Wet Flatwoods 3 Snapshot Information and Images
Bogbuttons (Hatpins, Pipestems)
Eriocaulon decangulare (air-ee-oh-CALL-on dec-ang-you-LARRY)
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This large-statured species is the king of a complex of lookalike species with a set of inconsistently applied English names. Bogbuttons are wetland plants with a head of tiny congested white flowers packed into a button. The button tops a stalk rising from a basal rosette of dagger-shaped leaves. We can’t sort out all the local species of Bogbuttons right now but the instructors would be glad to help if that is something you wish to do.
Eriocaulon decangulare (air-ee-oh-CALL-on dec-ang-you-LARRY)
See the Blog
This large-statured species is the king of a complex of lookalike species with a set of inconsistently applied English names. Bogbuttons are wetland plants with a head of tiny congested white flowers packed into a button. The button tops a stalk rising from a basal rosette of dagger-shaped leaves. We can’t sort out all the local species of Bogbuttons right now but the instructors would be glad to help if that is something you wish to do.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis (seph-ah-LAN-thus ox-eh-dent-AY-lus)
In the Coffee Family, Buttonbush is an abundant wetland shrub. During its spring-summer flowering period the spherical flower heads are the size of golf balls and smell like gardenias. The leaves look like those of its relative Wild Coffee, are usually in whorls of three, and have a triangular stipule between each pair of leaf bases. Look for that stipule, it helps confirm the identity. A stipule is a triangular flap or pair of flaps at the point where the leaf joins the stem in some plants.
Cephalanthus occidentalis (seph-ah-LAN-thus ox-eh-dent-AY-lus)
In the Coffee Family, Buttonbush is an abundant wetland shrub. During its spring-summer flowering period the spherical flower heads are the size of golf balls and smell like gardenias. The leaves look like those of its relative Wild Coffee, are usually in whorls of three, and have a triangular stipule between each pair of leaf bases. Look for that stipule, it helps confirm the identity. A stipule is a triangular flap or pair of flaps at the point where the leaf joins the stem in some plants.
Corkwood
Stillingia aquatica (still-INJ-ee-ah ah-KWAT-ah-cah)
This small emergent shrub of Hypericum marshes is in the Spurge Family related to Crotons and Poinsettias. It is widespread and perhaps the most common marsh shrub locally except for the St. John's-Worts. The alternate leaves are thickened, widest above the middle, and serrate. The serrations (marginal teeth) have tiny black tips. The flower clusters are erect candles with pale yellow flowers, standing vertically at the branch tips. The swollen 3-lobed objects at the bases of the candles are fruits.
Stillingia aquatica (still-INJ-ee-ah ah-KWAT-ah-cah)
This small emergent shrub of Hypericum marshes is in the Spurge Family related to Crotons and Poinsettias. It is widespread and perhaps the most common marsh shrub locally except for the St. John's-Worts. The alternate leaves are thickened, widest above the middle, and serrate. The serrations (marginal teeth) have tiny black tips. The flower clusters are erect candles with pale yellow flowers, standing vertically at the branch tips. The swollen 3-lobed objects at the bases of the candles are fruits.
Drumheads
Polygala cruciata (pol-IG-ah-la croos-ee-AY-tah)
If you find violet flowers in a congested head shaped like a coffee can, it is probably Drumheads, Polygala cruciata. It often stands about a foot tall. This is one of several Milkwort species common in our area.
Polygala cruciata (pol-IG-ah-la croos-ee-AY-tah)
If you find violet flowers in a congested head shaped like a coffee can, it is probably Drumheads, Polygala cruciata. It often stands about a foot tall. This is one of several Milkwort species common in our area.
Painted Sedge
Rhynchospora latifolia (ring-KOSS-purr-ah lat-ah-FOAL-ee-ah)
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Wildflowers do not come much prettier than this white flag waving on a tall wand over the wetland. The showy white parts are whitened leaves (bracts) below the tiny flowers. A smaller similar species with fewer (usually 4 or 3) bracts is Rhynchospora colorata.
Rhynchospora latifolia (ring-KOSS-purr-ah lat-ah-FOAL-ee-ah)
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Wildflowers do not come much prettier than this white flag waving on a tall wand over the wetland. The showy white parts are whitened leaves (bracts) below the tiny flowers. A smaller similar species with fewer (usually 4 or 3) bracts is Rhynchospora colorata.
Peelbark St. John’s-Wort
Hypericum fasciculatum (and similar H. brachyphyllum) (hi-PEAR-ah-come fass-ick-you-LAY-tum)
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We have several St. John’s-Worts, species of Hypericum, in our area. In local wetlands especially abundant is Peelbark St. John’s-Wort, easily recognized by being the dominant shrub in many marsh habitats and by its needlelike leaves, yellow flowers, and notably peeling bark. Almost all St. John’s-Worts have opposite or clustered leaves, yellow flowers with 4 or 5 petals, and numerous stamens. Most, but not all, prefer wet habitats. Sorting them all out is beyond the scope of our introductory class, but if you wish to, we’ll help. Also, see Hypericum in our book. Species of Hypericum are sold as natural remedies for depression, but they can cause eye damage and skin sensitization to sunlight. They are toxic to livestock.
