Skullcap
Feb 26, 2023 20:06:54 #
Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants commonly called "skullcaps" because the shape of the flowers resemble medieval helmets. They are in the mint family, Lamiaceae. There are estimated to be 350+ species worldwide, with about 40 identified as native to North America. This species, Scutellaria leonardii, is extremely rare in Michigan. I found it on the alvar plains on Drummond Island. Common name - Leonard's skullcap. You can see purplish seed capsules on the plant as well as the blossoms. It is more common in the center of the country, from Missouri to Minnesota.
The alvar plains on Drummond Island are home to many unusual plants, including circumpolar species, Rocky Mountain species, species from the Great Plains and species from the Maritime provinces of Canada.
From Wikipedia:
"An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse grassland vegetation. Often flooded in the spring, and affected by drought in midsummer, alvars support a distinctive group of prairie-like plants. Most alvars occur either in northern Europe or around the Great Lakes in North America. This stressed habitat supports a community of rare plants and animals, including species more commonly found on prairie grasslands. Lichen and mosses are common species. Trees and bushes are absent or severely stunted."
The alvar plains on Drummond Island are home to many unusual plants, including circumpolar species, Rocky Mountain species, species from the Great Plains and species from the Maritime provinces of Canada.
From Wikipedia:
"An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse grassland vegetation. Often flooded in the spring, and affected by drought in midsummer, alvars support a distinctive group of prairie-like plants. Most alvars occur either in northern Europe or around the Great Lakes in North America. This stressed habitat supports a community of rare plants and animals, including species more commonly found on prairie grasslands. Lichen and mosses are common species. Trees and bushes are absent or severely stunted."
Feb 26, 2023 23:16:41 #
Blenheim Orange wrote:
Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants commonl... (show quote)
Nice image. Like the info too.
Feb 27, 2023 07:19:39 #
lamiaceae wrote:
Nice image. Like the info too.
Well said... informative photo and info.
Feb 27, 2023 11:23:07 #
Feb 27, 2023 13:11:20 #
Feb 27, 2023 14:05:34 #
Very interesting. Drummond island seems like what I call the Magic Field, which is near Flint MI, given the description of the vegetation.
Feb 27, 2023 14:11:19 #
This shows the size of the flowers and seed pods compared to my fingertip.
Feb 27, 2023 15:34:35 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Very interesting. Drummond island seems like what I call the Magic Field, which is near Flint MI, given the description of the vegetation.
Most of the island is pretty degraded, sadly. But the Maxton Plains preserve is a treasure house of unusual plants, with many disjunct species way outside of their typical range. One interesting feature of the alvar is that the limestone has split into gigantic blocks, with long perfectly straight seams between the blocks. Soil accumulates in those seams and plants get a foothold there. The result is vegetation growing in a straight row. When I first visited the area I thought "what is this? An abandoned WWII runway?"
Here are some images of Maxton Plains from June, 2019. The spring was so cold that year that not much was blooming yet.
Feb 27, 2023 18:33:32 #
Feb 28, 2023 03:40:12 #
Blenheim Orange wrote:
This shows the size of the flowers and seed pods compared to my fingertip.
WOW WOW WOW! Feb 28, 2023 03:42:58 #
Blenheim Orange wrote:
Most of the island is pretty degraded, sadly. But ... (show quote)
Cool, what an unusual place. Totally different from any place I have ever been to.
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