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Venus's Looking Glass
(Specularia perfoliata)
"Specularius" means pertaining to mirrors....the seeds are very shiny
This is a native plant.
This lovely little plant is found in several places around our school. A large number of plants are growing on the back "hill" that slopes down to the chain link fence in the Schoolyard Habitat this summer (June 24, 2000). Last year the only ones I spotted were growing right up against the school wall next to the gym doors towards the front bus driveway. This photo is from there.
This picture is from last year, I do not have a camera to catch the summer flowers this year. I'll document this more in the future as it is interesting and lovely. The leaves clasp the stem. They are wrapped right around the stem with no leaf stalk. The flower grows from where the leaf meets the stem.
The Audubon Nature Guide for Wildflowers says it grows in dry woods and fields. Our back hill is certanly a dry mini-field! This plant grows all over the United States east of the Rockies and in southern eastern Canada.
Study Pointers:
- Have you ever seen any other plants with clasping leaves? Another interesting leaf that is unusual is the perfoliate leaf...one where the stem seems to be stuck through the leaf, like a straw pushed through the hole in the lid of a soda cup! Walk around the garden and see what you can find. Check out the plants on your street or in the backyard.
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