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<\/a>Polygonatum pubescens<\/em> (Hairy Soloman’s Seal)<\/p><\/div>\n Polygonatum pubescens<\/em> (Hairy Soloman\u2019s Seal) A close-up of the leaf underside showing the rows of hairs along the veins. Folding it over the finger like this seems to be the best way to see them. A hand lens is not required to see them.<\/p><\/div>\n I feel obligated to mention that distinguishing the genus of Polygonatum<\/em> in a vegetative state from other similar genera took me several seasons to learn.\u00a0 Some of the genera that can look similar to Polygonatum in the eastern U.S. are Maianthemum spp., Uvularia spp., Prosartes spp<\/em>., and Streptopus<\/em> spp.\u00a0 It\u2019s also worth mentioning that the synonym for Maianthemum is Smilacina while the synonym for Prosartes is Disporum.\u00a0 \u00a0Distinguishing these genera when in flower is a lot simpler.\u00a0 However, typically Polygonatum<\/em> spp. can be separated from Maiantheum racemosum<\/em> by leaf margin characters and these two genera I just mentioned can be separated from Prosartes spp. and Streptopus spp. by whether or not their stalks are forked.\u00a0 I have never personally seen Streptopus spp. in the field.<\/p>\n I also found Ruellia strepens<\/em> (Limestone Wild Petunia) in flower this month and realized just how inconspicuous it is when it is not in flower.\u00a0 The common name of this plant is slightly misleading.\u00a0 Although it may grow predominately in limestone areas it is not limited to them.\u00a0 One of the populations I found was around the Potomac Gorge area in a floodplain forest.\u00a0 This species is listed in Maryland as a S2S3.<\/p>\n Ruellia strepens<\/em> (Limestone Wild Petunia)<\/p><\/div>\n Ruellia strepens<\/em> (Limestone Wild Petunia) The calyx lobe width is an important character in distinguishing species within this genus.<\/p><\/div>\n Not far from where I found the Ruellia I checked out a rocky river outcrop along the Potomac and found two other state listed species.\u00a0 One of those species was Trachelospermum difforme<\/em> (Climbing Dogbane) which I discussed in a blog entry last season and is an S1 (Endangered) species.\u00a0 The other was Hibiscus laevis<\/em> (Halberdleaf Rosemallow) an S3 (Watchlist) plant.\u00a0 I guess the interesting thing about the photos I took is that they show each plant in an immature state.<\/p>\n I should note as I stated in my previous entry that leaf shape for climbing dogbane is listed as \u201cvariable\u201d in the manuals.\u00a0 To my eyes the young leaf grow was linear and narrow with more vigorous\/older stems showing the orbicular and wider leaf shape I was used to seeing.\u00a0 With that said I can\u2019t be certain if these young \u201cnarrow leaves\u201d will retain their shape as they grow or morph into the orbicular form.\u00a0 I also can\u2019t be certain whether or not this narrow growth is a result of physical damage to the stems.\u00a0 The stems are exposed to potential damage from flooding and visitor trampling.\u00a0 Additionally, in my previous post I neglected to mention that some species descriptions for climbing dogbane state that milky sap is not always detected when its tissue is broken.\u00a0 As with all populations I have encountered on the Potomac, these plants did have milky sap.<\/p>\n Trachelospermum difforme<\/em> (Climbing Dogbane)<\/p><\/div>\n Trachelospermum difforme<\/em> (Climbing Dogbane) The population was in fierce competition with Campsis radicans<\/em>, Toxicodendron radicans<\/em>, and the non-native shrub, Ulmus pumila<\/em>.<\/p><\/div>\n Halberdleaf Rosemallow is not especially uncommon along the Potomac River.\u00a0 The pictures I took captured it at about the half way point in terms of its growth height.\u00a0 The leaf shape is very distinctive.\u00a0 It could be confused with Hibiscus moscheutos<\/em> (Crimsoneyed Rosemallow) which can have slight lobing of the basal portions of some leaves.\u00a0 Typically Halberdleaf Rosemallow holds true to its name and possesses well defined lobes throughout.\u00a0 One of the interesting observations I noted from this population was the deformities in the leaves as seen in the pictures.<\/p>\n Hibiscus laevis<\/em> (Halberdleaf Rosemallow)<\/p><\/div>\n Hibiscus laevis (<\/em>Halberdleaf Rosemallow)<\/p><\/div>\n Hibiscus laevis<\/em> (Halberdleaf Rosemallow) This picture shows an example of the leaf deformities I observed. This type of deformity occurred in every clump of plants though varied in abundance on each stem.<\/p><\/div>\n I\u2019ve crossed the halfway point of my internship once more.\u00a0 July will be a busy month because many of the G1-G3 priority species on my list are flowering in that period.\u00a0\u00a0 July on the Potomac is particularly exciting for me because the decrease in rainfall that usually occurs opens access to certain islands and scour bars on the river where so many interesting and rare plants grow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The last week of June has been glorious in terms of weather but the rest was very hot and humid. \u00a0I had the opportunity to participate in a few non-plant related activities recently. \u00a0I assisted with a breeding bird survey … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>