The Real Menonomonee Falls
Wildflower Identification . . . learn what their names are . . . the adventure's on . . .
Steps:
1. Pull out books from library . . . National Audubon's First Field Guide to Wildflowers, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, and Peterson's Wildflowers.
2. What do I know? Colors of Blue and White, 4 Regular Petals, Long Stem, Long Leaves, Blooms Early June, Wooded Habitat.
3. Is it a Bluet? Nope, the center isn't yellow enough.
4. Common Flax? Nope, flax has 5 petals.
5. AHA I found it -- Dame's Rocket. It is often confused with Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata), and, at first glance, it is easily understood. They are similar in habit with showy clusters of white, pink and purple flowers atop erect 2’ to 4’ stems. However, dame’s rocket is a member of the mustard family or Cruciferae, and aside from arugula, her relatives include radish, wintercress, cabbage and broccoli. They all share the distinction of having flowers with 4 petals that form the shape of a cross. (Garden Phlox blooms much later in the summer and its flower has five petals.) Seeds are produced in long slender fruits called siliques; some growing as long as four inches, making for copious seed production. I've also seen it identified as Sweet Rocket, Dame's Violet, Wild Phlox, or Mother of the Evening. So, what should I call it?
OK, so now I'm more stumped . . . gotta connect up with some experts.
2 comments:
Per Donna VanBuecken(Executive Director Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes), they are indeed Dames' Rockets and are invasive and are listed on many State Weed Laws. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/fact/dames_rocket.htm Do not transplant these to your yard. Alert the people who care for the park and make them aware of their presence. They should be destroyed. They should also not be placed in the landfill, although not all states require that.
Dames rocket has 4 petals. Native phlox has five. -- Donna
See our website at www.for-wild.org
Wild Ones promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wild Ones is a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.
Darn pretty weeds, don't you think?
they are. Lots of them in Door County right about now. Didn't realise how invasive they were, though.
If you went with Friends Of Lime Kiln Society, you'd have a great acronym. ;-)
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