Asphalt is sometimes referred to as a flexible pavement. This is due to its ability to largely resist the stress imposed by slight settlements of the subgrade without cracking [italics added] – European Asphalt Pavement Association
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| Yeah right ... we'll show the EAPA what we can do! |
A crack in the asphalt snakes all the way across Flint Street from my curb. Pioneer plants seized the opportunity as soon as a bit of habitat appeared. Now there’s a winding lineup of greenery. It’s the usual bunch.
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Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) gone to seed,
in a patch of large-bract verbena (Verbena bracteata). |
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Verbena flowers are only a few millimeters across.
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Tumble mustard (Sisymbrium sp.) with a flower 5 mm across, and young capsules.
These mustards usually grow much taller, but being a pioneer species, they adapt. |
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Kochia weed (Kochia scoparia) is the most common pioneer plant in my yard.
In the right situation it grows into a tumbleweed. This one probably won’t. |
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Prostrate knotweeds (Polygonum aviculare) in lower crack.
Tiny Russian thistle (Kali tragus, syn. Salsola kali) in crack above. |
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Russian thistle in center of photo. The little seedling looks innocent enough,
but in maturity it will be prickly with sharp spine-tipped leaves.
This is the iconic tumbleweed of the American West.
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Nothing’s permanent, everything changes. Asphalt gives way to pioneer plants. Pioneers are replaced by bigger, longer-lived plants when there's enough space, dirt and debris. Since the City appears to be ignoring this botanical invasion, the plants may well take back the street.
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| The crack widens on the south side of the street, with almost enough plants to be vegetation. |
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Dandelion and cheatgrass thrive in the asphalt ecosystem.
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This post is my contribution to Lucy Corrander’s June street plants gathering.
