Forgotten Flowers: Spring Ephemerals
Forgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsWeek 4: Dutchman’s BreechesForgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsEach week, we will highlight a spring ephemeral by posting aninformation sheet, photos, guiding questions, andenrichment activities designed for formal and informaleducators, as well as life-long learners.Week 4: Dutchman’s breechesThese flowers have lacy leaves and peculiar flowers that remind usof white pantaloons hung out on a line to dry. Their amusing namecomes from their resemblance to the loose-fitting bloomers wornby Europeans, including the Dutch, centuries ago.The unusual form of the flower has spawned a variety of othercolorful folk names: white hearts, eardrops, and butterfly bannersto name a few. The scientific name is hardly romantic; Dicentracucullaria simply means two spurred and hooded.Dutchman’s breeches actually have 4 petals despite the Dicentra name. Two of the petals are fused toform the double pouches which are the nectar spurs. The nectaries are located at the tips of theupturned white pant “legs”. Two other yellow petals project over the “waistband” like little wings overthe stamens. The upside-down blossom serves more like a rainhat than knickers, as it protects the stamen and pollen from therain and elements.It’s only the long, strong tongues of queen bumblebees that canreach the nectar at the bottom of the spurs. As they forage andreach deep inside, the bees are dusted with pollen and fertilizethe flowers. Honeybees’ tongues are too short to reach thenectar, so they often “cheat” and chew holes in the spurs tobypass the anthers and steal the sweet reward. Many wasps,carpenter bees, and even bumblebees trying to save someenergy will do the same.The plant is in the Fumitory family which is closely related to the poppies and contains alkaloids thatare toxic to humans and animals. They were a bane to early farmers as the leaves caused convulsions incattle when they grazed on it. Those farmers called it staggerweed. Though harmful to us, strong toxinsare beneficial to plants as they often protect them from being eaten. Good news for gardeners, thetoxins also help to keep deer from eating them. Of course, you can never say never when it comes tohungry deer!Dutchman’s breeches readily reproduce from seed. Like bloodroot and so many of the springephemerals, ants help to disperse the seed in a process called myrmecochory. The seeds of Dutchman’sbreeches and many other spring ephemerals have a fleshy package of fats and other nutrients called theelaiosome. Ants often take the seeds back to their nests where they eat the fatty, nutritious part, anddiscard the rest of the hard seed. The following April, the seeds readily germinate where the ants left1
Forgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsWeek 4: Dutchman’s Breechesthem. The ant waste dumps make fertile ground for the seeds to grow and over time, large colonies ofthe white bloomers form in shady woodlands and rocky slopes.Want to grow Dutchman’s breeches in your garden? Buy seeds or plants from reputable native plantnurseries and never collect them from the wild! The Native Plant Society of New Jersey is a greatresource to help you find where to buy them or to get more information.More PhotosNote: all photos are from J. Vogel garden and woodland2
Forgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsWeek 4: Dutchman’s BreechesGuiding Questions and Enrichment1. Dutchman’s breeches has a unique flower. How many petals does it actually have?Answer: Four, but two of them are fused to look like one.2. How does this flower get its common name?Answer: Their name comes from their resemblance to the loose-fitting bloomers worn by Europeans,including the Dutch centuries ago.3. Where are the nectaries located in the blossom?Answer: At the tips of the nectar spurs, which look like the upturned pant legs.4. How does the upside-down flower benefit the plant?Answer: It acts like a rain hat to protect the anthers and pollen from the elements.5. What kind of bees have tongues long enough to reach the nectar in nectar spurs in the blossom?Answer: Bumblebees.6. How do bees and wasps with shorter tongues get the nectar?Answer: They cheat by chewing holes in the spurs to bypass the anthers and steal the nectar withoutpollinating the flower.7. What name did early farmers give to Dutchman’s breeches? Why?Answer: Staggerweed because the plant contains toxins that caused convulsions in grazing cattle.8. Like many spring ephemerals, an insect helps to disperse the seeds of Dutchman’s breeches. Whichinsect does this?Answer: Ants9. What is seed dispersal by ants called?Answer: MyrmecochorySuggested reading to extend your learning There are many books about bees. Here are just a few to start your further study and enjoyment.Next Time You See a Bee, Emily MorganThis book is offered through the NSTA, National Science Teachers’ Association. Included: The physical features of bees and related amazing characteristics;How bees pollinate flowers leading to fruit production;Demonstrates a bit of the variety of bees in North America;Encourages direct observation of these insects and theirpreservation.3
Forgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsWeek 4: Dutchman’s BreechesBumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide (Princeton Field Guides)This is a comprehensive bee guide with large photographs, range maps, and diagrams. Easy to use.The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America’s Bees, by Joseph WilsonThere are about 4,000 species in North America. Lots of great photos are in this book.Bonus and EnrichmentLessons and activities can be adjusted to specific goals and objectives. The following NJ LearningStandards provide ideas on how you may integrate science into ELA. If you are using this outline for thelower grades, the information sheet and Q/A may not be relevant, but by showing the photos, modifyingthe reading, or just by doing some of the activities as family projects, participants can enjoy learningmore about these native NJ plantsSynonym FunBreeches – This term is not commonly used, but how many of the words below can be used adequatelyas synonyms?Knickers / Shorts / Slacks / Trousers / Bermudas / Bloomers / Briefs / Britches / Chaps / Chinos / Cords /Denims / Drawers / Dungarees / Jeans /Jodhpurs /Overalls / Pantaloons / Blue Jeans / Clam Diggers /Pedal Pushers Can you place these terms in groups? Are some more like each other than others?Are some more descriptive synonyms than others?If you were asked to illustrate the synonyms, which ones could you illustrate accurately? Fold apaper into 8 squares and in each box, illustrate and label.Can you think of other words that can be used as synonyms for the word “breeches”?Use the information to write a funny poem using the illustrations as a guide.Rhyme TimeThink of words that rhyme with “breeches”. A book that might come to mind is a children’s favorite, TheSneetches by Dr. Seuss, a satire on forms of discrimination between cultures, races, groups of people ingeneral, and religions. Research how this book either parallels or is in conflict with biological systems.Provide examples and a rationale.4
Forgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsWeek 4: Dutchman’s BreechesTongue-tastic Animals!On the following page, you’ll find a blank graph with measurements that you can plot about the lengthof an animal’s body versus the length of their tongue. It can be used to practice measurement, earlydata analysis, and you can encourage the student to research other fun features that these animals mayhave.Additional Resources Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Dutchman’s BreechesUSDA Plants DatabaseHow ants disperse seeds of spring ephemerals5
Forgotten Flowers: Spring EphemeralsWeek 4: Dutchman’s BreechesSample Next Generation Learning Standards 3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms cansurvive well, some survive less well, some cannot survive at all. With their lacy leaves, do youthink Dutchman’s Breeches can live in other habitats? Why or why not?New Jersey Learning Standards ELA NJSLSA.R4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determiningtechnical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shapemeaning or tone. L.4.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances inword meanings.For more information about using this lesson in your classroom or with your family, contact Kate Reilly,Manager of Education, Duke Farms, at kreilly@dukefarms.org.6
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Sneetches by Dr. Seuss, a satire on forms of discrimination between cultures, races, groups of people in . and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. L.4.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. For more information about using this .
edible flowers is important. Use flowers that are grown without pesticides. For best flavor, use flowers at their peak. Introduce new flowers into the diet slowly to be able to pinpoint allergic reactions or stomach upset. Edible flowers also may be preserved in oils or vinegars. 2. (-#)(þ )&)-. . þ / 4 Z aMQ EcMcRG]WeRabWch6gcR]bW ]\ ª .
Fruits Paired red, orange, or yellow fleshy berries. Flowers Tubular, paired flowers with flaring petals. Flowers form in the spring at the points where leaves meet the stem. Color ranges from white to yellow to pink to rose. Flowers Small, four-parted greenish-yellow flowers form in leaf axi
So many uses! Flowers are even eaten! What are the different ways we use flowers in our daily life? Do you know that flowers can be eaten as well? Many flowers are cooked as vegetables. In Uttar Pradesh, Firoza and Nilima enjoy eating a vegetable made of kachnar flowers. In Kerala, Yamini wants her mother to cook her a vegetable made of banana .
Annual flowers are a cheerful addition to the garden and containers. Unlike perennials, annual flowers bloom for a long period and will provide color for most of the summer. Annual flowers live to bloom. You can say they have "flower power"! While you can buy annual flowers from a garden center, growing plants from seed is extra special.
DRYING FLOWERS Fall is a good time to begin drying flowers, seedpod and ornamental grasses for later use in indoor arrangements. Steps to follow: 1. Gather the flowers at midday when the humidity is lowest. Pick some buds as well as flowers almost at peak bloom. Avoid fully opened flowers as they do not last long when dried. 2.
The early death of flowers is a common cause of quality loss and reduced vase life for cut flowers. Flowers can be divided into several categories in terms of their senescence. Some flowers are extremely long-lived, especially in the daisy and orchid families. Others are short-lived, including many of the bulb crops, like tulip, Iris, and .
Flowers: Medium purple flowers bloom twice starting in the spring Foliage: Gray-green Mature Size: 20-24 inches with 6-8 inch stems Uses: Compact uniform growth makes this variety good for hedges. It is commonly used in sachets due to its strong fragrance. Phenomenal (L. x intermedia) Flowers: Purple flowers that bloom once a year in late spring
AGMA and/or DIN standards IMPERIAL Series Load Rating Drum Capacity METRIC Series Power Supply Line Speed Clutch Load Rating Drum Capacity Power Supply Line Speed Clutch PERFORMANCE 4WS9M18 4WS16M20 4WS26M26 4WS1M6 4WS3M10 4WS6M12 10,000 lbs 16,000 lbs 26,200 lbs 1,500 lbs 3,700 lbs 6,400 lbs 5–10 hp 7.5–15 hp 10–25 hp.5–1.5 hp 1–3 hp .
