Bloomlist for April 18, 2019

    This week's bloomlist for Wildflower Island is at the end of the post, and Bonnie's
    pictures can be found HERE. Peterson names are used for consistency wherever possible,
    and comments and clarifications are welcome in the comments section.

The fact that we noticed the Common Shadbush Amelanchier arborea so early on (compared to the past two years) makes me think that we’re not always in the habit of looking upwards to see the fully blooming white floral branches. I’m not that surprised, though, because the Trillium patch right below it is a definite attention-grabber, and I can't ever remember looking up at that point on the path. We actually saw it on the way out, with its white floral branches soaring above some lower shrubs. But maybe it's taller this year. In any case, Mary says the Shadbush is not a consistent bloomer.

Note: the Common Shadbush has longer petals than the Canadian Shadbush Amelanchier canadensis,;which are only 7-10 mm long as opposed to what we have in the pictures, each 15 mm long.

There’s a very small yellow violet that cannot be studied from the path, but first time we’ve seen it on the island. I believe it is a Round-leaved Yellow Violet Viola rotundifolia, which Peterson says is the only stemless yellow violet in our area, as well as being very small with roundish leaves close the ground.

Out in The Woods today were single appearances of two kinds of Viola sororia, the regular Common Blue and a Confederate (V. sororia fan priceana). There are some nice pictures and descriptions of this latter variety here).

Some clarification about a couple of botanical words I’d like to pass on. The one we’ve seen a lot of is “var.” (obviously, variety), which according to a BBC gardening website is used to identify a plant that has a “slightly different natural botanical structure” from the rest of the species. The abbreviation “f.” stands for “form,” which they say is used when the plant has “a minor difference to the species, such as leaf colour, flower colour or fruit.” And the “f.” is sometimes left out, so you’ll see, for example, Rosa rugosa f. alba or Rosa rugosa alba interchangeably.

I have looked all over for the meaning of the word “fan,” in Viola sororia fan priceana, but it’s got to be something along these variety/form lines, because alternate names for this variety of the Common Blue are: Viola sororia priceana, Viola sororia var. priceana, and Viola sororia fo. priceana.

A reminder more to myself than anyone else, the mostly 6, but sometimes 8-10 “petals” of the Rue-anemone are really sepals.

Apparently, Lesser Celandine will be removed from the island whenever it appears, in keeping with a Teatown policy to exert maximum control of this lovely, but licentious plant. The goose is still nesting, the Skunk Cabbage blooms almost entirely gone.