Anthoxanthum monticola is a distinctive grass, meaning (to me) that it is readily identifiable from comparisons of a plant to photographs or illustrations. This is in contrast to the labourious, and sometimes frustrating, process of using a dichotomous key, as it requires learning a number of specialist terms with grasses, e.g., ligule, palea and lemma, to name but a few.

A number of the resources below will link to species pages for Hierochloe alpina, a heavily-used synonym for Anthoxanthum monticola.

I've included a near 100% crop of the original photograph to illustrate some of the inflorescence parts of a grass. The close-up shows a single spikelet (and the base of a second one), whereas the original image shows 5 spikelets in total. Within each spikelet is, in this species, three florets. For Anthoxanthum monticola, two of these florets are sterile, and produce no pollen or seed. Each of these sterile florets has an awned lemma -- a bract with a needle-like extension.

Within the fertile floret, though, are floral parts typical of many flowers. On this plant, you can see the developing stamens (the yellowish anther is emerging from the bottom of the spikelet in the close-up image). To see the stamens at maturity, view the first image at the Flora of Svalbard for Anthoxanthum monticola. The feathery portions are the pollen-receiving stigma. I'll guess that they have a large surface area in order to capture the wind-borne pollen.

Additional images, including some habitat photographs, are available from the Toolik-Arctic Geobotanical Atlas: Anthoxanthum monticola.

Alpine sweetgrass is native to alpine and tundra areas of northern Asia, Europe and North America.

Another thank you to S.Q. Mehdi@Flickr (Qamar) of Lahore, Pakistan, for sharing one of his photographs with Botany Photo of the Day (see the original image posted via the Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool).

Qamar refers to the plant as Tamarix articulata (link to Wikipedia entry), but that name seems to have become a synonym of Tamarix aphylla (Flora of Pakistan verifies), so this entry is written using web resources for Tamarix aphylla.

Native to much of central and northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, western Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Tamarix aphylla can also be found as a naturalized plant in Australia and the southwest USA. I vaguely recall stories some years ago about salt-cedar (or tamarisk) species displacing native willows along riparian zones in both Australia and the southwest USA. A search for recent news, though, reveals a distressing tale: "Beetles Bungled -- Biological Control Out of Control". In brief, beetles released as biological control for tamarisk in the USA have been so effective that they are quickly eradicating the invasive, and thus destroying habitat for the endangered willow flycatcher (a bird species of the native willows -- before the willows were displaced by the tamarisk).

To see the extent of Tamarix aphylla in Australia, view this map of weed spread (PDF). A number of invasive plant resources exist for tamarisk as well: Tamarix aphylla via Invasives.org and Tamarix aphylla via TexasInvasives.org (with the catchy slogan, "Hello Invasives, Goodbye Texas").

On a different topic: Botanic Gardens Conservation International has recently launched a new campaign to garner support for the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), an initiative to provide a framework for plant conservation actions at global, regional, national and local levels. You can help by adding your name to the list of supporters on Plants for the Planet. Browsing through the list of supporters, I see many people from botanical gardens and/or the UK -- would be great to have more people from around the world and additional people not directly in the botanical garden community. Only takes a minute to sign up (but you may want to read the GSPC first). Thanks for your support if you choose to do so!

Known variously as tall bluebell, northern bluebell or tall lungwort, Mertensia paniculata is indeed among the tallest species of the genus, reaching heights of 90cm (3 ft.). Plants on Pink Mountain were taller at lower elevations (perhaps to 50cm) and often growing as individuals (first photograph). Along the summit ridge, plants were shorter (to 35cm) and typically growing in clumps (second photograph). This borage family species is native to much of the northern half of North America.

