Journal archives for September 2021

September 3, 2021

Observing goldenrods...

Identification of goldenrods can be IS challenging. One expert wrote, "It's only taken me about 50 years to get to the point where I think I might final know something about goldenrods. In another 50 years I should have them mastered."

Here's a list of helpful things to observe when you find an unfamiliar plant that you think might be a goldenrod...

  1. Location

    • if the plant is being cultivated, remember to check the captive/cultivated checkbox when uploading, or put the thumbs down beside 'Organism is wild' on the observation page on the web.
    • check that your accuracy circle on the observation is not grandiose.
  2. Habitat

    • include a 'wide shot' - an image that includes the plant you are observing and the area surrounding. Others can see if the site is sunny or shaded and from the other plants nearby can make assumptions about the soil and moisture conditions.
    • add a note about the soil and moisture conditions in the observation description. Soil might be rock, gravel, sand, clay, humus. Moisture might be dry, moist, wet.
  3. Flower

    • an image showing the complete flower head or inflorescence from the side showing the branching pattern.
    • an image showing the arrangement of the individual smaller flower heads or florets on the branches of the inflorescence.
    • a 'close-up' image of the ring of specialized tiny leaves or bracts on the outside of the florets. Identifiers are looking for very small hairs or the patterns of the veins or the presence of tiny lumps or glands so zoom in as close as your equipment will allow.
    • a view of a single floret from the top showing any patterns in the arrangement of the tiny flowers that make up each floret.
  4. Stem

    • an image showing the whole plant from the soil to the top of the inflorescence. This will also show the overall size of the plant and its growth habit.
    • 'close-up' images of the flowering stem at the base of the plant, midway up the stem and just under the inflorescence. Identifiers are looking for changes in the texture and colour of the stem surface
  5. Leaves

    Solidago plants often have different leaf shapes at the base of the plant, midway up the stem and just under the inflorescence. For each leaf shape include

    • the leaf from above showing the full length from stem to tip;
    • a 'close-up' of the underside of the leaf showing any hairs or glands;
    • the place where the leaf joins the stem showing the length of the leaf stem or petiole and any small leaves or bracts.
  6. Other organisms

    Add each organism observed on the plant to its own individual observation. Use the observation group field to link them all the observations together. Some of the organisms you will observe are specialized to live in a single species of Solidago. and their presence helps contribute to identifying the plant.

    • any organisms clinging or feeding in the inflorescence. Bees, butterflies and hover-flies visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. Spiders and ambush bugs hide in the flowers ready to spring on the unwary.
    • any organisms feeding on the stem or leaves. Caterpillars, bugs and beetles may be found on the stems or under the leaves. Leaf miners live in the interior of a leaf chewing distinctive patterns as they mature. Gall makers modify the tissues of the plant to create unusual structures in which they hide.

It can take a bit of effort to gather and upload all this information. As the observer, you decide how much is enough. Some Solidago species only require a clear location, and a good image of the inflorescence and the overall plant for a secure id. Others are puzzles even with all the images listed above. Adding the extra effort when in an area with few RG observations or when you have time to spare is much appreciated.

Solidago taxonomy is still being explored. Each new understanding creates a little ripple of reclassification to the existing iNat data. These ripples in turn help to create a better understanding of Solidago in the landscape.

More Resources

Posted on September 3, 2021 03:22 PM by marykrieger marykrieger | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 12, 2021

Grass of Parnassus or Parnassia identification in Manitoba

occurring in Manitoba according to Vascan as of this date...

