Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor L.)

Family: Dogbane

Common periwinkle, is a native of Europe often escaped from cultivation. It is a perennial evergreen ground cover that is winter hardy. It is closely related to the big leaf periwinkle (V. major L.), except in size and hardiness. Common periwinkle seldom exceeds a height of 6 inches although runners may trail long distances on the ground. The runners root at the node under moist conditions. The thick glossy leaves form a good ground cover. Small blue flowers occur indeterminately from April to September.

Common periwinkle is adapted to mild climates. It usually requires part shade and ample moisture, but will tolerate full sun if it is adequately watered. It is more hardy than big leaf periwinkle. Moisture and exposure are often more restrictive than soil type on determining adaptation. Common periwinkle is adapted to a wide range of soils. It is found on well drained to poorly drained soils that can be calcareous, alkaline to slightly acidic, and medium textured to fine textured. The plant should be used where there is adequate moisture.

Common periwinkle is distributed throughout the East. It is found through out TN especially on old home sites and cemeteries. Sometimes it is the only indication that a cemetery is close at hand.

Photographic Location: Volunteer Trail at Longhunter State Park in Middle Tennessee.


Plants may be established from rooted cuttings produced in flats or from plant division. Plant on a spacing of 18 inches x 18 inches. Fertilizer should be applied for vigorous establishment. Mulch critical areas immediately after planting. Planting can be done any time of the year when moisture is adequate for establishment. This should ordinarily be planted on areas that can be sprinkled or otherwise irrigated or on sites where average annual precipitation is over 20 inches.

Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

    Description: This annual plant produces stems about ½–1' long that usually sprawl across the ground. It branches abundantly near the base, but very little toward the tips of the stems. The somewhat succulent stems are green or burgundy; they often have lines of white hairs. Pairs of opposite leaves occur at intervals along these stems. These leaves become larger toward the tips of the stems, spanning up to ¾" in length and ½" across. The leaves toward the base of the plant usually have short petioles that are slightly hairy, while the leaves near the tip of each stem are usually sessile. The leaves are oval-ovate, entire (toothless) along their margins, and hairless on the upper surface; the lower surface is occasionally hairy.

    Individual flowers occur from the axils of the outer pairs of leaves, while the stems terminate in small cymes of white flowers. Each flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 white bifid petals (appearing to be 10 petals), 5 green sepals, 3 white styles, 2-10 stamens, and a light green ovary in the center. The sepals are lanceolate, hairy on the outer surface, and longer than the petals; each sepal is at least 1/8" (3 mm.) long. The slender pedicels are finely pubescent. The blooming period occurs during the spring for plants that are winter annuals, and during the summer or autumn for plants that are summer annuals. A typical plant will bloom sporadically for 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a cylindrical seed capsule that is light brown with 6 small teeth along its upper rim; it contains several seeds. Each mature seed is reddish brown, somewhat flattened, and orbicular-reniform; its surface is minutely bumpy. The root system is shallow and fibrous. This plant spreads by reseeding itself; it can also spread vegetatively by rooting at the leaf nodes along the stems.
   
    Range & Habitat: Common Chickweed occurs in every county of Tennessee and it is quite common. This plant is native to Eurasia. Habitats include woodland areas prone to flooding or standing water, thickets, cropland and fallow fields, lawns and gardens, nursery plots, areas adjacent to buildings, and miscellaneous waste areas. While Common Chickweed occurs to a limited extent in natural habitats, where it is sometimes invasive, this plant prefers areas with a history of disturbance.
   
 Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily small bees and flies, including cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, Syrphid flies, bottle flies (Lucilia spp.), Muscid flies, and Tachinid flies. Less common floral visitors include nectar-seeking butterflies and parasitoid wasps. In the absence of such visitors, the flowers of Common Chickweed can self-pollinate. Some insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Common Chickweed. These species include both the adults and larvae of Cassida flaveola (Pale Tortoise Beetle) and the larvae of such moths as Agrotis venerabilis (Venerable Dart), Haematopis grataria (Chickweed Geometer), and Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave); see Clark et al. (2004) and Covell (1984/2005). Vertebrate animals also feed on Common Chickweed and other Stellaria spp. The seeds of such plants are eaten by the Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow, House Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and Field Sparrow; the Ruffed Grouse also browses on the leaves. The Bird Table displays a more complete list of these seed-eating birds. The foliage, flowers, and seeds are a minor source for various mammals, including the Cottontail Rabbit, Groundhog, and White-tailed Deer (Martin et al, 1951/1961). The seeds are able to pass through the digestive tracts of White-tailed Deer and remain viable, spreading Common Chickweed to new areas (Myers et al, 2004). Other herbivorous mammals probably spread the seeds in their feces as well. The Prairie Deer Mouse eats the seeds of Common Chickweed to a minor extent (Houtcooper, 1978).

    Photographic Location: Taylor Hollow, a Tennessee State Natural Area.

