Here the Arkansas Yucca (Yucca arkansana) was in a nice green color! Notice the fire ant mound at the base? Did you know that we have native fire ants. I have been told that most of the fire ants you see in a native prairie are native. I am not quite sure (yet) how to tell the different in the field.
Some of the Two-flowered Milkvine (Matelea biflora) seed pods still have their fluff. The bumpy pod tells me it is the Two-flowered Milkvine (Matelea biflora) and not a milkweed pod.
When you are walking out on limestone barrens, look down. Often you will find the ground covered with a brown lichen called Earthscale (Clavascidium lacinulatum). These scales are important for holding soils.
Another lichen on the barrens you might find is the brighter Psora decipiens! Also it can be found directly on the soil.
And at this location we found over 200 individual plants of the Cymopterus (Vesper macrorhizus)!
Are you sure about the “native” fireants? I have grown up in this area 70 years and never encountered fireants until they were imported from South America.
The native fire ants are suppose to be not quite as aggressive. They are in the same genus, Solenopsis. One is Solenopsis geminata. From what I could find a second species, Solenopsis xyloni is also possible. Imported Red Fire Ants (RIFA) was first reported in the 1930’s. In 1956 they were recorded in Texas. Who knows how long they were here before then. The fire ants are hard to tell apart even for the professionals without very carefully looking. The mounds of some are similar and others live under and in things like rocks, in wood, etc. RIFA really like disturbed areas which there is a lot of disturbed areas. Additionally RIFA also in one article I have read said that RIFA have reduced the population of the native fire ants. Thanks Gretchen and Judy!
Wow a great patch of Cymopterus! and love to see the milkvine bumpy pods! Glad we have native fire ants left.
Sure was a great area for them. Yes, it is good to know about the native ants!
You can mark me down as an Earthscale fan. The Psoras too.
Great info on deadwood – brown rot, white rot and melanin’s dark tracery – now I have a name for all those different decomposers!
Are you sure about the “native” fireants? I have grown up in this area 70 years and never encountered fireants until they were imported from South America.
Im 84 and never encountered fire ants till the late 1980’s. Been here all my life too. Strange.
The native fire ants are suppose to be not quite as aggressive. They are in the same genus, Solenopsis. One is Solenopsis geminata. From what I could find a second species, Solenopsis xyloni is also possible. Imported Red Fire Ants (RIFA) was first reported in the 1930’s. In 1956 they were recorded in Texas. Who knows how long they were here before then. The fire ants are hard to tell apart even for the professionals without very carefully looking. The mounds of some are similar and others live under and in things like rocks, in wood, etc. RIFA really like disturbed areas which there is a lot of disturbed areas. Additionally RIFA also in one article I have read said that RIFA have reduced the population of the native fire ants. Thanks Gretchen and Judy!