Henbit Deadnettle

The fields are rife with a purple flower that humans seem to have a love-hate relationship with. The Henbit! Having originated in Africa, Asia, and Europe it made its way into North America, most likely hitching a ride with immigrants preparing to arrive in the new world looking for a new way of life. Leaving the only home you’ve ever known and going somewhere completely new, and potentially dangerous can be frightening as well as exciting. What better way to bring a piece of home with you than to tuck some seeds away for the journey with the hope they will like their new home, adapt, and grow, For early settlers, they relied heavily on plants for curing all manner of ailments, and the Henbit was often a part of these natural medicine cabinets.

This important herb goes by many common names including Greater Henbit, Common Henbit, Henbit Deadnettle,  and my personal favorite Fairy Horn. The name Henbit comes from ancient observations that chickens favored this plant in the spring as some of the first available greens.

While often mistaken for the plant deadnettle, it is scientifically different, even though both plants share the same family as mints. These cousins of the wildflower world often grow and bloom together, making identifying them difficult for many. The name deadnettle is in reference to the fact this plant does not produce stinging hairs on its leaves like Common Nettles do.

Henbit is a small plant reaching heights of four to eight inches and a spread of up to sixteen inches with soft fine hairy stems. When thousands of these plants bloom in unison it often seems as if the purple color extends for miles.  It goes to show there is strength in numbers. The flowers range from pink to purple and are a beautiful sight after a long, dreary, colorless winter. Henbit is capable of self-pollination, mainly because pollinators are not very active when Henbit first blooms, which is typically late winter and early spring, and continues into June if the weather conditions are right. Henbit prefers moist, shady locations, once things heat up the Henbit dies back and takes a rest until fall. They propagate by seed and each plant can produce up to two thousand seeds. They can also spread by producing a root at the base of the stem that reaches the soil and starts a new plant. The seeds germinate in autumn and sprout soon after as late as November. When winter's freezing temperatures begin, henbit will die back and then in February and March, they begin to grow. Occasionally germination takes place in the spring as well.  If weather conditions are not conducive to germination the seeds can remain viable in the ground for up to ten years, waiting for the proper growing conditions to return.

Once in bloom they often become the bane of farmers, gardeners, and homeowners who find their fields, gardens, and yards overrun with Henbit. Do these individuals experience a mixed bag of emotions or at least a tad bit of remorse for this plant that they are on a mission to kill? Do they see a beautiful wildflower or just an ugly weed? In some states, they are classified as invasive, and in other states, they are pretty much ignored and left alone as their beauty, edibility, and willingness to grow where many plants couldn’t survive, as well as providing erosion control all equal a plant that is more beneficial than troublesome. Their presence is appreciated, and they are permitted to grow when many other weedy wildflowers are not. Henbit has been a part of North America's landscape for so long that it is considered naturalized and is an important component in a meadow ecosystem. In full bloom, early pollinators wake up on warm days and explore their surroundings, and finding henbit is a welcome sight. Honeybees, Bumblebees, and other early spring risers will gather nectar and help pollinate the flowers that have not closed up and decided to take the task of pollination on themselves.

Early settlers valued Henbit and with good reason, there are numerous medicinal qualities attributed to this plant as well as being edible. All visible parts of the plant above ground are edible and safe to consume.  It can treat fevers, boost your immune system, act as a diuretic, and is shown to reduce anxiety in many individuals. It is used in soups, on top of salads, and as a tea. Careful though, consuming too much may find you in the bathroom. Henbit is high in iron, vitamins A, K, and C. This high vitamin C component provides us with a healthier immune system to help ward off those late winter illnesses that seem to plague us all in February and March. Even though Henbit is related to plants in the mint family, they do not have a distinct mint flavor. Instead, their flavor is described as somewhat peppery, yet a tad sweet with a taste of celery or kale. I personally have never tried it, but I plan to the next time I eat a salad.

On the fun side, Henbit is nature's Kazoo. Pick a flower and gently blow in the end of it like blowing on a bugle. It will send out a loud, kazoo-like sound. It is rumored if the stars align just right, the sound of the Henbit kazoo will summon the Fairy King and he will grant you a wish. We could all use a wish granted right? If nothing else, the sound can be used to announce your location if you find yourself lost in the timber seeking those allusive morels.

Just like for most things in nature, humans will look for and find a negative, and with this newfound knowledge will do everything in their power to destroy it. Henbit definitely falls into this category. Many years ago, before no-till became so popular among farmers, most farmers managed to coexist with Henbit. When fields were turned over, it often destroyed much of the Henbit before it had a chance to germinate in the fall or early spring. No-till planting, while helping in erosion control as well as other things has also changed the way we control plants many consider to be weeds, and that control comes in the form of chemicals. Because of the fuzziness of the leaves, it is often difficult for one chemical, like glyphosate to kill Henbit, therefore broad spectrum glypohsate needs to be used along with additional chemicals like Dicamba. The more chemicals we apply to the ground, the more contaminated our food and water supply become. In many cases, because of its early growing season and early death when things heat up, the shallow root system rarely interferes with the growth of agricultural crops as they are just beginning to peek their tips above ground after the Henbit has departed. Yes, it can be an alternative host for corn earworm and other pests of crops, but these situations are not as common as one would be led to believe. Yes, information is out there about the growth of Henbit interfering with winter wheat, rye, and other cold-weather crops. There is no exact science to back this up. Most studies that have been conducted are not in a controlled setting. A study done by the University of Missouri claimed Henbit caused a 13% reduction in wheat yield. The study was flawed though, only areas with heavy densities of Henbit growth were planted with wheat, and no other plant was counted in the survey, just Henbit. We know Henbit prefers areas with high moisture or low spots in a field, which would have a natural effect on wheat yield. This was also not considered. Also not considered were the other plants present that would have an impact on yield like deadnettle, cheatgrass, and wild oats. To do a study like this correctly you must deliberately plant Henbit in one plot, keeping it excluded from another area of similar soil conditions, and sow wheat in both plots, then compare the yield in both plots. This was not done, instead, areas with high densities of Henbit were blamed for low wheat yield. While it is easy to jump to conclusions, that is not scientific evidence to support cause and effect.

"Field Sparrow in the Henbit" by Wildreturn is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

In some things, we should consider accepting the bad with the good and not be so quick to judge a plant by its cover. Henbit is a natural herb with culinary and medicinal qualities. It provides fodder for livestock and wildlife grazers, as well as seeds for many types of birds. It is great for holding moisture in the ground for many crops that require it and provides erosion control. Not to mention you can summon the Fairy King to grant you a wish!

American Pronghorn

Almost ten years ago on a trip to South Dakota, one of the animals, other than the Bison I most wanted to see, was the Pronghorn. We were nearly through Custard ‘s National Park and I was growing more disappointed with each passing mile that we still had not found them. We did find several buffalo, and burros but the Pronghorn remained elusive. As we came around one final bend I spotted them running down a steep hill and towards some open prairie land. Pronghorns! There were dozens of small antelope-like Pronghorns just off the road, some had a watchful eye on our car, and others paid us no mind. For such a small mammal they generate as much patriotic heart-felt feelings as the Bison, and Bald Eagle.

During the Pleistocene Epoch, approximately eleven other members of the same family as the Pronghorn roamed the area we now call North America. Some had impressive, curved horns or twisted horns. All but the Pronghorn have since gone extinct. The same fate nearly befell the Pronghorn as their numbers plummeted from millions to only a few thousand. In 1870 herds of Pronghorn were described by train passengers heading west as extending more than seventy miles and a million strong. These herds must have been as impressive to witness as the Bison herds.

Although first seen by Spanish explorers, the species was not actually described until Lewis and Clark made their famous trek across North America learning about the flora and fauna from coast to coast. Pronghorns are one of the most unique land mammals in North America. First, they are our fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of fifty-five to sixty miles per hour, which is not as fast as the famed Cheetah, but they can however run for longer periods at a sustained speed than the Cheetah can. They have one of the longest land migrations of North American mammals, traveling as much as one hundred and sixty miles from the Green River Basin in Wyoming to their destination at the Grand Teton National Park, then back again. The only North American land mammal with a longer migration is the Caribou.

