Category: Flowers

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Southern Arrowwood Scientific Name: Viburnum dentatum Comments: Native Americans reportedly used the straight stems of this species for arrow shafts, hence the common name. The scientific name “dentatum” refers to the toothed edges of its leaves. More Information: Missouri Botanical Garden

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time: 4:55 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Broad-leaved Dock Scientific Name: Rumex obtusifolius Comments: Rumex obtusifolius, commonly known as broad-leaved dock, bitter dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is native to Europe, but is found on all temperate continents. It is a highly invasive species […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: shady woods near Gavins Pond Common Name: Maple-leaf Viburnum Scientific Name: Viburnum acerifolium Comments: Maple-leaf viburnum has long been cultivated for its attractive summer flowers and foliage; then the autumn leaves turn rose-purple and contrast with the mature dark fruits. The plants will thrive in moist soils and a range of light conditions but they are a […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 4:05 p.m. Observation Location: trail near Brook Road Common Name: Three-leaved Rattlesnake Root Scientific Name: Nabalus trifoliolatus Comments: Three-leaved rattlesnake-root is found throughout New England. It has a trumpet-shaped white flower that blooms in late summer. More Information: GoBotany

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Blue Toadflax Scientific Name: Nuttallanthus canadensis Comments: These diminutive wildflowers bloom from April to September. More Information: Conn. Botanical Society

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/7/20 Observation Time: 6:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (my back yard) Common Name: Broad-leaved Speedwell Scientific Name: Veronica austriaca Comments: Broad-leaved speedwell, also know as large speedwell, Austrian speedwell, or saw-leaved speedwell,  is a perennial, herbaceous plant that is native to Europe. It is cultivated and can escape the garden setting. More Information: Wikipedia and Flickr

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 6/7/20 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Quincy St. Common Name: Multiflora rose Scientific Name: Rosa multiflora Comments: Multiflora rose is a deciduous shrub with white flowers and red fruit. Brought here from Asia, it was planted as wildlife food, and also as a living fence, due to its dense growth and sharp thorns. It can grow to 10 feet high […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/20 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Siberian Iris Scientific Name: Iris siberica Comments: These gaudy flowers bloom in early June. More Information: Commonweeder.com Blue flag irises were growing nearby.

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/20 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dame’s Rocket Scientific Name: Hesperis matronalis Comments: Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a tall, short-lived perennial, which produces white, pink or purple flowers in the spring. Known for its colorful and fragrant blooms, the plant has been a traditional garden favorite. However, in recent years, Dame’s […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/20 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: False Solomon’s Seal Scientific Name: Maianthemum racemosum Comments: This herbaceous perennial plant is unbranched and grows to about knee-high. The central stem is somewhat erect and ascending. Flowers (then berries) occur at the end of the plant. Flowers occur in a plume-like cluster of minute florets and transform […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Star of Bethlehem Scientific Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum Comments: The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Red clover Scientific Name: Trifolium pratense Comments: Clover is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. For these reasons, it is used as a green manure crop. This specimen had not yet produced its reddish flowers, but the two-tone pattern on […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Wild Violet Scientific Name: Viola odorata Comments: V. odorata is native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid Scientific Name: Cypripedium acaule Comments: Pink lady’s slippers probably won’t survive if you try to transplant them, so please don’t dig them up. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/20 Observation Time: 4:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Indian Cucumber Root Scientific Name: Medeola virginiana Comments: Indian cucumber-root is a common perennial of the forest understory in New England. As the name suggests, the edible root tastes somewhat like cucumber. More Information: Go Botany

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/20 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Golden Ragwort Scientific Name: Senecio aureus (also known as Packera aurea) Comments: Golden Ragwort is a biannual plant with yellow-orange flowers. It grows to a height of 2 feet and belongs to Asteraceae family (i.e. asters). More Information: New Moon Nursery

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Mouse-ear chickweed Scientific Name: Cerastium fontanum Comments: Mouse-ear chickweed is a herb. Herbs are broad-leaved, herbaceous (non-woody) plants. Herbaceous plants are also known as forbs or wildflowers. More Information: Kansas Native Plants

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/20 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Canada Mayflower Scientific Name: Maianthemum canadense Comments: This common plant carpets the forest floor in many parts of Sharon. More Information: Wikipedia I took this photo at the same place on June 2:

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/20 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: in the woods near the footbridge over Beaver Brook Common Name: Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid Scientific Name: Cypripedium acaule Comments: Pink lady’s slippers probably won’t survive if you try to transplant them, so please don’t dig them up. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/20 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: near footbridge over Beaver Brook Common Name: Starflower Scientific Name: Lysimachia borealis Comments: Formerly known as Trientalis borealis, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/20 Observation Time: 9:20 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: Bird-foot violets are perennials with five-petaled flowers that bloom from March to June. The flowers are typically blue, but can range from white to purple. They spread by sending out rhizomes. The fan-shaped leaves have three lobes which are said to resemble a […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/18/20 Observation Time: 10:50 a.m. Observation Location: under high tension lines across the street from the Gavins Pond soccer fields Common Name: Lance-leaved Violet Scientific Name: Viola lanceolata Comments: One of only a few white-flowered stemless violets, lance-leaved violet inhabits sandy or peaty shorelines and marshes as well as more disturbed sites. The narrow lance-shaped leaves are distinctive. More Information: Go […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/15/20 Observation Time: 9:40 a.m. Observation Location: near Pond Street rotary by Lake Massapoag Common Name: Ground Ivy (a.k.a. “Gill-over-the-ground”) Scientific Name: Glechoma hederacea Comments: Commonly known as ground-ivy, gill-over-the-ground, creeping charlie, alehoof, tunhoof, catsfoot, field balm, and run-away-robin, it has numerous medicinal uses, and is used as a salad green in many countries. European settlers carried it around the world, and it has […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/20 Observation Time: 9:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Wood Anemone Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators […]