Ondine's Curse

eastern baccharis

2011-12-11T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is Baccharis halimifolia in the family Asteraceae:

This photo was taken in November of 2006 across from the JSU stadium in Jackson, Mississippi. B. halimifolia is native to the United States and found along the mainly along southeastern seaboard but ranges from Texas to Massachusetts.

This is one of the first plants I photographed.

Chinese privet

2011-12-04T07:31:00.002-06:00

This is an example of Ligustrum sinense in the family Oleaceae:

I found this plant along the road leading into Mule Jail on April 28, 2007. This plant is not native to the United States and according to Wikipedia, was introduced from southeast Asia as an ornamental plant.

By the by, the National Parks Service has a pdf on invasive species that is worth a look.

beach false foxglove

2011-11-27T07:31:00.018-06:00

Here is Agalinis fasciculata in the family of Scrophulariaceae:

This flower was found growing south of Opelika, AL, along route 51 in late September, 2011. This plant is native to the United States and can be found throughout the southeastern states. Though it is common here on the eastern side of Alabama I have not seen this flower in either the Jackson area nor the Delta. I imagine it likes higher elevations (relatively speaking, Opelika is about 500 feet higher than Jackson), though this is just a guess.

common mullein

2011-10-16T07:31:00.000-06:00

This is Verbascum thapsus of the family Scrophulariaceae:

The above flower was photographed along AL 51 south of Opelika, Alabama in late September, 2011. It was introduced to the United States and has been quite successful, being found as far north as Greenland. According to Wikipedia, V. thapsus is a native of Europe and has been used for medicinal purposes for the last 2000 years. It seems to possess anti-cough and expectorant properties.

java-bean

2011-10-09T07:31:00.002-06:00

This is Senna obtusifolia of the family Fabaceae:

S. obtusifolia is a native of the United States and is found throughout the eastern states as far north as Wisconsin and New York. According to Wikipedia, this plant is most celebrated in China, where it has a long history in Chinese medicine as a laxative. There is no mention of where or how it came by the name java-bean (it also bears the monikers coffeeweed and coffee pod). I assume that may produce a tea similar in character to coffee, though with its use as a laxative in Chinese medicine, I will not be trying this any time soon.

This particular plant was found along state road 51, south of Opelika, AL in September of 2011.

stiff ticktrefoil

2011-10-02T07:31:00.036-06:00

This is an example of Desmodium obtusum in the family Fabaceae:

Taken Sept. 23, 2011 south of Opelika, AL on State Road 51, D. obtusum is native to North America. Desmodium spp. is found through out the United States and there are over 70 species in this genus. According to Wikipedia, however, the genus is not well defined and has a tendency to gain and lose members. Regardless of the particulars of which plant is assigned to which species, Desmodium spp. is finding use in agriculture as a natural source of bug repellant and weed killer.

Carolina desert-chicory

2011-09-25T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is an example of Pyrrhopappus carolinianus in the family Asteraceae:

Taken on December 12, 2007 in Jackson at Parham Bridges park. This plant is native the United States and according to the USDA site, it is found largely in the Southeast. It is unclear how it acquired the name Carolina desert-chicory, at least the Carolina desert part is unclear. If you look at chicory, it is clear the similarities in the blooms, though the structure of the two plants are quite different.

large yellow vetch

2011-09-18T07:31:00.001-06:00

Here is Vicia grandiflora of the family Fabaceae:

This particular plant was found along highway 49, north of Yazoo City in the Mississippi Delta. The photo was made on April 4th 2010.

swamp rose

2011-09-11T07:31:00.022-06:00

This is Rosa palustris in the family Rosaceae:

As with the last flower posted, this was taken in May of 2009, at the Brandon property. This plant is native to the United States and Canada and can be found throughout the eastern half of the two countries. I have seen this plant often around Mississippi and the blooms vary from the pink seen above to an almost pure white. The blooms have a very subdued sent that must be purposefully sampled.

sidebreak pencilflower

2011-09-04T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is Stylosanthes biflora of the family Fabaceae:

This plant was found on the Brandon property in May of 2009. This plant is native to the United States and found throughout the Southeast and north through the Midwest. Its common name is much more impressive than the plant itself, though I am not sure how it came to be called so.

If you look close, on the left edge of this flower there is a tiny creature that looks something like a cartoon monster.

kudzu

2011-08-28T07:31:00.008-06:00

Here is Pueraria montana of the family Fabaceae:

This particular flower was photographed August 28, 2011 in Opelika, Alabama. There are a number of species in the genus Pueraria but these are closely related and most not readily distinguished from one another. These species all answer to the name kudzu. As most who've been in the southeast will know, is everywhere, it was introduced from Asia as a means to control erosion and it grows like wildfire, enveloping everything.

As it is a member of the pea family, Pueraria spp. produces pods, hairy ones. These dangle below the stem that supports the cluster of flowers, growing ever longer, pictured below:

Despite the pestilent nature of this plant, the blooms are beautiful and have a sweet, subtle smell similar to honey suckle, the root is rich in starch and serves as an excellent grazing plant for 3 or 4 years. There may even be medicinal properties hiding in the plant, however, most folks just want to know how to get rid of it. Wikipedia offers quite a number of ways to control the plant, the worst being devised by a sixteen year old Jacob Schindler, which involves disgorging precious helium into the ground.

