The "brushes" seen on this page have a thick, rubbery texture to the petal while the Indian Paintbrush is paper thin. The Latin describing the Texas Paintbrush says, "indivisa," which means all paintbrush were felt to exist only in the southwest. Latin for the cultivated variety of the Texas Paintbrush is coccinea, which means it has a more scarlet coloring and feels like silk.....considerable differences all...... Indivisa is now being cultivated by the Department of Transportation in wildflower plots of several states. However, some seeds have escaped those plots and they plant may now be seen far from its original madding crowd.

The yellow variety is not a mutation, but merely a variation on the red; i.e., it failed to carry the darker gene through reproduction and presents itself as an authentic offspring. Normally those plants that bloom blue or purple will occasionally produce a white; such is case here.

Lousewort is also known as Wood Betony. The plant got its unlikely name many years ago when farmers felt that cattle and sheep became infested with lice when grazing on the plant. That, of course, was a false notion. While it would appear plentiful in the Escambia region it is, in fact, being considered as a threatened species in some parts of the world, Canada in particular. The purple variety is quite scarce in the Escambia region; the most frequent being the pale yellow. Bryan Taylor and Ritchie Bell wrote in the book Florida Wild Flowers and Roadside Plants that a few counties in Panhandle Florida is the westernmost limit of Lousewort and the southern limit as well. However, with the advent of our changing climate it could be expected that the plant might spread more rapidly. While getting a better toe-hold in the southeast and southern United States, the Canadian government has declared all species of the lousewort to be endangered.

Without doubt Mullein is one of the most used plants in ancient remedies and it continues to be in demand by herbalist today. The leaf of Common Mullein is used for treating numerous ailments; croup, bronchial infections and sore throat. In some parts of the country the leaf is rolled like a cigar, dipped in oil and use as hurricane lamp wicks. In pioneer times the colonialist wrapped their feet with the velvety leaves to keep their feet warm. The idea was adopted from Indians who lined their moccasins the leaf for the same purpose. A tea made from the flower and root was used to treat earache and to soothe baby's gums when teething. The crushed leaf is placed on sunburn and insect bites to relieve swelling and itching.

Going further back in time, the Roman soldier dipped the long stalk in oil and used it as a torch to light the way when an army was on the march to battle.

Maybe the basic weren't so bad after all.

Blue Hearts is widespread in the Escambia region, but you'll definitely have to walk the roadside to see it; very small and well hidden among tall grasses. It prefers moist soil on roadside embankments. Like all small plants its best pollinators are ants and honeybees. Look for Blue Hearts to flower in early April and extend into early summer.

Bird's Eye Speedwell is in a large genus of plants which are messy and difficult to distinguish one from the other. Like Blue Hearts, they are small and low, having all the characteristics of a mint. They have a tendency to form thick mats similar to carpet weeds. Close examination is required to identify as one's first thought might be that its a Baby Blue Eyes.

Gray Beardtongue is also referred to as "Double Blossom Beardtongue." This is probably the rarest of all beardtongue of the Escambia region flood plain. It's an illusive and deep marsh plant - definitely not a common roadside variety. Gray Beardtongue is far more common in the western states but is known in small colonies across Georgia and Alabama. It resembles the Hairy Beardtongue in that its top lip has a tendency to flare up and out, exposing the fertile stamens and projecting one straight out, as well as projecting the lower flower lip. While the flowers may be violet-purple to pink or white, the name actually refers to the tuft of gray hair found on the sterile stamen that is usually the one projecting away from the flower.

The white variety of beardtongue is unique in structure and is closely related to the Gray Beardtongue; primary difference being the florets are smooth and whorled around its flower stalk like an elaborate ceiling fixture. In fact, it is sometimes called the Candelabra Beardtongue. The flowers are a pure white that fades to pale pink at its throat. This plant prefers moist clearings, roadsides and meadows. It transplants well to the butterfly garden but it must be taken in early spring before flower buds begin forming.

Blue Water Hyssop is also known as Lemon Hyssop and Smooth Water Hyssop is also known as Coastal Water Hyssop.

Blue Water Hyssop is loosely identical to the related Smooth Water Hyssop, except for two minor variations and one major; flower shape/color, but the real difference is that when crushed the plant emits a distinct lemon-like odor; Smooth Water Hyssop has no odor at all. Further, Blue Hyssop is occasionally found at roadside while Smooth is rarely seen because of its preference to swampy areas; pond margins, sloughs, moist ditches and coastal brackish pools. The hyssop's are sometimes referred to as a "carpet weeds" but are nevertheless prominent members of the Figwort family. Carpet weeds are generally associated with the Madder or Bedstraw family.

These are low-growing, mat-forming perennial herbs, generally found on saturated soil or in shallow standing water. Three species are typically found in the Escambia region, B. caroliniana, B. monnieri and B.innominata; however, B. innominata, is far less frequent, though it shares the same habitat as Blue and Smooth.