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Early
Summer
Wildflowers
Bird’s Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
 The name bird’s foot trefoil comes from the slender seedpods
that resemble the toes on a bird’s foot. This flower
is native to Europe and was introduced to the United States.
Six to twenty-four inches tall, bird’s foot trefoil is
mainly found in grassy and waste places, in soil that isn’t
acidic or very fertile. Bird’s foot trefoil develops
clusters of yellow flowers that bloom June through July. In
some places, this long-lived perennial continues to bloom into
September. It has nitrogen-fixing roots, which helps enrich
dry and infertile land. This flower is an important source
of nectar for butterflies. |
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 Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
It's genus name is named for the Swedish botanist, Olaf Rudbeck
who taught botany to Caroleus Linnaeus (who is famous for having
created a system of organization for living organisms.) This
flower is native to North America, but originally was brought
into the north woods in hay bales. Pests are discouraged from
crawling up the stems as they are covered with tiny hairs. The
plant has been used to treat skin infections and contains antibodies.
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Butter and Eggs
Linaria vulgaris
Found commonly on roadsides, butter and eggs grows 1-3 feet
and has delicate snapdragon-like flowers. It has been used
through folk remedies as an ointment for skin problems, and
as a tea in milk to be used as an insecticide. |
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 Cinquefoil
Potentilla canadensis
The flowers of this common, creeping plant are white, but can
sometimes be cream or yellow. Cinquefoil is found in poor soil
conditions and is often confused with the wild strawberry.
Cinquefoil is thought of as a very potent medicine and was
used in everything from tea to witches brew, as well as protection
from witches. Cinquefoil is the symbol of the beloved daughter
as the leaves bend over to cover the flower when it rains,
as a mother would protect her daughter.
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Daisy Fleabane
Erigeron philadelphicus L
Found in fields and roadsides, this common flower has been
used as folk remedies as a diuretic, for diarrhea, diabetes and hemorrhaging.
It can be identified by its aster-like flowers, hairy stems and strongly toothed
leaves. Field guides post a warning that it can cause dermatitis.
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Heal-all
Prunella vulgaris
This low growing plant has leaves that are opposite and square
stems that are the trademark of the mint family. The common botanical
names are related to the historical belief that this plant has
great healing power. Each blossom has a "mouth and throat" and
was thought to cure any diseases of the mouth. Research suggests
that it has antibiotic properties.
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 Orange Hawkweed
Hieracium aurantiacum
Do hawks eat this plant to improve their vision? According to
a folktale this is how this plant was named. In fact, hawkweed
was brought to America by herb doctors to cure eye diseases.
Hawkweed is also referred to as the "devil's paintbrush" because
it invades farmers' fields. Similar hawkweeds are yellow.
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 Ox-Eye Daisy
Chrysanthemum leucantthemum
The ox eye daisy belongs to the composite family, named for its
multiple, tiny disk flowers in the yellow center, surrounded
by the twenty to thirty white "petals" (each "petal" is
actually an individual flower.) The ox eye daisy is native to
Europe but has naturalized throughout all regions of the United
States. In England, the name daisy means "the day's eye," because
it closes at night and opens in the day. Another common name
is bruisewort, because its crushed leaves were often used for
soothing bruised skin. The daisy has also been used to tell fortunes.
Many people have played "he loves me, he loves me not" with
the daisy. Since the daisy usually has an uneven number of petals,
if you start with "he loves me," chances are pretty
good that you will end with "he loves me."
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 Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Many know this plant by its milky, sticky sap that oozes from
the stem and leaves when broken. Many species of milkweed live
in the North Woods; common milkweed is the most often seen. The
milky juice also protects itself from ants; they get caught in
the sticky white substance when their feet puncture the stem.
The smell of its flower attracts milkweed bugs, bees, moths,
flies, other insects and the monarch butterfly. Milkweed is the
host plant for monarchs, who deposit their eggs singly on a leaf;
the caterpillars eat the milkweed leaves for about two weeks,
consuming cardiac glycosides as they chew, making them toxic
to predators.
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 Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
The wintergreen has three glossy oval leaves and white bell-like
flowers that bloom in July. Wintergreen is most often found in
conifer forests. The red fruit produced in fall remains attached
to the plant all winter and are eaten by deer, bear, grouse,
chipmunks, and mice. Wintergreen berries and leaves are often
eaten by hikers as well. They, of course, taste like wintergreen
and are good with blueberries.
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