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Fragrant water lily flower stalks, like the leaves, develop directly from the rhizomes. Flowers are 3-6" across; they have four greenish-white sepals that rest on the water's surface; 15-40 brilliant white (occasionally pink) petals in multiple series; 35-120 stamens with bright yellow anthers distributed around the inner circumference of tthe flower; and a central stigmatic disc on the floor of the flower at the base of the stamens. Flowers open and close daily. The fruit is 1-2" long and globoid; its stalk bends downward so the fruit develops underwater. After the tiny seeds (~1/16-1/8") are released, they float for some time, dispersed by wind and water currents, then sink to the bottom of the water body where they germinate.

Nymphaea

Nymphaea odorata

fragrant water-lily [Blooms: May-Aug]

Eastern prickly pear is the commonest of three prickly pears native to Illinois, all quite rare. Eastern prickly pear can grow to be as much as 2' tall but Jackson Park specimens rarely exceed 6". Flowers are 2-3" across consisting of numerous yellow, satiny tepals, the innermost layer with reddish-orange highlights towards the tepals bases, 50-1500 stamens with pale yellow anthers, and a single style topped with a ring of six fleshy, white stigmas. Each flower lasts a single day. Fruits are initially green but turn reddish-brown when mature; they are 1-2" long, less than 1" in diameter, and concave on the top.

Opuntia

Opuntia humifusa

Eastern prickly-pear [Blooms: Jun-Jul]

Calico penstemon (aka, long-sepaled penstemon) is a typical penstemon/beardtongue — 1-3' tall with an unbranched stem and a panicle of flowers at the apex of the stem. Flowers are about 1" long, with a calyx with five long (5-12 mm), narrow (1-2 mm) lobes, a tubular corolla with two upper lobes and three lower lobes on the aperture, and four stamens and a single style, all enclosed by the corolla. The corolla's exterior is light purple or light violet and covered in fine hairs; the interior of the corolla is white and smooth, without ridges. The lobes on the lower lip of the corolla do not protrude beyond the lobes of the upper lip. Calico penstemon is fairly rare in Jackson Park.

Penstemon

Penstemon calycosus

calico penstemon [Blooms: Jun-Jul]

Foxglove beardtongue's inflorescence consists of 3-6 pairs of panicles at the apex of the stems. Individual flowers are white or (less often) pink with a green or maroon calyx, five narrowly triangular lobes, and a tubular corolla that flares abruptly distal to the calyx. The corolla's aperture bears five lobes (two above on the upper lip, three below on the lower lip) with pink or purple nectar guides inside the tube. The filament of a sterile stamen (a "staminode") bearing sparse yellow hairs runs along the midline of the lower half of the corolla, while the filaments of the other four stamens wrap around the inside of the corolla like ribs in a ribcage, with the black anthers positioned on either side of the midline of the upper corolla. A single style runs along the upper midline between the black anthers to emerge between the two upper aperture lobes. The fruit is a bullet-shaped capsule about 1/2" long nestled in the persistant calyx. The calyx, flower stalks, and the flowers themselves are densely covered by glandular hairs; the main stems and leaves are hairless. Foxglove beardtongue is ubiquitous in Jackson Park.

Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis

foxglove beardtongue [Blooms: May-Jul]

Slender beardtongue (aka, lilac penstemon) is another beardtongue/penstemon that is uncommon in Jackson Park. The stems are unbranched, green or purple, and may or may not bear hairs. There are both basal and stem leaves. The basal and lower stem leaves are 1-3" long and 1/2" wide, variable in shape and leaf margins; the stem leaves are smaller and minutely toothed. Individual flowers are pinkish, purple, or pale violet, about 3/4" long; they are comprised of a green calyx with five triangular lobes and a tubular corolla that is abruptly inflated in the more distal two thirds of the flower. The lower lip of the corolla has three lobes that extend down and out from the aperture the upper lip has two smaller, erect lobes. The interior of the corolla is white with several dark purple lines that act as nectar guides. The filament of a sterile stamen (a "staminode") bearing sparse yellow hairs runs along the midline of the lower half of the corolla, while the filaments of the other four stamens wrap around the inside of the corolla like ribs in a ribcage, with the black anthers positioned on either side of the midline of the upper corolla. A single style runs along the upper midline between the black anthers. The fruit is a more or less bullet-shaped capsule nestled in the persistant calyx. The calyx, flowers, and flower stalks are all covered with glandular hairs; the stems and leaves are not.