I know this is a post about plants, but most folks don't realize that helium is a precious and limited resource. The New York Times reported in 1997 on the dismantling of the Federal Helium reserves sounding the warnings for the physics community but haven't written anything since. The most recent news is from Cleveland, sounding the warning bells a little over a month ago: we're running out.

golden zizia

2011-08-21T07:31:00.034-06:00

Here is Zizia aurea of the family apiaceae:

This plant is native to the United States and Canada, per the USDA plants database. This was taken on April 11, 2009 in Mule Jail. This plant's family, apiaceae, is named for the carrot. It is not yet documented west of the Rocky Mountains but ranges from Florida to Manitoba. This particular plant still bore all its blooms, though I cannot tell if they are in the bud or the wilt. Typically, Z. aurea displays bright yellow flowers. Within this group of flowers there where a few that had the proper color but proved poor examples of the plant:

common yarrow

2011-07-10T07:31:00.001-06:00

Here is Achillea millefolium of the family asteraceae:

This is another example of a highly successful invasive species. Though A. millefolium can claim native status in parts of the United States, it has found its way throughout the continent. This plant appears to have a colorful heritage, illuminated here, that includes extensive use as a medicinal herb, beer brewing and Neanderthal burial rites.

The photo above was taken in June of 2009 along the I-57 corridor near an on-ramp.

red clover

2011-07-03T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is Trifolium pratense in the family of fabaceae:

This example of red clover was captured in Illinois, along side an on ramp to I-57 on June 13, 2009. It was a rather large patch of all sorts of flowers and I first took this to be Persian clover, which I have already posted, but the size of the plant wasn't quite the same. I took a few pictures, as an afterthought, to look more closely later and too my surprise, it was a different species.

This plant was introduced to the North American continent from Europe and has been exceedingly successful. It can be found throughout the Lower 48, Alaska, Greenland and above the Arctic circle in Canada. It has been proclaimed the State Flower of Vermont. It has avoided designation as a noxious plant, but more than that, attained to the status of Wetland Indicator.

I suppose T. pratense is a story of an immigrant plant that we can all admire and hold up to our friends in the Plant Kingdom as an example of how an invasive species should behave.

Vasey's grass

2011-06-26T07:31:00.002-06:00

This is Paspalum urvillei a member of the poaceae family:

Detail:

Vasey's grass is not native to the U.S. or Canada. It hails from South America and has found its way as far west as Hawaii where it is considered a noxious weed. This particular example was photographed at Mule Jail in May of 2011.

Johnsongrass

2011-06-19T07:31:00.002-06:00

This is another example of the poaceae family, Sorghum halepense:

and a close up:

These pictures were taken at Mule Jail on June 4, 2011. S. halepense has been introduced to North America and can be found throughout the lower 48, Alaska, Hawaii and Porto Rico, as well as parts of Canada. It is considered a noxious weed (crowds out the native species).

late purple aster

2011-06-12T07:31:00.000-06:00

Here is Symphyotrichum patens in the family asteraceae:

This picture was taken October 5, 2007 at the Brandon property. S. patens is a native of the U.S. and found throughout the southeast, eastern sea board and the mid-west states. It offers a surprising patch of purple after most flowers have gone.

bahia grass

2011-06-05T07:31:00.001-06:00

Here is Paspalum notatum in the family poaceae:

And here are details:

These pictures were taken May 27, 2011 at Mule Jail. This plant is native to the southeastern United States, but has been exported to other parts of the country where it is not naturally found. By way of anecdote, as a child, I would strip the flowers from these plants and get a inky, dark purple stain all over my hands. I thought this was the coolest thing and imagined making my own ink from this plant.

redring milkweed

2011-05-29T07:31:00.005-06:00

This is Asclepias variegata in the family of asclepiadaceae:

Found at the Chapel Hill property, Mississippi, on May 7, 2011. This particular plant was growing in a well shaded clearing, apart from the underbrush. Native to the U.S. and Canada, this plant is found from the Gulf, up the Mississippi-Ohio River valleys and in to Ontario, Canada and from Texas to Connecticut. However, in the norther states of Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut, this plant (call white milk weed in these states) is considered endangered.

common sweetleaf

2011-05-22T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is Symplocos tinctoria of the family symplocaceae:

This is a native of the United States and can be found throughout the southeast. According to Porcher/Rayner S. tinctoria is a source of a bold yellow dye, taken from the leaves and the bark. Though I've not tried them yet, the leaves are supposed to be both refreshing and sweet to chew on. This particular tree grow in Mule Jail and this picture was taken on March 20, 2011.

soft thistle

2011-05-15T07:31:00.019-06:00

Here is Cirsium carolinianum in the asteraceae family:

This flower was found in Brandon, Mississippi down Shiloh Road on April 21, 2009. This plant is a native of the lower 48 and found throughout the southeast from Texas to the Carolinas and as far north as Ohio.

crown vetch

2011-05-08T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is the flower Securigera varia in the family of fabaceae:

I found this plant in mid June 2009 along I-57 somewhere between Cairo and Chicago. This is not a native plant, however, it has been quite successful and can be found throughout the lower 48, Hawaii and the southern stretch of Canada from ocean to ocean.

