Common Name(s): Buttercup

Scientific Name: Ranunculus sp.

Family:  Ranunculaceae

Bloom Period:  Spring, Summer; Feb – May

Habitat: Roadsides, ditches, disturbed areas, abandoned lots, waste soils, woodland edges

Description: Calyx – 5; Corolla – 5; Stamens – Many; Pistil – Many; Fruit – many achenes.

General Info: None

Commentary:  This is one of my favorite “weeds” with its beautiful little waxy, papery petals, and striking color. This flower presses well, and makes a great wall hanging.

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Common Name(s): Yellow Sweet Clover, yellow meliot

Scientific Name: Melilotus officinalis

Family:  Fabaceae

Bloom Period: Spring, Summer, Fall;  April – July

Habitat: Waste soils, abandoned areas, disturbed areas, sandy soils.

Description: Callyx – 5 united; Corolla – papilionaceous ; Stamens -10 ; Pistil -1 . Fruit: short thick wrinkled pod

General Info: This plant is an indicator of soil quality. It usually grows in areas that are disturbed, or recently left to fallow, and enrich the soil with nitrogen.

Commentary: Look for this flower in any abandoned lot. Or, check any area that not much grass is growing. Note the characteristic leaves. One of my favorite “weeds”…it can grow quite big. The leaves make a pleasant, if a tad-bit sour, tea. (Drink only small quantity!)  If you crush the leaves, a vanilla like perfume is released, which make this a great way to make potpourri from dried leaves

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Common Name(s): White Nightshade, Common Nightshade

Scientific Name: Solanum triquetrum

Family: Solanaceae

Bloom Period: Spring, Fall. Up to Year Round in moist areas

Habitat: Thickets, edges of woodlands, disturbed areas,

Description: Callyx – 5; Corolla – 5; Stamens – 5 yellow, Pistil -1. Fruit pea sized red or orange berry when ripe. Poisonous.

General Info: One of my favorite wildflowers, which in shaded, moist areas will grow almost year-round. Also, this plant is extremely hardy, and often thought an obnoxious weed. It blooms early in the Spring. The flowers may seem familiar; tomatoes -another Solanaceae member – have similar flowers, nearly identical in shape and size. However,  the Nightshade flowers are white, whereas tomato flowers are all yellow. Also, the berries look like pea-tomatoes, but don’t eat, they are poisonous!! Finally, look carefully for these flowers, as they hang upside down from the branch; this makes them a little hidden, and unexpected, since you brain is probably  used to looking for upright flowers.

Commentary:

I have personally witnessed a plant growing in our apartment complex parking lot. Despite the small size of the crack in the pavement, this beautiful, healthy  looking Nightshade rapidly grew, and flowered. The plant was razed to the ground by a weed-whacker 3-4 times over the spring, summer and fall. Each time, I watched in amazement as the plant regrew and re-flowered. Finally, it seems it finally disappeared, since I find only a crack. Yet, I keep watch for it to spring up again. Perhaps I should plant a seed in its memory.

 

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