Monthly Archives: March 2015

Wildflowers in Winter: More Plants Having Small Seedpods

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Here are some of the other southeast Michigan winter wildflowers with small pods. By small I mean shorter then 13mm [1/2 inch] and a diameter less than 6mm (1/4 inch).

Hypopitys monotropa

Pinesaps

Pinesaps (Hypopitys monotropa) is also called (Monotropa hypopithys). Upward pointing styles and a loose spike are the characters of this species. Pinesaps are leafless plants that live off of tree roots that they attach to via a fungus. The fancy term is myco-heterotrophic  plants. The flowers hang down but as the seedpods develop they turn upward.

Gentiana andrewsii

Closed or Bottled Gentian

Closed or Bottled Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) in the winter is just like the flowers but without the color. It is difficult to identify the Closed Gentian group to species when they are flowering. The seedpod shown here was from a colony that I identified when it flowered in the fall so I know which species it is. Opposite leaves and the distinct seedpod shape identify this as part of the Closed Gentian group.

Gentiana andrewsii

Closed or Bottled Gentian

Orchids have distinctive 6 parted seedpods. Hanging from the end of the capsule are the dried up petals and sepals. Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) is commonly encountered even in the city. See blog posting from August 2013. Its leafy spike with many seedpods is distinctive.

Cypripedium acaule Epipactis helleborine

L-Pink Lady-slipper R-Broad-leaved Helleborine

Lady-slippers have large capsules and when in seed the species are identified based size, habitat and leaf remnants or leaf scars. Pink Lady-slipper or Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium acaule) has a single seedpod on a stem without leaf scars.  I know of pinewoods where 1000’s of plants bloom and only a dozen plants set seed.

Verbascum blattaria

Moth Mullein

Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria) has 5mm (3/16 inch) diameter spherical seedpods on short, curved, upward pointing pedicels. Pedicels are the stalks that support individual flowers or seedpods on an inflorescence. Dried clasping leaves often remain along the main stem.
Copyright 2015 by Donald Drife

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Wildflowers in Winter: Plants Having Small Seedpods

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Here are some of the southeast Michigan winter wildflowers with small pods. By small I mean shorter then 13mm [1/2 inch] and a diameter less than 6mm (1/4 inch).

Berteroa incana

Hoary Alyssum

Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana) has a small, see-through, flat, pod with an elongate tip. Normally some of the hairs remain along the stem. It is seldom taller than 30cm (12 inches). The seeds are in a simple raceme. A raceme is a flowering spike where the individual flowers are on short, unbranched stems of equal lengths.

Lepidium virginicum

Peppergrass

Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) has flat, two seeded pods that are notched at the tip. Nine species in this genus occur in Michigan and can be identified  by the shape of the seedpod. Peterson’s A Field Guide to Wildflowers illustrates several species. The dense raceme is characteristic of this genus.

Hypericum perforatum

Common St. John’s-wort

Common St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) has  seedpods arranged in a cyme which is central flowering stalk that ends at a group of flowers and has branched side stalks from the central stalk. Seedpods are open at one end and have three elongated thread-like tips.

Penstemon digitalis

Foxglove Beard-tongue

Foxglove Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis) has seedpods that are narrower than Common St. John’s-wort and the tips on the seedpods are not as narrow. The number of tips varies from three to five. The seedpods are acute.

Oenothera spp

Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp.) has a narrow seedpod that splits into four sections. They are arranged in a simple raceme. The plants can be 2m (6 feet) tall.
Copyright 2015 by Donald Drife

Webpage Michigan Nature Guy
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