htop, I've been seeing lots of your photos! You take more than any one I know, all great. Thanks, and by the way, I take most when it's cloudy. I have trouble with washed out colors in sunlight.
Where does all the time go?
trois.
Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( Yellow )
Thanks, trois. I too have trouble with washed out colors in bright sunlight sometimes. I like partly cloudy days best so the lighting is bright and you can wait for a cloud to pass over to keep the glare off the plant. I started having lots of problems the past weeks with the dark cloudy days. The colors were off a lot. I found that when I retired, the less time I have. :o)
Yep, I know what you mean. I used to get weekends off until I retired.
trois
Me too Hazel such a different cast on cloudy days.. About the mustard, B Cabbage... Oh my! That word is used a lot in names of plants and some animals. I guess another substitution would be 'misfit' Cabbage. Too bad words have been so abused that we can't use them for what they are really for, without offending anyone.
Anyway, lol....I suspect the 'pests' the url is referring to could be larvae of Whites or Sulphur butterflies which use the Brassicaceae or Mustard family of plants as a larval host. People would love to be surrounded by the pretty butterflies, but really quick to erradicate their food. This has taught me to look more deeply at everything in creation. (A main reason I have chosen butterfly conservation as a major field of hard study...or did i choose me?)
I saw the flower you posted peeking out of the clover and was going to post it to see exactly what it is.
Thanks to you, now I know.
:-D
:-D
Deb, I have found that almost all of the "weeds" have been used for medicinal purposes. I have that maybe they grow prolifically and in many areas so that mankind would always have a supply of them to "cure" what ails him. Every part of the elderberry was (is) used by native Americans and was considered so special that they always left the mother plant so that there would be a continuing supply. I am pleased to know that you are studying butterfly conservation. Most of the time I now let my plants be eaten by larvae; whereas, in years past I was quick to remove any nawing "pest". 3 of my gaura plants' leaves have been munched to pieces, but instead of being upset, I am happy that I will see more White Lined Sphinx moths. :o)
You know it Hazel! Rather have the Hummingbird Moths.. :-)
Silver Bladderpod (Lesquerella argyraea), Brassicaceae Family, native (only Texas and Mexico, biennial/perennial, blooms from March to May
Silver bladderpod can be found growing natively only in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains Regions of Texas and the northern region of Mexico. It prefers calcareous limestone and sandy soils. It grows to a height of between 6 and 28 inches and its stems(can have several from the base) and alternate, simple leaves are finely pubescent being covered with stellate hairs. The entire, toothed or wavy upper stem leaves are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long and are narrowly linear to broad: whereas, the entire to deeply pinnately lobed basal leaves are approximately 3 inches long. The foliage is covered with minute stellate hairs.
The 4-petalled yellow flowers are from 1/4 to 3/4 inches in diameter with four long and two short stamen. The 1/8 to 3/8 wide fruit (silicles) are usually round or elliptical. They are smooth, appear on pedicels that usually have an S-shaped curve. and are glabrous (hairless). The seeds are eaten by scaled quail and have been used as a peppery seasoning (not by the quail, but by man). The leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer.
Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=LEAR3
For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/137410/index.html
This plant was in an area where trash was being dumped illegally. I went back to take more and better photos - it was under a pile of debri.
Radishroot wood sorrel (woodsorrel), hairy wood sorrel (woodsorrel), wild oxalis and white oxalis (Oxalis albicans), Oxalidaceae Family, native, perennial, blooms March through early summer
Radishroot woodsorrel (Oxalis albicans) is also commonly known as hairy wood sorrel, wild oxalis and white oxalis. It is found growing natively in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas as well as northern Mexico. The species name "albicans" refers to the white sheen on the leaflets that occurs due to the presence of fine hairs not due to it having white blooms (has yellow blooms). It grows on brushy and stony slopes, ravines, chaparrals, coastal grasslands, sage scrub areas, canyons and canyon bottoms, mountains, rock faces, cave openings, washes, streambeds, creeks, mesquite bosques and riparian woodlands and in moist soils. It prefers part shade.
It is classified as a small subshrub because its rootstock and taproot are thick and more or less woody unlike many wood sorrels. Its stems are prostrate or trailing and do not root at the nodes. They are hairy or glabrous and up to 40cm long. Each leaflet is up to 1.5 cm. Radishroot woodsorrel flowers from Maerch through early summer. The inflorescence has 1 to 3 flowers with pedicels up to 2 cm long. The lanceolate sepals are up to 6 mm long. The 8 to12 mm petals are yellow. Cylindrically-shaped, the fruit capsules are 6 to18 mm in length. It is sometimes mistaken for creeping wood sorrel (woodsorrel) which is Oxalis corniculata. Creeping wood sorrel's roots at the stem nodes (has aboveground stolons); whereas, radishroot wood sorrel does not. Creeping wood sorrel will have hairs along its leaf margins, as do most wood sorrels, but not on the leaf surfaces (may have a few); whereas, radishroot wood sorrel leaf margins and surfaces have numerous small hairs.
Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=OXAL
For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/140256/index.html
It is difficult to see that the leaflets are covered in fine hairs in this photo. I went back to take closer photos of the leaflets; however, a big pile of refuse had been thrown on it. It was growing close to the plant that is described above.
Bighead pygmy cudweed, big-head evax, rabbit tobacco (Evax prolifera), Asteraceae Family, native, Winter/spring annual, blooms late March or April through July
Bighead pygmy cudweed, big-head evax, rabbit tobacco (Evax prolifera) is a winter/spring annual that is native to Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and a few other states. It can be found in pastures, prairies, and stream valleys preferring dry, clayey or rocky limestone soils.
It is between 1 and 6 inches tall. The ones I have been observing are about 2 to 3 inches tall (in April). The erect, simple or branching from base, woolly stems are very leafy and densely white to gray. New growth may be greener in appearance until the dense hairs appear. The 1/8 to 1/4 inch long rosette leaves are spatulate and disappear as the stem leaves emerge. The spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate, alternate stem leaves are 1/8 to 3/5 inch long, and less than 1/6 inch wide. Their margins are entire and their tips are blunt.tips.
Rabbit tobacco blooms from late March or April through July. The cluster of flower are heads subtended by leaves that are .25 to .5 inch long with the receptacle slightly raised to somewhat conical. There is chaff which appears as appearing as bracts. This chaff usually exceeds the heads in length and protrudes. The blooms have no ray flowers. The blooms are followed by tiny yellowish-brown achenes which are oblong-elliptic in shape.
Even though this plant is quite small, it is very noticeabledue to its grayish, fuzzy appearance. I always just have to get low to the ground to view it closely. It would make a nice addition to a rock garden. (However, I do not know how invasive it is).
Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=EVPR
For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/77759/index.html
It is a very small plant that is woolly all over. It is greener after rains. Looking closely, you can see a few teensy yellow blooms which have no ray flowers and a few disk flowers.
Bighead pygmy cudweed, big-head evax, rabbit tobacco (Evax prolifera)
Leaves on the stem in the back are drying as it needs water.
Bighead pygmy cudweed, big-head evax, rabbit tobacco (Evax prolifera)
It grows between 1 and 6 inches tall. Here it is growing amongst small native grass in very rocky limestone soil.
Black- eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta. A field full of them at Pappy Elkins park.
Aren't they glorious?
Another view of the same field, that place is so neat.
Carolina Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
Evergreen – Sun
Spacing 4’ – 8’
Habitat: Climbing vine needs support from the start. Many yellow flowers in early spring, sometimes in the fall and during warm spells in the winter! It needs well prepared soil, good drainage, moderate water. It will grow in the shade, but without the blooms. This beautiful vine can take the afternoon sun!
This is not a jasmine. All parts of this plant are poisonous, but not to the touch. Native to East Texas, Florida, and Virginia.
It grows quite well in my 100% organic yard here in North Central Texas (black clay soil which has been amended with rock powders and compost).
This is the River Primrose, also called the Trumpet Evening Primrose, Oenothera jamesii
It's a biennial, 3 to 6 foot tall. Native to Texas, Oklahoma and Mexico, it is found in the wild along streams and other wet areas...riparian habitats. It cannot tolerate complete dryness of the soil. Blooms appear from July to October and open late afternoon to evening. The info I found indicates it needs sunshine. Propagation is by seeds or root division.
In a normal year, it might not be a good choice for my place, which is kept more on the dry side and has little topsoil other than what I've added. But I bought two plants last May when a local chapter of NPSOT participated in an event in San Antonio. Lucky for me, rainfall was really pretty much constant during the summer, so nature provided what I couldn't. Because I had no appropriate place to plant them at the time, I kept them in pots until last month. Then I went into an overgrown jungle-like part of the yard and cleared out two spots for them to be planted. I must say, those blooms are just amazing! I just wish I had something remotely akin to a riparian area to grow these every year. The dry creek area would probably not work, I'm thinking.
Really neat Linda, I have small plants of the Oenothera biennis you sent me the seed for last year, I am hoping they will bloom this coming spring.
Thank you.
Josephine.
Prickly Lettuce, Opium Lettuce, China Lettuce, Wild Lettuce, Compass Plant, Horse Thistle, Milk Thistle (Lactuca serriola), Asteraceae Family, naturalized, annual/biennial, blooms late June through September, invasive, bloom colors: yellow, creamy yellow; blooms often fade to blue or lavender as they dry,
Distribution in Texas:
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/vpt_map_name?reg=2,4,5,7,8,9,10&name=%3Ci%3ELactuca+serriola%3C/i%3E+L.
The alternately arranged leaves alternately range from 2 to 14 inches long and become progressively smaller up the flowering stem. Most of the leaves are lobed and their bases clasp the stem. They have prickles that occur along the leaf margins and along the midvein on the lower leaf surfaces. The leaves have a distinct white midvein and emit a milky sap when cut.
