Category: Flowers

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/4/20 Observation Time: 2:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Slender Bush-Clover Scientific Name: Lespedeza virginica Comments: Slender bush-clover is a member of the pea family. Like other bush-clovers, slender bush-clover is preferentially browsed by mammalian herbivores such as deer and rabbits, as well as quail and other ground birds. Slender bush-clover is often found in man-made or […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/4/20 Observation Time: 1:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (in the woods) Common Name: Whorled Wood Aster Scientific Name: Oclemena acuminata Comments: Whorled Wood Asters are among the relatively few woodland wildflowers that bloom in late summer and early fall. Note the pure gold-green sweat bee feeding on the blossoms. More information: Wildflowers of the Adirondacks

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/18/20 Observation Time: 11:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: White Vervain Scientific Name: Verbena urticifolia Comments: I initially identified this plant using a cool app called Seek. Normally white vervain has green leaves, so I sent my photo of this red-leaved specimen to a botanist, who verified that it is indeed white vervain. The […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/18/20 Observation Time: 11:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: New York Ironweed Scientific Name: Vernonia noveboracensis Comments: New York ironweed is a tall, perennial wildflower that produces small purple blossoms in August and September. This specimen is approximately 8 feet tall. More Information: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 8/13/20 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Morse St. Common Name: Cardinal Flower Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis Comments: Cardinal flowers are typically found near water. These were growing in a dry streambed. Since most insects find it difficult to navigate the long tubular flowers, cardinal flowers depend on hummingbirds, which feed on the nectar, for pollination. Its common name alludes to the […]

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 8/13/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Rattlesnake Hill Common Name: American burnweed (a.k.a. fireweed) Scientific Name: Erechtites hieraciifolius Comments: Burnweed is a native annual in the daisy family, Asteraceae. American Burnweed is an underrated and unappreciated wild edible. Although Burnweed has no history as a food source here in America, everywhere else in the world where it grows it is eaten. […]

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 8/13/20 Observation Time: 1:55 p.m. Observation Location: Mountain St. Common Name: Spotted Wintergreen Scientific Name: Chimaphila maculata Comments: Spotted wintergreen is a highly recognizable understory species having variegated leaves with pale green veins. It is endangered in Maine. More Information: Go Botany

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 8/13/20 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: Rattlesnake Hill Common Name: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid Scientific Name: Goodyera pubescens Comments: Please don’t dig up wildflowers. More Information: Virginia Native Plant Society

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/12/20 Observation Time: 7:00 p.m. Observation Location: along Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Spotted Knapweed Scientific Name: Centaurea maculosa Comments: Spotted knapweed is not native to North America (it came from Europe). It is poisonous to other plants, creating barren areas where only knapweed grows. It can be a skin irritant. More Information: namethatplant.net

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/12/20 Observation Time: 6:55 p.m. Observation Location: along Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Lanceleaf Tickseed Scientific Name: Coreopsis lanceolata Comments: This native perennial wildflower thrives in poor, sandy or rocky soils with good drainage. It is tolerant of heat, humidity and drought. Lanceleaf tickseed features solitary, yellow, daisy-like flowers (1-2″ diameter) with eight yellow rays (toothed at the tips) and flat […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/12/20 Observation Time: 6:50 p.m. Observation Location: along Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Black-eyed Susan Scientific Name: Rudbeckia hirta Comments: Related to cone flowers, this native biennial forms a rosette of leaves the first year, followed by flowers the second year. It is covered with hairs that give it a slightly rough texture. More Information: USDA and wildflower.org

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/12/20 Observation Time: 6:40 p.m. Observation Location: along Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Canada Wild Lettuce Scientific Name: Lactuca canadensis Comments: This edible plant can grow to over six feet tall. It has leaves that are shaped like those of a dandelion, and produces dandelion-like yellow flowers. More Information: Wikipedia and iNaturalist

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/20 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: somewhere in Sharon. Please do not dig up wildflowers! Common Name: Small Green Wood Orchid Scientific Name: Platanthera clavellata Comments: Platanthera is a large genus – about 200 species – in the large Orchidaceae (Orchid) Family. Over 30 of the Platanthera species are found in North America. Platanthera clavellata is protected in at least four states […]

Observer: Rita Corey and Larry Myatt Observation Date: 7/9/20 Observation Time: 9:18 a.m. Observation Location: Mountain Street, near entrance to Rattlesnake Hill Common Name: Shinleaf (a.k.a. White Wintergreen) Scientific Name: Pyrola elliptica Comments: Its common name, shinleaf, comes from the medicinal use of the plant, which produces a drug similar to aspirin.  This drug has been reported to have analgesic properties and was used on bruised shins and other […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/20 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Along Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Sheep’s bit Scientific Name: Jasione montana Comments: Sheep’s bit is an annual or biennial, native to Europe and Russia and introduced to North America’s east and west coasts. It was introduced through being grown as a garden ornamental, and is spreading westward from sandy sites in southern New England. More Information: Go Botany

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/14/20 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Palmate Hop Clover Scientific Name: Trifolium aureum Comments: Palmate hop clover is an exotic species that is widespread in New England. The common name derives from the fact that as the flower heads age, the florets fold down and become brown, resembling dried hops. More Information: Go […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/14/20 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Rough-fruited Cinquefoil Scientific Name: Potentilla recta Comments: Also known as sulphur cinquefoil, this wildflower is native to Europe and Asia. Introduced and naturalized in North America. Found along roads and in disturbed sites. Thrives in full sun and tolerates dry conditions. Flowers from June to August. Blossoms […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Allspice Scientific Name: Calycanthus floridus Comments: Also known as Carolina Sweetshrub, this plant deserves its name. The blossoms are fragrant and the leaves are aromatic when bruised. I wish I had encountered this plant a week earlier when the blossoms were at their prime. Maybe […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time:  5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Joe Pye Weed Scientific Name: Eupatorium purpureum Comments: Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous, late-blooming perennial native to much of the U.S. It is a wildflower and an herb that was used as an herbal remedy to lower fevers and other maladies. The plant is named after […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Mullein Scientific Name: Verbascum thapsus Comments: Verbascum thapsus has a wide native range including Europe, northern Africa and Asia, from the Azores and Canary Islands east to western China, north to the British Isles, Scandinavia and Siberia, and south to the Himalayas. In the United States […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Purple Foxglove Scientific Name: Digitalis purpurea Comments: Purple foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is a biennial or short-lived herbaceous perennial from western Europe in the plantain family. It is sometimes called common foxglove, fairy gloves, fairy bells, or lady’s glove. Purple foxglove is naturally quite variable in size and […]

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