Dipsacus fullonum commonly known as Teasel is a species of flowering plant known by the common names Fuller’s teasel, Common teasel, Teasel, Venuscup teasle, Wild teasel, Draper’s teasel, Card Teasel, cardère sylvestre, Common Teazle, Fuller’s Teazle, Indian teasel and cut-leaved teasel. The plant is native to Eurasia and North Africa, but it is known in the Americas, southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand as an introduced species and often a noxious weed. The plant belongs to Dipsacus L. genus and Dipsacaceae (Teasel family). Genus name comes from the Greek dipsa meaning thirst (flowering stems are clad with paired leaves whose…
Author: Sylvia
Picea Rubens commonly known as Spruce is an evergreen conifers tree of the genus Picea and in the family Pinaceae. The plant is native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and from New England south in the Adirondack Mountains and Appalachians to western North Carolina. Few of the popular common names of the plant are yellow spruce, West Virginia spruce, eastern spruce, he-balsam, red spruce and blue spruce. Genus name is reportedly derived from the Latin word pix meaning pitch in reference to the sticky resin typically found in spruce bark. Specific epithet both are…
Sweet Clover scientifically known as Melilotus officinalis is an erect, annual, freely branched plant of the legume, or Leguminosae, family. The plant is native to North Africa, Europe as well as the temperate climatic regions of Asia and over the years the herb has been naturalized in North America. Popular and local English names are Casse Lunettes, Common Melilot, Couronne Royale, Field Melilot, Hart’s Tree, Hay Flower, Herbe aux Puces, King’s Clover, Luzerne Bâtarde, Melilot, Mélilot des Champs, Mélilot Commun, Mélilot Jaune, Mélilot Officinal, Mélilot Vulgaire, Meliloti Herba, Meliloto, Melilotus, Petit-Trèfle Jaune, Pratelle, Sweet Lucerne, Sweet Melilot, Tall Melilot, Thé…
Monarda punctata commonly known as Spotted Beebalm is an herbaceous plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The plant is native to eastern Canada, the eastern United States and northeastern Mexico. It is uncommon in the state of Missouri, but has primarily been found in several eastern counties adjacent to the Mississippi River. Few of the common names of the plant are Dotted monarda, Horse-mint, Spotted beebalm, dotted horsemint, American Horsemint, Bee balm, spotted horsemint and Spotted Mint. The genus, Monarda, is an honorary for Spanish botanist Nicholas Monardes (1493-1588) who published a book in several editions on medicinal plants of…
Smooth Solomon’s seal scientifically known as Polygonatum biflorum is a rhizomatous, upright, arching, wildflower which occurs in rich woods throughout the State. The plant belongs to Liliaceae (Lily family) and is native to eastern and central North America. Apart from Smooth Solomon’s seal it is also known as Fragrant Solomon’s Seal, Lady’s Seals, Saint Mary’s Seal, Sealwort, Sigillum Sanctae Mariae, Yu Zhu, Angular Solomon’s Seal, True Solomon’s Seal, Dropberry, Sealroot, American Solomon’s Seal, King Solomon’s Seal, King Solomon’s-seal, Small Solomon’s Seal, Sow’s Teats, He Shou Wu, Mahmeda, Meda, Sow’s tits, David’s harp, Ladder to Heaven, Eurasian Solomon’s Seal and Lady’s…
Lindera benzoin commonly known as Spicebush is a flowering plant in the family Lauraceae. The plant is native to eastern North America, ranging from New York to Ontario in the north, and to Kansas, Texas, and northern Florida in the center and south. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Benjamin Bush, Northern Spicebush, Snap-Wood, Spicebush, Spicewood and Wild Allspice. In 1783, Carl Peter Thunberg honored Johann Linder (1676-1724), a Swedish botanist and physician, by naming the genus Lindera in honor of him. The specific epithet benzoin is an adaptation of the Middle French benjoin (from Arabic…
Thlaspi arvense commonly known as field penny-cress is a foetid Eurasian plant having round flat pods. The plant belongs to mustard family (Brassicaeae), so it is related to common garden crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale, as well as other wild mustard family plants such as Shepherd’s Purse –Capsella bursa-pastoris – Weekly Weeder and Winter Cress. The plant is native to Eurasia, near the Mediterranean, but has spread around much of the world. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Frenchweed, Mithridate mustard, Bastard cress, Fanweed, Field pennycress, Pennycress, Stinkweed, Wild garlic and Fan-weed. The…
Russian sage scientifically known as Perovskia atriplicifolia is a deciduous woody shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae). The plant is native to central Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tibet and grown as a landscaping plant in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones. Although the aromatic shrub is called “sage,” it is not a culinary herb. In fact, the plant contains a chemical that can be toxic in large doses. Apart from Russian Sage it is also known as Russian sage and Afghan-sage. Genus name honors Russian general V. A. Perovski (1794 – c. 1857). Specific epithet means…
