Three tongues
We went to the grasslands today, of course. LOL. It was a cool start that made Gracie a bit more perky. It was about 55 or 60 degrees when we started at 9:30am. So many things are starting to come out. The Goatweed Leafwing and Dainty Sulphurs are the most numerous of the butterflies seen today. Grasshoppers are flying about as well. Also had a Cloudywing or Duskywing. I never can remember which is which.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2838.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
These raccoon tracks were stand outs. We sure could use some rain.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2839.jpg?resize=474%2C640&ssl=1)
Wild plums (Prunus) are going full steam!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2843.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
The Foxtail or Spinystar cactus (Escobaria vivipara var radiosa).
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2841.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Close up the brown spines. It will have a vibrant pink blossoms come May.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2846.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Sedges are starting to bloom as well!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2849.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Cymopterus (Vesper macrorhizus) was blooming. I’m still waiting for the seedheads. It likes rocky limestone areas.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2861.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
When I saw the yellow on the ground, I had thought some plant was about to blossom, but no, they were fuzzy yellow eggs! I wonder what they are? Stay tuned, I brought a few home 🙂
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2862.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
This is the remains of the White Compass plant (Silphium albiflorum) which is only found in Texas.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2863.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
The Wild Plum thickets are really going and I’m told they are fragrant! I can’t smell a thing.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2865.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Square-bud Primrose’s (Calylophus berlandieri) red gall.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2870.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
This is the first tongue of the day! Engelmann’s Adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum engelmannii)! This is an unusual type of fern. It is only seen for a month or two each year. The spores are in the spike.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2873.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Not as far along. But there were a ton of them in the field! I had not noticed them before in this unit.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2876.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
What a delightful find! This one like looks like a cobra. 😉
This is the first of the three tongues. Stay tuned for the other two tongues in tomorrow’s post.
Article:
What a weird fern! How neat!
I love the weird fern. And theres nothing prettier than dried compass.
I agree with you both. The fern is WEIRD!