Plant – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Ash Tree (diseased) – 5/26/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/26 Observation Time: 6:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Ash Tree (diseased) Scientific Name: genus Fraxinus Comments: This ash tree was killed by emerald ash borer beetles, which have killed millions of ash trees and threaten the future of ash trees. The holes drilled by the ash borer beetles are clearly visible in the second […]

Leopard’s-bane – 5/19/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/26 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Historical Society at 16 High St. Common Name: Leopard’s-bane Scientific Name: Doronicum pardalianches Comments: Leopard’s-bane is a flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, southwest Asia and Siberia. It produces yellow, daisy-like flowerheads in spring and summer. It typically thrives in cool, mountainous regions and […]

Lesser Periwinkle – 4/27/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/27/26 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Lesser Periwinkle Scientific Name: Vinca minor Comments: Also known as dwarf periwinkle and creeping myrtle, this non-native plant comes from Europe. It makes a good groundcover, and it produces lovely purple blossoms in spring and into summer, but once established it spreads and is hard to eradicate. […]

Common Blue Violet – 4/27/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/27/24 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Blue Violet Scientific Name: Viola sororia Comments: The blossoms of common blue violets come in colors ranging from white to purple. More information: Wild Edible

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty – 4/24/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/24/26 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica Comments: Its scientific name honors Colonial Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694–1773). Spring Beauty is classified as an endangered species in Massachusetts. Please do not dig up any wildflowers you may find in Sharon. Wildflowers are adapted to the spot where […]

European Field Pansy – 4/15/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/26 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag St. near Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: European Field Pansy Scientific Name: Viola arvensis Comments: Field pansy is a species of violet. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. On other continents it is an introduced species considered to be a weed that spreads in disturbed and cultivated areas. […]

Red Deadnettle – 4/15/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/26 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag St. by Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Red Deadnettle Scientific Name: Lamium purpureum Comments: Red deadnettle is a common, low-growing plant in the mint family. It is often mistaken for a stinging nettle, but it is harmless and edible, know for its square stems, hairy leaves, and pinish-purple flowers the appear in […]

Catalpa Tree – 6/22/25

Observer: Kathy Farrell Observation Date: 6/22/25 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Off Bay Road Common name: Catalpa tree Scientific Name: Catalpa speciosa Comments: Beautiful catalpa tree flowers, remind me of foxglove. Wonderfully fragrant. Almost same date as last posted SFOC sighting (6/25/16). More Information: Arbor Day Foundation

Franklin Tree – 6/21/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Sharon Historical Society museum building at 16 High St. Common Name: Franklin Tree Scientific Name:Franklinia alatamaha Comments: The Franklin tree is native to the Altamaha River valley in Georgia. It has been extinct in the wild since the early 19th century, but survives as a cultivated ornamental tree. Philadelphia botanists John and William […]

Tall Meadow Rue – 6/21/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 5:11 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Tall Meadow Rue Scientific Name: Thalictrum pubescens Comments: Meadow rue flowers have no petals; the conspicuous part of the flower is the white filaments of the stamens. More Information: Connecticut Botanical Society

Common Mugwort – 6/21/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Common Mugwort Scientific Name: Artemesia vulgaris Comments: Common mugwort is used as a culinary herb and medicinally throughout the world. More Information: Botanical.com and Wikipedia

Hay-scented Fern – 6/21/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Hay-scented Fern Scientific Name: Dennstaedtia punctilobula Comments: Hay-scented fern is very common in Sharon’s woods. It is often found growing in large colonies, forming a green carpet on the forest floor. It can be identified by its lacy, light-green fronds. It can be confused with New York fern, […]

Interrupted Fern – 6/21/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 4:25 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Interrupted fern Scientific Name: Osmunda claytonia Comments: The species name (claytoniana) is a tribute to John Clayton, an 18th century botanist and one of the earliest collectors of plant specimens in what later became the Commonwealth of Virginia. The common name (Interrupted Fern) is a reference to […]

Dame’s Rocket – 5/17/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 6:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dame’s Rocket Scientific Name: Hesperis matronalis Comments: Dame’s rocket is a tall, short-lived perennial, which produces white, pink or purple flowers in the spring. Known for its colorful and fragrant blooms, the plant has been a traditional garden favorite. However, in recent years, Dame’s rocket has gone […]

Bird’s Foot Violet – 5/14/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: under power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: Bird’s foot violets are perennials with five-petaled flowers that bloom from March to June. The flowers are typically blue, but can range from white to purple. They spread by sending out rhizomes. The […]

White Bog Violet – 5/14/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: under power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: White Bog Violet Scientific Name: Viola lanceolata Comments: Viola lanceolata can be found growing in bogs, swamps, wet meadows and along shores in sandy soil. It is a perennial plant that blooms between May and June. More Information: Wikipedia

Yellow Woodsorrel – 5/14/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Yellow Woodsorrel Scientific Name: Oxalis stricta Comments: All parts of the plant are edible,[5] with a distinct tangy flavor (common to all plants in the genus Oxalis). The leaves taste mild, with a similar taste to lemons. Lemon clover is often eaten while hiking or camping. However, […]

Starflower – 5/14/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Starflower Scientific Name: Lysimachia borealis Comments: Formerly known as Trientalis borealis, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in […]

Dogwood – 5/9/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/25 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dogwood Scientific Name: Cornus florida Comments: Cornus is a genus of about 30–60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods or cornels, which can generally be distinguished by their blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark. The species designation “florida” refers to “flowering” […]

Carolina Allspice – 5/8/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/8/25 Observation Time: 7:20 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Allspice Scientific Name: Calycanthus floridus Comments: Also known as Carolina Sweetshrub, this shrub deserves its name. The blossoms are fragrant and the leaves are aromatic when bruised. It’s range has expanded to New England from the middle-Atlantic states as a result of transplantation by humans. […]

Marsh Blue Violet – 5/7/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/25 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Marsh Blue Violet Scientific Name: Viola cucullata Comments: The violets of North America come in two general forms, the stemmed violets and the stemless violets. Stemmed violets produce leaves and flowers on upright stems. Stemless violets produce leaves and flowers from an underground vertical or […]

Carolina Silverbell tree – 5/4/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/25 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Silverbell tree Scientific Name: Halesia carolina Comments: Carolina silverbell is a vigorous, fast-growing deciduous shrub or tree growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 10 m (33 ft) broad, bearing masses of pendent, bell-shaped white flowers which appear in spring. The flowers are followed by green, four-winged fruit. The leaves […]

Wood Anemone –

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/1/25 Observation Time: 8:30 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 […]

Rock Greenshield Lichen – 4/23/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/10 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Rock Greenshield Lichen Scientific Name: Flavoparmelia caperata Comments: Lichens actually consist of two life forms – algae and fungi – living together symbiotically. The algae provides sugars by photosynthesis. The lichen provides the structure and nutrients from the rock or other substrate upon which it grows. The rock […]

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty – 4/23/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/23/25 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Common Name: Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica Comments: Its scientific name honors Colonial Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694–1773). Spring Beauty is an endangered species in Massachusetts. Please do not dig up any wildflowers you may find in Sharon. Wildflowers are adapted to the spot where they are growing, and often do […]

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