Ok, I knew it wouldn’t take long to get a correct answer on the first plant quiz this morning, but four correct answers within two minutes of posting? Good grief.
Apparently, that one was too easy for many of you, so I’ll try again. I’m sure some readers will get this one too, but maybe I can challenge at least a few of you.
Ok, what’s THIS flower?
Once again, leave your guesses in the comments section below. If you don’t see a comments section, click on the title of this post to open it in a web browser and try again.
No hints this time, but I’ll confirm the correct answer when it comes in (within the comments section).
If you didn’t know the answer to the first quiz this morning, you can look in the comments section of that post to see the answer.
The Prairie Ecologist 
Scirpus?
Nope. Not a bad guess, though.
Blue lettuce
Well now I’m stumped. Tried looking up some rushes but, none panned out….I suppose I should get back to getting some work done :)
Well, good. I’m glad to have stumped you. Someone will get it… stay tuned.
Eriophorum latifolium
Buckhorn Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
I’m totally not a botanist but the design on the external portion of what seemed to have been/be the flower reminds me of ironwood, but the green stalks look like a wetland plant…
Looks like an Eleocharis to me. Not certain which one
I believe it may be Softstem Bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani).
I will guess that it is a Juncus.
Good try, Russ, but no. By the way, I returned your email (from a long while ago) a couple times but never heard back. Is it possible it got stuck in your spam filter?
Fimbristylis puberula
Ding ding ding!
so where is the calcareous fen you visited to capture these treasures??!!!
Actually, both were photographed in the same restored wetland I’ve featured on this blog many times. A former sand and gravel pit transformed to shallow wetlands and a stream. Central Platte River, Nebraska.
lavendula family
How about a Bulbostylis?
Eriophorum gracile?
Dalea candidium/purpereum ?
Bolboschoenus fluviatilis?
Ok, someone did finally get it, but it took a while. I feel better.
The plant is Hairy Fimbry (Fimbristylus puberula). It’s an interesting plant, taxonomically. It’s in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) but is not a Carex (sedge) or Cyperus (nut sedge) or any of the common rush families (Scirpus, Juncus, etc.) Definitely an individual.
Hairy fimbry is found throughout much of North America. In our Platte River Prairies, we see it only here and there, but when it does show up, it’s often abundant. It likes wet prairies or sedge meadows. We’ve been able to get it to show up very well in our restorations – as long as we can harvest sufficient seed, it establishes very well.
Congratulations to Dan for getting the ID first.
Scirpus are bulrushes–not rushes:) They are actually sedges (Cyperaceae) too. Recent taxonomic changes haven’t made keeping it straight any easier.
I just love you people!
I’d call it Fuzzy Wuzzy Not A Pine Cone
Geez, I sound so Kindergarten- ish compared to the rest of you! I’m laughing at myself! “)
Schoenoplectus of some sort?