28 July 2025
Yesterday morning was so muggy that Charity Kheshgi and I went to Duck Hole hoping for a cool breeze. Even on the water’s edge there was little or no breeze however there have been cool flowers.
From a distance American water willow (Dianthera americana) appears to be like like frequent inexperienced stuff rising on the water’s edge. By means of binoculars I may see that Duck Hole has a number of it, much more than marked on this photograph.
Water willow has to have its toes moist.
The creeping rhizome permits Dianthera americana to type massive colonies on or close to the shorelines of nonetheless or gradual waters in lakes and rivers, and on rocky riffles and shoals in quicker flowing rivers. Its rhizomes and roots present necessary spawning websites for a lot of fish species and habitat for invertebrates.
The leaves resemble willow however in contrast to actual willows this plant by no means will get greater than three toes tall. Its dense vegetation and rhizomes assist scale back shoreline erosion.
From a distance the small white and purple flowers, only one.5 inches throughout, are tough to see. Up shut they’re lovely, nearly like irises, and their purple markings lure in pollinators. The clump we examined was buzzing with honeybees, proven at prime.
We additionally noticed a tiny new-to-us moth. iNaturalist prompt an orange-banded Tripudia moth (Tripudia flavofasciata) which is “anticipated close by.” Is that what it’s?
When you reside close to water in japanese North America likelihood is good that you’ve water willow close to you. Blooming from summer time to fall it’s common inside its big selection.
