Plant Index

Common	Scientific	Ed	Med	Poi	Util	Imp	Img
Agrimony	Agrimonia gryposepala						3
Ailanthus	Ailanthus altissima						16
Amaranth	Amaranthus						7
Angelica	Angelica atropurpurea						4
Aspen, Bigtooth	Populus grandidentata						1
Aspen, Quaking	Populus tremuloides						9
Autumn Olive	Elaeagnus umbellata						3
Bamboo							1
Basil	Ocimum gratissimum						3
Basswood, American	Tilia americana						4
Beach Greens	Arenaria peploides						4
Beach Rye Grass	Elymus arenarius						3
Beech, American	Fagus grandifolia						4
Bergamot, Wild	Monarda fistulosa						4
Bindweed, Hedge	Convovulus sepium						2
Birch, Sweet	Betula lenta						8
Black Walnut	Juglans nigra						4
Bloodroot	Sanguinaria canadensis						6
Bluebells	Mertensia paniculata						3
Bluebells, Virginia	Mertensia virginica						5
Blueberry	Vaccinium						1
Blue-eyed Grass, Eastern	Sisyrinchium atlanticum						3
Bluets	Houstonia caerulea						2
Boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum						14
Brambles	Rubus spp.						9
Briar, Bull	Smilax bona-nox						2
Briar, Green	Smilax rotundifolia						14
Bugloss, Viper's	Echium vulgare						4
Burdock	Arctium minus						16
Buttercup	Ranunculus bulbosus						3
Butterfly Weed	Asclepias tuberosa						2
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis						12
Cabbage, Skunk	Symplocarpus foetidus						3
Carrot, Wild	Daucus carota						16
Catalpa	Catalpa						3
Catnip	Nepeta cataria						1
Cattail	Typha latifolia						6
Chickweed, Common	Stellaria media						6
Chickweed, Mouse-Ear	Cerastium vulgatum						3
Chicory	Cichorium intybus						10
Chinkapin, Allegheny	Castenea pumila						7
Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana						2
Cinquefoil, Rough-Fruited	Potentilla recta						5
Cleavers	Galium aparine						4
Clover, Rabbit-Foot	Trifolium arvense						4
Clover, Red	Trifolium pratense						6
Clover, White	Trifolium repens						6
Clover, White Sweet	Melilotus alba						6
Clover, Yellow Sweet	Melilotus officinalus						5
Cohosh, Black	Cimicifuga racemosa						4
Coltsfoot	Petasites						4
Columbine, Wild	Aquilegia canadensis						2
Coneflower, Purple	Echinacea						2
Copperleaf	Acalypha virginica						8
Cow Parsnip	Heracleum lanatum						10
Crapemyrtle	Lagerstroemia indica						5
Currant, Northern Red	Ribes triste						2
Daisy, Ox Eye	Chrysanthemum leucanthemum						6
Dame's Violet	Hesperis matronalis						4
Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale						8
Day Flower, Asiatic	Commelina communis						5
Devil's Walkingstick	Aralia spinosa						10
Dock, Arctic	Rumex arcticus						2
Dock, Broadleaf	Rumex						2
Dock, Curly	Rumex crispus						12
Dodder	Cuscuta gronovii						8
Dogbane	Apocynum spp.						24
Dogwood, Dwarf	Cornus canadensis						3
Dogwood, Eastern Flowering	Cornus florida						5
Dogwood, Red Osier	Cornus stolonifera						6
Dogwood, Silky	Cornus amomum						7
Elderberry, Common	Sambucus canadensis						14
Epazote	Chenopodium ambrosioides						12
Evening Primrose, Common	Oenothera biennis						7
Fireweed, Common	Epilobium angustifolium						9
Fireweed, Dwarf	Epilobium latifolium						2
Forget-Me-Not, Alpine	Myosotis alpestris						3
Foxtail Grass	Setaria						2
Garlic, Field	Allium vineale						3
Ginkgo	Ginkgo biloba						4
Ginseng, American	Panax						2
Golden Club	Orontium aquaticum						5
Golden Raintree	Koelreuteria paniculata						12
Goldenrod	Solidago						5
Grape	Vitis spp.						12
Green-headed Coneflower	Rudbeckia laciniata						1
Ground Cedar	Lycopodium complanatum						3
Ground Ivy	Glechoma hederacea						4
Hellebore, False	Veratrum viride						1
Hemlock, Poison	Conium maculatum						24
Hemlock, Water	Cicuta maculata						22
Henbit	Lamium						2
Hickory, Shagbark	Carya ovata						1
Holly, American	Ilex opaca						5
Honeysuckle	Lonicera						4
Horse Nettle	Solanum carolinense						11
Horsetail	Equisetum						4
Horseweed	Conyza canadensis						14
Huckleberry	Vaccinium						1
Hydrangea	Hydrangea macrophylla						4
Hydrangea, Wild	Hydrangea						1
Indian Cucumber	Medeola virginiana						2
Indian Pipe	Monotropa uniflora						4
Indian Tobacco	Lobelia inflata						5
Iris, Yellow	Iris pseudacorus						4
Ivy, English	Hedera helix						15
Ivy, Poison	Toxicodendron radicans						24
Jack-in-the-Pulpit	Arisaema atrorubens						7
Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Small	Arisaema triphyllum						1
Jewelweed, Pale	Imaptiens pallida						4
Jewelweed, Spotted	Impatiens biflora						16
Jimsonweed	Datura wrightii						12
Joe Pye Weed, Hollow	Eupatorium fistulosum						3
Joe-Pye Weed, Spotted	Eupatorium maculatum						3
