Wild Coneflowers may not be as brightly colored as their cultivated counterparts, but they arestill pretty.
To either side of the road, the woods opens out. One open area was enlarged and disturbed up during the construction of the sewer line. The builders used it as a turn- around for their earth-moving equipment. Like the right of way, it was a mass of Croton and Bitterweed for a few years but has since made a good recovery. In the spring it is full of Vetch, Locoweed, and Bluebonnet. There are even a few yuccas.
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Bumelias have soft, pubescent leaves and spiny branches. The small black fruits are edible.
Along the roadsides of Texas, Indian Blanket or Firewheel is abundant in spring. Gaillardia pulchella is the more colorful species.
Gaillardia aestivalis is less showy and is the one found most in the park.
Cnidoscolus texanus) are pretty...
...but the foliage is covered with nasty stinging hairs.
Bull Nettle doesn't look much like a member of the Euphorbiaceae or Spurge Family. The seeds are edible, but it takes someone very brave to go in after them.
Linneaus named this genus Commelina after the Dutch Commelijn brothers. The two eldest brothers were prominent botanists, represented by the two large blue petals, while the small white petal signifies the third brother, who was somewhat less of an achiever.
Some people think that the spikelets resemble tiny rattlesnake rattles. This plant is nice in dried arrangements, if not terribly durable.
----- Soon the parking lot is in sight, bringing an end to another field trip.
