Woodland Notes: DC bloom times, Ohio DNR spring flowers, Iowa horticulture, Yankauer wildflowers, NY Botanical Garden bulbs, Savanna Springs
  • Forest Notes
  • Wetland Notes

  • Araceae Arum: bitter/milky sap(Ca oxylate), unisex flowers on spadix; spathe is bract.
    Arisaema triphylum Jack In the Pulpit: 3-part leaf, unisex flowers at base of spadix can change sex, traps fungus knats
    Symplocarpus (connected fruit) foetidus Skunk Cabbage: temperature in spathe can be 27 warmer (accelerated respiration), attracts carrion flies
  • Aristolochiaceae Birthwort
    Asarum canadense Wild Ginger: maroon flower in crotch between 2 petioles, along flood plains, rhizome, not related to true ginger (Zingiber officinale)
  • Berberidaceae (Barbary):
    Jeffersonia diphylla Twinleaf: 9-petaled blossom suggests Bloodroot, almost divided leaf (2-parted)
    Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple: poisonous except fruit. 6-petaled flowers in axil of 2-leaved plants, fruits ripen in July? Forms circular clonies that spread outward.
  • Boraginaceae Forget-Me-Not
    Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells (Cowslip): upper leaves reduced to bracts, hollow stem: fragile, can divide rhizome, but preferably grow from seed
  • Cruciferae (Brassicaceae): 4-4 (flat top) 4+2 stamens. Pods part in middle, seen with flowers
    Dentaria laciniata Cut-leaved Toothwort (wort is old English for plant, tooth-like scales in edible rhizome/tuber), cross-shaped petals, abundant missouriflora
  • Geraniaceae
    Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium (cranesbill):
  • Fabacea: 5-petal flower: banner, wings, keel; 9+1 stamens, stipules
    Cercis canadensis Redbud: red flower before leaves: Does not fix nitrogen (Peterson)
  • Liliaceae: 6 tepals, 6 stamens, superior
    Erythronium americonum Yellow Trout Lily (albidum White) Dog-tooth Violet: tepals recurve, corm, 4 years to flower (need 2 leaves); Oily Elaiosome on seed: ant snack
    Polygonatum biflorum Solomon's seal: greenish flowers hang down from the leaf axils, blue-black berries poisonous, 1 stem per year. Annual leaf scar (seal) on rhizome.
    Scilla siberica Siberian squill: 6 small blue tepals, blue central stripe, bulb: light shade
  • Trillium recurvatum=Prairie erectum=Red sessile=Toad: 3 leaves, sepals, petals. Elaiosome
    Uvularia grandiflora Large-flowered Bellwort: leaves clasp stem, nodding yellow bells
  • Papaveraceae Poppy: many stamens, colored sap
    Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot: Sanguinarine extract prevents plaque - in Viadent, petals fall off easily, upright stalks 8-16 petals, wrap-around leaves. tuber-like roots. Elaiosome
    Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's Breeches: dissected leaves, "pantaloon" ankles-up; clusters of small white tubers, Elaiosome
    Dicentra canadensis Squirrel Corn: roots resemble grains of yellow corn
  • Phlox
    Phlox divericata Woodland Phlox: stamens hidden in tube, opposite leaves
    Polemonium reptans Jacob's Ladder (Greek Valerian): stamens not protruding, lower pinnate leaflets (ladder)
  • Portulaceae Purslane:
    Claytonia virginica Spring Beauty (Fairy Buds): 2 sepals fall, 5 petals pink veins (nectar guide) 5 stamens 3-lobed stigma 2 linear leaves mid-stem, strong storage tuber (edible) can survive lawn, abundant, form circular patches which follow contour of oak trees above (Swink)
  • Primulaceae Primrose:
    Dodecatheon medea Shooting Star: primarily prairie
  • Ranunculaceae (Buttercup): reflective under leaf
    Aquilegia canadensis Columbine: flowers upside-down, nectar at tip, leaf miners. Self-sows, mature plants hard to transplant
    Anemonella thalictroides Rue Anemone (7): no petals, 5-8 sepals, basal 3-lobed leaflets in 3 groups of 3. Tuber
    Isopyrum biternatum False Rue Anemone (8): 5 petals, deeply lobed leaves not directly under flower
    Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold: rounded leaves, also native to Eurasia
    Hepatica acutiloba: Sharp-lobed Hepatica (americana in more acid soil) (Liverwort) leaves from previous year semi-evergreen, turn liver-red; colorful sepals
    Ranunculus septentrionalis Swamp Buttercup: compound leaves, stolons
  • Umbelliferae (Apiaceae Carrot)
    Erigenia bulbosa Harbinger of Spring: tiny white flowers in small umbels, brown anthers (Pepper and Salt), tuber
  • Violaceae: 5 petals lower extended backward in sac/spur, stipules
    Viola papilionaceae Common Blue: food plant for Fritillary larvae (Regal endangered). Rich in vitamin A & C; 2 types of flowers: spring flower has spurred lower petal for landing, summer flowers have no petal, never open, self-fertilized. Elaiosome/ants: bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, trilliums, and trout lilies.