I have already noted Common Cinquefoil growing all over the place— it has leaves similar to wild strawberry. This variety has spiky leaves and is less trailing. The leaves are silvery on the underside. Flowering time June to September, so it’s a little early. Rose family. Origin: Eurasia.
Silvery Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)
I originally identified this as maple-leaved viburnum, but with further research, it’s looking like this is High Bush Cranberry — based on the size (and shape) of the flowers relative to the leaves. We’ll know for sure in the fall — cranberries will have edible red fruit and the viburnum will have purple black fruit. This is growing everywhere at Centennial. A low shrub. Native to North America, and not a true cranberry, but a species of viburnum.
High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
I always thought this was called Heart’s Ease. I was wrong! This is common around this area: Lady’s Thumb. The foliage is peppery and bitter so small mammals don’t eat it, but waterbirds and songbirds like the seeds. Buckwheat family.
Lady’s Thumb, Redleg (Polygonum persicaria)
I bought this new camera, but when I was walking at Centennial yesterday, I couldn’t figure out how to really get the macro to work. So I got a tutorial from Alert Technophile Aaron and then went back today to pick up what I missed. And here is the first Crownvetch. It’s not a true vetch, it’s a perennial legume. Native to Africa, Asia and Europe. Toxic to horses!
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
There are a lot of these blooming at Centennial. I was trying to identify them as roses, but actually– they’re blackberries. The canes arch and bend downward to send new roots into the ground. No fragrance. Fruits are seedy and sweet. The nectar, pollen and fruits attract many kinds of bees, flies, beetles, caterpillars, birds and mammals. Also the brambles form shelter for many ground-nesting birds and other small creatures… so the value of this plant to its local ecosystem is high.
Common Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)
Common vetch makes high quality hay! But “bloat is a risk.” I think there are about three kinds of vetch at Centennial. We’ll see. Common vetch has been part of the human diet — as evidenced by carbonized remains at early Neolithic sites in Syria, Turkey, and several other countries. Pea family.
Common Vetch (Vicia sativa)
6 to 40 inches tall. Like dandelions but satanic.
Yellow King-Devil (Hieracium caespitosum)
Just a graceful little flower out in the field at Centennial. Related to Chickweed — the same deeply divided petals.
Stitchwort (Stellaria)
A creeping vine. Will have blackberry-like fruit.
Swamp Dewberry (Rubus hispidus)
The flowers are wind-pollinated, so they attract few insects. A.F. Donna remarked that the flower form is like a little sombrero. Native to Eurasia. Plantain Family.
English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
