Plant – Page 10 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid Scientific Name: Cypripedium acaule Comments: Pink lady’s slippers probably won’t survive if you try to transplant them, so please don’t dig them up. More Information: Wikipedia

Honeysuckle – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Honeysuckle Scientific Name: Lonicera spp. Comments: Bush honeysuckles are invasive deciduous shrubs that grow up to 20 feet tall. There are three species of bush honeysuckle common in the region including tartarian (Lonicera tatarica), Morrow’s (Lonicera morrowii), and Amur (Lonicera maackii). All species are similar in […]

Carolina Silverbell tree – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 10:55 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 […]

American Beech tree – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: American Beech tree Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia Comments: The American Beech is a shade-tolerant species, favoring shade more than other trees, commonly found in forests in the final stage of succession. Ecological succession is essentially the process of forests changing their composition through time; it is a pattern […]

Cinnamon Fern – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 9:40 a.m. Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook Common Name: Cinnamon Fern Scientific Name: Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Comments: The Osmundastrum cinnamomeum fern forms huge clonal colonies in swampy areas. These ferns form massive rootstocks with densely matted, wiry roots. This root mass is an excellent substrate for many epiphytal plants. They are often harvested as osmunda fiber and used […]

Siberian Squill – 5/1/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/1/18 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Siberian Squill Scientific Name: Scilla Siberica Comments: Siberian Squill was brought to this country as an ornamental and is still sold for that purpose, but it has also escaped into the wild and become invasive. It readily spreads itself and is difficult to get rid of, as broken […]

Bloodroot – 5/1/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/1/18 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Bloodroot Scientific Name: Sanguinaria canadensis Comments: Blood-root is an attractive spring ephemeral, traditionally used in cough remedies. However, it has been characterized as unsafe by the United States Food and Drug Administration because of the presence of the toxic alkaloid sanguinarine. This flower drops its petals within […]

Common Blue Violet – 5/5/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/5/18 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Blue Violet Scientific Name: Viola sororia Comments: For information, see: http://thebotanicalhiker.blogspot.com/2015/04/eating-wild-identifying-wild-edible.html

White Pine – 11/10/17

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 11/10/17 Observation time: unknown Observation Location: Moose Hill, Vernal Pool Trail Common Name: White Pine Scientific Name: Pinus strobus Comments: White pines are very common in Sharon. More Information: Wikipedia

Red Chanterelle Mushroom – 7/30/17

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 7/30/2017 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Rattlesnake Hill, Sharon Common Name: Red Chanterelle mushroom (a.k.a. Cinnabar Chanterelle mushroom) Scientific Name: Cantharellus cinnabarinus Comments: Sought after edible mushroom with slight peppery taste and slight apricot aroma. DON’T EAT WILD MUSHROOMS UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THEY ARE NOT POISONOUS! More Information: The Mushroom Forager

Sugar Maple – 5/11/17

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 5/11/17 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill, Billings Loop Common Name: Sugar Maple Tree Scientific Name: Acer saccharum Comments: The two huge sugar maples near the barn on the Billings Loop are called George and Martha because they began life at around the same time as George Washington and his wife Martha. The Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary […]

Ground Pine Club Moss – 1/5/17

Observer: Kathy Farrell Observation Date: 1/5/17 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Path off Mountain Street, Sharon Common Name: Ground Pine Club Moss (a.k.a. Princess Pine) Scientific Name: Lycopodium obscurum Comment: Also known as a “princess pine.” It looks like a baby pine tree, and stays green even in the winter. More Information: Wikipedia

Catalpa Tree – 6/25/16

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/16 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: Maskwonicut Street near Beaver Brook Common name: Catalpa tree Scientific Name: Catalpa speciosa Comments: Large, bell-shaped 2″ white flowers are borne in 4″-8″ long panicles in late spring. The very large, 6″-12″ slightly heart-shaped, leaves turn yellow-greenish or brown in fall. Bean-like seed capsules, 8″-20″ long are green in color changing to brown and […]

Wild Geranium – 5/21/16

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 […]

Puffball mushroom – 9/20/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/20/15 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag (near boat ramp) Common Name: Puffball mushroom Scientific Name: Genus: Calvatia, Bovista and others Comments: There are many kinds of puffballs. Some are edible and some are poisonous. More Information: eattheplanet.org

Virginia Marsh-St. John’s Wort – 8/23/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/23/15 Observation Time: 5:45 p.m. Observation Location: bank of Hammershop Pond at Ames and Cottage Streets. Common Name: Virginia Marsh-St. John’s wort Scientific Name: Triadenum virginicum Comments: Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL). Please do not dig up wildflowers! More Information: Go Botany

Milkweed – 7/22/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/22/15 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Milkweed Scientific Name: Asclepias syriaca Comments: Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed as a food source for their caterpillars. The advent of genetically modified “Roundup-ready” corn and soybeans has facilitated large-scale application of herbicides, reducing the availability of milkweed to migrating monarchs. Hence, the monarch population is in steep decline. […]

Queen Anne’s Lace – 7/22/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/22/15 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Queen Anne’s Lace Scientific Name: Daucus carota Comments: Daucus carota, whose common names include wild carrot, bird’s nest, bishop’s lace, and Queen Anne’s lace (North America), is a white, flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe and southwest Asia, and naturalized to North America and […]

Wild Indigo – 7/22/15

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

Spotted Knapweed – 7/22/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/22/15 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Spotted Knapweed Scientific Name: Centaurea maculosa Comments: Spotted knapweed is poisonous to other plants, creating barren areas where only knapweed grows. It is a threat to pastures and dry ecosystems including prairies and dunes. Can be a skin irritant. More Information: Michigan Invasive Species

Rough-fruited Cinquefoil – 7/13/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/15 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Rough-fruited cinquefoil Scientific Name: Potentilla recta Comments: Also known as sulphur cinquefoil, this wildflower is native to Europe and Asia. Introduced and naturalized in North America. Found along roads and in disturbed sites. Thrives in full sun and tolerates dry conditions. Flowers from June to August. Blossoms have five […]

Spreading Dogbane – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Spreading Dogbane Scientific Name: Apocynum androsaemifolium Comments: Spreading dogbane is common in North America, and is widespread across most of the United States and Canada, and in Alaska, California, and northeast Mexico. The plant is poisonous, due to the cardiac glycosides it contains. Note the ants feeding on the nectar in […]

Blue Toadflax – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Toadflax Scientific Name: Nuttallanthus canadensis Comments: Flowers from April to September. More Information: Conn. Botanical Society

American Groundnut – 7/11/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/15 Observation Time: 1:36 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: American Groundnut Scientific Name: Apios americana Comments: Apios americana is found in every state east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a perennial vine that grows to 10 feet long in wet areas – marshy meadows and thickets, stream and pond banks, and moist woodlands. Both the tuber and the seeds are […]

Deptford Pink – 6/27/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/15 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Deptford Pink Scientific Name: Dianthus armeria Comments: Deptford Pink is an introduced species from Europe. More Information: Maryland Biodiversity Project

« 1 … 8 9 10 11 12 … 15 »