Lady's Thumb	Polygonum persicaria						9
Lamb's Quarters	Chenopodium album						17
Laurel, Mountain	Kalmia latifolia						9
Lemon Balm							3
Lettuce, Prickly	Lactuca serriola						3
Lilac	Syringa						3
Lily, Day	Hemerocallis fulva						5
Lily, Fragrant Water	Nymphaea odorata						6
Lupine, Nootka	Lupinus nootkatensis						7
Magnolia, Southern	Magnolia grandiflora						5
Magnolia, Star	Magnolia						6
Mallow, Halberd-Leaved Rose	Hibiscus militaris						9
Mallow, Seashore	Kosteletzkya virginica						15
Mallow, Swamp Rose	Hibiscus moscheutos						5
Maple, Japanese	Acer palmatum						9
Maple, Japanese Split Leaf	Acer palmatum						3
Maple, Red	Acer rubrum						21
May Apple	Podophyllum peltatum						7
Medick, Black	Medicago lupulina						1
Milkweed, Common	Asclepias syriaca						23
Milkweed, Swamp	Asclepias incarnata						4
Monkshood	Aconitum delphinifolium						4
Mulberry, White	Morus alba						14
Mullein	Verbascum thapsus						25
Mustard, Field	Brassica rapa						4
Mustard, Garlic	Alliaria petiolata						11
Nettle, Purple Dead	Lamium purpureum						4
Nettle, Stinging	Urtica dioica						8
New England Aster	Aster novae-angliae						2
Nightshade, Bittersweet	Solanum dulcamara						6
Nightshade, Enchanter's	Circaea quadrisulcata						5
Oak, Red	Quercus						10
Oak, White	Quercus						7
Onion, Wild	Allium spp.						1
Oxeye Daisy	Chrysanthemum						3
Parsley	Petroselinum						4
Partridgeberry	Mitchella repens						3
Pawpaw	Asimina triloba						9
Pennsylvania Bittercress	Cardamine pensylvanica						4
Peppergrass, Field	Lepidium campestre						4
Peppermint	Mentha piperita						4
Periwinkle	Vinca minor						4
Phlox, Wild Blue	Phlox divaricata						1
Pickerelweed	Pontederia cordata						9
Pine, Japanese Umbrella							1
Pineapple Weed	Matricaria matricariodes						5
Pinxter Flower	Rhododendron nudiflorum						10
Plantain, Common	Plantago major						11
Plantain, English	Plantago lanceolata						4
Plantain, Rattlesnake	Goodyera pubescens						5
Pokeweed	Phytolacca americana						19
Prickly Pear	Opuntia						5
Princess Tree	Paulownia tomentosa						7
Purslane	Portulaca oleracea						5
Ragweed, Common	Ambrosia artemisifolia						11
Ragweed, Great	Ambrosia trifida						0
Raspberry, Purple Flowering	Rubus odoratus						10
Rattlesnake Weed	Hieracium venosum						6
Redbud	Cercis canadensis						5
Reed	Phragmites communis						4
Rhododendron, Great	Rhododendron maximum						13
Rose, Domestic	Rosa						4
Rose, Multiflora	Rosa multiflora						3
Rosemary	Rosmarinus						1
Rue Anemone	Anemonella thalictroides						1
Rue, Tall Meadow	Thalictrum polygamum						4
Sage	Salvia						2
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum						18
Seagrape	Coccoloba uvifera						6
Seedbox	Ludwigia alternifolia						3
Shepard's Purse	Capsella						4
Silktree	Albizia julibrissin						12
Smartweed, Swamp	Polygonum amphibium						5
Solomon's Seal	Polygonatum biflorum						2
Solomon's Seal, False	Smilacina racemosa						5
Solomon's Seal, Great	Polygonatum canaliculatum						3
Sorrel, Sheep	Rumex acetosella						8
Sorrel, Wood	Oxalis stricta						7
Spearmint	Mentha spicata						5
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin						16
Spring Beauty	Claytonia virginica						6
Squirreltail Grass	Hordeum jubatum						2
Stinging Nettle	Urtica dioica						8
Strawberry, False	Duchesnea indica						2
Strawberry, Wild	Fragaria virginiana						3
Sumac, Staghorn	Rhus glabra						12
Sumac, Winged	Rhus copallina						23
Sweet Cicely	Osmorhiza						6
Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua						9
Sycamore, American	Platanus occidentalis						24
Thistle, Bull	Cirsium vulgare						14
Thistle, Canada	Cirsium arvense						1
Thistle, Nodding	Carduus nutans						7
Thyme	Thymus						1
Toadflax, Yellow	Linaria vulgaris						2
Tomato	Lycopersicon esculentum						4
Trumpet Vine	Campsis radicans						16
Tulip Poplar	Liriodendron tulipifera						21
Tupelo, Black	Nyssa sylvatica						8
Vervain, Blue	Verbena hastata						2
Vervain, White	Verbena urticifolia						3
Vetch, Crown	Coronilla varia						4
Viburnum, Mapleleaf	Viburnum acerifolium						6
Violet, Blue	Viola papilionaceae						12
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus						23
Watercress	Nasturtium officinale						0
Wintercress	Barbarea vulgaris						12
Wintergreen, Spotted	Chimaphila maculata						6
Wisteria	Wisteria						4
Witch Hazel	Hamamelis virginiana						11
Yam, Wild	Dioscorea villosa						8
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium						13
Yew	Taxus						1
Yucca	Yucca filamentosa						13

