May-2013
Kalmia polifolia Wangenh. is a small shrub occurring in bog habitats in New Hampshire. The flowers are quite interesting. As the stamens of the flowers mature their anthers are inserted into 10 indentations (aka pockets) in the petals. The anthers are held in the pockets until they are mature and a potential pollinator causes them […]
May-2013
Panax trifolius L. is a common, small herbaceous plant occurring along forest edges and in forests. The bisexual flowers are borne in umbels and the fruits are drupes. This is not one of the species commonly used in herbal medicines. It is in the Araliaceae family.
May-2013
Anemone quinquefolia L. is a common, small herbaceous plant occurring along a little stream in the forest near my home. The petal-like structures of these flowers are actually showy, white sepals. It is in the Ranunculaceae family.
I haven’t been able to find any photographs of cleistogamous flowers for Polygala paucifolia Willd. on the internet, so I decided to try to find and photograph some for this Plants of New Hampshire blog. I found some plants today and took some pictures – you will find a couple here. Remember that cleistogamous flowers are […]
May-2013
Polygala paucifolia Willd. is a small herb found on the forest floor. This plant has two types of flowers, above ground, attractive, pinkish or purplish flowers (chasmogamous) and below ground, inconspicuous, white flowers that self (cleistogamous). The above ground flowers have colorful petals, one of which is fringed. The seeds of this plant are ant […]
May-2013
Viburnum lantanoides Michx. is a common, shrub occurring along forest edges and in forests. The flowers along the edge of the inflorescence (an umbel) are sterile and serve to attract pollinators. The fertile flowers are the small flowers in the interior of the inflorescence. It is in the Adoxaceae family.
May-2013
Mitchella repens L. is a common, small herbaceous scrambling plant occurring along forest edges and in forests. These berries are persisting from last year. The inferior ovaries of two flowers were fused to produce this one red berry – actually a drupe. You can see the remnants of the perianth parts of the flower in […]
May-2013
Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb. is a small herbaceous plant occurring in sunny spots along the wooded trail near my home. The flowers are white with club-shaped yellowish petals that produce nectar at the tip (cool…huh?). The name goldthread refers to the golden colored rhizome. It is in the Ranunculaceae family.
May-2013
I spent the early afternoon exploring Ponemah Bog in Amherst. What a beautiful day! The weather was perfect and I had the sanctuary all to myself. I took photos of purple pitcher plants, sundews, larches, and ericads galore. Take a gander at them here…
May-2013
This evening I had a wonderful time speaking with members of the New England Botanical Club. The club was founded in 1895 and the botanists in the society were stuck listening to me chatter on about passionflowers…and they don’t even grow naturally in New England. The meeting was held at The Garden in the Woods […]