Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring Meeting May 15-17, 2026 Jonesboro, Arkansas
Meeting details
***This post will be updated as more information becomes available.***
Everybody is welcome to attend! Meeting registration is only $10 with no pre-registration required. Registration will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 15, 2026. The meeting events wrap up on Sunday, May 17th around noon.
Date: May 15-17, 2026
Location: Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University
On Google, the building will appear as Arkansas State University – Biosciences Institute.
See the following parking map:
Arkansas Biosciences Institute
Lodging: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Red Wolf Convention Center
223 Red Wolf Blvd., Jonesboro, AR 72405
We have a courtesy block of rooms reserved at a discounted rate of $124 per room, plus taxes. The block will be held until 5:00 pm April 24th (an extension of the previous deadline). Complimentary “cooked-to-order” breakfast, free WiFi, and parking are included. To make a reservation online, use this Arkansas Native Plant Society Booking Link.
To make a reservation by phone, call (870) 619-4482, extension 0, and ask for the Arkansas Native Plant Society room block. Individuals are responsible for their own room and taxes.
If you are unable to (or wish not to) reserve a room at Embassy Suites, there are other hotels nearby, such as the Hilton Garden Inn.
Dining Options: We will have a potluck meal Friday and Saturday evenings. Bring a dish or just come, eat, socialize, and learn! There are also some dining options (fast food and others) in Jonesboro.
Auction: The silent auction will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and close at the end of the program on Saturday evening. Proceeds from the auction support the ANPS small grants program, student research grants, and student scholarships! Bring any donations you would like to include in the auction before 6:00. Auction sheets will be provided. If your item does not sell, you must take it back with you at the end of the meeting.
Field trips: Field trips to local areas of top botanical interest will be scheduled for Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. You must sign up for field trips on Friday evening to allow for adequate logistical planning. Our field trips will offer both easy and more vigorous walks. We’ll be in northeastern AR in the spring, and may visit swampy areas, so we advise bringing waterproof boots/shoes, bug spray, water, and a good hat! At a time to be determined, Dr. Travis Marsico, botany professor at ASU, will also lead a tour of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, of which he is Executive Director.
Speakers: Friday, May 15th 7:15 PM: Dr. Jonathan Kubesch, University of Arkansas Extension Forage Specialist, will speak on the topic “What’s the Deal with Native Clovers?”
Dr. Jonathan Kubesch
Jonathan is an extension forage specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. During his childhood, Jonathan became acquainted with forage crops on his grandparents’ farm in Indiana, where they raised cattle and grew a variety of crops, including alfalfa to sell as forage. Jonathan would go on to earn his B.S. in Evolution and Ecology from the Ohio State University in 2018, where his thesis was “Edaphic and morphological factors affecting running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) ecology.” He then continued his education with a research interest in organic and native forages, earning a M.S. in Plant Sciences in 2020 from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences in 2023 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Jonathan has continued to pursue those interests since moving to Little Rock with his family a couple of years ago. In a 2024 profile for the U of A Media Resources website, Jonathan describes his interests by asking, “How do we get the most value out of these forage systems and do things that make the world a better place?” (Ryan McGeeney 2024 New extension forage specialist brings life-long interest to Cooperative Extension Service).
Saturday, May 16th 6:00 PM– Keynote Speaker: Dr. Travis Marsico, Executive Director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute
Dr. Travis Marsico
Travis is our host for this meeting, as Executive Director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University. He is also Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Discovery, as well as a full-time Professor of Botany in the Dept. of Biological Sciences and Curator of the Arkansas State University Herbarium. In his LinkedIn profile, Travis writes: “My research focuses on biogeography, biodiversity conservation, community ecology, natural history, and species invasions. I currently research risk associated with hitchhiking plant propagules at US shipping ports, invasion of herbivorous insect pests, plant diversity patterns in fragmented landscapes of the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain, and plant diversity patterns along elevation gradients in the Neotropics. My research emphasizes making and utilizing natural history collections in research. I also study biology education and improvements to university-level education utilizing specimen-based projects in coursework. I have been a faculty member at Arkansas State University for 12 years, where I teach Collections Curation and Research Design, Dendrology, Global Change Biology, Plant Systematics, and Wetland Plant Ecology. At A-State, I curate the herbarium and manage the Laboratory Sciences Greenhouse.”
Friday, May 15th
5:00 pm – Doors to the Meeting Room at the Institute open and registration begins; auction setup. Bring your native plants, books, homemade jelly, jewelry, or plant art for the silent auction. Proceeds from the auction support ANPS scholarships, research grants, and small grants programs.
6:00 pm – Potluck begins & silent auction opens.
7:00 pm – Discussion of field trips.
7:15 pm – SPEAKER: Dr. Jonathan Kubesch, University of Arkansas Extension Forage Specialist, will speak on the topic “What’s the Deal with Native Clovers?”
Saturday, May 16th
9:00 am –Field trips (view hike sheets for meetup locations)
2:00 pm –Field trips (view hike sheets for meetup locations)
5:00 pm – Doors to the Meeting Room open, registration continues. Potluck supper.
6:00 pm – Keynote Speaker: Dr. Travis Marsico, Executive Director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute
7:00 pm – ANPS Business Meeting.
8:15 pm – Silent auction closes and meeting adjourns.
Sunday, May 17th
9:00 am –Sunday morning field trips.
12:00 pm –Field trips finish.
This post will be updated as more details become available. If you have questions about this event, please contact Art Browning at art.browning@gmail.comm; (281) 728-6327.
Arkansas Native Plant Society Fall Meeting September 19-21, 2025 Harrison, Arkansas
Everybody is welcome to attend! Meeting registration is only $10 with no pre-registration required. Registration will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, September 19, 2025. The meeting events wrap up on Sunday, September 21 around noon.
Date: September 19-21, 2025 in Harrison, Arkansas
Location: Signature Tower (part of Signature Bank), Community Room 303 N Main St Suite 100 Harrison, AR 72602 Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JQygRna6cKL9Evxe8
On Google, the building will appear as Signature Bank of Arkansas OR Signature Tower. It is the same building.
We have 25 rooms reserved of several sizes and rates. Rooms will be held through the end of September 4th, at which point our discount expires. Free WiFi and parking is included with a small grab-and-go breakfast option. Follow the link above to book your room at our discounted rate (first-come, first-serve). Individuals are responsible for their own room and tax.
There are other hotels available nearby should you be unable to reserve a room at the 1929 Hotel Seville.
Dining Options: We will have a potluck meal Friday and Saturday evenings. Bring a dish or just come, eat, socialize, and learn! Alcohol is welcome, but please avoid bringing glass bottles. There are other dining options (fast food and others) in Harrison, and a bar/restaurant is located inside the 1929 Hotel Seville.
Auctions: The silent auction will begin at 6:00 PM on Friday and close at the end of the program on Saturday evening, and our live auction will begin at 7:00 PM on Friday and end later that evening. Proceeds from the auctions support the ANPS small grants program, student research grants, and student scholarships! Bring any native-plant themed donations you would like to include in the auctions before 6:00 PM Friday. Living plants will be included in the live auction, and any other items will be included in the silent auction. Auction sheets will be provided. If your item does not sell, you must take it back with you at the end of the meeting.
Field trips: Field trips to local areas of top botanical interest (e.g., Lost Valley, the Buffalo River Trail, Baker Prairie Natural Area, Round Top Mountain, and Sweden Creek Natural Area) will be scheduled for Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. You must sign up for field trips on Friday evening to allow for adequate logistical planning. Our field trips will offer both easy and more vigorous walks. We advise bringing hiking boots/shoes, bug spray, water, and a good hat!
Award Presentation: Burnetta Hinterthuer will be presented with the Eric and Milanne Sundell Award on Friday evening to recognize her outstanding and long-term dedication toward uplifting the ideals promoted by the Arkansas Native Plant Society.
Speaker: Justin Thomas, a botanist from Missouri and co-founder of the Institute for Botanical Training and NatureCITE, will give a presentation on interesting stories associated with several Arkansas plants with a healthy splash of natural history at 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 20.
5:00 pm – Doors to the Community Room at the Signature Tower Bank open and registration begins; auction setup. Bring your native plants, books, homemade jelly, jewelry, or plant art for the silent and live auction. Proceeds from the auction support ANPS scholarships, research grants and small grants programs.
6:00 pm – Potluck begins & silent auction opens.
6:45 pm – Discussion of field trips.
7:00 pm – Presentation of the Eric and Milanne Sundell Award to Burnetta Hinterthuer.
7:15 pm – Live auction.
Venue closes upon completion of Live Auction and collection of bid items.
Saturday, September 20th
9:00 am – Field trips (view hike sheets for meetup locations)
2:00 pm – Field trips (view hike sheets for meetup locations)
7:00 pm – Keynote Speaker: Justin Thomas, Co-Founder of NatureCITE & Institute of Botanical Training, presents “Some Stories Plants Tell”
8:30 pm – Silent auction closes and meeting adjourns.
Sunday, September 21st
8:30 am – Sunday morning field trips.12:00 pm – Field trips finish.
This post will be updated as more details become available. If you have questions about this event, please contact Andrew Ruegsegger at andrewruegsegger8@gmail.com; (870) 656-9705.
Rattan Vine or Supplejack (Berchemia scandens) of the Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) family is a large-stemmed, high climbing, twining, woody vine with simple leaves that have parallel veins. Genus name recognizes Jacob Pierre Berthoud van Berchem, an 18th Century Dutch naturalist and mineralogist. Specific epithet is from a Latin word meaning “to climb” in reference to the plant’s growth habit. Common names relate to the plant being used for wicker ware* and main stems being used as walking sticks. Area-of-occurrence in the US is from eastern Texas, across southeastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri; thence, extending to the Atlantic Coast and southward throughout Florida and back to Texas. In Arkansas, Rattan Vine is found statewide and also occurs in Mexico (Chiapas) and Guatemala. It is found in many soil types with a wide variety of sunny to shady habitats. Habitats range from wetland/swamp areas to wooded bottomlands and to drier upland woodlands and glades; along with roadsides, fence lines and plantations. Rattan Vine has shallow, near-surface, branching, black ropy roots and short descending fibrous roots. Depending on habitat, the ropy roots may sprout clonal plantlets. lt is also known as American Rattan and Alabama Supplejack.
Photo 1: Rattan Vine has distinctive simple leaves with parallel pinnate veins. As shown, at upper left, leaves are initially rolled. Dogwood and goldenrod leaves included on left side of photo. Photo – May 14.Photo 2: Near-surface ropy roots may sprout clonal plantlets; especially in shady sites. These 2 plantlets are connected by a 32-inch winding, branching root – asterisks mark connecting points. Entire root system had 10+ plantlets. Photo – November 19.Photo 3: This plant, climbing into a tree at a sunny site, did not produce plantlets. Base of vine is 1¼ inches wide. Ropy roots that were left in the ground will probably sprout clonal plantlets in spring. Photo – November 20.
Lacking tendrils and aerial rootlets, the strongly ascending vines (vine-type = liana) are self-supporting only if a plant’s vines twine together. Largest plants are found in wetter habitats. The tardily deciduous plants have a few to multiple main vines. New vine segments (growing in one year) develop on the sunny side of parent vines. Vines, always seeking sunlight, may be sprawled near the ground (in the absence of support) or in a tangled mass into trees to 90+ feet. Annual growth of a single vine may exceed 25 feet. Girth of vine segments uniformly decreases from the base of a segment to the apex. When the fast-growing apex touches a support, the vine quickly aligns with that support in a twining or spiraling manner. When the apical-growth reaches open space, the vine ascends until it finds a higher support or arches downward (due to gravity) and the vine may twist-back onto itself and again becomes ascending. Vines quickly become “fixed” in place in their current growth-year. Vines are extremely strong to the point that a host tree or limb may be girdled.
Photo 4: When tree canopy opened, vine growth became rampant and sprawled over itself. As shown, apical growth reaches into open space in search of higher support. Photo – April 28.Photo 5: At this sunny site, vigorous vine-growth of the Rattan Vine surrounds and reaches the top of this 70-foot tree spar and continues on side-limb. Photo – May 7.Photo 6: At the end of the growing season, bare vines are exposed. Same plant as previous photo. Photo – November 26.Photo 7: These twining vines, all grown in the current growth year, are “fixed” in place. Main vine is 1/16 inch wide. Photo – Nov 15Photo 8: The woody vines are tight-gripping and smooth except for spiky, hardened, elevated leaf scars; such as the one in lower left corner (see narrative below). Photo – November 15.
