Trillium plants can be divided into two groups: the kind where the flower is on a stem either above the leaves or curving under them (pedicellate) and the kind where the flower arised directly from the leaves with no stem (sessile). These are sessile. They have a lemony fragrance. Lily family. Native to more southern regions, and here, found looking very robust in a woodland garden.
Yellow Trillium (Trillium luteum)
I saw these maroon wake-robins and some yellow trilliums not in any wild woods, but in a Needham woman’s woodland garden (a spectacular stop on the Needham Garden Tour). But they’re native wildflowers and they’re (mostly finished) blooming, so here they are. Picking a trillium seriously hurts the plant, because then it can’t produce food for the next year. It takes many years to recover. Trillium seeds are spread by ANTS! Ants are attracted to the decaying ovary, take the seeds to their nests, eat the spongy “elaisosome” part of the seeds, and discard the rest of the seeds, which then germinate in the ant compost heap. Lily family. Native.
Wake-robin, Purple Trillium, Birthroot (Trillium erectum)
This is growing near the pond at Centennial. It’s native to the southeastern U.S…. The inner bark is mildly scented, like bay laurel. The flowers have a vanilla scent. This species was collected in 1678 and sent to England, and was the first kind of magnolia cultivated in England.
Sweetbay Magnolia, Swamp Magnolia, Beaver Tree (Magnolia virginiana)
These are very showy right now. Native to the Americas. This part is called a spore-bearing frond. This kind of fern is considered a living fossil because it occurs in the geologic record 75 million years ago.
Cinnmon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum)
Bonus picture: Lucy said, she always has to wait for me to take pictures; maybe I could wait a little bit while she checks for critters in this stump…
Yarrow is a medicinal herb. Used to treat cramping muscles, reducing fever or “help with relaxing.” “In antiquity, yarrow was known as herbal militaris,” for its use staunching bleeding from wounds. It is an astringent. Note the feathery leaves. Has a strong sweet scent. Family Asteraceae, native to North America.
Yarrow, Nosebleed plant, devil’s nettle, soldier’s woundwort (Achillea millefolium)
Has a berry that changes from green to yellow to orange to red when fully ripe. The berry is poison to humans and livestock, but edible for birds! The foliage is also poisonous to humans. When I was a little kid, this was growing in the backyard where I played. It must have been dramatically impressed on me that it was DEADLY POISON, because I’ve always had a sense of respect for its power, a viper in the domestic landscape. In the potato genus Solanum. Invasive, native to Europe and Asia.
Bittersweet Nightshade, Felonwood, Poisonberry (Solanum dulcamara)
Was introduced to the eastern U.S. in 1866 as rootstock for ornamental roses. Then was widely used as living fences, for erosion control, etc. til it became considered a pest in natural ecosystems. Hm. Designated a noxious weed in several states. The fruits (hips) are eaten by many kinds of birds. Beautiful.
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
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)
