River Reach, Spring 2021 Page: 8
12 p.; col. ill.View a full description of this periodical.
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South Texas Natives
CARRIE MERSON, BRAND & PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
The San Antonio River Basin is no stranger to the Texas
bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis). The colorful vistas the State
Flower of Texas help to create in the Spring can be just as
captivating as a close-up observation of its intricate form
can be.
While enjoying your family portrait or picnic amongst the
bluebonnets, be sure to take a closer peek at the plant. The
bluebonnet is not one singular flower, but rather a cluster of
anywhere between 10 and 50 individual flowers, varying in
tones of rich blues with a touch of white.
Pollinators notice this uniquely colorful flower. You might
spot a hairstreak butterfly (Subfamily Theclinae) fluttering
along bluebonnet patches looking for a place to lay their
eggs. The caterpillars will then devour the leaves to grow and
prepare for metamorphosis. Texas native bee and honeybee
populations look to the bluebonnet for nectar. Of course, this
is a win-win for the plant which becomes pollinated in the
process. The resulting seedpods share characteristics with
green beans and peanuts because bluebonnets are in the peafamily (Fabaceae)! Don't eat them though, because its seeds
and other plant parts are toxic.
An equally important contribution of the bluebonnet to a
thriving ecosystem is what is happening underground. The
roots of the plant have a symbiotic relationship with a species
of bacteria, called Rhizobium, that lives on its roots. The
bacteria fixes nitrogen from the air producing a usable form
of nitrogen that the bluebonnet needs. Therefore, no extra
fertilizer is needed to keep the plant healthy! In turn, the
bacteria benefits with life support from the bluebonnet. At
the end of its lifecycle, the plant decomposes and returns this
usable nitrogen to the soil, fertilizing the land around it.
Beyond the good vibes that its beauty brings in the spring,
the bluebonnet is important to a healthy San Antonio River
Basin, contributing to a harmonious balance of healthy soils
and pollinator support. By planting more native plants, like
the bluebonnet, we can help create that harmonious spring
vision and grow the support of a safe, clean, and enjoyable
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San Antonio River Authority. River Reach, Spring 2021, periodical, Spring 2021; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1679373/m1/8/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.