thicket bean

2011-05-01T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is the vine Phaseolus polystachios of the family fabaceae:

This was taken at Mule Jail on July 19, 2007. This plant is native to the lower United States. This plant carries the name wild kidney bean and is listed as special concern to the state of Connecticut. From the USDA site, there seems to be a variant of P. polystachios that is specific to the Bible belt states. The exact distinguishing features that differentiates these variants in unknown to me.

shaggy soldier

2011-04-24T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is Galinsoga quadriradiata of the family asteraceae:

This particular plant is found throughout North America and is not native to the US. I took this picture in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while visiting my brother, Duff, and my sister-in-law, Anja in June of 2009. This little flower has gather quite a few names for itself including: the common Peruvian daisy, fringed quickweed and hairy galinsoga.

blunt broom sedge

2011-04-17T07:31:00.000-06:00

This is Carex tribuloides of the family cyperaceae:

Like last week, this plant is of the genus Carex. This photo was taken in April of 2009 on the Brandon property. C. tribuloides is also a native to North America, but the range of this species is greater than C. intumescens, being found in British Columbia.

greater bladder sedge

2011-04-10T07:31:00.009-06:00

Here is an example of Carex intumescens in the family of cyperaceae:

This picture was taken in April 2007 at Mule Jail, very close to the Pearl River. A North American native, this plant is found from Newfoundland to Florida and west to Wyoming. It happens to be threatened in Illinois and those folks call it swollen sedge. C. intumescens has some notable relatives in the family cyperaceae, according to Wikipedia, both water chestnuts and papyrus of the paper making kind call this little plant cousin.

annual ragweed

2011-04-03T07:31:00.001-06:00

Here is Ambrosia artemisiifolia of the family asteraceae:

This was found, as may of the flowers here, on my walk from my car to and from class during medical school. I took this picture on October 19, 2006. This was among the first flowers that I photographed. It is interesting that this plant carries the name ambrosia, though few would consider ragweed to be food to the gods. I suppose this is one of those little ironies that the scientific method produces.

oppositeleaf spotflower

2011-03-27T07:31:00.000-06:00

This is Acmella oppositefolia in the family asteraceae:

And I found this on the banks of the Pearl at Mule Jail in September 2009. A native of the Southeast and found no farther north than Missouri. The bees are of unknown species, but do not look like typical honey bees, any ideas as to what they are?

roundleaf greenbrier

2011-03-20T07:31:00.006-06:00

Here is the consecutive third vine, Smilax rotundifolia in the family smilacaceae:

This was also taken in the year 2007, April 28th, to be exact. S. rotundifolia is also native to the United States. This plant can be found from Florida to Maine and as far west as Texas and South Dakota. This picture was taken at Mule Jail.

Guadeloupe cucumber

2011-03-13T07:31:00.002-06:00

This is Melothria pendula in the family of cucurbitaceae:

And was taken on June 17th 2007. This is another vine that is native to the lower 48, unlike the previous plant, this has no noxious weed status, rather is endangered in Maryland, threatened in Illinois and bit the bullet in Indiana. M. pendula goes by a few aliases: in Maryland and Indiana it is call creeping cucumber and in Illinois it is call squirting cucumber. I find the Illinois name funny.

whitestar

2011-03-06T07:31:00.004-06:00

This is Ipomoea lacunosa of the family convolvulaceae:

This flower was found growing on the fence of the Veterans' Stadium parking lot fence in Jackson Mississippi in December of 2007. This plant is native to the lower 48 though not welcome in all states. It has the dubious distinction of noxious weed status in Arizona (I'll refrain from any puns) and Arkansas. It is found throughout the southeast as far north as Canada.

white crown-beard

2011-02-06T07:31:00.001-06:00

Here is Verbesina virginica in the family of asteraceae:

This flower was found at Mule Jail in late September of 2008. V. virginica is a native of the United States and can be found throughout the southeastern US up to the great lakes.

so it's been a while

2011-02-02T22:31:00.000-06:00

I've not yet taken the time to identify more flowers yet. This month will be busy, but I hope to have the postings going again by the end of February.

orange hawkweed

2010-12-12T07:31:00.020-06:00

Here is Hieracium aurantiacum of the family asteraceae:

This flower was taken in Wisconsin near the small town of Honey Rock. H. aurantiacum is an invasive species of the more terrible kind. It is one of those plants that crowds out the native flora. The folks over at wikipedia think that the USDA is wrong in naming this flower. Wikipedia calls H. aurantiacum by the name Pilosella aurantiaca, oddly, though, most of the sources from the Wikipedia article reference H. aurantiacum. I suspect this point would be lost on the editors of that page.

Back to the plant at hand. This plant was photographed on June 21, 2009, my mom's birthday! I believe she had just turned 39 again. In North America this is considered a noxious plant due to its propensity to suppress native flora and the difficult in eliminating the plant once it finds a foothold.

