| Adder’s
Tongue is an inconspicuous fern which emerges in early spring at
several scattered sites in the Center. The largest stand we have
located is just east of the “Raccoon Bridge” along Pioneer
Trail near its junction with Cedar Lane. These small ferns produce a
single, leaf shaped sterile frond and a slender, sporangium-bearing
stalk. The stalk will ultimately grow to a few inches in length and
bear a small apical fork, hence the name |
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Common Name: Adder’s Tongue
Scientific Name: Ophioglossum engelmannii
Where to Look: On Pioneer Trail as described above and near the large Crape Myrtle and bench along the Pine Woods Trail.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
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| Flatwoods
Plum, also known as Hog Plum, flowers in early spring at the same time
as Bradford Pear, and the flowers are quite similar. This tree seldom
attains more than 20 feet in height or more than about 6 inches in
diameter, and in our area fruit is seldom formed due perhaps to late
frosts. Specimens are scattered throughout the Center but are not
usually noticed except when in flower. |
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Common Name: Flatwoods Plum
Scientific Name: Prunus umbellata
Where to Look: Two
specimens are located in Fern Gully near the steps at the Price Hall
entrance and others occur along the east end of Pioneer Trail near the
boardwalk, near the bridge on Grapevine Loop and near the boardwalk on
the west end of the Center.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
|
| Several
oak species are beginning to flower and consequently, pollen is
beginning to be an annoyance for us as we work in our yards or engage
in other outdoor activities. The most conspicuous element of oak
flowers are the slender, staminate (or pollen producing) flowers which
dangle like Christmas ornaments from twigs. The pistillate (or acorn
producing flowers) or more obscure. |
|
Common Name: Cherrybark Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus pagoda
Where to Look: Throughout the Center, common along all trails.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
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Local
populations of Loblolly Pine are now producing one of their most
conspicuous elements, the fleshy, elongate, pollen cones clustered near
the ends of twigs of mature trees. These structures are responsible for
formation of much of the yellow dust which coats our streets and cars
each year.
|
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Common Name: Loblolly Pine
Scientific Name: Pinus taeda
Where to Look:
Throughout the Center. One mature specimen is located on the north end
of Price Hall and another prominent individual is the “Elephant
Tree” on Grapevine Loop.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
|
| Emerging
fern fronds usually display a characteristic form known as a
fiddlehead, or crozier. This crozier is of an early season emergent
Royal Fern but numerous fiddleheads of other species can also be
located now and in the coming weeks. Christmas Ferns are particularly
abundant throughout the Center, but especially along Pioneer Trail and
in Fern Gully, but Royal Ferns are found near “Raccoon
Bridge” on Pioneer Trail. |
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Common Name: Royal Fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis
Where to Look: A few colonies are located on Pioneer Trail at the Raccoon Bridge site.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
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| Wake Robin is perhaps our most common woodland wild flower and the one which emerges earliest in this region (see Feb 08 On the Trails). Last year among the March images we posted an individual with yellowish petals; this image is of the typical form with purple petals. |
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Common Name: Wake Robin
Scientific Name: Trillium cuneatum
Where to Look: Along most trails throughout the Center but several colonies are found in Fern Gully, along Grapevine Loop, and at other sites.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
|
| Elm
trees produce flattened seeds known as samaras each year and these will
soon be scattered over the trails throughout the Center. Two elm
species (Winged Elm and American Elm) are found in the Center and the
samaras of the two are easily distinguished. Winged Elm is common
throughout the Center, especially around the parking lot and in other
“upland” sites, whereas American Elm is restricted to the
lower sites in Fern Gully, along the boardwalk on Grapevine Loop and on
the east end of Pioneer Trail. American Elm samaras can be collected
for comparison on the boardwalk. |
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Common Name: Winged Elm
Scientific Name: Ulmus alata
Where to Look: Throughout the Center but several individuals are located around the parking lot.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
|
| A
common sight in Mississippi’s moist roadside ditch and alluvial
woodland habitat is a tall, yellow topped plant known as Butterweed.
This species is considered a lowly weed by many but the golden color it
brings to our roadways and the rewards it provides to numerous tiny
fly, plant bug and bee visitors should enhance its position. We are
always pleased to welcome this visual herald back to the Center each
spring. |
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Common Name: Butterweed
Scientific Name: Senecio glabellus
Where to Look: Several plants are located near the greenhouse and others are scattered along Pioneer Trail in moist areas.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
|
| Flatbugs
are only one of the obscure but interesting prizes to be found under
bark of dead trees. These dark brown, extremely flat animals feed on
fungi with their slender beak and usually remain motionless when the
bark is peeled. Look carefully under bark of dead oaks and you should
find these creatures. |
|
Common Name: Flatbug
Scientific Name: Mezira granulata
Where to Look: These were found on dead Post Oak limbs on Grapevine Loop but others have been observed on other oak species.
Photo and text by Bill Stark |
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