Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Butterfly and Beach Report, 8/13/19

Yesterday, I wished Skye would hold still while I waited for the black morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail to get into the right position. Today I insisted.
The weed du jour, Lanceleaf Arrowhead, Sagittaria lancifolia:
This perennial arises with basal leaves to 3 feet tall from tuber-producing rhizomes. The leaves have long petioles and arrowhead shaped leaf blades to 10 inches long. Submerged leaves are lance-shaped or even bladeless. The ½ to 1 inch wide 3 petaled white flowers appear in late spring and summer.

Members of the Water-Plantain Family grow in water, in swamps, on muddy banks, or occasionally in wet sand. Each plant has long-petioled leaves in a clump with a flowering stem rising among them. The flowers have 3 green sepals, 3 white or pink-tinged petals, 6 or more stamens, and several pistils. Stamens and pistils may be in separate flowers.

 Called Duck Potato or Wapato because of its edible egg-shaped rhizomes. Native Americans cleared ponds of competing plants to locate and harvest the tubers in fall. The tubers were stored and cooked as needed, providing an excellent source of carbohydrates.
Overcast at the beach, with an occasional rumble of thunder in the distance.
More walkin', less talkin!

The biggest puddle party I've seen yet.
A Spicebush Swallowtail
From the other side. Note the classic Spicebush Swallowtail comet in the row of orange spots.

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