Chinese tallowtree

2010-12-05T07:31:00.000-06:00

Here is a gift from Ben Franklin to the continent of North America, Sapium sebiferum in the family euphorbiaceae:

According to the USDA this tree was introduced by none other than the 100 dollar man himself in 1776. This photo was taken 234 years later on the 1st of June in 2010. This particular invader is flourishing in my front yard. This tree has a marvelous scent from mid May and into early June and displays beautiful fall colors.

alligator weed

2010-11-28T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is Alternanthera philoxeroides in the family amaranthaceae:

This was taken on May 11, 2010 at LeFleur's Bluff state park in Jackson. This plant was introduced to the US and has the distinction of being a noxious weed in 7 states.

weedy dwarfdandelion

2010-11-21T07:31:00.000-06:00

The following plant may be identified incorrectly: Krigia caespitosa of the family asteraceae:

This plant is a bit difficult to nail down. Granted I'm strictly using visual comparison to identify the plant on this page, which by itself leave all my efforts suspect. However, this genus seems to offer special difficulty; even to the professionals.

Regardless the label that we've assigned the linage of this specific plant, the above photo was taken between Flora, MS and Yazoo on Hwy 49 in March of '07 and this particular plant is a good example of the head flower arrangement.

beaked cornsalad

2010-11-14T07:31:00.000-06:00

The following plant is called Valerianella radiata of the family valerianaceae:

This plant was found growing at Chapel Hill on March 15, 2007. Native to the U.S. however, it would seem that it, or it's cousin (V. locusta), was made famous by none other than King Louis the 14th's royal gardener. It seems to have garnered favor as a garnish. Though, if wikipedia is to be believed, the specimen above is past it's peak and better passed over. This flower is an example of the cyme flower arrangement

blunt spikerush

2010-11-07T07:31:00.003-06:00

This is Eleocharis obtusa in the family cyperaceae:

This particular plant was photographed at LeFleur's Bluff state park on May 11, 2010. This plant is a native of the Contiguous 48 States, Canada and Hawaii. It isn't a large plant, rather, it has numerous stalks each topped with the flower picture above. The stalks radiate from a common base that, for this specimen, was obscured by the shallow water/mud it was growing in.

spreading hedgeparsley

2010-10-31T07:31:00.000-06:00

Here is Torilis arvensis of the family apiaceae:

This was taken in downtown Jackson at Sterling Towers, the old apartment complex where I used to live. This plant is native to Canada, however, it has been introduced to the lower 48. In other words, it is a Canadian invasion.

This picture was made on July 5, 2006, and is among the first pictures I took.

marsh flatsedge

2010-10-24T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is an example of Cyperus pseudovegetus in the family of cyperaceae:

This was found at LeFleur's Bluff State park here in Jackson, MS on May 11, 2010. C. pseudovegetus is a native plant found largely in the southeastern United States. This is an example of a spike flower arrangement.

buckwheat vine

2010-10-17T07:31:00.000-06:00

This is Brunnichia ovata in the family of polygonaceae:

I found this flowering vine on the second gate going into Mule Jail. This picture was taken on July 18, 2009. B. ovata is native to the US and can be found throughout the Southeast. It is an unremarkable plant.

white blue-eyed grass

2010-10-10T10:10:00.002-06:00

This is the third in the genus Sisyrinchium, Sisyrinchium albidum in the family of iridaceae:

and was found on April 4th of 2009 at the Brandon property. A native to Canadia and the United S. of A. S. albidum is not all that common relative to it's cousin, S. angustifolium. White blue-eyed grass is an elegant little flower of the panicle arrangement.

boxelder

2010-10-03T07:31:00.000-06:00

This tree is called Acer negundo in the family of aceraceae:

I found it flowering in late winter, March 11, 2007 to be precise, by a swampy channel in Mule Jail. The boxelder is a native of these United States and of Canada. Quite successful and has a few variants, it is this tree that produces the "helicopter" seed pods that are so much fun to play with as a child or if no one is looking.

curly dock

2010-09-26T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is an example of Rumex crispus in the family of polygonaceae:

Found by the sidewalk circling the JSU stadium on May 4th of 2007, this plant is an alien to the US and Canada. Found everywhere, it isn't much to look at from a distance and closer inspection yields a similar experience. It seems that this invader lacks both beauty and charm, relying on the brute force of numbers to survive in this new world. It is an example of the panicle flower arrangement.

purple deadnettle

2010-09-19T07:31:00.001-06:00

A cousin of a henbit deadnettle, Lamium purpureum is of the family lamiaceae:

This plant was found at Mule Jail March 16, 2008. While not much to look at on its own, it can grow en mass and turn a field a pleasant shade of purple. This is another example of the cyme flower arrangement.

spotted sandmat

2010-09-12T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is Chamaesyce maculata in the family euphorbiaceae:

While native the the lower 48, C. maculata appears to have been introduced to Canada. This little native was recorded on the side of the road around the JSU stadium on October 4th of 2006. An example of the cluster arrangement, this has a diminutive flower: a scant one millimetre in diameter. Tiny.

corn gromwell

2010-09-05T07:31:00.002-06:00

Buglossoides arvensis, bellow, of the family boraginaceae is an invasive species to the US and Canada:

This particular invader was found by the interstate 55 north on-ramp at High St. in Jackson MS. The above photograph was taken March 4, 2007 on a blustery day. Close inspection of the photograph leads one to believe the focus is off or the subject's motion was too grate, but no, the flower is simply bland where usually the stamen and pistil are found. This flower arrangement is an example of cyme.

green carpetweed

2010-08-29T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is an example of Mollugo verticillata in the family caryophyllaceae:

A plant native to the United States and its Caribbean territories, though it was introduced to Canada. M. verticillata is an example of the cluster flower arrangement. This unique example was discovered growing in a crack in the sidewalk outside the JSU stadium on October 10th 2006. It is one of the first plant I photographed.

