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| What's in Bloom this Week? |
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October 2002 Featured Plants
Lobelia
This week's featured plant is Lobelia siphilitica,
Great Blue Lobelia. The odd Latin name for this native plant
refers to its reputation among colonists as a cure for syphilis.
New wildflower enthusiasts are sometimes surprised to learn
that it is closely related to cardinal flower, a stunning
scarlet lobelia, also found at the Preserve. While the blocky
flowers of lobelia are not much like the more stringy flowers
of cardinal flower, the plants are alike in leaf shape, blooming
season and habitat. Blue lobelia grows well in gardens with
moist or wet soil, and sun to light shade. In nature, it is
found in swamps and ditches, and along streamsides and pond
shores. At the Preserve, it is found sparsely, but on several
trails including the Marsh Marigold Trail, Gentian Trail and
Violet Trail, as well as in the Visitor Center Garden. It
is typically available at Preserve plant sales.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod is our featured plant for this week. Goldenrods
comprise the genus Solidago, which includes over 20
Pennsylvania natives. Although familiar plants, goldenrods
are the subject of plenty of misconceptions. For example,
many still believe that goldenrods cause hay fever. Not so!
They are insect, not wind pollinated. Goldenrods also are
sometimes dismissed as exclusively weedy plants of open places.
Incorrect! Some goldenrods grow in woodlands and some are
rare, not weedy. To completely shatter the stereotype, S.
bicolor is white, not golden. At the Preserve, several
goldenrod species can be found in various habitats. Look for
tall and rough-stemmed goldenrods in open meadows, and wreath
goldenrod in shady places. Pictured is the lovely S. caesia,
wreath goldenrod, a woodland species that deserves a spot
in any shade garden.
Aster
This week's featured plant group is Aster. These familiar
autumn flowers range in color from white to deep blue. Asters
form a large genus and lend their name to an important plant
family, the Asteraceae. Also known as the composite family,
it is so named because the 'flowers' actually are a composite
of numerous minute flowers that take on the appearance of
one large blossom. Over thirty asters are native to Pennsylvania,
including both common and endangered plants. Many aster species
can be seen at the Preserve. In the front meadow, look for
New England, calico, showy and purple stemmed asters. Along
woodland trails, look for smooth and white wood asters. Stop
by the Visitor Center Garden for a display of asters that
are frequently available at plant sales. The pictured aster
is smooth aster, Aster laevis, a woodland species.
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