What a wonderful weaving together of personal and evolutionary adaptive strategies! I love this essay, especially your description of weeding. I too struggle with Phyllanthus but I’ve (incorrectly?) identified it as P. urinaria, or chamberbitter - a name I remember by thinking of my feelings about the Supreme Court chambers. My second worst weed is Fatoua villosa, mulberry weed. Are you blessedly free of that? Thank you for this essay, and for your commitment to adapting to Mississippi!
Hi, Elise - Thanks for your kind words about my essay. In terms of Phyllanthus, we definitely have P. amarus in our yard (especially in the drainage ditch that I describe), but in looking at the description of P. urinaria, we may have that species, too. And we do have a bit of mulberry weed, although it's not been too invasive.
One identifying feature could be reddish stems in P. urinaria, but I also was looking at a few papers suggesting that the genus is a confusing one and that proper identification might require DNA sampling.
This is marvelous. I enjoyed every word.
Thanks for your kind words!
What a wonderful weaving together of personal and evolutionary adaptive strategies! I love this essay, especially your description of weeding. I too struggle with Phyllanthus but I’ve (incorrectly?) identified it as P. urinaria, or chamberbitter - a name I remember by thinking of my feelings about the Supreme Court chambers. My second worst weed is Fatoua villosa, mulberry weed. Are you blessedly free of that? Thank you for this essay, and for your commitment to adapting to Mississippi!
Hi, Elise - Thanks for your kind words about my essay. In terms of Phyllanthus, we definitely have P. amarus in our yard (especially in the drainage ditch that I describe), but in looking at the description of P. urinaria, we may have that species, too. And we do have a bit of mulberry weed, although it's not been too invasive.
Argh. Now I don't know what I have. Close-looking and googling isn't helping - any tips?
One identifying feature could be reddish stems in P. urinaria, but I also was looking at a few papers suggesting that the genus is a confusing one and that proper identification might require DNA sampling.
Ha! This gives me permission to keep calling it chamberbitter. :) Thanks!