Botany of Illinois Beach State Park, Part 33: Portrait of a Dune Invader | Northern-Unit Nature Preserve, Illinois, USA
Looking straight eastward at a vegetated beach ridge that used to front the shore at the park's northern end.
For the story of what has happened to the site since this photo was taken, see Part 32.
This detail shot is the second of a three-image sequence documenting the former prevalence (at least I hope it's former) of a highly invasive weed in this locale. Here we're closing in on the plant in question, Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias). It's growing and blooming all too heartily in soil that is essentially just sand with a slight organic content.
Note that its floral bracts vary from lemon-yellow to a salmon color. It's all too clear why this was a favorite garden and graveyard planting in the nineteenth century. But would you believe me if I told you this low-growing species is a close relative of the Poinsettia? You should. It is. The latter's taxonomic docket is Euphorbia pulcherrima.
In the next post in this album, I'll focus on the fascinating floral anatomy of this and other members of the Spurge genus. For now, however, take a good look at the Cypress Spurge's narrow, almost needlelike foliage. Apparently someone thought that it's reminiscent of a true Cypress's leaves. But it's actually much more pinelike.
You'll find the other photos and descriptions of this series in my Botany of Illinois Beach State Park album.
Botany of Illinois Beach State Park, Part 33: Portrait of a Dune Invader | Northern-Unit Nature Preserve, Illinois, USA
Looking straight eastward at a vegetated beach ridge that used to front the shore at the park's northern end.
For the story of what has happened to the site since this photo was taken, see Part 32.
This detail shot is the second of a three-image sequence documenting the former prevalence (at least I hope it's former) of a highly invasive weed in this locale. Here we're closing in on the plant in question, Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias). It's growing and blooming all too heartily in soil that is essentially just sand with a slight organic content.
Note that its floral bracts vary from lemon-yellow to a salmon color. It's all too clear why this was a favorite garden and graveyard planting in the nineteenth century. But would you believe me if I told you this low-growing species is a close relative of the Poinsettia? You should. It is. The latter's taxonomic docket is Euphorbia pulcherrima.
In the next post in this album, I'll focus on the fascinating floral anatomy of this and other members of the Spurge genus. For now, however, take a good look at the Cypress Spurge's narrow, almost needlelike foliage. Apparently someone thought that it's reminiscent of a true Cypress's leaves. But it's actually much more pinelike.
You'll find the other photos and descriptions of this series in my Botany of Illinois Beach State Park album.