Sticky bedstraw, stickywilly, catchweed, grip grass, stickyweed, clivers, goosegrass or robin-run-the-hedge; it doesn't really matter what you call Galium aparine, this sticky, floppy plant can wend its way around other plants, through fences and be a bugger to get rid of. While green, the "stickiness" is caused by small hairs on the leaves that point backwards. Although considered edible (and the dried, ground seed pods apparently make a decent coffee substitute), I can't imaging eating something with those catchy hairs. I was curious about the origins of "robin-run-the-hedge" and it turns out that it refers to a character from an English tale of the early 15th century, Robin Goodfellow. This magician could change form and was a bit of a scoundrel, showing up everywhere including gardens and maidens beds. I was totally amazed to find out that this invasive is native! Thanks Marta for help in identifying this plant. There is a non-native species of Galium (Galium spurium ) that is similar and can be found on southern Vancouver Island. It's flowers are a bit smaller and the flowers are a greenish cream colour. Biomimicry Here in silhouette are the dried seed pods, ready to snag on to any animal's fur or material and be dispersed! It was from these seeds that Swiss engineer, George De Mestral got the idea for what was to become Velcro. After a walk in the woods in 1948 and picking 100's of these cursed seeds off the dog and his clothing (examples below) he examined them under a microscope to see what was holding them on. The rest is history as they say. It took a lot of work to determine densities of hooks, the necessary rigidity as well as manufacturing methods--but it happened and in 1955 Velcro was patented; the word being a combination of velour and crochet. ** We had it pointed out to us (via @VictoriaNHS) by a biomimicry specialist (David Parr) that it really was burdock that was the original "Velcro" and not these guys! Both are in the literature -but if you do go to the actual Velcro site...it is burdock. And check out David's website; some really cool stuff http://www.biomimicron.com/ **
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This week has given us a new appreciation for this plant and its role in our garden and the ecosystem. We have several clumps planted behind the bench by the pond and we were sitting on the bench after dinner when Leah grabbed her camera and started shooting insects visiting the white flowers. Dozens and dozens of insects has their faces buried in the centre of the Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) flowers, including Carrot Wasps, Helictid bees, Bumble Bees, several species of beetles, flies, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, butterflies, the list went on and on....and the same the next time with yet more species being added. So, depending on our ability to identify this bounty, you can expect to see some photos of cool insects on the distinctive papery white flowers of this plant in future posts. Pearly Everlasting is in the daisy family, and its flowers are good "everlastings", easily cut and dried for bouquets. The white flowers gleam in a summers evening, and its easy to see why one of the other common names is Moonshine. Those pesky moths that flap around your head when you have the windows open and the light on late on a summer night? Look closer, you may be surprised. I was. This looper, Autographa corusca is only found west of the Cascades and Coast Range from southern Oregon to the Alaskan panhandle and is a specialist on Red Alder. The four spots on the thorax are an easy way to distinguish Ischnura cervula from other damselflies that we have the area. The other feature are male genitalia that are shaped like deer antlers; this the species name cervula. With a little imagination I can see the antlers with a hand lens. Pacific Forktails have a long flight season as one of the earliest damselflies that you may see in April to the end of September. Great resources for looking at the range of dragonflies and damselflies in BC can be found by going to the reports page for the species on BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer (http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/search.do ) and then looking at either the link to the interactive maps that are on eFauna or the Range/Distribution link. This distinctive skipper was first recorded in BC in 1960. There was a separate introduction in Sicamous that was first noted in 1980 and then spread east and southward. Victoria recorded it's first Thymelicus lineola in 1992 (although wasn't identified until 1994). It is apparently still only found in the Victoria area on Vancouver Island and is the only one of this Genus in BC. The flight period is June to mid-July. Slender and delicate, Piperia transversa blooms after the basal leaves have died off. They are about 25 cm tall and grow in the dappled sunlight of the dry Douglas-fir forest. The flat-spurred orchid (another name that more accurately describes this species) doesn't bloom every year at Leaning Oaks so we were quite pleased with the number that popped up this year. The name "transversa" comes from the long spur that crosses the main stem....transversely! The close up shows this well. The similar orchid that is found in the area; P. elegans, doesn't have the green mid-line in the flowers, flattened spur or a scent.
The best part of this flower is the yummy vanilla and honey smell that gets stronger as the evening wears on. Although there was some discussion whether it was cloves or vanilla. I'm right. What is there not to love about the muppet haircut and the beautiful emerald green of Hemithea aestivaria? The underside that you can't see here is a pale creamy green. The emerald moth is found through out Europe and has been introduced to the Pacific Northwest. Apparently the first that were observed around Vancouver was 1979. In Europe the caterpillars are known to feed on willow, oaks, birch and a number of other deciduous trees. On southern Vancouver Island they have been seen feeding on dogwood and snowberry. Here are some photographs of the caterpillar: http://facweb.furman.edu/~snyderjohn/tatum/218-221.htm Black Raspberry, or Blackcap is a native shrub that grows long arching stems with a raspberry-like dark purple berry for fruit. The lone plant here at Leaning Oaks grows on the soil disturbed by an the up -rooted tree. The species is usually associated with disturbance. The fruiting stems are two years old when they bear fruit and then they usually die. The berry is very tasty, but sadly, we don't have enough Rubus leucodermis to get a good feed. Other common English names include White-stemmed Raspberry, Western Raspberry or Blue Raspberry. I am completely smitten with jumping spiders. This fellow, Salticus scenicus measures in at about 5 mm, is quick as greased lightning and is relatively common here at Leaning Oaks and across North America. The species name, "scenicus" is derived from the Greek skenikos, meaning "of the stage" or theatrical and "Salticus" is Latin for dance. When they turn to look at you with their eyes (total of eight, four facing forward) and wave their chelicerae and pedipalps like some sort of battle threat or odd dance, you can understand the source of the name
It does not spin a web to capture prey, but hunts actively for its dinner. The photo below is a different individual that has tackled a fly much larger than itself! I had to include it, even though it wasn't a great photo. They do produce silk, using it for safety lines, to make egg sacs and to build overnight retreats. The colours on the Zebra Jumping Spider vary, as do the width and spacing of the stripes. I was very sad to read that this jumping spider is considered a native of Europe and has been introduced throughout the northern hemisphere...I'd like to think that they belonged here! Lorquin's Admiral is a common species here at Leaning Oaks. Males defend open patches and fight off intruders and aerial battles are a common sight in the summer months. It is a distinctive black butterfly with a bold white strip in the wings, broken into cells by black viens. The forewings are tipped in orange. Here the commonest food plant for the larvae is Oceanspray (133), but elsewhere, apples, willows, birches, cottonwood, hardhack and saskatoon are used.
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AuthorsTwo biologists on a beautiful property armed with cameras, smart phones and a marginal knowledge of websites took up the challenge of documenting one species a day on that property. Join along! Posts and photographs by Leah Ramsay and David Fraser (unless otherwise stated); started January 1, 2014. Categories
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