Wildflowers brighten morning
Published 7:00 am Thursday, July 18, 2024
BROOKHAVEN — Wildflowers continue to bring color to the Lincoln County landscape. You might have to wake up early to see some of the active bright flowers.
One of those is the Littlebell, a member of the morning glories family. Morning glories blossom in the early Morning. Littlebells are native to the southeastern United States and love tropical weather.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Littlebell is a vine with twining or creeping habit. It does not climb high but can be seen covering grasses and low shrubs. When cut, stems “exude a small amount of milky sap,” the Florida Department of Agriculture reports.
Leaves are usually heart shaped, three lobed or five lobed. Flowers are pink to pale purple and measure a half inch to one inch long. Littlebell does produce little fruits in capsules which contain two to four seeds. Seeds are usually dispersed by wind, rain, gravity, birds, turtles and other small vertebrates.
Wild potato vines bring a bright white flower to the roadsides of Lincoln County. The plant is a herbaceous perennial vine native to North America. Wild potato vines also have heart shaped leaves. The flowers are a funnel shape, white with a pinkish throat.
Roots of the wild potato vine can be roasted and eaten. The Missouri Department of Conservation states the flowers are in bloom from May to September. The wild potato is also a member of the morning glories family.