Wildflowers 3

Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens] next years flower buds. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-19-24

Rabbit Tobacco [Pseudognaphalium obusifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-22-24

Small Sundrops, Little Evening Primrose [Oenothera perennis]. Cheboygan County, Michigan 9-17-24

Smooth Blue Aster [Symphyotrichum laeve]. Cheboygan County, Michigan 9-17-24

Kalm's Lobelia [Lobelia kalmii]. Cheboygan County, Michigan. 9-17-24

White Turtlehead [Chelone glabra]. Cheboygan County, Michigan. 9-17-24

Common False Foxglove [Agalinis tenuifolia]. Cheboygan County, Michigan. 9-17-24

Fringed Gentian [Gentiana crinita]. Cheboygan County, Michigan. 9-17-24

White Wood Aster [Aster divaricatus]. Luzerne County, Pa. 9-2-24

Closed Bottle Gentain [Gentiana andrewsii]. Luzerne County, Pa. 9-2-24

American Pennyroyal flower [Hedeoma pulegioides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-12-24

Indian Tabacco [Lobelia inflata]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 8-17-24

Blue Mistflower [Conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin county, Pa. 8-17-24

The beautiful and tiny American Pennyroyal flower [Hedeoma pulegioides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-12-24

The beauty of Indiangrass in flower is always worth the wait! [Sorghastrum nutans]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-23-24

This series of pictures shows the flower and fruit cycle of the tiny Cow Wheat plant [Melamoyrum lineare]. In picture one, shows the tiny annual in flower on June 2, in picture two we see a seed pod that has anywhere from 3 to 6 seeds on August 5 and in picture three, also on August 5, a seed pod spit open revealing its seeds. "It is a hemi-parasitic plant, meaning that it relies on obtaining some of its nutrients from the roots of nearby plants. The nectar of Common Cow-wheat can only be reached by insects that have a long proboscis, especially bees. If the flower is not pollinated, it will pollinate itself. It is the larval foodplant of the rare Heath Fritillary butterfly." Dauphin County, Pa. 2024

The always beautiful Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-5-24. I always look forward to this late season bloomer.

Slender Mountain Mint [Pycanthemum tenuifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-5-24

Marsh Speedwell [Veronica scutellata]. Luzerne County, Pa. 6-27-24

Poke Milkweed [Asclepias exaltata]. Tioga County, Pa. 7-4-24

Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum). Toga County, Pa. 7-4-24

Black Cohosh [Actaea racemosa]. Tioga County, Pa. 7-4-24

Clasping Venus’s Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata). Dauphin County, Pa. 6-20-24

The flower of Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-20-24

Penstemon Digitalis. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-7-24

The beautiful Lance-Leaved Violet [Viola lanceolata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24.

The beauty of the tiny Cow Wheat Flower [Melampyrum lineare]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-2-24

Pink Lady's Slipper [Cypripedium acaule]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24

The wonderful colors and unique beauty of the Large Whorled Pogonia orchid [Isotria verticillata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-11-24

Marsh Marigold [Caltha palustris]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-24

Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolius]. Dauphin County, Pa.5-6-24

Fringed Polygala [Polygaloides paucifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24

Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolius]. Dauphin County, Pa.5-6-24

Fringed Polygala [Polygaloides paucifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24

Wild Azalea [Rhododendron periclymenoides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-8-24

Huckleberries blossoms [Vaccinium membranaceum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-24-24

Trillium erectum [yellow form]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

In all the years that I have visited Tioga County to see Trillium erectum, this was the first time seeing a yellow one and what a beauty it was! Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

Squirrel Corn [Dicentra canadensis]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

Trillium Erectum, Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

Long Spurred Violet [Viola rostrata]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

Wild Ginger [Asarum conadense]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24.

The beautiful Miterwort [Mitella diphylla]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

In all the years that I have visited Tioga County to see Trillium erectum, this was the first time seeing a yellow one and what a beauty it was! Tioga County, Pa. 4-27-24

Although it is possible for the flowers of Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens] to be a perfect flower [having both male and female parts] most are unisex, having either male of female parts. In fact most groups of plants and their flowers are one sex or another. Pictured below is the female with its star shaped apparatus that is open and ready to receive pollen, pictured above is the male with its pollen producing structures. The amazing world of just one tiny spring flower and its fascinating strategy for reproducing.

Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-12-24

Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-10-24

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta] shown with a Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-9-24.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f plena]. North Central Pa. 4-9-24

Miner Bee [Anthophora abrupta] pollinating Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24. Notice the grains of pollen on its legs and face and antenna.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24

Nothing can stand in the way of a wildflower blooming and fulfillling its destiny and urge to reproduce, in this case, Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa

Round Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana]. Perry County, Pa. 3-29-24

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 3-16-24.

Trailing Arbutus flower bud [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 3-8-24

Partridge Berry in bloom [Mitchella repens]. Tioga County, Pa. 6-26-22 [above and below]

Treacleberry-False Solmon's Seal [Maianthemum racemosum]. New York 6-2-17

Rose Twisted -Stalk [Streptopus lanceolatus]. New York. 6-2-17.

The bloom of an unknown Aster still hanging on in December. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-23

Bluestem Golenrod [Solidago caesia] in seed. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-23. With a background of Beechnut Treees

One very tiny Sharp Lobed Hepatica leaf [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-23

Stout Goldenrod [Solidago squarrosa]. Still in bloom in Tioga County in December! Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-23.

