Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)

Viburnum dentatum is known by the common names Arrow-wood Viburnum and Arrow-wood Viburnum. Southern Arrowwood shrubs grow along the shore of the lake (segments 6, 9 and 12). When they grow in sunny areas, the shrubs are 4 – 5 feet; in shady areas, they grow much taller.

A shrub growing in a shady area.

The leaves.

Leaves are opposite.

Buds.

A flower head.

A close up of flowerlets.

Viburnum dentatum grows in the southeastern United States in states bounded by New Jersey west to Iowa and east to Florida; it also grows in Maine, Connecticut, and Texas.
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Distribution Map
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Viburnum dentatum (Southern Arrowwood)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Viburnum dentatum

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Arrow-wood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Viburnum dentatum

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower index

Blue Fieldmadder (Sherardia arvensis)

Sherardia arvensis is known by the common names Blue Fieldmadder and Fieldmadder. So far, I’ve only seen it at home where it was growing along a fence line that is mowed infrequently. I prefer the name Fieldmadder rather than Blue Fieldmadder, the name used on the USDA site. Flowers from most US sources show pink flowers in contrast to those from European sites which show blue flowers.

At first, casual glance, the plant looks like Bedstraw (Galium aparine). The leaves of both species are arranged in whorls. S. arvensis leaves are arranged in whorls of six compared with whorls of eight leaves on Galium aparine. Upon closer inspection, the leaves are distinctly different in shape; in addition, leaves of S. arvensis lack the prickles seen on leaves of G. aparine. The flowers of each species are only about 1/4 inches across and have four petals; G. aparine flowers are white compared with the flowers of S. arvensis which are pink or white flowers.

A patch of plants The flower clusters are not obvious.

A closer view of plants and flower heads.

The whorl of leaves.

The leaf whorls in profile.

Flower heads in profile.

Flower heads from above.

Flowerlets, close up.

Sherardia arvensis (Blue Fieldmadder) is native to Europe.. It grows in the eastern and some western states and provinces in the United States and Canada, respectively.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Sherardia arvensis (Blue Fieldmadder)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Sherardia arvensis

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Blue Fieldmadder (Sherardia arvensis)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Sherardia arvensis
- Missouri Plants: Sherardia arvensis

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

Field Garlic (Allium vineale)

Allium vineale is known by the common names Field Garlic, Wild Garlic or Crow Garlic. It is the second of three onion-like species that grows in this area; the others are the False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve) and the Broadleaf Wild Leek (Allium ampeloprasum). Field Garlic is widespread. At Fort Yargo State Park, it grows along the trail from the boat launch at Section B (segment 2) where the trail meets the gas pipeline and where the trail crosses the draining creek that flows down to the lake. These plants are pretty but are considered weeds because of their strong garlic flavor which ‘contaminates’ grasses in and renders them useless for grazing livestock commercially.

A patch of developing plants. These were photographed along the trail from the boat launch at Section B, Fort Yargo State Park where the trail meets the pipeline right of way.

A developing flower head. It is similar to the Nothoscordum bivalve bud.

A flower head that is ready to open.

Bulblets starting to sprout.

These bulblets have sprouted but not developed flowerlets.

Some flower heads occur as doubles. Flowerlets are developing on one of these.

Some flower heads occur as triples; these are relatively rare.

Many plants develop flower heads with flowerlets. Flowerlets are green at first than then turn pink or purple. One flowerlet at the top is turning pink.

Flowerlets turning pink-purple.

Flowerlets up close and in profile

Flowerlets up close, from above

Finished flowering, drying up.

Allium vineale (Field Garlic) is native to Europe and Asia. It grows widely in the the eastern United States and the Pacific coast states including Alaska.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Allium vineale (Wild Garlic)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Allium vineale

Identification resources:
- Missouri Plants: Allium vineale

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index
- False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)

False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)

Nothoscordum bivalve is known by the common names False Garlic, Grace Garlic or Crowpoison and is one of three onion-like species that grows in this area; the others are the Field Garlic (Allium vineale) and the Broadleaf Wild Leek (Allium ampeloprasum). I’ve only seen False Garlic at home where we have a small patch on the ledge immediately above the creek. They don’t bloom successfully every year – in fact this year something nipped the buds - but I did manage to get some photos a couple of years ago.