Mertensia paniculata has been studied for the relationships it has with some of its pollinators, two species of bumblebees (Bombus mixtus and Bombus frigidus). In most cases, pollination is a mutualistic relationship (both organisms benefit). Broadly speaking, some plants provide food (pollen or nectar) for pollinators in return for delivery of some pollen from one flower to another. Unfortunately for some plants, there are organisms who participate in nectar robbery (or, nectar larceny), where the nectar is stolen without the plants receiving the benefits of pollination. This was generally thought to have a negative impact on the plants, as it only seemed to benefit the thief.

Both bumblebee species play the roles of pollinators and nectar thieves with Mertensia paniculata. However, where nectar larceny by the bumblebees was prevented experimentally, no boosts to reproductive success were found. Closer observation revealed that the nectar larceny may actually benefit pollination -- mature flowers of plants (heavy with nectar, short on pollen) served as attractants to the plants, and so the bees also visited the younger flowers (high pollen, low nectar). When mature flowers were removed and only the pollen-heavy younger flowers remained, visitation by bumblebees declined. To read more on this phenomenon, see: Morris, WF. 1996. Mutualism Denied? Nectar-Robbing Bumble Bees do not Reduce Female or Male Success of Bluebells. Ecology. 77(5): 1451-1462.

On a related note, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation distributed a press release today calling for endangered species protection for the rapidly-declining southwest Oregon / northern California Franklin's bumble bee. Common over ten years ago, the species was last observed in 2006.

Lastly, some commenters in the past have expressed a desire to donate to Botany Photo of the Day. We now have a mechanism where you can give directly to our new Online Education Fund. I know there are many other worthy causes in the world, but if you feel like chipping in, it'd be appreciated. Gifts would initially be used to help hire a student via the University of British Columbia's work-study wage subsidy program in the autumn. A gift of 20 dollars is roughly subsidized the same amount, so it would translate to approximately 40 dollars available for hiring a student.

First of all, my apologies if any of you received a notification email earlier today pointing to an already-published entry. It was a software glitch as a result of me trying to make a minor change to the entry.

On to today's entry: thank you to Heranne@UBC Botanical Garden Forums for sharing today's photograph via the Botany Photo of the Day Submissions Forum. Much appreciated.

Featherbells is native to eastern USA (though this particular plant is cultivated in the Netherlands). In several of the states it occurs in, it has become increasingly rare (e.g., Ohio). Growing to a height of 2m (6.5 ft.), it is safe to say that Stenanthium gramineum is one of the tallest members of its family in North America.

According to the Flora of North America, the name Stenanthium breaks down into the "Greek stenos, narrow, and anthos, flower, alluding to the narrow tepals". The epithet gramineum means "grass-like", a reference to its leaves.

I neglected to take a habitat photograph for this species, but you can get an idea of its habitat and diminutive size from the E-Flora BC Photo Gallery -- in short, it's short, with plants I observed growing to about 8cm (3 in.), though it is known to reach 15cm. It is a species of wet to moist soils in alpine / subalpine / tundra areas, so this close-up photograph required saturating my jeans and jacket with water held by the bed of moss blanketing the small depression near the summit of the mountain.

Few-flowered corydalis or few-flowered fumewort is a species of northwestern North America and northeastern Asia (amphiberingian). It is thought to have originated in Asia with a subsequent dispersal into North America. A few minor quibbles with the linked Flora of North America account for the species: this plant was photographed at ~1750m / 5700 ft. (not 0-1100m as in the FNA material), and Pink Mountain is also southeast of the distribution map in the FNA. However, Pink Mountain is within the range for known localities in the E-Flora BC entry for Corydalis pauciflora (though it is absent as a point on the E-Flora BC map).

As noted in The Butterflies of Canada, Parnassius eversmanni, or Eversmann's parnassian, is a butterfly species with a distribution closely tied to that of Corydalis pauciflora.

Eric La Fountaine posting today. Today's images are from annkelliott on the UBC BPotD Flickr pool. Original photos here and here. Thanks Anne.

