Wildflowers in the Lawn: Fleabane

Fleabane (Erigeron) is a cheerful annual that crops up in uncut lawns, pastures and

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roadsides. The tiny flowers have a daisy-like appearance and were once believed to ward off fleas, thus the common name. The genus name Erigeron derives from the Greek words eri  for “early and  geron for “old man” in reference to the white hairs that form on the fruits in this species. 

Fleabanes are a great attractor for bees and other small pollinators and are hosts to several species of moth caterpillars. Several fleabane cultivars have been developed and are sold as ornamental plants. These type of flowers work great in an informal or cottage style garden or mixed in with a meadow style planting.

The USDA lists 191 species of Fleabane with 265 accepted taxa in the genus. As most of the species look incredibly alike I just stick with the genus Erigeron when I see these pretty flowers and don’t try to hard to puzzle out the species.

Wildflowers in the Lawn: Frogfruit

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A tiny flowering plant with a funny name, Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is also known as Turkey Tangle or Capeweed. This ground-cover weaves itself into a tight mat of foliage that puts up diminutive clusters of blooms with a dark purple center. Frogfruit is a Florida native and is often found in lawns and roadsides.

Frogfuit is a host for the Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae) and Buckeye (Junonia coenia) butterflies. Patches of this wildflower along roadsides can becomes hosts to small colonies of Phaon Crescent butterflies that not only use the plant as a larval host but also as a nectar source. Last summer I passed a huge mat of Frogfruit colonized along an exit ramp from I-75 and as I sat at the traffic light I counted at least 4 dozen Phaon Crescents busily going about their day.

Wildflowers in the lawn: Annual Blue-Eyed Grass

Ever skip a week of cutting your lawn and find out what is really growing there? This week I am going to cover a few wildflowers that are common colonizers of the perfectly imperfect, un-manicured lawn. When you look close you can find some fascinating wildflowers right under your toes.

Annual Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium rosulatum) is a common wildflower that grows among

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lawns, pastures and roadsides. The center of each patch of grass is prostrate and curves up along the edges where the tiny flowers present in a more upright habit. The petals of the blooms are a pale purple to pale blue with a darker purple center.

There are several Florida native species of Blue-eyed Grass, but the native-ness of this species is a thing of debate. Depending upon which plant atlas you use, this plant is listed as native or non-native from South America. Regardless of native status this diminutive, pretty grass is certainly Florida Friendly and needs little care to thrive.

The name of this species derives from the Greek sisyrinchi(um) which means “iris-like plant” and the species epithet rosulatum means “ with leaf rosette”

Pellitory

Florida pellitory (Parietaria floridana) is a very common Florida herbaceous

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plant in the nettle family. Also known as clear-weed the fragile stems of this weed are translucent and delicate. The tiny hairs of this nettle plant are non-stinging and give the plant a sticky quality. Often found in shady spots or growing erect against walls, this herb can thrive in poor soil and disturbed conditions. Florida pellitory is a common pest in the nursery trade as this plant will colonize in pots placed in the shade.

Florida pellitory is one of the native host plants for the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterfly. Red Admirals will also host on False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica). Red Admirals have always been particularly tricky for me to photograph because of their speedy and erratic flight habits and inability to stay still for very long. So, instead of a photograph I only have a picture of a painting I created about two years ago. I’m still trying to get a decent photograph of this butterfly so I can feature it as a blog post.

This herb was named by English Botanist Thomas Nuttall (1786 – 1859). From 1808 to 1841 Nuttall lived in America and traveled routes previously charted by Louis and Clark to collect plant specimens with fellow botanist John Bradbury. Together they collected many specimens that were previously unknown to science. In 1818 Tomas Nuttall published The Genera of North American Plants. From 1825-1834 Nuttall held the post of curator of the Harvard Botanical Gardens.

Happy Earth Day!

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Today we are improving our little patch of planet with a planting day. This photo album shows just a few of the plants we will be adding to the gardens this morning. Special thanks to the MOSI Outside volunteers, Carolyn from the Backwoods Forest Preserve and the volunteers from Salesforce.com Foundation. It is going to be a fantastic day of planting and I’ll share some pictures of the festivities some time next week.

If you are in the neighborhood then drop on by between 9am and 1pm today, roll up your sleeves and get some dirt on your hands. Not nearby? Just try and get a few minutes outside today in appreciation of the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

Polyphemus Moth Larvae

These little darlings are larvae of the Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus).

A member of the giant silk moth (Saturniidae) family, Polyphemus moth larvae host on a number of hardwood and shrubby plant species including willow on which they are currently being reared. These caterpillars will grow up to 4 inches in length and will then spin cocoons of brown silk as a protective coating around their pupae. The cocoon will regularly incorporate leaves and other natural debris to help disguise the developing moth from predators.

The adult Polyphemus moth has wings up to six inches in wingspan and a distinctive large eyespot on each hind-wing which they can flash if they are disturbed by a predator. This large eye marking often serves to scare away would be predators by making them believe they have chosen prey that are larger than they can handle.

These eyespots are where the moth gets the species epithet after the Greek Cyclops Polyphemus. In Greek mythology the one-eyed Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon and is encountered by Odysseus and his band of sailors in Homer’s Odyssey.

As adults, members of the giant silk moth family lack working mouth parts and do not consume nectar or any other food. Instead they subsist entirely on nutrients that were consumed by the larvae and stored through the process of metamorphosis. Polyphemus moths and other moths in the Saturniidae family have fairly short life spans, usually lasting around 5 days in which they seek out mates and lay eggs.

This is the first time that we have reared Polyphemus moth larvae from eggs so expect to see lots of pictures of this process as the caterpillars grow! These caterpillars can consume lost of different host plants but we have chosen to rear the larvae on willow because of our abundant supply of this tree in the Backwoods Forest Preserve.

Sweetbay Silkmoth

I recently spotted this Sweetbay silkmoth (Callosamia securifera) on the loading dock at MOSI. At 3:30 in the afternoon he was out and flying around, likely looking for a mate.

Sweetbay Silkmoths are a member of the Wild Silkmoth Family (Saturniidae) and can be found from Virginia south to Florida and west to Mississippi. The females lay eggs on Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) and this moth hosts on this plant with reported exclusivity. The pupa of silkmoths are wrapped in silk threads to protect and camouflage the developing moth inside.

The adults of this species are active during the day and seek mates in the afternoon. The males are darker in color than females and males in the later months of the year will be quite a bit larger in size than early spring males.

This species is closely related to the Promethia Silkmoth (Callosamia promethea) which hosts on several plant species and the Tulip-tree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera) which reportedly hosts only on Tulip Tree (Liliodendron tulipifera).

This particular moth was pretty beat up. Missing most of his right hind wing and a large strip from his left hind-wing, this moth likely survived an attack from a predator. Moths and butterflies often develop a ragged appearance as their life wears on and they survive brushes with predators and contact with objects. Butterflies and moths possess more wing than they really need to fly and can continue to live a pretty normal life even missing large portions of wing.

Black Medic in seed

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I wrote a short bit last week about a common weed in gardens and lawns called Black Medic (Medicago lupulina). I received a few emails asking why the common name distinguishes the weed as ‘black’ when nothing about the photos that I posted appeared that color. Well, here it is in seed.

Black medic goes to seed with a seed cluster that resembles a blackberry. Each yellow flower gives way to a seed head that will help this plant to spread far and wide in future years.

Aphids

If you have a butterfly garden in Florida you probably have milkweed to lure Monarchs and other milkweed butterflies to your garden. With milkweed comes a host of pests and Milkweed Aphids (Aphis nerii) are certainly at the top of the list.

These yellow soft-bodied insects have black legs and antenna and can be found clinging to the stems of milkweed and oleander plants. Milkweed Aphids are all female and they reproduce by parthenogenesis which means that the mother produces clones of herself without mating with a male. This species is viviparous which means that instead of laying eggs this species bears live young called nymphs that increase in size as they grow.

Aphids are polymorphic and can have different body shapes under different circumstances When a colony becomes over-crowed, nymphs with wings will be produced and those nymphs will fly away to create new colonies. In the

Aphids have a bright yellow color that serves as an aposomatic warning to predators. These tiny insects sequester cardiac glycosides (heart poisons) called cardenolides from their host plant and can secrete them when disturbed by a predator. Additionally, aphids produce a sugary substance called honeydew that is sought after by ants. This honeydew can gather on leaves and stems and a black sooty mold can grow on this surface.

Milkweed aphids are a parasite that feed on the milkweed plant. The species prefer the newest growth and tender shoots of their host plant and large spring colonies can be found feasting on the milkweed sap. Large colonies can stunt the growth of milkweed by generally their damage is largely aesthetic.

Reducing the size of these colonies on your milkweed plants can be tricky as treatment with any pesticide will also make the plant unacceptable for butterfly larvae. Aphids have plenty of natural predators but they can reproduce at an alarming rate. Using a hose sprayer at close range can help to dislodge Milkweed Aphids from large colonies without causing a problem for your caterpillars.

Black Medic

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If you have been out weeding your garden lately then you are probably familiar with Black Medic (Medicago lupulina). This creeping groundcover looks live a vine of clover and is dotted with small yellow flowers. From the bean (Fabaceae) family, Black Medic can be used as a groundcover and a cover crop and is also used as fodder for livestock.

The genus name, Medicago, derives for the Greek word for alfalfa ‘medice’ which is also a member of the genus. The species name lupulina is a Latin word for hop-like which makes reference to the strong resemblance of the Black Medic flowers to hops.

Spiderwort

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One of my favorite Florida wildflowers is Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) also known as Bluejacket. The leaves of spiderwort and blade-like and tinged with purple and the flowers have three petal and may be purple to white in color. Sometimes considered a weed, Spiderwort forms lovely clumps of foliage and blooms heartily in the Spring.

Blooming even in deep shade, this wildflower makes a great border planting for a shady bed. In bright sun the flowers will begin to wilt into a fluid jelly in the hottest part of the year.

The genus is named for English naturalist John Tradescant (1608-1662) who served as the royal gardener for Charles I.

Cranesbill

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Cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum) is also known as Wild Geranium. This species comes from the Geranium (Geraniaceae) which contains some 422 species of plants. An annual herb, Cranesbill forms low mounds of greenery in the early spring and can be one of the first plants to return in the Spring. Although many people consider this plant to be a pesky weed, we tend to leave it in small sweeps around the garden especially in the early Spring when not much else is blooming.

The leaves of this species are palmate and divide into five segments which further divide into pointed lobes. Cranesbill blooms with five-petaled flowers that are pale pink to pale purple in color. The flower buds resemble the heads of birds before the flower begins to bloom.

Nightshade

American Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum) is a common native Florida garden weed that can grow into a sizeable shrub. Black nightshade flowers with small white blooms in the Spring which give way to green berries that ripen to black.

All parts of the American Black Nightshade plant contain the toxic glycoalkaloids solanine and solamargine and should be considered poisonous. Glycoalkaloid poisons are bitter tasting when ingested and create a strong burning sensation on the sides of the tongue and in the back of the throat. Additionally, other poisonous compounds such as scopolamine (found in henbane, jimson weed and angel’s trumpet) and hyoscyamine (found also in mandrake) are present in this plant. Care should be taken to keep this plant away from small children and pets prone to eating plants.

Also found in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family are:

• tomato (S. lycopersicum)
• eggplant (S. melongena)
• potato (S. tuberosum)
• bell pepper (Capsicum annuum)
• tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

Because of their relation to the nightshade family, some people have reactions to eating these vegetables, especially when the fruit or vegetable is not entirely ripe.

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The nicotine in tobacco is an alkaloid stimulant in small doses but can become lethal in larger amounts. Nicotine was used in the past as a common pesticide agent.

A number of lepidoptera species use plants in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family as host plants including the tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta).

Oleander

The Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an native to northern Africa, eastern Mediterranean and southeast Asia. This evergreen plant from the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family can be grown as either a large shrub or a small tree.

A pretty blooming shrub with over 400 named cultivars, Oleander comes in a wide variety of colors and can withstand intense heat and is tolerant of drought conditions. Oleander has been used as a frequent roadside planting as it is able to withstand and thrive in the conditions of interstate medians.

Oleander is the host to the Oleander Moth and the Oleander Hawk Moth.

Oleander contains the toxins oleandrin, a cardiac glycoside, and neandrin and is toxic if ingested. Poisoning can bring on strong gastrointestinal symptoms and a high, erratic heartbeat. Care should be taken to keep this plant away from small children and pets prone to eating plants. The entire plant, including sap is toxic. When pruning, wash quickly if your skin comes into contact with the sap as it can irritate skin and cause extreme eye inflamation. When burned, caution should be taken to avoid the smoke produced from the fire as it may still contain toxins.

Oleander Moth

The Oleander Moth (Syntomeida epilais) is also known by the common names Polka-Dot Wasp Moth and Uncle Sam Moth. It has deeply iridescent dark blue wings with white spots and a bright red patch at the end of its abdomen. This moth is shaped like a wasp and that shape in combination with the brilliant patch of red helps to deter predators.

The caterpillar is a brilliant orange and is covered with tufts of long black hairs. The larvae are gregarious feeders and can mostly defoliate large sections of oleander plants in very short order. The larvae spin a black silk cocoon that protects their cryptically patterned orange and black pupa. The one pictured below was removed from its black silk cocoon without causing harm to the developing moth inside.

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Oleander moths may also be found feeding on devil’s potato vine (Echites umbellata) which may have been their native Florida host before the importation of Oleander to the United States. These moths can be found North into Georgia.

