Saturday, August 31, 2013

Orange Jewelweed






Impatiens capensis is what I think this flower is. If anyone knows differently, please tell me. According to Wikipedia, the common names are "Orange Jewelweed, Common Jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed, Spotted Touch-me-not, or Orange Balsam." It is an annual wetland plant, native to North America. But as near as I can tell, it is native in the eastern half of the U.S., not Oregon. Nevertheless, here it is... en masse... in our pond margin this year, for the first time. At least, this is the first time I've noticed it here.


Only once before have I seen this flower in Oregon and that was in the narrow strip of bare land between two barns on my parents' ranch on the western slope of the Cascades. Apparently enough moisture dripped from the roof to keep it happy. My mother called it English Orchid. I have no idea where that name came from as I've not been able to find it anywhere. Searching the Oregon Flora Project,  I did find a few observations of this plant in the northern Willamette Valley so apparently, it is native to Oregon, at least it is now.

The mucilaginous sap, according to an online source, is supposed to soothe skin irritation caused by Poison Ivy and Stinging Nettle. We are too far west for Poison Ivy, thank goodness, but we have plenty of Stinging Nettle. I will test out this theory next time I get nettled. The sap is also said to have fungicidal properties and has been used to treat Athlete's Foot. (However, it's an annual so you better get your fungi in the summer.)

The very pretty flowers are small but numerous and the plants are plentiful... apparently they reseed themselves and form colonies. They have formed a large colony in our pond when I wasn't watching. I'll try to get more photos to add another time. 

Update: I found this plant under the name Cape Jewelweed, also Impatiens capensis, on the pnwflowers.com site. That site says:

Cape Jewelweed

Upright. Stems stout, little- or much-branched, enlarged at axils, hairless. Leaves alternate, to 4 in. long, widely oval, toothed. Flowers 1 to few from upper leaf axils, each on a long thread-like stalk. Flowers include a swollen yellow tube with curled spur and 4 orange petal lobes at opening. Grows in moist to wet soils in partly shady places along rivers and creeks.

I think I'll stick with "Orange" Jewelweed. What "cape" are they talking about?

Monday, July 8, 2013

Horse Pasture Wildflowers in July (and August)

Since I can never remember the names of wildflowers I key out (or get someone else to tell me what are) on our farm, I thought the best way to keep a record of them is to create a blog with photos and names. The next time I see a flower and can't remember what it is, I can come to this blog. Good theory; let's see if it works.

I'll start with the flowers I  recently photographed and identified (with help). This came of mowing the horse pasture and avoiding the "pretty ones" that were not numerous: Oregon Sunshine and a pink one I didn't know... but do now.

Pacific Water-Parsley, Oenanthe sarmentosa, in the ash swamp

 Canada Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis, (I think), in the horse field

Oxeye Daisies, pretty but obviously numerous


Oxeye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare, with purple Prunella vulgaris

Tansy Ragwort, , Senecio jacobaea, my most unfavorite plant
This is how I like to see Tansy: covered with Cinnabar Moth larvae

Good job little caterpillars!

If it were not poisonous to my horses, I might think it rather pretty.

Yellow Parentucellia, Parentucellia viscosa


Common Centaury, Centaurium umbellatum (the mystery pink one) with Heal-all, Prunella vulgaris




Oregon Sunshine, Eriophyllum lanatum


some Checkermallow, Sidalcea probably campestris, will research further

July 2016, same field but no longer pastured.

Madia elegans,  Common Tarweed

Tarweed just beginning to open. They open at night, close in the morning. They are very sticky all the time. Native Americans burned the fields in August, then beat the stems to collect the seed pods for making flour

Yarrow
Achillea millefolium


We have lots of yarrow

I think this is Potentilla gracilis  ...  Slender or Graceful  Cinquefoil



August 2018, Douglas Asters are blooming

Symphyotrichum subspicatum (Douglas Aster)