April at the Preserve

"Thy petals the soft touch of light

Hath streaked with the sun's roseate ray"

(Halliday Jackson, 1830)

The spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) attracts over 23 species of pollinators, including native bees, honey bees, bumblebees, and flower flies. The pink stripes direct insects to the flower's nectar. The pink filaments also reflect ultraviolet radiation which is visible to insects.

While spring beauty produces generous nectar, flowers such as wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) with earlier ancestors only produce pollen. The intricate partnership between plants and animals has evolved over millions of years, leading to the rise of more complex floral structures.

The seeds of wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) are
distributed to new locations by ants

Small bees and flower flies visit the flowers of introduced
Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) on occasion

The pink stripes on spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) serve as
nectar guides for pollinators

False strawberry (Potentilla indica) produces a bright red drupe
that looks similar to the fruits of wild strawberries (Fragaria)

Mouse ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum) also attracts
flower flies and butterflies such as the chickweed geometer