Crustose Lichen

A lichen is not a flower, but it can be interesting and pretty enough to take a picture. These photographs were taken in April of 2014 on a walk through Pawnee Prairie Park in Wichita, Kansas.

Lichen, crustose with spore pods (capsule)

Xanthoria parietina, whose color ranges from golden to orange, is conspicuous on rocks and trees often forming a thick shield. Observe the dark grey to black portions of the lichen which are dead.

Xanthoria parietina with spore pods (capsule)

A lichen is not one but two symbiotic plants, usually a combination of fungus and algae. The fungus surrounds the algae protecting its cells and providing water and nutrients. In return, the algae, as in plants, reduce carbon dioxide into carbon sugars to feed both symbionts.

Xanthoria parietina lichen on tree bark

Lichen forming crusts firmly attached to the rocks and trees, on which they grow so that they can't be removed without damage are called crustose lichen because of their crust-like appearance.

Wild Violet

April, come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again

Paul Simon, April Come She Will


[Click on the link to listen to Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sing April Come She Will]

wild violet, kansas

wild violet, kansas, white and blue

Wild violet is a low-growing perennial found either singly or in clumps. It has waxy dark-green heart-shaped leaves that can cup toward the petiole and form a funnel shape. The flowers range in color from deep purple to pale blue and even white. The flower has five petals in the shape of an upside down star. The flower stem is shaped like a hooked cane. 

The plant has a fibrous root system and spreads by rhizomes and seeds. 

Kansas, Wild Violet, April 2014

Wild violet grows best in shaded, fertile sites and prefers moist soil. In woodlands when a bit of sun allows, it often is seen poking up from a pile of leaves. The violet is an early spring flower, first seen in mid-April. 

wild violet, blue and white

The violet flower connotes a delicate love. Roman and Greek myths tell the tragic story. Diana's (Artemis) nymph companions had sworn to stay maidens. One nymph was chased day and night by Apollo, Diana's twin brother. To protect her modesty, Diana changed the nymph into a violet. The term “shrinking violet” connotes a shy girl.

wild violet, five petals, cane shaped stem

Perhaps this is why Romans shower a spring salad with the pretty purple flower. 

Other recipes and uses of the Wild Violet.

Long tubular corollas

Why some flowers have long tubular corollas.

Henbit, long tubular corolla

The henbit has a long tubular corolla. Thus, the length from petal to stamen limits the number of insects which can pollinate the flower.

Charles Darwin puzzled over this phenomenon and concluded that the evolution of flowers with deep tubular corollas was a "race" with insects who evolved long noses and tongues to reach the nectar. The longer nosed/tongued insects avoided flowers with short corollas and so put these flowers at a disadvantage. But what is in it for the flower? First, the longer tubed flowers are at an advantage with specialized insects. Second, the tubes help to protect the stamens from the elements and so aid in propagation of the plant seeds.

The head of the flower has two lips. The upper lip is covered in fine cilia to catch the pollen from pollinating insects. Notice the dark purple lines on the interior of the lips which act as landing guides for insects.

The next question is what insect pollinates the henbit? Don't know. Fortunately for the henbit, it can be self-pollinating. Maybe, the race is over.

Wayside Speedwell

Thyme-Leaved Speedwell, Spring's earliest flower.

Thyme-Leaved Speedwell

This flowering perennial grows close to the ground, so get down on your hands and knees to enjoy. In the woods it can be seen peeking up from amongst the decaying leaves.

Thyme-Leaved Speedwell

Speedwell flower by a sidewalk

See Kansas Wildflowers for details on the lower. The flower is also called Veronica. but this larger collection of flowers has over 500 species.

This is an edible plant that some say has a taste similar to watercress. One should always exercise caution in eating untested plants.

Henbit

Spring has arrived in Kansas. You drive along the highway and see new fields covered with a tiny purple flower. In town, many yards have this same purplish-lavender flower. When you take the dogs for a walk, the flower pokes up from the sidewalk and around the post that line the trail.

Henbit


This small purple flower took me some time to identify. Perhaps it is too common and so is overlooked. Also, farmers and home owners think of it as a weed.

Henbit, March 2014

The henbit is a winter annual, meaning it germinates in autumn, lives through the winter, flowers in spring and produces seed and dies in the following season.

Henbit, gravel sidewalk

Henbit, near creek

Henbit, close up

The henbit is a member of the mint family and is identifiable by its scalloped leaf that forms a cup for the multiple flowering heads. The plant flowers early in March and continues until November in warmer settings. The flowers are purple to lavender in color. The petals of the flower are fused and form a deep corolla tube. The flower is long, hairy, and 2-lipped. The stem, if you look closely, is square.

Eattheweeds.com gives a recipe for its use as an edible plant.

There is a related species called Deadnettle Leaves.

Why some flowers have long tubular corollas.

The henbit has a long tubular corolla. The length from petal to stamen limits the number of insects which can pollinate the flower. Charles Darwin puzzled over this phenomenon and concluded that the evolution of flowers with deep tubular corollas was a "race" with insects who in turn evolved long noses and tongues to reach the nectar. The longer nosed/tongued insects avoided flowers with short corollas and so put these flowers at a disadvantage. But what is in it for the flower? First, the longer tubed flowers are at an advantage with specialized insects. Second, the tubes help to protect the stamens from the elements and so aid in propagation of the plant seeds.

Sources.

1. Early Spring Weeds.