    Comments: This is probably the best known chickweed in TN, although it can be confused with other species. Chickweed species fall into 2 large groups: those with 3 styles (Stellaria spp.) and those with 5 styles (Cerastium spp.). Like other Stellaria spp. (Chickweeds), Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) has only 3 styles. It differs from the others in this genus by length of its sepals (at least 1/8" long), which are conspicuously longer than the petals of its flowers, and by the relatively broad shape of its leaves. The foliage of Common Chickweed resembles Apetalous Chickweed (Stellaria pallida) to a remarkable degree – however, the flowers of Apetalous Chickweed lack petals and its sepals are shorter. The blooming period of Apetalous Chickweed is restricted to the spring, while Common Chickweed often blooms later in the year. Common Chickweed is somewhat variable in the hairiness of its leaves, the length of its stems, and the number of stamens in each flower.*





















*Copyright © 2003-2015
   by John Hilty
   All rights reserved.

Michaux's Gladecress (Leavenworthia uniflora)

Michaux's Gladecress is also known as Small Gladecress.


Brassicaceae/Mustard Family

Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant, it is a annual which can reach 10cm in height (4inches).

Leaves: This plant has basal leaves only. Leaves can reach 7.5cm in length (3inches). Each leaf is divided.

Flowers: The flowers have 4 Regular Parts and are up to 1.5cm wide (0.6 inches). They are white with yellow center. Blooms first appear in late winter and continue into mid spring.

Photographic Location: Cedars of Lebanon Forrest in Middle Tennessee.

Habitat: Glades and other open limestone areas that are wet in the spring.

Range: Indiana and Ohio to as far south as Alabama and Georgia and west to Missouri. *



* www.2bnTheWild.com - Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States

First post for 2015

It has been a terrible and long winter here in Tennessee. Finally, it looks like spring is just around the corner.

For the first post this year, I am combining three wildflowers that are blooming now. Usually, its only us wildflower enthusiast that like these wildflowers. Most home owners consider them the bane of their existence! I have seen yards that look like they have a blanket of pink and purple! Very pretty, but I bet the homeowners don't think so.

The first to bloom was Harry or Hoary Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta). The original post and description can be seen HERE.

Next two to bloom were; Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) (Click Here for description)

and its close cousin Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum) (Click Here for description)

Most people see these as the same plant, but they are different members of the same family. 

March and April are two of the biggest months for wildflowers here in TN. I hope to find many more that I have not seen before. I hope you will continue to follow this blog and learn about the beautiful wildflowers here in TN.

Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)

Mint family (Lamiaceae)

    Description: This adventive plant is a winter or summer annual (usually the former) that is unbranched and ½–2½' tall. The central stem is strongly 4-angled and largely glabrous. The lower third of the stem in a mature plant is often devoid of leaves. The opposite leaves are up to 2" long and across. They are densely crowded together along the stem, each pair of leaves rotating 90° from the pair of leaves immediately below or above. Young leaves at the apex of the stem are tinted purple, but they become dull green with maturity. The leaves are broadly cordate or deltoid, crenate along their margins, and finely pubescent. Their petioles are short. The upper surface of each leaf has a reticulated network of indented veins, creating a wrinkly appearance.

    Sessile whorls of flowers occur above the leaf axils, and a terminal whorl of flowers occurs at the apex of the stem. Each tubular flower is about ½" long and has well-defined upper and lower lips. The lower lip is divided into 2 rounded lobes, and there are insignificant side lobes that are reduced in size to small teeth. The corolla is purplish pink, pink, or white – the upper lobe is usually a darker color than the lower lobe, which is often white with purple spots. The tubular calyx is green or purplish green, and has 5 slender teeth that spread outward slightly. The blooming period usually occurs during mid- to late spring and lasts about 1½ months, although plants that are summer annuals may bloom during the fall. Each flower is replaced by 4 nutlets. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant occasionally forms dense colonies by reseeding itself.

    Cultivation: Typical growing conditions are full sun to light shade and moist fertile soil. The foliage is little bothered by disease and insect pests. This plant develops quickly during the cool weather of spring.

    Range & Habitat: Purple Dead Nettle occurs occasionally throughout Tennessee. This plant is native to Eurasia. Habitats include moist fallow fields, banks of ditches and drainage canals, gardens and nursery plots, weedy edges of woodlands, and various kinds of waste ground. Degraded sites with a history of disturbance are preferred.

    Faunal Associations: According to Müller (1873/1883) of Germany, the nectar of the flowers attracts long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, and Anthophorid bees. Another visitor sucking nectar from the flowers was Bombylius major (Giant Bee Fly), which also occurs in North America.

    Photographic Location: Sycamore Ridge Ranch in Wilson County TN.

    Comments: The most distinctive characteristic of Purple Dead Nettle is the purple tint of the young leaves at the apex of the stem. With the exception of Lamium amplexicaule (Henbit), other Lamium spp. (Dead Nettles) are uncommon perennial plants with larger flowers (¾" or longer). Henbit is a sprawling weedy plant with sessile leaves near the flowers, while the same leaves of Purple Dead Nettle have short petioles. All of the species in this genus are native to Eurasia. The common name 'Dead Nettle' refers to the resemblance of the leaves to those members of the Nettle family with stinging hairs. However, Lamium spp. lack stinging hairs, therefore they are the safe, or 'dead,' nettles to be around. Another common name for Lamium purpureum is 'Red Dead Nettle.'