Prairie Findings

1. Sky Blue Aster

(Asterales, Asteraceae, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

-perennial plant is 1½–3'tall, and largely unbranched except at the inflorescence

-basal leaves are about 3" long and 1½" across, cordate or broadly oval, and largely hairless

-lavender or light blue flowers

2. Indian Grass

(Cyperales, Poaceae, Sorghastrum nutans)

-3-7' tall and unbranched

-blades of the alternate leaves are up to 2' long and ½" across

-preference is full to partial sun and slightly moist to dry conditions

3. Prairie Dropseed

(Cyperales, Poaceae, Sporobolus heterolepis)

-narrow long leaves, rarely wider than 1/8 inch

-Dropseed leaves growdensely around a circular base

-In autumn it displays its unique color: a golden rust

4. Little Blue Stem

(Cyperales, Poaceae, Schizachyrium scoparium)

-has very flat bluish basal shoots

-Plants are green, but often purplish at base of stem and the entire plant has a reddish cast after frost

-has excellent drought and fair shade tolerance

5. Common Evening Primrose

(Myrtales, Onagraceae, Oenothera biennis L.)

-yellow flowers are usually about 1 inch across but are occasionally

up to twice that size

-flowers open in the evening and close up during the day but may remain open longer on cloudy days

-Leaves are up to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide, tapering to a point at the tip

6. Smooth Brome

(Cyperales,Poaceae, Bromus inermis Leyss. )

-An erect, leafy, long-lived perennial, 1 ½ to 3 feet tall

-panicle branches in whorls

-introduced from Europe

7. Queen Anne's Lace

(Apiales, Apiaceae, Daucus carota L.)

-also known as wild carrot

-grows up to one meter tall and flowers from July to October

-lacy, white flowers measuring 3-7 cm wide

8. Big ToothAspen

(Salicales, Salicaceae, Populus grandidentata)

-medium sized tree that grows up to 60 ft. tall

-rounded leaves with sharp serrated edges

-do not like shade; normally grow on edge of woods or along streams

Things I Found on my Own....

1. White Tailed Deer

(Artiodactyla, Cervidae, Odocoileus virginianus)

- grey/brown coat

-white underside ofthe tail

-native to all States but four

2. Eastern Mole

(Soricomorpha, Talipadae, Scalopus aquaticus)

-likes to eat lots of earthworms

-burrows through the ground

-large, hairless, spade shaped feet

3. Meadow Vole

(Rodentia, Cricetidae, Microtus pennsylvanicus)

-not a mouse! Sometimes called a field mouse, though

-active year round

-digs burrows

-has a chunky body with a short tail

4. Raccoon

(Carnivora, Procyondae, Procyon lotor)

-grayish coat

-very dense under fir

-omnivorous diet

5. Great Blue Heron

(Ciconiiformes, Ardeidae, Ardea herodias)

-wetland wading bird

-has a very harsh croak

-found throughout most of North America

-primary food is fish

6. Pokeweed

(Caryophyllales, Phytolaccaceae, Phytolacca americana L.)

- berries are very poisonous to mammals

-have single alternate leaves that are pointed at the end

-flowers are greenish-white in a long strand

-can make dye/ink from the berries

7. Smooth Sumac

(Sapindales, Anacardiaceae, Rhus glabra L.)

-10-20 ft. shrub

-alternate leaves with sharp toothed leaflets

-is native to 48 states

-can be invasive

8. Eastern Gray Squirrel

(Rodentia, Sciuridae, Sciurus carolinensis)

-prolific and highly adaptable species

-predominately gray fir that can have a reddish tint

-is a scatter-hoarder

-breed twice a year

Old Field/Meadow Findings

1) Blue Jay

(Passeriformes, Corvidae, Cyanocitta cristata)

-omnivorous songbird

-has a pronounced crest on the top of its head

-the blue if its feathers result from light interference

2) Tall Sunflower

(Asterales, Asteraceae, Helianthus giganteus L.)

-flowers large with ray florets golden yellow and disk yellow to dull yellow

-Stem rough and slightly tinged with red

-most commonly found in swampy soils or wet woodlands

3) Closed Gentian

(Gentianales, Gentianaceae, Gentiana rubricaulis Schwein.)

-blue flower that blooms in the fall

-leaves are opposi

te; flowers have 5 parts

-likes moist fields and open woods

4) Small, White Aster

(Asterales, Asteraceae, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

-very small flowers; plant is 2-5 ft. high

-blooms mainly in the autumn

-can be hard to identify

-flowers have more than 5 parts; fuzzy stems

5) Heath Aster

(Asterales, Asteraceae, Symphyotrichum ericoides)

-also called Good-by Meadow

-white flowers with LOTS of parts

-leaves are narrow and pointed; have hairy stems

-bloom from July to October

6) Waterhorehound/American Bugleweed

(Lamiales, Lamiaceae, Llycopus americanus)

-found in every state except Hawaii and Nevada!

-is in the mint family, but does not have aromatic leaves

-white flowers grow up the stalk

-highly lobed leaves near base (can throw you off!); lightly toothed leaves at the top of the stem

7) New England Aster

(Asterales, Asteraceae, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

-purple flowers with many parts

-get 2-5 ft. tall

-clasping leaves are smooth

-need full sunlight

8) Mountain Mint

(Lamiales, Lamiceae, Pycnanthemum virginianum)

-green or reddish stems are strongly four-angled and have scattered white hairs along the ridges

-can be a very bushy plant

-have small, white flowers on flattened heads at the ends of the upper stems

-root system creates rhizomes

-leaves are very minty and quite potent

Bog Findings

1) Evergreen Wood Fern

(Polypodiales, Dryopteridaceae, Dryopteris intermedia)

-likes moist, rich woods

-evergreen fern with lacy fronds

-very hardy plant

2) Marsh Fern

(Polypodiales, Thelypteridaceae, Thelypteris palustris Schott)

-rounded fern with a smooth stem

-found in bogs

-spores are found on underside of fronds

3) Earth Ball Fungus

(Boletales, Sclerodermataceae, Scleroderma citrinum)

-very poisonous mushroom

-rounded, light yellow ball mushroom

-rough, segmented flesh

4) White Snakeroot

(Asterales, Asteraceae, Ageratina altissima)

-highly poisonous plant; is transfered to humans

through milk from cows who have eaten it

(killed Abraham Lincoln's mother)

-opposite, serrated leaves

-bright white flowers with 5 parts

5) Orange Fairy Cup

( Pezizales, Pyronemataceae, Aleuria aurantia)

-edible mushroom

-bright orange and curled along the edges (can look like

orange peels)

-found in clay soils near the end of summer/beginning

of autumn

6) Bleeding Fairy Helmet

(Agaricales, Mycenaceae, Mycena haematopus)

-obtains by consuming decomposing organic material

-helmet shaped and redish in color

-scalloped cap edges

-generally grow in clusters

7) Swamp Dewberry

(Rosales, Rosaceae, Rubus hispidus)

-has small, white flowers with 5 parts

-red and bristled twigs

-shiny, serrated leaves

-can be made into an astringent

8) Spring Peeper

(Anura, Hylidae, Pseudacris crucifer)

-live in forests near semi-permanent or permanent wetlands

-tan or brown with a black cross on their back

-males have a vocal sac that inflates and deflates with sound

Savannah Findings

1) Black Swallowtail Butterfly

(Lepidoptera, Papilionidae, Papilio polyxenes)

-mostly black wings with yellow band

-lay eggs on plants from the carrot family

-can be found on butterfly weed and milkweed

2)Northern Dewberry

(Rosales, Rosaceae, Rubus flagellaris Willd.)

-closely related to blackberries

-trailing vine with 3-5 leaflets

-blackish berries that mature July-August

3) Flowering Spurge

(Euphorbiales, Euphorbiaceae, Euphorbia corollata L.)

-small, white flowers with 5 petals

-golden yellow centers

-hairless, alternate leaves

-1/2-3 feet tall

-very toxic plant (can kill cattle!)

4) Butterfly Weed (Butterfly Milkweed)

(Gentianales, Asclepiadaceae, Asclepias tuberosa L.)

-threatened species on the East Coast

-hairy stems, orange flowers

-has elongated fruit pods

5) Yellow Sulphur Butterfly

(Lepidoptera, Peiridae, Phoebis sennae)

-midsized, clear yellow butterfly with black edges

-the chrysalis is shaped like a leaf

-like clover, milkweed, sunflowers, and dandelions

6) Carolina Grasshopper

(Orthoptera, Acrididae, Dissosteira carolina)

-large grasshopper

- wings are black underneath with yellow

-minor pest in grassland; can also eat crops

-strong, adept flyer

7) Common Evening Primrose

(Myrtales, Onagraceae, Oenothera biennis L.)

