Today, I got stuff done at home this morning. Then I rewarded myself with an afternoon outing at the grasslands. What a good day I would say. 😉 I still have photos to name so those will wait until tomorrow. Today’s feature will be the Whitlow-wort (Draba cuneifolia)! I found a nice specimen that was blooming.
Whitlow-wort is usually fairly small. In fact, I usually see it less than six inches tall most of the time. However, the FNTC says it can reach a foot tall. This one topped in at about three inches.
This annual can have many flowers. In this case, not all had bloomed yet. It is in the Brassicaceae, (Mustard Family). The range of this cutey is in the southern US and northwest Mexico. Furthermore, it is endangered, threatened, or of special concern in four states! Glad that is not the case for Texas!
The flower has six stamens, four are taller than the two others. You might be able to make out one of the shorter one’s in this photo. Moths, butterflies, bees, and flies can be a pollinator, but it can also self-pollinate.
The basal leaves are very hairy.
As you can see some of the hairs are simple and others are branched.
It has a fairly long root. Soils for this annual can be sandy or rocky soils. The shadow looks like it has bunny ears. LOL Sorry, I can’t help myself. 😉
Hope your day went well too!
Keep looking!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
They’re so cute!!
And a late winter favorite too!
Im so glad you cant help yourself