I have some. I sent you and email about it. Thanks. Le'Ann Here is a link that might be useful: My Page

There is disagreement among experts too. My sources consider M. bradburiana synonymous with M. russeliana. FWIW, I can find one somewhat confusing description from a paper published in 2002 (Prather et al.): "The sister group relationship between M. russeliana and the remainder of subgenus Monarda is noteworthy because M. russeliana is the only species with a revolute lower corolla lip that is constricted near its point of attachment to the tube (Scora 1967a), and it is one of the few species of the subgenus that have maculate corollas (Fig. 3). In particular, the relatively large, conspicuous spots on the lower lip are unique to this species, but M. bradburiana and M. clinopodia sometimes also have maculate lower corolla lips. In the latter two species, the spots are smaller and more irregular in size and distribution. Monarda clinopodia was sister to the remaining species of the subgenus (except M. russeliana)." According to the floral diagram in the paper, M. russeliana has a straight upper lip and a revolute (rolled backward) lower lip, while M. bradburiana has a arcuate (bent like a bow) upper lip and a straight lower lip. Both are depicted as having a spotted lower lip. So does the plant in your picture have a straight or revolute lower lip? Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps when the Flora of North America publishes their section on the mint family we will have a better breakdown of the differences, assuming they find any.

I'm sure that most of the plants on your lists are great and have some wildlife value, Anna, but the ones that jump out at me are - Castillega indivisa/Indian paintbrush - I can only drool at pictures of this beautiful host for buckeyes and fulvia checkerspots since it doesn't occur here, but it's also a good nectar plant for butterflies, and, judging by the looks of the flowers, for hummingbirds, also. It's supposed to be impossible to transplant, but it can be propagated from seeds. If I lived in Oklahoma, I'd order seeds and sow them in a meadow with native grasses - most members of the snapdragon family are parasitic or partially so on grass roots. Centaurea americana - you already have plenty of this - I'd make sure it stays! Antennaria and Artemesia - Both these are host for American ladies, and, if they're as tough as the cudweed in my area, they should be easy to grow. Asclepias, spp. - All of these are desirable, both as hosts for monarchs and the nectar in their flowers, which are real popular with all butterflies. Asters - These give beautiful flowers in the fall that butterflies nectar on, and they're supposed to host pearl crescents. I've planted some rice button asters to add to the naturally occurring asters in hopes of getting PC cats someday. Desmodium - This is the principal host plant for long-tailed skippers in my area - it's VERY easy to grow! Liatris pycnostachya - I just love this beautiful plant, and butterflies love to nectar on the flowers. Tephrosia virginiana/Goat's rue - As far as I know, this plant doesn't host any butterfly, and I've never seen any butterflies or hummers nectaring on the flowers, but it thrives on the poorest, driest, most eroded, pure red/orange clay parts of my property. The rainbow of pastel colors of the flowers is charming, and it might be useful as a host or nectar plant to something - I don't get to the parts of my property where it grows too often. Sherry

A hybrid is a cross between two species and is correctly noted with an "X" in the name: Ilex x attenuata 'Savannah' is a cross between Ilex opaca and Ilex cassine, for example. A hybrid can be a cultivar - that is to say a "cultivated variety" - once a good form has been identified and named. In the case of Ilex x attenuata, several cultivars have been named from the many crosses and are in production. But you can also have a straight species cultivar which is represented by using the whole name: Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'. In that case it is thought that the form is a natural sport of the species itself, not a hybrid cross between species. For example you might sow a lot of seed and one particularly beautiful, colorful or mildew resistant individual comes up and you select and name it. Either way, once the selection is made and named, vegetative propagation keeps the cultivar consistent for nursery production. At least that is my understanding!