Rolandvue,2nd Week August: Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius)

Another quiet week as far as blooming plants.  Fireweed is common along Cloverlea and Rolandvue.  There are a number of pioneer species, early to appear in cleared areas, which are called fireweed so another argument for using the latin name. Features to notice are the serrated leaf margin,often lobed, alternate , simple, attached to a thick stem.  It is in the lettuce family, native to North America.

The seeds are spread by the wind, but it also grows  in clumps with multiple stems.  There is a thick clump at the corner of Wagner and Rolandvue. This area has been cut and possibly treated chemically encouraging the fireweed.

Despite its lettuce association it is not commonly mentioned as a foraging prize.  Peterson calls it an acquired taste, but suggests use in salads and as a cooked green.  Opinions vary  as to the strong odor or the perfume.  For some it is a famine food only and for others a delicacy( Eat the Weeds).

Fireweed or American burnweed common this week

Rolandvue, 1st Week August: Cicadas,Funnel Spiders, and Web Worms,Golden Garden Spider

There are few blooming plants to indicate the calendar, so for a week let's switch to animals. The droning undulating white noise in the background is obvious this week.  As yet there are no bodies or dried shells to see but this is probably cicadas.  There are the periodic 13 to 17 year cicadas, and some of these are not completely synchronized so appear at staggered shorter intervals.  So there may be broods of the periodic insects but there can also be some annual cicadas(Tibicen chloromera).  The illustration is from the internet since nothing yet obvious on the ground.

Locust is mentioned as a noise maker but is a different insect related to the grasshopper.  I have not seen these either, not as common in Maryland and less likely as the source of the sound. The cicadas eat relatively little after digging out of the ground, concentrating on the mating cycle. The loudest noise is the relatively small adult male.  The mating occurs on twigs or leaves which then fall with the larvae shich dig into the ground to restart the cycle.  So a noise indicating back to school time is approaching. You can try to identify species on the songsofinsects.com website.

Cicada from wikipedia,watching for a local specimen

We mentioned the web worms(Hyphantria cunea) in an earlier post, but they have suddenly become more visible this week.  Recall that this is the web at the end of branches and more late summer to early fall.  The tent caterpillar is spring and near the central tree branches, not the periphery.  It is a native of North America, now introduced worldwide, a little payback for the reverse invasions. We are right on the dividing line between one and two generations per year ( 40 degrees N) but it seems to be a single cycle. Usually there is not permanent damage to the tree.

The funnel spiders(Agelenidae) have been around since the spring and get mentioned here because of the photo.  These guys are shy and fast, not giving much to posing for pictures. The markings look pretty characteristic.  They compete for the gold medal speed for spiders with their much larger relatives.  They weave the flat webs in grass and bushes, more obvious in the morning when covered with dew. They use a paralyzing venom but are not generally a danger to humans. As the fall comes they will look for homes near or in the neighboring houses. Females are the better,more successful hunters.

Also noted this week was a relatively large golden garden spider, Argiope aurantia, with a dense three dimensional web in the bushes along Wagner.  The Z pattern in the center of the web is typical of this spider.  The spider is on the other side of the web, while the camera focuses on the web.  This is probably a female, larger with a larger web.  There may be a smaller male web nearby. Prey is insects and small vertebrates, killed by a toxin but not a toxin dangerous to humans. This spider was on the edge of a field or yard as is typical.

yellow garden spider

Rolandvue,4th Week July: Bindweed and Canadian Thistle

During the walk at RE Lee Park, the ranger mentioned that not much was blooming in the park at this time of year. So the plants go on a vacation of sorts.  There are two with prominent flowers, both with reputations a little on the noxious side.

Bindweed is in the morning glory family, comes in a couple of flavors, this trying to overgrow  the shrubs is probably field bindweed.  Although pretty, it is aggressive and difficult to eradicate.  It can re-grow from roots going down 30 feet (or maybe they meant 30 feet long, roots need oxygen too). The two pictures show the change in buds from early morning to noon.  Here is another example of the motility of plants, opening and closing their flowers in response to heat, humidity or light. With latin name convulvulus arvensis, it is a non-native invasive. Bindweed does not get much attention from foragers, is mildly toxic to animals. Note the arrow-shaped leaves, about two inches long.

The early morning appearance of bindweed flower,septals separate varieties.

Appearance of bindweed flower in midday. Did not track over 48 hours, may last only one day.

Canadian thistle is also known as lettuce from Hell, or cursed thistle. It appears in colonies since spreads along the thick net of roots. Leaves are spiny, and clasp the stem. Illustrated are the feathery seeds or pappas,up to 1500 per plant, designed to spread on the wind. Foraging notes mention the roots as being edible but "gassy."  These were along Bellona Avenue.

Feathery seeds of the canadian thistle, seen commonly along roadsides at the end of July