Botany Blog

Parasitic Plants of Central New York

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:17:56 +0000

While most plants are autotrophic (capturing energy directly from sunlight through photosynthesis), a few obtain energy by parasitizing fungi or other plants. Some are both autotrophic and parasitic and these are called hemiparasites. The following species are holoparasites that are completely dependent on their hosts. Those that parasitize fungi are called mycoheterotrophs.

The traditional circumscription of the family Orobanchaceae included only holoparasites. It now includes hemiparasites formerly treated as part of the Scrophulariaceae. The following three species are the former.

Squawroot (Conophilis americana) is a parasite of oaks.

Beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana) is a parasite of American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

One-flowered Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora) is an annual that can parasitize a number of different herbaceous plant species

One genus in the family Orchidaceae is parasitic in Central NY. There are three species of Corallorhiza found here and the most common is Early Coralroot (Corallorhiza trifida)

The genus Monotropa in the family Ericaceae includes two mycoheterotrophic species that occur in CNY. Pinesap (M. hypopithys) is found in acid woodlands under pines.

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) is more common and occurs in a variety of forested habitats. It differs from Pinesap in producing one flower per flowering stalk.

One species in the family Santalaceae is found in CNY. Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum) differs from the other species covered here in that the seeds germinate directly on the host. It is found almost exclusively on Black Spruce (Picea marina) in acid swamps and bogs.

The last group of plants are vines in the Morning Glory Family (Convolvulaceae). Dodders are annual vines that begin life underground but soon lose contact with the soil. The thin twining stems wrap around the stems of other plants, appearing like tangles of orange threads. There are a few species, the most common being Cuscuta gronovii

Flowers are produced beginning in July

Epazote

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:56:57 +0000

The plant known as epazote or Mexican tea (Dysphania ambrosioides) is naturalized in the eastern United States as a weed in gardens, on roadsides, and in waste places. It is a pungent herb that has traditionally been used as a flavoring for black beans and is reputed to have carminative and anti-parasitic properties. Until recently most authorities called this plant Chenopodium ambrosioides. However the genus Dysphania, which was originally applied to a small number of Australian species, has been expanded to include species of Chenopodium with glandular trichomes (Mosyakin & Clemants 2002).

The essential oil of the plant consists mostly of the bicyclic monoterpene ascaridole. The name is likely derived from the genus of parasitic nematodes Ascaris. It is reputed to be explosive when heated or treated with organic acids. The chemical structure of ascaridole seems to hint at the hazardous potential of this compound.

source: Wikipedia

Literature Cited

Mosyakin, S.L. and S.E. Clemants. 2002. New nomenclatural combinations in Dysphania R. Br. (Chenopodiaceae): taxa occurring in North America. Ukrayins’k. Bot. Zhurn. (Ukr. Bot. J.) 59:380–385.

Chestnut blight: historical perspective

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:34:55 +0000

In researching the flora of New York State I came across some interesting information regarding the early establishment of Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectria parasitica). In the report of the state botanist of 1908, it was reported that the blight had not yet become established in the Catskill Mountain region. The northernmost extent of its range in NY at that time was thought to be Dutchess County, although it was not clearly established there.

The thing that really caught my eye was the thinking at the time regarding the threat this fungal disease posed to our native Chestnut. According to Peck, “It is more likely that the pessimistic views concerning its rapid spread and destructive consequences, entertained by some writers, will scarcely be realized. Unusually destructive outbreaks of parasitic fungi are apt to be dependent on unusual climatic conditions and therefore to be of short duration”. Clearly this was not the case, and it is hard to find a chestnut tree today of any appreciable size if one can find one at all. The species is essentially now ecologically extinct.

Nepalese Smartweed

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:49:18 +0000

Was at Lime Hollow a few weeks ago and came across an unfamiliar smartweed growing next to a gravel path. This one had winged petioles, something I don’t usually associate with plants in the genus Polygonum. I snapped a picture hoping I could figure out the species based on this feature

But no luck figure this one out…until a few days ago I was out at Kettle Bail State Forest and found what appeared to be the same plant growing along the edge of a truck trail. This one had flowers on it and I was able to key it out - Polygonum napalense, or Napalese Smartweed, is a native of China known only from Sullivan, Delaware, and Otsego counties in NY. Assuming I have the identify correct on this one it is now known from multiple locations in Cortland County, .

Cardinal Flower

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:15:09 +0000

Cardinal flowers are now blooming along the Tioughnioga River. I normally find this plant growing among other plants and as a result the inflorescence tends to bend toward the light. Today I got lucky and found a large colony growing by itself and they had racemes that were straight upright.

Lesser Purple Fringed Orchid

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:40:16 +0000

Lesser purple fringed orchids (Platanthera psychodes) are just beginning to bloom here in central NY. These were found today in a swamp under some poison sumac. Green fringed orchid (Platanthera lacera) was also blooming in the same area. There were many little club-spur orchids (Platanthera clavellata) in bud that should be opening in a few weeks.

It was overcast so a flash was needed to get a closeup of the flowers, which is why the background is so dark.

Rhodobryum roseum

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:30:17 +0000

Rhodobryum roseum is an attractive moss that grows primarily on thin soils over rocks in woodlands. The upper leaves form a crowded rossette that becomes erect and rather contorted when dry. Sporophytes are rarely produced.

Spring Flowers

admin — Thu, 12 May 2011 04:34:04 +0000

Plants are emerging a bit later than they have in recent years but there are many spring flowers to be seen now in central NY. Here are a few that I photographed today

Stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum)

Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum)

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

American Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)

Rose Twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus)

American Golden Saxifrage

admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 03:49:51 +0000

American Golden Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium americanum) is a small member of the Saxifrage family with creeping stems that root at the nodes. It grows in muddy or springy soil in shaded areas. The leaves are rounded and entire or obscurely toothed, typically opposite lower on the stem and becoming alternate higher up.

The flowers lack petals and have four ovate sepals that range from greenish-yellow to greenish brown-purple. The disk of the flower can be green, reddish, or brown-purple. The most colorful aspect of the flowers are the 8 red stamens.

Branching stems each ending in a single flower

Closeup of flower

Utricularia sandersonii

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:37:03 +0000

I bought a couple tropical terrestrial bladderworts a few months ago and they have been spreading through my carnivorous plant collection since. They seem to like any spot with a little bit of water. One of the smaller ones, Utricularia sandersonii, bloomed for the first time the other day. It is a carnivorous plant native to South Africa with flowers that are relatively large compared to the tiny leaves.

The upper petals have been described as looking like “bunny ears”, although they are not very distinct on this plant.

View of the flowers from the side. Note the long spur.