Category Archives: Wildflowers
Know Your Natives – Hooked Buttercup
Hooked Buttercup (Ranunculus recurvatus var. recurvatus*) of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family, one of 17 yellow-flowered (sometimes white) buttercups in Arkansas, has achenes (fruits) with prominently hooked beaks. The genus name is based on Latin words “rana” meaning frog and “unculus” … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Ozark Sunflower
Ozark Sunflower (Helianthus silphioides) is a tall herbaceous perennial with large simple leaves and composite flowers with a purplish brown central disk and bright yellow ligules. The genus name is based on Greek words for sun (helios) and flower (anthos). … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Sweet Coneflower
Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) of the Aster family (Asteraceae) grows to 3-5 feet tall and has entire to lobed leaves. The genus name honors “Olof Rudbeck the Younger”, a Swedish botanist*. The specific epithet is Latin for “somewhat hairy” to … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Common Evening Primrose
Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) of the Evening Primrose (Onagraceae) family is a large edible plant noted for its historic and current-day medicinal uses. The genus name is believed to be based on Greek words for “wine” (oinos) and “seeker” … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – White-Leaf Mountain Mint
White-Leaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum albescens) of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family is a tall, upright perennial forb with a strong minty scent and has an open, gangly structure. The genus name is based on Greek words for dense (pyknos) and flower … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – White Wand Beardtongue
White Wand Beardtongue (Penstemon tubiflorus; also sometimes spelled P. tubaeflorus) of the Plantain (Plantaginaceae) family, formerly of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family, has sparsely leafed, erect stems bearing an elongate inflorescence of white tubular flowers. There is some disagreement on the … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Clasping Venus’ Looking Glass
Clasping Venus’ Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata; formerly, Specularia perfoliata) of the Bellflower (Campanulaceae) family is an erect to reclined annual forb with clasping, ovate to orbicular leaves and both non-opening (cleistogamous – CL) flowers and opening (chasmogamous – CH) flowers. … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Wild Strawberry
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is an evergreen plant which produces scarlet strawberries* with achenes embedded in pits. The genus name derives from the Latin word “fragum” in reference to the fragrance of mature strawberries. The specific epithet refers to the … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Old Field Cinquefoil
Old Field Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex*) of the Rose (Rosaceae) family is a low-growing plant with short rhizomes and 5-petal, bright yellow flowers. The genus name is from the Latin word for “powerful” in reference to medicinal properties of some species … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Hispid Buttercup
Hispid Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus var. hispidus*) of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family is an upland perennial forb with mostly 3-part basal and stem leaves and has soft spreading (bristly) pubescence on stems and petioles. The genus name is from the Latin … Continue reading