New vine-segments develop from lateral axillary buds (axillary vine) or develop as a division of a parent vine in the same growth year (connate vine). After a leaf falls; a spiky, hardened, elevated leaf scar remains immediately below a low-profile axillary bud covered with a few imbricated scales (see Photo 18). In spring, with growth of a new axillary vine-segment, the petiolate scar enlarges and has a circular, collar-like appearance. New connate vine segments lack collars and either the parent vine or the new-segment dominants growth. Tiny dormant buds may occur on collars and at the base of connate vines. Additionally, new vine segments have terminal buds that may further lengthen the previous year’s growth. Vines at and near ground level may have a radius of 2+ inches.
Photo 9: These axillary vines have collar-like bases. Width of main vine at upper new vine is ¾ inch wide. Several low-profile buds can be seen along the lower new vine. Photo – November 18.Photo 10: These connate vines, lacking collar-like bases, grew in the same growth-year as the parent vines. Brown bracts at base of connate vines subtend dormant buds. Photo – November 22.
Young portions of vines and branches are green or, in sunlight, reddish. Older vines become bluish-gray with numerous white, longitudinal streaks. The terete (round in cross-section) blue-gray vines are glabrous (lacking pubescence) and smooth except for petiolate scars below buds that did not develop. With plant maturity, lower portions of vines become branch-free and the thin bark remains fissure free. Oldest vines become drab-green to black and whitish streaks becoming less pronounced to absent. Young vines have white pith at their centers while older vines are solid.
Photo 11: Twenty feet above the ground, these vines twin about the tree trunk and itself. The spiky leaf scars, on younger vines, likely aid in vine support. Photo – November 1.Photo 12: The smooth, bluish-gray nature of mature vines is characteristic of the species. Thickest portion of the spiraled vines is an inch. Photo – November 18.Photo 13: With age, vines become drab-green to black as white streaks become less noticeable. Main vine width is 2⅜ inches. Photo – November 22.
Mature plants have numerous, tree-like, axillary branches (to 2 feet long) with a free-standing growth habit. Branches lack the ability to twin or spiral. In their first year, branches have a single, straight, leafy axis but lengthen and broaden as leafy axillary sub-branches and twigs follow. Twigs bear flowers/fruits.
Photo 14: Axillary branches, these to 16 inches long, lengthen and broaden in successive growth-years. Axillary buds on the sunny side of a vine develop while other buds remain dormant. Photo – November 25.Photo 15: These free-hanging vines are drab-green to black, smooth and lack branches. A free-hanging grape vine and well-rooted Poison Ivy (Toxicodentron radicans) can also be seen. Photo – November 19.
The simple, glabrous, ovate to wide-elliptic, alternate leaves are to 4⅜ inches long (including a ⅞-inch petiole) and 2 inches wide. They have a shiny, bright green upper surface and a pale green lower surface. Straight, parallel, regularly spaced, pinnate, secondary veins are set at 30⁰ off the midrib. Slightly recessed above and well-expressed below, the 8-13 pairs of secondary veins merge along the slightly undulating leaf margin. Closely spaced tertiary veins, set perpendicular to secondary veins, are also parallel. Leaf apex is obtuse to acuminate while base is rounded to wedge-shaped (cuneate). Blades are somewhat leathery. Petioles may be down-twisted so that leaves probably help support growing vines. The tardily deciduous leaves become yellow in fall while petioles and veins may become reddish. With intertwined vines and many branches, whether sprawled near the ground or within limbs of a tree, a plant’s “center of growth” tends to be dense and leafy.
Photo 16: The simple petiolate leaves vary from ovate to wide-elliptic with slightly undulating margins. Petioles may be down-twisted. Leaf at lower left is 4⅜ inches long (including a ⅞ inch petiole) and 2 inches wide. Photo – November 19.Photo 17: Branches and twigs have a free-standing growth habit and lack the ability to twin or spiral. Apices of these twigs are toward top of photo. Down-twisted petioles, along with their spiky bases, probably help support new growth. Photo – November 20.Photo 18: Closely spaced, parallel tertiary veins are set perpendicular to secondary veins. Pointed terminal and lateral buds are protected by a few scales. This terminal bud and the lateral buds are both axillary. Photo – November 20. Photo 19: The leafy vines, growing in the current growth-year, are already bluish-gray. Leaves become yellow in fall. Photo – November 22.
The inflorescence (April-May) consists of terminal and axillary panicles (thyrses**) elevated above foliage. The glabrous and leafless floral stalks within the panicles, along with peduncles (stalks bearing multiple flowers) and pedicels (stalks bearing a single flower), are shiny pale green. Peduncles have a few to a dozen pedicels that bear several to a half-dozen flowers. In bud, the broadly triangular sepals form a pentagonal-pyramid shape; each of the sides indented along the sepals’ center lines. Buds, with relatively long pedicels and minute hypanthia, are knobby. The greenish-white flowers (<⅛ inch across) and lacking noticeable insect guides, have 5 pale-green sepals and 5 pale-green lanceolate petals with white tips – petals evenly spaced between sepals. At anthesis, sepals and petals remain together; the corolla in an upright position. The dioecious plants have separate staminate (with filaments and anthers) and pistillate (with ovary, style and stigma) flowers in the same panicle. Staminate flowers have 5 stamens while pistillate flowers have a pistil centered in a low, darker green nectar disc. At anthesis, anthers rise slightly above the sepals/petals while stigmas remain slightly below the sepals/petals.
Photo 20: Panicles terminate current year’s twigs. A flimsy bract subtends leaves below the panicles (see arrows). At upper left; spiky, hardened, elevated leaf scars remain when axillary buds did not develop into twigs. Photo – April 16.Photo 21: Along with subtending leaves, flimsy bracts also subtend peduncles. Photo – April 16.Photo 22: A terminal panicle and a smaller axillary panicle are shown. Panicles, elevated above the foliage, consist of clusters of flowers spaced along the floral axis. Photo – May 7.Photo 23: Asterisks mark the point-of-origin for the new twigs. An axillary panicle can be seen below the uppermost panicle. Photo – May 12.Photo 24: These long panicles are good examples of panicle-like thyrses**. New growth vines and branches may be reddish in sunlight. Photo – May 12.Photo 25: Floral buds are 5-sided and knob-like. At anthesis, the ascending sepals and petals remain together, as shown by the upper flowers. Photo – May 12.Photo 26: Staminate and pistillate flowers occur in the same panicles. A pistillate flower with a green nectary disc can be seen in front. A staminate flower with dark anthers is above. Photo – May7.
In July-November, fertilized pistillate flowers develop into fruits (drupes) in short to long, loose clusters that persist into the winter months. Clusters may be terminal, axillary or a combination of terminal and axillary panicles. The thin-skinned, blue-black, oblong to ellipsoid drupes contain a single indehiscent stone. With a glaucous (white waxy coating) at maturity, drupes are about ¼ inch long and ⅛ inch wide with a thickened base (remnants of hypanthium). Seeds are spread by birds and mammals. With fruit fall, the entire panicle drops off the twig.
Photo 27: This infructescence of this twig consists of a series of mostly axillary panicles that developed from current-year buds. Photo – July 11.Photo 28: Vines may produce a “heavy” load of fruits that persist into the winter months. Mature fruits have a glaucous coating. Photo – November 5.Photo 29: Stones of 3 fruits have been separated from the pulp. With leaf fall, spiky, hardened, elevated leaf scars remain that support low-profile buds. Photo – November 5.
Due to its large size, extensive root system and clonal nature; garden use of Rattan Vine should probably be restricted to large natural setting where its roots and possible clonal plantlets would not become an issue. Planted at the base of a tree with good sun, clonal plantlets may not develop. Partial removal of a root system may encourage unwanted clonal plantlets. Mature vines are attractive as are leaves and fruits. Fruits are eaten by a number of ground- and song-birds, including turkey and quail. Small mammals, including racoon and squirrel, also eat the fruit. Mature plants provide dense shelter for birds and small mammals.
Photo 30: Fruits are known to be eaten by a number of song-birds; such as, Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). After fruit has fallen or been removed, thickened fruit-bases may remain. Photo – January 25.
Rattan Vine can be easily distinguished from other vines in Arkansas based on its large smooth vines, along with simple leaves with parallel veins. It is the only species of the genus in the US.
Rattan & Wicker: “Rattan” is a material from some palm species; e.g., Common Rattan (Calamus rotang). Wicker is weaving style. Wicker products may be made from various plant species, including Berchemia scandens and palm species.
** Thyrse: An inflorescence in which main axis has indeterminate growth and side-axes have determinate growth.
Perfoliated Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) of the Sunflower (Asteraceae) family can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its distinctive leaves. Genus name recognizes Mithridates Eupator (132-63 B.C.) King of Pontus, who invented a “universal antidote” against poisoning and is said to have used a member of the genus in medicine. Specific epithet derives from Latin word “perfoliatus” translating to “through the foliage”; a reference to the plant’s stems that grows through the middle of the leaf. The common name “Boneset” comes from use of the plant to treat dengue fever, also known as “break-bone fever”. In the US, it occurs in all states from Texas to North Dakota thence eastward to the Atlantic Coast and southward to the Gulf Coast. In Arkansas, occurrence is statewide. Habitat preference is wet to wet-mesic soils of poorly drained sites that are in full to partial sun, such as, various wetlands, wet prairies, low-lying open woods, stream margins and roadside ditches. It is usually found in sites where standing water is temporary but can occasionally be found in drier sites. Also knows as Common Boneset and Thoroughwort.
Photo 1: Habitat preference is wet to wet-mesic, sunny sites, such as this roadside ditch, where it is growing with another wet-site species – Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica). Photo – October 7.
This rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial has a few to many, terete, closely spaced, erect stems to 4 feet tall. New stem (cauline) leaves appear in early spring from a spreading, fibrous, rhizomatous, colony-forming rootstock. The upper half of stems bears opposite, decussate (rotated 90⁰), axillary pairs of primary branches set at 45⁰. Primary branches bear axillary secondary branches with the same growth habit – branches typically in matched pairs. The straight, stout, terete stems and primary branches and secondary branches terminate with closely spaced, spreading flower-bearing branches. Near and within the inflorescence, branches become sub-opposite to alternate. Lengths of primary branches (to 2 feet) and secondary branches (to 9 inches) decrease distally to and into the inflorescence. Internode lengths decrease distally from stem-base into the inflorescence. Stems and branches, from plant base and into the inflorescence, are noticeably densely pubescent with weakly spreading to descending fine (puberulent) hairs. White pubescence, retained throughout the growing season, provides a whitish cast to the pale green stems and branches.
Photo 2: Cauline leaves appear in early spring. Dense, white pubescence of stems and branches extends onto leaf blades. Photo – April 7.Photo 3: Photo shows rootstock from underneath. These horizontally oriented rhizomes, 3/16 to ¼ inch wide, are mostly root free. Dense fibrous roots grow below stems along vertically oriented portions of rhizomes. New white rhizomes turn to the surface to produce new stems. Photo – October 27.Photo 4: In an especially favorable site, plants may develop into many-stemmed clonal colonies. Photo – August 27.Photo 5: Dense pubescence gives this pale green, erect stem a whitish caste. Photo – June 15.Photo 6: Stems and branches are stout and straight in this seemingly unusually dry site. Plant at lower right is Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum). Photo – August 13.Photo 7: Primary and secondary branches occur in opposite, matched pairs. Junctions of stems and branches are at 45 degrees. Internode lengths decrease into the inflorescence. Photo – August 13.
In the lower two-thirds of stems and extending onto lower portions of branches, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate (4-8 inches long and to 2 inches across) leaves are in opposite, decussate pairs that unite around the stem/branch. These individual connate-perfoliate leaves are widest below mid-leaf with a short taper toward the stem before blades widen ear-like (auriculate) around the stem/branch. A more gentle taper extends from mid-leaf to acute apices with blunt tips. Leaf margins are serrate with equally spaced, rounded teeth. In the upper two-thirds of stems (and upper portion of branches), more distal opposite leaf pairs become simple and sessile (without stalks) with the leaves near and within the inflorescence becoming sub-opposite and alternate (see Photo 13). The medium-green leaves are a darker green than stems/branches. Leaves, blade elevated to either side of the midrib, have a horizontal to smoothly down-arched orientation. Veins are recessed above (adaxially) and strongly expressed below (abaxially). Venation of individual leaves is weakly pinnate while venation at the auriculate portion of connate pairs is palmate. Secondary and tertiary veins form a rhombic, reticulated network. Upper and lower surfaces have pilose (fine and soft) pubescence with that of lower surface being longer especially along veins. Blades have a wrinkled, felty surface. Through the growing season, margins of the elongating leaf blades become wavy.
