Gaillardia aestivalis var aestivalis – Prairie Gaillardia
Although this Gaillardia is indeed a native to Texas, and was photographed next to Gaillardia pulchella, the familiar Indian Blanket or Firewheel, this particular specimen is located at the Cape Canaveral National Seashore. It is found mainly in the coastal states, in dry, sandy soils. So I would guess in Texas it would be familiar along the Gulf Coast, while this Florida native was next to the Atlantic Ocean.
Oxalis drummondii – Drummond’s Woodsorrel
This modest little flower is a native volunteer that just showed up in the yard this year. It has the distinctive leaves of a woodsorrel, but which one I didn’t know until I looked it up at http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OXDR. That’s one of the pleasures of having a wildscape garden – the diversity of plant life that just “happens” from year to year. The photo above was chosen because it happens to include the leaves at the bottom of the photo, which aids in identification (although in this picture, not so much).
A slightly more aesthetically pleasing photo, but without the leaves, appears here:
Oxalis drummondii – Drummond’s Woodsorrel
Bothriochloa laguroides ssp torreyana – Silver Bluestem
This not an attempt to create an artistic effect with photography – this is the result of a grossly overexposed photograph which one tried to recover or save using the “Enhance” menu in Photoshop Elements. On the other hand, it does appear somewhat like a watercolor filter effect. The Silver Bluestem grasses are blooming these days, and their distinctive seedheads are a distracting sight as one drives along the highways and byways. And with so many options available on a digital camera, it doesn’t cost too much to experiment with exposures and timings.
Asclepias species – Milkweed
When I called the local nursery I specifically asked if they had Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly milkweed…and they said yes. What I found was this, which as it turns out is most likely Asclepias currasavica, Tropical or Mexican Milweed. That was last year, and they have managed to survive, and even to have been visited by Monarch Butterflies during their migrations.
Although I generally post species that are native to Central Texas and Williamson County in particular, an exception has been made here for the educational possibilities. First, even though you ask for a species by name, you may not get that species, especially if the plants are poorly or not labelled. Second, it’s probably best to ask to see the Texas Natives if you go into a nursery. That way you’ll find out just how aware the staff are of Texas Native plants and if they possess any knowledge in addition. Finally, its for good reason that one of the common names for Asclepias tuberosa is Orange Milkweed – the flowers are orange, not red and yellow.
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var wrightii – Hummingbird Bush
Also known as Flame Acanthus, this post goes with the Hummingbird Bush appellation because that’s what has been appearing in the yard lately. I believe that they are Black-throated Hummingbirds. Apparently this is the time for migration for these little feathered jewels.
Proboscidea louisianica – Devil’s Claw
Can’t tell you how pleased I am that this plant, which has popped up in the greenbelt behiind the fence, is a native rather than an exotic or invasive. According to Enquist, this is an occasional plant of roadsides and wastes., common only in Mason County. The seeds apparently attach themselves to bypassing animals, thus spreading and propagating the species. Apparently the seed pods were used for food by various native tribes of the Southwest, as well as plant fibers which were used for weaving. The plant has a rather strong unpleasant odor, which means that the photograph is more pleasant than the taking of the photograph. Ajilvsgi recommends it for the xeriscape garden, if there is room. It blooms from June to September, usually only a few flowers at a time.
Bouteloua gracilis – Blue Grama
Blue Grama is one of several native grasses that is being pushed as a native turf alternative to St. Augustine or Bermudagrass. It grows in bunches and forms mats. Hairy Grama is similar in appearance, but has a “stinger” at the end of the seedhead, which Blue Grama lacks.
This particular specimen was photographed alongside the curb, where I have tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to establish Buffalograss between the sidewalk and the curb. I’ve used the Blue Grama seed to attempt to fill in the patchy spots that the Buchloe dactyloides seems to be prone to.
Bouteloua rigidiseta var rigidiseta – Texas Grama
Texas Grama is a weedy grass, often a sign of disturbed soils. It grows on dry plains, rocky hills, and overgrazed land throughout all of Texas except for the northeast. This particular specimen was photographed in Burnet County, although it is common in Williamson County as well, the home base for this blog. Texas Grama also goes by the aliases Bell Grama and Mesquite Grass, showing once again that you just can’t depend on common names. So Bouteloua rigidiseta will continue to wave its bell-shaped seedheads in the wind, providing aesthetic pleasure to those who pay attention.
Desmanthus illinoensis – Illinonis Bundleflower
Another shot from Lake Granger/Taylor Park back in mid-July, this time from the shoreline, of the seedpod of the Illinois Bundleflower.
Since the Desmanthus illinoensis usually blooms in May and June, we saw none of the little creamy white flowers, and the seed pods had already turned from green to black. The leaves have been described as almost fernlike – decide for yourself. Together, they are a distinctive combination that should be easy to recognize in the field.
Convolvulus equitans – Texas Bindweed
Back to flowering plants, this time a small vine that grows close to the ground and has fairly small flowers which are less than a inch and a half across, if that much. A member of the Morning Glory family, it resembles other members of the family. Its leaves are distinctive as seen in this photo just above the blossom. It likes partial shade and is in general easy to overlook.
bob's brain: living well with a movement disorder and other comorbidities 