Like deer, goats and many other horned animals Pronghorns are classified as ungulates. They are not built for jumping like goats and deer, but rather built for speed. They have light bone structures, hollow hair, and long cushioned pointed toes on each foot that act like shock absorbers while running at high speeds. They also have enlarged windpipes, hearts, and lungs to allow them to take in more oxygen when running. They resemble deer in that they have long legs, short tails, and a long snout. Their fur may be tan, or reddish-brown with white stripes on their necks and additional white markings on the face, stomach, and rump. These white hairs stand on end when frightened, much like the hairs on the backs of our necks when we are alarmed. Their large eyes sit prominently on top of their faces and are positioned on the sides of their heads, which allows them to see any predators in the area who may find Pronghorns a tasty meal. They are small at roughly four and a half feet long and three feet high and only weigh between ninety and one hundred and fifty pounds. Females are generally smaller than males. The most noticeable feature of the Pronghorn is the horns on top their head. Both males and females possess horns, although they differ a bit in appearance. The females horns are smaller with only a bump present. By contrast the male horns are much larger at nearly twelve inches long. At the end of the horn is a small notch or prong from where their common name comes from. They are uniquely different from other horned ungulates, in that their horns point backwards. The horns extend straight up and then curve towards the rump.

Because they closely resemble antelope in their appearance they are often referred to colloquially as American Antelope, Prong Buck, Pronghorn Antelope, or Prairie Antelope. This similarity in appearance can also be attributed to a developmental trait called parallel evolution, which means they have evolved to fill a similar ecological niche and will have similar traits as in distinct, but not closely related species.

The amount of wildlife in the western plains and adjacent areas was once so vast that it is often diificult to accept as having been true. But these massively large populations of  Bison, Elk, and other megafauna, many of which are now extinct, have earned the plains region the name of American Serengeti. What an apt name for how populated our country was with wildlife at one time. As we can no doubt agree, modern man was the downfall of many species of wildlife, plant life, and habitats throughout North America and the rest of the planet and this trend continues today. 

The Pronghorn appeared in much Native American folklore and mythology. The Pueblo considered the pronghorn a clan animal. Just about all the plains tribes hunted and utilized the Pronghorn for meat, and hides were used as leather, fur, and clothing. Bladders were used for containers and bindings, the sinew was thread, and the bones were made into tools. The exception is the Apache who believed the Pronghorn should never be hunted.

At the turn of the twentieth century, the Boone and Crockett Club had determined the population of Pronghorn was likely to go extinct if action wasn't taken soon to reverse the issues facing them. In a letter to George Bird Grimmel, the then chairman of the Boone and Crockett Club, it was stated the club was concerned about the fate of the Pronghorn, which appears to be rapidly diminishing. By the early 1920’s hunting pressure, habitat degradation, and the fencing of the grasslands, had reduced the population to nearly 13,000 remaining Pronghorns in their normal range. This is a fraction of traditional populations and certainly not a sustainable population if intervention is not made to change it. Grimmel felt they were doomed to become extinct but felt everything within their power should be done to preserve them. Every attempt to restore their population failed due to fencing enclosures covering their range and migration routes. In 1927 the National Audubon Society along with the Boone and Crockett Club were able to raise the funds to create an antelope refuge comprised of 2,500 acres. This purchase was subsequently donated to the Biological Survey with the contingency that the government donate an additional 30,000 acres of adjacent public land. On June 20^th, 1929, President Herbert Hoover included the required lands upon request of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior. In January of 1931, this tract of land was designated, by executive order to be a refuge. On December 31, 1936, Franklin Roosevelt expanded on this, by providing an additional 549,000 acres. This was the beginning of the true recovery of the pronghorn. The population has rebounded to between 500,000 and 1,000,000  since the 1930’s. 

Today there are efforts in place, most notably, in Arizona to protect the migration of Pronghorn. Since their migration route is often affected by sheep ranchers and the barbed wire fences they put in place to keep their sheep enclosed, the Arizona Antelope Foundation is in the process of removing the bottom rows of barbed wire to allow Pronghorn to move freely underneath the fences. Or in some cases barbless wire is put in its place.

While we will never see the traditional herds there were before 1875, we are blessed that some forward-thinking, conservation-minded individuals recognized there was a problem and sought solutions to save the wildlife of the American Serengeti.