-alternate leaves with yellow flowers (5 parts)

-mild, lemony scent

-prefers disturbed areas

-native

8) Carolina Horse Nettle

(Solanales, Solanaceae, Solanum carolinense)

-alternate, toothed leaves

-not a true nettle; part of the nightshade family

-very poisonous "tomato" fruits that can kill a human

-white, 5 part star-shaped flowers

1) Red Osier Dogwood

(Cornales, Cornaceae, Cornus sericea)

-bright red stems

-white berries

-hairless, opposite leaves

-very common in wetlands

2) Bittersweet Nightshade

(Solanales, Solanaceae, Solanum dulcamara)

-invasive, rambling vine

-likes moist soil and partial shade

-star-shaped purple flowers

-red, egg shaped berries

-a very competitive, prolific plant

3) Mad-dog Skullcap

(Lamiales, Lamiaceae, Scutellaria lateriflora L.)

-purple flowers, with two lips, in clusters

-square stem (mint family), with serrated leaves

-wet loving species

-can be used as a mild sedative

-also know as blue skullcap

4) Crane Fly

(Diptera, Tipulidae, Tipula, many species!)

-adults only for a couple of days!

- larvae feed on decomposing organic materials

-have 6 spindly legs (which are easily broken)

-are weak &poor fliers (easy prey)

5) Northern Bugleweed

(Lamiales, Lamiaceae, Lycopus uniflorus)

-square stem with white flowers on stem

-opposite, whirled toothed leaves

-loves wet, boggy soils

6) Abbot's Sphinx

(Hepoda, lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Sphecodina abbottii)

-Adults are bumblebee mimics and make a buzzing sound when

feeding.

-caterpillars feed at night

-have horn on back side

-part of the moth family

7) Soft (Common) Rush

(Juncales, Juncaceae, Juncus effusus L.)

-grass-like and grows in clusters

-flowers near the upper half of stem, but don't grow on the tip

-birds eat seeds of this plant

-grows in shallow water or moist soils

8) Eastern Wood Peewee

(Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Contopus virens)

-adults are grey-olive on the upperparts with light underparts, washed with olive on the breast

-are in decline with over-population of white tailed deer because they leave large holes in the forest canopy, minimizing the bird's foraging space

-eat insects

Swamp Findings

1) Swamp Smartweed

(Polygonales, Polygonaceae, Polygonum L.,

P. hydropiperoides L.)

-small, white flowers on a tall stalk

-alternate, spade shaped leaves

-lightly haired leaves

-jointed stem

2) Wood Frog

(Anura, Ranidae,

Rana, R. sylvatica)

-black mask on their face

-this one is almost black, with white lines on side of face

-depends on multiple habitats (ie. woodlands, ponds, and swamps)

3) Acadian Flycatcher

(Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Empidonax,

E. virescens)

-breed in deciduous forests near water

-olive colored upperparts, wings are darker olive, chest is splashed with olive color

-white eye ring

-very distinctive song

4) Black Ash

(Scrophulariales, Oleaceae, Fraxinus L., F. nigra Marsh)

-medium sized deciduous tree

-opposite leaves, leaflets not stalked

-grey, thick and corky bark

-most common to swamps

5) Jewelweed

(Geraniales, Bals

aminaceae, Impatiens L., I. capensis L.)

-usually grows near water

-has small,yellow flowers

-small, bushy plant

-paired, elliptical, coarsely toothed leaves

6) Turkey Tail Fungus

(Polyporales, Polyporaceae, Trametes,

T. versicolor)

-common mushroom that can be found throughout the world

-has a variety of different colors

-top has zones of different colors, underside has pores

-is edible; sometimes used for medicinal purposes

7) Black Willow

(Salicales, Salicaceae, Salix L., S. nigra Marsh)

-alternate, simple and long, thin leaves

-you can brew a tea from the bark

-don't tend to get very tall

8) Slippery Elm

(Urticales, Ulmaceae, Ulmus L., U. rubra Muhl)

-has red in the bark when you cut it open

-smallish tree, not affected by dutch elm disease

-alternate, heavily toothed leaves

-bark used for a variety for a number of medicinal purposes