Category Archives: Know Your Natives

A series of articles profiling the many native plants found in Arkansas

Know Your Natives – Downy Lobelia

Posted on November 11, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula) of the Bellflower (Campanulaceae) family is a pubescent, herbaceous perennial bearing showy racemes of blue to lavender flowers. The genus name recognizes Matthias de l’Obel, a Flemish 16th-century physician and botanist who is credited with being the first … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Butterfly Weed

Posted on October 18, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) of the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family has clear sap (not milky) and showy orange (reddish orange to uncommonly yellow) flowers. The genus name honors the Greek god of medicine, Asklepios. The specific epithet is Latin for “swollen,” … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Trumpet Vine

Posted on September 17, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) of the Trumpet Creeper (Bignoniaceae) family is a non-twining, tendril-free, woody vine with spectacular, large, orange to red, trumpet-shaped flowers. The genus name is Greek for “curved,” a reference to the curved stamens. … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Stalked Wild Petunia

Posted on August 12, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Stalked Wild Petunia (Ruellia pedunculata ssp. pedunculata*) of the Acanthus (Acanthaceae) family has flowers with large, showy, trumpet-shaped, purplish corollas, similar to those of the unrelated Garden Petunia**. The genus name honors Jean de la Ruelle (1474-1537), a French herbalist. … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Purple Coneflower

Posted on July 14, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) of the Sunflower or Composite (Asteraceae) family is an erect herbaceous perennial with large, showy, terminal flowerheads. The genus name is derived from a Greek word for “hedgehog” in reference to the spiny bracts that share … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Pale Purple Coneflower

Posted on June 7, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) of the Aster or Composite (Asteraceae) family is a heavily pubescent herbaceous perennial with long lanceolate leaves and large, spectacular flowerheads. The genus name is derived from a Greek word for “hedgehog” in reference to … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Showy Evening Primrose

Posted on May 11, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) of the Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae) is a colonial perennial with large pink to white flowers. The etymology of the genus name, used by Linnaeus, is ambiguous: It is apparently from a Greek word for wine … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Violet Blue-Eyed Mary

Posted on April 13, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Violet Blue-Eyed Mary (Collinsia violacea) of the Plantain (Plantaginaceae) family, formerly of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family, is an annual forb with attractive bi-colored flowers. The genus name honors Zaccheus Collins (1764–1831), a Philadelphia botanist. The specific epithet is Latin for … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Trumpet Honeysuckle

Posted on March 13, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) of the Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family is a twining vine with spectacular, red and orange, trumpet-shaped flowers. The genus name honors Adam Lonicer,* a German botanist and herbalist. The specific epithet from the Latin for “always” and … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Southern Woolly Violet

Posted on February 13, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Southern Woolly Violet (Viola villosa) of the Violet (Violaceae) family is a small perennial herb with evergreen leaves and early flowers. The genus name is the classical Latin name for violets. The specific epithet is Latin for “hairy,” emphasizing the … Continue reading →

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