ID Arkansas

Wild Garlic/ Field Garlic

2010-07-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

Sequence (I think)

(this is a recycle, posted from last year. It appears the Garlic were in their prime last of June, but a number are still visible in latter stages of bloom.)

Field Garlic

Allium vineale

Lily family (Liliaceae)

http://www.alabamaplants.com/Bluealt/Allium_vineale_page.html

Ihaveno earlthly idea

2010-06-19T07:42:00.000-05:00

Mimosa (Silk Tree)

2010-06-13T23:19:00.000-05:00

Mimosa Tree, information to be added

Catsclaw Sensitive Brier

2010-06-13T12:49:00.000-05:00

Cat's Claw Sensitive Brier

Mimosa nuttallii

Schrania nuttallii (alternate)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_nuttallii

http://www.springerlink.com/content/rk34773gx1075u68/

I was not surprised in the least to see this as part of the Mimosa genus (the filamental stamen, and leaf shape are very similar to the bloom of the Mimosa tree. What is surprising is that this bloom (a true "ball" by contrast to the Mimosa "fan") grows on a ground hugging pricker vine, much different than the big Mimosa tree.

Most Surprising, this really is a sensitive brier. While moving a sample of the vine to white card-stock (3rd image) the fronds all closed up. I had to wait some ten minutes for some of the fronds to re-open.

More later.

Trumpet Vine

2010-06-12T23:33:00.000-05:00

Trumpet Vine (Trumpet Creeper)

Campis radicans

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Campsis
Species: C. radicans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpet_vine

Lance Leaf Coreopsis (Adendum)

2010-06-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

5/17/2008

6/1/2008

Demise of the Lance Leaf Coreopsis

Propegation of the nex generation.

See below for original post

http://idarkansas.blogspot.com/2008/05/lance-leaf-coreopsis.html

Capture Arkansas

2010-05-19T08:18:00.001-05:00

I have enough Mags on here, that you really don't need anymore... but if you just can't get enough of this picture-grabbing standard, check out another Grandiflora gallery on my sister site "The Mighty Works Project" Or, better yet -- Vote on this -- an thousands and thousands of other images from the Natural State, now on display at Capture Arkansas. (And while I certainly won't mind your vote on my photos, there is so much addictive fun to be had there, you can spend hours, diging and nixing.

Southern Magnolia

2010-05-12T16:57:00.000-05:00

Recycle, all pics earlier years, but as of May 16, 2009 the blooms are coming on strong.

Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Species: M. grandiflora

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora

Magnolia grandiflora rightly deserves its name. With a bloom as big as a cantaloupe, or even a football, this flower is grand indeed.

I have a suspicion that the Southern Magnolia (an evergreen) is not a true Arkansas wild tree-- though they may grow apart from human effort in the far south. I have no concrete evidence, I've simply never encountered one in the wild.

As a northern boy, I'd never seen a Magnolia till I moved, age 12 to Tulsa Oklahoma. Both it, and the Mimosa tree with its fibrous bloom, astonished me.

Turns out plenty of others are astonished too. I bet the Southern Magnolia and Calla Lilly fall just behind the rose as floral photo subjects, with Magnolia being a favored black and white subject. Beyond that, it makes a fine subject for the nose, with just a hint of pine.

For some fine art samples see:

http://www.bsk-photo-graphs.com/magnolia.htm
http://www.pbase.com/bw/image/656552
http://www.pbase.com/bonita/magnolia

Ozark Magnolia

Spiderwort

2010-05-12T08:01:00.000-05:00

Spiderwort

Info to be added.

http://www.gpnc.org/spiderwo.htm

Spider Lily

2010-05-11T13:57:00.000-05:00

These are from last year at this time... and guess what. They are right on time. I took a few more pics of the same in the last days, and nice dress shoes are still stinking wet from wading into the bog to take them. I guess I should carry sneakers with me.
Spider Lily, or -- my name: "Gothic Bride"
Hymenocallis occidentalis or
Hymenocallis caroliniana
family: Liliaceae

All pics 5/12/2005 - in the empty field across from the Dave Ward Walmart in Conway, AR

Turns out there are several different flowers of quite different appearance (but belonging to the lily family) that claim the name "Spider lily" -- and this is one of them. Scientific name is either Hymenocallis occidentalis (see : http://www.briartech.com/summer/slily/slily.htm ) or Hymenocallis caroliniana (see: http://www.2bnthewild.com/plants/H22.htm ).

Concerning the name, the folks at 2-bn-the- wild write: Hymenocallis means "beautiful membrane" which refers to the the corona that connects the stalks of the stamens for a portion of their length. This is a large spectacular flower that is exciting to find unexpectedly.

I concur. First time I saw one I was so "startled" that I thought it must be fake. But it didn't feel like plastic... or even a regular flower. In keeping with its swampy nature, it felt kind of sticky and damp, like wilted cabbage.

This lily is built on a symmetry of six. Six Stamen, six petals, six corona sections.

Lance Leaf Coreopsis

2010-05-08T10:25:00.000-05:00

Repost, last year same time, and yup - the clock of the world is running on time, complet with washout rain.

Common: Lance Leaf Coreopsis

or Lance-leaf tickseed

Coreopsis Lanceolata

Family: Asteraceae

The family Asteraceae or Compositae (known as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family) is the largest family of flowering plants in terms of number of species (and are noted for complex centers, each containg many "micro" flowers)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteraceae

all Pics, May 6, 2008, Highway 64 just east of Conway, AR

Because of the "lancing" each Lance Leaf Coreopis appears to have many petals, however, each flower comes with only eight.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=COLA5

Red Clover (looks purple to me)

2010-05-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

(2009 Repost)

The same person who named the Redbud tree must have named Red Clover. As is, in the last month I got a number of hits to this site for folks looking for name of the really red clover that grows along our highways. They should know that that is Crimson clover, while this pale purple substitute, is "Red"

Honey suckle

2010-05-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

Recycle from 2008 (As of May 3, the patches are not as thick as the big-patch pictures, but are quickly headed that direction.)

It was with no small disappointment that I learned a few years back that the Honeysuckle is not regarded by many naturalists as a wonderful thing. At least not as it makes its home in more and more American woodlands.

As a kid I earned how to pull the pistil of the Honeysuckle out the back and trough the tube of the flower -- then touch a drop of watery nectar to my tongue. Wallah.. hidden honey.

Now I've learned that this plant (sometimes called Japanese Honeysuckle or by the Latin name "Lonicera japonica" is of Asian origin and has few natural predators. If left unchecked, it can choke out native species.

For more info:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/resources/mgtplans/invasives.htm

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/loja1.htm

Yellow Honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) (native varitey)

Privet (Wild Prvet, Privet Hedge)

2010-05-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

"Wild" Privet

Ligustrum (ovalifolium)?

Family: Oleaceae

Recycle from 2008 (As of May 2nd, not all the the bushes are this advanced, but they are coming on full force, and folks will want to know what they are.)

