Field Observations:
July 15, 2013
On this wonderfully hot and humid day with temperatures reaching all the way into the low nineties the heat of the sun was evident as I entered the prairie I will be studying over the course of the next several weeks. Drawn to this open-field with the many blooming flowers, I adore the rays of the sun as they touch the faces of the plethora of plant life found here. With very little breeze the heat seemed somewhat stifling, but the life abuzz in the prairie seemed to be unaffected. Within the first couple of minutes I recognized the buzz of insect life surrounding me. Butterflies flitted from flowers along with damselflies. I heard the faint hum of several species of bees dutifully pollinating the many flowers present. On closer examination I could see beetles scuttling up the stems of various plants.
Undoubtedly where there are insects there are sure to be birds nearby who will gladly partake in this feast. I recognized the soft "coo" of a Mourning Dove who sat upon the telephone wire, along with the chirps of several other species I was unable to identify at this time. The nearby swamp provided a chorus of Green frogs to add into this symphony of sounds. After collecting several samples of wildflowers to bring back to identify, I sat along the edge of the prairie to record these observations. As the sun was setting, I was thankful for the shade provided on the East side of the plants, along with the gentle breeze I could hear rustling through the flora behind me.
Species Identification:
Cup Plant/Indian Cup (Silphium perfoliatum)
With a height ranging from 4-8' this flowering plant is one of the tallest among the prairie species, making it quite noticeable at first glance. This plant's preference for a wet environment including river bottoms, open forests, and wet prairies makes sense due to the swamp that is adjacent to this particular patch of prairie.
A look at the species' scientific name is a good indicator of the characteristics this plant is known for. Perfoliata, which means "through the leaves" perfectly describes the way the square, hairless stem, comes through the pair of fused opposite leaves. This fusion creates a cup like structure around the stem that collects rainwater. This water attracts a plethora of insects and even birds. The leaves of this plant are egg-shaped, rough and toothed. The flower is a disc shaped yellow flower with numerous rays with a 2-3'' head.
Species of the Week: Cup Plant. (n.d.).Radford Public Library. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.radfordpl.org/wildwood/today/
This 3-5' wildflower prefers moist to dry soils. The slender hairy stem may require other plant competition in the area in order to provide support. Atop this thin stem is a flower with yellow rays that droop downward surrounding a grayish-brown cone which is taller than wide. An anise scent can be detected when this central disc is bruised. The alternate leaves of this plant are lance-shaped and toothed. Due to its edible nature this plant is often quickly diminished if livestock is present for grazing.
Ratibida pinnata (Pinnate prairie coneflower) | NPIN. (n.d.). Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RAPI
An invasive species, this flowering plant was once planted for its medicinal purposes. Its ability to adapt to a variety of soil conditions and its quick maturation rate helps it outcompete some native species.
This plant is 1-3 ' high with alternating leaves along a bristly stem. The head of the flower is 2-4'' wide with deeply and narrowly divided bracts beneath the umbel.
Queen Anne's Lace. (n.d.). North Carolina State University. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/howto/mapping/invexse/queenann.html
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
A more inconspicuous plant within this prairie this 1-5' high plant is common in fields and waste places. This plant favors disturbed areas, but is also common in prairies, pastures and abandoned fields which tend to have full sun, dry conditions, and poor soil.
As seen in the photograph the upper parts of the stem terminate in clusters of daisy-like buds. The flower head is approximately 1/2'' in diameter and contains 40 plus white petals around a yellow disc center. The achene enclosing the seeds of this plant have small bristles that enable distribution of the seeds by wind.
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus). (n.d.). Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ds_fleabanex.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment