Sightings – Plants
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/18/20
Observation Time: 11:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: White Vervain
Scientific Name: Verbena urticifolia
Comments: I initially identified this plant using a cool app called Seek. Normally white vervain has green leaves, so I sent my photo of this red-leaved specimen to a botanist, who verified that it is indeed white vervain.
The name vervain is derived from the Celtic ferfaen, that is from fer (to drive away) and from faen (a stone). In early times the plant was used for afflictions of the bladder, such as kidney stones. The species name, urticifolia, means it has nettle-like leaves.
More Information: Friends of the Wildflower Garden
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/6/19
Observation Time: 2:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Near Beaver Brook
Common Name: White Wood Aster
Scientific Name: Eurybia divaricata
Comments: Eurybia divaricata is native to Eastern U.S. and typically grows in the wild in dry open woods. It grows in loose clumps with dark, sprawling, sometimes zigzag stems up to 2.5′ tall. Distinctive leaves are heart-shaped, stalked and coarsely toothed. Small but abundant flowers (to 1 inch across) have white rays and yellow to red center disks and appear in flat-topped, terminal clusters in late summer to early fall. Attractive to butterflies.
More information: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/25/23
Observation Time: 7:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: White-edged Sedge
Scientific Name: Carex debilis
Comments: The drooping seed stalks are characteristic.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/14/09
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Trustees of Reservations land
Common Name: Whorled Loosestrife
Scientific Name: Lysimachia quadrifolia
More Information: Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake
3 Whorls:
4 Whorls:
5 Whorls:
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/4/20
Observation Time: 1:10 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (in the woods)
Common Name: Whorled Wood Aster
Scientific Name: Oclemena acuminata
Comments: Whorled Wood Asters are among the relatively few woodland wildflowers that bloom in late summer and early fall.
Note the pure gold-green sweat bee feeding on the blossoms.
More information: Wildflowers of the Adirondacks
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/21/16
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Kendall Estate, Moose Hill Street
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/23/18
Observation Time: 9:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/26/19
Observation Time: 2:45 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America.
More Information: USDA Forest Service
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/5/11
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Kendall Estate, Moose Hill Street
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/7/20
Observation Time: 5:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Conservation land at Morse & Lakeview
Common Name: Wild Grapes
Scientific Name: Vitis spp.
Comments: Wild grapevines are native to eastern North America.
I smelled these wild grapes before I saw the grapevine laden with purple fruit climbing a tree beside the trail.
Be careful not to confuse wild grapes, which are edible, with Canadian Moon Seeds, which are poisonous.
More Information: Identifying Wild Grapes or Gardening Knowhow
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/6/11
Observation Time: 2:20 p.m.
Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: Wild Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
Comments: It is a perennial upright bushy plant with attractive foliage. Blossoms in mid-summer are bright yellow. Seed heads turn a deep indigo color providing winter interest.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/22/15
Observation Time: 5:00 p.m.
Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: Wild Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
Comments: It is a perennial upright bushy plant with attractive foliage and yellow blossoms. Seed heads turn a deep indigo color providing winter interest.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/9/13
Observation Time: 2:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area
Common Name: Wild Iris
Scientific Name: Iris virginica shrevei
Comments: These gorgeous flowers bloom in spring around Sharon. These are also known as Harlequin Blueflag and Northern Blue Flag. Look for them in swamps, marshes, and wet shorelines from Virginia to Canada. Watch honeybees and native bees land on the large petal, which must look AMAZING in their ultraviolet-shifted vision, and scoot down into the nectary through the roofed-over passage. Sometimes they’ll exit on the side if they are small enough.
More Information: Backyard and Beyond
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/11
Observation Time: 8:35 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot
Common Name: Wild mustard
Scientific Name: Barbarea vulgaris Aiton
Comments: Also called yellow rocket, or early winter cress, introduced from Eurasia.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/7/18
Observation Time: 12:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wild Onion or Crow Garlic
Scientific Name: Allium vineale
Comments: Instead of flowers, they have bulbils, which are miniature sprouts not unlike garlic cloves.
More Information: Wikipedia or GoBotany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/2/13
Observation Time: 12:15 p.m.
Observation Location: woods near Beaver Brook
Common Name: Wild Sarsaparilla
Scientific Name: Aralia nudicaulis
Comments: You might know Sarsaparilla as a sweet soft drink that was first introduced in the 19th century. Wild sarsaparilla is a common plant found in the northern and eastern parts of North America and grows on creeping underground stems. This plant was used as food when hunting or during wars because it was so sustaining. Wild sarsaparilla had a much wider use among native people because of its many medicinal purposes that treated everything from sores to toothaches.
