Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/23 Observation Time: 3:30 p.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 and underground vertical or […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/23 Observation Time: 7:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Royal Fern Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis Comments: The royal fern belongs to the family Osmundaceae; fossils belonging to this family have been found in rocks of Permian age (230,000,000 years before present), a time when the continents were consolidated into the supercontinent Pangea. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/23 Observation Time: 7:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Marsh Fern Scientific Name: Thelypteris pelustris Comments: This diminutive fern is typically found in wetlands. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/23 Observation Time: 11:20 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Jack-in-the-pulpit Scientific Name: Arisaema triphyllum Comments: Jack-in-the-pulpits grow in largely deciduous forests with plenty of shade. They prefer rich, moist soil and can often be found near wetlands and vernal pools. In the late summer, after the plant’s flower has been pollinated, it produces a large clump of […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/23 Observation Time: 8:00 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 […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/23 Observation Time: 9:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Star of Bethlehem Scientific Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum Comments: The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 12 inches tall, bearing […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/23 Observation Time: 8:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Lily of the Valley Scientific Name: Convallaria majalis Comments: Lily of the Valley is highly poisonous if consumed by humans or other animals. Please do not dig up any wildflowers you may find in Sharon. Please leave them for everyone to enjoy! More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/23 Observation Time: 8:15 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. Please leave them for everyone to enjoy! More Information: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/9/23 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (in wetland) Common Name: Red Chokeberry Scientific Name: Aronia arbutifolia Comments: In eastern North America, two well-known chokeberry species are named after their fruit color, red chokeberry and black chokeberry, plus a purple chokeberry whose origin is a natural hybrid of the two. and Florida Wildflower Foundation More […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/23 Observation Time: 6:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Blue Violet Scientific Name: Viola sororia Comments: These were growing along the driveway leading into the parking lot. Please do not dig up wildflowers. More information: The Botanical Hiker
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/23 Observation Time: 10:15 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 […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/28/23 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Sand Violet (also known as Hookedspur Violet) Scientific Name: Viola adunca Comments: Sand violet grows where the soil has been disrupted and exposed. I saw this one in an eroded area beside a sloping trail. Sand violet is listed as a species of special concern in […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/27/23 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Azure Bluet Scientific Name: Houstonia caerulea Comments: Azure bluets are also know as Quaker ladies. More Information: Wikipedia
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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
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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 […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/23 Observation Time: 1:27 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (my back yard) Common Name: Beard lichen Scientific Name: Usnea strigosa Comments: Also called bushy beard, this epiphytic (i.e. growing on trees) lichen is a composite organism that emerges from algae or cyanobacteria living among the filaments of the fungi in a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship. The fungi benefit from the […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/23 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (bluff overlook) Common Name: Virginia saxifrage Scientific Name: Micranthes virginiensis Comments: The characteristic features of saxifrage are consistent with its alpine provenance and consequent tenacity. A rosette of basal toothed leaves huddle on a rocky substrate to hold fast in the boreal winds that prevail in typical mountain habitats. […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/13/23 Observation Time: 9:00 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. Please leave them for everyone to enjoy! More Information: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and […]
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Observer: Susan Drisko Observation Date: 4/27/2022 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Trillium Scientific Name: Trillium erectum Comments: Native to eastern North America, the red trillium (Trillium erectum) is found on forest floors. Its components surface in groups of three as pointed triple leaves, giving way to three-petalled flowers. Red trillium is mildly toxic to […]
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Observer: Susan Drisko Observation Date: 4/27/2022 Observation Time: 3:35 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Green False Hellebore Scientific Name: Veratrum viride Comments: Green false hellebore, or giant false-helleborine, is native to eastern and western (but not central) North America. It is extremely toxic, and is considered a pest plant by farmers with livestock. The species has acquired a large number […]
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Observer: Susan Drisko Observation Date: 4/27/2022 Observation Time: 1:45 p.m. Observation Location: headwaters of Beaver Brook Common Name: Marsh Marigold Scientific Name: Caltha palustris Comments: Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennialherbaceousplant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodlands in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It typically flowers between April and August. More […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/6/21 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Near the footbridge over Beaver Brook near the outbound train station Common Name: Bear’s Head Tooth Fungus (a.k.a. Lion’s Mane or Comb Tooth) Scientific Name: Hericium americanum Comments: While driving very slowly along the dirt road from the outbound train station parking lot to the footbridge over Beaver Brook, I almost drove past this […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/21 Observation Time: 3:55 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
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/21 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Amur Cork Tree Scientific Name: Phellodendron amurense Comments: Phellodendron amurense is a perennial tree that can grow from 35-45 ft. (10-14 m) tall. The tree has a short trunk with spreading branches. The bark is thick and corky. This tree is demonstrating invasive characteristics in suburban and urban fringe forests. It escapes […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/21 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Black Raspberry Scientific Name: Rubus occidentalis Comments: The black raspberry is related to the red raspberry Rubus idaeus and Rubus strigosus, sharing the white underside of leaves, and fruit that readily detaches from the carpel. Black raspberry grows in disturbed areas and in meadows, often near streams and lakes, trails or […]
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