Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Hairy cowpea (Vigna luteola) is a twining vine with bright yellow flowers that are held on long flower stalks (pedicels). This member of the pea family, Fabacae, can smother other vegetation, especially…
Tag: southern carpenter bee
Buzz pollination
The partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) at south Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area was ablaze with flowers when we took a very small-group walk to look for Florida butterfly orchids (Encylcia tampensis) on June 27, 2020. Bees pollinate this native annual via…
Weeds of Wednesday: Bees & Butterflies Love Beggarticks
At the entrance to the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, now flourishes a big "bush" of beggarticks (Bidens alba). Yes, this plant is weedy and hitchhikes its way around via its 2-toothed seeds that give rise to its species name, Bidens: …
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Carpenter Bee on Bee Balm
Bee balm (Monarda punctuata) attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Look how pollen from the anthers of the bee balm sticks to the top of this bulky, native southern carpenter bee (Xylocopa micans), easily identified by its 'shiny hiney'. This…