Anne writes of the first photo, "This wildflower is also known as common silverweed, Indian sweet potato, and silverweed cinquefoil. This is a native, common, low-creeping plant that spreads with long, red runners. Makes excellent ground cover - for those who don't like to mow lawns : ) Seen a few days ago at the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, north west of Calgary."

Argentina anserina is perennial in the rose family. It is found throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Research in the 1990s led to a name change for this species from Potentilla anserina, but it appears the jury is still out, because this has not been accepted by several online databases (GRIN, Flora of China).

Another brief entry from Eric La Fountaine. Sorry, for the brevity, I also have to go out of town this week.

Looking for some drama in your garden. The enormous leaves of Astilboides tabularis will certainly attract attention. They are fascinating to observe throughout the growth season. The crincked emerging leaves open into upward chalices that are often found holding rainwater. They are blushed bronze and this colour repeats in fall as the leaves senesce. The leaves can grow to more than 60 cm (2 feet) in diameter and are attached to a 30-60+ cm (1-2+ feet) petiole. Creamy white flower spikes rise above the foliage to a metre and a half (5 feet). The large leaves are easily damaged, strong winds and rain can leave them looking ragged, so a sheltered spot is advised.

Astilboides tabularis is native to northeastern China and Korea.

Eric La Fountaine, here, posting while Daniel is away.

I have been photographing this plant all spring. I find the cottony leaves to be quite beautiful, especially on bright sunny days. It is a plant that is both despised and admired. Onopordum acanthium is native to Europe and Asia, but has naturalized in many areas around the world and is considered a nuisance invasive species in many areas, especially dry climate regions. The species has spread rapidly in range lands of the Americas and Australia. It crowds out forage species and forms strong spiny stands that become impenetrable to livestock and humans.

Onopordum acanthium, commonly cotton thistle is also grown as an ornamental. The biennial plants grow large and provide a structural element to the garden. Historically it has been used medicinally and the flower receptacle is eaten like an artichoke. The species is sometimes called Scottish thistle. The thistle is a national symbol of Scotland. A legend is told that the Scots army was alerted to a military invasion by the screams of one of the invaders who stepped on the spiny plant in the night. This species was probably not present in Scotland when the thistle was adopted as a national symbol, but several taxa known as thistles are considered to fit the national symbol designation.

Douglas Justice contributes today's photos and article. Thank you, Douglas.

These are two of a large number of seedlings derived from collections made in 1994 by the late Peter Wharton, former curator of the David C. Lam Asian Garden. Peter traveled to northern Guizhou, China, in the autumn of that year, where he visited the Dashahe Cathaya Reserve. Peter's notes reveal that this area was exceptionally rich in temperate species and he collected a large quantity of seed, mostly at between 1300 m and 1600 m elevation (see also the June 26, 2005 Botany Photo of the Day entry for Carrierea calycina). Curiously, Rhododendron glanduliferum is not a species listed in the Flora of China as occurring outside of Yunnan, but again, Peter's notes make mention of the several handsome specimens in the reserve over 20 m tall from which he collected seed. All of our plants are exceptionally robust and are now about 3 m tall and tree-like. The handsome 20-25 cm × 5-6 cm leaves are dark, matt green above and light green to glaucous beneath. On at least some of the individuals the margin of the leaf is minutely serrated and somewhat cartilagenous.

In Vancouver, Rhododendron glanduliferum generally produces its flowers in June. The large trusses of between 5 and 13 flowers open slowly and somewhat randomly over the plants. While most of our plants are at some stage of blooming now, we have a few May-flowering individuals and a number that have not yet begun to open their buds. The 8-9 cm wide flowers are usually white or soft pink and fading, and are fragrant, smelling strongly and pleasantly of wintergreen to most noses. The pedicels (flower stalks), corolla and calyx, as well as the ovary and style are all covered in stalked glands, hence the epithet glanduliferum (bearing glands).