Oldfield toadflax

2010-08-22T07:31:00.003-06:00

This is Nuttallanthus canadensis in the family scrophulariaceae:

This specimen was found on the Brandon property April 4, 2009. A native plant found here in the U.S. and Canada and is an example of the raceme flower arrangement.

ponyfoot

2010-08-15T07:31:00.003-06:00

This lilliputian flower belongs to Dichondra carolinenses in the family of convolvulaceae:

This little plant is an example of an axillary flower arrangement. This particular plant was found on the Brandon property on April 4th of 2009. This is diminutive flower roughly a quarter the diameter of a US penny.

groundnut

2010-08-08T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is the Apios americana of the family fabaceae:

I found this plant on the side of Mule Jail road by South Lake. This vine has a raceme flowering arrangement and is found throughout the Midwest and Eastern seaboard. A. americana blooms between June and August; this specimen was taken the 7th of September.

orange day lily

2010-08-01T07:31:00.035-06:00

This is a delta flower, Hemerocallis fulva in the liliaceae family:

This is not a native plant, it invades, but it is quite beautiful. I spied this on the side of the road between Indianola and Shaw, Mississippi on a very pleasant afternoon in June of 2008. As an invasive plant, H. fulva falls under the category of weed. Given the number of native flowering plants that are callously dismissed as weeds, I feel a certain satisfaction in labeling what many would insist is a flower what it truly is: a weed. Next time you feel the urge to complain about common flowering plants remember that they may be native, thus unworthy of the term weed. Instead, say, "the flowers I don't like" unless you are certain they're alien.

And the next time you see a day lily in someones garden, be sure to compliment them on their selection of weeds.

woodland lettuce

2010-07-25T07:31:00.002-06:00

This is Lactuca floridana in the family asteraceae:

Found at the Mississippi Petrified Forest, one of the best attractions of the state, on August 21, 2008 while my sister and I walked the nature trail. L. floridana is native the the US and Canada. This specimen was tall, about 8 feet (~2.4 metres) and growing in the middle of a pine forest. In the shadow of the trees the flower appeared to be floating.

This is another flower that my sister Meredith had to wait for me to photograph.

rabbit-foot clover

2010-07-18T07:31:00.000-06:00

This plant is Trifolium arvense in the fabaceae family:

I found this specimen on a blustery day in May of 2009. Quite a few covering the side of the road on hwy 49 between Indianola and Yazoo. The constant wind made photographing this little plant rather difficult.

T. arvense an invasive species that has prospered on the N. American continent making its way up both coastlines into Canada. Its flower blooms in a head arrangement.

chamber bitter

2010-07-11T07:31:00.022-06:00

This is a plant with a small flower, Phyllanthus urinaria of the family euphorbiaceae:

It is an introduced species that looks vaguely fern-like. Interestingly, it's flower is not conspicuous, rather grows out of the bottom of the stem that the leaves sprout from. There is a leaf for every flower and they alternate as the stem grows outward. On a longer stem, the full progression from bud to fruit can be seen, stage by stage, the youngest part distal. These flowers are an example of the axillary arrangement.

meadow beauty

2010-07-04T07:31:00.002-06:00

The following is a specimen of Rhexia mariana in the family melastomataceae:

Though, again, the distinction between R. mariana, R. alifanus, and R. virginica is less than clear from the photographs available to me. I decided on R. mariana chiefly because of where I found this specimen: off of Old Brandon Road bridge (Flowood side) in a ditch, the habitat preferred by R. mariana. The second cue is the shape of the pistil, it hang down and has a nub on the end unlike R. alifanus, which has a curl and flare at the end of the pistil. However, I can discern little difference between R. virginica and R. mariana. If anyone happens upon this post and can shed some light I'd be grateful.

As to the specimen at hand, it is an example of a solitary flower arrangement and the plant is regardless of exact species, classified as a herb. This genus is native to the US and all can be found throughout the Southeast and excepting R. alifanus, into the northern reaches of the Midwest and even southern Canada. I found this on July 14, 2008 on a rather sweltering day.

camphorweed

2010-06-27T07:31:00.000-06:00

This is an example of Pluchea camphorata in the family asteraceae:

Though one may argue that it is Pluchea odorata, however the leaves of this plant have significant serrations and are broader than the examples of P. odorata I've seen online. Furthermore, the common name for P. odorata is sweetscent and this flower had no distinct odor. One thing that is lacking in current online references is a discussion of the genus of plant species and means to distinguish them during field observation (if any exists). It may be that they are in fact the same plant and variations in soil condition or climate induce the different characteristics observed, who knows?

