Plant Quiz Solved: Prairie Valerian (Valeriana ciliata)

Congratulations to Michael Fitts and Bob Glotzhober for correctly identifying this mystery plant as the very rare and state-endangered swamp valerian (Valeriana ciliata).  This late-spring bloomer only occurs in two fen meadows in the west-central part of Ohio and that's it statewide.  Its leaves are reminiscent of an elaborate trident-like weapon with silvery margins that really stand out on sunny days.  The small, nondescript flowers won't be quick to catch the eye but upon closer inspection, one might recognize them as similar to the large-flowered valerian (Valeriana pauciflora).

Thanks to all those who played along on here, on Facebook, and though email!  Keep your eyes out for another plant quiz in the future; maybe one not so tricky!

Prairie Valerian flowers

Prairie Valerian leaf

Time for another plant quiz!  Take a gander at the accompanying photograph of the plant in question and leave your answers/responses in the comment section below.  Note: the plant is the yellow/green specimen in the foreground on the right.  Thanks to all those who decide to play along and best of luck!

Do you recognize the plant in the foreground on the right?

Plant Quiz Solved: Rock Sandwort (Minuartia michauxii)

Congratulations and thanks to Keith Board, affiliated with the fantastic Get Your Botany On! blog, for correctly identifying this species as Arenaria stricta, also known as Minuartia michauxii: the rock sandwort.  This late spring/early summer flowering plant is rare in Ohio and listed as a potentially-threatened species with scattered populations in the southern counties and counties along Lake Erie.  In our state it grows almost exclusively on dry, rocky limestone (calcareous) situations like cliffs, bluffs, rock faces, prairies, and quarries.  Its charming and delicate white flowers bloom in the latter part of May and into June. This particular patch was photographed on a dolomite glade bluff in Adams county where the plant is locally common.

Thanks to those to played along on here and on Facebook!  Keep your eye out for another plant quiz in the future.

Minuartia michauxii in flower

Time for another plant quiz!  Take a gander at the accompanying photograph of the plant in question and leave your answers/responses in the comment section below.  Note: the plant in question is not the oak seedling! Thanks to all those who decide to play along and best of luck!

Do you recognize this native Ohio plant?

Plant Quiz Solved: American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)

Jackie (Woodswalker) does it again!  She has correctly identified this as the American highbush cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum).  It is also known as the American cranberrybush and some taxonomists give it full species status as Viburnum trilobum.  There is an excruciatingly similar European and Asian species (V. opulus var. opulus) that is often planted ornamentally throughout the eastern United States.  The major differences lie in the glands on the leaf petiole.  Our native variety has smaller glands that have a convex (rounded) tip, while the European variety tends to have larger glands with a noticeable concave (sunken) tip.  The pubescence of a leaf can further help distinguish the two as well: the native variety's upper surface has scattered appressed hairs, while the introduced variety has completely glabrous (hairless) leaf surfaces.

Despite its common name this is not at all a true cranberry (Vaccinium spp.) but instead a viburnum; very similar to our native and common blackhaw (V. prunifolium) and maple-leaved (V. acerifolium) species.  It's such named for its clusters of red, mature, cranberry-like fruit (all other Ohio viburnum's fruit is blue-black at maturity).  This particular specimen was photographed growing in the shrubbier margins of a undisturbed fen complex on the Bruce peninsula, Ontario; a typical habitat to find this species thriving in.  Here in Ohio, it is listed as state-threatened and only occurs in the bogs and fens of northeastern Ohio.  However, you will come across the nigh on invasive European variety in cultivation and sometimes see it in our more southern fens and wetlands where it has started to gain an unfortunate foothold.

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Time for yet another plant quiz!  Take a careful look at the photograph below and see what you think before commenting with your best guess or answer.  This particular specimen is in full bloom and an indigenous species to Ohio.  As usual best of luck and thanks to all those who decide to play along!