Look anywhere around Arkansas, and you are bound to see Privet as part of our highway underbrush. For the most part Privet is "invisible" till it blooms in May then shows us just how much of it there is. For those of us who love its fragrance, Privet is a wonderful thing. (Some folks find them too fragrant. Oddly, They seem most potent at night when you can't see them.)

Privet is a European or Asian transplant, and invasive. But it isn't only found on the roadside. With a little pruning Privet can be "made" a tree, or more commonly, a hedge.
For unwild uses see: http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_66517

You can see a huge stand of "wild" Privet on the North Little Rock Hill, where Interstate 40 and Interstate 30 merge, near JFK. But its pretty much everywhere, though often mixed and merged with concurrent blooming Honeysuckle. (Honeysuckle runs yellowish, but at a distance Privet and Honey-Suckle often look alike ... Except that Privet spikes into the air, and is its own thing, rather than a vine.

For more on Privet see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privet
For more on the Oleaceae family (which includes olives) see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleaceae

Pink Evening Primrose

2010-05-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

Pink Evening Primrose
(Recycle, from May 1, 2008)

Speaking about clockwork, all of these images were taken in the first days of May... across three separate years.

Location: Conway, AR entrance ramp, and I-40 between Maumelle, AR and the I-430 exchange.
The pink eveing primrose is part of a much larger Primrose family, some wof which look much different than the flower pictured here. A quick survey of the Primrose family suggests that a common element may be the striking four pronged pistil.
As is, the Pink Evening Primrose is built on a 2/4/8 symmetry.
Each bloom appears to have four major petals, which in turn are divided into two symetrical halves. The two halves together form something of a heart. (When viewed from obove, the bloom --with four squat hearts, can look kind of squarish) Each bloom comes with eight stamen, with yellow pollinated anthers. The four-pronged pisitl shoots out of the central well, with a dirct feed to the seed chamber about a half-inch below.

These things are heavy pollinators, marking my clothes whith thick sploches of yellow. They appear to grow in patches, and the individual clusters often form in of a dome (with the older growth at the center lifted slightly higher.)

Rosa Multiflora

2010-04-30T14:07:00.000-05:00

To be honest, I am not sure this next bush and close-up are of a "Rosa Multiflora". The bloom clusters are not as tight. But if not a multiflora, it's pretty close.

(Recycle, as I am seeing all manner of wild rose -- and garden variety - pop out everywhere)

Wild Rose Bush (Rosa Multiflora)

First week of May, 2008

I've been taking pictures of blooming things for some time, but I have never seen as many wild “bush” roses that I have seen in this last week. I am not sure if that is because I never stopped to photograph them (they are a photographic challenge) or, if with recent rains there are just more of them.

Everywhere I look I am seeing bushes, hedges, and tendrils exploding with wild white roses.

As is, I am not sure if all of the rose covered bushes are of the same species, or simply family variations. The flowers at top appeared more clustered than those shown lower.

For more on wild rose groupings see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rosa_species

Common White Clover

2010-04-28T07:02:00.000-05:00

Common White Clover (Recycle from 08)

Most of us think of a clover as "a" flower, but close inspections shows us that each little clover is actually a ball of little flowers.

Lyre Leaf Sage

2010-04-27T12:56:00.000-05:00

LYRE-LEAF SAGE (Lyre Leaved Sage)

Salvia lyrata

Family: Mint (Labiacea)

Perennial

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SALY2

Lyre-leaf sage is a strictly upright, hairy perennial, 1-2 ft.
tall. Its pale-blue to violet, tubular flowers are arranged in whorls around the stem forming an interrupted, terminal spike.Whorls of 3-10 lavender to blue flowers surrounding a square stem in an interrupted, spike-like cluster. Large basal leaves are purple-tinged in the winter.
The exposed lower lip of salvias provides an excellent landing platform for bees. When a bee lands, the two stamens are tipped, and the insect is doused with pollen.

Possible medical uses:

http://www.hsl.unc.edu/Collections/MedicinalGarden/LyreSage.htm

Black Locust (Smellr 2)

2010-04-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

Robinia pseudoacacia

Info to follow

Sanapshot, Week 16: 4/19 - 4/25 Warm Smells.(Recycle)

2010-04-26T15:50:00.000-05:00

Thursday, April 23, Mammatus clouds ushered in our first 90 degree Spring day, the hottest on record for the date.

These daisy fleabain (?) are part of a patch, but you can often see the individual stems standing alone. From a distance, I thought these were kind of a white ragwort... they have a similar profile and belong to the same family. Of curiosity, in the late summer and fall, there are any number of plants that put out a similar flower but are much bussier in the stem. I will have to see if they are the same thing gone wild, or just cousins.

All our other maples (Silver tips, Mountain, Red etc) went to seed a good month or two ago, but Sugar Maples break the mold by going to see well after they have broken into leaf.

Crimson Clover at their apex, even as the White Oak behind is in full floral flourish (though perhaps not thought of in that way.) Some of the Crimmsons are beginning to shed the red and stretch into elongated brush heads.

I have yet to learn the name of these things, though I call them "Jetson grass" as they remind me of something one would see on the Jetson's cartoon. Their floral outcrop appears to climb upward from the base to tip even as the cone enlarges.

From a distance, the bloom of the black Locust looks like a wild cherry bloom on steroids. Up close they look rather like Wisteria -- and they must be the most fragrant flower in Arkansas, smellable from blocks away.

Purple Mailbox flowers. Something like Climaxia. They show up every year at this time, though some folks cheat and use plastic.

(2009 Recycle)

Not sure if they miniature wild roses are of the same species posted a couple or weeks back, but they are major part of our highway landscape, and will in time, give way to dense brier patch.

Other things observed:

lots of buttercups.
white clover
yellow clover
The final final trees (members of the Hemlock family) join the green revolution.
Skies move from chilly blue to hot blue.
The air is thick in pollen, dusting cars.
Lots of little roses, including some attached to bushes.
Irises in full force.
Movement toward the "Monogreen" but still with lots of gold green, limon, and kelly in the mix.
Lyre Leaf Sage, visible from road
Evening Primrose in fresh start flourish
First hint of Queen Anne's Lace
Spotting of a single Honey Suckle bloom
Crimson, red, yellow, and white clover all going strong. (I will have to take a picture of the red to distinguish it from the Crimson)

Unknown Shrub (Smeller 1)

2010-04-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

Unknown.

I suspect that this shrub/hedge/tree comes to Arkansas tby way of the nursery. It is a substanital part of the Suburban landscape, and I have seen it raning in forms from small bushes to a small tree.

Distinctive features: Leaves in Spring with a decideley "Fall" color pallette: forest, copper, olive, deep red and purple.

Bold Fragrance. I love it, some folks may call it too strong. It wafts for blocks.

butter cup

2010-04-21T13:31:00.000-05:00

Buttercup

Ranunculus (repens?)

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
(by way of Wikipedia)

Recycle from may of last year, however the Buttercups are coming in strong. It appears there are several varieties in this area, but I am not ready to tackle the differences.

The name buttercup is applied casually to any number of small yellow field flowers, though most of the time it is applied to members of the Ranunculus genus. One of the strong characteristics of this flower type is not only multiple stamen (male part) but multiple pistils. (female component.)