Regardless the label man has applied, this plant is an example of the head arrangement and as far as this specimen is concerned, it was engaged in its reproductive cycle on Sept. 8 of 2009 when I captured it with my CCD, yearning as plants only a plant can, for a pollinator to come along and propagate its kind.

slender lespedeza

2010-06-20T07:31:00.009-06:00

An example of Lespedeza virginica in the pea family, fabaceae:

Found on the back road to my parents house in Brandon Mississippi, this plant was host to a spider who was tending an egg sack and had turned the plant into a honeybee death trap as illustrated here. In the photo above you can see the fibers laid by the nefarious arachnid. As for L. virginica, it is a native of the United States and found as far north as Canadia. Classified as a herb with the raceme flower arrangement, the plant shown here was about 4 and a half feet tall (~ 1.4 metres for thems what cares) and somewhat past is flowering prime.

columbine

2010-06-13T07:31:00.001-06:00

Here is the plant Aquilegia canadensis in the family ranunculaceae:

This is an example of a solitary flower arrangement. While this plant as a species, is found in Mississippi, this plant as a specimen was not. This photograph was exposed on June 21, 2009 in the general vicinity of Honey Rock, Wisconsin, by an unknown road while my sister waited in her car for me to indulge my hobby for the 4th or 5th time that day. Of note, the typical orientation of this flower is vertical, this particular bloom was the only example on the plant to be horizontal. I chose this bloom because it shows the pistil and stamen nicely despite not being representative of A. canadensis positional preference.

Wild azalea

2010-06-06T07:31:00.014-06:00

Here is Rhododendron canescens of the family ericaceae:

This is a native shrub and is found as far north as Pennsylvania. The flower above was found on the Brandon Property off of Shiloh road southeast of the city of Brandon Mississippi (the same Brandon mentioned in Apocalypse Now). I was made aware of the this particular plant by Virgina last year at the start of April and took this picture on April 3, 2009.

grape hyacinth

2010-05-30T07:31:00.000-06:00

Here is the flower Muscari botryoides in the family liliaceae:

The flowers are in a raceme arrangement. This plant was introduced from yonder and is classified as a weed, though it is a rather attractive. I have seen examples of M. botryoides throughout Mississippi. This example was taken in my front yard in Jackson, Mississippi on April 3 of 2010. As a sample, it is less than prime, though I was unsatisfied with the other examples I have, I may replace this picture.

American beautyberry

2010-05-23T07:31:00.000-06:00

This is Callicarpa americana of the family verbenaceae:

This plant is most noticeable in the late summer when its berries are ripe and a brilliant purple. According the the USDA site these are edible and slightly aromatic. I have seen the berries for a few years now and sought to find the flower that produces them. This picture was taken on the 4th of July in 2009 along Mule Jail road.

devil's darning needles (a.k.a. virgin's bower)

2010-05-16T07:31:00.000-06:00

Here is a vine, Clematis virginiana in the family of ranunculaceae:

This plant was found at Mule Jail on September 7, 2008. This is an example of a cyme flower arrangement. Native to the US and Canada east of the Rockies, what intrigues me more than the plant is the two common names that I found for the plant. It is possible that they could be read as antonyms, but perversely, they might also be synonyms...

lanceleaf plantain

2010-05-09T07:31:00.001-06:00

This plant is called Plantago lanceolata of the family plantaginaceae:

and was found in Jackson, near UMC, growing where some sidewalk concrete had gone missing. This photo was taken during the late afternoon on day in March of 2007. This plant is invasive and quite successful being found throughout the US, Canada, even in Greenland.

Carolina silverbell

2010-05-02T07:31:00.004-06:00

This is Halesia carolina of the family styracaceae:

This example was found at Mule Jail on March 23, 2008. It is a flowering tree whose flowers are found in a fascicle arrangement and is native to the southeast United States.

Globe flatsedge

2010-04-25T07:31:00.004-06:00

Here is Cyperus echinatus in the family of cyperaceae:

This specimen was found in a swampy area off the Pearl River just south of the reservoir in Mule Jail on September 8th of 2008.

Hoary bowlesia

2010-04-18T07:31:00.003-06:00

Here is the flower of the plant Bowlesia incana in the family of apiaceae:

It is a small plant. You may find it just about anywhere you look here in Jackson, this was found in a weed patch by the sidewalk in downtown Jackson.

Field burweed

2010-04-11T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is Soliva pterosperma of the family asteraceae:

This plant was captured in my parents yard on April 21, 2009.

Flatwoods plum

2010-04-04T07:31:00.002-06:00

Here is Prunus umbellata of the family rosaceae:

This photo was taken on Mule Jail road spring of 2007.

angularfruit milkvine

2009-07-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

here is matelea gonocarpa of the family asclepiadaceae:

whose flower arrangement is a simple umbel. this particular specimen was found near Mule Jail cabin, though it was passed by once before I realized that it was indeed a flower. it is a pretty flower once you notice it, but it does not stand out, as flowers go. this plant is a vine and I've only seen it creeping along the ground. this bloom was captured in May of 2009, but I have not noticed any since then.

chinaberrytree

2009-07-19T07:00:00.001-06:00

here is melia azedarach of the family meliaceae:

whose flowers are arranged is called a panicle. I found this tree on the north side of I-20 on the back road to my parents house in Brandon. there where a large number of blooms and a subtle scent similar to honeysuckle, but muted. this plant is not native to the United States.

heal-all

2009-07-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

here is prunella vulgaris of the family lamiaceae:

whose flower is arrangement is a spike. this plant is native to the United States. i found this example at the Brandon property, early May of 2009.