Photo 8: The narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, opposite leaf pairs are decussate. Leaves have a horizontal to smoothly down-arched orientation. Photo – August 3.Photo 9: The connate-perfoliate leaves widen around the stem/branch to the point of being auriculate. Stems have dense, weakly spreading to descending, puberulent pubescence. Through the growing season, blades become wavy. Photo – August 3.Photo 10: Display shows the abaxial surface (top) and an adaxial surface (bottom) of connate leaf pairs. Bottom pair is 8 inches long and 1½ inches wide. These new leaves grew late in the growing season. Photo – October 27.Photo 11: Venation overall is weakly pinnate while venation at the auriculate portion of leaf pairs is palmate. Secondary and tertiary veins form a rhombic, reticulated network. Abaxial pubescence can be seen at left and adaxial pubescence at bottom of photo. Photo – October 27.Photo 12: Leaves are a darker green than stems/branches. Stems/branches have a whitish caste due to dense pubescence. Through the growing season, margins of the elongating leaf blades become wavy. Photo – August 13.
The inflorescence, August-October, consists of small compound flowerheads on very short pedicels (stalks) in tight clusters. Flowerheads are in cymes in that the terminal flowerhead of each ultimate cluster develops before adjoining lateral flowerheads. The inflorescence of any particular stem consist of many cymes on multiple stout, ascending, spreading floral branches wherein lengths of branches decrease toward the apex of the inflorescence so that the floral array of any particular stem/branch has a flat to convex top (corymb structure). Bloom period extends for a month or more. Floral branches, peduncles (stalks bearing several flowerheads), pedicels and phyllaries (bracts of involucres) are covered with dense puberulent pubescence.
Photo 13: Near the inflorescence, opposite leaf pairs become simple and sessile. Leaf margins are serrate with equally spaced, rounded teeth. Photo – August 14.Photo 14: Within the inflorescence, branches become increasing small and short with each branch terminating with clusters of cymes positioned in corymb fashion. Photo – August 27.
Flowerheads consist of 9-13 elongate disc florets (¼ inch long) tightly enclosed by a pale green, ⅛-inch-long, cylindrical involucre. Involucres (⅛ long) have 7-10 narrow-oblong, rib-like, appressed, white-tipped phyllaries in a single, slightly overlapped series. The white florets have a tubular corolla, 5 stamens (white filament + brown anthers) and a white pistil (ovary + 2 styles + 2 stigmas). Corollas (⅛-inch-long) have a campanulate (bell-shaped) throat, with 5 triangular lobes, and a narrow-tubular lower portion. Lobes of corolla are wide spreading. At anthesis, anthers are fused into a tube-like ring throat through which the long styles extend so that pollen is carried out of the corolla. The two ⅛-inch-long thread-like arms extend, in a wispy fashion, well above the corolla. Stigmas are the blunt tips of the flattened, conspicuous arms. Corollas are set atop elongate ovaries rimmed by long hairs. Floral branches, pedicels and involucres are equally, densely pubescent.
Photo 15: Cylindrical involucres enclose up to 15 disk florets in pale green cylindrical involucres. Photo – September 11.Photo 16: Involucres have 7-10 appressed phyllaries in a single series. Floral branches, peduncles, pedicels and phyllaries are densely covered with puberulent pubescence. Photo – September 11.Photo 17: At anthesis, a pair of wispy styles become exserted through a brown, fused anther ring so that pollen is carried out of the corolla. Stigmas are the blunt tips of the styles. Photo – September 11.Photo 18: This flowerhead has 10+ florets. Floret at lower left is ¼ inch long and 1/16 inch wide. Corollas have bell-shaped throats and a narrow-tubular lower portion. Long hairs, on the rim of the ovaries, encircle the corollas. Photo – October 2.
With fertilization, the inferior ovaries enlarge slightly as they become dark brown, 1-seeded cypsela (fruits of the Sunflower family) as the now-brown corollas drop-off and phyllaries spread wide. Twenty to thirty crinkled hairs (pappus) atop the ovary become wide-spreading. The 4-sided cypsela are about ⅛-inch long with pappus more than twice as long. The whitish, frizzy infructescence is retained for a month or more as the cypselae are dispersed by wind.
Photo 19: Cypselae, set loosely among wide spread phyllaries and with spreading pappus, are poised for wind dispersal. Photo – October 30.Photo 20: Twenty to thirty radiating, crinkled hairs encircle the scar left by the corollas. A single, 4-sided cypsela is shown at lower left. Photo – October 2.Photo 21: Cypselae are about ⅛-inch long with pappus more than twice as long. Shriveled brown corollas are also shown. Photo – October 12.
Nine additional species of the genus and 2 recognized hybrids occur in Arkansas. Many of the other species and hybrids have flowerheads and floral arrays that are similar to that of Perfoliated Boneset (E. perfoliatum); however, leaf shapes vary by species/hybrid. E. x cordigerum, a hybrid between E. perfoliatum and E. rotundifolium has leaf texture and shape somewhat similar to that of E. perfoliatum but leaf pairs of the hybrid are broadly ovate with bases that are clasping to narrowly connate-perfoliate and, too, the hybrid has fewer florets per flowerhead.
Perfoliated Boneset can be an excellent choice as a specimen plant for various garden styles and for natural areas that have various wet to mesic-wet soils in full to mostly sunny sites. This herbaceous, medium-tall plant remains mostly erect into winter whereafter stem may need to be removed to better expose spring growth. Plants are attractive from spring into fall. Foliage is interesting and its late inflorescence has a pleasant scent. The numerous flowerheads, bearing nectar and pollen, is a magnet for various bees, flies, wasps, moths and butterflies. Easily propagated by seed and root divisions.
Photo 22: The pleasantly scented inflorescence is a magnet for various insects including (as shown) mason wasps and weevils. Photo – August 26.
Trailing Bush Clover (Lespedeza procumbens) of the Bean (Fabaceae) family is an herbaceous, prostrate perennial that has racemes of pea-type flowers. Genus name recognizes Vicente Manuel de Cespedes (an early text misspelled his name as “de Lespedez”), governor of the Spanish province of East Florida from 1784-1790. Specific epithet is a Latin word denoting the plant’s rootless, ground-hugging stems and branches. In the US, it is found in a broad area bounded by a line from eastern Texas and Oklahoma, into southeastern Kansas, thence to southern Vermont, down to the Florida panhandle and back to Texas. In Arkansas, occurrence is statewide except areas of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Preferred habits consist of dry to mesic, sandy to rocky soils in partial shade, such as, open woodlands, woodland borders and pine plantations. Plants occur singly or in loose to dense mat-forming groups. It is also known as Downy Trailing Bush-Clover.
Photo 1: Plants may occur singly. Photo – April 13Photo 2: Plants may occur in mat-forming groups – mats thickening throughout the growing season. Photo – April 30
Plants have woody taproots and woody, near-surface, wide-spreading, lateral roots. New stems of mature plants grow from buds along basal remnants of previous year’s otherwise-decomposed stems. The half-dozen or more stems of robust plants, some remaining relatively short, extend away from the root-crown in a random, radiating manner. Early in the growth-year, the pale green stems are erect to ascending with pale green leaves. As stems lengthen, some to 4 feet long, they recline to the ground as additional growth intertwines with ground-hugging plants and ground litter. Leaves subtend a branch or peduncle (stalk of inflorescence); several peduncles may grow from the same node.. Spacing of leaves (internode length) is fairly consistent on any particular stem/branch with internode lengths ranging from ½-1 inch. While the non-vining stems and branches are long and flexible, peduncles are straight (¼-2 inches), firm and leafless. Lengths of branches and peduncles, on any particular stem, are variable along stem-length.. Stems, branches, and peduncles have pilose (dense and soft), spreading (erect) pubescence – pubescence reducing with time. Base-width of stems is to 1/16 inch with diameter of the terete stems and branches gradually and uniformly decreasing distally. Late in the growing season, plants look scraggly as they “interact” with weather conditions.
Photo 3: Plants have woody taproots and woody near-surface, wide-spreading lateral roots. New stems (as shown) grow from basal remnants of previous year’s stems. Photo – June 15.Photo 4: Mature plants have a half-dozen or more radiating, trailing stems to 4 feet long (as shown). Photo – September 6.Photo 5: New erect to spreading, pale green stems have pilose pubescence. Leaves and peduncles also having pilose pubescence. Photo – April 18.Photo 6: With growth, stems recline and extend above ground litter. Spacing of leaves is fairly consistent with internode lengths ranging from ½-1 inch. Photo – September 24.
The petiolate (stalked), alternate leaves have a terminal leaflet and 2 lateral leaflets (odd-pinnate compound leaves) – all on petiolules (stalks of leaflets). Petiolules of terminal leaflets are twice as long those of lateral leaflets. Larger leaves, along lower portion of stems, are to 1¼ inches long (including a ⅛-inch petiolule and a ¼-inch petiole) and 1⅜ inches wide (including petiolules). Leaves have a pair of greenish, linear to acicular stipules (to ⅛ inch long – tapering to a fine point) which quickly dry and persist for a while. Leaves gradually decrease in size distally with a sudden decrease after the early erect to ascending portion of stems recline. Within the area of the pea-type flowers, the small stem/branch leaves (to ⅜ inch long) transition to a pair of narrow-triangular bracts (to < ⅛-inch long); both leaves or bracts subtending an inflorescence.
Photo 7: As the apex of this stem continues to lengthen, flowers develop on long peduncles. Leaves subtending the uppermost peduncles have transition to bracts. Photo – September 13.
The elliptic to broadly elliptic leaflets are evenly divided by the primary vein (midrib) with the flat blade ascending to either side. Straight, parallel secondary veins (weakly recessed above and well expressed below) are closely and uniformly spaced before branching near leaflet margin. Tertiary veins, in between secondary veins, form elongate rectangles (longitudinal venation). Slightly recurved leaflet margins are smooth and entire (uncut) with rounded apices that may be shallowly notched (emarginate) and the primary vein may extend beyond leaflet margin. Upper and lower leaflet surface, petioles, and petiolules have spreading pilose pubescence (extends from stems/branches). Leaflet surfaces feel soft. With maturity, upper (adaxial) leaflet surface becomes medium to dark green with the lower (abaxial) surface being a paler green.
Photo 8: These elliptic leaflets have rounded apices. This adaxial side has fairly dense appressed pubescence which extends onto leaflet margins (ciliate pubescence). Secondary veins are pinnate. Tertiary veins form a longitudinal pattern. Photo – September 7.Photo 9: Abaxial side of this leaf, also, has appressed pubescence. The elliptic leaflets have rounded, apiculate apices. Pubescence on stem/branch is spreading. Photo – September 23.Photo 10: These broadly elliptic, petiolate leaflets with short petiolules have emarginate apices with the remainder of margins being entire (uncut). A pair of brown, acicular stipules occurs at base of leaves. Midvein of lower left leaflet extends beyond the margin. Stem/branch segment at left is ½ inch long. Photo – September 8.
Most upper nodes of stems and branches of a robust plant bear an inflorescence of pea-type flowers in August through September; depending on weather. The tiny flowers on short (to 1/16 inch), ascending pedicels (stalks) are in racemes (rachis to 1¾ inches long) terminating long, axillary peduncles (also to 1¾ inches long). Up to a dozen flowers may be in a raceme with flowers in alternate lateral pairs and a terminal pair. Lateral pairs are typically well spaced but 2 pairs may be closely spaced, seemingly in a whorl. The straight, sturdy peduncles position the straight racemes the foliage in an inclined to erect position. Flowering sequence of pairs is up-rachis with individual flowers in bloom for about 2 days. Within racemes, each flower is subtended by a pair of narrow triangular bracts so that 4 bracts subtend each flower pair. Drying soils cause some racemes to not develop fully, resulting in spiky, flower-free peduncles.
Photo 11: Straight ascending to erect peduncles position racemes above the foliage of these intertwined branches. Older leaves are dark green while actively growing branches have pale green leaves. Photo – September 8.Photo 12: With favorable weather, branch apices continue to grow during the primary flowering period. The trailing nature of stems/branches just above ground litter is shown. Photo – September 24.Photo 13: Leaf at lower left shares a node with a 3½ inch peduncle (with a raceme bearing 4 flowers) and a branch with several peduncles bearing budded flowers. The pointed apices extend beyond the budded corolla. Photo – September 13.Photo 14: Nodes are well spaced and peduncle-length is variable. Nodes may bear a leaf or bract (distally) along with 1-3 peduncles, as shown. Some peduncles may “loose” their flowers so that peduncles are spike-like. Photo – September 7.
