Family #1:  Rosaceae

Species Name: Duchesnea indica

Common Name: Indian Strawberry

Description: Observed in an open-cultivated lawn, growing in slightly moist, acidic-soil. This plant can be best described as a yellow flower with five petals, five sepals (and 5 toothed bracts just underneath) , with many stamen. The leaves are mostly basal (this plant had an alternate leaf also) with three, serrate leaflets. The fruit is red and juicy and has achenes (dry; ovary contains one cell and one seed) surrounding the surface.

Family #2: Apiaceae

Species Name: Dacus carota

Common Name: Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, or Bird’s Nest

Description: Observed along the south side of the roadside, growing in moderately moist, slightly acidic soil. The plant was about two feet tall and had a pubescent stem. The small, white flowers were grown in a flat umbel and have pinnate bracts that fold up to form a seed.

Plant on sight ID list #1: Oenothera biennis

Family Name: Onagraceae

Common Name: Common Evening Primrose

Description: Observed along the west side of the roadway, growing in a steep ditch. The flower has four, yellow petals, two pairs of long sepals fused together , 8  stamen, and one inferior gynoecium with four stigmas. The stem was about 4 feet tall and had little hairs. The leaves were alternate and lanceolate in shape with entire margins.

Plant on sight ID list #2: Quercus rubra

Family Name: Fagaceae

Common Name: Red Oak

Description:  Observed in an open cultivated lawn along the driveway in full sunlight, growing in slightly acidic soil. Leaves are simple, alternate, lobed with pointy tips.

Specific Character #1: Parallel Venation

Family Name: Aspargacae

Species Name: Agave sp.

Described: Observed along the west side of a slightly, downward driveway, growing in slightly acidic soil. The veins of the leaves run parallel.

Specific Character #2: Pinnate Venation

Family Name: Ulmacae

Species Name: Ulmus rubra

Common Name: Slippery Elm

Description: Observed on the west side on the top part of the downward slope driveway, growing in slightly acidic soil. The leaves are simple, alternate, serrated and have a rough top surface with a soft, pubescent surface underneath. The venation is pinnate having one main vein extending from the asymmetrical base to the acute tip with many smaller veins that branch off.

Eupatorium rugosum was the original name for the ‘white snakeroot’ but due to the toxin it contains, it has been replaced in the Asteraceae family and is now named Ageratina altissima. This plant is native to eastern North America. This plant was observed 2014 September 12 in Newark, Ohio in an open area along the edge of a mixed mesophytic forest with an overstory dominated by Quercus rubra (red oak),  Quercus alba (white oak), Acer saccharum (sugar maple), and Juglans nigra (black walnut) and an understory is dominated by Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple), grass and other herbatious plants. This plant was found growing in a moist soil on the south-eastern side of an Acer saccharum (sugar maple) tree. This plant can be best described as a small white flowers in clusters near the top with hair-like tips; opposite leaves (a pair of leaves are attached to a node), ovate (spare-like), and a serrated margin (toothed edge).

Prunella vulgaris also known as Selfheal or Heal-all of the mint family, Labiatae, was observed 2014 September 12 in Newark, Ohio. Prunella vulgaris are native to North America. This herb was found outside in an open-cultivated lawn, growing along the west side of a shady, limestone driveway, on a slightly-downward slope in moist soil. This herb can be best described as a purple-white flower in a green, spiked, square-cluster. The flower itself has a purple-upper lip that covers a three-lobed, white-lower lip. The leaves are arranged in opposite pattern and the leaves have an entire margin (smooth edge), lance-shaped (long spare-like), and appear dark green. An interesting fact about this herb is that it is edible, the leaves may be eaten in salads; the whole plant may be boiled and eaten; the above ground parts of the herb may be powdered and brewed as a tea. It is also a medicinal herb that will heal sore throats, thrush, gum infections, irritated skin fever, diarrhea, and internal bleeding.

Impatiens capensis, otherwise known as the ‘spotted jewelweed’ or ‘spotted touch-me-not’ of the family, Balsaminaceae, was observed 2014 September 12 in Newark, Ohio.  Impatiens capensis are native to North America. This plant was found outside in an open, shaded-cultivated lawn, growing along the north-east side of a building in moist soil. This plant can be best described as an orange flower with red-brown spots; the flower is made up of a three-lobed corolla (petal), a calyx (sepal) about an inch long with a short inward-curved spur at the back; alternate leaves (a single leaf attached to a node) that are egg-shaped with crenate margins (round-toothed edge); and the stems are succulent (thick and fleshy) with darkened nodes. Interesting facts about this plant are the fruits and the leaves. When the fruit becomes ripe, the slightest touch can make the seeds explode out of the pod, which is why it is named ‘touch-me-not’ (below is a photograph of a ripened fruit with seeds in the pod. Lastly, when the leaves are submerged underwater they appear silver or ‘jeweled’ given the name ‘jewelweed’ (attached is a video of a Impatiens capensis leaf submerged underwater ).

Ripened fruit with seeds in pod.