Spring Ephemerals

 

 

 

 

          Spring ephemerals are the early wildflowers with a short life cycle.  They must emerge from the ground in their woodland habitat, bloom quickly and then set seed before the tree leaves emerge in the canopy above and block their access to sunlight.

          Here are a few ephemerals I found today.

 

 

 

 

Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica


 

Hepatica, Hepatic acutiloba
 

Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, just  emerging. In a few weeks the nodding white flower will appear beneath its leaves.

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis.  The red sap in the roots was used as paint and dye by Native Americans.

Toothwort, Dentaria laciniata.  The leaves are edible.

  

A Comma butterfly is nectaring on this Saxifrage, Saxifraga virginiensis

Common Blue Violet, Viola sorois.  The seed coat contains a bit of food so ants carry the seeds to their colony, eat the food and discard the intact seed, thereby planting it.  Think "ant farming!"

Woodland Violet, Viola pubescens.