Dwarf Cinquefoil (plant #4)

KINGDOM: Plantae
PHYLUM:
CLASS:
ORDER:
FAMILY: Rosaceae (Rose family)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Potentilla canadensis
COMMON NAME: Dwarf Cinquefoil
NOTES OF INTEREST: Tiny, yellow buttercup-like flowers on runners...resembles wild strawberries. "Cinquefoil" means "five petals."
PHOTO TAKEN: May 2009

Moccasin-Flower (plant #3)

KINGDOM: Plantae
PHYLUM:
CLASS:
ORDER:
FAMILY: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cypripedium acaule
COMMON NAME: Pink Lady's Slipper
NOTES OF INTEREST: We have found several groupings of these pretties on our property interspersed with ferns and huckleberries...it's a delight to find the flash of pink amongst the sea of green this time of year.
PHOTO TAKEN: May, 2009

This photo's a bit out of focus, but this specimen had 2 flowers on the same stalk.

Devil's Walkingstick (plant #2)

KINGDOM: Plantae
PHYLUM:
CLASS:
ORDER:
FAMILY: Araliaceae (Ginseng family)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aralia spinosa
COMMON NAME: Devil's Walkingstick
NOTES OF INTEREST: Aptly named...the stem of this tree is covered with tiny, but extremely sharp prickles, some circling the stem in rings, some more irregularly spaced. Even though this specimen is not in bloom yet, we had no trouble identifying it. Blooms in summer with clusters of tiny white flowers, yielding round, juicy berries in autumn.
PHOTO TAKEN: March 28, 2009

Wintergreen (plant #1)

KINGDOM: Plantae
PHYLUM:
CLASS:
ORDER:
FAMILY:
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Gaultheria procumbens
COMMON NAME: Wintergreen, checkerberry
NOTES OF INTEREST: Leaves can be harvested any time of the year...nibble on them as a trail snack, or brew into tea. Berries ripen in fall but flavor improves with freezing...so look for them in winter and spring for a trail nibble. Leaves and fruit contain an aspirin-like substance that effectively reduces fevers and minor aches and pains. NO POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES.
PHOTO TAKEN: Fall 2008