Stars, they come and go

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When Texas yellow star, Lindheimera texana, goes to seed and dries out, it leaves behind “starry” remains that look like those of no other sunflower family relative in our area, as today’s photograph makes clear.

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The daily (and occasionally twice daily) posts that you’ve become accustomed to will continue while I’m away from Austin. Feel free to comment if you’d like, but please be aware that it may be a while before I can respond.

© 2012 Steven Schwartzman

Texas yellow star

Click for greater clarity.

The current flag of Texas and Texas state seal include a white, five-pointed star, but in 1836 the first national flag of the Republic of Texas had a yellow five-pointed star on it. That accords with the wildflower shown here, Lindheimera texana, known not coincidentally as Texas star, Texas yellow star, and also, though starlessly, a Lindheimer daisy. While most daisies have varying numbers of rays, this species always has five.

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Posted on this date last year: a different yellowness, that of a gorgeous colony of sunflowers on the Blackland Prairie in far northeast Austin. The folded-down ray on one of the sunflowers was most likely the handiwork of a spider.

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The daily posts that you’ve become accustomed to will continue while I’m away from Austin. Feel free to comment if you’d like, but please be aware that it may be a while before I can respond.

© 2012 Steven Schwartzman