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;
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
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
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
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
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
Clasping Venus’ Looking Glass Triodanis perfoliata. The lower, alternately spaced, coarsely toothed leaves of this weakly upright, soft-stemmed plant do not have a petiole, or stem, but clasp the slightly grooved stalk, giving the plant its descriptive name. Stems rarely branch, the plant consisting of increasingly long stems which eventually fall over. Bright blue flowers are born singly from the cup of each leaf, each consisting of five elliptical petals with 3 linear veins. Flowers open in slow succession from bottom to top. Petals surround a green pistol and 5 purple stamen. Common in open to slightly shaded portions of PDU, CA, CC and DORBA (370) 4/22/15-5/20/15; 4/20/16-6/1/16; 4/20/17- ; 5/25/18, 5/4/19; 4/24/20 – 5/25/20;
Venus’ Looking Glass habit; long, soft stems with alternating leaves which clasp the ribbed stems, bearing bright blue, singly born flowers
Note; clasping leaves are arranged in an alternating spiral around the stems
Note; Blue flowers with 5 petals, streaked with darker blue veins, surround a central pistol surrounded by 5 basal stamen, each tipped with white anthers
Note; flowers are born singly on short peduncles from leaf axils
Note; heart shaped, coarsely toothed leaves have no petioles, but clasping the grooved stem
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
Trail Trotter's Flower Guide 