While going through old photos on my computer, I came across this photo of yellow leaves. I opened an app on my cell phone called Seek by iNaturalist and pointed the phone at my computer monitor. The app immediately identified the leaves as wild sarsaparilla.
More Information: Stories from the Wigwam
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/27/23
Observation Time: 3:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) along dirt road under high tension wires
Common Name: Wild strawberry
Scientific Name: Fragaria virginiana
Comments: Found in patches in fields and dry openings, this plant produces tasty strawberries.
More Information: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/31/20
Observation Time: 3:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wild Violet
Scientific Name: Viola odorata
Comments: V. odorata is native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/7/19
Observation Time: 8:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Wild Violet
Scientific Name: Viola odorata
Comments: V. odorata is native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/27/14
Observation Time: 6:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Wisteria
Scientific Name: Wisteria spp.
Comments: Wisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae (Leguminosae), that includes ten species of woody climbing vines that are native to China, Korea, and Japan and as an introduced species to the Eastern United States.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/23/19
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Botanical Trail
Common Name: Witch’s Butter Fungus
Scientific Name: Tremella mesenterica
Comments: Although the species appears to be growing on wood, it is actually a parasite on the (usually hidden) mycelium of a crust fungus.
More Information: MushoomExpert.com
Observer: Kathy Farrell
Observation Date: 10/31/18
Observation Location: Mountain Street area
Common Name: Witchhazel
Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginiana
Comments: Small tree, very common in some areas off Mountain Street. Known for reducing skin inflammations such as acne. Used by Native Americans for dousing sticks to find water. Small yellow blossoms in October. Leaves turn yellow in autumn.
More Information: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/hamamelis_virginiana.shtml
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/19/19
Observation Time: 3:25 p.m.
Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail
Common Name: American Witchhazel
Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginiana
Comments: This specimen was observed in a shady, wooded area near the Sharon Friends of Conservation botanical trail.
More Information: Carolina Nature
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/27/23
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) along dirt road under high tension wires
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/27/23
Observation Time: 4:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
Please do not dig up and transplant wildflowers. They are adapted to the spot where they are growing and typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/6/20
Observation Time: 9:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
More Information: Go Botany
Wood anemones flowers usually have five sepals, but not always.
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/20/20
Observation Time: 10:20 a.m.
Observation Location: near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree
Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis
Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/27/19
Observation Time: 2:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview
Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree
Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis
Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/26/15
Observation Time: 1:40 p.m.
Observation Location: meadow near Morse and Lakeview Streets
Common Name: Yellow Hawkweed
Scientific Name: Hieracium caespitosum
Comments: Yellow hawkweed is native to Europe and was introduced as an ornamental into New York in 1879. It is now a destructive weed of pastureland. It can colonize a wide range of habitats with sandy or gravelly soils.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/13/19
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: near footbridge over Beaver Brook
Common Name: Yellow Patches Mushroom
Scientific Name: Amanita flavoconia
Comments: Amanita flavoconia, commonly known as yellow patches, yellow wart, orange Amanita, or yellow-dust Amanita, is a species of mushroom in the family Amanitaceae. It has an orangish-yellow cap with yellowish-orange patches or warts, a yellowish-orange annulus, and a white to orange stem. Common and widespread throughout eastern North America, Amanita flavoconia grows on the ground in broad-leaved and mixed forests, especially in mycorrhizal association with hemlock.
Mushrooms of the genus Amanita account for most mushroom-related deaths.
More information: iNaturalist
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/17/23
Observation Time: 7:10 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Yellow Star Grass
Scientific Name: Hypoxis hirsuta
Comments: Yellow star-grass is the only native wildflower with a six-petaled yellow blossom.
More Information: U.S. Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/29/14
Observation Time: 12:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Borderland State Park
Common Name: Yellow Star Grass
Scientific Name: Hypoxis hirsuta
Comments: Yellow star-grass is the only native wildflower with a six-petaled yellow blossom.
More Information: U.S. Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/3/10
Observation Time: 9:10 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Yellow Toadflax (a.k.a. Common Toadflax)
Scientific Name: Linaria vulgaris
Comments: Also known as butter and eggs plant or wild snapdragon, this invasive perennial weed from Eurasia thrives in poor soil where there is little competition from larger plants.
More Information: Wikipedia
