Sunday: colour along the clay

[15_the_circle]

[OT from cottage renovations]

it's one thing to enjoy looking at our colourful wildflowers and another to know what they are. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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Woodward Park

there's a lovely patch of these alongside the clay tennis court in Woodward Park, a spot where there's plenty of morning and midday sun. 

the flowers look like that of a cranesbill but the resemblance doesn't hold up down at ground level - clearly some more looking-up is called for. 

Oxalis violacea

this entry  will be  revised when they  are  were properly identified [many thanks to florentinescot]. 

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[edit: and here's what the leaves look like]

Comments

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

What about it doesn't look like a cranesbill?

Erodium, (herb robert) is also in the family, but the flowers are much smaller, and the foliage is leafier

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=herb+robert&btnG=Search+Images

re: What about it doesn't look like a cranesbill?

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

the blossom is a very close match, so is the Erodium you so kindly provided. 
but the mismatch occurs with the plant's leaves, very low-lying and looking a lot like clover only with brown (or dark purple) chevron markings. 

yesterday I went back there to get another look but showed up ... just after the Grove's maintenance supervisor had passed over them with a tractor mower (they can be expected to grow back and provide another chance for identification).  I did point them out to him but he didn't know what they are either. 

Re: What about it doesn't look like a cranesbill?

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

ok. You've got an Oxalis then -- Oxalis violacea maybe. They are in the same family.

re: Oxalis violacea maybe

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

Violet wood sorrel (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OXVI) sure seems to fit.  doesn't say much for my learning curve, though, considering that I saw them a couple of years ago in Iowa (http://pics.livejournal.com/15_the_circle/tags/oxalis+violacea/) where they were pointed out by a knowledgeable friend. 

Re: Oxalis violacea maybe

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't sweat it. If it's not something you see a lot, it can be hard to pin down!

re: If it's not something you see a lot, it can be hard to pin down!

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it anywhere else in the Grove. 
p.s. entry revised to include a picture of its leaves. 

Re: If it's not something you see a lot, it can be hard to pin down!

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, generally a taxonomist needs flowers and/or fruits to make an ID -- this is actually one of the few instances where you need to see leaves too.

well done

[(Anonymous)]

Cognitive news., brother