American Highbush  Cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)

Plant Quiz Solved: Pod Grass (Scheuchzeria palustris)

Congrats and thanks to Jackie (Woodswalker) and Jim for correctly identifying this as the rare and very unusual pod grass (Scheuchzeria palustris).  This monocot can be found in scattered spots throughout the Northeast, Great Lakes states, and even sparingly in the mountain west and Pacific northwest.  It grows in the saturated sphagnum of peat bogs and kettle lakes throughout the northern hemisphere.  Here in Ohio, it only grows in a couple sites in the northeast corner in its typical sphagnum bog mat habitat.  This particular specimen was photographed at Brown's Lake Bog nature preserve in Wayne Co., Ohio.

Another interesting fact about this plant is its circumboreal distribution; meaning it can be found all around the globe in the northern hemisphere.  Some taxonomists split the species into two varieties based on geographic range alone, while others keep it as one species throughout its range.  Here in North America, our variety is called S. palustris var. americana.  Pod grass is a monotypic taxon and the only species/member of its genus (Scheuchzeria) and family (Scheuchzeriaceae).

It's time for another plant quiz!  Look carefully at the photograph below and see what you think before commenting with your best guess or answer.  Best of luck and thanks to all that participate!

Do you recognize this plant?

Plant Quiz Solved: (Albino) Blue-eyed Mary

Congrats and thanks to Brian for correctly identifying this as an albino specimen of blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna).  Below is a photograph of the plant with its normal pigmentation.  This spring annual blooms throughout the Midwest in mesic, rich deciduous forests.  It is rather local in abundance and can occur in very large colonies if the conditions are right.

Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna)

Time for another plant quiz!  Take a look at the photograph below and post your answer or guess in the comment section.  Best of luck and thanks to all those who decide to play along!

Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) albino specimen

Plant Quiz Solved: Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

Congrats to Benjamin for correctly identifying this as the creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)!  The wimpy-looking flower(s) in the upper right corner should have been some help.  If you look at the bottom left part of the photo you can see the reddish stolons reach out to colonize more ground.  This vegetative growth habit is the namesake of this species and what allows it to cover so much area in such short time.  Creeping phlox is Appalachian in range where it grows from Pennsylvania and Ohio south through the mountains to northern Georgia and South Carolina.  It typically grows in rich, mesic woodlands in dappled shade.  This particular population was photographed in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio.

Creeping Phlox - Phlox stolonifera

Time for another plant quiz!  Take a look at the photograph below and comment with your answer.  The plant in question owns the green leaves that dominate the ground cover.  Best of luck and thanks to those that play along!

Do you recognize this plant (dominant ground cover)

Plant Quiz Solved! Bog Birch (Betula pumila)

Congrats to Jim, Pete, and Dennis for correcting identifying this plant as bog birch (Betula pumila).  This photograph was taken in mid-May at Cedar Bog nature preserve in Champaign Co., Ohio.  Bog birch is a northern disjunct here in Ohio and survives in a select few fens and bogs in the state.  Due to its rarity it is considered a threatened species here in Ohio.  In fact, the population at Cedar Bog is one of the most southern stations for this plant in North America.  The latest period of glaciation brought this species south into Ohio when the environment and climate was more supportive of the birch and its northern associate plants.

Bog birch is also known as swamp birch and the smallest member of the birches native to Ohio.  It rarely grows taller than 10-15' and commonly forms shrubby thickets on the margins of fens, bogs, and wooded swamps.  Apart from the leaves the maturing fruit bodies on the shrub in the photograph should have helped in narrowing this down to a member of the Betulaceae family.

Thanks to those who played along and I look forward to posting more plant quizzes in the near future!

I've been getting back into the blogging mindset and attitude recently and while I'm organizing and writing I thought I'd throw in an appetizer-like plant quiz post in the mean time.  Check out the photograph below and see what you think and comment with your guesses and/or answers.  Best of luck!

Do you recognize this plant?