Penstemon

Penstemon gracilis

slender beardtongue [Blooms: Jun-Jul]

Large-flowered penstemon flowers develop in the axils of the stem leaves in pairs. (Occasionally a triplet will arise.) Individual flowers are up to 2" long, pale lavender or pink, tubular, sightly flattened vertically but flaring at the aperture, with a two-lobed upper lip and 3-lobed lower lip with purple lines on the interior. The bluish-green calyx has five teeth. A distinct longitudinal ridge runs along the upper surface of the corolla, intersecting the aperture between the two upper lobes. A white style with a tiny stigma runs along the inside of the corolla under the longitudinal ridge and protrudes from the throat. The four fertile stamens are recessed, with their filaments wrapped around the inside of the corolla like a ribcage and the anthers on either side of the dorsal midline; the fifth (sterile) stamen runs along the lower midline and ends in a recurved or coiled tip with a prominent pad bearing short, brilliant-yellow hairs. The fruit is a teardrop-shaped seed pod nestled in the remains of the calyx. Large-flowered penstemon prefers poorer but well-drained soils with significant rocky material or sand. This species is officially listed as "endangered" in Illinois.

Penstemon

Penstemon grandiflorus

large-flowered penstemon [Blooms: May-Jul]

Hairy beardtongue is 1-2.5' tall and blatantly hairy — backlit plants seen from a distance show a white nimbus around the stems. The flowers are slender, lavender colored, with white lips; the aperture of the flower is nearly occluded by the arched lower lip. Like the other beardtongues/penstemons the tubular flowers have an upper and lower lip have a total of five lobes (two above, three below). The calyx, flower stems, and the flowers themselves are densely covered by glandular hairs; the stems are densely covered with fine white hairs. The stem leaves are pointed, triangular with toothed margins, and occur in opposite pairs; the leaf pairs are oriented at 90° to the pairs above and below them on the stem.

Penstemon

Penstemon hirsutus

hairy beardtongue [Blooms: May-Jul]

Pale beardtongue stems terminate in a 4-10" long panicle of flowers that is longer than broad. Flowers are 3/4" long consisting of a short, green calyx with five teeth, a tubular, white corolla similar to that of other penstemons/beardtongues, four fertile stamens with brown anthers, a bright yellow "beard" on the lower lip (as in hairy beardtongue), and a single style. The upper lip of the corolla has the usual two erect lobes, but the lower lip has three rounded lobes that project forward well beyond the margin of the upper lip. The outer surfaces of the flowers and flower stalks are covered with hairs. The throat of the corolla's lower surface has three thin purple veins, a narrow patch of long, bright yellow hairs, and a pair of low ridges/grooves, one on either side of the midline. The fruit is an egg-shaped capsule 1/4" long nestled in the persistent calyx. Both pale beardtongue and foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) have white flowers and might be confused. However, the flowers of pale beardtongue are smaller, the flowers have two distinct ridges on the interior of the lower half of the corolla, and the three lobes on the lower lip are parallel to the floor of the corolla and extend well beyond the upper lip. None of these traits are present in foxglove beardtongue. In Jackson Park, pale beardtongue is less common than hairy beardtongue and much less common that foxglove beardtongue.

Penstemon

Penstemon pallidus

pale beardtongue [Blooms: May-Jun]

Sweet mock-orange inflorescences are racemes with 5-7 fragrant flowers; the most basal pair of flowers arise directly from the leaf axils. Individual flowers are 1-1.5" across, have four triangular green sepals, four brilliant white petals, 20-50 white stamens with orange anthers, and four white styles with yellow-orange stigmas. The styles are closely appressed proximally, separate distally.

