2016 Midwest Roadtrip - Part V

The furthest south we would get on this trip was Linden's Prairie between Springfield and Joplin and about 80km north of the Arkansas border.  This spot was one of my favourites for the trip.  The 171 acre original prairie was purchased by the Missouri Prairie Foundation in 2014 and named after a MPF member and odonate expert Ms. Linden Trial.

Hydrating, sunscreening up and having a snack at the car before heading in, a Hackberry Emperor was interested in the rubber surrounding the windshield.  We offered up a small piece of apple which it quickly took to (and was still at when we returned to the car later that afternoon).

 Red-spotted Purple butterflies were also present along the hedgerow and roadside.

Common Yellowthroat sang in the walnut tree we had parked under.  I watched a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perch next to a Mourning Dove on the hydro wire and proceed to show of it's acrobatic flight (the Mourning Dove probably thinking "show off!").

Green June Beetles were staging a battle for the ages on the road.

 A Peck's Skipper nectaring on Ironweed.

I think the plant below is Bluehearts (Buchnera americana), a species Endangered in Ontario and a very cool find for the trip.  

That's some nice looking prairie.

A nice patch of Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum) grows tall among it's surroundings.

I have only seen Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata) a few times, most recently at a sand barren opening near Barrie.  It was fairly common at Linden's Prairie, albeit long finished blooming.  It is also known as Clasping Bellflower and gets it's name from a European species which has shiny mirror-like seeds.

Nuttall's Sensitive Brier (Mimosa nuttallii)

We visited both the Niawathe Prairie and briefly admired a slope engulfed in Prairie Blazingstar at the nearby Coyne Prairie.  Niawathe was another favourite of mine, ascending an interesting slope dotted with botanical goodies then reaching a plateau just plastered in colour.

Hairy Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis) was common throughout most of the prairies we visited.  It is low growing and easily overlooked.  I have a small patch growing in my garden out front so it was nice to see this in it's natural setting.

A highlight plant for the trip for sure was Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) at it's peak.

Pencil Flower (Stylosanthes biflora) resembles a common Ontario weed Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).  This prairie species can be found in higher quality prairies, usually with sandstone substrate.

Late July is by no means the time to look for violets, but the distinct leaves of Arrow-leaved Violet (Viola sagittata) can be spotted among the thatch and taller vegetation.

I got 1 shot of this bird, don't remember the call (or if it even did call).  Any opinions on an ID would be welcomed. My best guess is Grasshopper Sparrow but I say that with quite limited certainty. [Edit: Henslow's?]

The kind of image I want to reflect back on come February.

Scaly Blazingstar (Liatris hirsuta) was another species new to me.  The scales on the flower immediately stuck out as something new and unlike Liatris aspera.

Some sort of lettuce or more likely a hawkweed that I'm trying to figure out.  The next photo shows dense hairs like nothing I've seen on a plant before which should help in narrowing this down.

Love those Illinois Tick-trefoil flowers!

Grey-headed Confeflower (Ratibida pinnata) was something a little more familiar.  This species is found throughout the Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor.  The dried seed heads give off a licorice-type smell when crushed.

A Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe sp.) growing in a rocky area.  There are several species in this genus in Missouri.

Interesting flowers of Spider Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)

On our last evening we decided to head just north of El Dorado to Wah-Kon-Tah Prairie which is the largest protected prairie in the Osage Plains (4040acres!!).  This area is well known for it's population of Prairie Chickens.

Looking down into a pond just beyond the entrance, Alyssa spotted a Green Heron scoping out prey.

Rose Vervain (Glandularia canadensis)

Ever-photogenic White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba)

A nice patch of Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

 A few flowering stems of Narrow-leaved Vervain (Verbena simplex) growing among the gravel along the roadside.  It is a species of dry and gravelly prairies but I suppose a roadside will do.

I don't know what it is but the Eastern Meadowlark in this photo (and others that were seen, for the most part) seemed lanky yet massive in comparison to those I see around here. 

A dust-coated Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) at the side of the road at sundown.  The next day we would head up to Paintbrush Prairie on our way eastward to stay the night in Indiana.