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;
Holly; Deciduous Holly/Possumhaw Holly Ilex decidua Ait;. A common, leggy bush that can grow to 20’ or more, the brittle knobby stems almost always arching away from the central bulbous ‘root-trunk’ of the plant. The bark is usually a light gray and smooth, but may be mottled with darker splotches as it ages. Sometimes evergreen, but usually losing its leaves in the fall, or in dry conditions. Small clusters of white flowers born on 3/8” pedicles from old leaf axils along last year’s growth, or even trunks, produce clusters of bright red berries, sometimes orange or yellowish, that last through the winter. The spatula shaped leaves, wider toward their end, are arranged alternately along twigs. An important berry for migrating birds which eat it before they fall in the spring. Grows everywhere, but is more abundant in stream flood basins, where it may be mistaken for invasive Chinese Privet, which is evergreen, smaller, and does not tolerate shade as well. (654-655) 4/8-4/15/15; 3/25/16-4/10/16; 3/21/17-3/28/17; 4/7/18-4/17/18; 3/29/19; 3/25/20 – 4/3/20;
Deciduous Holly habit; a leggy understory bush with many knobby trunks arching away from a central root stump, bearing spatula shaped leaves and small white flowers that convert to red-orange berries that last the winter.
Note; soft, spatula shaped leaves with smooth margins bud in an alternate pattern along new growth
Note; clusters of small, white, 4 petal flowers bud from old leaf nodes along last years stems, and even old trunks
Note; loose clusters of bright red-orange berries are born along old twigs, last all winter long
Note; American Holly, an ornamental from northern climes, also has small white flowers which convert to bright red berries which last the winter, but has sharp tips to the stiff, glossy green, evergreen leaves, and the berries are born on new growth, not old stems
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
Torrey Yucca Yucca torreyi. Rising from a fibrous corm, which divides both under the ground and above, this member of the Amaryllis family first forms a flattened, untidy rosette of narrow, fibrous, lance-like leaves, up to 12” long. The pithy flower stem can grow very tall, branching to form a complex spray, unlike Y pallida, which remains as an unbranched spike, bearing flowers 2-4” across that, unusual for yucca, open fully and face outward, rather than drooping. Each flower has 6 identical, elliptical petals arranged around a fleshy pistol, and 6 narrow stamen with a conspicuous, outward crook. The narrow pods are more bean like than the peanut shaped pods of Y pallida. Y torreyi is more common in drier parts of West Texas, but a few are attested in the ILC area. Amerinds once used the fibrous leaves for cordage, after scraping the thin layer of pulp off, ate the corms and young flower stalks, and used to saponin laced corm to create a sudsing soap to bathe, or wash their hair in. (55) 5/10/15-5/25/15; 5/1/18-5/20/18; 5/5/19; 5/1/20 – 5/15/20;
Torrey Yucca habit; growing from a thick, fibrous corm, from which sprout multiple trunk like stems, this yucca forms an untidy rosette of narrow, fibrous, lance like leaves which produce a thin, branching flower panicle bearing large, cream flowers that open fully
Note; Torrey’s Yucca is more slender and taller than Pale Yucca, and the fibrous leaves less tidy looking
Note; the large, cream flowers open fully, the 6 petals broader than the sepals, all surrounding a fleshy pistol and 6 slender stamen
Note; Torrey’s flowers are more slender, more upright, and open wider than Pale Yucca flowers
Pale Yucca (Shiners Yucca, Soap Weed) Yucca pallida/arkansana/louisianensis/freemanii. Born from a thick, fibrous root or corm, this trunkless rosette of spine-like, grey-green leaves, 1’ or more long, often forms branching clumps. A flower spike with prominent nodes, growing up to 5’ tall bears large, waxy, nodding, cream colored flowers, which rarely open completely. 6 identical, linear veined petals enfold a fleshy pistol with 6 thick, bent stamen. Flowers are pollinated by sphinx moths, which lay their eggs on the pistol. The infant larva eat most of the seeds, exiting the pods in their first molt. Intolerant of shade, Yucca are found on open grassy or rocky areas, like power-lines or pastures. The fibrous leaves were used as a source of cordage by Amerinds. The thick roots contain saponins, which suds like soap, so Yucca are sometimes called ‘soap weed’. The flower spikes can be eaten like asparagus when first growing. (57-66) 4/28/15-5/28/15; 4/25/16; 4/7/17-5/28/17; 5/1/18-5/26/18; 4/28/19; 5/5/20
Pale Yucca habit; rising from a corm like stem, a rosette of long, flat, grey-green, spike like leaves grows a flower spike with prominent nodes at regular intervals, bearing large, nodding, cream colored flowers
Note; nodding, waxy, cream colored flowers, each with 6 sepals and petals, that do not open fully, are arranged in an alternating spiral around the flower spike
Note; new seed capsules, which turn woody with age, have a figure 8 shape
Note; old seed capsules are dark grey, splitting along three sutures to release flattened seeds
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
Watervine (identification unknown).
This vine has only been observed blooming along stream beds, marshy areas, or lake shores, but so far has eluded identification. The Medium sized (2-3”) leaves are strongly triangular with angular protuberances that curl around the stem, giving them a heart shaped profile, otherwise the leaf margins are smooth and untoothed. Leaves are arranged alternately along the thin, fibrous vine, which twine up into the branches of low vegetation along streams. Otherwise, the vine lacks any climbing mechanism. Dense compound umbels of very fragrant, white flowers bloom in late August to September, most intensely fragrant in the afternoons and evening. Big Tree Circuit (Not in Books) 9/1/18; 19 not recrd;
Watervine habit; a vining plant with long fibrous stems, that lacking climbing tendrils, twines itself through surrounding vegetation, the strongly triangular, heart-shaped leaves born alternately
Note; dense compound umbels of fragrant, white flowers are born on peduncles 3-4″ long
Note; strongly triangular, heart shaped leaves with a prominent drip tip, are arranged along the fibrous, twining stems in an alternating pattern
Note; dense compound umbels of white flowers are born on stems 3-4″ long from the axils of leaves
Winecups (Purple Poppymallow) Callirhoe involucrate. A low, pithy perennial with deeply cleft, narrow, palmate leaves arranged along the creeping stems in an alternating spiral. The plant freezes back every winter, but buds anew from a deeply rooted tap-root, growing out in a multi-branched radial pattern. The plant is inconspicuous until the flowers open, the bright red catching the eyes, even from a distance. Chalice-like, deep burgundy-red flowers up to 1.5” across are born singly on long (4”) upright stems arising from leaf axils, the petals becoming white toward the center. Curly stamens sprout from the sides of a central pistol, with curled, filament like stigma, like other mallows. Seed capsules are a round, wheel-like structure framed by the stiff bud sepals. Intolerant of shade, Winecups are found scattered widely in open country, even lawns, where their stems grow out over surrounding vegetation. (238) 4/10/15-; 3/20/16-6/6/16; 3/21/17- ; 4/22/18; 4/3/19; 4/11/20;
Winecups habit; stiff sprawling plant of open grassy areas, with palmate leaves and deep burgundy flowers born on long, slender stems
Note; five fingered, palmate leaves with narrow, deeply cut lobes held aloft on long, smooth stems bud off the main stem in an alternating spiral
Note; open, loose spikes of flowers bud off of leaf axils, each flower born aloft on long, smooth stems
Note; the five stiff sepals crack open, allowing the burgundy petals to unfurl.
Note; single born, chalice like 5 petal, rose-purple flowers, fading to white in the center
Note; curly stamens tipped with orange to yellow anthers bud directly off the central pistol, like other mallows
Note; hard, round wheel like seed capsule framed by the 5 stiff sepals
Missouri Violet (Wood Violet) Viola missouriensis. The only violet native to the ILC, this herbaceous perennial sprouts a cluster of deeply notched, cordate (heart-shaped) to arrow-shaped leaves. Each flower stem produces a single, short-lived flower composed of two upright, light blue sepals, two lower, deep violet-blue petals, and a central, modified petal called a lip that sports three or four darker purple streaks. The petal is modified into a small opening leading to a short, rounded nectar tube, just large enough for insects to insert their tongues. Flowers convert to thin seed capsules full of tiny, dust like seeds. Blooming season lasts 2-3 weeks. Locally it is found only in shaded areas along forested trails where there is deeper, moist soil, but occasionally in yards, where it tolerates mowing. Only found in low areas of MK trace, CC, SWk (378) 3/15/15-4/7/15; 3/10/16-4/1/16; 2/22/17-4/5/17; 3/15/18-4/2/18;
Missouri Violet habit; clumps of lightly toothed, heart-shaped leaves with single blue and white flowers born on short stems.
Note; glossy, smooth, heart shaped leaves with a lightly toothed, rounded margins, born on slender stems 3-4”long
Note; two upright, lavender petals, two darker purple petals that point down, a central, purple lip petal streaked with dark purple
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
Trail Trotter's Flower Guide 