I'll try to get a better picture to illustrate the flourish. Until then, here is a better picture by way of backyard nature: http://www.backyardnature.net/buttrcup.htm

One of the notable characteristics of the featured buttercup is its affinity for drainage areas and wet soil, and its notable waxy sheen. (Which in turn makes it more difficult to photograph). This variety always has five petals.

There is a small irony in the location of Arkansas's field buttercups. They seem to take well to pastureland, and can sometimes be seen distinctly within the perimeters of places where cattle feed. Some varieties of Buttercup are called cowslip, because (I imagine) they slip so easily through cows. On the other hand, buttercups are poisonous, and can blister the mouths of cattle.

For more information on all things Ranunculus see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus

Buckeye (Red)

2010-04-20T15:31:00.000-05:00

(This is a recylce from last year. I may be a bit ahead of myself, but these are popping up along the road, in the shade if you peak real hard. All pics, May 4, 5 2008 Conway, AR

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), is a small deciduous tree or shrub native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States, found from Illinois to Virginia in the north and from Texas to Florida in the south.
It has a number of local names, such as scarlet buckeye, woolly buckeye and firecracker plant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_pavia

My Wild Arky Rose

2010-04-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

Repost, from 2008.

As of 4/16/09, these blooms are out in force. In fact I think I could take an identical picture today, and have seen many such minature rose patches along the highways,

Wild "Arky" Rose.

All pics around April 24, 2008 -Conway AR (c) Kirk Jordan

I suspect there are a number of of rose sub-speciesthat are called wild rose... and this is one of them. The fully opened blooms are just a tad larger than a quarter -- and grow on thorny little brambles that arch, spray, and coil over the ground and small hedges.

Purple Vetch (Repost)

2010-04-15T04:15:00.000-05:00

Purple Vetch

Vicia benghalensis

Family: Fabaceae

Note: Some photo sites list Purple vetch as the same thing as American Vetch (Vicia Americana), but the American Vetch appears to have a much smaller cluster head.

-----

This is a repost from 2007. These are starting to emerge mid-April with some force, so I repost now, even though the patches may not be as thick as some shown here.

Travel down any Arkansas's Highway in April and May and you are bound to see patches of Purple Vetch, lifting from the grass like violet waves.

As is, Purple Vetch is a member of the larger pea family (ie, legume) and has nitrate fixing qualities (as do peas, peanuts, clover etc.) . As such, Purple Vetch is sometimes used in rotation with other crops as a ground cover and soil aid.

For agriculture applications of Vetch with rice see:
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/ccrop.EXE/show_imgs_31

For more on the Fabaceae (pea) family see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabaceae

Wagon Wheels - Verbena canadensis

2010-04-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

"Wagon Wheels" - Verbena canadensis

Final Four Photos courtesy Outback contributor Mike Hall.

Mike sent these to me to showcase a special capture of a humming bird moth visiting Phlox. What a find. Only problem, these blooms aren't phlox. It's an easy id miss. These Verbena and the Blue (Purple) Phlox now blooming are of similar color and size. Quick differences (beside the leaf) -- The Verbena tends to grow in very visible "wheel" patterns, while the Phlox tends to a circular dome. Beyond that, the Phlox has an open "well" in the center, while the Verbena are a more like a covered pit, with stamen(?) hairs filling up the center of each flower.

It appears however, that both the Phlox and the Verbena are composed of a 5 "lobed" Corolla. The lobes are not the same a petals, in that -- if you look at the flower from the back, all five lobes are part of the same funnel shaped "mono-bloom."

Phlox

2010-04-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

4/28/06

4/28/06

4/28/06

4/28/06

4/28/06

Repost from April of last year, as I am beging to see them sprout with great force along the hiway from Mayflower to Conway.

I am not sure which of the many varieties of Phlox these are, however a quick photo comparison suggests "Blue Phlox" - which is odd, given that these (including the pictures of known Blue Phlox) are all purple. These are wild variety, however, I also see phlox of various hues as a vital part of Arkansas landscape gardens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlox_divaricata

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales
Family: Polemoniaceae
Genus: Phlox
Species: P. divaricata

Of note, the flower has a 5 "lobed" Corolla. The lobes are not the same a petals, in that -- if you look at the flower from the back, all five lobes are part of the same funnel shaped "mono-bloom"

Crimson Clover (Recycle)

2010-04-09T12:39:00.000-05:00

Crimson Clover

Trifolium incarnatum

Fabaceae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_clover

I was surprised to find upon reading the Wikipedia article, that Crimson clover is neither native to Arkansas nor the US. Turns out this very visible highway-medium bloom and bushy head grass is a European transplant.

Note: I started ID Arkansas just short of year ago, and will now begin to recycle posts as they match current blooming things. As the Crimson Clover are just now starting to go full force in Central AR, I am reposting my first ever post from last year near this time.

Ragwort (Senecio, ?)

2010-04-08T21:26:00.000-05:00

This would appear to be a member of the Senecio Genus (Ragworts) which in turn are part of the larger Daisy (Asteraceae) family. This may be a Senecio plattensis, but it appears to have a different base leaf than the sample shown in Missouri Plants.

I have yet to take the picture that shows their peculiar growth pattern, often standing alone, like sentinels in short new-grass pastures.

For a larger introduction to all things senecio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senecio

May Apple

2010-04-08T17:49:00.000-05:00

Most folks saw this....

but Photographer Mike Hall, belly bound and with a nice wide lens, discovered what most folks will never see... a May Apple flower under the umbrella like leaf.

Guest Artist submission by Mike Hall.

(Podophyllum peltatum)

Grape hyacinth

2010-04-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

(Comon Grape Hyacinth)

Muscari botryoides

I thought these were wild, but they turn out be used pretty often in gardens, and a European transplant at that.

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Hyacinthaceae
Genus: Muscari

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape_hyacinth

Wistera (American)

2010-04-05T12:07:00.000-05:00

Wild hedge smothering

Ornamental

Wisteria (American Wisteria)

These are file photos from years past, however, I just saw the yearly avalanche of Wisteria that drape a hedge row near the junction of Interstate-430 and I-630 in Little Rock, AR (USA) -- and seem to hang around for a week before disappearing into a purple rain.

(Note: as obsrved now for several weeks, our Spring this year, 2010 is about a week behind the last several.)

As lovely as they are, the wisteria vine is not always welcome as it can smother trees and brush. Years ago I came across wisteria clusters that formed something of a Wisteria Falls, as clusters cascaded down a 40 foot tree.

Kingdom:Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Subfamily: Faboideae

Tribe: Millettieae

Genus: Wisteria

Species: W. frutescens

Wisteria/Wickipedia

Guess what else is part of the Fabaceae family? (You may be suprised)

Dogwood

2010-04-04T07:41:00.000-05:00

the small gree flower of the Dogwood.

"Y" branch attached to "Y" branch

Flowering Dogwood (American Dogwood)

Cornus florida

Pics from serveral different years, though most in the first week of April.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida

Question: How do you tell a dogwood?

Answer: by its bark.