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

A mighty grasshopper called the Eastern Lubber is slowly making its way into Missouri. Traditionally this species was only found in the southeastern states, but like many invertebrates, they don’t always recognize manmade boundaries and go where they please, or at least where the resources are. They are also found in Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona.

The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper is the only lubber in the southeastern United States,  they share the family Romaleidae with other lubbers, the name comes from a Greek word, and when translated into Latin means “strong of body.” This is an apt description of such a heavy-bodied, large grasshopper. The name lubber comes from the old English word lobre, which means lazy, or clumsy, which again is a very good description of this grasshopper. These large grasshoppers have small wings that barely extend half their body length making it impossible for them to fly. Instead, they are destined to a life of crawling, or ambling clumsily across the landscape. They appear slow and awkward as they move from place to place. However, what they lack in gracefulness they more than make up for in their ability to climb.

Like many insects, they possess defensive strategies to avoid being eaten by hungry predators. Their first line of defense is their coloring. Bright coloration in nature often warns predators they are poisonous or at the very least that they taste bad. The second line of defense is their ability to flap their wings rapidly and to secrete a toxin sprayed from their thorax. Many of the plants they consume give them these beneficial toxins which make them unpalatable to predators. Because they feed on a wide variety of plants at different times of the year, they take in a wide variety of toxins at different times, making it impossible for would-be predators to build up a tolerance for the chemical defense they utilize. Vertebrates like birds and small mammals have learned to avoid them, and those too young or too naïve to know better will find themselves gagging, regurgitating, or even dying from the experience. Even an opossum, which seems able to eat anything, will avoid them. An exception is loggerhead shrikes, which have figured out that if they impale the lubbers onto a thorn or other sharp object and wait a few days for the toxins to become diluted in the dead grasshopper they can then consume it. Invertebrate predators like large mantids are unaffected by the toxins but find it difficult to manage such large insects covered in thick exoskeletons,  so most avoid expending the energy it would take to overcome one.

Their third line of defense is to hiss loudly startling a predator, which may make it think twice before messing with such an ill-tempered adversary. Having all these defenses seems like overkill, but for an insect incapable of flight and lacking the ability to physically escape they must employ other means to avoid being eaten.

Photo: K. Leeker

They are easily recognized as no other grasshopper is as large or colored quite like them. Both the Western Horse Lubber and the Eastern Lubber are the largest of the grasshoppers in the United States, both capable of reaching lengths of three and a half inches, some claim they have seen them as long as four inches. Truly a large insect! As nymphs, they are black with yellow, orange, or red stripes down the body. As they mature from nymph to adult their coloring will vary from dull orange with black spots, to bright orange with black markings or even an entirely black version with red or yellow stripes, that resembles the nymphal stage. They possess sharp spines on their legs that can pierce human flesh, and they are capable of giving a strong, somewhat painful nip if mishandled.

Like most lubbers, as nymphs, they are known to be gregarious and can move in large numbers over the landscape sometimes wreaking havoc as they do. The verdict is still out as to whether the feeding habits of these insects cause significant damage to plants. Some claim with their large numbers and even larger appetites, they can cause significant damage to citrus, vegetable, peanut, corn, and other crops as well as ornamental landscape plants. As adults, their appetite is not as large as what one would expect out of a plant-eating insect that gets so impressively large. It is also known they have a secretion in their saliva that stimulates new growth, making plant foliage bushier and possibly more appealing to four-legged grazers. However, as nymphs, if they occur in large enough numbers they can defoliate leaves rapidly and may stunt or kill young plants.

Because of the characteristics attributed to these grasshoppers…..the large size, bright warning coloration, toxic secretions, and gregarious populations, they are often given some pretty colorful common names including the devil's horse, black diablo, Georgia thumper, soldier boys, and the graveyard grasshopper. 

The first time most people come in contact with this large lubber is during science class when they are dissecting one for biology studies. The experience is likely to stay with you as they smell horribly from the formalin and their natural essence. For now, their population within Missouri is limited to low numbers on the eastern side of our state. With climate conditions rapidly changing and new agricultural practices of farming roadside to roadside and fencerow to fencerow, leaving little to no vegetation for these and other insects to feed on, our fields are becoming more favorable to crop-eating insects.  It may be in the not-too-distant future we experience the giant lubber in our neck of the woods.