Flowers have a bilaterally symmetrical, pea-like structure typical of most species in the Bean family; namely, an upright banner, a pair of wing petals and a partially fused (along lower margins) pair of keel petals. Flowers (viewed from front) are about ⅜ inch tall and ¼ inch wide with a length of ⅜ inch. Front of the broadly flared, ovoid banner is a medium pink with dark pink pollinator guides, separated by light pink veins, radiating from the throat (backside is similarly colored). An opposing pair of forward-trending to projecting, solid light-pink oblanceolate (convex on both sides – gibbous) wings have a narrow, basal claw and a lower auricle (ear). The light-pink to whitish envelope-like keel has a slit along its upper margin, a basal claw on each of its fused and auriculate petals and a stiffened up-arching rib – each petal about the same shape as wing petals. (Claws and auricles of wing and keel petals fit together – see Photo 18.) Keel conceals a white pistil (ovary + style + stigma) and 10 white stamens (filaments + anthers) bearing pale-yellow anthers. Of the 10 stamens, lower halves of 9 filaments are fused into a tubular column and tightly encircle the pistil while the 10th stamen is free-standing between the stamen column and banner. Stamens arch upwards in consonance with the rib of the keel. Anthers, producing yellow pollen, are tightly clustered just inside the keel-slit with the white circular stigma (tip of terete style) at the slit for anthesis. Corolla is set in cupped calyx (3/16 inch long). The calyx has pilose pubescence, with 5 narrowly triangular lobes (1/16 inch long) pressed against the corolla; namely, a proximally connate pair centered on the dorsal side, a single lobe centered below the keel and a pair of down-trending lateral lobes. Other than the calyx, flowers are glabrous (lacking hairs).
Photo 15: The pedicellate flowers are in pairs along the axis of the raceme. Flowers have a calyx with 5 lobes of which 2 are partially connate on the dorsal side (see inset photo). Bract pair at base of each flower and the calyx have pilose pubescence. Photo – September 13.Photo 16: This 1-inch raceme has 3 pairs of flowers. Bracts at the base on the lowermost flower pair have dropped off; bracts still present on pair above. Calyx lobes are longer than the cup (see terminal pair). Photo – September 7.Photo 17: The pink banner is enhanced by dark pink pollinator guides separated by light pink veins. Wings and keel are a solid pale pink. Flowers are ¼ inch wide and ⅜ inch tall and long. Photo – September 13.Photo 18: Display shows: 1) cut-off nub of calyx, 2) 9 filaments fused into a tubular column, 2a) the 10th free-standing stamen, 3) tightly clustered filaments with exserted style, 4) wing petals with a basal claw and a lower auricle, 5) keel petals with a basal claw and a lower auricle and 6) banner. Claws and auricles of wing and keel petals fit together. Photo – September 15.
Fruits, a flattened pod (legume), with an ovate shape, have a thickened center and a rimmed margin. Apex and base are similarly acute. The apex, though, is pointed (mucronate) and, early-on, may bear a remnant of the style. Pods (<3/16 inch long and >1/16 inch wide) are 4-5 times longer than the clasping, early-persistent calyxes. Flat sides of pods are paper-thin with expressed veins in a rather random pattern and covered with scattered appressed hairs. Pale green during development, mature pods are yellowish tan with a single, loosely held seed. The olive-green, ovoid to oblong seeds are smooth and glabrous with smoothly rounded edges. Seeds, about 3/16 inch long and ⅛ inch wide, are released as the indehiscent pods disintegrate.
Photo 19: These pods (3/16 inch wide and ⅛ inch wide) have scattered, appressed pubescence. Pubescence of peduncle and branch has decreased with age. A leaf-stipule is shown at top of photo. Photo – September 24.Photo 20: The flattened ovate pods are centrally thickened with a rimmed margin. Hooked remnants of several styles can be seen. Olive-green seed are smooth and glabrous. Pubescence of pods has been lost. Squares = ¼ inch. Photo – October 31.
In addition to flowers that open for pollination (chasmogamous flowers), Trailing Bush Clover has cleistogamous flowers (remain closed and are self-fertile). Chasmogamous flowers usually occur on long peduncles. Cleistogamous flowers (singly or in clusters) are mostly sessile, but clusters may occur at ends of short peduncles. Both flower types result in pods of about the same size and appearance except pods of chasmogamous flowers may retain remnants of the style for a short time. Cleistogamous flowers seem to occur early in the growing season and with poor weather conditions.
Photo 21: Arrows indicate axillary cleistogamous flower buds that lack the pointed tips of chasmogamous buds (see Photo 13). This photo was cropped from Photo 6. Photo – September 24.Photo 22: Axillary cluster of pods at left developed from cleistogamous flowers or closed flowers that self-pollinated. The paired pods on right developed from chasmogamous flowers or open flowers that allowed for cross pollination. Photo – September 28.
As for gardening, with its long trailing growth habit and small flowers, Trailing Bush-Clover is probably best suited for a natural area. This hardy and long-lived perennial with non-woody stems/branches has tiny, colorful flowers that are eye-catching. Suitable as a ground-cover in partial shade and plants “fix” nitrogen in the soil. Along with other species in the family, seeds are a good food source for quail.
Ten additional species (7 native) of the Lespedeza family occur in Arkansas. Of these, only Creeping Bush Clover (L. repens) has similar habitats, growth habit, and flowers/fruits. L. repens can be distinguished from L. procumbens by appressed pubescence along stems/branches versus spreading pubescence in L. procumbens. L. repens tends to be a smaller plant and flowers trend toward being an overall light pink. Hairy Bush Clover (Lespedeza hirta) was previously addressed in this series of articles.
Photo 23:L. procumbens (lower right) has pilose, spreading stem/branch pubescence while L. repens may be glabrous or have sparse appressed pubescence. (Pubescence decreases throughout the growing season.) Photo – September 8.
Article and photographs by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata) of the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) is an herbaceous perennial with cyathia (false flowers) that have outward flared, white petaloid appendages growing from the rim of the involucre (modified receptacle). Genus name recognizes Euphorbus, a Greek physician. Specific epithet is Latin for “like a corolla” in reference to the appendages appearing to be a typical corolla. In the US, occurrence includes all states from Texas to South Dakota and eastward to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, excluding Florida. In Arkansas, occurrence is statewide. The species is adaptable to many dry to mesic soil types in full to partial sun, such as, upland woods, prairies, glades, roadsides and disturbed areas.
Plants (2-5 feet tall; typically to 2 feet) have descending, unbranched, ropy roots. Early in the growth-year, new stems are reddish green to light green with bract-like leaves near soil-level and more leaf-like, similarly shaped, leaves a few nodes above. Early stems and leaves are variously pubescent (variable by plant and region) but become glabrous with maturity.
Photo 1: These plants in full, south-slope sun have lost most of their leaves due to drying soils over midsummer. Taller stems are 4-5 feet. Photo – August 20.Photo 2: Excavated portion of left root was 12 inches long (7½ inches shown). Diameter of left root, just below broadened crown, is ⅝ inch. These new stems grew in midsummer after earlier stems died during a dry period. Photo – August 18.Photo 3: In a sunny site, these stems (2¼ inches tall) appeared in midwinter. Leaves nearest the ground are bract like, becoming more leaf-like above. Stems and leaves are covered with dense, spreading pubescence (variable by plant and region). Photo – February 28.
Lower stem leaves are alternate but become opposite higher up the stem and in the inflorescence. About mid-stem, lateral branches may occur singly in opposite, equal-sized branch-pairs (dichotomous branching) with branches set at about 45⁰ off the axis (see Photo 10). More robust stems may divide into whorls of 3-7 equal-sized primary branches. Primary branches may further divide 2-5 times before each ultimate branch terminates with a cyathium. Lengths of branches, all axillary, reduce in length from node to node with lowest internodes being to 10 inches. Stems are straight and erect while branches (primary to ultimate) are straight, spreading and ascending. Mature branches are slender, glabrous (pubescence, if any, having been lost) and pale green to greyish green (lighter than leaves) – sometimes glaucous (bluish haze). Stems and branches, with sticky white sap, are smooth between nodes and round in cross-section (terete). With a large inflorescence, entire stem becomes top-heavy and leans toward sunlight. With drying summer-time conditions, leaves drop-off (progressing from soil-level into the inflorescence) so that the now-naked stems and branches are coarsely roughened by rigid leaf bases. Mature stems/branches in full sun darken with age and have reddish blotches. With extended dry conditions, stems may die to the root but can regrow the same year if conditions improve.
Photo 4: These straight and erect stems, lacking branches, have closely spaced, alternate leaves. Stems are a slightly lighter color than leaves. Photo – April 12.Photo 5: At about mid-final-height, stems have grown to the point that primary branches begin to appear at top of stems. Leaves are sometimes narrowly lanceolate. Photo – April 13.Photo 6: A single cyathium terminates this stem where a whorl of 7 equal-sized, axillary, primary branches emerge. Primary branches may divide 2-5 times more before the inflorescence forms. Photo – May 13.Photo 7: This stem has a whorl of 5 primary branches with a leaf subtending each branch. Leaves above the whorl are opposite, while those below are alternate. Photo – April 18.Photo 8: Late in the growing season, with drying soils, stems and branches may develop reddish blotches. Photo – September 26.
Leaves (to 3 inches long and ½ inch wide) are commonly oblong (lower leaves) to linear-oblong (middle leaves); both shapes with rounded apices and rounded to wedge-shape bases. Leaves of some plants are narrowly lanceolate (to 4 inches and width of 3/16 inch) with a pointed apex and rounded base. The simple, sessile to sub-sessile (petioles to 3/16 inch) leaves have smooth (entire) margins which may be slightly revolute. Leaves are green above and a paler green below. Obscure venation is diffused-pinnate with a prominent lower (abaxial) midrib and a less prominent and lighter colored upper (adaxial) midrib. In the inflorescence, the small to tiny leaves (floral leaves) are mostly opposite with a leaf subtending each branch-division and cyathium. Floral leaves (decreasing in size distally) are elliptic to ovate (to < 1/16 inch by <1/16 wide). Leaves near cyathia may have white upper margins and apices.
Photo 9: Upper sides (on left) and lower sides (on right) of leaf pairs are shown. 1a + 1b – Lanceolate stem leaves and cluster of cyathia; 2 – Leaves of a new mid-summer stem; 3a + 3b + 3c – Stem leaf pair (3a) and primary branch leaf-pair (3b) and cluster of cyathia. Note leaf colors, venation and recurved margins. Photo – August 20.
Inflorescence architecture for the genus Euporbia is a dichasium characterized by floral units with a central cyathium on a shortened stalk and two lateral main axes. Young plants and plants in poor habitats may have a few loosely arranged floral branches with few cyathia while older plants in rich habitats have more robust stems and may have panicle-like clusters to ¾ feet long and a foot wide with hundreds of cyathia. Cyathia, facing upwards, are ¼-⅜ inch wide and ⅛ inch tall (from base of cup to tip of divided stigma) and have erect pedicels (stalk of a flower) to ⅛ inch long. Branches of the inflorescence and pedicels are light green, glabrous and terete. Flowering may occur from late spring into late summer for a 1-2 month period with timing/duration affected by soil moisture.
Photo 10: Inflorescence architecture is based on dichasiums wherein a shorter-stalked central cyathium is positioned between lateral pairs of the main axes. Photo – August 23.Photo 11: Leaves of this branch change from alternate to opposite with a cyathium terminating the branch with axillary dichasiums on left and right. Photo – March 3.Photo 12: This pair of primary branches (originating at bottom of photo) divide several times before bearing cyathia. Internode length decreases with each division. The straight, terete branches and pedicels are glabrous. Photo – August 25.Photo 13: A whorl of branches (arrow indicates cyathium terminating stem) resulted in a broad, round-topped floral display. An inflorescence may have hundreds of cyathia. Photo – September 13.
