The scalloped leaves along the stem made me think that this was ground ivy, but the flower on top quickly showed me to be wrong. |
When I first noticed it, I saw the clasping leaves on a long stem
and thought it was ground ivy. Before I
could pull it I noticed the bright lavender flower at the end of the stem. Closer examination shows that there were calyces
in most of the upper leaf axils. These
had probably already bloomed out. I will
keep an eye on this area next spring to find this plant again.
When we moved here in 2012 many of the unmown areas that got any
sun at all had the invasive wineberry, Rubus
phoenicolasius, growing in them. Fortunately this is not a strongly growing
plant and it can be suppressed by cutting it back on a regular basis (at least
once a year). It is also fairly easy to pull.
While the stems are covered with sharp bristles, these are not very
stiff and will not penetrate my gardening gloves. I was disappointed that I could not find any
native raspberries (we have a ton of wild blackberries) growing in or around
the woods. In 2017 I started noticing a
different berry plant showing up in various places, many of those that had been
covered with wineberry. The trifoliate
leaflets and bluish blush on the rounded stems pointed toward some sort of
raspberry. (See this link to Illinois Wildflowers for way to tell raspberries and blackberry plants
apart.) It didn't matter which, as long
as it wasn't wineberry (or more blackberry).
This spring these new plants flowered and produced fruit. The berries were initially red, then turned
black as they ripened. While I have not
nailed down the ID, it's a pretty good guess that these are native black raspberry,
Rubus occidentalis.
I don't know if these are from an existing seed bank, or were
brought in by wildlife. Next year I will
pay closer attention to the flowers to try and confirm the ID; although there
are only three species of raspberries that are black, most are red. If these came in via wildlife, they may be
from some cultivated varieties rather than strictly wild. On tasting the black berry I finally
appreciate what the flavor 'black raspberry' really is like. Jolly Ranchers have the taste right.
Two years after I started removing the invasive species from this area, these American germander have formed a hedge of their own. |
American germander, Teucrium canadense, was one of the first native plants to emerge from what was before a dense hedge of wineberry, garlic mustard and Japanese stiltgrass. Since this plant spreads by rhizomes and is a prolific reseeder it may be able to hold its own against the stiltgrass. Peak bloom is in mid-summer at which time it is easily identified by the stamen arching out above the slipper-shaped, white to pale pink flower.
You can see the small white flower clusters coming out of the stem at the bottom of this photo. |
This large, about 5" long, trumpet-shaped flower is unlike most native species in our area. Is is actually a southwestern native but has naturalized as far north as New England. |
Afterthe removal of a large pine tree I've been finding new plants
cropping up all around it. These were probably buried
in the seed bank and were stirred up by the work crew or were just sitting
there waiting for more light and moisture to encourage germination. One plant that really surprised me was Sacred
Datura or Angel's Trumpet, Datura
wrightii. Native to the western
states, this plant is probably a garden escapee, possibly grown by the previous owner or flown in by birds. In colder climates this plant behaves as an annual though is is listed as cold hardy to USDA zone 4.
Though a little tattered Robin's Plantain seems to be getting established in a shady portion of the lawn. |