Corny joke aside, the easiest way to tell a Dogwood (after the flower) is the shape of its branch. Dogwoods tend to produce a wishbone shaped branch, with "Ys" growing out of "Y's" - so they are pretty easy to spot, even without leaf. Truth is, the thing we call the Dogwood flower is not a true flower. And the white petals are not real petals. Technically they are "Bracks", and the flowers -- a collection of them -- much like the center of daisy, is comprised of the small flowers. In the case of the Dogwood, the real flower is almost inconspicuous and green! (See second frame above)

Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

2010-04-03T12:17:00.000-05:00

Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

We happen to have one of these in our side yard, and I just now found out what it is. Thanks Joannie of the AR State Parks (and friends) for the help. As is, the Wild Black Cherry is coated in finger length floral plumes, that will soon replace berries where the individual flowers are found. The berries are supposed to edible, and good for jam, though somewhat bitter for a direct taste.
The other standout of this tree is its smell. I rather like it, but it is potent and some folks may find it overbearing.

Snapshot (Repost 3/30 from 3/22-3/29/09 Catkin Country

2010-03-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

Water Oak, copper with floral catkin

Chestnut Oak, heavy with floral catkin

This almost last week of March was absolutley huge for Spring Time display. Only probem...It rained so hard and for so many days (in waves) that lots of the growth happened "unseen." If any week was flash week, this was it. Most of the Oak are in some form of flowering (thick in copper Catkin), with several species putting out new green to chase the gold. Beyond that, the maple are lumpy with seed and color.

Silver-tip Maple (green), and Red Maple (Red) burst forth in helicopter seed outcrop

Seedlings of a Red-Maple (?) variety

Highlights:

Water, Willow, Chestnut, Southern Red.... To be honest I am not sure of all of my Oak trees, pre-leaf - but I have seen all of these in bold flowering. (It seems the Pin Oak hold back, now naked and brittle)

Many of the Maples hit full seed. Even the Sugar Maple, latter than the others in flowering display are putting out some kind of odd display that I haven't figured out. Did I miss the flower (and they are going to seed) or is this the flower part, and the seeds follow late and behind the leaf. (see below)

Redbud - hit there full purple zenith early in week, some are starting to throw heart shaped tenders.

This is from 2009, and as has been the rule this season, we are about 7 days behidn last year's bloom cycle. I have yet to see opening dogs, but they should be opening soon.

Dogwood started opening the begining of the week, and some are reaching full form by week's end (March 29)

Tulip Poplar, putting out leaf

Weeping Willow, cascading green

Little lawn flowers. Everywhere

Little violets - all over.

Three Leaf clover (standard white, still largley flowerless) but throwing out huge clover mounds.

Purple Dead-Nettle in large patches, appears to have eclipsed Henbit in volume.

Large bolts of onion grass.

Crimson clover emerging along our roadsides.

I hadn't seen them till someone mentioned them, but the yellow trumpet hedge floweres (Jessamine) are everywhere.

Tulips in full regalia.

Brads, now monolithic fresh green

Wisteria, in fall

Buttercups on the upwards swing

Red Bud

2010-03-29T13:03:00.000-05:00

(Repost)

Eastern Redbud: Cercis canadensis

Whoever thought to call these things "Red Bud" must have been color blind. (though I have seen a few very pale, and white versions). Red Bud function as one of my marker trees. I figure when I see them that Spring has just finished her first trimester. (Bloomin season in Central Arkansas started in early March, and hit the zenith week right now... March 19) And there is nothing like the color hum that you get when Redbud reach into bold blue skies, in combination with the new limon color of the new oaks.

I will admit, the photos here seem to be of citified Redbuds. The country version features thinner threes, often reaching in an around the underbrush like strewn chords. And while its kind of hard to see here, the Redbud have a distinctive line to the branch, featuring an alternating, but understated zig.

Japanese Magnolia Extravaganza.

2010-03-25T10:07:00.005-05:00

March 19-25 2010,

In the last week I have had occasion to shoot over a thousand frames of the Japanese Magnolias that grace the Arkansas State Capitol Grounds. They are --as would be expected --an annual event, though they seem to be EXTRA gorgeous this year, in part, because they stayed on the trees without a freeze. Like everything else this year, they bloomed about a week later than last year, and given that the last three years have bitten the blooms and turned them brown, that's a welcome delay.

The Japanese Magnolias, are - as the name suggests - a transplant. I have yet to find one in the wild, but they stand for me, as the gateway to Spring.

We appear to have three varieties of the Japanese Magnolia on the Capitol Grounds -- One variety characterized by longer petals and branches (and which blooms a few days earlier), another version with short stubby branches and a denser bloom pack, and one lone small tree with a purple, rather than soft pink bloom.

To see even more, check out these Facebook Galleries: JMag 2010-1, JMag 2010-2, JMag 2009, and JMag 2003-2008 --- Then be sure to become a Fan of the FB Mightyworks Project Page. Thanks.

City Brad - Country Brad (Bradford Pear)

2010-03-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

City Pear

Country Pear

Bradford Pear / Country Pear 3/19 - 3/22 (2010)

Not sure why the citified Bradford Pears of the city and town are all round (they certainly aren't pruned) or if the country Pear is a different sub-species... (many are not as tall or full as this specimen)... But countrified pear are ussually ragged on the edges, and may be far less dense. They also seem to bloom a day or two earlier than the in city pears. Not sure why.

Snapshot (Repost) - Cream to Green

2010-03-21T13:58:00.000-05:00

Bradford Pear, Cream to Green

Southern Oak Catkins

a mountain Maple type going to seed

Red Maple, going to seed

Mountain Maple, or Beach Maple going to seed

Snapshot Week 10: 3/8-3/14 - Cream to Green (Repost 2009)

Note: It appears we are about a week behind last year in the bloom cycle, so this should give a sense of what we will see this week (3/22/2010 with the Brads just now gowing green.)

The great revolution this week was only visible to the highly observant. A vast spreading but as yet largely unrealized green is sneaking into every blade and branch. The overall impact when looking at the woods is still one of brush and bone, but there are signs that these too are ready to rage.

This week was cool (COLD) and wet, hence many things stayed kind of like they were last week. The brads are still holding bloom though waxing green. I expect them to go fully limon during the week of March 15.

The maple too are in revolution, as the Silver-tip, the Red, and various Mountain Maple types are in full seed force. (Only the Sugar Maples appear to hold back, not even given to flower.)

Many of the Oaks, including the Southern Red and various water oaks are putting out catkins (a brown-green floral worm). Still, I have to see any catkin action on the massive Pin Oaks or various White oaks, many of which hold fall brown.

Other action: Saturday, March 14th marked the first day of the Wye Mountain Daffodil fest.

Lots of Henbit and lawn flower activity.

The overall effect was one of wet, green under surge.

Oops, almost forgot. HUGE week for the Red Bud, Peach, and Plum. Will post a Redbud page later this week.

