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PDF of Plants with Description

 

Plants:

1)  Polygonum cuspidatum = Fallopia japonica

     Family: Polygonaceae

     "Mexican Bamboo"

     The overarching characteristic of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) is the presence of an ocrea, which is a sheath that surrounds the leaf node.  We saw this on F. japonica's sprouting parts, and saw an encircling scar on the dead stem where an ocrea used to be.  The stems are hollow and jointed, like bamboo, but the two plants are not related.  This plant is very invasive, as its fruits float down the streamsnext to which it grows.  Its leaves are triangular, like spearheads.

 

Note from Dr. McM. P. cuspidatum is the currently accepted name for this plant by authorities but many people know it byF. japonica, so I'll take either name. 

 

2) Rumex crispus

     Family: Polygonaceae

     "Curly Dock"

     This plant also has triangular leaves, the edges of which are scalloped, or "crisped" - hence the epithet.

 

3) Polystichum acrostichoides

     Family: don't worry about it!

     "Christmas Fern"

     The most common fern in our area, P. acrostichoides has big compound leaves, and auricles at the base of its leaflets.

 

4)  Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa

     Family:  Ranunculaceae 

     "Liver Leaf" 

Note from Dr. McM. The genus Hepatica refers to the three-lobed leaves (the human liver also has three lobes).  It is in the same family as the buttercup. There has been a lot of challenges to the proper scientific name of this plant, but it looks like the consensus is that there is only one species in our area with two varieties: sharp-lobed and round-lobed. The sharp-lobed variety would be Hepatica nobilis var. acuta

 

5)  Hydrophyllum sp.

     Family:  Hydrophyllaceae

     "Waterleaf"

 

6)  Berberis thunbergii

     Family:  Berberidaceae

     "Barberry"

     Thorns found at the base of leaf clusters.

 

7)  Lindera benzoin

     Family:  Lauraceae

     "Spice Bush"

     A short tree in the laurel family (includes bay leaf, sassafras,...), with oval, aromatic leaves.

 

8)  Duchesnea indica

     Family:  Rosaceae

     "False Strawberry"

     Has fuzzy leaves and yellow flowers.

 

9)  Hamamelis virginiana

     Family:  Hamamelidaceae

     "Witch-hazel"

     Has distinctive fruits.

 

10)  Claytonia virginica

     Family: Portulacaceae

     "Spring Beauty"

     Belonging to the purslane family, this flower has five petals and two sepals, an unusual combination.

 

11)  Acer negundo

     Family:  Sapindaceae

     "Box Elder"

     A maple with compound leaves.

     green twigs

 

12)  Toxicodendron radicans

     Family: Anacardiaceae

     "Poison Ivy" 

 

13) Betula lenta

     Betulaceae

     "Sweet/Black/Cherry Birch"

     birch beer scent

     bark looks similar to cherry

     Branch Tips

 

14) Kalmia latifolia 

     Ericaceae

     "Mountain Laurel" 

     raised vein on top and underside of leaf

 

15) Lycopodium sp.

     Lycopodiaceae

     "Club moss / Lycopods"

 

16) Lycopodium digitatum

     Lycopodiaceae

     "Creeping Ground Cedar"

 

17)  Smilax glauca

     Smilaceae

     "Greenbriar"

     waxy sheen on underside of leaves

 

18)  Goodyera pubescens 

     Orchidaceae

     "Rattlesnake plantain"

     grows in acidic woods

     produces clusters of white flowers

 

19)  Chimaphila maculata   (sp?)

     Ericaceae 

     "Spotted Wintergreen"

     evergreen, but not spotted