Cyathia are the unique, primary inflorescence of the genus Euphorbia. In Flowering Spurge, cyathia have: 1) a bell-shaped (campanulate) involucre, 2) five white petaloid involucral appendages, 3) five green, flattened, ovate, yellowish green nectar glands attached to the appendages, 4) five white, elongate, incurved, fringed (fimbriate) bracteoles between the appendages, 5) a number of apparent-stamens (filament + anther) and, sometimes, 6) an apparent-pistil (ovary + style + stigma). Morphologically, each stamen and each pistil is considered to be an entire flower. Centers of cyathia bear either: 1) a tight group of up to 25 staminate flowers (herein, a staminate cyathium) or 2) a smaller group of staminate flowers surrounding a pistilate flower (herein, a perfect cyathium). Staminate and perfect cyathia have the same involucre, appendages, nectar glands and bracteoles. The ratio of staminate to perfect cyathia and position within the inflorescence vary from plant to plant. Appendages are positioned in a planar manner. Bracteoles may be absent.
Staminate flowers have a single stamen with a joint on its stalk that separates the pedicel (below) and the filament (above); see Photo 19. Staminate flowers have a white filament/pedicel and an anther of 2 pale yellow spherical lobes that unroll to expose a darker yellow pollen. Pistillate flowers have a united, 3-carpel, green ovary and 3 united, whitish green styles/stigmas. The united styles separate from the tip and recurve to expose stigmatic surfaces. Ovaries are on a floral stalk (hidden until fertilization occurs). In the case of the perfect flowers, stigmas are well-spread and recurved before the “underlying” pistillate flowers of the same cyathium appear but remain below pistil-level.
Photo 14: Cyathia have bell-shaped involucres and terete pedicels. Leaves near cyathia often have white tips. Photo – August 27.Photo 15: Cyathia have 5 white involucral petaloid appendages with attached green nectar glands and 5 white incurved bracteoles between appendages. This staminate cyathium has rounded appendages. Photo – September 6.Photo 16: Flowers of the central cyathium of a dichasium reach anthesis before those of lateral cyathia. Appendages, with overlapping bases, have crinkle-cut apices. Bracteoles are absent. Photo – August 27.Photo 17: Female flowers of the 2 perfect cyathia (behind staminate cyathium) are near anthesis with exposed stigmatic surfaces spread and recurved. The “underlying” pistillate flowers have not yet appeared. Glistening nectar can be seen on staminate cyathia. Photo – September 6.Photo 18: The staminate cyathiun has several flowers in decline and other flowers approaching anthesis. The 2 lateral perfect cyathia have several staminate flowers surrounding the pistillate flower; some staminate flowers still emerging. Appendages are positioned in a planar manner. Photo – September 9.Photo 19: Joints on the white stalks of several staminate flowers can be faintly distinguished. Joints (see arrow) separate pedicel (below) from filament (above). A pistillate flower with still-united styles can be seen at upper right. Photo – September 6.Photo 20: Appendages, connate with the rim of the involucre (note torn fabric), have an attached ovate nectar gland. Twenty or so staminate flowers with spherical lobes can be seen but, apparently, will not mature further. Photo – August 27.
Following fertilization, the enlarging ovary develops into a seed capsule. The capsule is pushed out of the cyathium by an elongating floral stalk where the capsule dangles as the cyathium slowly deteriorates. The glabrous to minutely scabrous capsules, to about ⅛ inch wide and tall, have 3 globoid cells. The thin-skinned capsules become tan and cells split along their common, axial line to release one seed per cell. The mottled brown seeds, about 1/16 inch long, are broadly ovate in outline and terete in cross-section.
Photo 21: This developing seed capsule has been pushed-out of the cyathium by the elongating floral stalk. Anther lobes of most staminate flowers have dropped off. Width of cyathium is 5/16 inch. Photo – September 27.Photo 22: Staminate flowers in 2 of the cyathia have all passed anthesis and have deteriorated; appendages persisting. Lowermost cyathium shows a single staminate flower. Photo – September 4.Photo 23: Seed capsules have 3 globoid cells; each bearing a globoid seed. A very immature pistillate flower at right is tightly held by subtending leaves. Squares = ¼ inch. Photo – July 26.Photo 24: Seed capsules split along their common axial line to release 1 seed per cell. The broadly ovate seeds (1/16 inch long) are a mottled brown due to surface pitting. Squares = ¼ inch. Photo – July 26.
Flowering Spurge would be good plant for a native plant garden, pollinator garden or naturalized area. The erect perennial plants provide leafy springtime growth and a wispy display of white cyathia for up to 2 months in mid to late summer. Stems lean when topped with a heavy inflorescence. Plants in sunny sites may drop leaves with the hint of drought; leaf loss potentially extending into the inflorescence. Sap is a skin and eye irritant. Pollen and nectar are collected by small insects and seeds are eaten by turkey and other ground-dwelling birds. Foliage may become reddish in fall. Stems of the low maintenance plant disintegrate quickly. May be propagated by root segments.
Twenty-one additional Euphorbia species occur in the state. Flowering Spurge is easily distinguished by being a relatively tall perennial with mostly oblong leaves that change from alternate (lower on plant) to opposite (higher on plant and in the inflorescence) and relatively large cyathia. Toothed Spurge (Euphorbia dentata) was previously addressed in this series of articles.
Article and photographs by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
Article and photographs by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
St. Andrew’s-cross (Hypericum hypericoides subsp. hypericoides) of the St. John’s-wort (Hypericaceae) family is a small perennial shrub (subshrub) with fine leaves on straight twigs, 4-petal yellow flowers and 2 prominent sepals. Genus name is based on Greek words for “above” and “picture”, from the practice of placing flowers above a wall-mounted picture to discourage evil spirits on St. John’s feast day. Specific epithet translates to “hypericum resembling hypericum”*. Common name refers to the arrangement of flower petals resembling the cross of “Saint Andrew the Apostle”. Occurrence in the US extends from eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma, across southern Missouri, eastward to the Atlantic coast, thence following the Atlantic and Gulf coasts back to Texas. In Arkansas, occurrence is statewide except for northern portions of the Ozark Plateaus and counties boarding the Mississippi River. Habitats include sandy to rocky sites with mesic to dry soils; such as, sunny glades, open upland-woodlands and woodland borders.
The drought-tolerant shrub has deep, branching taproots along with descending fibrous roots. The short-lived plants, with branches to 3 feet long, have a main stem off the rootstock or a few to multiple ascending branches from the base with frequent branching distally. Young plants tend to be mound-like with dense foliage while older plants often become decumbent. Lower portion of branches become leggy to scraggly as lower small branches are shed. Main stem, branches and twigs (current year’s growth) are reddish brown with the thin bark exfoliating to expose inner smooth bark. Plants are evergreen to tardily deciduous (see Photo 4). The terete (round in cross-section) branches are brittle. Entire plant is glabrous (without hairs). Leaf pairs are decussate (rotated 90⁰).
Photo 1: Plants have a branching taproot and descending fibrous roots. Roots of this 5-inch tall plant are 5 inches long. Photo – February 12.Photo 2: This plant, in a sunny site, has multiple, erect spreading branches from shrub-base. Numerous twigs support fine, dense leaves. Photo – June 27.Photo 3: This plant, also in a sunny site, has a more open structure with few branches from shrub-base. Photo – June 24.
Current year’s twigs are referred to, herein, as “primary” or “secondary”. Primary twigs grow from terminal buds of previous year’s non-flowering twigs and from scattered lateral buds of previous year’s flowering and non-flowering twigs. Secondary twigs grow from leaf axils of primary twigs. Primary and secondary twigs initially have pale green bark which becomes reddish brown early in the growth-year. The wiry primary twigs have a final length from less than an inch to 10 inches with base-width of longest twigs to ⅛ inch. Secondary twigs, set at about 45⁰ off primary twigs, are from near-0 to 2 inches long (usually <1 inch) with a base-width less than half that of primary twigs. Secondary twigs are thread-like and flexible. Twigs have thin, flexible wings that extend down from leaf base to a point between the next lower pair of leaves – wings do not connect.
Photo 4: Horizontal branches, in their second growth-year, have erect primary branches along their sunny side. Exfoliating bark exposes a smooth surface. Photo – May 8.Photo 5: Primary twigs of this second-year plant (2¾ inches tall) have pale green leaves. Upper leaves subtend developing secondary twigs. Twigs quickly become reddish brown. Photo – August 9.Photo 6: This branch bears 3 principal, primary twigs (bases indicated by arrows) with multiple secondary twigs developing distally. Primary and secondary twigs develop in the current growth-year. Photo – June 24.Photo 7: Thin, flexible wings extend down from leaf-base downward to a point between the next lower pair of decussate leaves. Photo – June 24.
Twigs have opposite pairs of narrowly oblong to oblanceolate leaves that are uniformly spaced along a twig and separated by about ¼ to ¾ inches. Opposite leaf pairs have the same size across twig rachises. Prior to development of secondary twigs, primary twigs have a leafy, columnar appearance. Lower leaves of primary twigs often subtend a cluster (fascicle) of leaves while upper leaves subtend secondary twigs some of which bear flowers. Primary twigs may have up to a dozen leaf pairs while secondary twigs may have 1-4 pairs. Twigs (primary or secondary) that do not bear flowers, terminate with a final pair of leaves centered by a tiny, elongate apical bud which extends twig-length in the following growth-year. Twigs that had flowers in the previous growth-year produce new twigs below that inflorescence (now dead) so that flowering branches broaden year-by-year.
Leaves of primary twigs grow to about an inch long and ⅓ wide and are about twice the size of similarly shaped leaves of secondary twigs. Leaves are slightly broader at or above mid-leaf and have obtuse to rounded apices and rounded to wedge-shaped bases. The simple leaves, with pale green upper surface and green to pale bluish-green lower surface, have entire (uncut) and narrowly recurved margins. The sessile (lacking stalks) leaves may exhibit glandular dots (punctate leaves) that are more noticeable on the abaxial leaf surface. Pinnate venation is obscure above and below with the well-defined midrib recessed slightly above and expressed below. Shrubs are evergreen to tardily deciduous.
Photo 8: These primary twigs are emerging from lateral buds below the previous year’s dead infructescence, thus broadening the branch. Brown leaves and brown infructescence resulted from especially cold weather. Photo – February 10.Photo 9: Oblong to oblanceolate leaves are in opposite decussate pairs. Glandular dots are more noticeable on the abaxial leaf surface. Leaf margins are narrowly recurved. Midribs are well defined. Photo – July 8.Photo 10: Shrubs are evergreen to tardily deciduous. Photo – December 22.
The inflorescence, present July into August, mostly consists of 3-flower-clusters with a central flower and a pair of lateral, axillary flowers. All 3 flowers are terminal on a primary or secondary twig with the lateral flowers subtended by the uppermost leaf pair (see Photo 14). Alternatively, a central flower may occur with the uppermost leaf pair subtending twigs (see Photo 15). With 3-flower clusters, the central flower blooms first and both lateral flowers bloom simultaneously shortly thereafter. Lower on a twig, only one leaf of a leaf pair may subtend a flower. Flowers are held erect on short (to ⅜-inch), thread-like pedicels (flower stalks). Flowers are at anthesis for one day. During the flowering period, flowers are loosely scattered across a plant.
Photo 11: Arrangement of flower petals is the basis for the common name. Scattered flowers bloom across plants. Flowers bloom for one day. Photo – June 15.
A matched pair of broad, spade-shaped sepals are lightly pressed together through the entire bud-to-fruit cycle. The green sepals are sessile, thick and flat. Mature sepals, about 5/16 inch long and ¼ inch wide, are all about the same size and are more prominent than the relatively fine leaves. A matched pair of tiny lanceolate floral bracts (1/16 inch by 1/32 inch), with a broadened base, occur on the pedicel near the sepals. In bud, the folded petals have an elongate-conic shape with only bud-tip showing the day before anthesis. Sepals and pedicels are ascending. Floral bracts are also the same green color as leaves. The smooth sepal margins may be reddish. The paired floral bracts are decussate to the uppermost leaf pair and to the sepal pair.
Photo 12: Flowers often occur 3-flower clusters. The two clusters at far-upper-right have a central flower that is past anthesis while tips of 2 lateral flowers are visible alongside. Photo – July 5.Photo 13: A sepal has been removed (placed at lower right) to expose petals in bud. Leaves may be bluish green (as shown). Margins of sepals may be reddish. Photo – July 11.Photo 14: A 3-flower cluster is shown on right – all 3 flowers terminal on the twig. Floral bracts can be seen on the pedicels in right cluster. Photo – July 8.
