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What
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is herbaceous and the leaf appears fern like. One major leaf with deep lobes and another separate reproductive structure that is dark brown in color.
Fern like plant has multiple leaves at base. Some sterile and some fertile structures. Sterile leaves are pinnate and deeply cleft upwards. The fertile leaves are vertical and divided into bead like pinnules. This 2 leaf setup is similar to Matteuccia struthiopteris, except the struthiopteris has more divided and complex sterile leaves. This onoclea resembles the CMC specimen.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Germander (Teucrium canadense var. canadense)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant has a rhizome. Stem is dark brown with 4 angles. Leaves are veined and alternate. Inflorescence at tip in a cone like shape.
The stem is 4 angled. Leaves are simple, opposite and toothed. These notes and the odor indicates a mint, lamiaceae. The corolla is irregular, having only a large lower lip. There is no upper lip. The conical shape indicates Teucrium canadase. An upper lip and calex with a rounded bump would've indicated Scutellaria. The Teucrium matches CMC specimen.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Asters (Genus Symphyotrichum)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is tall with a thick herbaceous stem. No leaves or flowers on bottom portion. Leaves appear simple and entire, ovulate in shape. Multiple flowering heads that point upwards and appear daisy like.
The root system indicates a perennial herb. Has simple, alternate leaves. White ray shaped flowering heads indicate a wild aster. The bracts are smooth, with no hairs of spines. There is no net veins on the underside, otherwise it'd be Aster praeltus. THe leaf margins are smooth, and the stems are a slump from the crown. This is a symphyotrichum lateriflorum, matching the CMC specimen.
Photos / Sounds
What
Aroids, Water-Plantains, Seagrass, and Allies (Order Alismatales)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is a hydrophyte, has long fleshy stem-like petioles that extend from the base of the plant. Has 2 large, lobed, arrowhead shaped leaves. Long fibrous roots extend down into muddy water
This is an aquatic plant with fleshy rootstocks. The leaves are sheathed, arrowhead in shape and emergent. This indicates Sagittaria of the Alismataceae family. The leaves have large, basal lobes. The plant has small rhizome like features identical to the Sagittaria latifolia specimen in CMC herbarium, indicating it is a perennial plant. This feature sets it apart from the similar Sagittaria calycina.
Photos / Sounds
What
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is tall with a thin woody stem. Leaves are oval, and opposite on bottom and appear alternate on top. Flowers are tightly packed spiked heads in a cone like shape on top.
The erect stem with a woody base, leave patterns and arangment of flowering heads indicate a member of loosestrife family. The flowers are many spike-like heads at the end of the stems. The leaves are in opposite whorls at base and become alternate near head.Leaves are lance shaped with no petioles indicating purple loosestrife. Specimen matches herbarium specimen. A single flower in upper leaf axils would mean Lythrum alatum.
Photos / Sounds
What
Late Goldenrod (Solidago altissima ssp. altissima)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant has a round, thick stem. Leaves are long and pointed. Toothed leaves that are alternate with shorter petiole. Golden inflorescence at end of stem.
This is a solidago as evidenced by the golden inflorescence of clustered flowering heads. The leaves are alternate, have tiny teeth and are cauline (leaves on top of stem only). There are small pubescent hairs along stem and leaves. Flowering head is an elongated, pyramidal inflorescence. Similarly featured herbarium specimen confirms species.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mints (Genus Mentha)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is tall, growing upright. Has dark brown stem at base, turning green towards top end of stem. Leaves are opposite, and oval, with a toothed margin. Spiked inflorescence at leaves axils. Square stem.
Plant has strong mint odor. Long stem has distinct angles and thin white hairs. Leaves have an opposite arrangement, margins are sharply toothed. Short petioles. Small white clusters of flowers, that are white, hairy, and occurring at leaf axils.
Photos / Sounds
What
Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is a shrub growing close to the ground. Stem is woody and about a foot off the ground. Extensive root system underground. Leaves are oval shaped and alternate. Dark green on top and golden brown underneath. Leaves are evergreen, the plant is upright. The leaf margins are not rolled under, and the leaves are alternate patterned. Flowers are not present, however there is evidence of fruits. They are a brown, rounded capsule occurring at the ends of the branches. Not to be mistaken for Kalmia angustifolia, which has opposite leaves. Resembles CMC specimen 019927.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cottongrass (Genus Eriophorum)Observer
dthumserDescription
Plant is a cotton grass, about 2 feet in height. Small thin green leaves at base of stem. Thin fibrous roots. Dark brown scales at spikelet. Single head at end of stem. THe head is a single spikelet, found in an area of dense plant clumps. No thick rhizomes. Single stem, leaves are flat and bladed at base of stem.
Photos / Sounds
What
Fen Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca)Observer
dthumserDescription
A single flower atop the stem with five white petals. Distinct veins run along each petal. Small green calyx, large white corona with 10 staminoids. Round basal leaves on the bottom of the stem. Leaves are entire and 2x long than wide.
