Try These

Bill Johnson · July 11, 2001, 02:55:52 PM

I was out in the field yesterday and took a couple of shots of fairly common forest plants.
I've posted them at http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/bracke_bill
if you get there click on my photos to enlarge the thumbnails just click on them.
I don't imagine it will take you too long to id them.

Bill

L. Wakefield · July 11, 2001, 04:34:39 PM

1st one might be water hemlock or wild parsnip (poisonous), and I think the 2nd one is gooseberry.
lw

Bill Johnson · July 11, 2001, 05:51:35 PM

Sorry LW
The berries on the first one are supposedly edible once they are ripe. Gooseberries are usually green and somewhat transparent.
But those were good suggestions.
Bill

Tom · July 11, 2001, 06:30:44 PM

Of the 3 things I found that the first pix might be I'm guessing snakeroot. I hate to shotgun it but I've got some more if that's not it. ;D

Don't have a clue on the 2nd with the red berries yet.

Bill Johnson · July 11, 2001, 06:35:35 PM

If folks haven't nailed them down by morning, I'll post a few hints.
I'm not sure of the range on these plants so that maybe causing problems as well.
That being said, it would be something if KiwiCharlie nailed them down.
Bill

KiwiCharlie · July 11, 2001, 11:24:36 PM

G'day Bill,

I had a look at the photos, and the first picture looks surprisingly like what I would call "Carrotweed" down here. Structure is very similar, and colouring too.
However, your Common Ragweed, also known as Carrotweed, looks nothing like the Carrotweed I know!!
Hemlock is also known as Carrotweed....

So... my guess is Parsley Dropwort (Oenanthe pimpinelloides), a member of the Apiaceae family, known locally as Carrotweed. This is the Kiwi plant, whether its the same as your one I have no idea!, but it sure looks like it.

The berry photo is foreign (!) to me though.
Cheers
Charlie.

Bill Johnson · July 12, 2001, 05:28:14 AM

Hints for the plants

Plant 1:Perennial; 20-90 cm tall; erect;leafy; stem has sharp, slender spines near base;from stout underground stem
Found in sandy or rocky areaa;clearings or open forest
Roots and bark said to have been used as a historic remedy for kidney and urinary problems.

Plant 2
Distinctive skunk like odor when crushed

Bill

Tom · July 12, 2001, 01:20:16 PM

What's a cm Bill? :D

Bill Johnson · July 12, 2001, 02:45:15 PM

the opposite to no cm?? :D

Tom · July 12, 2001, 03:01:26 PM

:D :D :D :D

CHARLIE · July 16, 2001, 02:10:27 PM

The second one with the berries looks like a vine growing up into a Spruce tree. Hmmm

Bill Johnson · July 17, 2001, 05:30:38 AM

Ok
You guys have all been pretty close to nailing these down.

Plant 1 is known as Bristly Sarsaparilla (Aralie Hispide) also known as dwarf-elder or wild-elder.

Plant 2 is known as Skunk Currant(Gadelllier Glanduleux). It is a member of the gooseberry family, but the fruit is said to have a disagreeable taste.

Bill
8)

Tom · July 17, 2001, 11:26:15 AM

Hey Bill,

Is the Bristly Sarsparilla any kin to the "drink" that was common before Root Beer took over?

Does Skunk Currant have any uses? Do animals eat it or is it to pungent even for them?

Tom · July 17, 2001, 02:40:12 PM

Hey Bill,

I've been looking all over the place for a write-up o these two plants and can't find anything anywhere.

Have you any suggestions for a place to look? :-[

Bill Johnson · July 18, 2001, 05:15:06 AM

I can give you what information I have, I'm using a manual called Forest Plants of Northeastern Ontario by Karen Legasy, I'm not sure if copies are still available, the other manual I use is called a Field Guide to Forest Ecosystems of Nothern Ontario put out by the Northeast Science and Technology Unit of the MNR.
So if you just need a quick blurb let me know and I'll try and put something together for you.
Bill

Tom · July 18, 2001, 06:56:25 AM

Just a quick blurb.

I am interested in all of these plants and a short synopsis of its local folklore would be interesting to later readers of the thread I would think.

I am finding that there are so many plants that have been touted to have medicinal features throughout the years. I am looking for one that produces Gold Apples so I can buy one of those big diesel pusher RV's. :D

Bill Johnson · July 19, 2001, 05:29:25 AM

I've added some new plant photos to my album. they should be fairly easy to identify.

Tom · July 19, 2001, 06:37:10 AM

Bill,

#5 looks like low bush blueberry. I've eaten about 2 tons of them off of the place down here. Is that close or do I need to go to the books when I look for the the others? ;D

Bill Johnson · July 19, 2001, 09:40:05 AM

No need to look further low bush blueberry is what I would have called it.

Tom · July 19, 2001, 08:40:12 PM

#3 looks like a coreopsis of some sort and 4 looks familiar but I can't place it or find it. I guess I need a hint.

Bill Johnson · July 23, 2001, 02:56:05 PM

Plant 3 is a non-native species, according to my book it came from Europe, however its has a cousin over here and adapted rather well.

Plant 4 is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family.

Thats the best I can do for clues short of naming them.

Bill Johnson · July 26, 2001, 05:35:44 AM

Just added 5 new plants to the photo album. Check them out and see which ones you can identify.

Tom · July 27, 2001, 07:47:46 PM

pix #6 looks like Rabbit tobacco

Bill Johnson · July 30, 2001, 01:59:10 PM

Number 6 is Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea). The historical note in my book says the leaves have been used as tobacco. The flowers were used to ward off evil spirits and to heal burns.

So Rabbit Tobacco may just be another name.

Tom · July 30, 2001, 06:53:21 PM

I never dreamed it would be so hard finding references to Rabbit Tobacco on the Web. This stuff is so common to kids in the south of my generation. :D

Gnaphalium obtusifolium
http://deepcnet.usi.edu/biology/TwinSwamps/Gnaphalium_obtusifolium.htm
http://www.altnature.com/gallery/rabbit_tobacco.htm
mcco,
Pearly Everlasting

Don P · July 30, 2001, 08:22:07 PM

I drug Michelle over to the screen so here's a few guesses
#3 looks like a primrose which is a native to England
#9 appears to be a vetch so we made it up as we went along "purple vetch"
#10 might be a sedge and I seem to recall a downy sedge
So did we get to first base or is it back to the dugout? :D

Gordon · July 30, 2001, 09:19:07 PM

Tom, a diesel pusher---your just jokin aren't you. My last job was pullin wrenches at an r/v dealership. One thing is for sure, any r/v can be a money pit! Just like boats I guess.

But if you do find that gold tree and end up with an r/v just holler if you have any questions about it. I've spent enough time working on top of, inside of and under them thats for sure.

Like anything ya get what ya pay for.8)

Gordon

Bill Johnson · August 01, 2001, 05:42:07 AM

That's good Don.
Number 3 is Orange Hawkweed (aka Devil's Paintbrush)
Hieracium aurantiacum.

Number 9 is Cow Vetch (I guess you could call it purple vetch as well) Vicia cracca.

Number 10 is Cotton grass Eriophorum vaginatum, and it is a member of the sedge family

So I would say that you're somewhere between first and second base. Good show.

Don P · August 01, 2001, 10:58:03 AM

I've thanked M for letting me copy off her homework :D

Gordon, our motorhome is a 73 class A Chevy that Michelle's dad built from a bare chassis (he was a mechanical engineer and built boats, cars, campers...). At its age our running joke is that you need to have a hundred dollar bill in hand before turning the key, a hole in the highway into which we pour money.

Bill Johnson · August 02, 2001, 02:50:39 PM

Check out picture 11 in the album.

Tom · August 02, 2001, 07:07:43 PM

Is that a NearNorth, Canadian, Birch Moose??

Bill Johnson · August 13, 2001, 12:47:18 PM

Just added two new plants numbers 11 and 12. See if you can put a name to them.

Also check out Where's Mom. They sure were in a hurry to get out of there and find her.

Tom · August 13, 2001, 01:21:18 PM

11 looks like a Rhododendron and 12 is a fern of some kind of another. Off to the books.

Bill Johnson · August 27, 2001, 10:26:15 AM

Number 11 is Sheep Laurel and Number 12 is Sweet Fern.

Sheep Laurel is considered poisonous.

Sweet Fern has a very sweet fragrance that is noticeable when the leaves are crushed.