Common Mountain MintPycnanthemum virginianum By Joyce Tuharsky WORC Member Last year, during our Wild Ones River City (WORC) field trip to the Hudsonville Nature Preserve, I encountered common mountain mint for the first time. I was struck by its pretty white blossoms with purple spots and its lush minty fragrance. So, I was thrilled to […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: Common Mountain Mint"
White VervainVerbena urticifolia By Linda Shuster, WORC Board Member-at-Large (2022) White vervain (sometimes called nettle-leaved vervain or white verbena) is a member of the Verbenaceae family. It is found in most central to southern Lower Peninsula counties and in several counties in the Upper Peninsula. White vervain grows in different types of deciduous forests, as […] Continue reading "Natives to know: White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)"
NATIVES TO KNOW American Spikenard, Aralia racemosa By Linda Shuster, WORC Board Member-at-Large Common names for Aralia racemosa include spikenard, American spikenard, spignet, life-of-man, and Indian root. It belongs to the ginseng (Araliaceae) family. It is, according to the University of Michigan Herbarium, one of the largest herbaceous species in our Michigan flora. American spikenard is […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: American Spikenard"
NATIVES TO KNOW Ramps, Allium tricoccumBy Linda Shuster, WORC member Allium tricoccum goes by many common names, including ramps, ramp, ramson, wild leek, wood leek, spring onion, and wild garlic. Ramps belong to the onion (Alliaceae) family. It is a native herbaceous perennial that is harvested as food. Ramps are found in nearly all Michigan counties […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: Ramps"
NATIVES TO KNOWBowman’s Root, Gillenia trifoliata By Joyce Tuharsky Bowman’s Root features clusters of ethereal, white, five-petaled blossoms that will dance and whirl in the slightest wind. It is one of the loveliest of native perennials yet rarely seen in gardens. Not only is it handsome and hardy, it is also long-lived! A member of […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: Bowman’s Root (Gillenia trifoliata)"