Prairie Flower Series - Showy Tick Trefoil #5
Finally a GOOD Tick!
A prairie is a temperate grassland, plains of grass that get hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Before the European settlement of North America, most of the interior was prairie. Due to the settlement, the environment was radically altered by the infusion of agriculture.
Earlier this winter, we learned about animals that live on the prairies (Parks winter caches). This series will teach us about plants that live on the prairies and most are used in flower gardens in warm areas.
Description:
Numerous pink flowers in an elongated panicle occur at the end of one or more of the upper stems. The flowers are about ½" across (as measured vertically), consisting of an upper and a lower petal. These petals are initially folded and keel-like, but eventually open wide, beginning with the upper petal. There is a small patch of dark pink at the center of the flower, from which emerges an upwardly curved white tube containing the stigmas and pistil. There is no floral scent. Each flower occurs on a hairy red pedicel, and has a hairy greenish red calyx.The blooming period occurs during mid-summer and lasts about 3 weeks. The flat seed pods have 3 to 5 segments and are about 2½" long. Like the undersides of the leaves, they are covered with fine hooked hairs, and are distributed by passing animals. Usually, the lower side of a seedpod is more rounded than the upper side. Technically, these seed pods are called 'loments.' The root system consists of a taproot that is long, slender, and brown.
Taken from: www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/shw_trefoilx.htm
This cache is located in the Onondaga Park in the village of Liverpool. This is a highly muggle area so please hide as found and beware of the muggles! Hope you enjoy the series.
This cache is hidden on the South side of the trail. It is a camo’d pill container. The trail is an easy flat walk by the lake! Enjoy the hike. Check for parking coords.