Other things still seen:

Clatonia - everywhere

forsythia/japonica blooms (mixed with green)

roange berries (harder to see as the world greens)

Lawn Dainties

2010-03-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

Lawn Dainties. (Repost from last year, - Both Claytonia and Hustonia are going strong as of mid March 2010

After a reader correction I am going with Claytonia for the larger top bloom. Thanks Tom for the assist. It is much appreciated.

http://www.missouriplants.com/Whiteopp/Claytonia_virginica_page.html

The smaller deep purple/blue flower is of the Hustonia family, though I cannot tell from the Missouri flower guide if it is Hustaona minima (it is small), or if it is Hustonia pusilla or Hustonia Caerulea.

In either case these are flowers, that if they loomed large would astonish us, but we are content to crush them under our feet.

Henbit

2010-03-16T11:43:00.001-05:00

Repost: As of March 16, 2010 the Henbit are going strong, with the Purple Dead Nettle just starting to emerge. Looks like we are a week behnd last year in growth patterns.

Henbit: Lamium amplexicaule
Also known as: Multi-stories (mine), Giraffe Head, Llama head (mine).

Henbit is one of those things that never seems to go fully away. I have seen Henbit sprigs in the muck of a January winter, and they are one of the first blooms to announce themselves upon our lawns. Some folks call them weeds, but I have always thought of them as crushable flowers. (i.e. the kind we walk on, and discover to our great delight.)

.

Henbit can be seen in great purple patches, and are often found in the presence of at least one thing which is not Henbit, Purple Dead-nettle (Red Dead-nettle) Lamium purpureum . Both Henbit and Purple-Dead Nettle produce a similar flower and are part of the Mint family. They often claim the same territory. When I first encountered the later I thought it to be an alternate season growth of the Henbit.

That which is not Henbit:

Purple Dead (or Red-Dead) Nettle.

(You can also see some in the big Henbit patch at top of page.)

Self Heal

Lyre leaf Sage

Snaptshot Week 9: 3/1-3/7 BIG BRADS

2010-03-15T09:10:00.001-05:00

REPOST from last year, 3/1-3/7 2009

I am posting this again for a point of comparison. We have just achieved this same state of full-balledness on the Bradford Pear this March 16, 2010 of this year. So it looks like the clock of Spring is about one week to 10 days behind the bloom cycle of last year.

And this year the Japanese Mags are doing just fine!
a week behind.

Egg-on-a-stick, Bradford Pear

This week jettisoned us from the last (?) of winter to fully revved spring. Sunday and Monday morning (March 1 and 2) gave us temperatures in the twenties, which in turn deeply bruised the Japanese Magnolia, the trumpeters of Spring. By the end of the week we were pushing short sleeve shirts and 70 degrees.

Wounded Japanese Magnoia

The week was dominated by the presence of the Bradford Pear, which in the course of a week went from blossoming bones to full egg-son-a-stick flourish, and are -- as of end of week, starting to soften into pastel green. This week too, showcased the explosion of Red Maple, as they break into molten seed. To be honest, I had been puzzled by the identity of certain maples. No longer. The red maples announce themselves with great carmen force. Our sugar maples have yet to put out as much as a flower, but the blooming silver tips, mountain and beach maple types (see Maple page) tend to bloom then go to seed in muted tones of rust, straw, and olive. I also fully took in something I have seen, but not really cataloged. The maples appear to put on their spring garb in a pulse. First the maples build from colored tips to budding flower. As the flowers fade they also build into a stamen flourish. Then the stamens wither, and the whole tree appears to lose mass, going “backward” to an earlier winter look… then the withered floral parts explode in days, into large helicopter seed clumps.

Other activity at a glance:

Garden daffodils all over town
Forsythia and Japonica in full flourish, growing “green”
Cherry and Peach in light full flourish. (These appear to emerge just a few days after the Brads)
Elm trees, with heavy green mass (some of which may be floral)
Henbit, and that which is not henbit, in large patches.

As of yet unnamed ground and lawn flowers in thick patches. (See Lawn Dainties)

A yet unamed bush/shrub, with minature pear-like flowers and spikes woven in the wood.

(Unamed "snow" shrub, with pear-ish blooms and thorns)

First activity among the oaks, though a Huge Southern Red at the Capitol is leading the catkin pack. Fist showing of a Redbud tree. (Expect to see these break out next week

Many of the smaller White and Pin Oaks still with leaf.

"Roange" berry things continue leafless, and scattered along the highways.

"Rorange Berry"

Snapshot: Early March 2010

2010-03-08T14:18:00.010-06:00

Beach - or Moutnain Maple toss red pom poms high. As is, you can identify maple right now - while driving 60mph -- just by looking for the red tinge scattered in the roadside wood-hedge.

These look a tad like Claytonia, but with only four petals and the bloom smaller than a paper punch, I think not. Anyone have a guess. They are super small and easy to miss.

I guess I should figure out what these are, as they are one of those things that jump from the winter landscape. (I think the berries may be there in some form late fall, or even into mid Spring, but they don't seem to jolt the eyes unit the winter kill has left the world of all-other-color drained.

Daffodils bolt bold from the soggy cardboard sod.

March 7, 2010: For whatever reasons, Spring seems to be on a slow-mo start this year, which may be all the better, given the clobbering certain early blooms took in the last three years. (Hard to imagine now, but just over two weeks ago, the ground was all monolithic white.) As is, I am deeply aware of a small handful of “indicators” – things I use to mark the sense of season. Three years ago, the Japanese Magnolia outside the Arkansas State Capitol Building opened abruptly in the first week of February -- only to be freeze-dried in a temperature dive just hours after bloom. They quickly turned a coffee brown. A year later (2007) they opened more or less in the first week of March, but then were coated by two freak snows, March 6 and March 9. Last year, the same blooms took off mid Feb to late March, but seemed locked in a slow-mo killing cold, and never just shouted. This year, as of March 6 the blooms have yet to crack skin and crest.

Seems too, that the daffodils and Maples are about a week or so behind.

As is, I found out last year that our major maples – the Silvertip and Sugar Maples flower later, but several other breeds (Red, Beach) are in now in full floral bloom. Look for a red mist hanging around the tips of trees littered in the woodlands. Chances are if you see rust or red up high, they are a maple.

Beyond that, the larger world is still pretty much the color of cardboard, with the first kelly tuffs – clover and henbit pushing thought the muck.

Snapshot, 2/8/10 - 2/10/10 Blanco

2010-02-12T10:22:00.004-06:00

I have chased these rhythms with my lens
‘til I know now the basic parts:
A warming monolithic snow
dipping maple wood wet-black
and casting snowmen,
followed by the polyrhythm drip
and the ever catching earth.

(fragment, KSJ Incredible Math)

This is not a normal "ID Arkansas" post, as in - showcasing something to ID -- but this "Snapshot" reinforces for me just what a tight clock "Mother Nature" runs. I have pictures taken over several years that show major weather storms during this specific time in February. Last year, the 9th, it was a full on ICE assault culminating in one of the worst natural disasters in AR recorded history, the year before that we had back to back snow falls on the 6th and 9th. Only difference, that year Spring got a false start in January, which led to early blooming things (the Japanese Magnolia in particular) taking it on the chin. It would seem the Japanese Mags learned their lesson this year and are staying tightly tucked.

