Author: sbryson

The narrow-winged tree cricket, Oecanthus niveus, is part of the family Orthoptera. These crickets are nocturnal and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They’re easy to identify by the black mark on the first antennal segment and the head marked with an orange/red-orange spot. The bodies of tree crickets are long and skinny with a coloration that matches their habitat. They can commonly be found hanging out on the crowns of broad-leaved trees, understory trees, and tangled undergrowth (although this one was found hanging out in my apartment building’s hallway, most likely attracted by the hallway lights). Their antennae can sense both touch and odor and they have compound eyes, which are inherent in all Orthoptera. Like other species of cricket, they produce their calling song by rubbing the ridges of their wings together. The chirp (or trill) of a tree cricket is long and continuous and can sometimes be mistaken for the call of a cicada or certain species of frogs. While male tree crickets have the ability to call, females lack the ability so, based on this fact and from pictures I’ve seen of males and females, this individual was most likely a female.

iNaturalist post

Cricket info.

I identified this young sapling as an American Sycamore tree, Platanus occidentalis. The look of these lobed leaves are very similar to maple leaves; however, I was able to differentiate this tree from the maple species based on the fact that the sycamore leaves are alternately arranged, as opposed to opposite. All along Bee Creek at Wild Basin, these young sycamore trees can be seen growing straight out of the holes of rock that line some segments of the creek.

The sycamore is a relative of maples so they can be tapped in late winter for sap. Sycamore syrup is much lower quality than maple syrup and it requires approximately 50 gallons of sap to produce 1 quart of syrup. Generally, this not considered to be worth the effort. However, this sap flows strongly and can be used as an emergency source of water throughout most of the year.

iNaturalist observation.

Sycamore info.

 

Acanthocephala declivis is a species of North American true bugs. The Hemiptera, or true bugs, are an order of insects comprising some 50,000 to 80,000 species of groups such as the cicadas, aphids, plant hoppers, leafhoppers, and shield bugs. They range in size from 0.04 to 6 inches, and share a common arrangement of sucking mouthparts. These mouthparts allow for the insects to suck sap and juices from plant material. A. declivis are in the family Coreidae and get their name from the small leaf-like enlargements found on the hind leg. They are closely related to other sucking insects, such as stink bugs (family Pentatomidae) that can also suck juices from plants. Their distribution range extends from the Southern United States to Guatemala, including some Caribbean islands. The giant leaf-footed bug is the largest of this genus within this range, generally growing to be 1.1 to 1.3 inches long. It can be distinguished from similar species by its much more broadly expanding pronotum (the foremost part of its thorax closest to its head), which extends much further than the abdomen.

iNaturalist observation.

A. declivis info.

 

These glossy privets (Ligustrum lucidum) are planted all along the edge of the apartment complex I live at, as well as along the length of fence separating my complex and the neighboring one. At first, I was sure they were Japanese privet but, after researching the differences between the two species, my educated guess would be to say these are glossy privets. Generally, glossy privets have longer leaves than its relative, Japanese privet. The leaf apex of Ligustrum lucidum is long acuminate, meaning that it stretches out to a longer point. Young glossy privets are usually mis-identified as Japanese privet because the leaves haven’t grown to their longer length. However, because these privets around my complex are mature and vary in height from 10ft – 40ft, their leaves are noticeably longer than the Japanese privet leaves that I have come to be so familiar with. Because the neighboring apartment complex is older and the glossy privets are much taller (above picture), it’s likely these privets were planted around the time the building was developed and used by the landscaper as a bordering plant. Glossy privet are just as hardy as Japanese privet when it comes to invading an area and are even more troublesome than Japanese privet in some areas of Texas (ex: Harris county).

iNaturalist post.

Glossy Privet info.

 

Garrya ovata ssp. lindheimeri is a subspecies of Silktassel, named after Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801 – 1879) who is often called the Father of Texas Botany because of his work as the first permanent-resident plant collector in Texas. Lindheimer immigrated to the United States in 1834 as a political refugee. From 1843 – 1852, he spent his time collecting specimens in Texas. In 1844, he settled in New Braunfels and was granted land on the banks of the Comal River, where he continued collecting plants and attempted to establish a botanical garden. He shared his findings with many others who shared his interest in botany, including Ferdinand von Roemer and Adolph Scheele. Lindheimer is credited with the discovery of several hundred plant species and his name is used to designate forty-eight species and subspecies of plants. He is buried in New Braunfels and his house, on Comal Street in New Braunfels, is now a museum. This subspecies of Garrya ovata is an understory plant whose natural range is limited to Central Texas. These shrub-like trees like to grow in the rocky limestone hills and canyons of the Edwards Plateau.

iNaturalist observation.

Source for Lindheimer info.

