PDF of Plants with Description  Note that some of the spellings of the scientific names may not be entirly correct.





Plants

1)     Onoclea sensibilis

        Family not given

        Sensitive Fern

        This fern has deeply lobed, simple (i.e. not compound) leaves, and grows near damp areas, like the spring we saw today.  It is deciduous,

        and very sensitive to cold weather, hence the epithet.

2)     Achillea millefolia

        Family: Asteraceae

        Yarrow

        This invasive European herb has very highly serrated leaves.  The leaves release a pungent, spicy smell when crushed, and they also have

        coagulant properties.

3)     Oxalis violacea

        Family: Oxalidaceae

        Wood Sorrel

        The dark leaves of this sorrel are purplish on the underside, and their heart shaped leaflets form a compound leaf that resembles a

        shamrock.  The leaves have a sour flavor due to the oxalic acid they contain, and the plants eventually produce star-shaped fruit. 

4)     Cypripedium calceolus

        Family: Orchidaceae

        Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid

        The flower of this plant has a weird, sac-like shape that forces pollinators to crawl through it in a certain way.  However, this highly

        specialized adaptation has precipitated a decline  in the species, and many people now make a point to pollinate them by hand.  It is

        semi-rare and protected.

5)     Panax trifolius

        Family: Araliaceae

        Dwarf Ginseng

        The compound leaves of this plant are made of three, four, or five leaflets, and it has clusters of small white flowers that come up from a central point.

6)      Alnus glutinosa

         Family: Betulaceae

         Alder

         Usually grows in the sun and along stream banks.  Leaves are doubly-serrated.

7)     Sassafras albidum

        Sassasfras

        Family: Lauraceae

        green twigs & prominent lenticels

        three types of leaves: no lobes, 2 lobes, 3 lobes

        distinctive scent

8)     Viburnum prunifolium

        Cherry Leaf Viburnum / Black Haw

        Family: Caprifoliaceae

        Small tree with opposite leaves; leaves are toothed (like cherry)

9)     Viburnum acerifolium

        Maple Leaf Viburnum

        Family: Caprifoliaceae

        Small bush; leaves resemble maple

10)     Viburnum dentatum 

          Arrowood

          Family: Caprifoliaceae

11)     Celastrus orbiculatus

          Asian Bittersweet

          Family: Celastraceae

          -a woody vine that has orange fruits with red seeds

          -a bad invasive

          -older leaves are nearly circular ("orbicular")

12)     Aesculus glabra

          Buckeye

          Family: Sapindaceae

          leaves are compound and pinnate

13)     Euonymus alata

          Burning Bush

          Family: Celastraceae

          -has opposite leaves that end in one plane

          -twigs have corked wings

          -Yellow flowers with 4 pedals