Unknown Ericaceae

Gallery: FloraPosted February 1, 201041 views5 comments

All:

I would like to know what people think of this photo, but my main
reason for posting it the hope that someone will identify it for me.
This is a small, two to three foot shrub, that grows along a mountain
trout stream in southwestern Pennsylvania. It is an early bloomer,
showing its flowers before other trees have set either flower or leaf.

Camera: Olympus E3
Lens: 50mm f/2.0
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/6 sec at f/9.0
Setup: Black Velvet Background two feet behind
Lighting: Available Light with silver reflector
to fill in base of flowers, without
loosing form.
Mode: Raw
Processing: Photoshop Lightroom 2.6, Camera Raw 5.6, 64 Bit
Original: 3648 X 2736
Cropped: 1195 X 1594
Date: 04/18/2009, 08:40 AM

Thank you

Gary

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 1, 2010 at 12:39 PM

Gary: Can't help you with the ID as this flower is completely unfamiliar to me and I'll be checking back to see if someone solves the mystery. As for the shot itself my primary nit is the soft stamens. The filaments on the petals are reasonably sharp so this may be more of a POF issue vs DOF. I do like the subject and the comp. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by David Schwaegler on February 2, 2010 at 10:18 AM

Gary,

This appears to be Eastern Leatherwood (Dirca palustris). Click the USDA plants database page for more information.

Interesting flower. Thanks for posting.

Registered on December 4, 2003, 232 Posts, 1652 Comments

Comment posted by Gary W. Sherwin on February 2, 2010 at 10:35 AM

David:

Thanks so much. Wow, one species in this: Thymelaeaceae, Mezereum Family. Rare in many
states, but very common here in Pennsylvania. How did you know this one? Are you that good with
the keys; or did you know it? The USDA site is so good for verification.

Thanks Again

Gary

Registered on May 8, 2005, 56 Posts, 153 Comments

Comment posted by David Schwaegler on February 2, 2010 at 8:34 PM

Gary, I've seen it in fruit in Wisconsin, but never in flower. I keyed it out using your image and verbal description (small, early blooming shrub).

I used Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, which is particularly good for eastern North America. My first decision was "flower parts indistinguishable" (page 12) based on your closeup. The second decision was "shrub" (page 13). This lead me to page 442 where I immediately saw a drawing that matched your image.

I've had a lot of practice at this sort of thing.

Registered on December 4, 2003, 232 Posts, 1652 Comments

Comment posted by Gary W. Sherwin on February 3, 2010 at 5:40 AM

David:

Thanks. That's a guide I do not have, and an inexpensive one at that. Thanks for the
ID and the recommendation.

Gary

Registered on May 8, 2005, 56 Posts, 153 Comments