FLOWER OF THE WEEK AT SOPCHOPPY DEPOT PARK

Water cowbane

By LYNN ARTZ, SANDY TEDDER and DAVID RODDENBERRY

Water cowbane (Tiedemannia filiformis) is a wetland wildflower barely noticed until it bursts into bloom in late summer. Then this long-lived perennial displays one or more large showy flower clusters, called umbels, atop its 3-5 feet tall stem. Each flat flower cluster contains 12-22 smaller clusters (umbellets). Each umbellet has up to 25 small white flowers with 5 notched petals that often curve inward. The numerous flowers attract many small pollinators such as bees. A blooming water cowbane is the preferred host plant of the eastern black swallowtail butterfly. Caterpillars from the eggs of these beautiful butterflies feed first on the flowers, and later the leaves. Also, called water dropwort, this wildflower is found in freshwater marshes throughout Florida. Water cowbane is blooming now in the pond at Sopchoppy Depot Park.