Hypericum fasciculatum (and similar H. brachyphyllum) (hi-PEAR-ah-come fass-ick-you-LAY-tum)
See the Blog
We have several St. John’s-Worts, species of Hypericum, in our area. In local wetlands especially abundant is Peelbark St. John’s-Wort, easily recognized by being the dominant shrub in many marsh habitats and by its needlelike leaves, yellow flowers, and notably peeling bark. Almost all St. John’s-Worts have opposite or clustered leaves, yellow flowers with 4 or 5 petals, and numerous stamens. Most, but not all, prefer wet habitats. Sorting them all out is beyond the scope of our introductory class, but if you wish to, we’ll help. Also, see Hypericum in our book. Species of Hypericum are sold as natural remedies for depression, but they can cause eye damage and skin sensitization to sunlight. They are toxic to livestock.
Red Bay
Persea borbonia (PURSE-ee-ah bore-BONE-ee-ah)
This variable tree or large shrub ranges from scrub to swamp habitats. Different taxonomists see a different number of species in this complex of closely related plants. For purposes of the present class we’ll lump the local representation as one big complex species, although some taxonomists see two species. The young twigs are often yellow-green as in its relative Avocado. The crushed leaves have a distinctive strong odor . The leaves are alternate, tough, dark green on top, and gray beneath with variable hairiness or no hairs. The leaf blades are often defaced with irregular galls. Look for those. The small flowers are near-white, and the fruits look like pea-sized purple golfballs on tees. Red Bay is threatened by Laurel Wilt Disease. This is a locally dominant species seen everywhere, one to learn for sure.
Persea borbonia (PURSE-ee-ah bore-BONE-ee-ah)
This variable tree or large shrub ranges from scrub to swamp habitats. Different taxonomists see a different number of species in this complex of closely related plants. For purposes of the present class we’ll lump the local representation as one big complex species, although some taxonomists see two species. The young twigs are often yellow-green as in its relative Avocado. The crushed leaves have a distinctive strong odor . The leaves are alternate, tough, dark green on top, and gray beneath with variable hairiness or no hairs. The leaf blades are often defaced with irregular galls. Look for those. The small flowers are near-white, and the fruits look like pea-sized purple golfballs on tees. Red Bay is threatened by Laurel Wilt Disease. This is a locally dominant species seen everywhere, one to learn for sure.
Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera (MY-reh-cah serr-IF-ah-rah)
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Wax Myrtle is a locally common shrub in multiple habitats, most often moist places. The narrow leaves are widest above the middle with big irregular teeth. They are often fragrant when crushed but this varies. The small flowers followed by small waxy fruits form directly along the stems, as is true also of Myrsine. The fragrant wax on the fruits is recovered by boiling and skimming, and is related to Bayberry, as in those smelly candles. Wax Myrtle can “fix” nitrogen, an uncommon adaptation outside of the Legume Family.
Myrica cerifera (MY-reh-cah serr-IF-ah-rah)
See the Blog
Wax Myrtle is a locally common shrub in multiple habitats, most often moist places. The narrow leaves are widest above the middle with big irregular teeth. They are often fragrant when crushed but this varies. The small flowers followed by small waxy fruits form directly along the stems, as is true also of Myrsine. The fragrant wax on the fruits is recovered by boiling and skimming, and is related to Bayberry, as in those smelly candles. Wax Myrtle can “fix” nitrogen, an uncommon adaptation outside of the Legume Family.
Yellow Milkwort
Polygala rugelii (pol-IG-ah-la roog-EL-ee-eye)
Common in wetlands, showy, and yellow. The flowers are in eye-catching spherical yellow pompoms as opposed to the upright candles in Tall Pinebarren Milkwort. Left-hand photo: Tall Pinebarren Milkwort. Center photo: Yellow Milkwort. Right-hand photo: Drumheads (Milkwort).
Polygala rugelii (pol-IG-ah-la roog-EL-ee-eye)
Common in wetlands, showy, and yellow. The flowers are in eye-catching spherical yellow pompoms as opposed to the upright candles in Tall Pinebarren Milkwort. Left-hand photo: Tall Pinebarren Milkwort. Center photo: Yellow Milkwort. Right-hand photo: Drumheads (Milkwort).
Xyris, Yelloweyed-Grass
Xyris ambigua (ZIE-rus am-BIG-you-ah)
The same problem we face with St. John's-Worts, Bog Buttons and Milkworts, we have too many species of Xyris locally to cover them all at this moment. The most common and most showy is the one you see here, Xyris ambigua. They almost all have yellow (occasionally white) flowers congested in a thimble-sized head mixed with stiff bracts on the tip of a long wand. The leaves look like Iris. In Xyris ambigua the leaf bases are striped vertically, and are associated with a clear gel.
Xyris ambigua (ZIE-rus am-BIG-you-ah)
The same problem we face with St. John's-Worts, Bog Buttons and Milkworts, we have too many species of Xyris locally to cover them all at this moment. The most common and most showy is the one you see here, Xyris ambigua. They almost all have yellow (occasionally white) flowers congested in a thimble-sized head mixed with stiff bracts on the tip of a long wand. The leaves look like Iris. In Xyris ambigua the leaf bases are striped vertically, and are associated with a clear gel.