365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Circaea Alpina, Enchanter's Nightshade
Day 270: When a rare plant is located, it is always a good idea to document the environment in which it was found. On my second trip to the Phantom Orchid site, I began cataloguing vascular species: Oxalis, Bedstraw, Violets, Hedge Nettle, Foamflower...wait, what's that leaf? The tiny blossoms which give Foamflower its name appeared to be on a stalk emerging from a distinctively different type of leaf, vegetation I could not recall having ever seen anywhere else. I dutifully took photos, noting two reflexed sepals and glandular seed capsules as I did so, hoping that I could identify it without having to lug Hitchcock's "Flora of the Pacific Northwest" back up the hill. Upon arriving home, I hit the books and discovered that it was Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea alpina), a fairly common plant which, despite its Latin nomenclature, occurs from sea level through the subalpine zone. Undoubtedly, I have seen it before without making particular note of it...little white flowers, so what?...but in this context, it earned my respect as a possible companion species for our precious Phantoms.
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