Philadelphus

Philadelphus coronarius

sweet mock-orange [Blooms: May-Jun]

Cleft phlox flowers are supported by 1" pedicels, are 3/4" across, white or pale violet, with a tubular corolla that flares into five petal-like lobes that are each deeply cleft at their tips; the throat is very narrow. A three-lobed stigma and the orange anthers of the stamens lie just within the opening to the throat of the flower. Cleft phlox is endemic to the Midwest. The cleft petal lobes distinguish cleft phlox from all other Phlox species.

Phlox

Phlox bifida

cleft phlox [Blooms: Apr-?]

Woodland phlox is a 1-1.5' tall plant with a fuzzy to hairy stem, light green or reddish brown in color. Leaves are opposite (or sometimes in a three-leaf whorl), sessile or clasping the stem, three times longer than wide, lance-shaped with smooth margins, and fuzzy to hairy overall with short hairs around the margins. The flowers are 1" across, pale blue-violet, lavender, or (rarely) white, and with a long, narrow tubular throat that abruptly flares into five petal-like, spoon-shaped lobes. The calyx is green or reddish-green, hairy, with five long, narrow teeth almost half the length of the flower, spreading near their tips. The five stamens and style are hidden within the throat. Woodland phlox has relatively broader leaves than other Phlox species and has a more intense blue-violet (and less pink) color.

Phlox

Phlox divaricata

woodland phlox [Blooms: Apr-May]

Smooth phlox is a 1-2' tall plant with an unbranched, hairless stem topped with a slightly domed cluster of 3-20 pink or lavender flowers. Each flower is about 3/4" across and has a long, tubular throat that abruptly flares into five petal-like lobes; each lobe is wedge-shaped and overlaps the next lobe clockwise. The calyx (also hairless) consists of five triangular segments that taper rapidly to sharp points; the calyx is <1/3 the length of the corolla tube. The five stamens and single style with a three-part stigma either lie within the corolla tube or are just visible in the throat. After fertilization, a narrow seed capsule filled with numerous seeds fills the persistant calyx. Smooth phlox prefers moist to wet habitats. Smooth phlox flowers resemble prairie phlox (P. bifida) but the latter species is quite hairy on the stems, leaves, and the exterior of the flower (the calyx); smooth phlox is hairless. Checking the hairiness (or lack thereof) of the calyx is the quickest way to tell prairie phlox from smooth phlox.

Phlox

Phlox glaberrima interior

smooth phlox [Blooms: Jun-Aug]

Prairie phlox is a compact, single-stemmed, plant 1/2-1.75' tall with (typically) a dome-shaped cluster of flowers at the apex. Individual flowers are 1/2-3/4" across, pink or lavender (rarely white); the corolla is tubular with five wedge-shaped, petal-like lobes often with darker markings (nectar guides) near the throat; the corolla is hairy on all external surfaces. The throat is very narrow; the five stamens with yellow anthers are recessed but just visible. The very short, tubular, hairy calyx base is green, with five long, narrow teeth that extend parallel to the narrow throat (also hairy) of the corolla. The fruit is oval and shorter than the calyx (in which it develops); when ripe, the capsule splits explosively, flinging the seeds in all directions. The species name ("pilosa") means "hairy" in Latin, and this species is indeed hairy on almost every surface. Prairie phlox flowers resemble smooth phlox (P. glaberrima) and, to a lesser extent, woodland phlox (P. divaricata), but the former species is quite hairy on the stems, leaves, and the exterior of the flower (the calyx); smooth phlox is hairless. Checking the hairiness (or lack thereof) of the calyx is the quickest way to tell prairie phlox from smooth phlox; checking the hairiness of the exterior of the corolla tube will distinguish woodland phlox (hairless) from prairie phlox (hairy).

Phlox

Phlox pilosa

prairie phlox [Blooms: Apr-Jun]

Obedient plant flower spikes are up to 10" long, and have four rows of horizontal, tubular flowers or flower buds, with a stem densely covered with fine hairs (usually invisible beneath the tightly packed flowers). Individual flowers are purplish-pink, lavender, or white, with darker spots or stripes on the interior. Each 1" long flower consists of a hood-like upper lip and a broad lower lip with two small lateral lobes and a larger medial lobe. Four stamens with purple anthers lie just below (but within) the upper lip. The style lies among the stamens but is slightly longer; it bears a bifurcated stigma. The ~1/2" long calyx is green, tubular, with five sharp, flaring triangular lobes; it is densely covered with short, fine hairs. The fruit consists of four nutlets housed in the persistant calyx. Obedient plant will grow in most sunny habitats but prefers moist sites near water.

