Common, Evening Primrose

Oenothera biennis

Family Onagracea

This night blooming flower is of the Evening-Primrose family, although not a true primrose.  It reminded early colonizers from Europe of the primroses back home and was named hence. Two species exist in North America of similar qualities, Common and Sundrop.

The Common Evening-Primrose opens a series of bright, lemon scented blooms at dusk every evening and the blooms from the night before begin it wither. The stalk, when dried is sometimes used in floral arrangements.

It is pollinated in the dark by night-flying insects, such as hawkmoths and during the daylight hours by hummingbirds. Birds love it’s seed during the winter months and humans have eaten the root like one would eat a potato, the crushed root made into a poultice for boils, a poultice of the entire plant was applied to treat bruises, and to aid in the discounts of menstruation. The young leaves and shoots are gathered and boiled and a tea was steeped to treat laziness.  It is harvested commercially to produce fatyy oils containing useful acids that are found in vitamin supplemints. It is known in some areas as “King’s Cure-All”.

This plant will grow in open sun, well drained soils, dry habitats, or alongside roads. It is a biennial plant and will need a full year in leaf alone before it blooms the following year. It will spread and in such cases might be considered “Hog Weed” or “Weedy Evening-Primrose”.

To propagate, collect seed from pods that will open in October. It will take 4 weeks for the seeds to germinate, but take note that this plant is considered invasive in some areas and spreads quickly with ease.

Sources:

Peterson, Roger, Peterson First Guides, Wildflowers 1986

Seymour, Jacqueline, Wildflowers

Burn, Barabara North American Wildflowers 1984

Immel, Diana Common Evening Primrose 2001 https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_oebi.pdf July 28, 2017

 

 

 

Partridge Pea, Large Sensitive-Plant

Chamaecrista fasciculate

Of the Fabaceae family, this sandy soil loving plant begins it’s blooming in July and continues until September. The Leaves are cut compound and somewhat sensitive to the touch, as well as the bloom which will slightly close when touched.   Though not a popular cut wildflower persa, it is a favorite in native flower gardens due to it’s showy, bright blooms. It is a prize pollinator and is known as a “honey plant”.  The nectar itself is not in the flowers, it is found at the base of each leaf.  It is a favorite nursery location for butterfly eggs.

Prolific, it serves as a dense groundcover for roaming fowl and small animals.  Bobwhite’s eat the protein enriched seed in the fall and into the late winter/early spring. The seed doesn’t leave the plant easily so the quail, mice ,and deer have easy access. Deer find this plant relativity digestible, livestock, on the contrary, should not overindulge in this plant, fresh or dried in hay. In large amounts it is toxic. Human use has consisted of  Native American medicine for anti-nausea and as a stimulant.

In this year’s pollinator planting sites on the Monongahela National Forest, the Partridge Pea is the first to take off from see be visibly successful. This is not surprising since it is a pioneer plant in disturbed soils. It also is a excellent root plant to slow down erosion, as well as adding nitrogen back into the soil during the flowering stage. Like plants, Wild Sensitive and Wild Sienna, which have inverse leaf to bloom sizing. Photo is by K.Roberts and was taken late July, 2017 on the Monongahela National Forest.

Sources:

Peterson, Roger, Wildflowers,1986

Peterson, Roger and Mckenny, A Fieldguide to Wildflowers, 1962

Smith, James E, 2006 Partridge Pea https://www.plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_chfa2.pdf . July 28, 2017

 

 

 

 

Goldenrod

Goldenrod, solidago photo by K. ROberts

Solidago

From the Latin, solido, “to make entire”.  Goldenrods, of the Asteraceae, aster family, are a tall standing plant with showy, bright yellow tops. Some species of Goldenrod, which there are 100-120, have been thought to have medicinal benefits, but this has with time turned out to be rumor alone. The Native Americans used the flowers to treat sore throat by chewing on them, Sweet Goldenrod was listed as a stimulant and diaphoretic in the U.S.Pharmacopoeia in the early 1800s, and it has also been crushed and added to lotions to treat bee stings.  It is often, ironically, thought to be the culprit of late summer allergies. However, it is often a nearby ragweed causing such a sneeze, since Goldenrod’s pollen is quite sticky and not too quick to travel from anther.

Goldenrods pollen contains a small amount of rubber. This odditiy, theorized by Thomas Edison, could be a ecomnimical source of substance. In modern times, this theory is taking root and being further explored. Goldenrods are thought to be visited and pollinated by more than 100 species of insects, bubblebees, praying mantis and more. The blooms that emerge in mid July and tapper off in early November, lure in all sorts with their bright yellow flowers, (small but quite showy) packed into clusters.

Leaves are arranged alternatively on a three to seven foot stem. This perennial, propagates by root divisin in spring or autmumn and will perform fine in ordinary garden soil. Seeds are dispersed by wind. In the Northeast, it can be found along roadsides, in hayfields, and in dryer woodland areas that get plenty of sunshine. Different species of Goldenrod grow around the world, some in marshes others in desserts. These plants share many characteristics with the sunflower, Helianthus, family which attributes to characterisitcs such as height.

Sources:

Brown, Deni, Encyclopedia of Herbs, 1995

Burn, Barbara, North American Wildflowers, 1984

Adkins, Leonard, Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail, 1999

 

Elderberry, Elderflower

Sambucus Canadensis

Member of the honeysuckle, Adoxaceae, or commonly known Moschatel, family this fragrant flower is often sought out by foragers for it’s berry arriving later in the summer that is used to make jam or wine. The flower, however, is also prized for it’s many uses.  Though very tiny, this trumpet shaped bloom,  was loved by gypsies and holy men alike. From the genus Sambucus, which consists of 20 species of small perennial shrubs and trees,  been used to sooth irritated skin, lower fever, as a element in ritualistic practices, as a antiseptic, diuretic and more  throughout the years. The plant name is derived from the Greek: sambuke– musical pipe, from which the wood of the elder was commonly used to make. “All must tip their hat to this tree is passed”, states old, German folklore and has, no wonder,  been referred to as “the medicine chest of the people”. The flowers also have culinary value in addition to the medicinal element. They can be fried in batter making fritters, stewed and added to jams, boiled down to make a cordial (elderberry rob) or used to make white wine known as “elderberry champagne”.

Elderberry Rob Recipe 

sources: Brown, Deni (1995) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses

Burn, Barbara (1984)  North American Wildflowers

Bee Balm, Oswego-Tea

K. Roberts, Monongahela National Forest, WV

 

Monardo didyma

Monardo, Mint Family, contains 12 species of annuals, perennials and shrubs. M. didyma is likely found in damp, wet places with rich soil such as thickets or streambanks. Blooms late June-Sept. Leaves were used by Native Americans to treat fever and chills. Early colonists used it as a subsitiute for imported tea and coined the name Oswego tea,  for the Oswego Indians of New York state. Blooms have been used to scent perfumes, add flavor in cooking and color accents to salads. Has a square stem, like others in the mint family. Construction suits the long bill of the hummingbird who are called in by the brilliant scarlet red blossom.

sources:

Adkins, L. and Cook, J. and M. (1999) Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail

Peterson, R. and McKenny, M. (1968) Wildflowers

Burn, B. (1984) North American Wildflowers