For some extra snow fun check out these Face Book Galleries

Snow One (Before 10AM on Monday Feb 8th)
Snow Two (After 10AM on Monday Feb 8th)
Invasion of the Frostoids (February 9 and 10)

Snapshot: January 2010

2010-01-25T10:51:00.001-06:00

Middle January

Today, January 25, the wind is brisk, sunny and filled with chill. A couple of weeks ago it was downright bitter, a couple of days ago short sleeve warm, and today... feeling just right for January. Last year at this time we seemed to be atypically warm, which was just wonderful till things stared blooming early only to be clobbered in a refreeze. And even thought the wind is cold, recent rains have primed the pump as our earth prepares for song.

Hybernation

2009-12-23T08:59:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends, we are at that time of year where ID Arkansas goes into hybernation. Look for new info and possible snapshots as we near the first hints of Spring. Until then, you might check some of my other interests at Wood Between the Worlds, or Startled by Existence. (And a newer roll out of the Mighty Works Project later in the Spring -- or the semi-active facebook version here.)

Bradford Pear

2009-12-01T10:42:00.000-06:00

It won't be too many months and I''ll be posting more of these, covered in white flowers. Bradford Pears are one of the last trees to take to color (late November, into December) and one of the first trees to break out in floral bloom (Late Feb/March) - in which they look like huge white eggs. As Pear trees go, the fruit is something of a bust. About the size of cherry and bitter. You'd have to be pretty hungry, and with a stout stomach!

Oak Family

2009-11-24T23:46:00.000-06:00

For fall folliage fans, late November and December belong to the Oaks. (Bradford Pears also wear their colors late, but tend to shed them quicker.) So, after softer woods are bare, CentalArkansas is given to the copper/coffee/cardboard tans of Oaks... many of which hold their dried out leaves deep into winter.

There are literally hundreds of Oak varieties in the World, and many dozens to be found in Arkansas. At a quick glance, many of these - by leaf, or form - appear to be so different from one another that we wonder how they could all be "oak" -- while other oaks under differnet names, appear so much alike, that it difficult to determine if they should be regarded as independent species or as subspecies in the same family. The nomenclature of ID is made all the more difficult because many related species hybidize with one another, or show substantial variation under the same label. I have even found very differnt leaf types -- on the very same tree! Beyond that, the internet and other sources don't always agree on what a given Oak species is. Look up Black Oak or Red Oak and you will find incongruent samples.

Given the great differences in Oaks, ranging from towering monoliths to sandy beach thickets, one might wonder what is it about an Oak, that makes it an Oak. Simple. Acorns.

Oaks produce acorns. If it makes an acorn... its an oak.

One web site I visited grouped Oak into two major families - The Black Oak, and the White Oak families. This can be confusing as both Black Oak, and White Oak are used to identify at the species level, and not all oaks fit into either group, however as a family name the Black Oak family represents those oaks that have sharp angular lobes, while the White Oak family generally consists of those oaks with rounded lobes.

Black Oak family (In Arkansas)

Black oak, Red oak, Southern Red Oak, Scarlet Oak, Pin Oak.

White Oak family:

White oak, Post oak, Black Jack Oak, Water Oak. Willow Oak. Chestnut Oak.

Black Oak

2009-11-24T23:43:00.000-06:00

With a leaf that looks ever like a Pin Oak (or Red Oak) on steroids, Black Oak is dominant part of our mountain woodlands. (Ever hear of the 80's rock band - Black Oak Arkansas?) Chief attribute which sets the Black Oak apart from Pin or Red Oak is size. The Black Oak leaf is both big and broad.

Southern Red Oak

2009-11-24T23:20:00.000-06:00

Similar in style to the Red Oak and Pin Oak, but longer. This Souther Red Oak leaf measures about 8 inces, not including the stem.

This mamoth Southern Oak, on the backside of the Arkasnas State Capitol has a diamater that I guess to be over 8 feet across. It's huge.

Tossed against a curb, the falling leaves of the Souther Oak, tend to rest back side up. (since they curl toward the face, the wind blown them till they lodge face down.

Red Oak

2009-11-24T23:19:00.000-06:00

I'm not totally sure of my Id's on these (and especially the last leaf) as the Red Oak is similar and in size and width to the Black Oak, and only slightly thicker than a Pin Oak -- and shorter than the Southern Red Oak. Beyond that, the Red of the Red Oak (and the Black of the Black Oak) is not about leaf color, but about wood color... so any guess based on Fall color is secondary.

Of interest: The last leaf looks more or less symmetrical, but a quick look at the vein structure showcases a common attribute of oak leaves, alternating vein branches.

Pin Oak

2009-11-24T23:18:00.000-06:00

12/8/2008 I'd hoped to have a little stronger image of the Pin Oak as they are a dominant species. Only problem, right now they look like so much curled cardboard. (The tree often holds the leaves across the winter, looking rather like a dried husk.

By contrast to the black or red oak, the center 'shaft" of the Pin Oak is much thinner, and the points on the lobes more pin like.

Scarlet Oak (uncertain)

2009-11-24T23:16:00.000-06:00

12/04/08

To be honest, I am not sure if this is Scarlet Oak, a Cherrybark Oak, or some other variation of a Pin Oak. By contrast to the Red oak, the leaf is small (about three to four inches long excluding stem). This particular tree, as of early December was still mostly clothed, and dressed in Hershey brown.

White Oak

2009-11-24T16:43:00.001-06:00

Place holder

White Oak (maybe)

2009-11-13T16:42:00.000-06:00

White Oak/ Black jack oak hybrid?

White Oak/Red Oak, Black Oak, Blackjack oak hybrid?

One of the real challenges for those who identify oak varieties is this: Many varieties of oak hybridize with one another (or are simply too closely related --- and share common family attributes) A guide I have used to identify Oaks, shows the highly lobed variety found at top as a "white oak" though it differs considerably from the narrow lesser lobed variety showcased in the White Oak entry above. The third and fourth photos have attributes I identify with white oak --and other oaks. I simply lack the expertise to break these down any further.

Post Oak (White Box Oak)

2009-11-13T16:40:00.000-06:00

Post Oak or Scrub Oak? (it would help if I could find the acorn)

I hope I have my ID's right here. The Leaf of the Post Oak sometimes looks very much like the white oak, or the smaller scrub oak.

Black Jack Oak

2009-11-13T16:39:00.000-06:00

All the Blackjack I've encountered have been something a brushy rogue variety, though I think they grow big too. The Blackjack leaf (I I have correctly identified these) can look something like a white oak, but the shape is notably triangular, wide at the end and, with only minor lobe differentiation.

Chestnut Oak

2009-11-13T16:32:00.001-06:00

Chestnut Oak : Quercus prinus

(of the White Oak family)

My first thought is that this Oak (leaf) will be easier to identify than others, in that it hardly looks like any of the other oaks. But now I'm not sure. The photos on the web of the Chestnut Oak generally show a somewhat broader and slighlty lobed elongated leaf. I may have to change my ID with more information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_oak

Willow Oak

2009-11-10T15:43:00.000-06:00

Willow Oak

Water Oak

2009-11-10T14:06:00.000-06:00

Similar to the willow oak, but with widening at the tip. Water...Think paddle.

Sycamore (Place holder)

2009-11-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

Info to be added

Maple Family

2009-11-01T21:44:00.000-06:00

A quick survey of the Internet shows that there are hundreds of various trees in the Maple family, with a strong showing of that variation found in Arkansas. (The most common trait of those trees we call Maples is the winged whirly-bird seed.) In trying to capture some of those variants, I am struck with the problem which faces any who would classify. When--given genetic drift or regional variation--is something rightly regarded as its own species, a subspecies, or a "strain." The task is even more daunting given many maples are selectively bred for ornamental purposes.

For my limited purposes, I have presented five major groups of maples common to Arkansas. These include both "types" and species (I did not include Japanese Maple, as these do not appear part of the natural landscape.) I may yet find out if my observations are even close to those who do this professionally. Here are the categories I am working with at present.

1) Sugar Maple (or Maple Maple, the kind of leaf we see on the Canadian flag.)

2) Red Maple: Contrary to the name, Red Maple leafs are usually green (but may in Autumn, assume any of or range of colors, from limon to melon to cherry to brick.) I think they look like hanging bats.

3) Mountain Maple (Rocky Mountain Maple) Leaf tends to look like a grape leaf with diminished side lobes and some jagging.

4) Beechy Maple (Diminished lobes)

6 ) Silver Tip Maple: Deeply lobed, jagged, and scrappy. (our most prevalent)

Sugar Maple

2009-11-01T20:45:00.000-06:00

For color punch and stalwart form, the Sugar Maple reigns as king in the Maple family. (See the Canadian flag)

Our Arkansas variety may lack the height or punch of those that we wee in New England Calendars, but really spice a hill side mixed in Oak and evergreen.

Sugar Maples showcase a distinct Autumnal undress. The top branches bare first, leaving an ever diminishing ball at the base.

Sugarish Maples (Simular but not)

2009-11-01T20:40:00.000-06:00

Truth is, I can't tell you what these are. They look like Sugar Maples, but with different characteristics. The yellow specimen above showcases a smaller leaf, with much denser distribution pattern in the leaves and brances. The one outside the Arkansas Capitol is still very much dressed (11/23/08) while the Sugar Maples in vicinity are mostly naked.

The Red variety (which might more aptly be called "Red Maple" showcases the Sugar Maple leaf, but appears to be a dwarfed ornamental hybrid.

Red Maple (Bear Claw/Hanging Bat)

2009-11-01T20:35:00.000-06:00

Mountain Maples (Rocky Mountain/

2009-11-01T08:47:00.000-06:00

I grouped a number of maples show here under the Mountain Maple banner, including what may be Rocky Mountian Maple,

Silver Tip Maple

2009-11-01T08:46:00.000-06:00

By contrast the regal Sugar maple, the Silver Tip is a much scrappier tree. The leaves seem to line the branches, and without the ballish bulk of the Sugar Maple. The Silver leaf may posses one or several trunks. The leaf too is less "direct" with three to five very gagged, deep lobes. When blown in the wind (and before fall) the silver tip often flashes its light white (silver?) leafed underbelly

"Beechy" Maple

2009-11-01T08:25:00.001-06:00

Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua

2009-10-27T11:48:00.000-05:00

(Recycle)

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Altingiaceae
Genus: Liquidambar
Species: L. styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua

The most obvious attribute of the Sweetgum, is a leaf that looks like star -- However, the stars range from kind of blocky to deeply lobed. The other attribute, known quickly by anyone who has an American Sweetgum in his yard, is the stickery "mine-ball" seed" - a great weapon or a nuisance under the heal.

As a camera toting teenager, I called them "Kix ball trees" - with Kix referencing the cereal, which in turn referenced the fact that a Sweetgum in fall can showcase almost any color...all at once, and spangled throughout the form.

In the wild, Sweet gum tend to grow thin and tall, and will along the roadside, take on the form of a tall colonnade. (they lack the bulk of either oak or maple)

for more info see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sweetgum

and for an odd gum ball use

Saltbush - Rabbitbush

2009-10-24T16:12:00.001-05:00

Early October, bush starts with cream green look, then presses white over the weeks.

This bush is over 9 feet tall.

Female plant with very visable white pappus seed hairs.

Male Plant (I initially thought that this was another species, or just a saltbush pre-bloom, but didn't understand why this one bush should be out of sync with the others in the area and with a different distribution "weight". Turns out it is the male of the species, and even had a different smell, much like sage.

Baccharis halimifolia

aka: Rabbit bush, Salt bush

October 24, 2009 (These are from years past, with some stages more advanced than what we see right now.)

A hearty thanks to Gary Tucker who was able to identify this plant, and who helped me solve another riddle. I had noted plants seemingly of this same species, that appeared to be out of sync with the others, and still green. Turns out they were the males of the species.

Gary writes:
Your plant is saltbush or rabbitbush, Baccharis halimifolia . It is of widespread occurrence in Arkansas w/ exception that it is largely absent from mountain regions of NW Arkansas. Very common in Arkansas River Valley, coastal plain, and Delta regions. There are male and female plants. The colorful plants with an abundance of white are the female plants, with the white representing a group of hairs (called the pappus) on the seeds. The male plants are typically growing among the female plants but are not showy because they lack the white hairs on the seeds.

Thank you,

Gary E. Tucker, PhD
Senior Botanist
FTN Associates, Ltd.

Snapshot: 10/8/09 Golden glow near the Car Wash

2009-10-13T23:00:00.006-05:00

The Big Legume

Not sure what this stuff is yet. Looks like Daisy Fleabane, but a bit raggitier.

I will confess to being a little dazzled by the number of butterflies in a small space. Turns out the Monarchs are migrating to Mexico, and can be seen in groups or lone flappers, all by themselves headed south. Someone showed me how to distinguish the males, but since I don't have a good pic that shows the difference, I will just see if I can snag another picture. All pics taken next to the car wash off of Hogan Lane Near Dave Ward, Across from the "New Walmart", Conway, Arkansas

cloud grass

2009-10-11T10:01:00.000-05:00

Waiting on both ID and better pictures:)

without the dew, this grass appears to have a thin purple hue, but with dew, it takes on the look of cloud

Grass, Id waiting

2009-10-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

(Recycle)

Grass: waiting on an ID

Gardenia

2009-10-07T16:21:00.006-05:00

Who would have thought this to be Gardenia time? But our bush outside the house keeps sqeezing them out at the rate of one or two blooms per day. (Areas to the North have managed first frost, be we are still in waiting.

Snapshot: Early Oct: Willow Leaf and Thistle

2009-10-04T13:39:00.002-05:00

A touch of color and a night or two with nip suggest we may yet see a Fall. And hasn't this been an odd season. More rain than I have ever seen, with little Second-Spring editions, from Gardenias to Queen Anne's Lace, to Honeysuckle (in much smaller numbers) -- dotting the Indian Summer landscape.

