Forbs of the Woodland Plant Community

Now that we have completed the brief survey of the grasses (family Poaceae) of the shortleaf pine-oak-hickory woodland grassland we can move on to the forbs. Forbs are non-grass, non-woody plants, which basically means that they are not trees, shrubs or grasses. On the other hand, herbaceous plants include the forbs along with the grasses.

It is mainly the forbs that make up the wildflowers of the grassland ecosystem, of which there are many. Wildflowers are foundational in that they are strongly supportive of insects because they provide nectar and many serve as host plants for insect larvae. And insects are the main (if not only) food source of a great many species, such as certain species of birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and others. So this begins to give us a glimpse of just how important the forbs are to the food chain within the ecosystem, and just how interconnected all species within an ecosystem are.

MINTS (FAMILY LAMIACAEA)
 
Many mints are aromatic plants with square stems and they often have beautiful blooms making them important for animals attracted to nectar. Fortunately they are quite common in our grassland system and on Wafer Creek Ranch in Lincoln Parish. Here I will discuss only four native mints, but there are many more and all of the natives are important.
 
Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa, is a striking high C value perennial forb with a large distribution throughout North America. Known as one of the bee balms, it is a spring blooming mint in Louisiana. Wild bergamot is a spectacular blooming plant and an excellent attractant for many insects, including such pollinators as bees, butterflies, wasps, flies and many other pollinators (which include hummingbirds). It’s also host plant to moths such as hermit sphinx moth, orange mint moth, and raspberry pyrausta.

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa (purple) and Blackeyed Susans (yellow).
Little Bluestem in background.

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly on Wild Bergamot

Azure Blue Sage, Salvia azurea, is an impressive (up to six feet tall) erect perennial mint  existing in our woodland. Its range is centered in the Midwest but from there the range extends rather far eastward and westward. A high C value forb species, azure blue sage in some states (other than Louisiana) has become rare and listed as a threatened species. The leaves are elongate and smooth to slightly serrated, and the stems are long, uniform and sometimes only minimally squared.  Also, I find azure blue sage to be minimally aromatic for a mint.

Azure Blue Sage, Salvia azurea

Whiteleaf Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum abescens, is a striking perennial forb mint with a unique sweet minty aroma of the crushed leaves. It has been used as a spice in cooking. Both because of its smell and the distinguished frost-colored leaves located at the top of the plant, whiteleaf mountain mint is one of my favorite wildflowers. It must be so for insects too as the blossoms are often busy with buzzing insects and other pollinating animals. The range of whiteleaf mountain mint is the southern Midwestern and eastern coastal states.

Whiteleaf Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum albescens

Spotted Beebalm, Monarda punctata, is another native perennial mint and nectar provider. The words “spotted” and “puntate” refer to the spots on the yellow tubular flowers that are being visited by the Monarch in the picture. It was passing through in November on its way to Mexico, making this pit stop in an effort to build up its energy resources for the long trip. Spotted bee balm is fairly common in central and eastern North America.

Monarch Butterfly on Spotted Beebalm, Monarda Punctata

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Conservationist and retired medical doctor (pathology), Johnny Armstrong and his wife Karen and Opal (k-nine) live within a Nature Conservancy protected old-growth forest and woodland near Ruston, Louisiana. Shadowshine is his first novel..