Tulip tree in winter

This tulip tree has shed its leaves for the winter and the light brown seed cones remain. As you drive through town, look for the trees with these seed cones and you will know where the tulip trees are.

Picture taken December 17, 2009.

Link to previous post on this tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera):

Turkeytail fungus

This turkeytail fungus (Trametes versicolor) is at the horticulture gardens. It's close to the greenhouse main entrance. The place it is growing used to have a tree there, and the wood of the old stump is just under the mulch. Picture taken December 17, 2009.

Link to Trametes versicolor:

Link to Trametes versicolor:

Link to Trametes versicolor:

Paperbark Maple

This is a paperbark maple tree (Acer griseum). The attractive bark is most noticeable in winter when the foliage is all gone.

Link to Acer griseum:

Pictures taken December 6, 2009.

Link to Acer griseum:

Link to Acer griseum:


This paperbark maple is on the Purdue Tree Trail, number 13-green.

Link to Purdue Tree Trail:

Hollyhock with rust

This hollyhock plant (Alcea rosea) is still green in December.

Link to Alcea rosea:


These hollyhock leaves have a dazzling display of hollyhock rust. Those are the orange spots on the leaves. Hollyhocks typically get rust on them but these are particularly beautiful. Who needs flowers when you get gorgeous rust like this?

The above two pictures were taken December 1, 2009.

Here is a closer look at one of the rusted hollyhock leaves seen above. Rust doesn't seem to hurt the plant any.

Here is an even closer look at the hollyhock rust teliospores on the leaf. They are the rust species Puccinia malvacearum. They will only grow when they land on another hollyhock leaf or a plant closely related to hollyhock.

Last two pictures were taken December 2, 2009.

Link to teliospores:

Link to Puccinia malvacearum:

Pachysandra terminalis

This is Pachysandra terminalis 'Variegata', sometimes called Japanese spurge. Calling it spurge is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is not in the spurge plant family (Euphorbiaceae) but rather in the boxwood family (Buxaceae). There is a Pachysandra that is native to parts of Indiana, that is Pachysandra procumbens.

Pictures taken November 28, 2009.

Link to Pachysandra:

Link to Pachysandra terminalis:

Link to Pachysandra terminalis:

Link to Pachysandra in Lafayette: