I'm pretty sure it's Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium). It has a very strong and distinctive mint odor. It's not particularly showy, but it is a desirable native and can be commonly found in prairies and along roadsides.
I think this is a bunch of young Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. They often grow like this because the large seed heads fall to the ground intact and they all germinate together.
Including trips to Brownsmead Gardens, Graham Cave State Park, Victoria Glades, Shaw Nature Reserve, Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Onondaga Cave State Park, and Johnson Shut-Ins State Park. Includes Hexalectris spicata (Crested Coral Root Orchid) and shots of the damage and current condition of Johnson Shut-Ins after the Taum Sauk Reservoir failure of December 2005.
This appears to be Coeloglossum viride The long-bracted green orchis.
Summers doesn't list this orchid in Missouri, but it is known from Iowa and Northern Illinois, so this may be a new State orchid. The picture probably is post bloom. After blooming the flower structures stay on the plant for a long time making the plant appear to be in bloom long after it is finished blooming.
Dear members of the Kansas City Chapter,
Hello! Thank you so, so much for honoring our service project by giving us the plants. It was very considerate of you and your chapter to help us. Your plants will help us very much in our project. We are glad you took the time and money to help a worthy cause. It was very kind of you to consider our request and give us plants. We will plant your plants on April 23rd and hope that someday you can visit Martha Lafite and see the results of your generosity.
Sincerely,
The gifted students of Alexander Doniphan
The KC Chapter of MONPS was happy to contribute to this service project by gifted students at Alexander Doniphan Elementary School. Forty five water-loving native plants were contributed to the project on April 18.
Nice photos! The plant is Asclepias hirtella (Prairie Milkweed). It is often found in old fields and prairies. The caterpillars you mention could have been of Monarch Butterflies. They are one of the few caterpillars that can tolerate the toxins in the milky sap of Milkweeds. In fact, they build the toxins up in their bodies to deter predators.
That pretty much has to be Amphicarpaea bracteata (Hog Peanut). It is a native species and one of the most common and abundant woodland legumes in the Missouri. Populations of this species often become quite dense along rocky slopes in heavily shaded moist ravines and floodplains. This is especially true if the woods have significant past disturbance. That being said, it is nothing to worry about. It is merely fulfilling its ecological role. It will decrease over the years as ecological succession proceeds.
Hog Peanut is so called because, like the true peanut, it produces below-ground fruits (as well as above-ground fruits). These small legumes were eaten by Native Americans. Settlers would turn their hogs loose in the woods to forage on said nuts. A practice that resulted in the negative impact of countless acres of forest.
I'm pretty sure it's Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium). It has a very strong and distinctive mint odor. It's not particularly showy, but it is a desirable native and can be commonly found in prairies and along roadsides.
I think this is a bunch of young Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. They often grow like this because the large seed heads fall to the ground intact and they all germinate together.
Doug,
I know its been a while since you submitted the picture, but I'm going to guess that it is Myosotis verna, Spring forget me not.
Pictures of July Flowers
Including trips to Brownsmead Gardens, Graham Cave State Park, Victoria Glades, Shaw Nature Reserve, Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Onondaga Cave State Park, and Johnson Shut-Ins State Park. Includes Hexalectris spicata (Crested Coral Root Orchid) and shots of the damage and current condition of Johnson Shut-Ins after the Taum Sauk Reservoir failure of December 2005.
one of several fern I'm not sure about
Doug,
This appears to be Coeloglossum viride The long-bracted green orchis.
Summers doesn't list this orchid in Missouri, but it is known from Iowa and Northern Illinois, so this may be a new State orchid. The picture probably is post bloom. After blooming the flower structures stay on the plant for a long time making the plant appear to be in bloom long after it is finished blooming.
Lance
Hello! Thank you so, so much for honoring our service project by giving us the plants. It was very considerate of you and your chapter to help us. Your plants will help us very much in our project. We are glad you took the time and money to help a worthy cause. It was very kind of you to consider our request and give us plants. We will plant your plants on April 23rd and hope that someday you can visit Martha Lafite and see the results of your generosity.
Sincerely,
The gifted students of Alexander Doniphan
The KC Chapter of MONPS was happy to contribute to this service project by gifted students at Alexander Doniphan Elementary School. Forty five water-loving native plants were contributed to the project on April 18.
lile001,
Nice photos! The plant is Asclepias hirtella (Prairie Milkweed). It is often found in old fields and prairies. The caterpillars you mention could have been of Monarch Butterflies. They are one of the few caterpillars that can tolerate the toxins in the milky sap of Milkweeds. In fact, they build the toxins up in their bodies to deter predators.
Justin
That pretty much has to be Amphicarpaea bracteata (Hog Peanut). It is a native species and one of the most common and abundant woodland legumes in the Missouri. Populations of this species often become quite dense along rocky slopes in heavily shaded moist ravines and floodplains. This is especially true if the woods have significant past disturbance. That being said, it is nothing to worry about. It is merely fulfilling its ecological role. It will decrease over the years as ecological succession proceeds.
Hog Peanut is so called because, like the true peanut, it produces below-ground fruits (as well as above-ground fruits). These small legumes were eaten by Native Americans. Settlers would turn their hogs loose in the woods to forage on said nuts. A practice that resulted in the negative impact of countless acres of forest.
Hope this helps.
Justin