“Traditional” Ecology: A Field Guide to Flowers

As I made my observations today I found myself wondering about the scientific classifications of the plants I was seeing. I decided that it would be interesting to be a little more informed about the flowers I was looking at.

Using this site as a reference (http://www.mywildflowers.com/) This is what I came up with:

Flower 1: Great Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)

Other common names: Blanket Flower, Common Gaillardia

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower)

Height: 2 to 4 ft.

Blooms: July to September

Leaf Type: smooth

Bloom Size:  2 in. (typical)

Flower Description: Individual flowers, Regular blooms, 8 parts

Notes: stems and leaves hairy; petals have 3 tips

Flower 2: Thin-Leaved Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower)

Height: 2 to 5 ft.

Blooms: August to September

Leaf Type: toothed

Bloom Size:  2 in. (typical)

Flower Description: Individual flowers, Regular blooms, 10 or more parts

Flower 3: Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor)

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower)

Height: 3 to 9 ft.

Blooms: July to October

Leaf Type: toothed

Bloom Size:  1.5 in. (typical)

Flower Description: Individual flowers, Parts indistinct

Flower 4: Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower)

Height: 2 to 5 ft.

Blooms: June to September

Leaf Type: smooth

Bloom Size:  3 in. (typical)

Flower Description: Individual flowers, Regular blooms, 10 or more parts

Flower 5: Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora)

Other common names: Anise-Scented Goldenrod

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower)

Height: 2 to 3 ft.

Blooms: July to September

Leaf Type: smooth

Bloom Size:  0.125 in. (typical)

Flower Description: Elongate clusters, Regular blooms, 5 parts

I found it interesting that doing this exercise 1) took me out of “nature” and put me inside in front of my computer and 2) showed me that it’s very difficult to be certain of scientific classifications. (Could the blue flower still be considered a field thistle even though it has a distinct center...? etc.) This different way of looking at nature (classifying it using technology) might be a metaphor for the traditional classroom. Maybe in order to learn in a more complete, well-rounded way, every class should have some sort of praxis component. Perhaps a “real-world” experience would help us connect more fully with the subject we wish to study.