American Beauty-Berry

Beauty-Berry; American Beauty-Berry Callicarpa americana L.  A woody, deciduous, understory shrub with slightly fuzzy twigs, and soft, broadly elliptical, opposite leaves with toothed margins.  The main stem does not develop thick bark, and branches are straight, but divide at sharp angles.  The leaves smell pleasant when disturbed, though they do not have a strong aroma, like spices or sages.  Small, white flowers with inconspicuous petals are born in small, dense umbels from leaf axils toward the ends of new stems.  The 5 basal stamen, each tipped with a yellow anther, protruding beyond the petals.  Flowers convert to crowded, dense clumps of light purple to blue berries, slightly sweet to the taste.  The berries, each with four tiny seeds, touch each other, seeming to bud directly from the stems.  (892) 8/15/18 (Berry 9/20/18); 6/18/19;

Beauty-berry flowers; a short, deciduous understory shrub with opposite, slightly fragrant, coarsely serrated leaves bearing dense umbels of small, white flowers from new leaf axils, the 5 basal stamen projecting beyond the 5 inconspicuous petals

Note; deciduous woody stems with thin bark and soft new growth preferring partial shade along trail margins, bearing broad, soft, slightly fragrant leaves with coarsely toothed margins, arranged in opposite pairs

Note; opposite pairs of large, soft, slightly fragrant leaves with coarsely toothed margins bud and grow in before flowers appear.

Note; tight bunches of light purple to blue berries, each with 4 tiny seeds, that have a slightly sweet taste

Pepper, Bush Pepper

Bush Pepper; Capsicum frutescens. The genus Capsicum has been divided into four species, each with multiple varieties. The best known species is C annum, which includes Bell Peppers and Jalapenio, is the most mild, ranging from 0-10,000 in terms of hotness.  Capsicum frutescens is a small, hot pepper hardy to North Texas, and one of the few pepper plants which is indigenous to the southern USA.  A medium height (less than 2’), pithy stemmed member of the tomato family that branches regularly in a rigid angular pattern from each node, with lance shaped leaves, somewhat clammy to the touch, so broad they are almost heart shaped.  Tiny white, forward pointing flowers, blooming in late summer, are born singly on stems that point upward, looking somewhat like White Nightshade flowers, except that they do not nod, and lack the prominent, yellow, fused anthers.  The fruit are tiny (3/8”) peppers which turn yellow, then red-orange when ripe. It has been rated at 30,000-70,000 in terms of Scoville hotness, (2,500,000 is the max).  Forested areas, or forest margins on SWk.  (907-908 Vines) 8/28/18; 19 not recrd;

Bush Pepper habit; a medium height, regionally perennial pepper with broadly lanceolate leaves on long, alternating stems, bearing solitary, white flowers that convert to small, oval peppers that are mildly hot

Note; leaves are mildly clammy, the smooth stems zig-zag, and the leaves are held in an alternating pattern within a single plain

Note; the small, white flowers are born singly from leaf axils, the peduncles pointing up, the five petals only slightly nodding.

Note; the 5 stamen are fused to the pistol, not held on free stamen

Note; oval, cherry like peppers are held aloft on short, upright stems

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

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

Vervain, Blue Vervain

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

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)

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

Spiny Sow Thistle

Spiny Sow Thistle Sonchus asper. An early (April) blooming annual, Sow Thistles begin as rosettes of deeply cut, thistle like leaves which look spiny, but are soft and harmless.  Leaves bleed a slightly bitter, but harmless milky sap when cut. The pinnate, clasping leaves, which have deep, rounded sinuses, are arranged in an alternating spiral around smooth, hollow stems.  The rosette of leaves stays low as long as the weather is cold, but quickly grows up when it warms, culminating in a compact clump of small, short lived, green buds, invariably coated with a white powder.  Stems can be trampled down, but continue to grow, arching back up and producing flowers.  Yellow ray flowers emerge from the tapering buds.  If cut back, the hollow stem quickly sends out new stalks.  The ray petals are squared at the ends, surrounding a yellow disk flower fuzzy with yellow anthers.  Flowers transform into coarse blow-balls of wind- blown achenes, and the plants wither soon after the plant goes to seed.  Common along partially shaded paths.  (222) 3/25/15-5/20/15; 3/10/16; 2/25/17- ; 2/8/19 – ; 20 not recrd;

Spiny Sow Thistle; A soft plant with hollow stems and leaves which look spiny but are soft and harmless, bearing compact bunches of tapering buds that open to yellow ray flowers.

Note; pinnate, thistle like leaves with deep, rounded sinuses, look spiny but are soft and harmless

Note; leaves clasp the otherwise smooth, hollow stems

Note; plants end in a tight bunch of tapering buds, invariably coated with a grey powder

Note; flowers convert to blowball achenes

Note; tapering buds

 

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

 

Texas Plume

Texas Plume (Standing Cedar) Ipomopsis rubra.  A biannual, the first year is spent as a low rosette of lacy, deeply cut compound pinnate, thread-like leaves.  The second year the tall (3-4’), pithy stem grows up out of the rosette, lined with increasingly smaller leaves, producing a spike like panicle of tubular, trumpet shaped, bright orange-red flowers with darker orange spots.  Unexpectedly, the 1” long by ½” wide flowers begin blooming from top down, small side branches producing dense clusters of orange flowers, .  Filamentous anthers and an even longer pistol protrude beyond the lip of the central nectar tube, which splits into five petals.  Seed capsules are tucked in the thread-like leaves, turning tan as they mature.  Plants grow readily from seed, especially in garden soil.  SWk. (312) 5/6/15-; 4/29/16-7/1/16; 4/22/17- ; 5/3/18; 5-6-19; 5/1/20

Texas Plume habit; a tall, pithy stalk lined with lacy, pinnate, thread like leaves culminating in a spike of bright orange red flowers, which begin opening from the top

Note; thread like, deeply cut, compound pinnate leaves arranged in a rotating spiral around the tall pithy stalk

Note; bright, orange-red, trumpet flowers opening up to a 5 petal corolla, with red specks on the petals.

Note; the 5 basal stamen, tipped with white anthers and a split pistol, originating within the nectar tube, protrude beyond the flower corolla.

Note; seed capsules embedded in lacy leaves turn tan when mature