Favoritos de wildwomanchef

Growing in full sun, sandy soil along the Black-and-White Warbler trail.
Plants are herbaceous, growing erect and with milky sap. Leaves are alternate, symmetrical at the base and have winged petioles. Leaves are toothed and widest at the apex. Flowers lacking periath. Cyanthia with 5 yellow glands with no appendages. Associated plants: Krigia occidentalis, Houstonia pusilla, Astragalus sp., Poa annua.

Floating on the surface of the water in JD creek near the end of the middle trail. Fairly shaded. Associated plants: Platanus occidentalis, Pinus taeda, Morus rubra, Chasmanthium latifolium, Smilax smallii

Growing in part shade, sandy soil along the south trail where it was not burned. Associated plants: Pinus taeda, Paspalum plicatulum, Ilex vomitoria, Quercus stellata. Inner disc flowers perfect. Outer disc flowers pistillate.

This 2mm insect is being tended like sheep and herded like cattle by the Bicolored Pennant Ant. The ants are personal bodyguards of the treehoppers and are paid for their protective services by being provided a sweet nutritious liquid known as “honeydew.”

Ants observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142478684