Also known as Mexican Hat, Ratibida columnifera is a Texas-native wildflower. It’s natural range in the United States includes central-eastern states, and has become naturalized in 36 out of the 48 contiguous states of the United States due to its aggressive proliferation method and indifference to more taxing environmental parameters (i.e. drought, soil type, etc.). It is a drought tolerant plant that withstands competition and has been known to push weaker, less-competitive plants out of an area. Mexican Hat is a fast growing wildflower that is not fussy about soils and is easy to grow from seed. Bees and other pollinators like this wildflower and its foliage gives off an odor that repels deer.

This plant’s medicinal uses include: tea from leaves and stalks used for stomach aches, tea from flower used for headaches, and boiled leaves and stems used to soothe snakebites and poison ivy rashes. iNaturalist post here.

Source for Mexican hat info.

I pass by this large patch of Inland Sea Oat (Chasmanthium latifolium) everyday on my way to St. Edward’s. This is the same native grass that Eric, Abbie, and myself are using to oversow our experimental plots with in the hopes that their growth will suppress the Chinese and Japanese privet populations. This is a 2-4 ft., clump-forming, perennial grass bearing large, drooping, oat-like flower spikelets. Their leaves look very similar to bamboo leaves and will turn yellow during the fall. Inland Sea Oat is very popular as a low-maintenance shade grass.  This grass can grow to be 2 feet tall within a few months of sprouting its first leaves. As the seeds mature, they will turn from green to ivory to brown and eventually fall off, or are eaten. The seeds are eaten by small mammals and granivorous birds, the leaves provide graze for mammals, and the stems and leaves are used as nesting material by birds. Inland Sea Oat is also the larval host plant for a few butterfly species: pepper & salt skipper butterfly, bells road side skipper butterfly, and the bronzed roadside skipper butterfly.

In the riparian ecosystem at Wild Basin, Inland Sea Oat is a favorable species to use the oversowing method with because this species is shade-tolerant, re-seeds easily, and can expand aggressively within a couple of years. They also help to stabilize the sediment and prevent soil erosion. iNaturalist Observation. 

Source for Inland Sea Oat info.

I was drawn to this plant because of it’s unique silvery-gray-green color. Leucophyllum frutescens is an evergreen shrub, covered with densely-growing, star-shaped leaves. The ashy appearance of the leaves is due to the millions of tiny hairs covering them. Their flowers are bright pink-lavender and bilaterally symmetrical. This species has many other commons names, including: Texas Ranger, Purple Sage, Texas Silverleaf, and Texas Barometer Bush.

Cenizo can bloom virtually all year round. They typically bloom after consistent rainy periods, especially during the summer months – this is how they obtained the common name “Texas Barometer.” This plant’s native habitat range is Texas (Rio Grande Plain & Edward’s Plateau) and Mexico (South of Nuevo Leon).

It is very drought, cold, and heat-tolerant; although, prolonged periods of humidity and heat can be fatal. It’s ecological usefulness includes providing nesting sites for various bird species and it’s flowers provide nectar to butterflies and bees. Up until a couple decades ago, there was only one species of Leucophyllum frutescens available in the nursery trade. Today, thanks to the research efforts of Benny Simpson of Texas A&M University, as well as other horticulturists, there are now multiple clones to choose from (i.e. Leucophyllum candidum Silver Cloud, Leucophyllum candidum Thunder Cloud, Leucophyllum zygophyllum Cimarron, Leucophyllum frutescens White Cloud, etc.).

iNauturalist post. 

Sources: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LEFR3 

http://www.azlca.com/uploads/documents/a-16_love_those_leucophyllums.pdf

These small, native trees are abundant at Wild Basin and have just recently began to produce their small, white flowers. The compound leaves are pinnate and alternately arranged. This plant can be easily recognized by it’s reddish rachis, which can be noticed in the picture below.

The evergreen sumac, Rhus virens, is a dioecious plant, with only the female plants producing flowers and berries. It is fast growing, generally insect and disease-free, and drought-tolerant; however, it is not a true evergreen because it’s leaves are green through the winter, then are dropped, to be replaced within about a week. Ecological benefits provided by this species include being a food source for birds and butterflies. Additionally, their berries can be soaked in water to make a tea that is high in Vitamin C.

 

iNaturalist post

Source: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHVI3

This Live Oak tree, Quercus fusiformis, resides next to my apartment complex (not ironically called Tree). According to this rough age determination equation, and based on the tree’s approximate diameter, it’s estimated age could be anywhere from 150 – 235 years old. This is a VERY rough estimation as my method to measure the tree’s diameter was to literally hug it.

Texas live oaks are monoecious, with the male flowers forming catkins up to 3″ long and the female flowers forming a peduncle 1″ to 3″ long in the leaf axils (the upper angle where the leaf meets the stem). Once a female flower is fertilized it forms an acorn, which can be seen in the picture below. Very few acorns survive to grow into a young oak because they represent an important food source for rodents, birds, insects, and fungi. iNaturalist post found here.