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.

This is the category (see categories on left side of blog text area) where you post your entries and comments for the first blog assignment given on Sept 10/11, 2014:

Learning Objectives:

• To notice and observe plant species around you
• To practice field identification skills using Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide

The Blog Entry:

In order for you to become more familiar with Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide and your own environment, we would like you to go outside (your backyard, the oval, etc.), find and identify three different plants that you do not know.

Your blog entry should include at least the following information for all of the plants:

• Species name
• Common name
• Plant Family
• Introduced or native status
• Field Notes
• At least one picture of your plant

* For one of your three plants, add a short discussion of characters used to recognize the plant, written for a general audience.