FRIENDS
OF
THE
NATURE
CENTER
Winter Issue 2003
A Quarterly Publication
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FRIENDS OF THE NATURE CENTER |
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Winter Issue 2003 A Quarterly Publication
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Species Profile Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla – was thought to be the only species in this genus, but a single leaf, blue flowered species; J. dubia grows in North Eastern Asia. Twinleaf is listed as Special Concern in Michigan with a rating of S3, meaning there are only 21 to 100 known occurrences in the state. In Michigan Flora, Ed Voss lists it in 12 counties, but neither source has listed it in Ottawa County. In 1988 Twinleaf was identified in a park that would soon after be named the Hudsonville Nature Center. At that time two small clumps where found along a trail in the floodplain, since then upwards of 200 – 300 plants have been found in the park and a substantial stand across the expressway. |
In 1792 Benjamin Smith Barton honored Jefferson with the naming of this plant, not for his political and scientific achievements, but rather because of his knowledge of natural history, particularly in botany and zoology. He said, “the information of this gentleman is equaled by that of few persons in the United States”. In 1807 Jefferson himself planted this flower in one of the oval flowerbeds near his home at Monticello in Virginia.
Jeffersonia diphylla Twinleaf can be found in rich damp woods such as floodplains in only a dozen or so counties in southern Michigan. It blooms from mid-April to early May in Michigan and close to Jefferson’s birthday of April 13 in Virginia. The plant is easily and usually recognized by the leaf, which is divided into two half ovate leaflets of up to 4 inches, and resembles a butterfly with its wings spread. At first the leaves are a purple or reddish color but soon change to a light green to bluish-green and will remain through the summer unless the ground becomes too dry. |
The pure white, flowers having 8 petals that fall as or immediately after the flower opens, are born solitary on a stem that rises above the folded to slightly opening leaves. The key to enjoying the tranquility of the flowers is to sit and wait if you are fortunate enough to find one beginning to open. When this plant was named very few people had seen it bloom or it may have been put in the genus with Bloodroot, which the flower resembles. A pear-shaped capsule containing the numerous seeds can be found in late spring or early summer before the cap-like lid splits open, pouring out its treasure. You will often find Twinleaf growing in clumps and it seems to migrate around the woods, this is a result of ants, which take the seeds to store for food. |
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Remember to Keep Bird Feeders Clean The Michigan DNR is reminding us to keep our feeders and the areas around them clean to help prevent the spread of diseases, which have been affecting the populations of our feeder or songbirds in recent years. It is recommended to take down and thoroughly clean your feeders with a mild bleach solution once a week. If you feed in the warmer months it is very important to keep feeder areas clean. Email Alerts If you have a computer and email and would like to receive occasional notices of special sightings, walks or programs as opportunities arise from time to time between mailings just email Craig Elston at wildflower1000@ameritech.net. Put your email address and the phrase “email list” in the body. The list will be kept confidential and only be used to alert you of items of interest as mentioned above. |
Sunday, February 23, 2:00 pm Walk the trails while looking for signs of bird and animal life, trees and what is happening in the woods in winter. Is winter really a “dead” season in nature? Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am Come help clean and repair the Bluebird boxes of the Nature Center while learning about the birds, nest boxes and placing them. Sunday, March 16, 2:00 pm Come walk the trails looking for signs early wildflowers and the coming spring. We will focus on identifying trees and shrubs of the woods using the buds. |
Sunday, April 20, 2:00 pm Come walk the trails looking for and learning about the early wildflowers of spring. A few may be blooming and many others should able to be identified. Thursday, May 8, 6:30 pm Take a leisurely paced stroll through the Nature Center will enjoying the beauty of and talking about the flowers in bloom. This is a more informal walk and will not be advertised. Sunday, May 11, 2:00 pm Come walk the trails looking for and learning about the wildflowers of spring. You learn to about and how to identify spring wildflowers. This is also a good time for early warblers migrating through.
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