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A Walk in Fern Bluff Park (17 Mar. 2007) pg 5 Walking to the back of the improved portion of the park, at the far right side, where the park borders on the property of Fern Bluff Elementary, I knew we'd find some interesting flowers. The flora here is always slightly different from that of the rest of the park, probably because it is in a minor depression where water stands after a rain. The soil is probably somewhat higher in clay than the surrounding soil profiles, too. In years past this location has hosted a number of stemless evening primroses (Oenothera triloba), and sure enough, the one below was found exactly where others had been found in the past. This one is in full bloom, early in its life, before the ravages of time could damage its delicate petals and flower structures. This flower opens at sunset, then closes up just before noon the next day. In two or three hours it will look entirely different. Note the leaves below the flower, in a whorl (faintly visible) of blades that stretch out in all directions. Each blade is long-stalked and deeply incised in an irregular fashion. The leaves will wither as the flower matures, leaving a non-descript seed pod that resembles a miniature pine-cone.
A closer look at the flower structure shows a hint of a long tube in its center (the darker, greenish yellow central portion) that replaces the stem found on most flowers. The ovary is nestled among the leafstalks at ground level, where the seed pod will develop. Unlike most flowers, the seeds will not be borne on a stalk. Notice the X-shaped structure, in the bottom left quadrant of the photo, projecting out of the center of the flower on a long stalk: this is--in this flower--a four-lobed stigma that leads downward to the ovary. In its center is a microscopic tube that conducts pollen from the anthers (the bright yellow structures at the top of--in this flower--the eight filaments surrounding the stigma) to the ovary.
Throughout this same area are several low bushes that are beginning to leaf out as shown in the photo below. This will be our mystery twig for this walk in the park. See if you can identify the genus and species (enough is showing to enable you to get there) before our next walk.
Many flowers are budding, or are closed up for the day after blooming at night. Some, like the one below, are in clusters. This will be our mystery flower for this walk. See if you can identify it before next Saturday.
Archives of previous walks in the park: 12 May 2007, 05 May 2007; 28 April 2007, 21 April 2007, 14 April 2007, 1 April 2007 Easter Egg Hunt; 24 March 2007, 17 March 2007; Nov. 03, 2001; April 04, 2001; March 25, 15, 10-11, 04, 2001; February 24, 18, 10, 2001 * TERMITE ENCOUNTERS * SNAKE ENCOUNTERS * SNAKE BITE FIRST AID * SNAKE EXCLUSION * SPIDER ENCOUNTERS FOR 2008 * SPIDER ENCOUNTERS FOR 2007 * SPIDER BITE FIRST AID * SPIDER EXTERMINATION * PUSS CATERPILLAR ENCOUNTERS * PUSS CATERPILLAR FIRST AID * PUSS CATERPILLAR EXTERMINATION * Assembled & Edited by Jerry Cates. Questions? Corrections? Comments? BUG ME RIGHT NOW! ---- Ph: 512-331-1111 ---- E-Mail ---- Privacy ----BugsInTheNews * --0a0s-- |
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