Month: June 2019

Prairie Blue-eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium campestre

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Sisyrinchium campestre is a small, herbaceous perennial known for its slender stems and small, blue to purple, star-like flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are grass-like and typically shorter than the flowering stems.

Flowers: The plant produces small, blue to purple, star-shaped flowers with a yellow or white center.

Habitat: It is commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and open areas.

Distribution: Blue-eyed grass is native to North America.

Occurrence
Sparsely found in former field area and prairie section

Ninebark – Physocarpus opulifolius

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Physocarpus opulifolius is a deciduous shrub known for its peeling bark and clusters of small, pink to white flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are palmately lobed and have a serrated margin.

Flowers: The plant produces clusters of small, pink to white, five-petaled flowers.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands, thickets, and along stream banks.

Distribution: Ninebark is native to North America.

Occurrence
Planted widely in former field

Golden Alexanders – Zizia aurea

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Zizia aurea is a herbaceous perennial known for its bright yellow, umbrella-like flower clusters and pinnately compound leaves.

Leaves: The leaves are pinnately compound, with multiple leaflets arranged along a central stem.

Flowers: The plant produces bright yellow, umbrella-like clusters of small, five-petaled flowers.

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist meadows and along stream banks.

Occurrence
Found in prairie section

Golden Ragwort – Packera aurea

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Packera aurea is a herbaceous perennial known for its basal rosette of heart-shaped leaves and clusters of yellow, daisy-like flowers.

Leaves: The basal leaves are heart-shaped and often have prominent veining.

Flowers: The plant produces clusters of small, yellow, daisy-like flowers with yellow rays.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wet woodlands and along stream banks.

Distribution: Golden ragwort is native to North America.

Occurrence
Widespread throughout the property

Bracken Fern – Pteridium aquilinum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Pteridium aquilinum is a large, deciduous fern known for its triangular fronds and tall, upright growth.

Leaves: The fronds are triangular and deeply lobed, resembling the shape of a feather.

Spores: Reproduction occurs through spores produced on the underside of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found in a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, and disturbed areas.

Distribution: Bracken fern is found in many parts of the world.

Occurrence
Planted along fern path and on the spring in the back 40 woods.

Wild Geranium – Geranium maculatum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Geranium maculatum is a herbaceous perennial known for its deeply lobed leaves and pink to lavender flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are palmately lobed and often have a distinctive pattern.

Flowers: The plant produces pink to lavender, five-petaled flowers with darker veins.

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

Distribution: Wild geranium is native to eastern North America.

Occurrence
Found throughout the wooded areas

Pennsylvania Bittercress – Cardamine pensylvanica

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Cardamine pensylvanica is a herbaceous annual or biennial plant known for its pinnately divided leaves and small, white flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are pinnately divided into several leaflets.

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

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist woodlands, wet meadows, and along stream banks.

Distribution: Pennsylvania bittercress is native to eastern North America.

Occurrence
Several specimens in back 40 spring area and near crick

Swamp Saxifrage – Micranthes pensylvanica

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Micranthes pensylvanica is a herbaceous perennial known for its basal rosette of toothed leaves and clusters of white flowers.

Leaves: The basal leaves are toothed and often have a spatula-shaped appearance.

Flowers: The plant produces clusters of small, white, five-petaled flowers.

Habitat: It is commonly found in rock crevices, cliffs, and alpine habitats.

Distribution: Early saxifrage is native to eastern North America.

Occurrence
Several specimens in back 40 spring area and near crick

Mountain Maple – Acer spicatum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Acer spicatum is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its opposite, palmately lobed leaves and small, greenish-yellow flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are opposite, palmately lobed, and typically have three to five lobes.

Flowers: The plant produces small, greenish-yellow flowers in upright clusters.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and along stream banks in mountainous regions.

Distribution: Mountain maple is native to North America.

Occurrence
Few specimens planted in back 40 in 2019

False Lilly of the Valley – Maianthemum canadense

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Maianthemum canadense is a herbaceous perennial known for its delicate, white, star-shaped flowers and paired leaves.

Leaves: The leaves are paired, elliptical to lance-shaped, and typically have parallel veins.

Flowers: The plant produces small, white, star-shaped flowers in terminal clusters.

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

Distribution: Canada mayflower is native to North America.

Occurrence
Specimens found throughout the wooded areas