The Prairie in July

The dog days of summer are here in St. Louis and the flowers on the prairie continue to bloom in the July heat.

The Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) is in bloom. This perennial is in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is a favorite of Hummingbirds and countless butterflies.

The Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), another plant in the mint family, continues to bloom and the flowers have been keeping the bees busy.

All plants in the mint family (as well as a few other plants in different families) have square stems.

The tall spikes of Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) are showing off their delicate white flowers.

There are patches of Culver's Root all over  the prairie.

Nodding Bulrush (Scirpus pendulus) and other sedges are blooming and going to seed.

Nodding Bulrush

Sedge species

Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) are showing off their yellow flowers.

This plant is in the Asteraceae family as is the Purple Coneflower, Sunflower, Coreopsis and Black and Brown-eyed Susans. This is the largest family in Missouri, with 78 genera and 274 species.

Rosinweed (Silphium intergrifolium), another plant in the Asteraceae family is in bloom as well.

Blackberries are beginning to ripen, providing food for the birds and other animals living in the prairie.

All of these plants will continue to bloom throughout the summer. Stayed tune for next month's phenological events!

Glossary


Perennial: a non-woody plant with a root system that lives through the winter, emerges in the spring and dies back to the ground in the fall.