Calyptocarpus vialis [Horseherb]

[dancingcat]

Frary, S.C. (2022) Calyptocarpus vialis Less. (Asteraceae) Horseherb. Photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. LINK

 

Collected 9 May 2022, roadside, Waxahachie TX, USA.  Voucher deposition: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Herbarium (BRIT) S. C. Frary [129].

 

Other Common Names:  Straggler Daisy, Hierba Del Caballo, Lawnflower

 

Synonyms:  Synedrella vialis, Synedrellopsis grisebachii

 

Comment:
A very tiny prostrate yellow aster (flower 1 cm diameter) common in shady places where grass does not grow well, and can be prolific in lawns.  Native to US Gulf Coast states.  Tolerates foot traffic and mowing.  Used in southern US native landscaping as a shade ground cover.  Blooms all year if no frost.  Attracts small butterflies.
 
References:
1. George M. Diggs Jr., Barney L. Lipscomb, Robert J. O'Kennon (1999) Shinners and Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Calyptocarpus vialis page 329. Published by Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth. Online in PDF format at Illustrated Flora of North Texas Online (accessed 06 April 2022).
2. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Database, University of Texas at Austin.
 
Equipment [Olympus EM1mk2-broadband + Olympus 30mm f/3.5 macro]
 
Visible Light [f/11, iso 800, 3”, Kolari UV/IR Cut HotMirror Pro 2 filter, ambient indoor room light.]

Ultraviolet Light [f/11, iso 800, 2”, BaaderU filter, Kolari UV LED 365 nm.]

[colinbm]

Wonderful dancingcat, this little flower has so many opportunities.
Focus Stacking, & the detail slider in Photo Ninja, would bring out heaps more on these already beaut shots.
& that leaf is screaming for details.

[dancingcat]

yup it does need a stack, and there’s noise there I should get rid of….  most folks consider horseherb just a lawn weed, but when you see it as a dense ground cover it’s really lovely..  we are trying to convince developers to get off water-wasting bermuda grass for lawns and use more drought-friendly native plants.  so far it seems to be a losing battle, but down the road we will not have enough water for traditional lawns any more..

[Andrea B.]

The water is best used for a nice pollinator friendly patch of perennials, methinks! And prettier too.

 

I have lived in 3 different places where there were no lawns when I lived there: Davis, California and Tucson, Arizona and Santa Fe, New Mexico. There were some lovely plants and flowers though -- all drip irrigated so as not to waste water. There were nice brick patios and lovely decks. You never miss having a lawn at all. 

 

Better no grass at all, but tell them to try buffalo grass if summer grass is a must. It requires lots less water than Bermuda grass. It also goes brown in the winter.