|
Milkweed - Milkweed family, five-part corolla turned back when in full bloom, exposing 5 small horn-like parts. Flowers in large clusters from axils of leaves. Leaves opposite, slightly hairy on the lower surface, up to 9 inches long. Fruit pod contains seeds with long silky hairs. Height 3-5 feet. Found in fields and waste places. Blooms June-August. Young shoots and leaves may be cooked as a green vegetable. Young seed pods can be boiled and eaten. A brown sugar can be made from the flowers. Plant fiber sometimes used in papermaking and in weaving some muslins. |
|
May Apple – Barberry family, 6 or 9 white petals form the ill-smelling flower. Stamens twice as many as petals. One 5-9 lobed, umbrella-like leaf on each flowerless stem. Flower stem usually with two similar leaves. Fruit a large berry, golden-yellow when ripe. Height 1-1 ˝ feet. Found in woods and pastures, blooms from late April to May. Fully ripe fruit good raw, in marmalade, jelly or as juice in fruit drinks. Green fruit harmful. Foliage and rootstocks poisonous |
|
Wild Columbine – Buttercup family, nodding flowers with five red sepals. Petals yellow and red, projecting to the rear in a prominent red spur. Numerous yellow stamens. Compound leaves with three-lobed leaflets. Height 1-2 feet. Found in rocky or sometimes sandy woods. Often on rocky cliffs or ledges. Blooms April - July. Wilts quickly when picked. |
|
Tall Field Buttercup – Buttercup family, five yellow petals about twice the length of the sepals. Leaves with 3 to 7 main divisions, which are somewhat further divided. Height 2-3 feet. Many species of buttercups occur in New York State. This is the common large buttercup of fields, meadows and waste places. Fresh leaves and tops poisonous to livestock. Harmless when dried, as in hay. Juice may produce blisters and sores on bare skin. Blooms May – August. |
|
Tall Meadow Rue – Buttercup family, flowers with 4 – 5 white sepals. No petals. Staminate, pistillate and perfect flowers on same or different plants. Numerous conspicuous stamens. Misty white flower clusters, often a foot long. Compound leaves. Height 3-10 feet. Blooms June – August. Found in moist meadows, swamps and along stream banks. |
|
Jewelweed – Jewelweed family, flowers are orange, funnel-shaped, sack-like structures with crimson spots. Sack terminated by a curved spur. Semi – succulent leaves oval with coarsely toothed edges, on long petioles. Height 2-5 feet. Pale Touch-Me-Not is usually somewhat larger than Jewelweed and has pale yellow flowers. Found in moist places. Blooms April – June. Seeds expelled from fruits at maturity. Edible seeds have butternut flavor. |
|
St. John’s Wort – St. John’s Wort family, five-petaled yellow flowers with numerous stamens in 3-5 tufts. Leaves opposite, showing tiny dots when held to light. Usually many flowers clustered at top of plant Height 1-3 feet. Found in pastures, roadsides, fields and waste grounds. Blooms June – September. Poisonous to livestock if eaten in large quantity. Results in skin eruptions if animal is exposed to bright light, especially with white skinned animals. |
|
Meadow Blue Violet – Violet family, many species of violets occur in New York State. This one has flowers and leaves on separate stems. Flowers nearly equal to or taller than leaves in height. Petioles and lower surface of leaves hairy. Found in moist meadows, low woods and shady places. Blooms April – June. Violets have been used as herbs and in salads. Some recommend using the leaves in soup. |
|
Shepherd’s Purse – Mustard family, small white petals about twice as long as sepals. Leaves small along the stem and lance-shaped. Basal rosette of deeply lobed leaves. Fruits heart-shaped; more conspicuous than flowers. Found on roadsides, waste places and cultivated grounds. Blooms March – December. Young leaves used as greens, either raw or cooked. Tastier when blanched. Seeds ground into meal by Indians. Name comes from the shape of the fruit. |
|
Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District - Home |
|
Wildflowers of New York |
|
Bouncing Bet – Pink family, showy flowers with 5-10 petals. 5 sepals united in a tube. Ten stamens. Two styles. Leaves opposite, entire, 3-5 ribbed, joined to opposite leaf at base, on stout stems. Height 1-2 feet. Found on roadsides and waste places. Blooms July – September. Originally grown in gardens. Juice of roots, stems and leaves containing saponin, used as soap by early settlers. Roots occasionally used in medicine. |
|
Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District 1200A Scottsville Road, Suite 160 Rochester, NY 14624
Phone: 585-473-2120 x3 Fax: 585-473-2124 |
|
Page updated: July 2007 |
|
Providing Today, Protecting Tomorrow |