Have you ever noticed that there is not just one kind of red clover? You can recognize Alsike Clover (above) by the fact that the flower is on a stem without leaves, but Red Clover (below) has the flower always sitting on a doily of leaves. Also, Alsike Clover leaves don’t have the pale markings of Red Clover. Pea family. Native to Europe. Its name is from the Swedish town of Alsike.
Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum)
Edible. All parts taste peppery. The young leaves can be sauteed or eaten in salads, and the young seedpods can be used like black pepper. Mustard family. Native.
Virginia Pepperweed, Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum)
This is in the medicinal garden at Elm Bank. A bee happened to fly through the frame as I was shooting! A perennial herb, native to Europe. Evidently it has historic medicinal uses, especially as a topical ointment, but is poisonous if taken internally. One of the common names was “knitbone.”
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.)
This is a plant I photographed weeks ago (second photo) but couldn’t identify. But recently, it’s gotten some very distinguishing characteristics, namely these leafless vertical seed pods that hug the stem. Plus they’re about 4 to 5 feet tall.
Tower Rockcress, Tower Mustard (Arabis glabra)
A dainty little plant. A Wintergreen. Historic medical use was application of crushed leaves to bruises and injuries to ease pain. A paste of crushed leaves was called a shin plaster, and that’s the name origin. Native.
Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica)
In the Native American garden at Elm Bank. Was grown in early American gardens for making blue dye as a substitute for expensive imported indigo dye. Cherokees used it to make blue dye also. The Osage made an eyewash from the plant. It’s called Blue False Indigo because of its use as a substitute for the Indigo plant which is superior for dye-making. Native to North America, introduced to Britain by 1724. Pea family.
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Okay, this blossom looks similar to Dandelions and also to Yellow King-Devil… but it’s tall with thin basal leaves, and branched stems. Here’s some botany talk: “The plumed pappus is longer than the achene.” An annual introduced from Europe.
Smooth Hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris)
First described in Europe in 1597. Use as a cultivated species noted about 1900. Now a valuable forage crop, but considered invasive in some states. “Bloat is no problem and palatability is fairly high.” — that’s the sort of thing it says on agriculture sites. Bird’s Foot refers to the look of the seed pods… so we’ll find out about that later. Poisonous to humans. This is one of the few plants that have a negative meaning in the language of flowers; it’s associated with revenge!
Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
An annual vine. Can be purple, blue, pink or white. Introduced from South America as an ornamental. Seeds and foliage are mildly toxic. Bindweed family.
Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Smaller flowers than the kind of Dianthus cultivated in gardens, with pale spots on the petals. The name Deptford refers to an area of England where this pink was once common. Annual or biennial. Pink family. Native to Europe.
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
