Cup Plant by the East Don River: August 2020

Cup Plant, which can reach the height of 6 feet, looks from a distance like a sunflower.

Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)

The flower heads are 2 – 3 inches wide.

Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)

It is found in thickets and on the banks of streams.

Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)

Cup Plant is a native species but is considered by some to be an invasive plant.

Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)

The opposite leaves meet at the stalk with no stems and form a cup.

Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)

Other botany:

Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)
Late Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
Late Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
Pinkweed (Persicaria pensylvanica)
Evening-primrose (Oenothera)
Evening-primrose (Oenothera)
Honewort (Cryptotanenia canadensis)
Cow-parsnip (Heracleum maximum)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Virgin’s-bower (Clematis virginiana)
Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea canadensis)
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis) with snail
Common Buttercup Ranunculus acris)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) Thanks to Bruce Thompson for this identification
Stickseed (Hackelia deflexa)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Great Chickweed (Cerastium pubera)
Great Chickweed (Cerastium pubera)

Park views:

Brown-lipped Snail

Some insects:

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) with Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) with Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Two-striped Grasshopper
Two-striped Grasshopper

Thanks to Ken Sproule for assistance in insect identification

NATURE POETRY

Summer declines and roses have grown rare,
But cottage crofts are gay with hollyhocks,
And in old garden walks you breathe an air
Fragrant of pinks and August-smelling stocks.       – John Todhunter (1839–1916) 

Miles Hearn

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