The 4-petal flowers have to 30+ stamens (filaments + anthers) evenly encircling a prominent 2-locular, superior ovary. Stamens have wispy, greenish yellow filaments that are tipped with 2-lobed, knobby yellow anthers producing yellow pollen. The elongate-conic ovary, at anthesis, is about 3/16 inch tall and < ⅛ inch wide with a narrowed base. Tips of the yellowish green ovaries consist of a partly fused pair of very short, conic pistils (style + stigma). The rather flimsy, irregularly shaped petals are oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate with rounded apices that may have an off-set pointed tip. With petals in an x-configuration, sepals are positioned between the pair of petals that are closer together (see Photo 12).
Photo 15: This flower (⅞-inch wide) terminates a twig with the uppermost leaf pair subtending lateral twigs. The 2- locular, superior ovary is tipped by a fused pair of very short styles/stigmas. Photo – June 24.
Fertilized ovaries develop into thick, flattened capsules that remain held between the sepals. Dry capsules are about ⅜ inch long and ¼ inch wide. Capsules dehisce across remnants of the style/stigma and half-way down the capsule’s side-margins. At maturity, the numerous black seed, with low-gloss and finely roughened, are cylindric-oblong with rounded ends. The erect capsules and sepals persist into the next growth-year and often still contain seeds. Seeds (< 1/16 inch long) are probably dispersed by strong wind, surface run-off and small mammals.
Photo 16: Maturing seed capsule on left is partially hidden by sepals. On right, a sepal has been removed to expose a flattened capsule with wispy stamens persisting. Squares = ¼ inch. Photo – March 12.Photo 17: These seed capsules, still containing seeds, have been separated from the sepal pairs. Capsules dehisce across remnants of the style/stigma. The black, cylindric-oblong seeds have rounded ends. Squares = ¼ inch. Photo – January 26.
St. Andrew’s-cross is adaptable to a sunny to partially sunny home garden with sandy to rocky soils. Its fine foliage, interesting flowers and frequent upper branching would contrast well with larger-leaved native plants when in uncrowded spaces. It is especially well-suited for rock gardens. Older plants tend to become leggy to scraggly and may need pruning. Best natural germination seems to be in areas with exposed rocky soil. A larger, shrubby species of the genus is Shrubby St. John’s-wort which is well-suited for various garden styles.
Nineteen additional species of Hypericum are known to occur in Arkansas most of which have yellow flowers. The St. Andrew’s-cross discussed above is technically Hypericum hypericoides subsp. hypericoides. Another subspecies of St. Andrew’s-cross [Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule (aka Hypericum stragulatum)] also occurs in Arkansas. It is a low-growing, basally much-branched, mat-forming plant to 10 inches tall with slightly woody branches and wider leaves.
Photo 18:Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule is a low-growing, mat-forming shrub to 10 inches tall. Photo – May 26.Photo 19:Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule on left and Hypericum hypericoides subsp. hypericoides on right. Leaves of Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule are larger and wider.
Original name of this species, assigned by Linnaeaus, was Ascyrum hypericoides meaning “Ascyrum resembling hypericum”. When Ascyrum hypericoides was moved to the Hypericum genus, based on procedural rules, name became Hypericum hypericoides meaning “Hypericum resembling hypericum”.
Rough Coneflower (Rudbeckia grandiflora var. grandiflora*) of the Aster (Asteraceae) family is an upright herbaceous perennial with multiple slender stems bearing yellow composite flowers. Genus name honors “Olof Rudbeck the Younger”, a Swedish botanist. Specific epithet is derived from Latin words for “big” and “flower”. Principal area of occurrence for the species is eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, western Louisiana and portions of Arkansas. In Arkansas, species occurrence is statewide except for the northern Ozark Plateaus and northern Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Occurrence of subject variety in Arkansas is primarily in the Arkansas Valley, Ouachita Mountains and western West Gulf Coastal Plain. Preferred habitats are mesic to dry soils of sunny prairies and open woodlands. Mature plants have a woody root-crown with numerous thin, ropy and fibrous roots. Previous year’s dead stems persist well into the new growth-year. Also known as Large Flower Coneflower.
Crowded clusters of basal leaves form a leafy mound across the root-crown. At maturity, the medium green basal leaves are to 13 inches long (including an 8-inch petiole) and 2½ inches wide. Blades are elliptic to ovate with a gradual taper from mid-leaf to an acute apex and a shorter taper from mid-leaf to a wedge-shaped (cuneate), fluted base. The fluted base continues as a central groove onto and along the petiole (stalk of leaf). Upper two-thirds of leaf margins (larger leaves) have forward-pointing (antrorse), shallow-serrate teeth. Primary veins consist of the midrib and a pair of secondary veins originating from the petiole and extending to leaf apex. Additionally, an out-board pair of secondary veins originates from near the base of the in-board pair of secondary veins. Secondary veins are arcuate as they parallel side margins toward leaf apex. Primary veins on the upper surface of the leaf are slightly recessed while primary veins on the underside of the leaf are prominently expressed and a slightly lighter green. Both sides of blades have short, stiff pubescence with longer hairs along primary veins of the abaxial side. Petioles also have dense pubescence, but the central groove is mostly hair-free.
Photo 1: New basal leaves develop in late fall. White petioles were protected in the duff layer. Previous year’s dead stems are persistent. Photo – December 2.Photo 2: Small clusters of basal leaves form a leafy mound across the root-crown. Leaves are medium green on both sides. Photo – March 15.Photo 3: Basal leaves have acute apices and fluted, wedge-shaped bases. The 2 leaves on right are positioned to show their abaxial sides. Left leaf is 12 inches long (including a 7½-inch petiole) and 2.0 inches wide. Photo – June 14.Photo 4: Basal leaves have shallow-serrate marginal teeth. Stiff pubescence is present on both sides with longer hairs along primary veins on abaxial side. Photo – June 14.Photo 5: Midrib (white #1) and a pair of secondary veins (white #2s) originate at the petiole. An out-board pair of secondary veins originates from the base of the in-board pair of secondary veins. Photo – June 13.
As a stem emerges from the rootstock, its leaves (cauline leaves) extend above the growing stem-tip. The medium green stems have widely spaced, medium green, alternate, ascending leaves. The long-petiolate lower cauline leaves are elliptic with acuminate apices and fluted bases similar to those of basal leaves. Lower cauline leaves transition to smaller lanceolate leaves on shortening petioles and, near the flowerhead, to linear leaves that are sessile (without stalks). Lower cauline leaves grow to 12 inches long and 3 inches wide; size decreases distally as leaves become more linear. Upper one to several leaves may subtend an axillary branch which, as with the stem, terminates with a single flowerhead on a long peduncle (stalk of the flower). Margins of the smaller distal leaves are slightly wavy to entire. Mature stems (to 4 feet tall) are slender, erect and terete with closely spaced, longitudinal ridges bearing spreading (90⁰ to stem) stiff hairs proximally and strigose (stiff and appressed) hairs distally. Previous year’s dead stems are persistent (see Photo 1).
Photo 6: As stems emerge from among the basal leaves, cauline leaves (yellow arrows) extend above tip of the growing stem (red arrows). Dry plant at lower right is Violet Blue Eyed Mary. Photo – May 5.Photo 7: Stem leaves (yellow arrows) extend above the tip of the growing stem (red arrow). As shown, similar-appearing basal and lower cauline leaves are intermixed. Photo – May 18.Photo 8: This display shows all leaves that were along a single stem. Arranged, left to right, from stem-base to peduncle-base. Left leaf is 10¾ inches long (including 6-inch petiole) and 2 inches wide. Photo – June 15.
The June into July inflorescence consists of single composite flowerheads (to 5 inches wide) at the ends of straight, erect stems and branches. Flowerheads have 1) ray florets with elongate ligules (aka laminae) attached to an infertile ovary, 2) conic receptacles covered with tubular disk florets and 3) a flat-bottomed involucre of closely spaced, spreading, green phyllaries in several overlapping series (see Photo 13). The lanceolate phyllaries, to ¼ inch long and 1/16 inch wide at their broadened base, are glabrous on the inner side with dense strigose pubescence on the outer side, extending onto the peduncle. The central disk is covered with hundreds of tightly packed perfect (having stamens and pistils) disk florets.
Photo 9: Peduncles extend from above the uppermost cauline leaf (see arrows) to the flowerhead. These 2 peduncles have a single leaf-like bract just below the flowerhead. Pubescence of upper stems/branches is ascending and appressed*. Photo – May 12.Photo 10: At this stage, green ligules extend above the central disk. Phyllaries are glabrous on their inner side and densely pubescent on their outer side. Photo – May 27.
At anthesis, flowerheads are composed of 12-18+ bright yellow, infertile (lacking stamens with an infertile ovary) ray florets in a single series surrounding a central reddish brown central disk. Early in flowering, ligules are in longitudinal rolls. At anthesis, ligules (to 2+ inches long and ½+ inch wide) are reflexed to drooping. The oblanceolate ligules have a rounded apex with a small notch (retuse apex) and a constricted base attached directly to an infertile ovary. Ligules are glabrous adaxially and have short fine (puberulent) pubescence abaxially.
Photo 11: Ligules, initially rolled longitudinally, have a retuse apex. Pubescence on outer side of ligules can be seen. Photo – June 5.Photo 12: Flowerheads displayed to show an adaxial side (left) and an abaxial side (right). Left flowerhead is 4⅛ inches wide with a ¾ inch wide disk. Photo – June 5.Photo 13: A single leaf-like bract can be seen on a segment of the peduncle. Involucre is composed of several series of overlapping phyllaries. Lower surface of phyllaries has dense strigose pubescence. Photo June 16.
The tightly packed disk florets, with 4 stubby floral lobes covering the throat before anthesis, are aligned in spirals from disk-apex to disk-base. Florets reach anthesis in sequential “bands” from disk base to its apex. Floral lobes recurve to open the throat. Receptive disk florets, about ⅛-inch long and 1/16 inch wide, have a purplish red exposed portion and a whitish green hidden portion. Florets are subtended by lanceolate, sharp tipped, white to green floral bracts (called paleae or chaff) that are folded lengthwise. Florets, have 5 stamens (filaments + anthers) and a pistil (ovary + style + stigma). The elongate, connate anthers become exserted as a ring above the corolla. Yellow pollen is released within the ring and pushed to the outside by the emerging reddish purplish style/stigma. Anthers shrink as the stigma divides (bifurcates) to expose an opposite pair of narrow-elongate stigmatic arms. The opposite arms recurve sharply to the point that their tips touch the style.
Photo 14: Disk florets, aligned in spirals down from disk apex, are closed by four short-triangular lobes. Anther rings become exserted above the corolla where pollen becomes accessible to pollinating insects. Photo – June 13.Photo 15: Florets reach anthesis in sequential “bands” from the disk base. Peduncles are straight and erect. Large-leaf plant in background is Ozark Sunflower. Photo – June 17.Photo 16: Display shows: a) upper side of a ray floret, b) lower side of a ray floret with infertile ovary, c) fertile disk florets, d) a subtending palea which is often called chaff, and e) phyllaries of the involucre. Photo – June 16.Photo 17: This composite flowerhead is split to show: 1) conic receptacle, 2) ray floret with an infertile ovary and 3) disk florets ranging from pre-anthesis to post-fertilization. Anthers rings, divided stigmas and paleae (chaff) can be seen, along with apical hairs on paleae. Photo – June 16.
When all disk florets have passed anthesis, ray florets drop-off and the central disk become brown. Fertilized ovaries of disk florets produce ⅛-long dark gray, 4-sided, narrow-conic achenes (aka cypselae in Aster family) with a truncated top. Paleae persist while achenes drop-off.
Photo 18: Ray florets drop-off after all disk florets have passed anthesis; central disk becoming brown. Peduncles remain erect as seedheads mature. Photo – July 30.Photo 19: Disk florets (red arrow), achenes (orange arrow) and paleae (green arrow) have been separated from the dried receptacle. Squares = ¼ inch. Photo – August 8.
Rough Coneflower may be a good choice for a naturalized area, prairie-like setting or as a specimen plant in a larger cottage garden. Plants do well in mostly sunny sites with various well-drained soil types. The perennial has slender, erect stems and branches with widely spaced leaves that are small distally so that showy flowerheads are well-exposed. Plants provide pollen to insects and seed for birds and small mammals. For smaller gardens, developing seedheads may need to be removed to prevent an overabundance of plants. Foliage is eaten by deer and rabbits.
Photo 20: A specimen plant in a naturalized area. Cauline leaves are widely spaced on the long stems and branches so that flowers are well-exposed. Photo – June 3.