butterfly pea

2009-07-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

here is clitoria mariana of the fabaceae family:

this flower is as most of fabaceae, a raceme arrangement. this photograph was taken at Chapel Hill in south Hinds county here in Mississippi on September 15, 2007. a very pretty flower to come across in the wild.

bulb bittercress

2009-06-28T07:00:00.001-06:00

here is cardamine bulbosa of the family brassicaceae:

this is an example of a raceme flower arrangement. this was taken near the Jackson International Airport, in Pearl, in February of '07. c. bulbosa is a common roadside flower here in Mississippi in the spring time. i have seen it throughout the state, in the woods and along the road. it hasn't any smell to speak of, but is quite pretty, especially if you find it in large numbers.

chicory

2009-06-21T07:00:00.007-06:00

here is a flower, cichorium intybus of the family asteraceae, that is from West Virginia:

this was taken while driving home from visiting my brother Duff in Pittsburgh. this particular example of c. intybus was captured on July 23rd 2007. it is an example of the head flower arrangement. this is probably the bluest flower i've come across to date.

broadleaf wild leek

2009-06-14T07:00:00.001-06:00

this is allium ampeloprasum of the family liliaceae:

whose flower is arranged as a simple umbel. this particular example was captured at Chapel Hill in south Hinds county on May 20th 2007. there was a faint smell of garlic/onion in the air, as i moved about the smell intensified and was most pleasing. the plant is suffuse with the aroma and the slightest bruise will bring the luscious odor forth.

indian heliotrope

2009-06-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

this is heliotropium indicum of the family boraginaceae:

this little plant was found in the woods of Mule Jail in July of '08. it flowers bloom in a cincinnus arrangement.

spotted burclover

2009-05-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

ere is medicago arabica another from the family of fabaceae:

again, the flower arrangement is that of raceme. this is a small flower, roughly half the size of a dime. the plant that grows this particular organ is a clover that has 3 leaves, typically, each with a crimson spot in the middle. it forms a pretty clump of color on the ground.

bigpod sesbania

2009-05-24T07:00:00.004-06:00

here is sesbania herbacea of the family fabaceae:

s. herbacea's flower arrangement is that of raceme, which is proving a popular choice among the flowers i photograph. this example was found on the banks of the Pearl River here in Jackson, MS and yes, that is a sandy beach it is growing in. this was taken in September of '06 on a cloudy day.

spoonleaf purple everlasting

2009-05-17T07:00:00.003-06:00

here is gamochaeta purpurea of the family asteraceae:

whose flowers are arranged in a head. this is a rather plain looking plant from a distance, one whose flowers are not so noticeable, even from up close. however, given a bit of time and some contemplation, this flower begins to be beautiful.

smooth hedgenettle

2009-05-10T07:00:00.003-06:00

this is stachys tenuifolia of the family lamiaceae:

this flower is arranged as clusters. this was taken April 21, 2009 in my parents back yard. this plant was one of five to ten dozen plants that abut the fence. the sun had already moved behind the house so the back yard was shadowed, but the sky was a crystal clear blue.

pyrenees star of bethlehem

2009-05-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

here is ornithogalum umbellatum of the family liliaceae:

this flower was found on the side of the road in Jackson. the picture was taken in March of '07. this flower looks a lot like false garlic, though only from a distance. this is another flower which presents as a raceme arrangement.

honeyvine milkweed

2009-04-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

here is cynanchum laeve of the family asclepiadaceae:

this flower was photographed at the JSU stadium in September of '06. this plant had a faint, but pleasant smell, reminiscent of honeysuckle. c. laeve's flower is a corymb arrangement.

downy phlox

2009-04-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

this is phlox pilosa of the family polemoniaceae:

this is in the Mississippi Delta just outside of Grenada, in March of '08. phlox is fairly common in the spring around here, it's one of the road side flowers and can be white, pink, purple or blue. very pretty. it has a tendency to grow at the borders of fields just at the tree line.

roundfruit hedgehyssop

2009-04-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

here is gratiola virginiana of the family scrophulariaceae:

this little cute-e-poo was growing on the road at chapel hill in March of '07. it is a small flower, just about 8 mm long, but they grow in groups and so stand out. they don't have much of a sent to them, either, but they certainly appear eager to help out.

passion flower

2009-04-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

this is passiflora incarnata of the family passifloraceae:

this was taken off of the Old Brandon road in Jackson, MS on June 14th of '08. there were quite a number of these fellas in the thicket and 20 times their number in mosquitoes.

virginia sweetspire

2009-03-29T00:43:00.003-06:00

here is itea virginica of the family grossulariaceae.