Plant Quiz Solved: Canby's Mountain Lover (Paxistima canbyi)

Way to go, John!  This is indeed Canby's mountain lover or cliff-green (Paxistima canbyi).  This rarity is endangered here in Ohio and can only be found on a few limestone bluffs in the Ohio Brush Creek watershed in Highland and Adams counties.  Famous botanist and ecologist E. Lucy Braun theorized that both populations are clones of great age that migrated up the ancient Teays River valley eons ago.

Canby's mountain lover is quite rare throughout the entirety of its range and is currently under consideration for federal listing.  Other than Ohio, it grows in select areas of south-central Kentucky and along the southern Appalachians from Pennsylvania down through the Virginia's and into Tennessee.  The small, linear leaves are evergreen and the overall growth pattern is a low, branching shrub.  Plants flower in March-April and sometimes again in the fall.  Fruit has never been observed on Ohio's plants due to their clone origin.

Thanks to all who gave it a whirl and another congrats to John for identifying this fascinating rarity!

While I am certainly not short on topics to share, I am short on the necessary free time it takes to do so.  I figured in the mean time I could keep things from stagnating further with a quick and fun plant quiz!  Just take a look at the photograph below and leave a comment with your best guess!  Thanks to all who decide to play along and best of luck!

What vascular plant am I?

Plant Quiz Solved: Cardamine rotundifolia, Round-leaved Bittercress

 Kudos to DenPro for correctly identifying this species as Cardamine rotundifolia, Round-leaved Bittercress!  Woodswalker was certainly not wrong but I was waiting for a more specific answer to appear!  This is our native watercress and can be found in clear, rocky streams; wet woods; and seepage areas throughout its range from the southern Appalachians in Tennessee and North Carolina, up through the Allegheny plateau and into New York state.  Once state-listed in Ohio, it has since been removed from the list but still remains as a rather uncommon species found in a dozen or so scattered southeastern counties.

Following the same theme as my botanically-themed blogging friends over at Get Your Botany On!, I figured I'd start posting quick plant quizzes every once-in-a-while for interested folks to participate in.  Read the short description below and peruse the accompanying photograph then feel free to I.D. the plant or just throw out a guess!  You don't have to be signed in or a follower to comment; it's open for anyone and everyone to try!

This plant was photographed in Jackson county, Ohio on April 14, 2012.  The photograph is focused on its leaves but the flowers and habitat can also be seen in the back/foregrounds.

American Bittercress - Cardamine rotundifolia

Spring Wildflower Quiz *Answered*

*Thanks to those who participated!  I read quite a few correct answers and I can't lie and say I didn't enjoy some of the trickier ones holding to their purpose!  The answers are now under the pictures and I will leave a comment with the correct names as well.  I think I will do another from to time just to keep things fresh and everyone's braincells active.

Think you know your Ohio spring wildflowers?  Well this post will put your knowledge and identification skills to the test.  I didn't want to have this super easy nor really hard so I decided to split it down the middle with some easier, well-known plants to boost confidence, a few to test the novice and amateur wildflower enthusiast and a couple more that may prove too difficult.  So let's see what you got!  All are native to Ohio and all have either already bloomed, blooming now or just starting!  Give it a try and leave your answers in the comment box.  I will post answers a few days down the road once my loyal readers and contributors give their guesses/answers.  If you want to know how you did sooner than later feel free to email me.  Best of luck to those who give it a go! :)

Remember, as always you can click the photographs to see them in a larger, more detailed resolution!

Trillium recurvatum - Prairie Trillium (T)

Uvularia sessilifolia - Sessile Bellwort

Caltha palustris - Marsh Marigolds

Hepatica americana - Round-lobed Hepatica

Viola walteri - Walter's Violet (T)

Jeffersonia diphylla - Twinleaf

Geranium maculatum - Wild Geranium

Cardamine angustata - Slender Toothwort

Trillium flexipes - Nodding Trillium (red form)

Pedicularis canadensis - Wood Betony

Viola blanda - Sweet White Violet

Cardamine concatenata - Cutleaf Toothwort

Silene virginica - Fire Pink