Eight additional species of Rubeckcia occur in Arkansas – all with yellow composite flowerheads. Rough Coneflower can be distinguished by having 1) long erect stems and branches, 2) simple basal and lower cauline leaves with long petioles, 3) terminal flowerheads with recurved to drooping all-yellow ligules and 4) conic receptacles with widths that are about ⅓ the receptacles’ height.
Two varieties of Rudbeckia grandiflora have been classified based largely on differences in stem pubescence. Stems of the R. grandiflora var. grandiflora has hairy stems on which hairs are spreading proximally and ascending distally. Stems of R. grandiflora var. alismifolia are glabrous or sparsely hairy proximally and hairy distally. Hairs of R. grandiflora var. alismifolia are ascending and half as long as those of R. grandiflora var. grandiflora.
Article and photographs by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa) of the Pea (Fabaceae) family is a shrub-like, herbaceous perennial with bright yellow pea-type flowers. Genus name is derived from Greek for “to dye” (bapto), based on another member of the genus (Indigofera tinctoria) used to produce a blue dye. Specific epithet is derived from Greek words to denote the plant’s round (spherical) fruit. Native to central US, principal area of occurrence includes southeast and northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, southwest and northwest Louisiana, coastal Mississippi and portions of Arkansas. In Arkansas, area of occurrence includes Arkansas Valley, Ouachita Mountains and far-northwest Ozark Plateaus. Other common names include Yellow False Indigo, Yellow Wisteria and Bush Pea. Preferred habitats are sunny sites with wet to dry, sandy to clayey soils of prairies, roadsides and woodland borders.
A gnarly root-crown is supported by a network of wide-spreading and descending tough, yellowish, ropy roots along with fibrous roots. The terete ropy roots have a strippable epidermal layer and a smooth white, tough core. Being a legume, the plant “fixes” nitrogen from the air into nodules on its roots with the aid of bacteria.
Photo 1: Rootstock has a gnarly crown and wide-spreading and descending, tough ropy and fibrous roots. Nitrogen “fixing” nodules can be seen on fibrous roots at left. Photo – April 27.
Mature plants, 3+ feet tall with an equal width, have closely spaced, erect to spreading stems from the central root crown. The number of stems and plant width increase year-to-year while the plant retains a compact, broadly rounded shape – especially in sunny sites. Yellowish green stems, with well-spaced axillary branches and secondary branches, both set at 45⁰, have fine longitudinal ridges of equal size and spacing. Stems and branches, also with strippable epidermal layer and a very tough white core, are glabrous (lacking hairs).
Photo 2: These young plants, in a prairie-like setting, have simple leaves with pinnate venation. Plants grow best in full sun. Photo – April 13.Photo 3: Number of closely spaced stems of the herbaceous plant increases year-to-year while retaining a compact shape. Photo – April-13.
New stems, appearing in March, are pubescent, but become glabrous as they grow. Bases of stems, early in their growth, are protected by several elongate reddish, alternate bracts. These lowermost bracts are initially tightly clasping, but spread as stem girth increases. With lengthening of stems, a few clasping bracts above the lowermost ones may be divided at their apices into sharp points with a leaf between. Such leaves have their petiole (stalk of leaf) embedded into a bract’s fabric. Diameter of stems/branches decreases slightly at each more-distal node. Stems, branches and petioles are yellow-green. Bracts are early-deciduous.
Photo 4: Early in growth, bases of stems are protected by elongate, reddish, early-deciduous bracts. Leaf pubescence is lost with plant growth. Photo – March 22.Photo 5: With increasing girth of stems, basal clasping bracts spread away from the stem. Bracts above the lowermost few bracts may end with a leaf (see arrow). Photo – March 11.Photo 6: Lower bracts may incorporate the petiole of a leaf. White arrow indicates stem-node. Red arrow indicates a sharp point of the divided bract-apices. Yellow arrow indicates an embedded petiole – leaf extending off photo. Photo – May 13.
Above the clasping bracts, compound leaves have a petiole with a broadened base that fades into the node of the stem/branch. A pair of lateral, early-deciduous bracts (stipules) occurs on the petiole (larger leaves) or on the node (smaller leaves). Stipules, becoming increasingly small distally, are early deciduous. Petiole lengths, decreasing distally, range from ⅛-inch to sessile.
Photo 7: Above the clasping bracts, this node bears a short-petiolate compound leaf and a pair of lanceolate stipules (one shown) on the node. (Enlarged portion of Photo 5.) Photo – March 11.Photo 8: Stipules are early-deciduous and increasingly small distally. Red arrow indicates a stipule scar where the petiole fades into the node. Yellow arrow indicates a still-present but drying stipule on the node. Photo – April 29.
First leaves are green and pubescent (see Photo 5), but become glabrous with age. Later leaves are a dull grey-green on adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) surfaces and may have minute, downy pubescence before also becoming glabrous. In sunny sites, tripartite compound leaves (having 3 leaflets) extend to ends of branches with an isolated 2-leaflet-leaf in between. In less sunny sites, 2-leaflet-leaves and simple leaves occur. Floral stalks may terminate some stems/branches while other stems/branches are vegetative and terminate with a single leaf.
In regards to tripartite compound leaves, the symmetrical central leaflet (to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide) tends to be somewhat broader and slightly longer than the similarly sized, slightly asymmetrical lateral leaflets. Leaflets are mostly elliptic with a rounded, slightly notched apex (emarginate apex), and a wedge-shaped (cuneate) base. Leaflets have smooth upper and lower surfaces and uncut (entire) margins may be narrowly revolute (downturned). Pinnate veins, mostly the same grey-green as blade fabric, are obscure on the upper surface and slightly expressed on the lower surface. Equally spaced secondary veins are arcuate toward apices. Leaflets are on petiolules (stalks of leaflets), about 1/16 inch long, that join at a common point atop the stubby petiole or at the node (sessile leaf).
Photo 9: Vegetative stems and branches terminate with a leaf. Young leaves may have minute downy pubescence but pubescence is lost as leaves mature. Increasingly small stipules are not noticeable distally. Leaf margins may be narrowly revolute. Photo – April 29.Photo 10: Leaves typically have 3 elliptic leaflets but 2-leaflet and simple leaves occur; especially in less sunny areas. Leaf at lower left has spatulate leaflets. Upper-left leaf positioned to show abaxial side with more noticeable venation. Photo – May 2.Photo 11: Adaxial surface of this mature leaf is smooth and glabrous with impressed (slightly recessed) venation that is mostly noticeable due to color variations. Photo – May 23.Photo 12: Abaxial of the same leaf is also smooth and glabrous with prominently expressed midveins and weakly expressed secondary veins. Network of tertiary veins form a mosaic pattern. Photo – May 23.
The inflorescence is positioned above the foliage; however, with branch-growth, the infructescence becomes somewhat hidden. Elongate-pointed flower buds, subtended by a single early-deciduous bract, are enclosed by a bluish calyx that becomes green as the corolla emerges. Pea-type flowers reach anthesis in late April into May on erect racemes that terminate floral stalks. Individual flowers are on a short stalk (pedicel). A typical floral stalk, same yellow-green as stems and branches, have a 1-2-inch-long leafless base and an 8-10-inch long rachis bearing to 24+ flowers. Flowering, more profuse in sunnier sites, proceeds up-raceme with most flowers at anthesis at the same time. A mature plant may have dozens of racemes equally spread across the round-topped, somewhat squat shrubs.
Photo 13: Buds are enclosed by bluish calyxes that become green as the corolla emerges. An early-deciduous bract remains on the uppermost bud. Photo – April 13.Photo 14: Flowering racemes are well exposed to pollinated insects that are attracted by the profusion of flowers. Subsequent branch growth causes the infructescence to be somewhat hidden by foliage. Photo – May 2Photo 15: Flowers, on short pedicels, bloom from raceme base to apex with most flowers in bloom at the same time. The floral stalk with the raceme is 12½ inches long. Photo – April 27.
Flowers have an upright, broadly flared upper petal (banner or standard), a pair of forward-projecting lateral petals (wings) and a central, forward-projecting pair of partially connate petals (keel). The tightly composed flowers are about 1 inch long, from calyx base to keel tip, and ½ inch wide across banner front. Jointed pedicels (stalk of a single flower) are to about ¼ inch long. The entire corolla is the same bright yellow except for a band of purplish freckles across the midsection of banner. The banner (viewed from front) has a thickened, recessed, central channel (fits against projecting keel) and a notched apex. The pair of free-standing, elongate-ovate wing petals project forward and outward from the prominent keel. Keel, a pair of petals weakly connate along their lower side, is open along its apex and along its upper edge (for insect access). Wing and keel petals are attached to the floral cup (hypanthium) by a single narrow, basal fabric strips (claw). Wing petals, near there broad base, have a bean-shaped raised area on their inner sides that fits against an indention on the outside of the keel.
Photo 16: A band of purplish freckles is spread along center of banner. Wing petals have a bean-shaped raised area on their inner sides that fits into an indention on the outer side of the keel (see arrows). Photo – May 3.
Flowers have 10 stamens (filaments + anthers) encircling a pistil (ovary + style + stigma) set in a bell-shaped (campanulate) calyx. The ⅜-inch long calyx, formed by fused sepals, has 4 triangular, sharply pointed ⅛-inch lobes – one below the keel, 2 at the wings and a larger one above the banner. The pale greenish yellow filaments are tipped with bright yellow, oblong, upright anthers. The green pistil consists of an elongate ovary on a short stalk (floral axis) topped with a distally up-arched, smoothly tapering, slender style ending with a tiny pointed stigma. The slender stamens, aligned with the pistil, position anthers around and just below the stigma which may be exserted beyond the keel.
Photo 17: Pedicels are jointed (see arrow). Stigma of lower-center flower is exserted beyond the keel. The larger, upper calyx lobe of two flowers can be seen to right of arrow. A Southern Cloudy Wing (Thorybes bathylus) collects nectar. Photo – May 13.Photo 18: Flowers have 10 stamens, a stalked pistil and a 4-lobed calyx. Wings and keel petals have a single narrow, basal fabric strip (claw) that attaches to the floral cup. Photo – May 3.
Fertilized ovaries develop into thick-walled spherical capsules with persistent styles and calyxes. Initially yellow green, capsules become medium brown with maturity as stems deteriorate in early fall. Capsules (to ¾-inch in diameter) have an encircling suture, extending from the pedicel and through the style. The placenta, along and to both sides of the upper suture, bears ovules/seeds on short stalks (funicles). Developing seed, tightly arranged side-by-side, extend down from the capsule’s upper side into the void below. Capsules become elevated above the calyx on slender, ⅜-inch-long floral axes. A mature capsule may contain 6-14 seed.
Photo 19: Spherical fruits are in racemes on leafless floral stalks above axillary branches. This floral stalk and raceme is 8 inches long. Note 2-leaflet leaf. Top of branch removed. Photo – May 23.Photo 20: This 5/8-inch spherical fruit has been divided along its sutures. Ovules, on funicles, attach to placentas along the upper suture. Floral axis elevates the ovary/capsules above calyx. Photo – May 23.
Ovate seeds are bean-like with a protruding end where the funicle attached seed to the placenta leaving a scar (hilum) on the seed. The flattened seeds, shrinking as they dry, are ⅛+ long and about 1/16 inch wide. Seeds, with dimpled sides, are lightly textured and yellow-brown. The thick-walled, dry capsule slowly divides along the entire suture with seeds gradually dropping out as capsules persist into winter. Dead stems break-off at the ground and may be blown-about by wind as remaining seeds are dispersed. Capsules remain attached to dead stems as stems and capsules decay.
Photo 21: Developing seed fill the void-space before shrinking as seeds mature. This capsule has 15 ovules/seed. Photo – May 23.Photo 22: Dry capsules remain attached to the rachis after calyxes and styles have decayed. Capsules open slightly along encircling sutures while remaining attached to the rachis. Photo – September 6.Photo 23: Flattened, bean-shaped seed have a protruding end where the funicle was attached. The viable seeds shown here are 3/16-inch x 2/16-inch. Photo – September 6.
Yellow Wild Indigo would be attractive as a specimen plant or in a group in various mesic to wet, sunny gardens where space is available for long-term growth. Also, appropriate in a prairie setting. Plants in less sunny sites tend to be more open and may not flower. Persistent seed capsules are attractive on dead stems from fall into winter at which time stems break off at the ground. Spring-time emergence of new stems is interesting while color and texture of later foliage of the sturdy plants add color and texture. While the showy bright yellow flowers provide nectar for a variety of large bees and butterflies, plants also serve as host plant for skippers, cloudy wings and elfins. In a sunny untended space, a colony of seeded plants can develop overtime. The deer resistant plants, with wide-spreading roots, survive dry years. Dead stems with capsules are suitable for dry arrangements.