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) also known as Prince’s Pine, fragrant wintergreen, is a beautiful perennial plant from the Ericaceae family found in dry forests or sandy soil. The plant is native to Asia, northern parts of Europe and North America. Apart from pipsissewa it is also known as Pyrola umbellate, Winter Green, Butter Winter, Prince’s Pine, King’s Cure, Ground Holly, Love in Winter, Rheumatism Weed, Ground holly, bitter wintergreen, false wintergreen, umbellate wintergreen, Bitter winter, Spotted wintergreen, Chimaphila, Chimaphila corymbosa, Chimaphila umbellata, Chimaphile à Ombelles, Herbe d’Hiver, Herbe à Peigne, King’s Cureall, Pyrole en Ombelle, Common pipsissewa, prince’s pine pyrola, noble…
Pedicularis canadensis commonly known as Lousewort (Pedicularis) is actually a flowering plant in the Orobanchaceae family. It was formerly (and to some still) in the Scrophulariaceae. All the Scrophulariaceae that are partly or fully parasitic on the roots of other plants were moved to this family. The plant is native to Eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to northern Mexico and east to Florida. In Missouri, it typically occurs in dry woods, ridges, meadows and prairies throughout most of the state (Steyermark). It is known by a large variety of different common names including Wood Betony, Beefsteak…
Mitchella repens commonly known as partridgeberry, or Squaw Vine, is the best known plant belonging to the madder family (Rubiaceae). The plant is native to eastern North America. In Missouri, it is native to sandy soils around bluff ledges, bogs and stream banks and in low moist woods in the southeastern part of the state (Steyermark). Some of the popular common names of the plant are two-eyed berry, running fox, Partridgeberry, Twinberry, Squaw Vine, Deerberry, One-berry, Winter Clover, Squawberry and Squawvine. Genus name honors John Mitchell (1711-1768), physician of Virginia, born in Lancaster County, who was a correspondent of Linnaeus.…
Ox-eye daisy scientifically known as Leucanthemum vulgare is a widespread flowering plant native to Europe and the temperate regions of Asia and an introduced plant to North America, Australia and New Zealand. It is a member of the Asteraceae family, the same family as sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Apart from ox eye daisy it is also known as dog daisy, field daisy, marguerite, marguerite daisy, mid-summer daisy, moon daisy, moon-penny, ox-eye daisy, oxeye daisy, poor-land flower, poverty weed, white daisy, white weed, yellow daisy, common daisy, moon daisy, oxe-eye daisy, Great Ox-eye, Goldens, Marguerite, Horse Gowan, Maudlin Daisy, Field Daisy, Dun…
Mahonia aquifolium commonly known as Oregon-grape is a species of flowering plant of barberry family (Berberidaceae). Mahonia aquifolium is native to western North America from British Columbia to California and eastward to Idaho and Montana. It was introduced horticulturally from the Pacific Northwest into Europe in 1822 and is considered an unfamiliar invasive species there, having been particularly successful in central and eastern Germany. M. aquifolium is the state flower of Oregon. It is known by a large variety of different common names including Holly leaved barberry, Holly-leaved Oregon-grape, Mountain grape, Shining Oregon-grape, Tall Oregon-grape, Berberis, holly leaf barberry, mahonia,…
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (formerly Aster novae-angliae L.), commonly known as the New England Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, is actually a flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the Asteraceae family which also includes yarrows, chrysanthemums and sunflowers. The Genus Aster contains over 600 species and thousands of hybrid varieties providing a wide choice to pick from, as they all vary in habit, height, flower color, leaf shape and growing conditions. The plant is native to almost every area in North America east of the Rocky Mountains, but excluding the far north of Canada as well as some of the southern United States. The…
Verbascum Thapsus, the great mullein or common mullein, is a species of mullein native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia, and introduced in the Americas and Australia. It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family of angiosperms. The genus name and several of the many common names for V. Thapsus refer to the dense wooly hairs that cover the surface of its leaves. The soft leaves also give rise to regional names such as ‘cowboy toilet paper’. The plant has a huge number of other names including Aaron’s rod, Adam’s flannel, beggar’s blanket, beggar’s stalk, blanket herb, bullock’s lungwort, candlewick…
