Category Archives: Purple
Know Your Natives – Hairy Blazing Star
Hairy blazing star (Liatris hirsuta*) of the Aster (Asteraceae) family has vibrant violet to lavender flowers, typical of many species in the genus. In the U.S., hairy blazing star is reported from Texas and northward to Nebraska and Iowa, with … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Heart-leaf Skullcap
Heart-leaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata*) of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family is one of 11 skullcaps** found in Arkansas that have blue to purple, two-lipped tubular flowers. Heart-leaf skullcap occurs from Texas and Minnesota east to the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, as … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Sensitive Brier
Sensitive brier (or briar) (Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii*) of the Bean (Fabaceae) family is a sprawling perennial legume that is covered with prickles. The genus name is from a Greek word for “mime” or “mimic,” in reference to leaves in some … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Violet Wood Sorrel
Violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea) of the Wood Sorrel (Oxalidaceae) family is a small bulb-plant that bears shamrock-style leaves. The genus name is based on a Greek word for “acid”, in reference to the plant’s pleasantly sour taste. The specific … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Wild Ginger
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense*) of the Dutchman’s-pipe (Aristolochiaceae) family is a low-growing woodland spring ephemeral. It occurs throughout the eastern U.S. from Louisiana and Oklahoma to North Dakota thence eastward to the Atlantic Coast, except Florida. In Arkansas, it occurs … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Rose Vervain
Rose vervain (Glandularia canadensis, formerly Verbena canadensis) of the Vervain (Verbenaceae) family is an herbaceous, low-growing plant with spikes of showy flowers. The genus name refers to glands found on many of the species. The specific epithet refers to the species’ … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Drummond’s Aster
Drummond’s aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii) of the Aster (Asteraceae) family is a herbaceous perennial with disk flowers that change color with age. Preferred habitats are partially sunny upland sites in open deciduous woodlands and woodland borders along streams and roads. This … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Palafoxia
Palafoxia (Palafoxia callosa) of the Asteraceae (Aster or Composite) family is a drought tolerant annual herb. The genus name recognizes José de Palafox y Melzi (1776–1847), a Spanish officer in the war against Napeoleon. The specific epithet is derived from … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – White Four-O’Clock
White four-o’clock (Mirabilis albida) of the Four-O’Clock (Nyctaginaceae) Family is an herbaceous perennial that blooms from evening into the next morning. The genus name is from a Latin word meaning “wonderful”. The specific epithet is from Latin for “whitish”*. Another … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Butterfly Pea
Butterfly Pea (Clitoria mariana) of the Pea/Bean (Fabaceae) family, the only species of the genus occurring in Arkansas, has large pea-shaped flowers. In the U.S., it occurs from New Mexico to Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, east to New York and … Continue reading