Is anyone else getting hungry for a baked potato? This plant is likely to be familiar to most, if not in the garden then surely in the kitchen. Allium schoenoprasum, or chives, is thought to be native to Asia, Europe, and North America. This distribution in both the old and new world is unique among allium species. Tufts of hollow tubular leaves grow 30-50 cm tall. Dense clusters of lavender to purple flowers are borne just above the leaves.

The mild-flavored leaves of this allium are used by peoples all around the world as a seasoning. While they contain the same chemical flavor constituents as garlic or onions, the milder chives will not overwhelm more subtle dishes. For more on culinary use, check out Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages entry and Sandy Marie's Herbal How To Guide page.

A thank you to generous BPotD contributor Jim in San Francisco (aka J.G. in S.F.@Flickr) for sharing today's photograph (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool). Appreciated!

There is no particular English common name in use for this species, so I suppose one could use Jacquemont's euphorbia or Jacquemont's spurge. According to Roger Turner in Euphorbias: A Gardeners' Guide, the species is native to "Pakistan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Tibet". Plants are clump-forming, and grow to 45cm (18in).

The species is named after French botanist Victor Jacquemont (1801-1832), who spent the last four years of his life in India and collected over a 1000 different species during that time. An account of his life can be read in Raj Gupta's 1968 article, Botanical Explorations of Victor Jacquemont (PDF).

One more photograph from eastern Canada before returning to some submitted photographs...

Dr. Hugh Hope and Brian Carson shared their expertise with me on a tour of Mer Bleue Bog last week. Among other things, Dr. Hope was keen on helping me find a bladderwort in flower to photograph, since I mentioned a hike last year that ended without finding any. Of the three (?) known species of Utricularia in the area, common bladderwort or Utricularia macrorhiza is the easiest to locate and can be spotted (and photographed) right from the boardwalk.

Utricularia macrorhiza is native to almost all of North America and parts of temperate eastern Asia. A European counterpart, Utricularia vulgaris, is found throughout much of Europe (and the North American species is sometimes given this name in older texts). Like its familial relative Pinguicula, Utricularia is also carnivorous -- actually, the largest genus of carnivorous plants, with over two hundred species.

Carnivory in Utricularia is accomplished through suction bulb-like underwater bladders with trapdoors. How it captures the animal is illustrated (with animation) and described on The International Carnivorous Plant Society's page on Utricularia.

For additional photographs of Mer Bleue and its biodiversity, see Bob Boisvert's gallery of Mer Bleue Bog.

Well, since I think I managed to get the worst case of poison ivy of my life while photographing this early-flowering wood lily individual, I thought I should at least share the images (on the walk back to the truck: "Oh, there is poison ivy here.").

Lilium philadelphicum is a "middle" North America species, extending east of the Rockies to the Atlantic Ocean, but not extending too far north or south except at the western edge of its range (distribution map). The Flora of North America account for Lilium philadelphicum includes some intriguing First Nations uses in the last few sentences of the text.

I need to thank long-time BPotD reader (and Trillium aficionado) Brian Carson of the Ottawa area for helping tote me around and providing excellent company while he shared a few of his favourite botanical spots near Ottawa. Very much appreciated!

Common ninebark or Atlantic ninebark is native throughout much of eastern North America. For gardeners, it is considered a Plant of Merit by the Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Thelma Glover extols some of its ornamental virtues: Physocarpus opulifolius.

This was photographed yesterday during a field trip to the Quyon Alvar area of Québec (while attending the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) and the Canadian Botanical Association (CBA/ABC) joint conference).

Today's photographs are once again courtesy of Amir A. of Israel. Thank you!

The genus Pterodiscus is part of the Pedaliaceae, or the sesame family. Pterodiscus means "winged disc", referring to the broadly winged fruit, a characteristic evident in these photographs of Pterodiscus ngamicus in fruit.

Photographs of the entire plant for each species provide additional interest, as they show off the swollen caudices: Pterodiscus speciosus and Pterodiscus ngamicus (via Bihrmann's Caudiciforms site).