Helianthus tuberosus
Jerusalem Artichoke
- Family Asteraceae
- Ohio Native
- Found on 21st September 2014 near Lockbourne, OH. Growing in an overgrown meadow between mowed grass (in a horse pasture) and a dry creek bed, growing in large clumps with grasses and golden rods. Tall plant- about 4 feet.
Impatiens capensis
Spotted Touch-Me-Nots
- Family: Balsaminaceae
- Ohio Native
- Found on 21st September 2014 near Lockbourne, OH. Growing in an overgrown meadow between mowed grass (in a horse pasture) and a dry creek bed, tucked in below grasses and golden rods. The fruits were fascinating- small, green pods that explode when you squeeze them to distribute the seed.
- The orange/red/yellow flower ‘hangs’ from its stem; it is shaped somewhat like a trumpet, with a narrow tube that wraps behind and below the opening of the flower. Pollinators (mainly bees) must crawl almost entirely inside of the flower to reach the pollen and nectar. The leaves are green and soft, egg-shaped with rounded teeth on the edges. The fruit are elongated, about 1 inch long, and are corn-ear-shaped. They explode when squeezed, distributing a few small, disk-shaped seeds.
Erigeron strigosus
Lesser Daisy Fleabane
- Family Asteraceae
- Ohio Native
- Found on 21st September 2014 near Lockbourne, OH. Growing in an overgrown meadow between mowed grass (in a horse pasture) and a dry creek bed, in a large unorganized clump below grasses and golden rods. Flowers very small (1/2 inch across), with many white petals.
Your pictures are beautiful! I also found Impatiens capensis (Spotted Touch-Me-Nots) in my yard. I thought they were gorgeous and they have some interesting facts. They are also called Spotted Jewelweed because when a leaf is submerged underwater the leaf turns silver (there is a video in my post). Also they can be used to treat poison ivy and other skin irritations from chemicals of other plants.
Your photo of the lesser daisy is really great. It makes it easy to see the head inflorescence. This feature is one of the easiest ways to find an Asteraceae family member. We’ll done!
I really enjoyed the photo of the Erigeron strigosus, it is very pretty. It’s interesting to note that this flower is native in Southern Canada and all the 48 contiguous United States with the exception of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. I wonder why it is not native there? It happens to be part of the daisy family and daisys are my absolute favorite flower.