There are tons of cats on my cassia now that it is blooming. I picked two of these guys for getting their photos taken. They are about the same size but look very different. Don't know if they are both cloudless sulfurs or if one might be a different sulfur. My book says that the cats can be yellow or green, depending on whether the cat eats the flowers or the leaves of the cassia. Karen
Same guy.
Other guy
Same cat,
WOWEE! Beautiful cat! Is your cassia a tree? Love it! I am currently adding cassia to my yard.
Thanks for sharing that beauty with all of us! :-D
Edited after seeing other photos!
That's really weird that they each look so different. Rather interesting!
This message was edited Oct 29, 2006 11:56 AM
This message was edited Oct 29, 2006 11:56 AM
They're pretty, my Cassia is still little, but can't wait until it has cats.
My cassia is a bush, probably 5 feet high and not too bushy yet. It was planted this year.
I have been seeing tons of eggs on it, but have not, until now, seen any survive. There are ants all over the cassia and I assumed they were eating the eggs. I tried to start a cassia from a cutting, but it didn't make it, so I am waiting for the seed pods. Anyway, there are at least 10 cats on it now, all different sizes. Karen
The first one definitely looks like the yellow form of Cloudless Sulfur cat shown in my book. The second one doesn't look like either form shown. Anyone know what it is?
Karen,
What are your temps there now? We're got about 30 monarchs and they've not yet pupated. We're going down to about 46 some nights. I don't see any cats on my Cassia- will have to look again.
Maggie
Karen your other guy looks like a Orange-barred Sulphur. Please take pics for us when it makes a chrysalis and emerges
Beautiful cats! Ditto on wanting to see the chrysalis!
They are my newest love and my next project for year. I've got small Candletree's now but not sure they'll get large enough for seeds since they took forever to even come up! I'm working on getting some seeds from the Winter Cassia (C. bicapsularis, I believe)
I'd love to get photos of them as they change, but doubt I will. These are outdoors on my cassia bush. I will have to wait for the seed pods to plant up a cassia so I can raise the critters in my lanai (and get photos). Thought it might be an orange-barred but wasn't sure, thanks Donna. Karen
I have a tons of cassia seeds if anyone wants some for SASE. I picked a gallon zip lock bag yesterday of seed pods. My winter cassia didn't make seeds because the cats ate the blooms lol. I threw extra cassia seed in the wildflower garden and have small plants up now I am going to dig up for a jump for next springs growing. They over winter well inside
I'll keep that in mind Donna, in case I don't get any seed pods. Thanks!
Not a great photo, but the (I think) cloudless sulfur in "J" this morning. I plan on removing him from the plant once he pupates and taking him into my butterfly house.
The continuing saga of the sulfur:
This morning.....
Another:
Last: Now he's in my butterfly box so I will be able to get a photo when s/he emerges.
It's beautiful, and so well camouflaged!
Verrrrrrrrry nice Becky!
Your Sulphers are amazing, I love your pictures!
Wowsers!
Which Cassia is that one Karen?
:oD
Im about to cut my Cassias back to try and overwinter them...
The up view from the trunk, (I have lots of seeds for this one you guys)
This message was edited Nov 4, 2006 7:38 AM
Karen - Oooooh! LOVE those photos! What a neat chrysalis! THANKS for sharing that. I am not as familiar with Sulpher Butterflies as some others. (Probably because I didn't have any host plants for them. I'm working on that!)
Deb - Below is a photo of what I believe is a Cassia with tons of seed pods. This Cassia looks different than yours. Can you or anyone identify it for me? (Perhaps I need to just post it on the Plant ID forum.) This showed up in one of my planters and is a small tree now. (It's still in the planter!) I haven't seen any butterflies on it though. (Don't know if Sulphers are year round in Florida or not.)
I love the pictures Karen send me some please!!
Deb
can't wait to see it Karen
Becky when those seeds dry lets talk, okay? :o)
Deb
Deb - Absolutely! I would like to know what cassia it is. Very fast growing and beautiful yellow flowers!
Becky I have never seen a cassia like that. I would love some seed to please
Donna - I would be more than glad to share some of the seeds with you. D-mail me. I am going to post it in the Plant ID forum to verify what kind of Cassia it is. I think most cassia have rounded leaves, not pointed ones like the leaves on my plant. It's a mystery to me!
Edited after looking at the PlantFlies under cassia: It looks like it might be "Privet" Cassia. Of which, I know nothing about.
This message was edited Nov 4, 2006 1:46 PM
Here's a photo of it when it was blooming about a month ago.
it is beautiful
Thanks Donna! That plant was "heaven sent" because I have no idea how I got it in my garden! :-) But I agree - it is a beaut!
I think mine is Christmas Senna, Winter Cassia
Senna bicapsularis, but I am not positive.
Deb, did you want the photos or what?
This looks like Privet cassia to me- see the pointy leaves.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2173/index.html
Maggie
No my leaves are rounded not pointy.
margaran - Yes, Privet cassia is what I thought too! But I am just not familiar with the cassia species to be sure.
Look at the very first photo. You can see how rounded the leaves are.
Sorry Karen. I thought margaran was trying to ID my mystery cassia. Duh!
Im diggin these Cassias, all of them!! yes more pictures lol..
Deb
Oh, maybe she is Becky. I thought she was talking about mine. Doesn't take much to confuse what is left of my brain ;-)
sorry karen, it was early this morning when I posted that, and I couldnt edit it to say Karen instead of Becky.... You certainly arent the one losing it girl!! it was me. .... But yes I do love YOUR pics a whole whole lot!! I would love to have some for my Wallpapers.
Becky's Cassia is also a beauty!! Gotta have some of that!
Deb
