Sand Jointweed (Polygonella articulata)
This is a new-to-me plant, Sand Jointweed (Polygonella articulata). It’s not in any of my field guides, so it took me a while to find out what it is.
To tell the truth, I only discovered its identity by happy accident. I was reading Saratoga woods and waterways and there it was. A plant I have seen for a couple of years and not known what it was.
It does not seem to be a very common plant. Wikipedia has no article on it, and Wikimedia Commons doesn’t seem to have any photos of it either. There is not very much information on it at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center either.
This one was growing between the edge of the woods and the edge of the parking lot at the church. I took a hurried shot of it this morning, but I need to get out there and take a more careful one. Maybe then we can think about Wikipedia and the Commons.
Jomegat's Weblog 
September 8, 2012 at 9:43 pm
What an exciting discovery! Cool photo at the top of your blog too.
September 8, 2012 at 9:50 pm
My niece took that photo of me when we were in Arkansas in June.
September 9, 2012 at 9:17 am
Splendid dainty plant.
September 9, 2012 at 7:14 pm
It reminds me somewhat of lily-of-the-valley. The flowers seem to have two modes – open when it shows off five petals, and closed when it is more bell-shaped.
September 9, 2012 at 10:09 am
Nice find! I’ve been looking for that one too.
September 9, 2012 at 7:15 pm
I have seen it growing here for a couple of years, but couldn’t put a name on it.
September 9, 2012 at 9:32 pm
It’s on page 172 in Newcomb’s Wildflower guide.
September 9, 2012 at 10:20 pm
I don’t have that one.
September 10, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Pretty blossoms! And a late bloomer.
September 10, 2012 at 11:49 pm
I tried photographing it again but with worse results. I’ll keep coming back until I get it though.
September 11, 2012 at 7:31 pm
That’s what I try to do – if the light or timing isn’t right, I wait a day or two or try to get the shot at a different time of day. I’ve also been stumped by a particular flower or plant only to have another blogger oblige me by identifying it on their blog 🙂
September 11, 2012 at 7:59 pm
I think what I need is a background. The stuff that’s really behind it clutters up the scene too much. Another difficulty is that the slightest breeze whips it into a frenzy making it hard to capture. Also, it’s so tiny that the camera doesn’t want to autofocus on it. I usually put my finger in the scene, focus on that, and then move it out of the way before shooting. But with the wind… I’m going to have to try catching it when there isn’t any.