Plant shopping

It is beautiful outside and the time to start gardening is upon us. After the freeze, many gardeners are looking for plant material to replace plants killed in the winter.

I get a lot of questions about where to buy plants. In addition to large home improvement centers, I usually suggest that people seek out a local plant nursery. Many of these small retail nurseries are very specialized and can provide some unique plant material and hard-to-find native plants that larger stores don’t have room to stock . Also, nursery professionals at local nurseries often have long time experience with the local area and can provide great tips and suggestions for plant choices or gardens with challenges.

Large home improvement stores do have some great specials and coupons so keep you eyes peeled for sales. As I see it, any money you save means more plants that you can buy for your garden!

Think Native: Native plants are often the ones best for butterflies and best for reduction of water use. Native and Florida Friendly plants are best suited to our unique environment and will likely thrive in your yard.

I did a search for local retail nurseries and put together a list of all the ones I could find that are still in business. Some of these specialize in native plants and I have marked them with an *.

• Best Value Plant Nursery
• 2807 North Armenia Avenue,
• Tampa, FL 33607-2642
• (813) 253-0984‎
• Bloom Garden Shop
• 3005 S. MacDill Ave
• Tampa, FL 33629
• (813) 805-2151
• Duncheon's Nursery
• 2720 Land O Lakes Blvd
• Land O Lakes, FL.
• 813-948-1890
• http://duncheons.com/garden_center.htm
• Earl’s Garden Shop Nursery
• 4328 W Pearl Ave
• Tampa, FL 33611-3428
• (813) 839-6383
• Green Thumb Nursery
• 6913 Sheldon Rd.
• Tampa, FL 33615
• 813-884-3797
• http://www.greenthumbnursery.com/
• Hollie's Nursery *
• 20545 County Line Rd.,
• Lutz, FL, 33558
• (813) 949-6735
• http://www.gohollies.com/
• Kerby’s Nursery
• 2311 South Parsons Avenue
• Seffner, FL 33584-5213
• (813) 685-3265
• www.kerbysnursery.com
• Lake Jewel Farms, Inc.
• 8705 North Mobley Rd
• Odessa, FL
• (813) 920-8090
• http://www.thecityoftampa.com/tampa-fl-landscaping-nurseries-lake-jewel-farms-inc/index.html
• Manny's On the Bay Plants
• 600 West Hillsborough Avenue, 
• Tampa, FL 33603-1304
• (813) 231-9681
• The Natives *
• 2929 J. B. Carter Road
• Davenport Florida 33837
• (863) 422-6664
• http://www.thenatives.net/home.html
• Tree Mart *
• 12505 N. Nebraska
• Tampa, FL  33612
• (813) 972-4006
• http://www.treemart.com/
• Twigs and Leaves *
• 1013 Dr. Martin Luther King St. South
• St. Petersburg, FL
• 727.822.5400
• http://www.twigsnleaves.com/
• Wilcox Nursery *
• 12501 Indian Rocks Road
• Largo, FL 33774-3037
• (727) 595-2073
• http://www.wilcoxnursery.com/

You can also check the website to the Association of Florida Native Nurseries http://www.afnn.org/

Do you know of a small nursery I have missed in the Tampa Bay area or do you have feedback on one of the nurseries  listed? Please list it in the comments!

Please note: By posting this list MOSI is not recommending any one garden center over another. Rather we hope to list as many nurseries as possible so that you can make your garden the best patch of earth it can possibly be for you, your family and the butterflies.

Toadflax

Blue toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis syn. Linaria canadensis) is a common native Florida weed often seen in roadsides, fields and other disturbed locations. This plant species is in the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family and can be found north into Canada and West to Texas.

Blue toadflax blooms from mid-Spring to mid-Summer with small whitish to purple-blue flowers. These plants have tiny needle-like leaves and tend to grow in colonies that will put on pretty shows of blooms and form a small sea of bluish purple. Blue toadflax is an annual that reproduces by tiny flat seeds that are spread by the wind.

A close relative of this species is named Apalacicola Toadflax (Nuttallanthus floridanus) which is found only in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

The genus is named for English Botanist Thomas Nuttall (1786 – 1859). From 1808 to 1841 Nuttall lived in America and traveled routes previously charted by Louis and Clark to collect plant specimens with fellow botanist John Bradbury. Together they collected many specimins that were

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previously unknown to science. In 1818 Tomas Nuttall published The Genera of North American Plants. From 1825-1834 Nuttall held the post of curator of the Harvard Botanical Gardens.