http://botany.thismia.com Plants of the Northeastern U.S. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:42:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2012/01/05/parasitic-plants-of-central-new-york/ 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2011/12/12/epazote/ 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2011/10/09/chestnut-blight-historical-perspective/ 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2011/08/04/nepalese-smartweed/ 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. http://botany.thismia.com/2011/07/22/cardinal-flower/ 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2011/06/29/lesser-purple-fringed-orchid/ 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. http://botany.thismia.com/2011/06/18/rhodobryum-roseum/ 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) http://botany.thismia.com/2011/05/11/spring-flowers/ 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2011/05/05/american-golden-saxifrage/ 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 ... http://botany.thismia.com/2011/04/03/utricularia-sandersonii/