Flowerings of spring (vernal): stellar, periwinkle and anemone

In the forests made up mainly of oaks and charms of the area of Gâtinais (oak grove-charmaie), the trees being null and void there is sunning only during spring. At this period, carpets develop plants herbaceous known as vernal because pushing during this period.

Underwood of oak grove-charmaie in spring. The carpets of vernal plants cover the ground.

The stellar one holostée (Stellaria holostea L.) is an indigenous plant which belongs to the same family as the eyelet (Caryophyllaceae). The stellar name comes from Latin stella because the petals are deeply indented and gives the shape of one star to the flower. Of mid-April at June, its white flowering illuminates the underwoods of the oak groves-charming trees of Gâtinais. It is also present border ways or hedges of them where it can constitute rather dense solid masses. In addition to the characteristics of its family (in particular, sheets joined together in a thickening on the stem), it is recognizable by its petals of big size, indented but not until the end (contrary to stellar graminaceous).

holostea Stellar (Stellaria holostea L., Caryophyllacaceae)

In the underwoods shaded on rich grounds of oak groves-charmaies, you can also see the small periwinkle (Vinca minor L.), another indigenous plant, of the family of Apocynacea. The scientific name Vinca comes from Latin vinco, I triumph, because it is one of the first triumphing over the winter. She can form an almost continuous broken into leaf cover in which the flowers of color periwinkle are distinguished.

Small periwinkle (Vinca minor L., Apocynaceae). 5 petals are welded between them, the sheets are opposite.

Lastly, a third species frequently meets in the deciduous forests of Gâtinais, the anemone Sylvie (Anemone nemorosa L.) which belongs to the family of Renonculacea. The scientific name of the kind, like that of the periwinkle, characterizes its spring period of flowering. It comes from the Greek anemo because it pushes at the season of the winds. The anemones are distinguished easily from other Renonculacea because they have 3 resembling sheets. In the underwoods, it can form dense, remarkable settlements by white flowerings. It covers also the edges and clearings

Sylvie periwinkle (Anemone nemorosa L., Ranunculaceae). 3 bracts at the base of the stalk are quite visible

A mixed carpet of anemones sylvies and small periwinkles in skirt of forest (Villethierry, 89140, on April 17th, 2010).