Plant – Page 9 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Skunk Cabbage – 4/16/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/16/19 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Skunk Cabbage Scientific Name: Symplocarpus foetidus Comments: Skunk cabbages are among the first plants to emerge in early spring. They can maintain an internal temperature significantly warmer than the surrounding air – as much as 15-35 degrees warmer – by consuming carbohydrates stored in their fleshy rhizomes. […]

Rock-shield Lichen – 4/16/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/16/19 Observation Time: 12:55 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Rock-shield Lichen Scientific Name: Xanthoparmelia sp. Comments: A 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 carbohydrates produced by the algae or cyanobacteria via photosynthesis. […]

White Pine – 12/20/18

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 12/20/18 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Conservation trail near the lake (dog park trail) Common Name: White Pine Scientific Name: Pinus strobus Comments: White pines can live over 500 years and grow to more than 150 feet tall. More Information: Wikipedia O

Christmas Fern – 10/31/18

Observer: Kathy Farrell Observation Date: 10/31/18 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Off Mountain Street, off Bay Rd. Common Name: Evergreen Fern, or Christmas Fern Scientific Name: Polystichum acrostichoides Comments: One of the commonest ferns in eastern North America, being found in moist and shady habitats in woodlands, rocky slopes, and stream banks. The common name derives from the evergreen fronds which are often still green at Christmas […]

Witchhazel Tree – 10/31/18

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

Rock Tripe – 10/30/18

Observer: Kathy Farrell Observation Date: 10/30/2018 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Mountain Street Common Name: Rock Tripe lichen Scientific Name: Umbilicaria mammulata Comments: This lichen is edible (after boiling several times). It is considered to be “starvation food.” There are stories of George Washington’s troops eating it when they had nothing else. I found it in a rocky cliff area. More Information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxqLRmK03c and https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2010/04/ruminations-on-rock-tripe.html

Joe Pye Weed – 8/15/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/18 Observation Time: 1:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Joe Pye Weed Scientific Name: Eupatorium purpureum Comments: Joe Pye weed is an herbaceous, late-blooming perennial native to much of the U.S. It is a wildflower and an herb that was used as an herbal remedy to lower fevers and other maladies. The plant goes by the […]

Amanita Mushroom – 8/15/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/18 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Amanita mushroom Scientific Name: Amanita sp. Comments: The genus of this mushroom is probably Amanita, but it’s hard to say which of the numerous species of Amanita this is. Mushrooms of the genus Amanita account for most mushroom-related deaths. More information: MushroomExpert.com

Butternut (White Walnut) – 7/7/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Butternut (White Walnut) Scientific Name: Juglans cinerea Comments: Butternut is a deciduous tree growing to 20 m (66 ft) tall, rarely 40 m (130 ft). Butternut is a slow-growing species, and rarely lives longer than 75 years. It has a 40–80 cm (16–31 in) stem diameter, with light gray bark. More Information: Wikipedia and Arbor Day Foundation

Tall Meadow Rue – 7/7/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 3:10 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

Wild Onion – 7/7/18

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

Reed Canary Grass – 7/7/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Reed Canary Grass Scientific Name: Phalaris arundinacea Comments: Reed canary grass has become invasive or problematic in New England and across North America, and the invasive plants may be the Eurasian genotype. More Information: GoBotany

Bracken Fern – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 9:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Bracken Fern Scientific Name: Pteridium aquilinum Comments: Bracken fern often becomes dominant after disturbances such as fire, logging and grazing due to its deep rhizome. Humans have used bracken fern for thatch, livestock, bedding, and food, though it does contain some toxic compounds. More Information: Go Botany

Poison Ivy – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 9:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Poison Ivy Scientific Name: Toxicodendron radicans Comments: Everyone should learn to identify poison ivy and avoid contact with its glossy, notched leaves. As both its common name and its scientific name suggest, the triplicate leaves of this plant can cause an intensely itchy rash that lasts for weeks. […]

Wild Geranium – 5/23/18

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 […]

Dandelion – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dandelion Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale Comments: Native to Europe, it has spread nearly worldwide. The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The taproot can be boiled and eaten or dried and ground as a base for a hot drink. More Information: Go Botany

Autumn Olive – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Autumn Olive Scientific Name: Elaeagnus umbellata Comments: Autumn-olive is a hardy, prolific shrub that thrives in a variety of conditions, in part because it is capable of fixing nitrogen. Some varieties can produce up to 80 pounds (37 kilos) of bright red edible berries in a season, which ripen […]

Common Buttercup – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 8:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Common Buttercup Scientific Name: Ranunculus acris Comments: The Common Buttercup (Ranunculus acris); also called Tall Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup and Blister Plant; is a perennial forb/herb in the Ranunculaceae family. The family and genus names come from the Latin for “little frog” because this family prefers wet areas. It’s […]

Ground Ivy – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 8:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Ground Ivy (a.k.a. “Gill-over-the-ground”) Scientific Name: Glechoma hederacea Comments: Commonly known as ground-ivy, gill-over-the-ground, creeping charlie, alehoof, tunhoof, catsfoot, field balm, and run-away-robin, it has numerous medicinal uses, and is used as a salad green in many countries. European settlers carried it around the world, and it has become a well-established […]

Rattlesnake Root – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 8:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Rattlesnake Root Scientific Name: Prenanthes sp. Comments: Roots look like the rattle of a rattlesnake. More Information: Youtube

Sensitive Fern – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 7:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings loop) Common Name: Sensitive Fern Scientific Name: Onoclea sensibilis Comments: The susceptibility to frost of the sterile fronds gives sensitive fern its name. It spreads rapidly and can form large colonies. The spores are not released until the spring following the season in which the fertile fronds are produced. More […]

Hay-scented Fern – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 6:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings loop) Common Name: Hay-scented Fern Scientific Name: Dennstaedtia punctilobula Comments: Hay-scented fern is very common in Sharon. 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 […]

Starflower – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 9:35 a.m. Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook Common Name: Starflower Scientific Name: Trientalis borealis Comments: This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May. Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation. More Information: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Atlantic White Cedar tree – 5/22/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 9:35 a.m. Observation Location: banks of Beaver Brook (upstream of the tennis courts) Common Name: Atlantic White Cedar tree Scientific Name: Chamaecyparis thyoides Comments: Atlantic White Cedars live almost exclusively in freshwater wetlands and are considered an obligate wetland species. They prefer habitats where the soil is saturated with water at least during the majority of the growing season. Though this tree […]

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

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