Duck

At Mascouten Park, where Happy Hollow Creek runs into the Wabash River.  This muscovy duck  (Cairina moschata) swam across the Wabash to the mudflat on the shore.  Duck didn't pay any attention to me.

Duck went straight to the amaranth and started gobbling it up.

Photos taken August 13, 2011.

Link to Cairina moschata: 

Link to amaranth:

Horse nettle at the Wabash River

Horse nettle (Solanum carolinense) at the Wabash River.  This is where the now dry Happy Hollow Creek enters the Wabash, at Mascouten Park.

All the white flowers are Solanum carolinense.  A rather large population on the land that was underwater a few weeks ago. Pictures taken August13, 2011.

Link to previous post on Solanum carolinense:

Wabash sandbar

Low water on the Wabash River has exposed this sandbar on the West Lafayette side.  Cocklebur and Waterhemp amaranth are quick to sprout and colonize the new land.  The pedestrian bridge stands in the background.

Waterhemp amaranth on the sandbar.  Pictures taken August 13, 2011.

Link to Wabash River levels:

Link to Amaranthus rudis:

Link to previous post on cocklebur:

Heavy rain over Wabash River

Sunday August 7, 2011, about 2pm.  A rainstorm is passing through Lafayette, heavy rain can be seen upstream and rain is soon to hit the bridge.

About two hours later.  The storm is past and the skies are clear again.

The heavy rain roiled up the water in he Wabash River a bit.  Looking down from the pedestrian bridge at Lafayette.

Link to Wabash River levels:

Leucospora, Euphorbia and Mollugo

On the left is Mollugo verticillata.  In the middle is Leucospora multifida.  On the right is Euphorbia maculata.  Growing on the west side of the Entomology Environmental Lab on the Purdue campus.  Euphorbia maculata is growing very well in lawns around here as the dry weather is keeping grass from growing. 

Link to previous post on Mollugo verticillata:

Euphorbia maculata is back again as the current botanical name after the synonym Chamaesyce maculata was defeated in a sumo wrestling match.  


Link to previous post on Euphorbia maculata:

A closer look at the Leucospora multifida.  Once placed in the plant family Scrophularaceae, now it is in the family Plantaginaceae.  This little plant can be found in a wide range of habitats from a crack in a city sidewalk to agricultural fields to the banks of streams far from development.  Pictures taken August 3, 2011.

Link to Leucospora multifida:

Link to Plantaginaceae: