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White Wildflower Gallery

Miscellaneous Shapes

     

Solanaceae - Nightshade family (Potato family)
White Nightshade (Texas Nightshade) Solanum triquetrum
Flower about 3/8" wide, white can have lavender blush. Anthers touch, don't spread apart like other Solanum species. Red berries are 1/4" wide on older stem. Leaves at bottom are are largest. They have three lobes, some are deeply cut, the center lobe is the largest. Leaves in the middle of the plant are long and narrow. Leaves near the flowers are small and narrow. Plants about 12" tall.
Lower leaves can be mistaken young for Carolina Snailseed
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004, October-November 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke)
See also purple nightshade   yellow nightshade

Similar Species

West Indian Nightshade (American Black Nightshade) Solanum ptychanthum
Very small flowers, white to lavender. Dark green leaves are entire. Clusters of fruit up stem, green turning black.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)

                 

Phytolaccaceae – Pokeweed family
American Pokeweed (Poke, Polk Sallet) Phytolacca americana
Flowers are white. Fruit clusters are 8"-10" long with 1/4" wide berries, green then dark purple. This mounding to upright plant can get 10 feet tall. Dark green leaves can get 12" long but are usually 5"-6" long. Stems turn reddish-purple as they age. It has a fleshy taproot Plant grows well in deep shade or full sun.
"Sallet" is an old term for cooked greens. Young shoots are boiled twice discarding the first water to rid the leaves of poison. Season with salt and bacon drippings. The root, older leaves and possibly the berries can be toxic. Many birds, fox, opossum, raccoon and mice eat the berries.
Photos taken in Brown County, Texas, September 2005
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2005
(Native of Texas)

                    

Boraginaceae - Borage family
Margined Stickseed (Flatspine Stickseed) Lappula occidentalis or Lappula marginata
This Genus has had many species names. They have combined into only a few.
Flowers are about 1/16" wide. Petals can have a blue tint. Lobed pod is about 1/8" wide with 3 larger and one smaller white edged loops (the dehiscent fruit has 4 one-seeded mericarps). This plant is tiny, the stem with leaves is a total of 1/4" wide. Stems grow to about 12" long from a central base, no main stem. Folded leaves are longer near the base, up to 1" long. Leaves and stems are covered in white fuzz. USDA does not have this plant listed in Texas.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)

           

Boraginaceae - Borage family
Pasture Heliotrope (Slender Heliotrope) Heliotropium tenellum (Lithococca tenella)
White flowers with yellow eyes grow at the tip of the stems and are about 1/4" wide. Strap-like leaves are 3/4"-1" long. Plant has many branches and is 8"-10" tall. Leaves and stems are covered in short stiff hairs. Hairy fruit is evenly spaced up the stem. They have four distinct lobes and dry into nutlets.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2006
(Native of Texas)

Other Species in My Area

Schrophulariaceae - Figwort family
Neckweed Veronica peregrina
White flower. Tiny plant.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)
See similar Speedwell