Ginseng flowering

Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is beginning to flower here.  This ginseng is not growing wild but was planted in front of the house at Clegg Garden. 

Photo taken June 25, 2015.

Link to Panax quinquefolius:

Link to Panax quinquefolius:

Link to Panax quinquefolius:

Link to Panax quinquefolius:

Path rush

Here is a rush that is easy to find.  It’s path rush (Juncus tenuis).  Path rush typically is found on trails because it tolerates compacted soil.  This path rush is along the trail that runs by the old horse shelter at Clegg Garden.  Photo taken June 15, 2015.

Link to Juncus tenuis:

Rushes are often mistaken for grasses but botanically they are different, in the plant family Juncaceae.

Link to Juncaceae:

Indian pink

This striking display of red-yellow flowers is along the driveway entering Clegg Garden.  It is Spigelia marilandica, sometimes called Indian Pink.  This is native to some of the southern states of the US but not this part of Indiana..

Photo taken June 14, 2015.

Link to previous post on Spigelia marilandica on Purduecampus:

Blue penstemon along the trail near Wildcat Creek

I will surmise that this is a blue form of Penstemon cobaea.  Compare it to the pale flowered Penstemon on the high slope pictured in the post of May 31.

http://clegggarden.blogspot.com/2015/05/introduced-wildflowers.html

This blue flowered Penstemon is found along the trail on the low lying ground near Wildcat Creek.  Photos taken June 13, 2015.

The nature, identification, and origin of the Penstemon at Clegg Garden needs further review.

Link to Penstemon cobaea:

Red raspberry slime mold

Tubifera ferruginosa, also called red raspberry slime mold, on an old fallen log at Clegg Garden.

Photo taken June 13, 2015.

Link to Tubifera ferruginosa:

Link to Tubifera ferruginosa:

Introduced wildflowers?

A display of Penstemon flowers on the sunny slope overlooking Wildcat Creek.  I am going to assume that this is Penstemon cobaea which has been previously identified here at Clegg Garden.  Penstemon cobaea is not native to Indiana but rather is a native of the prairies of Kansas and Texas.

A closer look at the Penstemon on the slope.

Link to Penstemon cobaea:

Link to Penstemon cobaea:

Link to reported range of Penstemon cobaea:

Here a growth of Linum, also of unclear species, amongst the Penstemon.  Linum with blue flowers is not reported to be native to Indiana.  Both Penstemon cobaea and Linum lewisii are components of commercially available wildflower mixes which might account for their presence here at Clegg Garden.

Which raises the question of whether plants that are intentionally sown should even be called wildflowers.

Link to Linum perenne lewisii:

Link to Linum perenne/lewisii:

Link to reported ranges of Linum species:

This post is subject to further revision as better identifications are made and more is learned about the history of Clegg Garden.

Photos taken May 22, 2015.

Western wallflower

Western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum).  This appears on the high ground overlooking Wildcat Creek.  Erysimum capitatum is common in the western United States but Indiana is at the eastern edge of its range and is only present in a few places in this state.  It’s not known whether the western wallflower has been at Clegg Garden originally or whether it was planted here to develop the site as a gravel hill prairie.  Whether planted here or not, this is the habitat where it is found naturally.  Western wallflower can also be found growing naturally near the Wea Creek at Shadeland in Tippecanoe County.  This photo taken May 22, 2015.

Link to Erysimum capitatum:

Link to Erysimum capitatum in Ohio:

Link to FNA treatment of Erysimum capitatum:

Western wallflower is another example of the mustard plant family, and has the look of a typical Brassicaceae although without the weedy character that so many of our local Brassicaceae have.

Another view of Erysimum capitatum on the slope overlooking Wildcat Creek.  May 22, 2015.

Western wallflower along trail near Wildcat overlook, May 25, 2015.