Plant IdentificationPlant Identification

Reviewing Some of the Common Plants Reviewing Some of the Common Plants Found on the SMSL - SM South HSFound on the SMSL - SM South HS

Environmental Science I – Fall 08-09Environmental Science I – Fall 08-09

The GrassesThe Grasses

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredks/86565746/

Foxtail Foxtail ((SetariaSetaria sp. sp.))

Flower head a series Flower head a series of dense spikes.of dense spikes.

Head floppy, drupes Head floppy, drupes easily like a “fox tail”.easily like a “fox tail”.

From http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_foxtl.htm

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/giantfoxtail.html

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/giantfoxtail.html

Side Oats Grama Side Oats Grama ((BoutelouaBouteloua curtipendulacurtipendula))

Its spikelets have an Its spikelets have an oat-like resemblanceoat-like resemblance

Spikelets Appear to Spikelets Appear to come off one side of come off one side of the panicle branch. the panicle branch.

10 - 40 inches tall.10 - 40 inches tall.

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/ Spikelets

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/sideoats.html

Purpletop Purpletop ((TridensTridens flavusflavus))

Its inflorescence is Its inflorescence is purple. purple.

It has four to seven It has four to seven florets per spikelet.florets per spikelet.

2 to 5 feet tall2 to 5 feet tall

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

Big Bluestem Big Bluestem ((Andropogon gerardiiAndropogon gerardii ) )

Can be quite tall. Can be quite tall. (2 to 6 feet)(2 to 6 feet)

One of the big grasses One of the big grasses on the prairie.on the prairie.

Inflorescence often Inflorescence often resembles a turkey resembles a turkey foot. foot.

The base of the plant The base of the plant is typically hairy is typically hairy

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

Turkey Foot

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/bigbluestem.html

Indian Grass Indian Grass ((SorghastrumSorghastrum nutansnutans ))

Inflorescence looks Inflorescence looks like a big paint brush.like a big paint brush.

The leaves are broad The leaves are broad with a blue-green with a blue-green color. color.

One of the big One of the big grasses on the grasses on the prairie.prairie.

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

The ligules/auricles The ligules/auricles take on the take on the appearance of rabbit appearance of rabbit ears,ears,

Paint BrushPaint Brush

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

Little Bluestem Little Bluestem ((SchizachyriumSchizachyrium scopariumscoparium))

20 to 60 inches tall.20 to 60 inches tall. Greenish-blue to Greenish-blue to

purplish.purplish. Branching above, Branching above,

leafy base.leafy base. Inflorescence form Inflorescence form

wind blown seed wind blown seed tufts.tufts.

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/littlebluestem.html

Inflorescence Spikelets

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/littlebluestem.html

Broadleaf & Broadleaf & Herbaceous PlantsHerbaceous Plants

Mullien Mullien ((VerbascumVerbascum thapsusthapsus))

3 - 8 feet tall.3 - 8 feet tall. Single erect stemSingle erect stem Leaves large and Leaves large and

covered by fine soft covered by fine soft hairs. Woolyhairs. Wooly ““Natures Toilet Paper”Natures Toilet Paper”

Leaves form rosette at Leaves form rosette at base and up stembase and up stem

Long flower spike at Long flower spike at top of stemtop of stem

Yellow flowersYellow flowers

Wing StemWing Stem Wings on sides of Wings on sides of

stems.stems.

Yellow flowers.Yellow flowers.

Tall plants.Tall plants.

One stalk that One stalk that branches at top.branches at top.

Narrow, rough leaves Narrow, rough leaves up to 6 inches long.up to 6 inches long.

Golden Rod Golden Rod ((SolidagoSolidago sp.) sp.)

Flowers yellowFlowers yellow

Inflorescence usually Inflorescence usually wider than it is tall, with wider than it is tall, with numerous tiny flowering numerous tiny flowering heads on the upper side of heads on the upper side of curving branches.curving branches.

Stem is green toStem is green to Reddish-Reddish-green, single or clustered, green, single or clustered, usually erect.usually erect.

Leaves lanceolate, 2 to 5 Leaves lanceolate, 2 to 5 inches long inches long

From http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/default.asp

From epod.usra.edu From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/missourigold.html

Poison Ivy Poison Ivy ((TToxicodendronoxicodendron radicansradicans ) )

3-leaflets.3-leaflets.

Petiole often reddish.Petiole often reddish.

Leaflets kind of Leaflets kind of triangular with side triangular with side notch.notch.

““If it’s 3 let it be”If it’s 3 let it be”

Note the Red Petiole

White Berries

Ragweed Ragweed ((AmbrosiaAmbrosia artemisiifolia)artemisiifolia)

Leaves finely Leaves finely

divided.divided. Green flower buds Green flower buds

at end of stems.at end of stems. Inconspicuous Inconspicuous

flowers.flowers. Find in sunny areas.Find in sunny areas.

Cattail Cattail ((TyphaTypha latifolialatifolia))

Leaves are large Leaves are large spear-shaped. spear-shaped.

Stalks are topped Stalks are topped with hotdog-shaped, with hotdog-shaped, dark brown flower tuff dark brown flower tuff which turns into fluff which turns into fluff in the fallin the fall

Grows at edge of Grows at edge of pond in thick stands. pond in thick stands.

From www.bio.brandeis.edu/.../Common_Cattail.html

Milkweed Milkweed ((AsclepiasAsclepias syriacasyriaca))

Grows up to six feet tall. Grows up to six feet tall. Has large, broad leaves, Has large, broad leaves,

usually four to ten inches usually four to ten inches long. long.

Flowers are Flowers are pinkish-purple clusters which often droop.often droop.

Fruits are large green Fruits are large green pods which turn brown pods which turn brown before bursting open to before bursting open to let out fluffy seeds.let out fluffy seeds.

Sap is milky white.Sap is milky white.From http://biology.missouristate.edu/Herbarium/default.htm

From http://biology.missouristate.edu/Herbarium/default.htm

Flowers in the spring

Tick Trefoil Tick Trefoil ((DesmodiumDesmodium canescenscanescens))

3 leaflets.3 leaflets.

Small plant.Small plant.

Purple flowersPurple flowers

Found in sunny Found in sunny areasareas

From http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/default.asp

Thistle Thistle Leaves with sharp Leaves with sharp

spines or prickles on spines or prickles on the margins.the margins.

Their prickles often Their prickles often occur all over the occur all over the plant, including on plant, including on the stem and flat the stem and flat parts of the leaf.parts of the leaf.

Purple flowers. Purple flowers. From http://weeds.hotmeal.net/weeds/List_B_Part2.html

Butterflies love thistle.Butterflies love thistle.

Ironweed Ironweed ((Vernonia Vernonia sp.)sp.)

Narrow leaves.Narrow leaves.

Central stalk, Central stalk, branches at the top.branches at the top.

Purple flowers.Purple flowers.

Stem very tough, Stem very tough, hard to cut.hard to cut.

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

From http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/

Horse Nettle Horse Nettle ((SolanumSolanum carolinensecarolinense))

Prickly stems and Prickly stems and leaves. leaves.

Yellow fruit that Yellow fruit that resembles little resembles little tomatoes. tomatoes. But But poisonous.poisonous.

White flowers with White flowers with yellow stamens.yellow stamens. From http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/plants/slides/2101lg.jpg

From www.esc.rutgers.edu/.../Poisonous_Plants.htm

From www.esc.rutgers.edu/.../Poisonous_Plants.htm

Joe-pye Weed Joe-pye Weed ((EupatoriumEupatorium altissimumaltissimum))

Also known as Also known as Tall Boneset.Tall Boneset.

2 - 6 feet tall.2 - 6 feet tall.

Flowers white.Flowers white.

Leaves attach to stem Leaves attach to stem oppositely.oppositely.

The plant has a gray-The plant has a gray-green coloration due to green coloration due to the fine hairs on the the fine hairs on the stem and leaves.stem and leaves.

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/joepye.html

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/joepye.html

Forest Dwelling Forest Dwelling Woody PlantsWoody Plants

Buck BrushBuck Brush

Thin branchesThin branches Leaves in Opposite Leaves in Opposite

pairs.pairs. Little bunches of Little bunches of

berries at base of berries at base of leaves in the fall.leaves in the fall.

Goose Berry Goose Berry ((RibesRibes sp.) sp.)

Leaves look like little Leaves look like little maple leaves but maple leaves but more dividedmore divided

Branches covered Branches covered with sharp spines.with sharp spines.

Green fruits form on Green fruits form on underside of underside of branches.branches.

From http://mnhc.ucsc.edu/gooseberry.html

From http://mnhc.ucsc.edu/gooseberry.html

VinesVines

Grape Grape ((VincaVinca sp.) sp.)

Leaves large and Leaves large and heart shaped with heart shaped with three points.three points.

Often growing high in Often growing high in trees and over trees and over shrubs.shrubs.

Green fruits in late Green fruits in late summer and fall, summer and fall, turning purple as turning purple as ripen.ripen.

From http://homepage.mac.com/cohora/plants/grape.html

Virginia Creeper Virginia Creeper ((ParthenocissusParthenocissus quinquefolia)quinquefolia)

5-leaflets per leaflets 5-leaflets per leaflets instead of three.instead of three.

Toothy edges to Toothy edges to leaflets.leaflets.

Bottom of each Bottom of each leaflet is often leaflet is often wedge-shaped.wedge-shaped.

Leaflets may taper Leaflets may taper abruptly into a short abruptly into a short blunt tip, blunt tip,

Which is which?Which is which?

Poison Ivy Virginia Creeper

Trumpet Creeper Trumpet Creeper ((CampsisCampsis

radicansradicans)) Large leaves with toothy Large leaves with toothy

leaflets 3–10 cm long.leaflets 3–10 cm long. Emerald green when Emerald green when

new, maturing into a new, maturing into a dark green. dark green.

The flowers orange to The flowers orange to red in color, trumpet red in color, trumpet shaped.shaped.

The plant as a whole The plant as a whole may grow to 10 meters may grow to 10 meters in height.in height.

The flowers are very The flowers are very attractive to attractive to hummingbirds.hummingbirds.

From http://www.hramornursery.com/images/TrumpetVine.jpg

From http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/trumpetvine.html

Some useful websitesSome useful websites KSU Wildflower Visual CollectionKSU Wildflower Visual Collection

http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/

Missouri Wildflower GuideMissouri Wildflower Guide

http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/default.asp