BIG
BLUE STEM
Andropogon gerardi
tall
grass that is bluish in color in the spring
Big
Blue
Stem
can
be found in Ryerson's prairie restoration area. It towers
as high as eight feet tall. The roots may grow up to six feet
deep, stabilizing the soil and helping the grass through periods
of drought. In the spring the grass has a blue cast; by fall
it has turned to a reddish tan. It is sometimes called Turkey
Foot because of the shape of its seeds.
(photo courtesy of fermi National
Accelerator Lab)
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BOTTLE
GENTIAN
Gentiana andrewsii
tight clusters of bright deep periwinkle flowers that look
like buds just about to open
Bottle
Gentian
is found in rich damp soils at the edge of woods; at Ryerson
they can be seen in the wetland near the entrance. It is one
of the last flowers to bloom in autumn. Clustered at the tops
of the stems, the unusual flowers remain 'closed' even in
full bloom. Large bumblebees that are strong enough to open
the petals and crawl inside are the main pollenators and have
almost exclusive access to the bottle gentian pollen and nectar.
(photo courtesy of Fermi National
Accelerator Lab)
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Cardinal
Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
bright
red flowers on tall smooth stems
Cardinal
Flowers
bloom July through September on the rich soils of open woodlands,
along streams or in low moist areas. Many showy crimson flowers
form a brilliant terminal spike that stands out on the late
summer landscape, attracting hummingbirds and small bees for
pollination. It was named because the color and shape of the
flower resembled a Cardinal's miter cap. Plants grow over
four feet tall. The milkyjuice is somewhat toxic, similar
to nicotine.
(Sue Auerbach, photographer)
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COMPASS
PLANT
Silphium Lacianatum
mulitple
bright yellow blossoms on tall sturdy stems
The
Compass
Plant
has
deeply toothed leaves whose surfaces face the sun, their pointed
edges aligning north and south. Early travelers used the plants
to help give them direction. In late summer, clusters of yellow
flowers open over the prairie high above most other plants.
Butterflies are attracted to the flowers; birds to their seeds.
They
were once an important part of the bison's diet. Plants reach
five to ten feet with deep tap roots.
Native Americans used the hardened resinous juice from the
stems for chewing gum.
(Ray Kammer, photographer)
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TALL
GOLDENROD
Solidago Altissima
large plumes of tiny yellow gold flowers July until frost
Tall
Goldnerod
lives
up to its name, occasionally growing up to eight feet tall
in the dry open woods and along roadsides. They are often
found in colonies because they spread through their roots,
called rhizomes, as well as by seed. Though often blamed for
allergy symptoms, it is unlikely that they are a culprit.
Goldenrod pollen is too large to be carried far by the wind,
and the plants are pollinated by insects.
(Sue Auerbach, photographer)
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Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
small orange trumpet shaped flowers hang from the plant like
jewels
Jewelweed
thrives in the moist soils and partial shade along the road
and near several foot bridges along Ryerson's paths. These
bright light green plants with their delicate oval leaves
and orange flowers are annuals, reseeding freely when their
seed capsules explode. Sometimes called "Touch Me Nots",
just touching the tip of a ripe seed pod triggers it to quickly
open, release its seeds and curl tightly back. Juice from
the leaves and stem are used to relieve poison ivy by counteracting
the chemicals that cause the irritation.
(Sue Auerbach, photographer)
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JOE
PYE WEED
Eupatorium purpureum
large dome shaped clusters of light purple flowers attractive
to butterflies
Joe
Pye
Weed
can be found along the roadways and at the west edge of the
Visitor Center parking lot at the Ryerson Conservation Area.
It prefers the edges of woodlands that open into sunny wet
thickets and marshes. Plants may grow as tall as seven feet
with many large flower clusters. The blooms open July - September
and turn into large puffs of seed heads that often persist
into the winter. Joe Pye Weed is named after the legendary
Joe Pye, a Native American herb doctor of the Massachusetts
Bay colony who used the plant to cure fevers.
(photo courtesy of the Chicago
Botanic Garden)
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MARSH
MILKWEED
Asclepias incarnata
sweet-scented pink/crimson flower clusters blooming June -
August
Marsh
Milkweed,
also known as 'red' or 'swamp' milkweed, can be found along
the road in in the Ryerson Conservation Area. It is one of
the very best foods for the Monarch butterfly. The plant grows
two to four feet tall in patches of sunlight in the moist
woodlands.
(Joyce Perbixl, McHenry County
Conservation District, photographer)
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RATTLESNAKE
MASTER
Eryngium Yuccifoliium
round white button-like flowers atop stiff stems
Rattlesnake
Mastercan
be found in Ryerson's prairie restoration area. Its rosette
of long, spiny, silvery green leaves resemble a yucca or agave
plant but it is not at all related. This three foot tall plant
prefers a moist habitat and blooms in late summer. It was
named Rattlesnake Master because early settlers used the plant
in a poultice applied to rattlesnake bites, although it is
now known to be ineffective.
(photo courtesy of Fermi National
Accelerator Lab)
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WITCH
HAZEL
Hamamelis virginiana
threadlike yellow flowers appear in late autumn after the
leaves have fallen
Witch
Hazel
is a shrub found in low moist woodlands. Its most unusual
feature are its small fragrant spidery yellow flowers that
do not appear until the leaves have fallen in the autumn.
Witch hazel occasionally growns up to 25 feet, but generally
is between eight and ten feet tall. The dried leaves, bark
and dormant twigs are used to create a cool topical astringent
for minor skin injuries and a gargle for sore throats. Witch
hazel extracts are often used in skin care and other health
products.
(Jim Nachel, Conservation Research
Institute, photographer)
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Spring
Wildflowers
Copyright 2001-10
Friends of Ryerson Woods
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