The achenes or fruit contain a single seed, in this case the seed of Blue Stemmed Goldenrod [Solidago caesia]. At the achenes apex is the pappus which is made up of tiny hairs, which in turn help to distribute and disperse the achenes, and thus the seed, far and wide on the wind. Aren't plants just amazing! Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-23

Bumble Bee [Bombus] on Blue Wood Aster [Symphyotrichu cordifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-11-23

These late season Indian Tobacco flowers are the most colorful that I have ever seen. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-27-23 [Lobelia inflata]. They are most always a light blue coloration but these have a purplish hue and on the outside a darker purple, they were so striking I at first didn't recoginze them as Indian Tobacco. Always one of my favorite late summer wildflowers.

Female Short Winged Meadow Katydid [Conocrphalus brevipennis] on Blacked Eyed Susan [Rudbeckia hirta]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-7-23. Notice those wonderful antenna!

Yellow Iron Weed [Wingstem] [Verbesina alternifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-22-23.

The beautiful Spotted Bee Balm [Monarda puntata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-6-23

Virigin's Bower [Clematis virginiana]. Lebanon County, Pa. 8-22-23

Indian Grass [Sorghastrum nutas] in flower. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-22-23. The white feathery parts are the stigmas

Bue Mist flower [Conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23.

Three Lined Moth [Schinia trifascia]. on Blue Mist flower [conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23.

Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-25-23

The tiny flower of American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-25-23

The tinest flower that I have ever tried to photograph and this year I finally had success after many years of trying. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-24-23. American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides]

Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium ochroleucum). Schuylkill County, Pa. 8-1-23

There is nothing more beautiful this time of year than Indiangrass in flower and on the breeze. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-23-23 [Sorghastrum nutans]

One of my favorite flowers is the tiny Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata], a cousin to the beautiful Cardinal Flower [Lobelia cardinalis] . I often wondered what could be pollinating this small beauty. While photographing this wildflower recently a tiny unfamiliar insect appeared going from flower to flower placing its proboscis deep into each flower. Looking like a tiny dragonfly this tiny insect , called a Thick Headed Fly [Stylogaster neglecta], a real beauty of the insect world. Is it a pollinator of lobelia inflata, I do not know but I would say there is definitely a high probability. Schuylkill County, Pa. 8-3-23

Narrow leaved Mountain Mint [Pycnanthemum tenuifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-3-23

Yellow form of Orange Fringed Orchid on right normal coloration on Left. Both beautiful! [Platanthera ciliaris]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 7-31-23

Blue Flag Iris [Iris veriscolor]. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-26-23

Ragged Fringed Orchid [Platanthera lacera]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 7-6-23

Orange Fringed orchid [Platanthera ciliaris]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 7-21-23

Fly Poison [Amianthium muscitoxicum], Carbon County, Pa. 6-26-23

Butterfly Weed [Asclepias tubersoa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23

Eastern Smooth Beard Tongue [Penstemon laevigatus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23

Whorled Loosestrife [Lysimachia quadrifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23

Great Spangled Fritillary [Speyeria cybele] enjoying Butterfly Weed [Asclepias tuberosa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23. This is the earliest that I have seen this Butterfly and this plant blooming

Large Purple Fringed Orchid [Platanthera grandiflora]. Lebanon County, Pa.6-13-23

Large Purple Fringed Orchid [platanthera grandifloria]. Lebanon County, Pa. 6-13-23

Mountain laurel [Kalmia latifolia]. Dauphin County. Pa. 6-9-23

Canada Mayflower [Maianthemum canadense]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-59-23

Starflower [Trientalis borealis]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-29-23 [Above and below]

Pointed Blue Eyed Grass [Sisyrinchium angustifolium]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-29-23

American Cancer Root [Conopholis americana]. Maryland, 5-19-23. A parasitic plant.

One Flower Cancer Root [Orbanche uniflora]. Maryland, 5-19-23.

One Flower Cancer Root [Orbanche uniflora]. Maryland, 5-19-23

One Flower Cancer Root [Orbanche uniflora]. Maryland, 5-19-23. A parasitic plant meaning it subsist on the roots and energy of other plants, having no leaves of its own for photosynthesis and thus its own energy to create flowers.

The always elegant Perfoliate Bellwort [Uvularia perfoliata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-19-23

Smooth Solomon's Seal [Polygonatum biflourum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-19-23

Mayapple [Podophyllum peltatum]. Perry County, Pa. 5-9-23

Pink Lady's Slipper [Cypripedium acaule] covered in Eastern Cottonwood [Populus deltoides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Fringed Polygala [Polygala paucifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-23

Wild Sarsaparilla [Aralia nudicaulis]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-4-23

Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Early Coralroot orchid [Corallorhiza trifida]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-1-23

Goldenthread [Coptis grovenlandica]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 5-2-23

Wood Anemone [Anemone quinquefolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-23

Heart Leaved Twayblade orchid [Neottia cordata]. Northeast Pa. 5-1-23

Jack-in-the-Pulpit [Arisaema triphyllum]. Perry County, Pa. 4-24-23

Miterwort [Mitella diphylla]. Perry County, Pa. 4-24-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing tiny pollen gains on the stamens [male] found at the end of the connecting filaments, in the middle of the flower the greenish points are the stigmas [female]. The ovaries can be found at the base of the stigmas

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing tiny pollen gains on the stamens.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing the stigma [female] and anthers containing the stamen [male]

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Dutchman Breeches [Dicentra cucullaria]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal [11] Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Pink with a touch of yellow Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

This is what is referred to as a "maiden" flower. Only having stigma [female parts] and no stamens [male parts]. It is still possible to reproduce and have fruit or seeds, if it gets pollen from an adjacent flower with stamens. This plant is in the same area as the double flowering plants, I can't help but wonder if this and other maiden plants in the area are somehow responsible for the mystery of rare double flowering plants found here. Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23