Ok this one will trip you up : Spikenard

[SwampDonkey]

Ok, get out your bibles and search in the book of Soloman for this perfume ingredient. It has a purple stem, compound leaves and the flowers are born in the axils of the leaves. Rhyzome type root system. :P
 

[Tom]

well, it doesn't look like a sweet potato. :D  Where would we find it growing?

[SwampDonkey]

Cheeky  :D

Its found locally in moist mixed-woods. Usually associated with ground hemlock (taxus canadensis),  and stands comprised of eastern hemlock, eastern white cedar, butternut, Ash species, red maple, yellow birch, white spruce, and balsam fir. Not on sites that get powder dry in summer. It can reach 6 feet in height, leaves are up to 2 feet long. Its a native north american species of course. I can see you folks travelling down two families of plants to identify this hum-dinger.

[Tom]

I live locally in moist mixed-wood and can't find anything like that.  I guess I'll have to get out a book.

[SwampDonkey]

HI Tom:

To be honest, I've only recognized its presence in the woods 5 years ago. I think I overlooked it for another species, which I'm not going to give the name of  

Its odd too, because I found it along a pathway used by cattle which I've walked along for years. But, it first drew my attention on another woodlot, at road edge. I was returning from a pre-commercial thinning measurement I was conducting, then I noticed it. Now I see it on several sites, all with similar stand components as in my previous tip.

I have one more stumper as soon as someone guesses this one. Its going to be a rare delicate fern found on the darkest richest moist hardwood sites with white ash, sugar maple, butternut, basswood, and yellow birch. Alot of plant robbers are after it. Its associated with the Acadian Forest at climax succession, but the sites I know aren't climactic. Since the mid-80's these sites have been harvested. I know of 2 sites locally, and know one will ever know  ;)

[Tom]

I think I know what your second one is already but the first, I don't have a clue.  Gotta go a searchin'  

Hmmm   reminds me of a song we used to play on the 45's in high school.   .........been searchin' ....ta da..ta dee.....

[Paul_H]

Aralia nudicaulis? Nard

[SwampDonkey]

HI:

Aralia nudicaulis is sarsaparilla but you are red hot. Sarsaparilla is dwarfed in comparison, and saraparilla's flowers are born on a separate stalk.  Think of the fruit and purple stem of a common woody shrub which it resembles and you'll get the correct species ;)

[Paul_H]

I'll try again 8)

Aralia racemosa?

[L. Wakefield]

   yeah, gotta be- american spikenard. Not at all the same as the spikenard in the bible which if I am correct is Nardostachys jatamansi, forund in Nepal and other places.

   But they say American spikenard does also have an aromatic root or rhizome. I haven't found it yet to dig and investigate, but I want to.  lw

[SwampDonkey]

@ L. Wakefield

Yes, its not the same species as in the bible, for sure. But, the name is the same. Solomon didn't use latin nominclature or have cameras back then either. From reading his book he had one thing on his mind  ;D


Spikenard is the plant  

Sorry for the poor picture quality, but with a 15 k limit on pics, you have to go tiny or sacrafice image compression quality with the jpeg format.

[SwampDonkey]

Good going Paul:

Do you have it out your way? I never seen it myself on the Charlottes or the North Coast, or Nass R., or Bulkly R.
But, I'll tell ya I clambered through alot of its nasty cousin. The infamous Devil's Club, ouch *DanG thorns.  ;D

[Paul_H]

SD,
I'm not sure if we do but I'm going to keep an eye out.From the picture alone,at first I thought it was Wild Ginger,which we have a lot of.

Yeah,Devils club are mean,and sometimes that's all there is to grab on to when you're crossing a creek.They sure do smell nice though.

[Stephen_Wiley]

SD,

Due to ice and snow lost phone connections yesterday so just now getting the opportunity to see your post. Like seeing these kind of posts so keep them coming.

BTW, went to see where you were located. You need to plant your tree on the map. (At least in close proximity)

Looking forward to your 'fern' post ;D

While walking through Devils Club you can often get your hair combed and wear a new hat    :D

[Texas Ranger]

Aralia spinousa L. is the variety we have in Texas.  And like SD said, when you jump a creek, slip, and have to grab something, it is usually what we call the Devil's Walking stick.

[SwampDonkey]

Hi Friar Don:

Yeah its quite a pin cushion. But Devil's walking stick is a different plant, same family. Devil's club is found in the temperate rain forests. ;)

[SwampDonkey]

Hi Stephen

Glad you and the rest of the folks enjoy the challenges.

Have a look at my member map now  8)