Grifola frondosa commonly known as Maitake mushroom is actually a polypore mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oaks. The mushroom is commonly known among English speakers as hen of the woods, hen-of-the-woods, ram’s head and sheep’s head. Maitake actually means dancing mushroom in Japanese and the mushroom is said to have gotten its name after people danced with happiness upon finding it in the wild, such are its incredible healing properties. The mushroom is native to northeast Japan, Europe, Asia, and the eastern side of the North American continent. It grows at the bottom of…
Pulmonaria officinalisis commonly known as Lungwort is an herbaceous evergreen plant of the genus Pulmonaria, belonging to the family Boraginaceae so is a relative of borage, comfrey, the alkanets, fragrant manjack and lasora as well as viper’s bugloss among many others. There is another plant called lungwort, (Lobaria pulmonaria) but that is a moss or lichen which is also called oak moss, because it grows on or under oak trees. The plant is native to damp habitats and coastal areas in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. Apart from Lungwort it is also known as Common lungwort, Jerusalem Sage, Jerusalem…
Lovage scientifically known as, Levisticum officinale, is a tall perennial plant, the sole species in the genus Levisticum, in the family Apiaceae, of which dill, angelica, carrot, celery and parsley are also members of and shares their characteristic aromatic scent and flavor. The plant is native to Mediterranean region of southern Europe and Asia Minor, but can also be found growing throughout central and Southern Europe, parts of Britain, eastern U.S. and Southwestern Asia. Few of the popular common names of the plants are Mountain hemlock, Garden lovage, Bladder seed, Love Parsley, Spring Celery, Old English lovage, Italian and Cornish…
Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia) scientifically known as Grindelia squarrosa is a small North American biennial or short-lived perennial plant which grows to a maximum height of 90 cm (appx. 3 ft.). The plant is native to western and central North America, from British Columbia east to Québec and New England, and south as far as California, Arizona, Chihuahua, and Texas. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae/Sunflower family. Few of the popular common names of the plant are curlycup gumweed, tarweed, resinweed, curly-top gumweed, sticky-heads, gumweed, Field Gumweed, Great Valley Gumweed, Rosinweed, Yerba del Buey, curly-top gumweed, rayless gumweed and broadleaf gumplant.…
Hieracium lachenalii commonly known as Common hawkweed, Greenland hawkweed, royal hawkweed, is a woodland perennial which makes its home in fields and on roadsides. It is a species of plants in the genus of the sunflower family Asteraceae, and closely related to dandelion, chicory, prickly lettuce and sow thistle, which are part of the tribe Cichorieae. The plant is native to Europe but has been recognized as a weed in Australia and parts of North America. Few of the popular common names of the plant are hawkweed, Greenland hawkweed, royal hawkweed, Yellow Hawkweed, Veiny-leaved hawkweed, Rattlesnake weed, Striped Woodwort, devil’s…
Pepino melon scientifically known as Solanum muricatum is a small bush or shrub belonging to the nightshade or Solanaceae, the same family as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers and chili peppers. The plant is native to temperate Andean regions of Colombia, Peru and Chile. Today pepino dulce is cultivated mostly in the mountains of Latin America, in New Zealand, East Africa, East Asia, Australia, in the Canary Islands and in the Mediterranean region. Few of the popular common names of the plant are tree melon, bush melon, melon pear, mellow fruit, pepino dulce, Pepino, Melon Pear, Melon Shrub and pear…
Monotropa uniflora, also known as the ghost plant, Indian pipe, or corpse plant, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to temperate regions of Asia, North America and northern South America, but with large gaps between areas. The plant was previously classified in the family Monotropaceae, however, it has now been included within the Ericaceae. It is normally scarce or rare in occurrence. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Indian pipe, Corpse Plant, Ice Plant, Death Plant, Bird’s Nest, Fit-plant, Ova-ova, Pipe-plant, Ghost-flower, Ghost Pipe, Fairy Smoke, Ghost Flower, Convulsion Root and Dutchman’s pipe. The genus name Monotropa is Greek…
