Big Thicket Observations

All my Big Thicket observations are up (except for a few outside the preserve boundary)! For those who weren't there, it was a great trip. There were a lot of highlights but I've only chosen a few here. Aside from the general awesomeness of the trip, it also gave me a few thoughts on Euphorbia.

Firstly, I saw two species in person for the first time: E. corollata and E. cordifolia. I also saw two species on the preserve that were not on the plant list (Euphorbia prostrata and E. hyssopifolia). I also saw a species (not on the preserve but nearby) that is not known from East Texas (E. serpillifolia; unless it turns out to be E. meganaesos, but that's a potentially complicated story for another day). Euphorbia serpillifolia is only known from the Trans-Pecos in Texas.

Lastly, @ellen5 noticed today that the cyathial appendages of the Euphorbia corollata plants at the preserve were shorter than those growing further northeast. The short solution would be to call all the plants E. pubentissima and be done with it. However, I ended up looking at the two specimens I collected in the area and comparing them to the new volume of the Flora of North America. One of these specimens keyed to one of three different species depending on which one of three different characters were used. This ultimately means that there is some work to do in the complex and a new taxonomic problem to untangle.

Overall, I'd say it was a productive and fun trip .... even if I didn't see Euphorbia humistrata.

Posted on October 25, 2016 09:18 PM by nathantaylor nathantaylor

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Hyssop Spurge (Euphorbia hyssopifolia)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 14, 2016 06:48 PM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Heartleaf Sandmat (Euphorbia cordifolia)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 10:30 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 10:53 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Purple False Foxglove (Agalinis purpurea)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 07:54 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 08:04 AM CDT

Description

Odd green appendages form.

Photos / Sounds

What

Prostrate Sandmat (Euphorbia prostrata)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 08:09 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bearded Beggarticks (Bidens aristosa)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 08:46 PM CDT

Description

Under blacklight.

Fungi

Photos / Sounds

What

Hongos (Kingdom Fungi)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 15, 2016 08:33 PM CDT

Description

First photo under blacklight.

Photos / Sounds

What

Small Butterwort (Pinguicula pumila)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 17, 2016 07:46 AM CDT

Description

2 plants.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 16, 2016 09:48 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Nodding Nixie (Apteria aphylla)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 16, 2016 10:23 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 16, 2016 11:03 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Waterspider Bog Orchid (Habenaria repens)

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 16, 2016 11:38 AM CDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nathantaylor

Date

October 16, 2016 12:50 PM CDT

Comments

It was a totally grand time and a great opportunity for me to learn from and be inspired by all the experts. Thanks for all your help, Nathan!
I am still slowly working on getting my observations reported soon... Too many places to go and irons in the fire the past week. Looking forward to the next meet up!

Posted by connlindajo over 7 years ago

Awesome! You all made a lot of observations at Big Thicket. Is anyone writing up a summary? Did you get a group photo? Tagging @sambiology

Posted by carrieseltzer over 7 years ago

I suppose I should write up a little summary of the trip, @carrieseltzer -- @briang did get a group photo, although it was missing quite a few folks that were off exploring! :) It was bioblitztastic!

Hopefully if this happens again, we can 'encourage' more TX national parks to participate. :)

Posted by sambiology over 7 years ago

@sambiology PLEASE write a trip summary! This is a valuable demonstration of what you can accomplish with a trained and motivated bunch of people. This was a massively productive BioBlitz that doesn't at all qualify as "mini", except possibly in budget ;-)

Posted by carrieseltzer over 7 years ago

@sambiology Could you include the photo and a list of those missing in it? Thanks...
@nathantaylor7583 I pulled "weeds" from the Milam County Master Gardener chapters's demonstration garden this morning... almost three 5-gallon buckets of Nodding Spurge (Euphorbia nutans). Such beautiful specimens!

Posted by connlindajo over 7 years ago

@connlindajo Wow! That's a lot of spurges. You're making me drool! ;)
A trip summary would be really nice. I really hope Big Bend decides to jump on the bandwagon. It seems like a good way to get large numbers of observations.

Posted by nathantaylor over 7 years ago

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