This photo was taken at Mule Jail on the south end of the lake. This little plant seems to have a terrific fall foliage, however, i've yet to experience it. i suspect that it is my lack of being in the woods during the fall. it is something i'll have to look for and photograph this coming fall.

white-flowered vetch

2008-03-23T21:41:00.002-06:00

here is vicia caroliniana of the family fabaceae:

native to the lower 48, this particular plant was found in the woods at Mule Jail. this vine is a rather pretty plant. i have not observed the same tendency as its purple cousin to bunch up and produce copious amounts of flower.

yellow thistle

2008-03-16T20:02:00.001-06:00

here is cirsium horridulum of the family asteraceae:

i know, i know, it's not yellow. neither is the picture of the plant on the USDA site. not sure how c. horridulum garnered the moniker "yellow thistle", it did, though and we just have to accept it as it is. otherwise the name might change. this plant is native to the United States and this picture was taken just south of South Lake in Mule Jail.

c. horridulum is kind of like a big dandelion, just not yellow and it has prickles all over it, what it does do, like the dandelion, is turn into a giant fuzz ball of seeds with feathers. i've seen examples of c. horridulum almost as tall as i am (5'11 & 3/4"). if you're out in the woods and you keep an eye out, you'll see these massive cabbage-with-thorns growing here and there, those will eventually sprout the above decoration and eventually turn into giant fuzz balls themselves.

so get out in the woods and start hunting for thorny cabbages

oakleaf hydrangea

2008-03-09T21:45:00.001-06:00

here is hydrangea quercifolia of the family hydrangeaceae:

yet another native of these United States, this plant was found at Chapel Hill in south Hinds county, May of 2007. a beautiful plant that is shade intolerant, according to the USDA plant database. this, however, i am dis-inclined to believe as this particular specimen was found in the 10 foot deep creek under a full forest canopy. this was not the only example in this creek bed, as a matter of fact, the only place i've seen this plant is in this creek. and anyone whose clambered down the steep banks of the Chapel Hill creek can attest the copious amount of shade to be found there.

combleaf yellow false foxglove

2008-03-02T22:35:00.001-06:00

here is aureolaria pectinata of the family scrophulariaceae:

This particular plant was photographed the day of my dear sweet cousin Hilary's wedding to her manly counterpart compatriot and constant companion: Trey or as the French would say: Three.

as for the plant, it is native to the United States and can be found throughout the south, but not above the Mason-Dixie line. at least, a. pectinata has yet to be documented above the Mason-Dixie line. this little plant was found growing in Brandon, Mississippi, by the side of a road.

pink fuzzybean

2008-02-24T23:09:00.002-06:00

here is strophostyles umbellata of the family fabaceae:

this vine is native to the lower 48. this picture was taken on the banks of the Pearl River, about a mile south of the Ross-Barnett on September 5th, 2006 3 minutes before 8:00 p.m.

sebastian bush

2008-02-17T00:05:00.004-06:00

here is sebastiania fruticosa of the family euphorbiaceae:

native to the United States, s. fruticosa is a pretty plant with unusual flowers. this particular plant was found near the Pearl River in Jackson, Mississippi, April of 2007. s. fruticosa is listed as being severely toxic, so don't eat it, however, if you find yourself in the woods and you're all stopped up down below, you can chew on the roots for a laxative effect.

partridge berry

2008-02-10T23:35:00.001-06:00

here is mitchella repens of the family rubiaceae:

this little plant is native to the United States and can be found from Hudson Bay to Texas and all along the eastern seaboard. this particular bloom was happened upon along South Lake at Mule Jail, in April of '07. not much to be said about this flower, other than it is pretty. i'm sure there are a few people that could say a lot more about it, but i am not counted among them.

flowering dogwood

2008-02-03T23:35:00.000-06:00

here is cornus florida of the family cornaceae:

this picture was take spring of '07 at Chapel Hill in south Hinds County, Mississippi. this tree was growing in a patch of mayapple tangled amongst a number of large thorny vines. it just so happens that there was a little friend hiding in the disk flowers.

c. florida is a native of these United States that has garnered the status of endangered or threatened in a few of the northeastern states. it is a beautiful flower well worth preserving, and thankfully, nowhere near being endangered here in the south.

climbing hempweed

2008-01-27T20:31:00.001-06:00

this is mikania scandens of the family asteraceae:

this vine is native to the United States. the above picture was taken in September of 2006 at Mule Jail. not toxic, but no good for human consumption, this plant is a tasty treat for small woodland creature that are fond of leafy goods. not much to look at from a distance but when you get close you find the flowers are quite pleasant as was the scent, if memory serves.

and for those what's like the large round numbers, this happens to be the 100th post.

carolina horsenettle

2008-01-20T06:41:00.000-06:00

here is solanum carolinense of the family solanaceae:

this photo was taken spring of 2007 at Mule Jail, near the Pearl River. this flower is in the genus of nightshade and has the poison, however it seems to be in much lower concentration. the stamen look like bananas to me.

deerberry

2008-01-13T23:59:00.000-06:00

here is vaccinium stamineum of the family ericaceae:

this picture was taken on the entry road to Mule Jail at the end of April 2007. a spring/summer bloom, this particular plant is small, but noticeable for the number of blooms. it seems, however, that given enough time, v. stamineum can grow to 16 feet in height, or about 5 meters. its fruit is not toxic, whether or not this translates to edible is another matter.

as a side note: this little plant is endangered in Vermont.

lanceleaf frogfruit

2008-01-06T23:59:00.000-06:00

here is phyla lanceolata of the family verbenaceae:

p. lanceolata is native to the United States, rare in Pennsylvania and endangered in New Jersey. this particular plant can be found at the end of the fence between the Pennzoil Quick Lube and the JSU parking lot. it is perennial. the above photo was taken in September of 2006.