Equisetum arvense also known as field horsetail or common horsetail is an herbaceous perennial plant in the Equisetaceae (Horsetail family). The plant is native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere mostly North America, Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. There are around 20 species of horsetail that can be found almost everywhere in the world, except in Australia, New Zealand, on several islands in the Pacific Ocean and on Antarctica. Some of the popular common names of the plant are bottle brush, bottlebrush, bull pipes, common horsetail, corn horsetail, field horsetail, foxtail, foxtail rush,…
Some people call it wild garlic; some people call it field garlic. Whatever you call it, Allium vineale is actually a strong and flavorful vegetable. The flavor and appearance actually resemble those of onion more than garlic. It is a perennial, bulb forming species in the lily (Liliaceae) family and is native to North-western Africa (i.e. Algeria and Morocco), the Canary Islands, Europe and western Asia (i.e. Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan). The species was introduced in Australia and North America, where it has become a harmful weed. Few of the popular common names of the plant are crow…
Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as White Cedar (Arborvitae), is an evergreen coniferous tree, in the cypress family Cupressaceae. The plant is native to Manitoba east throughout the Great Lakes region and into Québec, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia but widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, and the binomial name remains current. Some of the popular common names of the plant are white cedar, northern white cedar, yellow cedar, Atlantic white cedar, eastern white cedar, swamp cedar, false white cedar, northern white cedar, arborvitae,…
American Cranberry scientifically known as Viburnum trilobum is a species of Viburnum native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to British Columbia, south to Washington state and east to northern Virginia. The plant is very closely related to the European and Asian Viburnum opulus, and is often treated as a variety of it, as Viburnum opulus L. var. americanum Ait, or as a subspecies, Viburnum opulus subsp. trilobum Clausen. Few of the popular common names of the plant are American Cranberrybush, Crampbark Tree, Gueldres-Rose, Dog Rowan Tree, Highbush Cranberry, Cranberrybush, American Cranberrybush Viburnum, cranberry tree, crampbark tree, guelder-rose, wild…
Galium aparine commonly known as Cleavers is an herbaceous annual plant from the Rubiaceae family of flowering plants, which also includes gardenia and noni. The plant is native to wide region of Europe, North Africa and Asia from Britain and the Canary Islands to Japan. It is now naturalized throughout most of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Australia, some oceanic islands and scattered locations in Africa. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Goosegrass, Annual Bedstraw, Cleavers, Barweed, Hedgeheriff, Hayriffe, Eriffe, Grip Grass, Hayruff, Catchweed, Scratweed, Mutton Chops, Robin-run-in-the-Grass, Loveman, Goosebill, Everlasting Friendship,…
Populus fremontii, commonly known as Cottonwood is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to riparian zones of the Southwestern United States and northern through central Mexico. The plant belongs to Salicaceae or Willow family. Few of the common names of the plant are Fremont cottonwood, Fremont’s cottonwood, Western Cottonwood, Fremont Poplar, Alamo cottonwood, poplar, balsam poplar, Alamo, aspen, quaking aspen, tacamahac, hackmatac, western poplar, Arizona cottonwood, Valley Cottonwood, Rio Grande Cottonwood and Meseta Cottonwood. It is fast growing deciduous hardwood tree that grows about 12-35 meter (39-115 ft.) height and trunk diameter ranges from 1.5 m (4.9 ft.) wide. The largest…
Stellaria media chickweed, also known as the chickenwort and winterweed is an annual flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, and is now found throughout the world. It is used as a cooling herbal remedy, and grown as a vegetable crop and ground cover for both human consumption and poultry. It is occasionally called common chickweed to differentiate it from other plants called chickweed. Other popular common names of the plant are Common chickweed, Starwort, Stitchwort, common starwort, nodding chickweed, star chickweed, starwort chickweed, satin-flower, Chickweed starwort, chickenwort, craches, maruns, winterweed, mouse…
Whether you call it Chaga Mushroom, True Tinder Fungus, or Inonotus obliquus, chaga is a parasitic fungus commonly found on Birch and some other hardwood trees in Russia, Northern Europe, and the Northern US and Canada, Russia, Siberia and other parts of Asia. It is a non-toxic fungus in the Hymenochaetaceae family and has numerous medicinal qualities. At first glance, the mushroom doesn’t look very appealing; actually, it doesn’t even looks like a mushroom at all! Appearances can be deceiving, however, as this special mushroom packs a punch when it comes to its health value. Few of the common names…