Winecups

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

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

Thistle, Yellow Star Thistle

Yellow Star Thistle Centaurea solstitialis. More like a cactus than a thistle, this sprawling, lanky, readily branching plant has pithy, flattened, winged stems which branch in asymmetric patterns, forming a messy looking mass of spines. The long, stiff, very narrow, dusty green leaves are arranged alternately at irregularly spaced nodes, each leaf tipped with cactus like spines.  Stems potentially branch at each node, creating a tumbling habit. The flower heads are bright yellow globes that sprout from fleshy, fruit-like pedicles 3-4” long which are covered in thorns.  Common on disturbed soils, roadsides, otherwise the plant is soon crowded out by grasses and taller plants. (Pl Rn X Old Clark) (218) 6/25/15; 6/15/16- ; 6/10/17- ; 6/7/18 ; 19 not recrd;

Yellow Star Thistle habit; an irregular mass of sprawling, pithy, flattened, winged stems armed with cactus like spines, bearing yellow, globe like flowers on fleshy pedicles

Note; flattened, ‘winged stems’ and grey-green color

Note; tumbling, readily branching growth habit produces mounds of weakly upright stems, thorns and leaves

Note; bright yellow globe flower on a fleshy, fruit-like pedicle, with inch long cactus like thorns.

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

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

Sorrel, Violet Sorrel

Violet Sorrel Oxalis violacea. Growing from underground, nut like corms, this sorrel sends up long (6-8”), soft stems, each supporting one large, green or burgundy leaf with 3 squared off, triangular lobes 1.5” or more across.  The squared lobes droop, or tent around the stem.   The slender flower stalks arise from the base of leaves, sending up a single, dense, umbel cluster of deep, cup shaped flowers, white to light pink.  Mostly grown in flower gardens, O violacea tastes like ascorbic acid.  The burgundy leaves make a good addition to salads, or gardens.  Does not grow naturally on the ILC (298) 4/20/15-; 3/1/16; 2/18/17-?; 3/5/18; 2/25/19; 2/20/20;

Violet Sorrel habit; dense clumps of triangular, deep purple leaves that tent around the long stems, bearing umbels of white to pink flowers

Note; dense clumps of deep burgandy to purple leaves, divided into three triangular leaflets, with zonal mottling along the midrib

Note; dense umbels of deep, white to pink flowers, the 5 petals fusing into a tube marked by greenish base.

Note yellow pistols and stamen deep in the throat.

Sorrel, Creeping Wood Sorrel

Creeping Wood Sorrel (Yellow Oxalis) Oxalis corniculata (Oxalis stricta). A compact, early blooming, sun loving perennial with three lobed, clover like leaves on long stems, and bright yellow flowers born singly on long stems.  Each leaf is born singly on a long stem rising from a nut like tuber, each of the three lobes cleft so that they look like a green valentine.  Bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers composed of 5, slightly curled petals, each with an orange dot at the base, are born singly on long stems. Wood sorrel is upright where surrounding vegetation will prop them up, otherwise the stems fall outward.  The long, slightly fuzzy seed capsule grows upright out of five cornered sepal base, splitting along its five seams with age.  Stems and leaves have a sharp taste, due to high levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Wood Sorrel also propagate by division when underground rhizomes (corms) grow out from the “nuts”. PDU, CC (170) 4/1/15 – ; 3/1/16; 3/7/17- ; 3/15/18; 3/21/19; 3/10/20

Creeping Wood Sorrel habit; three lobed, clover like leaves on long stems, bearing single, yellow, cupped flowers

Note; three lobed leaves born on long stems, each lobe cleft into two rounded lobes, like a green valentine

Note; upright fuzzy seed capsules in a cage of stiff bract like sepals

Note; underground rhizomes spread out from “nut” like tubers

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