Long And Short Pedicels
The pieces of unprofitable land
are what I like, best seen in winter...
their failure's proof of reclamation,
their vigour justifies all wastes and weeds.
– Molly Holden, from 'Pieces of Unprofitable Land'
Sometimes I wonder how it is that I learn anything. Other times I worry I may never learn a thing. Today, though, I felt it happen. It began with a mistake, an oversight, well actually, an undersight since I'd failed to actually examine what I was looking at and made a false assumption. Luckily, someone on iNaturalist with better vision in this regard noticed my mistake.
On January 6th, I'd posted a photo of what I assumed to be Lesser Burdock. The one reference I'd checked listed only this single species for Minnesota and it's the one and only species I'm familiar with. If I'd been less confident about my knowledge and consulted Minnesota Flora by Chadde, I'd have quickly seen that there are three known species for the state—Lesser, Greater, and Downy—with Lesser Burdock being the most common. All three species are Eurasian in origin and all three are familiar champions of ruined and unprofitable lands: field edges, road ditches, developments and any disturbed soil in general.
This morning @erikamitchell pointed out the January 6th observation was Greater Burdock not Lesser Burdock, noting the difference in pedicel length. Greater Burdock has single flowers on long pedicels. Lesser Burdock has clumps of flowers on short pedicels. A difference easy to see once it's been pointed out. And one accentuated in winter.
By happenstance, leaving the St Olaf library this afternoon, I noticed some burdock plants just outside the building. I wouldn't have given the plants a second thought if it wasn't for my recent misidentification. Now, however, the recognition of it being burdock triggered the question: "What kind was it?" A second look showed the burs clumped about the stem—short pedicels—therefore Lesser Burdock. I stepped off the sidewalk, partway into the window well to take a photo with my phone. The temperature being in the single digits my phone died after a single, not-so-perfect photo, even still it's evidence enough that I actually did learn something.
Observações
Fotos / Sons
What
Bardana-Maior (Arctium lappa)Observador
scottkingDescrição
Common Burdock
Cowling Arboretum
Northfield, Minnesota
Fotos / Sons
What
Arctium minusObservador
scottkingDescrição
Lesser Burdock
St Olaf
Northfield, Minnesota
Comentários
I really appreciate this facet of iNaturalist as this is a form of error I've made several times. But, it's also meant I'm more aware of the differences between what I've observed and what I thought I've observed. The other mistake I recently learned I've been making is to take the word of a guide (the human kind) at face value. I now have a "trust but verify" policy in those situations.
That's a nice and apt piece of poetry.
Great post!
Like you, I was also unaware of the different burdock species in our area (Vermont) until about a year ago. Then someone asked about one of my observations, was it Arctium minor or A. lappa, and how did I know? That's one of the great things about iNaturalist--you're constantly encouraged to learn more, even about species you think you know really well. I spent a morning studying burdock species in my various field guides, both books and online, then I went through the iNaturalist burdock collection, checking each observation to see if it matched the description in the field guides. Now I "subscribe" to the Arctium taxum so that I can review all burdock observations as they come in. It keeps me on my toes. I also document burdock to species everywhere I go. Just to keep the differences fresh in memory. Same goes for Vinca major and Vinca minor. I guess I just like to make sure the distributions of common invasives aren't overlooked.
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