Physostegia

Physostegia virginiana

obedient plant [Blooms: Jul-Oct]

Mayapple produces a single, hairless stem that branches no more than once; each stem thus has either a single leaf (infertile stems) or two leaves (fertile stems). Fertile stems produce a solitary nodding flower, 2-3" across, that is hidden beneath the leaves where the two leaves branch on the stem. The flowers contain 6-9 brilliant white petals and a ring of 12-18 tan stamens with large, banana-shaped anthers, all surrounding a surprisingly large, yellow ovary topped with a button of a stigmata. The fruit is a large (1.5" long), ellipsoidal berry, yellow when ripe. All parts of the plant are poisonous including the green fruit, but the ripe (yellow) fruit is edible (in small quantities).

Podophyllum

Podophyllum peltatum

mayapple [Blooms: Apr-May]

Heal-all (a.k.a., self-heal) is a native species superficially similar to ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) or early-season henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). Heal-all has the characteristics of other low-growing plants in the mint family — an upright, four-angled stem, with lines of hairs along the ridges, 1' tall or less, with a short (1-2") spike of flowers at the apex — and is thus easy to overlook. But the tiny (1/2" long), tubular, two lipped flowers are distinctive (and charming). The light purple or blue upper lip is bent at right angles to form a hood over the aperture with the four stamens and single style with a bifurcated stigma at its tip curving along inside of the hood. The lower lip is divided into three lobes, the middle one white and fringed; the two smaller lateral lobes are the same color as the hood. The hood of the upper lip also sports a "mohawk" haircut of relatively long hairs along the crest of the hood. The flower calyx is light green or reddish, hairy along the edges. After fertilization, four tiny, brown, finely-ridged nutlets develop within the persistant calyx; the seeds are reported to be dispersed by a mechanism that uses the energy in raindrops impacting the calyx to fling the seeds away from the mother plant. The leaves are opposite, up to 2" long and half as wide with a short petiole; they are egg- or lance-shaped with a central vein that is hairy on the underside. Heal-all prefers moist habitats with a history of disturbance.

Prunella

Prunella vulgaris

heal-all [Blooms: Jun-Aug]

Slender mountain-mint flowers occur in small terminal clusters at the tips of the upper stems with distinctive very long, narrow bracts with spine-like tips just beneath the clusters; the bracts are densely covered with short, curled hairs on the blade and longer, bristly hairs along the margins. Individual flowers are tubular, white with scattered purple dots, and about 1/4" long; there is a calyx that is divided several slender green lobes. The corolla is divided into two parts, an upper lip and a lower lip that is divided into three lobes. The four stamens and two styles are also white, but the anthers are purple. The styles have a bifurcated stigma. Slender mountain mint is very similar to Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), but several characters make it straightforward to distinguish them. Leaves on slender mountain mints are always less than 1/4" wide and the stems are hairless; Virginia mountain mint will have the larger leaves more than 1/4" wide and has lines of white hairs on the stems. Slender mountain blooms earlier than Virginian mountain mint, but the blooming period of the two species overlaps. All parts of slender mountain mint give off a strong mint-like odor when crushed, but please restrain yourself from excessive foliage-crushing — it's not polite.

Pycnanthemum

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

slender mountain-mint [Blooms: Jun-Aug]

Virginia mountain-mint flower heads are 3/4-1" across with up to 50 flowers; only a few flowers open at any one time. The flowers are hairy on the outer surfaces, white to light purple in color. Individual flowers are 1/4" across, tubular, and two-lipped; the lower lip is three-lobed with purple spots; four stamens with purple anthers emerge from the lower tube. There are two styles with deeply-notched tips that extend well beyond the edges of the lips of the corolla. The calyx that cups the flower is hairy, light green and has five triangular teeth.

Pycnanthemum

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Virginia mountain-mint [Blooms: Jul-Aug]