365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Cardamine Nuttallii, Bittercress
Day 155: Poor little Cardamine nuttallii! You would think I could remember its name when you consider the fact that it grows under the big Doug fir in my yard, but every year, I have to look it up again. "Cardamine, cardamine," I say to myself, "bittercress. What's so hard about that? You can remember things like 'Icmadophila ericetorum' and 'Stereocaulon paschale.' Why not 'Cardamine nuttallii?'" I don't rely on mnemonics with one exception: "Houses have shingles." That's how I remember the field characteristic which most easily differentiates a House Finch from a Purple Finch. House Finch has streaks ("shingles") on its breast. Cardamine doesn't give me any clues. "Cardio?" There's nothing heart-shaped about it. Nuttall was a naturalist who lent his name to numerous species. Bittercress? I've never chewed on its leaves. I'm just a little embarrassed to admit that this unassuming little flower simply will not register in my mental database no matter how many times I make the entry. Cardamine! Maybe by admitting my failing publicly, I can force its name to stick.
Labels:
Bittercress,
Cardamine nuttallii,
yard
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I experience floral-illiteracy. I can't couple shapes/colors with a name. Tell the name over and over and it will not stick. I can't remember shapes. They don't register. Good thing I didn't aspire to be a naturalist.
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