Helenium vernale Walt. – Savannah Sneezeweed Family – Asteraceae Stems: Leaves: Arrow shows decurrent leaf blade tissue. Inflorescence: N/A Involucre: Ray flowers: Disk flowers: Flowering – March – May. Habitat – Savannahs, wet pine barrens, bogs, ditches. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This attractive species can be found in just a … Read more
Vaccinium myrsinites Lam. – Shiny Blueberry Family – Ericaceae Stems: Leaves: N/A Inflorescence: Flowers: Flowering – February – April. Habitat – Sandhills, pine barrens, flatwoods. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This small species can be found in the southern 1/3 of Alabama. The plant is a small shrub that grows to … Read more
Trillium cuneatum Raf. – Little Sweet Betsy Family – Liliaceae Stems: N/A Leaves: N/A Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Typical red flower. Green flower. Flowering – March – April. Habitat – Wooded slopes with neutral to basic soils. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This species can be found throughout much of Alabama but … Read more
Amsonia tabernaemontana Walt. – Blue Star Family – Apocyanceae Stems: N/A Leaves: Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Calyx. Flowering – April – May. Habitat – Rich woods, bottomlands, wooded slopes, bluffs. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This striking species is fairly common in Alabama. The plant is easy to grow and would make … Read more
Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. – Leaf Flower Family – Euphorbiaceae Stems: Leaves: N/A Inflorescence: Flowers: Staminate flowers. Fruits. Flowering – May – December. Habitat – Disturbed sites, waste ground, roadsides, lawns. Origin – Native to the Mascarene Islands. Other information – This weedy species can be found scattered throughout the southern half of Alabama and is … Read more
Amelanchier arborea (Michx.) Fern. – Service Berry Family – Rosaceae Stems: Winter twig. Bark of mature tree. Leaves: Leaf buds in winter. Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Flowering – March – May. Habitat – Upland woods, glades, balds, alluvial woods, rocky woods. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This striking species can be found … Read more
Piptochaetium avenaceum (L.) Parodi – Blackseed Needlegrass Family – Poaceae Stems: Node of stem. Base of plant. Leaves: Leaf base. Arrow shows ligule. Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Spikelet close-up. Twisted awn. Flowering – April – June. Habitat – Deciduous hardwood hammocks, thickets, dry woods. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This grass can … Read more
Monotropsis odorata Ell. – Carolina Beach Drops Family – Monotropaceae Stems: N/A Leaves: N/A Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Flowers, front-view. Flowering – February – April. Habitat – Mixed deciduous woods. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This minute species has been rarely collected in Alabama and is either actually rare or just overlooked. … Read more
Phaseolus polystachios (L.) BSP. – Thicket Bean Family – Fabaceae Stems: N/A Leaves: Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Flowering – July – October. Habitat – Woods, thickets, hammocks. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This bean can be found mainly in northern Alabama but is fairly uncommon. The plant can be identified by its … Read more
Tradescantia hirsuticaulis Small – Hairy Spiderwort Family – Commelinaceae Stems: Leaves: Leaf sheath. Inflorescence: N/A Flowers: Flowering – April – June. Habitat – Dry woods, rock outcrops. Origin – Native to North America. Other information – This species can be found scattered throughout Alabama. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its hirsute stems, … Read more