This butterfly, flower combination may not be as poetic as Queen and Purple Mist, but these small Dainty Sulphurs appear to be the perfect butterfly to visually compliment the Spiny Aster flowers:
Numerous species of butterflies were active today (Monday, October 7, 2013) as I walked the San Antonio River Mission Reach trail between the Concepcíon Park and Confluence Park trailheads. The Dainty Sulphur were particularly attracted to the numerous Spiny Aster (Chloracantha spinosa) flowers.
The Spiny Aster looks weak and straggly. Its leaves quickly drop off as they mature leaving the spindly bare stems. Their appearance, however, is misleading. This is a very important riparian plant, perfect for an environment that periodically floods. Above ground, the leafless stems provide very little resistance to the flood water. Below ground, its extensive root and rhizome system provides excellent erosion protection. It has a very high root stability rating of 8.
The Spiny Aster isn't specifically listed as a larval host for the Dainty Sulphur, but it is likely one possible host as this butterfly has a predilection for plants in the Asteraceae Family.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Olmos Basin
Today's photos:
"Those who contemplate the beauty of earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." - Rachel Carson
This flowering plant is Chloracantha spinosa, also known as Mexican devil-weed. It is native to northern Mexico and the Southwest United States. It grows especially well in damp micro-environments in otherwise arid habitats. While it is a native plant to Texas, it is considered by many to be a weedy nuisance.
The Mexican devil-weed is an interesting small, fall blooming shrub in the Aster Family. It produces leaves, but they rapidly fall off as they mature, so all that is left are a lot of spindly green branches. The flowers are very attractive to bees.
It is the first set of nature photographs I have taken since breaking my right arm two weeks ago. I took them late yesterday afternoon in my backyard. As I have mentioned in a few previous posts, I live in the Olmos Basin only a couple hundred meters or so north of Olmos Creek. This particular plant is doing quite well growing next to our compost pile.
I consider this set of photos to be a relative, if somewhat tentative, success. I will explain more about how they were taken in my next post.