Photo 24: Plants are host plants for caterpillars, including this 1-inch-long Genista Broom Moth (Uresiphita reversalis). In midsummer, caterpillars may feed destructively on Wild Indigos to the point that all leaves are eaten. Photo – May 23.
Other Wild Indigos in Arkansas: White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla), Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis var. minor), Cream Wild Indigo (Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea) and Nuttall’s Wild Indigo (Baptisia nuttalliana). All are herbaceous perennials with mostly tripartite compound leaves. In regard to growth habit, Yellow Wild Indigo is most similar to Nuttall’s Wild Indigo. Yellow Wild Indigo, when in bloom and fruit, can be distinguished from all other species by its erect racemes of bright yellow flowers and brown spherical seed capsules. Of the other indigos, only Nuttall’s Wild Indigo has axillary flowers – whitish flowers.
Article and photographs by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
Texas Toadflax or Blue Toadflax (Nuttallanthus texanus*) of the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae) is an annual forb with vegetative basal stems and floral stems terminating with a raceme of light blue to lavender flowers. The genus combines the name of British naturalist Thomas Nuttall (1786–1859) with the Greek word for flower. Specific epithet notes that the species was first described as a distinct species based on specimens from Texas. In the US, it occurs from Washington State to southern California and from Arizona to the East Coast along with eastern Colorado and eastern Nebraska. The more concentrated area of occurrence extends from the southernmost tip of Texas to central Kansas, across to the Mississippi River, southward along the River to the Gulf Coast and continuing along the Coast back to Texas. In Arkansas, it occurs statewide. Habitats are widely variable across its total range with habitats in Arkansas including well-drained to upland prairies, upland open woods and disturbed areas with sandy to rocky soils with full sunlight. Plants, from 4 to 20+ inches tall, have white tap roots supported by white fibrous roots.
Photo 1: Plants have white taproots and white fibrous roots. Taproot of plant at left diverted by rocky soils. Photo – April 11.
In midwinter, basal vegetative stems extend radially from the root-crown in mat-like fashion. Growing ascending tips of these prostrate stems, when viewed “head-on”, have rosettes of tightly spaced developing leaves. The leafy stems, from 1-6 inches long at maturity, generally lack axillary buds. The medium green stems with purplish bases (sunny sites) are terete and usually glabrous. Leaves are in whorls of 3 for most of the stem’s length with upper leaves being helically alternate. Leaves of lowermost whorls are ovate to spatulate while upper leaves are linear; decreasing in size distally. Largest linear leaves, about mid-stem, are to ¾ inch long and ⅛ inch wide. As flowering progresses, vegetative stems disappear.
Photo 2: Basal vegetative stems appear in midwinter. Growing tips have rosettes of developing leaves. Photo – February 20.Photo 3: Vegetative stems remain prostrate with ascending tips so that the leafy stems of these several plants are mat-like. Photo – March 3.
In late winter, one to several floral stems emerge from the root crown. Arrangement of its linear leaves, from stem base to the terminal inflorescence, is mostly alternate with lowermost leaves in askew whorls of 3-4 leaves. Axillary buds of less robust plants may remain dormant so that mature plants may only have a single unbranched floral stem. For robust plants, some to all buds along lower portion of stem develop into short vegetative branches while buds along the upper portion develop into floral branches somewhat smaller than that of the main stem. Length of the ascending axillary branches (vegetative and floral) increases distally with lowermost vegetative ones as short as ⅛ inch and uppermost floral ones to 10+ inches. Leaves that subtend branches, to 1⅜ inches long and ⅛ inch wide, are significantly larger than those of the branch. Leaf spacing increases distally as leaf size decreases. Leaves of floral stems are persistent through the flowering phase. The medium green stems, with stems of robust plants having purplish bases, are terete and glabrous.
Photo 4: With warming temperatures, apical growth of vegetative stems ceases as floral stems appear. Photo – March 26.Photo 5: Longest vegetative stem of this mature plant is 5½ inches. Floral stems grow from the center of the root crown. Lower portion of the green stems become purplish in sunny areas. Photo – April 18.Photo 6: The floral stem has whorled to helically alternate leaves subtending short axillary vegetative branches. This 4-inch-long vegetative stem, lower right, has an atypical branch. Photo – April 2.Photo 7: Robust plants often have erect axillary floral branches along the stem’s upper portion. Entire stem length was 28½ inches; lower portion not shown. Photo – April 11.
The simple, entire (uncut margins) leaves of vegetative and floral stems emerge directly from the epidermis without subtending bracts or stipules. Leaves have near parallel sides, tapered apexes with acute tips and tapered sessile bases. Leaves of both stem types have the same characteristics. They are medium green, thickened and glabrous (without hairs) with a smooth, waxy appearance when young – thinning with age. Veins are not visible except for a slightly depressed upper midrib and a raised lower midvein. Leaves, slightly up-folded along midribs, are oriented along the stem’s rachis. Ratio of the leaves’ length to width remains consistent regardless of leaf size.
Photo 8: Lower leaves are in whorls of three. Most leaves are linear with acute tips and tapered sessile bases. Lowest leaves of vegetative stems (right) are ovate to spatulate. Same stems are also shown in Photo 6. Photo – April 2.
Texas toadflax flowers from late March into May. The flowers are in narrow, erect racemes 1-8+ inches long. Racemes, with flowers in a helically alternate pattern, are above an extended (3+ inches) leafless stem segment. The 6-25+ total flowers of a raceme, blooming sequentially in clusters of 2-8, are on short (⅛ inch at flowering) pedicels. Lengthening of the raceme continues throughout the blooming period, especially below the flower cluster, so that blooming flowers remain near the raceme’s apex. Flowers that are erect when in bud, become down-trending with the “heavy” flower and reorient to an upright position as fruit capsules develop with strengthening of the pedicel. Pedicels are subtended by a green, stubby, cupped, pedicel-hugging lanceolate bract to 1/16 inch long and of miniscule width. Individual flowers may remain in bloom for up to 4 days.
Photo 9: A compact cluster of buds rises above a ¾-inch leafless stem segment. Stems continue to grow during flowering and fruiting. Photo – March 29.Photo 10: As the stem lengthens, the cluster of blooming flowers remains near the top of the raceme. This raceme, including buds, is 4 inches long. Photo – April 4.
The glabrous, green calyx has a very short, cup-like base with 4 relatively long, clasping lobes and a 5th lobe, at top of calyx, that is smaller. Lobes, making-up most of the calyx’s length, are lanceolate with translucent margins. The two lobes at the bottom of calyx do not connect across the calyx’s base. Calyxes more than double in size from the inflorescence to the infructescence stages (to ⅛ inch long and 1/16+ wide) and pedicels lengthen to ¼ inch with a thread-like width. Calyx lobes are very slightly longer than the ovary (developing fruit capsule).
Photo 11: Pair of calyx lobes at flower-base do not connect. Pedicel-hugging, cup-shaped lanceolate bracts subtend pedicels. Orientation of calyxes changes from upright with flower buds, down-trending with flowers and upright with fruit. Photo – April 17.Photo 12: Blooming flowers remain near the raceme’s apex. Flower buds and drying fruit capsules are present at the same time. Flowers/capsules are helically alternate. Photo – April 17.
The irregular flowers are two-lipped (bilabiate) with an upper lip 1/4th the size of lower lip. Flowers, made of thin fabric, are about ½ inch wide across the lower lip and 1 inch long, including a ½ inch spur. Lips merge into an odd-shaped tube within the calyx. Lips and a backward spur are pale-blue to lavender with veins of lips sometimes darker (see Photo 11). The nectar-holding spur, extending well beyond the calyx, is smoothly down-turned to straight. Upper lip has 2 squarish, erect to back-flared lobes and a small hood covering the throat and sheltering anthers. Lower lip has a broad, arched, spreading, central platform that divides into 3 broad lobes with broadly rounded margins and a shallow, apical rounded notch. Central lobe is up-flexed across its lower portion. The shorter and wider lateral lobes droop slightly. Arched platform of the lower lip has a depressed zone extending from the throat with bulges to either side. Opening to the throat is closed due to 1) the hooded upper lip, 2) close-contact of lips across throat and 3) near-throat pubescence on the lower lip. Corolla tube, whitish within the calyx, has a protruding “extension” on its upper side where calyx unites with tube. Tube extends past the calyx by passing between the 2 calyx lobes that do not connect across calyx base – spur continuing backwards.
Photo 13: Flowers have a small upper lip with 2 erect lobes and a much larger lower lip with 3 broad, spreading lobes. Calyx with lobes is ⅛ inch long. Photo – April 15.Photo 14: Calyx clasps the irregular corolla tube by being attached to a protruding “extension” on the tube’s upper side. That portion of flower enclosed by the calyx is whitish. Photo – April 18.
Flowers have 4 stamens (filament + anther) and a pistil (ovary + style + stigma) that are well hidden within the corolla. Stamens, 2 pairs of unequal lengths, are attached at the base of the corolla tube. The pistil consists of a shiny-green ovary, a stubby style and a broadened white stigma. The oblong-ovoid ovary is 2-chambered with 2 locules of the same size. Style is white at its base and lavender towards top. Curving white filaments of the longer stamen pair, attached to the lower side of the lower lip at the tube, where the elongate yellow anthers are positioned face-to-face within the hood of the upper lip and beyond the stigma. Filaments of the shorter stamen pair, attached to the upper side of the tube at the tube, position anthers below the stigma. Pollen is yellow. Spent flowers drop-off cleanly, but the style/stigma persistent on the fruiting capsule.
Photo 15: Flowers have 4 stamens in 2 pairs. A longer pair extends beyond the calyx and positioned within a flange on the upper lip. Corolla tube at the spur (remnant shown) passes through the lower calyx where calyx lobes do not connect. Photo – April 2.Photo 16: With calyx and most of flower removed, 3 of 4 stamens and pistil can be seen. Upper portions of style and stigma are dusted with yellow pollen. Photo – April 19.Photo 17: As shown, pistil is well exposed. Two longer stamens, in ragged fashion, remain attached to the lower lobe. Two shorter stamens (not shown) are attached to the hidden side of upper lobe. Lanceolate calyx lobes have translucent margins. Photo – April 17.
Mature fruit capsules (ovaries), pedicels and the subtending bracts become light tan as the entire stem also becomes tan. The oblong-ovoid, thin-walled capsules shrink somewhat as they dry. Capsules have smooth, domed, apical covers which are divided into triangular teeth. With fruit maturity, 3-5 teeth per chamber dehisce and spread back against the calyx lobes. Capsules are ⅛ inch long and <⅛ wide. The upright capsules are tightly packed with stacks of seeds in both chambers that are internally separated by a black partition. The sharp-edged black seeds, 250± per capsule, are minutely rough (tuberculate). Style remains persistent as the seeds scatter. Seeds are dispersed by strong wind and rainfall run-off.
Photo 18: Fertilized ovaries develop into fruit capsules rimmed by the 5 calyx lobes. As capsules dehisce, capsule teeth spread back against the calyx lobes to open the 2 chambers at their tops. Styles remain persistent. Photo – April 19.Photo 19: The green stems and capsules become tan as the entire stem declines. The green capsules have rounded tops. Bracts subtending pedicels are persistent. Photo April 30.Photo 20: An enlargement of previous photo to show seed’s angularity and tuberculate surface. Photo – April 30.
Individual Texas Toadflax plants, from a close-up perspective, have interesting flowers and fruits. When seen in large numbers across a prairie-like setting on a windy day, its waves of blue can be enchanting. These large displays are more attractive to insects. It is the host plant to the Buckeye butterfly larva (Junonia coernia) and provides nectar for bumblebees and other long-tongue bees, butterflies and skippers. Texas Toadflax is a great addition to gardens and prairies that have sandy, dry to mesic soils and lots of sun. It is self-seeding.
Another species of the genus with limited occurrence in Arkansas is Sand Blue or Old Field Toadflax (N. canadensis). N. canadensis has the same growth habit, flower shape and flower color. Although seed capsules are about the same size, flowers of N. canadensis are a third the size of N. texanus and seeds of N. canadensis are smooth or only slightly roughened.
Synonym: Linaria canadensis var. texana
Article and photographs by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
