Photos / Sounds
What
Dooryard Violet (Viola communis)Observer
john_baurDescription
I'm struggling to figure out how to distinguish V. communis from V. sororia. I am leaning towards V. communis for this group because I think the sepals are acuminate from the middle. I am troubled by the auricles, though, which I would argue are not prominent but maybe it is just early in the season and they will develop later. Also, the calyx is eciliate in the basal half, which is inconsistent with V. sororia sensu stricto, but I don't know how I can rule out the glabrous variant of V. sororia. (Am I out of range for that?) I am also troubled by the fact that I see sparse hairs on the spurred petal, but that doesn't lean one way or the other. Lastly, I would note the presence of Confederate Violet (f. priceana) on the right side of the picture. I believe that is correctly placed in V. communis and is of similar stature to the purple flowered plants here, supporting the ID as communis. Also, most of the violets I noted in this location were f. priceana, so can I ID these purple violets by association? (NOTE: iNaturalist currently places f. priceana in V. sororia)
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Whitlowgrass (Draba verna)Observer
john_baurDescription
Several plants in the bare dirt area under the trees.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale)Observer
john_baurDescription
Photos are kind of crappy, but the catkins are still distinctive (I think). Lots of this species growing in the marsh along Billings Brook at least as far as the section just north of Iron Hollow and Turning Mill Roads. Certainly, it is one of the most common shrubs in these marshes.
Photos / Sounds
What
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)Observer
john_baurDescription
Flowers with 2-3 stamens (most clearly seen in 3rd photo); hypanthium glabrous.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Duckweed (Lemna minor)Observer
john_baurDescription
Finally found Duckweed in Sharon! I am assuming this is Common Duckweed (Lemna minor) because most of the other duckweeds listed on GoBotany are shown as only occuring historically in Massachusetts. The one other species that is extant (Ivy-leaved Duckweed, L. trisulca) appears to have distinctive leaves.
Photos / Sounds
What
Heart-leaved Willow (Salix eriocephala)Observer
john_baurDescription
Using the key on GoBotany, and leaning heavily on the range maps there (i.e. ignoring any thing not shown to occur in Norfolk County).
1b. Flowers with only an adaxial nectary (all of the possibilities that would also have an abaxial nectary can be ruled out on stamen number or bract color)
12b. Filaments glabrous throughout.
24b. Aments coaetaneous. This one is not obvious, but I believe it is the right choice in the key. The choices for precocious aments (S. humilis, S. occidentalis, and S. viminalis) are also ruled out by the color of the branches)
29b. Floral bracts brown or black
The key then goes to leaf characteristics, which I did not observe. But the other choices (S. pedicellaris and S. viminalis) are ruled out on habitat and branch color.
Photos / Sounds
What
Confederate Violet (Viola sororia priceana)Observer
john_baurDescription
I think this should actually be V. communis priceana, but that doesn't seem to be an option in the iNat taxonomy.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)Observer
john_baurDescription
Second bush, right next to the other one I just posted.