More frequently observed

Parnassia glauca - Fen Grass of Parnassus

https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/7131
https://inaturalist.ca/taxa/118761-Parnassia-glauca
few branches on the staminodia
stems leafless or with a leaf near the base
broadly ovate basal leaves

Parnassia palustris - Marsh Grass of Parnassus

https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/7133
https://inaturalist.ca/taxa/78352-Parnassia-palustris
many branches on the staminodia
some stems have leaf near middle
cordate basal leaves

Infrequently observed

Parnassia kotzebuei - Kotzebuei's Grass of Parnassus

https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/7132
https://inaturalist.ca/taxa/144150-Parnassia-kotzebuei
sepals longer than petals, stems leafless or with a leaf near the base
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/58288555

Parnassia parviflora - Small flowered Grass of Parnassus

https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/7134
https://inaturalist.ca/taxa/78353-Parnassia-parviflora
significantly smaller overall than palustris or glauca,

Posted on September 12, 2021 04:58 PM by marykrieger marykrieger | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 16, 2021

Solidago - not solidago...

When learning to identify a group of plants, it can be helpful to figure out how to tell when it is definitely not the thing you are trying to learn to identify. So here's some things to help you decide if a plant is solidago or not solidago...

If the flowers are any color other than yellow or white, it is not a solidago. Most solidagos have bright yellow flowers - a few species are white. If the flowers are red, blue, purple or green - not a solidago.

If the plant has a persistent woody stem like a tree or a shrub, it is not a solidago. All solidagos are herbaceous- their stems do not have a woody core. When a herbaceous plant emerges from dormancy, it grows new stems from buds at ground level. No new growth begins from buds above ground on the previous years stems.

If the plant is taller than 3 meters, it probably isn't a solidago. The tallest species can grow to around 2.5 meters but most species are much shorter.

If the plant does not have compound flowers, it is not a solidago. Each solidago flower is made up of tiny individual florets packed together-a ring of pistillate ray florets surrounding a group of perfect disc florets, each capable of making a single seed. If the compound flower is all ray florets or all disc florets then it is not a solidago.

Compound flowers are surrounded by a ring of specialized leaves known as phyllaries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllary). Solidagos have two to four rings of overlapping phyllaries, each with a single translucent central vein.

Solidagos are native to North and South America, the Azores, Europe and Asia. The highest species diversity is found in the solidagos growing in North America.

Diversions
Silicon Valley: Season 4 Episode 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqTntG1RXSY

Posted on September 16, 2021 12:18 AM by marykrieger marykrieger | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 18, 2021

Gall Week October 2-10, 2020

After spider week, Cal Coast week, and taco day, it is time for Gall Week! Let's start a new tradition, documenting galls on the first week of October.
https://inaturalist.ca/projects/gall-week-2021-9e58d299-60ec-4b10-af61-11ec0ab46974

We can see organisms shifting strategies as the days shorten and the temperatures drop. Many birds are moving steadily south. Amphibians are burying themselves in the mud. Plants are shifting into dormancy. Here's a new thing to try on your wanders out in nature.

Galls are plant deformities caused by other organisms. The plant host responds to chemical secretions from the organism to build uniquely shaped structures that always benefit the gall inducer and sometimes also benefit the host.

Gall inducers can frequently be identified just by the shape and placement of the gall and the identity of the plant hosting the gall. Gall inducers specialize in specific groups of plants or sometimes even a single species. Observers can use the 'Host Plant ID' observation field to add their identification of the plant host to their observation of the gall.

Many gall structure are quite small so you will need to get up close and personal to find them. Collect images of the general location and appearance of the plant deformity and then zoom in to show the specific shape and texture of the tiny structure. A single tree may have multiple different galls on its leaves and branches. Its neighbour may have still other species to find. Soon you will know where to look for species in our area and recognizing when you have discovered something new and exciting.

Gall-related projects generally are made as traditional projects so after you join them you will still have to add your gall observations manually. If you want to start observing galls immediately, you can add your gall observations to Galls of North America

More reading....

Posted on September 18, 2021 03:45 PM by marykrieger marykrieger | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Manitoba Nature new post - info on Gall week October 2 - 10

Posted on September 18, 2021 03:48 PM by marykrieger marykrieger | 0 comments | Leave a comment