Phytolacca americana

Phytolacca americana
Pokeweed
Raisin d'Amérique

It is a large, herebaceous perennial growing up to 10 feet tall, native to eastern North America, Midwest, and the Gulf Coast.
It has a large taproot, green or red stems, and large simple leaves. Leaves can be up to 15" long.  White flowers appear July to September, followed by purple to black berries. The berries have been used as a red dye for centuries. The plant dies back completely to the ground in winter.
It was used by American Indians to treat skin diseases and wounds as well as a dye.
Parts of the plant are toxic to livestock and humans.

Pokeweed was originally imported in France from the U.S. to make red dye for cloth and ink, as well as to color wine. It first arrived in Bordeaux and has now naturalized in Mediterranean countries where it can be invasive, eliminating competition and dominating where it spreads. It is classified as a plant plague by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Blossoms just opening

 

Small stand behind a wall of Chateau Lacoste, 9.16.14

Growing through an arborbitae in Oppède le Vieux, 10.8.14

Fruits, Oppède le Vieux, 10.8.14

Rangy, branching form

Leaves and developing fruit, 10.8.14

Berries

Papaver rhaeticum

Papaver rhaeticum
Yellow alpine poppy, Rhaetian alpine poppy
Pavot des Alppes rhétiques

Found in the Pyrenees, southwest and eastern Alpes; in limestone rocks and screes, 1500 to 3050 meters
It is a quite rare and localized alpine poppy (www.plantworldseeds.com)
The flowers are 4 petaled and light yellow to orange. 
This quite rare and very localised alpine poppy, has light yellow to orange petals 

Leaves

In Situ, on the top of Mt.Ventoux.10.03.14

Blossom

 

Prunella hyssopifolia

Prunella hyssopifolia
Self-heal
Brunelle à feuilles d’hysope

Area of distribution is limited to SW France and NE Spain

It has narrow, sessile leaves as opposed to P. grandiflora or P. vulgaris which have broader leaves

In the mint family with square stems

The common name of ‘self-heal’ derives from it’s use in herbal medicine to heal wounds and inflammations

Prunella species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora albitarsella

Flower spike, 5.21.13, Lacoste valley

Bloom

In Situ

 

 

Pisum sativum

Pisum sativum
Pea
Pois èlevé

Native to the Mediterranean

Peas have been cultivated for more than 7,000 years

In Situ, 4.28.13, along an ancient road to Fort de Buoux, Lubéron

Bloom, 4.28.13

 

 

Photinia serratifolia

Photinia serratifolia (syn. Photinia serrulata)
Chinese photinia
Photinia chinois

Native to Southeast Asia, China, and Japan

Name from Greek ‘photeinos’ meaning shiny in reference to the glossy leaves

Leaves are toxic to some animals due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides

Small bright red, berry like fruit forms in large quantities in the fall

Most species are evergreen, but several are deciduous

Form

Early bloom, 4.18.13, Le Jardin des Plantes, Paris

Bloom

 

 

New leaves emerge red, gradually turning green

Phlomis fruticosa

Phlomis fruticosa
Jerusalem Sage
Sauge de Jérusalem

Native to the Mediterranean region

In the mint family, Lamiaceae

Leaves: grey-green, tomentose, white undersides

“Fruticosa” means shrubby

‘Phlomis” is derived from “phlomos”, Greek for mullein, in reference to the woolly character of the leaves, similar to the common mullein plant

In Situ, 5.19.13, near the base of the windmill in the village of Goult

Bloom, 5.19.13

Pubescent, ovate leaves, 5.19.13