Scavenger Hunt

Family #1:  Rosaceae

Species Name: Duchesnea indica

Common Name: Indian Strawberry

Description: Observed in an open-cultivated lawn, growing in slightly moist, acidic-soil. This plant can be best described as a yellow flower with five petals, five sepals (and 5 toothed bracts just underneath) , with many stamen. The leaves are mostly basal (this plant had an alternate leaf also) with three, serrate leaflets. The fruit is red and juicy and has achenes (dry; ovary contains one cell and one seed) surrounding the surface.

Waldsteinia fragarioides Waldsteinia fragarioides

Waldensteinia fragarioides Waldsteinia fragarioides

 

Family #2: Apiaceae

Species Name: Dacus carota

Common Name: Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, or Bird’s Nest

Description: Observed along the south side of the roadside, growing in moderately moist, slightly acidic soil. The plant was about two feet tall and had a pubescent stem. The small, white flowers were grown in a flat umbel and have pinnate bracts that fold up to form a seed.

 Daucus carota Daucus carota

 

Plant on sight ID list #1: Oenothera biennis

Family Name: Onagraceae

Common Name: Common Evening Primrose

Description: Observed along the west side of the roadway, growing in a steep ditch. The flower has four, yellow petals, two pairs of long sepals fused together , 8  stamen, and one inferior gynoecium with four stigmas. The stem was about 4 feet tall and had little hairs. The leaves were alternate and lanceolate in shape with entire margins.

photo 1(2) photo 3(2)

 

Plant on sight ID list #2: Quercus rubra

Family Name: Fagaceae

Common Name: Red Oak

Description:  Observed in an open cultivated lawn along the driveway in full sunlight, growing in slightly acidic soil. Leaves are simple, alternate, lobed with pointy tips.

red oak red oak

red oak red oak

 

Specific Character #1: Parallel Venation

Family Name: Aspargacae

Species Name: Agave sp.

Described: Observed along the west side of a slightly, downward driveway, growing in slightly acidic soil. The veins of the leaves run parallel.

Agave agave

 

Specific Character #2: Pinnate Venation

Family Name: Ulmacae

Species Name: Ulmus rubra

Common Name: Slippery Elm

Description: Observed on the west side on the top part of the downward slope driveway, growing in slightly acidic soil. The leaves are simple, alternate, serrated and have a rough top surface with a soft, pubescent surface underneath. The venation is pinnate having one main vein extending from the asymmetrical base to the acute tip with many smaller veins that branch off.

a.elm a.elm

a. elm a. elm

 

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