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Harbinger of Spring - Erigenia bulbosa
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"True Rue"
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This first warming period is when the spring ephemeral wildflowers wake up. The Harbinger of Spring is the first up, a week or more before the rest. They are so tiny that we have to get low and concentrate to find them in the leaf litter of winter, their leaves struggling to reach the light.
Next up usually are the Rue Anemones, false and true. The "True Rue," Thalictrum thalictroides, has 4-8 petals while the false, Enemion biternatum, has five and tends to grow in clusters.
Spring ephemerals have developed a strategy to survive along our shaded lane. With the first warmth of Spring, they pop out before the trees leaf out and block the sun from the forest floor. After gathering energy from the sun in a few weeks, many of these species their leaves and flowers. They are perennials that survive the rest of the year as underground modified stems such as rhizomes and bulbs.
Out early to greet these early blossoms was this Common Syrphid Fly,
Syrphus ribesii. It was hovering above, then dropping down to the petals for a few seconds before darting to the next one.
Another name for it is a hoverfly. The "common" in its name refers to its range in the US, across Europe and scattered reports in China and South America. Not only does it pollinate but its larvae feed on aphids, an added bonus. Its aposematic colors suggest it could sting, just a big bluff from a little 10 mm fly.
One of our favorite ephemerals is the Bloodroot, nestled here in the
thick dry leaves. Its leaves and roots have bright red sap that can
stain your fingers. Pictures of the sap and the story of how it is
planted by ants are in this previous blog.
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Wake Robin - Trillium sessile
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Read no further. Finish up your work and get out into nature this glorious spring but keep your eyes focused on the ground.
