Tag Archives: wetland plants

Flower of the Day: Swamp Candles

Posted on by
1

aka swamp loosestrife; Lysimachia terrestris; Primulaceae (primrose family; some authorities place it in the myrsine family)

 20140728-DSC_0136

This may be one of the few cases where the common names make more sense than the botanical name; the specific epithet “terrestris” means “of the earth”.  Its distribution across North America is a little whacky; it doesn’t occur in the Deep South (except Georgia), the southwest, the Great Plains (except Oklahoma) or the mountains, except in the Pacific Northwest.  It is endangered in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Like yesterday’s FOTD, this is a water-loving species.  It will grow to about three feet tall, wth each flower about half an inch across.  Apparently in some areas this species is known to hybridize freely with other native loosestrifes.

This picture was taken on a late July evening, along the Potomac River just upstream from Cabin John Creek.  The river level was very low.

20140728-DSC_0030-2

Flower of the Day: Halberd-Leaved Rosemallow

Posted on by
Reply

Hibiscus laevis; Malvaceae (mallow family)

20140728-DSC_0070

You could hike along the Billy Goat trails all day and never see this flower – but only because the trails never get close enough to the water.  Find one of the rocky outcroppings and head out into the river, though, and you’ll see dozens and dozens – or hundreds – of the plants, which can grow to over six feet tall.

20140728-DSC_0035

They could almost be considered shrubs, as the large stems will get very stiff as if lignifying, and these stems will persist through the winter.  But the plant does die back in true perennial fashion.

This rosemallow is a plant that loves to have its feet wet.  You’ll find it growing right along the riverbanks; whether or not it’s actually standing in water depends on the water level.  The flowers will open to a width of five inches when in full sunlight, then close at night.

Here’s a picture of a smaller plant in bud, showing the leaf shape:

20140725-DSC_0110

And here’s one more picture, just because:

20140728-DSC_0027