The small blooms of the prickly lettuce appear on branches which emerge from the main stem. There can be 10 to 12 blooms per head. They are very delicate looking. This plant has been used medicinally for centuries. It was given to ease the sypmtoms of whooping cough, other respiratory illnesses and as a relaxant because the sap has the same chemicals that are found in opium. Don't get any ideas ... the ingestion of large quantities can cause poisoning.
Lepidoptera (butterfly) larvae feed on this plant. Several edible lettuces were derived from this plant. It has been used in soap making.
For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53160/
Blooms ...
Prickly Lettuce, Opium Lettuce, China Lettuce, Wild Lettuce, Compass Plant, Horse Thistle, Milk Thistle (Lactuca serriola)
Leaves and stems ...
Texas Dandelion, Carolina Desert Chicory, Leafy False Dandelion, Florida Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus), Asteraceae Family, Texas native, perennial/biennial, blooms March through May
A closeup of the center of the bloom is shown in a previous post here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=1627506
The whole bloom ...
Hello Hazel, it is great to have you back, we have missed you.
hi, Josephine. Thanks.
Smooth Sow Thistle, Smooth Sowthistle, Milk Thistle, Swine Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), Asteraceae Family, naturalized, annual/biennial, blooms June to August, known as a weed by some
Texas county distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=SOOL
Smooth sow thistle, milk thistle, swine thistle is an introduced plant from Europe. It can grow in just about any type of soil; however, it prefers nutrient rich soils. Smooth sow thistle has a considerable variation in leaf form and flower color.
This annual/biennial sow thistle forms a winter rosette, grows from a long taproot and is from 8 inches to 5 feet high. The stout stems are hollow, usually 5-angled, hairless and exude latex when broken. The spined leaves are grayish rather than dark glossy green like prickly sow thistle. However, both species can have some plants that fall in the intermediate range in this regard. In the shade, the leaves may have a have purple blotching. The upper leaves are not divided and have a broad-based triangular shape; whereas, the lower leaves are divided to the midrib into lobes with the end lobe being the largest. The lobes clasping the stem have arrow-shaped, pointed tips (Sonchus asper are ear-shaped).
Smooth sow thistle flowers usually from June to August. However, it can flower in April and continue until the first frost. The pale yellow flowerhead is about 1 inch in diameter when fully open and the flowers appear in loose clusters. Dry, stored seed remains viable for around 10 years.
The smooth sow thistle is used in Greece as a winter salad. The leaves also can be boiled like spinach, mixed with other pot-herbs or added to soups.
For more information see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/77129/
Blloms and buds:
Woolly Paperflower, Hairy Paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina) - see above post dated August 25, 2006 for more information
This has been a wonderful cultivated plant. Sow seeds in the fall. Updated photos of plants growing in my yard follow.
Winter rosette ...
Woolly Paperflower, Hairy Paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina)
Blooms and leaves ...
Woolly Paperflower, Hairy Paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina)
Woolly Paperflower, Hairy Paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina)
Woolly Paperflower, Hairy Paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina)
Plants that emerged from mother plant that self-seeded
That is so neat Hazel, I knew about this plant, but had never seen pictures of it except in books. Glad to see it is doing well for you.
Missouri Primrose, Oenothera missouriensis: perennial, up to a foot tall, but larger plants often sprawl out to as much as a foot and a half wide. It blooms from April to July. The yellow blooms can be four inches across. Can be found in exposed limestone and caliche or in some prairie areas. It tolerates well-drained sand, limestone or caliche soils and prefers full sun. Not the best photo, because the flowers were beginning to close.
This message was edited May 18, 2008 10:45 PM
It forms large winged pods to contain the seeds. Later the pods will be a tan color after they ripen.
Beach evening-primrose, Oenothera drummondii.
Decklife, thank you for posting, your Primrose is very pretty.
Josephine.
Thanks - I'll try for a good picture of a fresh bloom next.
decklife, I was going to ask you if you would post your photos in these Texas Native Plants & Wildflowers Picture Directory. I am happy to see you have. They will assist others when they are attempting to identify native plants. Thanks so much. :o)
Nerva-Ray or Squarebud Daisy, Tetragonotheca texana. Perennial native wildflower, 1 to 2 feet tall, which seems to like rocky soil in the southern part of the Hill Country. Both the buds and the phyllaries are shaped as squares. They are drought-tolerant, seeming to survive and bloom in the present drought. Blooms April to September.
What an interesting flower, I had never seen it before Linda.
That plant won't stay in my yard long, but on the dry slope at the front of the property, with poor soil, it has now started to establish itself.
I have never seen one of those either. Thanks for sharing it.
This message was edited Apr 17, 2009 11:15 AM
Good eye Linda!
This is a little guy (less than 3 feet tall) with an enormous head. He sure brings sunshine into the flowerbed.
Carla
