Yesterday, I needed to get out. And so off I went to find old plant friends.
A view of the start of the path I took.
First stop was not far from the house. Many of the White Compass Plants (Silphium albiflorum) were blooming. Mine at home have not even produced buds yet.
Only the ray flowers (the petal flowers) produce seeds. Suzanne had pointed this out to me previously. And all the Silphiums are like that. Thanks Suzanne!
A bud!
Another view!
A Mermiria grasshopper blends in with the dried grass!
Pasture Heliotrope (Euploca tenella syn- Heliotropium tenellum). I went to the World Flora Online to check my spelling and found that it had a genus change. In fact, multiple of the different species of plants I found yesterday had genus changes. Science moves forward!
I was crushing it at the first stop. LOL. Rock Hedeoma (Hedeoma serpyllifolia) smells like camphor when crushed. This is also a name change from Hedeoma reverchonii var. serpyllifolium). I love the hairy calyx (green part holding the flower).
A reliable friend to find at this prairie, Skeleton Plant (Lygodesmia texana). Pretty much a bare bones type of plant with really small reduced leaves. Guessing that is why the common name? However, it sadden me that the owners of this property started mowing/haying it. Lucky for me, this was at the edge of the road.
A close up of the above beauty!
The Antelope Horns (Asclepias asperula ssp capricornu) had dispersed its seeds. It seemed to be glowing about it. Stay tuned, more stops to come!
That skeleton plant flower might be the prettiest ever. Never looked closely enough to see the center. Nice outing
Silphium albiflorum!!! ❤❤❤🌻
Very interesting about the external seeds. Does that happen with a lot of other composites?
Me too Suzanne. Love that White Rosinweed. Has been a favorite of mine for decades.
As always, awesome photographs Mary!!!
Thank you!