Mexican Hat

Mexican Hat

Ratibida columnifera

I found this lonely blooming Mexican hat plant gleaming like a beacon light amongst a sea of non-native, invasive teasel growing in a dry, disturbed, almost waste-like land near Interstate 55 in Missouri.

This sombrero-resembling prairie coneflower is native to North America, where its historic native range primarily spanned the Great Plains and surrounding areas to the west, to Missouri on the very eastern edge of its adventive range. However, there are now naturalized populations east of Missouri. It's commonly grown in gardens and can escape from them. This species prefers dry, sunny habitats such as prairies, savannas and some disturbed areas with well-drained, neutral to alkaline soils. Its flowers provide food for an array of insect species, including bees, beetles, moths, wasps, and many more.

June 20th, 2023

Arnold, Jefferson County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

your photos are beautiful! (and i love love love that you include species info)

Thank you! I love sharing information on my posts so others may learn with me... even if it's one small, interesting piece of info at a time. I really appreciate the compliment about my photos, too. :)

Fire Pink

Silene virginica

A perennial catchfly native to central and eastern North America. The bright, fiery red flowers attract ruby-throated hummingbirds to pollinate them, and sticky sepals and stems on the plant act as a trap for small insects trying to climb up it, hence the name "catchfly" for plants in this genus. It prefers somewhat dry soils and part-sun, so it can be found on rocky slopes in open woodlands, savannas, and other similar habitats.

I found this fire pink growing in open, rocky woods near blackjack oaks and other drought-tolerant species.

April 18th, 2024

St. Francois County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

American Water Willow

Justicia americana

This native perennial loves water and can be found in very moist habitats. Its native range spans from Texas, throughout much of the eastern United States, to southeastern Canada. I found this blooming plant with purple and white bicolored flowers among a small colony growing in the middle of a shallow creek.

June 6, 2023

Shannon County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

With a tiny green sweat bee feeding on its flowers.

This plant was growing in a wetland along the Meramec River and is native to a large portion of North America.

July 26th, 2023

Arnold, Jefferson County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Eastern Shooting Star

Primula meadia syn. Dodecatheon meadia

This native perennial has a range that spans throughout the central and eastern United States, where it can be found growing in a variety of habitats with acidic to neutral soils. Its nodding flowers resemble a shooting star and are usually white or lilac in color.

This particular plant was growing in a dolomite glade, but I've also found this species growing in moist, open forests over sandstone before.

April 18th, 2024

Jefferson County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline