Meadow parasol
Click for greater clarity.
The best of the botanical field guides intended for the general public in my area is Marshall Enquist’s Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country, whose pages I’ve turned through hundreds of times since 1999. I’ve still never seen some of the species shown there, so I’m happy on those one or two occasions each year when I add another “conquest.” That was the case on July 3rd when I hiked pretty far into the Bull Creek Nature Preserve and finally came across a few flowering groups of Daucosma laciniata (or laciniatum), which sources say is known as meadow daucosma or the more fanciful meadow parasol. I think you can see what prompted that second name.
© 2013 Steven Schwartzman
Is this related to what we call cow parsley? Also an umbellifer but a flatter head.
Heyjude
July 22, 2013 at 10:51 AM
I’m not familiar with cow parsley, so I looked online and found that it seems to be Anthriscus sylvestris. Both are indeed members of the Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae), but I don’t know if there’s any closer relationship than that of the family.
Steve Schwartzman
July 22, 2013 at 11:14 AM
I think yours is prettier anyway 🙂
Heyjude
July 22, 2013 at 11:23 AM
All right, let’s hear it for Texas!
Steve Schwartzman
July 22, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Elle ressemble à “la carotte sauvage”!
chatou11
July 22, 2013 at 1:01 PM
Oui, le genre de la carotte (sauvage ou cultivée) est Daucus, et voici Daucosma (osma = odeur).
Steve Schwartzman
July 22, 2013 at 1:10 PM
Merci Steve.
chatou11
July 23, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Very beautiful! 🙂 Looks familiar; i think maybe these occur here in Illinois.
Thomas Peace (author)
July 22, 2013 at 3:07 PM
It turns out that daucosma grows only down here, not in Illinois, but you could have something that looks like it from the same family.
Steve Schwartzman
July 22, 2013 at 3:28 PM
It’s a beauty and is related to the ubiquitous Queen Anne’s Lace-Daucus carota which are both in the carrot family. Nice photo, Steve.
Steve Gingold
July 22, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Thanks, Steve. Daucosma is what botanists call monotypic, meaning that there is only one species in the genus. You’re right that this is a relative of the various carrot-type plants.
Steve Schwartzman
July 22, 2013 at 5:46 PM
I imagine there are several similar plants in different parts of the world; I’ve seen something similar here in Alberta, but obviously not the same plant. Sometimes I wish I had your knowledge on the subject so I could identify our native plants and shrubs. Keep up the great photos and knowledge!! 🙂
Steve
July 25, 2013 at 8:03 PM
You’re right that there are bound to be similar plants in your part of the world. My knowledge is limited to my little area, and when I started I knew almost nothing (and I still don’t know much compared to botanists). I’m glad to share some of the things I’ve learned.
I looked online just now and found that at least one field guide to the wildflowers of Alberta exists:
http://www.amazon.ca/Wildflowers-Alberta-Common-Herbaceous-Plants/dp/0888642989
That could be a starting point for you.
Steve Schwartzman
July 25, 2013 at 8:34 PM
What a beautiful flower. I’m sure there are some little critters about who appreciate the shade it offers. It reminded me of Queen Anne’s lace when I first glimpsed it, although of course the shape is different.
I just tossed a copy of Enquist’s book into my Amazon shopping cart. Do you have a recommendation for something that would cover our area, or at least not be quite so specific to the hill country?
shoreacres
July 26, 2013 at 4:02 PM
Daucosma is in the same family as Queen Anne’s lace, which is a carrot, and also parsley, dill, celery, etc.
A lot of the wildflowers in Enquist’s book also grow over by the coast, so you’re making a good purchase. The best book I know specifically for your area is:
http://www.amazon.com/Wildflowers-Houston-Southeast-Texas-Tveten/dp/0292781512
Steve Schwartzman
July 26, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Thanks for the recommend. Both books are on their way. I love bookstores, but Amazon certainly has its place. 😉
shoreacres
July 27, 2013 at 11:08 PM
Wear them well. Should you eventually wish to expand to animals, there’s a Tveten book about the butterflies of Houston and another about the birds of Texas.
Steve Schwartzman
July 27, 2013 at 11:14 PM