The Most visible of the Early October flowers are the Yellow Tickseed, Willow Leaf Sunflowers, and Godlen Rod (see posts below) making for a truly golden brew.

(Picture of Purple thistle to come)

Poke (Polk) Berry

2009-10-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

Poke Berry:

I will need to re-feature this plant in the summer or spring, when its broad leaves make for good salad pickin's. But in the fall, after the leaves have withered, the poke weed jumps out of the field with its bright red stem, and dark red berries. Unlike the summer leaves, the berries are poisonous, so not the kind of thing to munch on.

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a robust perennial potherb native to the eastern United States. It belongs to the pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae), a small family found mostly in Africa and the New World. In addition to pokeweed, it also includes several enormous South American trees and some unusual serpentine vines of the tropics. Poke is derived from the Algonquian Indian word "pakon" or "puccoon," referring to a dye plant used for staining. It is sometimes spelled polk and the leaves were reportedly worn by enthusiastic supporters during the campaign of James K. Polk, 11th president of the United States. The generic name Phytolacca is derived from the Greek word phyton (plant) and the French lac (lake--a dark red pigment), referring to the crimson juice of ripe berries. Pokeweed may grow to nine feet tall, with large, alternate leaves and a carrotlike taproot. It may become a very invasive weed in southern California gardens and is difficult to eradicate when it becomes well-established. Greenish-white flowers are produced in long clusters (racemes) that droop due to the weight of ripening fruit. The flattened berries change from green to shiny purplish-black. Ripe berries yield a crimson juice that was used as a substitute for red ink and to enhance the color of pale wines. The coloring of wine with pokeweed berries has been discouraged because they are very poisonous.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph24.htm

Big thanks!

2009-09-25T16:27:00.006-05:00

Big thanks to the many friends (and Octogenarians!) who made my photo show at the Library such a real success. In your honor... A Rainbow!

2009-09-23T14:53:00.004-05:00

Kirk Jordan is slightly embarrassed (but not too embarrassed) by the level of coverage given to his first Multi-media showing of ID Arkansas to be shown on September 24, 2009 in Conway, AR. (Which also accounts for the fact that I am so far behind on posting things to this site!

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Photographer Kirk Jordan is set to present at the Faulkner County Library, 1900 Tyler Street on September 24th at 7:00 pm. Jordan (in conjunction with ID Arkansas) has produced a dynamic and beautiful digital “slideshow” presentation entitled The Divine Commute. The Divine Commute is a photographic guide to over 80 flowering species found between Conway and Little Rock, Arkansas. The multi-media show features artful yet highly descriptive photographs of local flora, many which line the Interstate. The presentation is free and open to the public. This presentation is a great program for the whole family to enjoy. Free refreshments will be served. Door prizes will be available to kids.

http://thecabin.net/acclaimed-photographer-kirk-jordan-present-divine-commute

Purple Thistle

2009-09-23T12:57:00.000-05:00

I believe this is Cirsium arvense, one of many types of purple thistle. (It could also be Cirsium altissium).
For a moment, I thought these were a flower I had never seen. Most thisles grow upright, but after strong winds and rain, this outcrop was bent over.
For a different variety of purple thistle see: http://idarkansas.blogspot.com/2008/05/purple-thistle.html

Info to be added

All pics, mid September 2008

Orange Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis)

2009-09-22T16:21:00.010-05:00

Touch-me-not or

Orange Jewel Weed,

Impatiens capensis

Info to follow. No time.

National Yellow Thing Month

2009-09-12T16:13:00.001-05:00

Goldenrod and willow-leaf sunflower

Tickseed

Willow-leaf sunflower

Just a note: This series is all from previous years, but I see I am getting searches related to yellow flowers in Arkansas. Our two most dominant yellow flowers, beyond the little roadside ragworts are Tickseed and the Willow-leaf sunflower. I've got great newer images of both but will post when I have time. Until then

Willow leaf: 14 bracks (yellow petals) overall flat look to the bloom

Ticks seed: 8 bracks, cup shaped,

More to come

Willow Leaf Sunflower (Butter balls)

2009-09-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

Helianthus salicifolius

Tick seed

2009-09-12T10:46:00.000-05:00

All images, late September, Early October (2003/04)

Bidens aristosa

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/bidensaris.html

Bidens coronata

Bidens polylepis (?)

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/ts_sunflower.htm

http://www.pbase.com/1designguy/image/33539701

A quick look at the Internet shows that there are actually dozens of flowers that are called Tickseed, though I think this one is most commonly identified as such. (Some of the plants that hold this name are members of the same family, while sometimes the title seems loosely applied to any kind of yellow daisy.

Like the Willow-leaf Sunflower, this member of the sunflower family grows in big hedgey bunches, and is a dominate part of Arkansas's Indian-summer landscape. It might be indistinguishable from the Willow-leaf sunflower except for these attributes: the Tickseed sunflower has 8 petals, opposed to the Willow-leaf's fourteen. Beyond that, the bloom has a notable cup shape, and the leaves are slightly thicker with a jagged edge.

Golden Rod

2009-09-12T08:04:00.000-05:00

Info to be added : Recycle

Jerusalem Artichoke (Sun Choke)

2009-09-12T01:53:00.000-05:00

Lobelia

2009-09-11T12:29:00.004-05:00

Missouri Plants indicates that this is a member of the lobelia genus, but this doesn't seem to be the offered species. May be Lobelia purpurea. All I know is have never seen it before and it took me by surprise...

Found on Highway 365 near the Mayflower exit.

Ground Nut: Apiosis americana

2009-09-08T16:13:00.006-05:00

Ground Nut

Apiosis americana

This will clearly rank as one of my productive flower weeks in years. I have seen over the top Springs, but this "down summer" marked by greater rains and moderate temperatures (for August and September) is reaping a harvest of photos, many of things I have never noted before, including this thing called a ground nut, or American potato bean. (Thanks Tom for the ID help. Check Tom's Ohio wildlife blog on the side bar.)

Turns out Apiosis americana is (has been and may be) an important food source, both for its been and its starchy sweat-potato like tubers:

(Wikipedia): Apios americana, sometimes called the potato bean, hopniss, Indian potatoor groundnut (but not to be confused with other plants sometimes known by thename groundnut) is a perennial vine native to eastern NorthAmerica, and bears edible beans and large edible tubers. It grows to3-4 m long, with pinnate leaves 8-15 cm long with 5-7leaflets. The flowers are red-brown to purple,produced in dense racemes. The fruit is a legume (pod) 6-12 cm long.The tubers are crunchy and nutritious, with a high content of starch and especially protein. The plant was one of the most important food plants of pre-European North America, and is now being developed for domestication."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apios_americana

Pink Weed

2009-09-08T15:40:00.011-05:00

(color in shade)

(color is sun)

All pics, early September 2009

Pinkweed

Polygonum pensylvanicum

I am not absolutely sure on the pensylvanicum part, as there are dozens of Polygonums, and quite a few of them lean pink.

This Plant appears to thrive in colony, and can take on the form of a large sprawling hedge, or can just exist on a stem by stem basis. I have seen these in leaner branching form clear into December.