Honewort

Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis), at the Moyer Gould Woods in Carroll County. Like the other plants in the Apiaceae family the flowers appear in umbels. Picture taken May 29, 2010.

Link to Cryptotaenia canadensis:

Link to Apiaceae:

Link to Moyer Gould Woods:

An ornamental evening primrose

This is planted in Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette, Oenothera macrocarpa. Picture taken May 29, 2010. Oenothera macrocarpa has not been found in the wild in Indiana, but it is native to regions west of the state. Other native plants that are used in the landscaping here are switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica). You can find them planted a few steps away.

Link to Oenothera macrocarpa:

Link to Oenothera macrocarpa:

Link to Oenothera macrocarpa:

Goatsbeard

This goatsbeard (Tragopogon dubius) is an incidental plant growing near 6th & Salem streets. Goatsbeard is the plant that has the giant dandelion-like seedheads that you see growing on roadsides out in the country. These flowers will turn into those seedheads in a few days. The pictures were taken May 29, 2010.

Link to Tragopogon dubius:

Link to Tragopogon dubius:

Link to Tragopogon dubius:

Pedestrian Bridge at Lafayette

Pedestrian bridge at Lafayette, early morning, May 27, 2010.

A row of catalpa trees

Flowers cover these catalpa trees as if it were a blanket of snow. Cottonwood seeds fill the air. This row of catalpa trees has been here a long time. Where are the snows of yesteryear?

May 26, 2010, looking southeast, in Shelby County, at the junction of Michigan Road and State Road 244.

Link to Catalpa speciosa:

Link to previous post on catalpa trees:

Link to previous post on cottonwood seeds (Populus deltoides):

Split Gill Mushroom

This dead oak tree on South Street provides a nice home for the split gill fungus, Schizophyllum commune. It's right in front of the Tippecanoe County Library. Pictures taken May 22, 2010.

Link to Schizophyllum commune:

Link to Schizophyllum commune:

Link to Schizophyllum commune video:

Link to County Public Library:

Wabash River at Lafayette in May, Elderberry

The river is at a slight flood stage, in this picture the water level is beginning to recede.

Link to Wabash River water level at Lafayette:


These elderberry shrubs (Sambucus canadensis) are just a bit higher than the flooded river. The flowering heads of the elderberry are at the bud stage, they will be flowering in June very soon. On the east bank looking down from the pedestrian bridge. Pictures taken May 23, 2010.

Link to Sambucus canadensis:

Link to Sambucus canadensis:

Everlasting pea

Everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius), along alley in West Lafayette, May 21, 2010. This is on the other side of Salisbury Street from the dawn redwood trees in this picture:

Link to Lathyrus latifolius:

Link to Lathyrus latifolius:

Salvia lyrata

Salvia lyrata, at Spring Vale Cemetery, Lafayette. Salvia lyrata is fairly common here. Picture taken May 16, 2010.

Link to Salvia lyrata:

Link to Salvia lyrata:

Link to Salvia lyrata:

Dawn redwood trees

These three dawn redwood trees (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are near S. Salisbury St. about a half block south of State Street. Picture taken May 16, 2010.

Link to previous post on dawn redwood:

Courthouse dome

Ox-eye daisy and Dame's rocket

This ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) can be found at the west end of Heavilon Hall on the Purdue campus. These are common roadside plants, and this garden spot was started by transplanting wild plants. Photo taken May 14, 2010.

Link to Leucanthemum vulgare:

Link to previous post on Hesperis matronalis:

Wild grape flowers

Wild grape vine (Vitis), on the Wabash Trail, Lafayette side, near the power substation. Wild grape vines are either male or female. These are male flowers. Some of the flower buds have not developed, they will lose their petal-cap to expose the five stamens. Picture taken May 9, 2010.

Link to Vitis:

Link to grape flowers:

Canada Goose nest

This Canada goose (Branta canadensis) started hissing as I got a little too close to the nest. At Blackbird Pond, May 2, 2010.

Link to Branta canadensis:

Wood ear fungus

This wood ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae) is on a tree near Blackbird Pond. Picture taken May 2, 2010.

Link to Auricularia auricula-judae:

Yellowwood

Yellowwood trees (Cladrastis kentukea) are blooming right now. There are several of them scattered over the Purdue campus, this one is near the corner of State St. and Russell St. Like the black locust trees they are in the legume family of plants (Fabaceae). Pictures taken May 5, 2010.

Lat./Long. coordinates of the yellowwood tree pictured:

40.4241 N, 86.9187 W

other yellowwood trees on Purdue campus:

40.4239 N, 86.9140 W Marsteller & State

40.4242 N, 86.9118 W State St. near Purdue Union

40.4302 N, 86.9130 W Northwestern Ave., Physics Bldg.

40.4284 N, 86.9112 W EE annex near Northwestern Ave.

40.4279 N, 86.9310 W Hort Park McCormick Road entrance

State St. WL Levee area:

40.4217 N, 86.9039 W

in Lafayette near Columbian Park:

40.4120 N, 86.8703 W

Link to Cladrastis kentukea:

Link to Cladrastis kentukea:

Link to Fabaceae:

Yellowwood is native to Indiana but only grows wild at Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County.

Link to Yellowwood State Forest:

Link to Yellowwood State Forest:

Golden Alexander

Zizia aurea, Golden Alexander, at Celery Bog Park. This is in an open area near the entrance drive, there seems to be a lot of this plant in this area. Golden Alexander is a native wildflower but doesn't seem too common elsewhere, I will guess that it was spread here intentionally by the park as part of a restoration project.

This Golden Alexander is in the butterfly garden adjacent to the Celery Bog Nature Center and is certainly intentionally planted here.

Pictures taken May 2, 2010.

Link to Zizua aurea:

Link to Zizua aurea:

Black locust

The black locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) are flowering. This tree is alongside Tapawingo Drive in West Lafayette. The white covered trees in the background are also Robinia pseudoacacia. The flowers are remarkably fragrant. Pictures taken May 6, 2010. These trees started flowering about May 4 this year.

Link to last year's post on Robinia pseudoacacia:

Link to Robinia pseudoacacia:

Link to Robinia pseudoacacia:

Squawroot

Squawroot (Conopholis americana), at Happy Hollow Park in West Lafayette. There seems to be a lot of this plant in this place. Squawroot is parasitic on the roots of oak trees and so doesn't have the green color of chlorophyll that most plants have. Picture taken May 2, 2010.

Link to Conopholis americana:

Link to Conopholis americana:

Notice the male oak flowers scattered on the ground, fallen from the tree.

Link to male oak flowers:

Fire pink

This fire pink (Silene virginica) is on a wooded slope in Happy Hollow Park in West Lafayette. Picture taken May 2, 2010.

Link to Silene virginica:

Link to Silene virginica:

Link to Silene virginica: