Category Archives: Native Plants
Know Your Natives – Long-Flower Cornsalad
Long-Flower Cornsalad (Valerianella longiflora) of the Cornsalad (Valerianaceae) family is an intruigingly branched, herbaceous annual with white flowers with long purple floral tubes. The genus name is the diminutive of Valeriana, the type genus of the Valerianaceae, a name honoring … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Prairie Ragwort
Prairie Ragwort (Packera plattensis, formerly Senecio plattensis) of the Aster, Sunflower, or Composite (Asteraceae) family is an herbaceous perennial with felty, white stem hairs and attractive, yellow, radiate flower heads. The genus name honors Canadian John G. Packer, author of … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Early Buttercup
Early Buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis) of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family is a late winter, herbaceous perennial, with glossy yellow flowers and tuberous, thickened roots. The genus name is from the Latin for “little frog,” based on the occurrence of many buttercups … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Rue-Anemone
Rue-Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides; formerly Anemonella thalictroides) of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family is a small, perennial, woodland ephemeral with an umbellate inflorescence of white to pink flowers. The genus name is the Latin form of the Greek word thaliktron, used in … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Black Nightshade
Black Nightshade (Solanum ptychanthum) of the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) is a common weedy native with small white flowers and black berries. The genus name, meaning “quieting,” is the classical Latin name for the nightshades, in reference to the narcotic properties … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Carolina Horse Nettle
Carolina Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) of the Nightshade (Solanaceae) family is a toxic* perennial with attractive flowers and fruit and piercing prickles. The genus name is Latin for “quieting” in reference to the narcotic properties of some species. The specific … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Lady Fern
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina*) of the Woodsiaceae (Lady Fern) family is a medium size fern of North America, Europe and Asia. The genus name originates from a Greek word referring to “door” in reference to the hinged indusia (protective spore … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Canada Rockcress
Canada rockcress (Borodinia canadensis*) of the Mustard (Brassicaceae/Cruciferae) family has small white flowers and long pendent bean-like fruits. The genus name most likely commemorates the Russian botanist Ivan Parfenievich Borodin (1847-1930) who founded the Russian Botanical Society. The specific epithet … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Spring-Beauty
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica), traditionally treated as a member of the Purslane (Portulacaceae) family but more recently as a member of the Miner’s-lettuce (Montiaceae) family, is a widespread, common, native wildflower, a perennial herb with lovely white, pink-veined flowers. The genus … Continue reading
Know Your Natives – Yellow Meadow-Parsnip
Yellow meadow-parsnip or smooth meadow-parsnip (Thaspium trifoliatum var. aureum) of the Carrot (Apiaceae) family has small yellow flowers with in-turned petals, much like those of the golden-Alexanders (Zizia aptera and Zizia aurea) (see last paragraph). The genus name, coined by … Continue reading
