Sunday: colour along the clay

[15_the_circle]

[OT from cottage renovations]

it's one thing to enjoy looking at our colourful wildflowers and another to know what they are.

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

Woodward Park

there's a lovely patch of these alongside the clay tennis court in Woodward Park, a spot where there's plenty of morning and midday sun.

the

Comments

[florentinescot]

What about it doesn't look like a cranesbill?

Erodium, (herb robert) is also in the family, but the flowers are much smaller, and the foliage is leafier

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=herb+robert&btnG=Search+Images

re: What about it doesn't look like a cranesbill?

[15_the_circle]

the blossom is a very close match, so is the Erodium you so kindly provided.

but the mismatch occurs with the plant's leaves, very low-lying and looking a lot like clover only with brown (or dark purple) chevron markings.

yesterday I went back there to get another look but showed up ... just after the Grove's maintenance supervisor had passed over them with a tractor mower (they can be expected to grow back and provide another chance for identification). 
I did point them out to him but he didn't know what they are either. 

Re: What about it doesn't look like a cranesbill?

[florentinescot]

ok. You've got an Oxalis then -- Oxalis violacea maybe. They are in the same family.

re: Oxalis violacea maybe

[15_the_circle]

Violet wood sorrel sure seems to fit. 
doesn't say much for my learning curve, though, considering that I saw them a couple of years ago in Iowa where they were pointed out by a knowledgeable friend. 

well done

[anonymous]

Cognitive news., brother