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Maryland Black Snakeroot – Sanicula marilandica

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Sanicula marilandica is a herbaceous perennial plant known for its compound leaves and clusters of small, greenish-white flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are compound with three leaflets, and they often have toothed margins.

Flowers: The plant produces small, greenish-white flowers arranged in umbels.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands, especially in rich, moist soils.

Distribution: Maryland black snakeroot is native to eastern and central North America

Occurrence
Found in various places in the wooded areas

Downy Arrow-Wood – Viburnum rafinesquianum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Viburnum rafinesquianum is a deciduous shrub known for its opposite leaves, white flowers, and blue-black berries.

Leaves: The leaves are opposite, simple, and have a serrated margin. They are typically pubescent (covered in fine hairs).

Flowers: The plant produces small, white, flat-topped clusters of flowers.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, blue-black berry.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and along the edges of forests.

Distribution: Downy arrowwood is native to eastern North America.

Occurance
Found sporadically in the woods on the property – notably in the large brush island

Indian Grass – Sorghastrum nutans

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Sorghastrum nutans is a native warm-season grass known for its tall, bunching growth habit.

Leaves: The leaves are long and narrow, with a prominent midrib. They typically turn golden in the fall.

Flowers: The plant produces feathery, golden-brown flower heads with a distinctive shape.

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

Distribution: Indian grass is native to eastern and central North America.

Occurrence
Found in the prairie section and the south east field

Indian Cord Grass – Spartina pectinata

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Spartina pectinata is a tall, perennial grass known for its robust growth and feathery flower spikes.

Leaves: The leaves are long, narrow, and often have serrated edges.

Flowers: The plant produces feathery, elongated flower spikes that can be brownish or purplish.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wetlands, including marshes, along streambanks, and in moist meadows.

Occurrence
Found along the marshy grass areas on the west side of the property

Purple Giant Hyssop – Agastache scrophulariifolia

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Agastache scrophulariifolia is a herbaceous perennial known for its spikes of tubular, lavender to purple flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped, and have a minty fragrance when crushed.

Flowers: The plant produces spikes of tubular flowers with a distinctive lavender to purple color.

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

Distribution: Purple giant hyssop is native to eastern North America.

Occurrence
Found in several places, but particularly in the prairie section

Jack-in-the-Pulpit – Arisaema triphyllum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Arisaema triphyllum is a unique herbaceous perennial known for its distinctive hood-like spathe and spadix.

Leaves: The leaves are typically divided into three leaflets and emerge in groups.

Flowers: The inflorescence consists of a hood-like spathe (the “pulpit”) and a central spadix (the “Jack”).

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

Distribution: Jack-in-the-pulpit is native to eastern and central North America.

Occurance
Widespread on the property -especially in the back 40

Nodding Trillium – Trillium cernuum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Trillium cernuum is a woodland perennial known for its nodding, three-petaled flowers.

Leaves: The plant has a whorl of three broad, elliptical leaves beneath the flower.

Flowers: The flowers are typically white or pinkish and nod downward on slender stalks.

Habitat: It is commonly found in rich, moist woodlands.

Distribution: Nodding trillium is native to eastern North America.

Occurance
Found sparsely through the wooded areas of the property

Broad-Leaved Aster – Eurybia macrophylla

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Eurybia macrophylla is a perennial herbaceous plant known for its large, heart-shaped leaves and small, daisy-like flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are opposite, heart-shaped, and often coarsely toothed along the margins.

Flowers: The plant produces small, white to pale purple flowers with yellow centers.

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

Distribution: Bigleaf aster is native to eastern North America.

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

Giant Nettle – Laportea canadensis

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Laportea canadensis is a perennial herbaceous plant known for its serrated leaves and stinging hairs.

Leaves: The leaves are alternate, serrated, and covered with stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation.

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

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

Distribution: Wood nettle is native to eastern North America.

I find the giant nettle stings worse, but for a shorter time than the regular stinging nettle.

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

Common Tansy – Tanacetum vulgare

Native To State: NO
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Tanacetum vulgare is a perennial herb known for its fern-like leaves and yellow, button-like flower heads.

Leaves: The leaves are finely divided and have a strong, somewhat pungent odor when crushed.

Flowers: The plant produces small, yellow, button-like flower heads in flat-topped clusters.

Habitat: It is commonly found in disturbed areas, along roadsides, and in fields.

Distribution: Common tansy is native to Eurasia but has become naturalized in North America.

Occurrence
This plant is considered invasive. However, it is found around the old original farmstead.  A dug out foundation where a few artifacts have been found, such as a cream can. It was most likely planted by these people and has persisted for over 100 years here, but has not spread further.