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