairs, giving the plant a rough texture.  A shake of the mature plant produces a cloud of yellow pollen.  Most common in lower areas of deeper soils (PDU, CA, DORBA) where water soaks in. Not in book. 9/14/16; 17 not recrd; 18 not recrd; 19 not recrd

Giant Ragweed habit, tall pithy, mildly branching stalks with large, drooping, palmate leaves, and spikes of tiny, inconspicuous green flowers.

Note; large, hand shaped, drooping leaves

Note; terminal spikes of tiny, green flowers, set deeply in coarse bracts, produce dust like pollen

Note; plant has a rough texture due to tiny bristles covering all surfaces of stalks, stems and leaves

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