Random Plant

Thistle, Bull

Cirsium vulgare

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Mulberry Feast

The mulberries around here are ripe and just starting to fall from the trees. The animals are really taking advantage of them. At one white mulberry tree by a pond near me, I have seen, at the same time, canada geese, mallards, grey catbirds, grackles, and grey squirrels all eating together. It's quite a scene.

Appalachian Plants Scouting

This past Saturday I spent some time exploring some land about 10 miles up the Shenandoah River from Harper's Ferry, just off the Appalachian Trail. As a result, you will see some new plants and some new photos from the area. Appalachian upland plants. Sweet birch is awesome, and only found from the mid-Atlantic region to the lower northeast. There is also a really awesome spotted wintergreen image from the trip. Many more plants and images as well.

WildPlantDatabase 3.0 - Major Redesign

During the recent (and ongoing) redesign process, I noticed in the activity log that it had been almost 3 years since I last updated the system. I had been intending to get back to it for a while, and I recently became motivated again to get back to this project. Over the past week, the website has been totally redesigned. The technical infrastructure was completely reworked into a much more stable and efficient system. Of course the look and feel have changed drastically as well. The good news is that I am now able to make updates to the site much more easily, so that should lead to much more frequent updates (without 3 year intervals, for example). The bad news in non-existent. There are more features planned for the future. Work is ongoing.

Great Falls Plant Discoveries - New Plants

I spent some time in Great Falls, VA recently, near the Potomac River. I was able to identify a few new plants in the floodplain area, including Slender Vervain, Swamp Milkweed, and Swamp Smartweed. The river was also unusually low, which allowed me to get pretty far out by using the normally-submerged, but now exposed, rock outcroppings. There were many plants growing on these exposed islands, many of which must be able to survive extended full or partial submersion. Seashore Mallow grew commonly in this environment, along with several other plants I have not yet been able to identify. On one particular outcropping, I found a plant I didn't know, but I managed to narrow it down to some type of Dogwood (Cornus). It was not until the next day, while flipping through a plant book, that I found an aside-reference which allowed me to identify it as a Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum). So, I went back out there later that day, headed down to the river, and jumped from rock to rock until I found the same individual and got some photos.

Genus Polygonaceae: Etymology

The genus Polygonum, within the family polygonaceae, is easily recognized by the evenly-spaced, enlarged, sheathed nodes along the stem, where the angle of growth usually changes slightly. The term 'poly' is, of course, the greek root 'many'. The latter part of the name is from the greek word 'gona', meaning knee or joint. Therefore, this plant is so-named for its many joints. The common term 'polygon' has the exact same root, referring to a figure with 'many joints'.

More Interface Improvements: Plant and Image Tagging

I am in the process of tagging the plants and plant images in the database. I have added a couple new features: 'Browse Plants' and 'Browse Images'. In this way you can search the database by looking for plants of pictures which have been tagged with relevant bits of data. For example, you could look-up a list of all plants tagged with the phrase 'red stem'.

Update (6/8/2009): No you can't. Not anymore anyway. This is no longer the case due to a technical redesign of the system. Perhaps you will be able to do this again later though...

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