Sean Bradley, Staff
Spring has officially sprung, and many flowers are in full bloom. In this Nature at La Salle article, we'll learn about three native spring flowers that you can find on campus.
Virginia Bluebells
The first flower we'll learn about are Virginia bluebells. This lovely, spring ephemeral gets its name from its small, blue, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers grow in clusters off of arching stems from erect clumps with smooth green, oval-shaped, alternative leaves and start as purplish pink buds before blooming into blue flowers. The flowers are tube-shaped and consist of five petals, with five white stamens and a long, white, central pistil. The flowers also attract many pollinators, including bumblebees, butterflies, moths, flower flies and hummingbirds. Once pollinated, the flowers produce wrinkled nuts that each have four seeds: these seeds eventually grow into new plants the following year. As a native species, Virginia bluebells occur naturally in moist woodlands and floodplain forests and are often planted in woodland gardens for their beauty. Here on campus, you can find Virginia bluebells growing in the university's woodland garden on the Hansen Quad near College Hall.
via Sean Bradley
Eastern Redbud
The next flower we'll learn about comes from a flowering tree known as the eastern redbud. This species is also native to our area and grows naturally as an understory tree in forests with moist, well-drained soils. The eastern redbud is a cauliflorous tree (flowering from the main stems) and gets its name from the pink flowers that grow on and cover the tree's twigs and branches in springtime. The flowers come in clusters of four to eight flowers and can come in colors, such as pink, magenta and white. Each flower has five petals and 10 stamens. The flowers are also a source of nectar for pollinators, such as bumblebees and honeybees. And believe it or not, the flowers are even edible and are high in vitamin C. They can be eaten raw or added to salads. Here on campus, eastern redbuds can be found along the path leading to the Communication Center as well as in the university's woodland garden and lawn on the Hansen Quad.
via Sean Bradley
Flowering Dogwood
Finally, the last flower we'll learn about also comes from a flowering tree and is often regarded as the most beautiful native flowering tree in all of eastern North America. It is the one and only flowering dogwood. Each spring, these small, lovely trees produce showy flowers from a spreading crown of branches. The flowers consist of a cluster of greenish-yellow petals surrounded by four showy bracts that come in white or pink. The flowers also attract bees, flies and butterflies. Here on campus, flowering dogwoods can be seen growing near St. Benilde Tower and along the path down to the Communication Center. There are also a few growing near the Independence Blue Cross Fitness Center and the gazebo.
via Sean Bradley
So, the next time you're out on a nice, sunny spring day on campus, take some time to appreciate these three beautiful native spring flowers around La Salle.
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