Month: July 2018

Black Ash – Fraxinus nigra

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Fraxinus nigra is a deciduous tree known for its compound leaves and distinctive bark.

Leaves: The leaves are compound, with opposite leaflets that have serrated margins.

Bark: The bark is dark gray to black and has deep furrows.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wetlands, including swamps and stream banks.

Distribution: Black ash is native to eastern North America.

Occurance
Found in existing woods in former pasture and especially in the wet area of the back 40

White Baneberry – Actaea pachypoda

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Actaea pachypoda is a woodland perennial known for its distinctive white berries and compound leaves.

Leaves: The leaves are compound, with toothed leaflets.

Flowers: The plant produces small, white flowers in dense, elongated clusters.

Fruit: The fruit is a cluster of small, white berries with a distinctive black “eye” at the base.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and shaded areas.

Distribution: White baneberry is native to eastern North America.

Also known as “dolls eyes” because of the white berries that have a black dot in the middle.

Occurrence
Found in various places on the property

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed – Eutrochium maculatum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Eutrochium maculatum is a tall herbaceous perennial known for its whorled leaves and pink to purplish flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are whorled, lance-shaped, and often have purple spots on the stems.

Flowers: The plant produces clusters of pink to purplish, fluffy flower heads.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wetlands, including wet meadows and along stream banks.

Distribution: Spotted Joe-Pye weed is native to eastern and central North America.

Occurrence
Found in low marshy areas

Spreading Dogbane – Apocynum androsaemifolium

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Apocynum androsaemifolium is a herbaceous perennial known for its opposite leaves and clusters of small, pinkish-white flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped, and often have a milky latex sap.

Flowers: The plant produces small, pinkish-white flowers in clusters.

Fruit: It bears slender, elongated seed pods.

Habitat: It is commonly found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, fields, and roadsides.

Occurrence
Found in various places in grassy areas

Eastern Larch – Larix laricina

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Larix laricina is a deciduous coniferous tree known for its soft, needle-like leaves and small, woody cones.

Leaves: The leaves are needle-like, light green, and appear in clusters.

Cones: The cones are small and woody, typically less than an inch long.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and often scaly.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wetlands, including bogs and swamps.

Distribution: Tamarack is native to North America and northern Eurasia.

Occurrence
3 larger trees were planted in 1993, others planted in 2008 and in 2016

Woodland Sunflower – Helianthus strumosus

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Helianthus strumosus is a herbaceous perennial known for its opposite leaves and yellow, daisy-like flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped, and often have a rough texture.

Flowers: The plant produces bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with a dark center.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands, especially in open or partially shaded areas.

Distribution: Pale-leaf woodland sunflower is native to eastern and central North America.

Occurrence
Found on wood edges – especially around the brush islands

Late Horse Gentian – Triosteum perfoliatum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Triosteum perfoliatum is a native herbaceous perennial known for its whorled leaves and clusters of small, tubular flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are whorled around the stem and have a coarse texture.

Flowers: The plant produces clusters of small, tubular, yellowish-orange to reddish-brown flowers.

Fruit: It bears bright red, berry-like fruit.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and shaded areas.

Distribution: Wild coffee is native to eastern and central North America.

Occurrence
Found sporadically in grassy areas on the property

Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Panicum virgatum is a warm-season perennial grass known for its upright growth and feathery flower clusters.

Leaves: The leaves are long, narrow, and have a prominent midrib.

Flowers: The plant produces feathery flower clusters that can vary in color from green to purple.

Habitat: It is commonly found in prairies, meadows, and open woodlands.

Distribution: Switchgrass is native to North America and is a common component of grassland ecosystems.

Occurrence
In south east field

Side-Oats Grama – Bouteloua curtipendula

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Bouteloua curtipendula is a warm-season grass known for its distinctive seed spikes and fine-textured leaves.

Leaves: The leaves are fine-textured and often have a bluish-green tint.

Flowers: The plant produces seed spikes that dangle from one side of the stem, giving it the common name “sideoats grama.”

Habitat: It is commonly found in prairies, grasslands, and open woodlands.

Distribution: Sideoats grama is native to North America and is an important forage grass.

Occurrence
In south east field

Big Bluestem – Andropogon gerardii

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Andropogon gerardii is a tall, warm-season grass known for its tall stature and distinctive three-branched seed heads. The three-way seed heads resembles a turkey’s foot

Leaves: The leaves are long and narrow, with a distinctive blue-green color.

Flowers: The plant produces distinctive three-branched seed heads that resemble a turkey’s foot.

Habitat: It is commonly found in prairies and grasslands.

Distribution: Big bluestem is native to North America and is a dominant grass in tallgrass prairies.

Occurrence
In prairie section and south east field