A patch of developing plants in the woods.

The flower head budding.

Starting to open.

The flower stalks unfolding.

Flower stalks, unfolded a little further.

A freshly opened flower

Flowering completed.

Nothoscordum bivalve (False Garlic) is native to the southeastern United States.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Nothoscordum bivalve (Crowpoison)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Nothoscordum bivalve

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Nothoscordum bivalve
- Missouri Plants: Nothoscordum bivalve

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Lonicera japonica is known by the common name Japanese Honeysuckle. It’s almost ubiquitous in this area and is probably considered a pest by a lot of people. It doesn’t grow out of control like Kudzu but it will cover bushes and has to be controlled in the garden. It can be used to advantage as a ground and fence cover. It is very fragrant and, often, the fragrance is the first indication that it’s flowering.

A cluster of flowers.

Recently opened flower. At the early stage, the flower tube is pink. The green stigma and golden anthers are clearly visible.

Mature flowers. Flowers turn gold as they age.

Close up of a mature flower.

A mature flower, in profile.

Vines. These are relatively young; they’re about 1 inch in diameter.

Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) is native to Asia but grows quite widely in the United States and in Ontario, Canada.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Lonicera japonica

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Lonicera japonica
- Missouri Plants: Lonicera japonica

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

I feel a little disillusioned at the moment. My ‘perceived fidelity of Eastern Phoebes’ bubble has been challenged. But let’s back up…

For many years a pair of Eastern Phoebes has nested on the rather small top of an outdoor light under the eaves at the front of the house. They arrive quite early in the year and seem to raise at least two, if not three, nests each year. They appear to be a devoted couple. Occasionally, both would perch together on the telephone wire just off the end of the house. They’re difficult to photograph because the house is shaded by trees for most of the day.

All I can see is the tail of the female sitting the eggs.

I’ll see at least one bird, whom I’ve believed to be a lone male, feverishly flying back and forth. On the way from the nest, perching on one of the nearby perches – the upright of our firewood stack frame, or a wire …

In the shade, or …

enjoying a minute In the late afternoon sun.

And sometimes perching again briefly on the way back into the nest with an insect in its mouth.

Anyway… back to my ‘fidelity’ bubble. Now as I research them, I find that, while many pairs are monogamous, the apparent domestic harmony may just be a terrible lie. The female may chase the male away from the nest until the eggs have hatched. A second male may mate with the female while the ‘first’ male is raising the chicks and the second nest may be anothers chicks. It’s worse than a soap opera.

I have to say that I’ve never seen more than two phoebes around here and I’d like to think that ‘our’ pair are monogamous but I guess I’m going to be observing them more closely in the future.
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Identification resources:
- The Cornell Institute of Ornithology - All About Birds: Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
- Wild Bird Watching: Eastern Phoebe
- Sibley, DA: The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. National Audubon Society. Alfred A Knopf, New York.

Arrowleaf Clover (Trifolium vesiculosum)

Trifolium vesiculosum is known by the common name Arrowleaf Clover because of their elongated leaf shape. So far, I’ve only seen it along the road not far from home. It’s important to look at the leaves of any plant suspected to be T. vesiculosum. Some plants of T. repens will develop unusually long flowerheads, especially if they are growing in the shade, and the leaf shape will indicate immediately eliminate T. repens.

The patch.

A closer view of a few flower heads. The elongated leaf shape is also visible in this photograph.

A close up of the flower head composed of rows of small individual flowerlets that open from bottom to top.

Trifolium vesiculosum (Arrowleaf Clover) is native to southern Europe and, in the United States, grows in the Virginia, the southeastern and the pacific coast states.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Trifolium vesiculosum (Arrowleaf Clover)

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Arrowleaf Clover (Trifolium vesiculosum)
- Alabama Plants: Trifolium vesiculosum

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index
- Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens)
- Rabbitfoot Clover (Trifolium arvense)