Andy's northern Ontario wildflowers - Flowering plants that    grow on land adjecent to open water.
Andy's Northern Ontario Wildflowers
Flowering Plants that Grow on the          Edges of Open Water or Moist Areas
 
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Habitat:
Flowering          plants that grow on the edges of open water, near the edges of lakes          or rivers, require moist living conditions.
The          roots of water plants grow in the organic-rich mud that accumulated          in the flood plane of a river or adjacent to a lake. Sometimes, these          plants grow in moist beaver meadows - areas that were once under          water held behind a beaver dam.
The roots of some          of these plants are covered by water, especially during the high          water spring run-off.
This is a          favourite habitat for many animals, such as bear, moose, otters,          muskrat, and elk because of the fresh vegetation and the water.
Flowering          plants that grow on the edges of standing water
Water          Aven; also known as Nodding Avens, Drooping Avens, Indian Chocolate,          Indian-Chocolate, Chocolate-Plant, Chocolate-Root, Cure All, Water          Flower, Purple Avens, Bennet,  Cureall, Drooping Avens, Maiden          hair, River Avens, Throatroot, and Throatwort.
Perennial
Flower: Deep pink          sepals, pale pinkish petals, sometimes yellow-tinged but more pink          than yellow; the flowers are drooping with petals that form together          into a compact and bell-like form; although the flower is nodding,          the fruit head is erect; Early June - July.
Stem: flowers          usually on tall stalks with three small leaves and three nodding          flowers on a stalk.
Height: Up to 1 m.
Leaves: Toothed          compound leaves with the end segment three fingered and and broader          than the others. 
Habitat: It grows          in wet to moist soils, found in damp woods, forest or meadow creeks,          marshes, and along the edges of beaver ponds or lakes.
Other: Folklore          suggests Water Avens was a remedy for most ailments of the digestive          tract. Both Indians and Settlers used a mixture of the powdered root          and water or brandy to treat Malaria. The roots also were used to          heal sore throats, which was probably due to the tannin in the plant.
Location: Burwash
Leaves: Rough,          flat, 4-8 mm wide
Flower: Clusters;          2-10 cm long heads carrying many small flower spikes.
Other: Grows in          ditches, marshes, swamps, and wetlands. The sedge fruit is food for          small birds.
Location: Burwash
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Giant          reed; A tall grass.
Flower: Tiny and          lack petals; cluster of spikes up to 30 cm long; initially reddish,          then silver plume-like terminal clusters; August-September.
Leaves: Smooth,          flat, sharp, blue-green leaves; up to 50 cm long and 5 cm wide; rough margins.
Height: 1-5 m.
Other: Tall          striking grass that spreads by underground rhizomes. It can form a          dense stand that excludes all other wetland species.
 
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Cyprus-like          sedge
Flower: Elongate          clusters of 3-6 nodding, long-stalked spikes; has 1 short-stalked          male terminal spike and 2-5 cylindrical female spikes below (3-7 mm          long); bracts are longer than flowering stems; late summer.
Leaves: Rough,          large, longer than stems; 5-15 mm wide.
Stem: Flowering          stems are stout, sharply three-sided, sharp, and rough
Height: 30-100 cm.
Other: A perennial          sedge. Forms in clumps.
Location: Paddy Creek
Fraser's          Marsh St. Johnswort
Family: Clusiaceae
Flower:          Purplish-pinkish petals with 3 yellow nectaries that alternate with          the stamens that are arranged in 3 groups of 3, fused at the base;          1-2 cm wide, 5 petals and 5 pointed sepals; in clusters at stem tips          or in leaf axils; flowers do not open during the day; mid-summer.
Leaves: Opposite,          3-6 cm long, oblong, often with black dots beneath, not toothed,          turns purplish colour in late summer.
Height: 30-60 cm tall.
Habitat: Moist          areas beside lakes, rivers, river bars.
Other: Because the          flowers are pollinated by insects that are active at dusk and dawn          (crepuscular insects), the flowers are closed in full sun and seem to          be in bud throughout the summer if seen during the day. The purple          flower bud is diagnostic if seen during the day.
Information          Source: Susan J. Meades, Biologist, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada .
Location: Burwash
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Winterberry          Holly; deciduous, erect, holly shrub; are male and female shrubs;          also known as Winterberry, Fever Bush,  Striped Alder, White          Alder, Coralberry, Michigan Holly, False Alder, Inkberry, Black Alder          Winterberry, Deciduous Winterberry, Virginian Winterberry, Brook          Alder, Deciduous Holly, Possumhaw, Swamp Holly.
Flower: Greenish          to yellowish-white;  1 to 3 small, short stalked flowers; 4 or 5          greenish-white to white petals; in the leaf axils from the new          season's growth; June to July.
Fruits: Round,          bright red to yellow; 6 mm diameter; persist through winter; August          to September
Leaves: Alternate,          simple, deciduous; bladed to lance-shaped to oval; fine teeth along          margins; shiny dark green; leaf veins alternate and tend to end in a          network near the margin rather then extend to the edge.
Height: 3 - 4 m.
Habitat: Note the          location of this shrub - close to water, in swamps, and along          streams. In watershed areas, the roots are often submerged in bodies          of water or in water-saturated acidic soil.
Interest:          Winterberry holly loses its leaves in the winter, but the bright red          fruits remain on the branches. The fruits are eaten by birds and wildlife.
Poison: Parts of          Winterberry contain "Theobromine", an alkaloid that is          similar to caffeine in coffee.  Seeds, bark, and leaves are all          mildly toxic, but the greatest concentration of the alkaloid occurs          in the berries. Be careful that children don't eat the berries. Click          here for more information care of the Nova          Scotia Museum - Poison Plant Patch .
Location: Burwash,          Nellie Lake
Spotted          jewelweed; Annual; Also known as Touch-me-not);
Family:          Touch-me-not (Balsaminaceae)
Flower: Orange          with reddish-brown splotches (see next image); 2.5 cm long; 3 sepals,          one that is very large and sac-like or funnel-shaped that is coloured          like the petals; pointed sac 6 mm long; July-October.
Leaves: Alternate,          oval; coarsely-toothed, feather veined; 3-8 mm long.
Stem: Succulent;          brittle, exude juice where broken.
Fruit: Swollen          capsule that explodes when mature when touched.
Height: 0.5 to 1.5 m.
Habitat: Wet          areas, such as river banks, beaver ponds, creeks.
Interest 1: The          orange flowers look like tiny jewels dangling from the plant - hence,          the common name jewelweed. If you touch the end of a ripened seed          pod, it pops open and the seeds explode out at you. Children love to          play with the exploding fruit capsules - great fun! This feature          explains why the plant was called "touch-me-not". The          flower is entirely dependent upon hummingbirds for pollination,          because the pollen falls before the stigma is ready to receive it.          The juice of the plant is reported to offset the effects of          poison-ivy. Jewelweed contains two methoxy-1, four          napthoquinine.  This is an anti-inflammatory and fungicide that          is one of the compounds used in the popular ointment named "Preparation H" ( source ).
Spotted jewelweed          (also known as Touch-me-not):
Flower: Spotted          with darker orange dots.
Fruit: Long-ribbed          pods, 2 cm long, 1 cm long by 3 mm wide; explode when touched to          spread its seeds away.
Date: August 12, 2007
Swamp          loosestrife; Native, shrubby aquatic perennial; Also known as          Water-willow, Willow-Herb, Peatweed, Slink-weed, Wild oleander, Grass          poly, and swamp-loosestrife.
Family:          Loosestrife (Lythraceae)
Flower: Pink or          lavender; numerous and occur in clusters in upper leaf axils; 4 or 5          petals; July - August.
Leaves: Opposite          or whorled; lance-shaped, 3-13 cm long; paired or in three's or four's.
Stem (Canes): 4 to          6 sided, curved or reclining along ground; up to several metres in          length; root at tips when they touch the soil
Height: 1-2.5 m.
Habitat: Edges of          lakes, rivers, beaver dams, commonly rooted in shallow water.
Other: The plant          has a distinctive reclining or arching habit. It prefers to grow          along beaver dams and edges of lakes.
Location: Burwash
Water          or Wild Mint:
Flower: The          flowers are pale lavender; whorls in axils of leaves. (July - September).
Leaves: Ovate,          opposite, 2-8 cm long, toothed, often with a purple colour; pairs at          right angles to each other.
Stem: Square,          slightly to densely hairy.
Height: 0.2-0.8 m.
Other: Alien          plant; perennial; prefers the edges of wet areas.
Language of          Flowers: Means "virtue". Source
Location:          Manitoulin Island, Mississagi Lighthouse.
Date: July 18, 2001
Comparison of          Northern Bugleweed (on the left with the white flowers) and wild          Water Mint (on the right with lavender flowers).
Location:          Wanapitei River.
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Northern          bugleweed; perennial.
Flower: Tiny white          flowers in dense clusters in leaf axils where leaf joins stem; 2 mm          long; June-September.
Leaves: Paired,          coarsely toothed; 2-7 cm long; opposite; nearly stalkless; simple;          lanceolate; tapered at both ends; 2-10 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide.
Stem: Square stem.
Height: 10-40 cm.
Habitat: Low, wet          ground, shores of lakes, beaver ponds, marshes, wet areas.
Interest: Member          of the mint family, but is non-aromatic. May be confused with Water          Horehound, but horehound has deeply lobed leaves.
Northern Bugleweed          in it native habit - wet edge of a beaver pond.
Location: Burwash
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Cardinal          flower; perennial; also known as Red Lobelia.
Flower: Brilliant          scarlet; tubular; 3-4 cm long; 5 petals, 2 upper and 3 lower petals;          flowers on an elongated cluster on erect stem; See          following photo; July-September.
Leaves:          Spear-shaped, toothed, alternate; up to 15 cm long.
Stem: Slender          spike; carries flowers.
Height: Up to 1.2 m.
Habitat: Prefers          wet areas, wooded banks of streams, swamps, wet meadows.
Interest: Cardinal          flower is pollinated chiefly by hummingbirds, because the long,          tubular flowers are hard for insects to access. It is said that the          common name refers to the brilliant red robes worn by Roman Catholic          cardinals. Vivid red is not a common hue among wildflowers.  Cardinal flower is reported to have caused poisoning when misused as a home medicine.
Language of          Flowers: Means "distinction". Source
This is one of my          favourite wildflowers.
Location: Elbow Lake
Virgin's-Bower;          a climbing vine; member of the Buttercup Family; also known as          Virgin's Bower, Woodbine, Old Man's Beard, Wild Clematis; a long vine.
Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Flower: White; in          many clusters from leaf axils; each flower about 2.5 cm wide;          generally 4 sepals that look like petals; no petals; numerous stamens          and pistils; male and female flowers on separate plants; July-September.
Leaves: Compound          with 3 toothed ovate leaflets; each about 5 cm long; toothed;          opposite on stem.
Fruit: Gray silky          plumes, attached to seeds, appear after flowering.
Stem: Vine with          stem up to 3 m long; the vine lacks tendrils and supports itself by          twisting its stem about other plants.
Height: Up to 3 m.
Habitat: Stream          and river banks, thickets, wood edges, other moist places. Climbs          over old fences, bushes in woodlands and along rivers or creeks.
Location: Paddy          Creek, off Secord Road
Date: August 8, 2002.
Virgin's-bower          vine climbing over a tree along banks of streams.
Location: Paddy          Creek, off Secord Road
Date: August 8, 2002.
Location: Paddy          Creek, off Secord Road
Date: August 8, 2002.
Virgin's-bower          seed pod covered with snow. The plumose styles are up to 2 cm long          and persist well into the winter.
Location:          Fairbanks Provincial Park Road
Date: October 9, 2005
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Water          Hemlock; perennial; also known as Spotted Cowbane.
Flower: White;          florets form umbrella-like clusters; each floret is rounded and          consists of many small white flowers; each floret is about 0.5 - 1 cm          wide; each umbel is about 5-10 cm wide; the tiny flowers are about 1          mm across and have 5 petals; Late June - August.
Leaves: Alternate;          two to three times compound, lance-shaped, leaflets; sharp-pointed;          toothed; veins end at notches between teeth; leaf petioles partially          sheath the stems.
Stem: Erect;          smooth, branching; swollen at base; purple colour,  streaked, or          mottled with purple; grows from tuberous roots.
Height: Up to 1.8 m.
Habitat: Wet          areas, wet meadows and pastures, ditches, swamps, marshes, along          banks of streams
WARNING: THESE          PLANTS CONTAIN AN EXTREMELY POISONOUS ,          YELLOW-COLOURED OIL. A SMALL QUANTITY OF THIS PLANT CAN CAUSE DEATH          IF EATEN. BEST TO AVOID.
Interest: In          ancient Greece, the philosopher Socrates died in  399 BC after          drinking a poisonous solution of POISON HEMLOCK. This type of death          was considered as a humane method of execution.  The bane in          COWBANE comes from the Anglo- Saxon word, "bana",          meaning "murderer or destroyer."
Location: Secord Road
Flower head of          Water Parsnip.
Location: Secord Road
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Cow          Parsnip
Flower: White;          numerous clusters of white flowers; flowers up to 1.3 cm wide, in          clusters 10-20 cm wide; June-August (see          following photos).
Leaves:          Asymmetrical notched petals, sometimes tinged with purple; 3          segments; 7-15 cm wide, lobed and toothed; inflated sheath at base of          stalk; entire leaf may be up to 50 cm wide.
Stem: Grooved,          woolly, and hollow.
Height: 1-3 m tall.
Habitat: Moist          places, such as ditches, edges of lakes or rivers.
Interest: This is          one of the largest umbellifers - up to 3 m tall.
Location: Burwash
Marsh          marigold; also known as Cowslip, Yellow Marsh Marigold, American          Cowslip, Water Blobs, May Blobs, Horse Blobs, Bull's Eyes Leopard's          Foot, Kingcup, Cowflock; Perennial.
Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Flower: Bright          yellow; 5-9 petal-like sepals and no petals; clusters; look like          buttercup; April-June.
Leaves: Glossy,          rounded to heart-shaped; up to 15 cm wide, alternate, stalked;          glossy, dark green colour..
Stem: Flowering          stems are hollow, grooved, and succulent.
Height: 20-80 cm.
Habitat: Wet          areas, such as creeks, swamps, wet meadows, and bogs, generally in,          or beside, running water.
Interest: The          genus name, Caltha, is derived from the Greek word for "cup" (calathos), which describes the flowers as they open and palustris is from Latin word meaning "of the marsh".  This is          one of the early spring wildflowers. All parts of          the plant are toxic to humans when raw due to the presence of          a volatile yellow oil. Because the plant is so irritating, cattle          avoid it.
Location: Burwash
Typical marsh marigold habitat -          a low, wet area where water is flowing or the soil is saturated.
Location: Burwash
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Blue          flag or wild iris
Flower:          Blue-violet with darker veins and yellow-green and white colouring          towards base of flower, 6-10 cm wide; 3 sepals spread horizontally          with 3 petal-like styles standing over them; 3 petals, narrower than          sepals stand erect; May-July.
Leaves: Basal are          stalkless, sword-like, 20-80 cm long, up to 3 cm wide.
Stem: Thick,          coarse stem bears leaves and flower.
Height: 60-90 cm.
Fruit: 3-sided,          1-6 cm long, firm.
Habitat: Moist to          wet areas, such as the edges of lakes, beaver ponds, and wet meadows.
Other: roots are          extremely poisonous.
Interest 1: Blue          flag is also know as liver lily. However, the roots are reported to          be extremely          poisonous . Blue flag was the emblem of the royal house of Louis          VII of France. The alternate name, fleur-de-lis, is a corruption of          the literal translation "flower of Louis".
Interest 2: The          iris is the rainbow of the Earth. Iris was goddess of the          rainbow and messenger of the gods in the Iliad. That is why          the flower, iris, is associated with tidings or messages and good          news.  The flower name is fitting, given the range of colours          displayed by the iris. The name versicolor means "of          varied colours". Both the generic and specific names express the          variable colour of the wild iris.
Language of          Flowers: Iris means "Glad tidings", "Message" or "I have a message for you".
Location: Bull Bay          First Nation
Date: July 22, 2003.
Cluster of blue          flag flowers and leaves.
Location: Secord Road
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Spotted          Joe-Pye weed; perennial; also known as Purple Boneset.
Flower: Purple to          pink; flat-topped clusters 15-20 cm wide; up to 22 flower heads; disc          florets, no ray flowers; August - September.
Leaves: Whorls          that are lance-shaped, 6-20 cm long, 2-10 cm wide; 1 central main          vein, toothed; whorls of 3 to 7; have vanilla-like sent.
Stem: Spotted with          purple or solid purple tinge; hollow.
Height: 1-3 m.
Habitat: Moist          woods, along streams, alvars, beaver dams, edges of lakes, low areas.
Folklore: The          common name reportedly comes from an American Indian named Joe Pye          who used the plant to cure typhus fever. Also known as gravelroot or          Queen of the meadow.
Location: Burwash
White Turtlehead          flower head just starting to bloom.
Location:          Wanapitei River, McVittie Hydro dam.
Date: August 15, 2002
White Turtlehead          plant just starting to bloom.
Location:          Wanapitei River, McVittie Hydro dam.
Date: August 15, 2002
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Swamp          smartweed, terrestrial form; also known as Kelp, Longroot Smartweed,          Marsh Smartweed, Swamp Knotweed, Devils Shoestring, Tanweed,          Amphibious Bistort.
Flower: Deep pink          flowers on slender, elongated, spike-like clusters  4-15 cm          long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide; flowers 4 mm long; lack petals; July-September.
Leaves:          Lanceolate, tapering at both ends; may be covered with minute          translucent hairs; up to 35 cm long and ranging from 3 - 10 cm wide;          leaf bases rounded, truncate, or tapered; leaf stalks 1-5 cm long.
Stem: Erect to          spreading stems; lower stems typically root at the nodes.
Height: 60-90 cm.
Habitat: Edges of          ponds, shallow lakes, marshes, and streams, wet fields, areas subject          to seasonal flooding, ditches; typically grow in wet to moist soils,          but tolerate periods of dryness; the terrestrial plants grow best in          disturbed places with fertile soils and minimal competition, such as          beaver dams.
Interest:          Terrestrial and aquatic varieties are reported to intergrade. Some          appear to convert from one variety to the other to adapt to changing          environmental conditions.
Another form of          terrestrial swamp smartweed, growing on the muddy top of a beaver dam.
Location: Burwash
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Marsh          skullcap; also known as common skullcap and  mad-dog weed.
Flower: Blue;          tubular, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 2 lipped; 2 sepals form a short tube; bump          on upper sepal; in pairs from leaf axils; July-August.
Leaves: Opposite,          short-stalked,m simple, oblong to lance-shaped with pointed tip;          heart-shaped to rounded base; 3-5 cm long; toothed (upper leaves may          be toothless).
Stem: Flowering          stems, square, branched.
Height: 30-50 cm.
Habitat: Wet          meadows and near rivers or lakes.
Other: Perennial          herb. Member of the mint family, but it does NOT have the minty flavour.
Interest: The name          Mad-dog weed reflects the use of skullcap in medieval times as a          remedy for rabid-dog bites.
Location: Killarney
Swamp          candles; perennial; also known as Yellow loosestrife, Earth          loosestrife; Dry land loosestrife.
Family: Primrose (Primulaceae)
Flower: Yellow;          tall, narrow inflorescence of small flowers; 2 red spots at the base          of each petal; 1-1.5 cm wide; 5 petals; 5 stamens; June - August
Leaves: Opposite;          lanceolate; sharp-pointed at both ends; small reddish bulblets often          present in axils after flowering.
Stem: Erect; bears          terminal spike-like cluster of flowers; may reach up to 1 m tall.
Height: 30 - 90 cm.
Habitat: Grows on          the sides of rivers, marshes, lakes, and beaver ponds and in wet meadows.
Interest: Flowers          in the genus Lysimachia have no nectar.
Location:          Killarney Lighthouse
Pale          St. Johnswort; perennial; also known as Elliptic-leaved St.          Johnswort, Pale Saint John's-wort.
Family: Mangosteen (Clusiaceae)
Flower: Yellow;          few or several in terminal branched stems or cymes; each flower about          0.75 - 1 cm wide; central flower in each cluster opens before flowers          on lateral branches; 5 petals; sepals slightly shorter than petals;          July - August.
Leaves: Opposite;          oval or elliptic, 2 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide; blunt tip.
Stem: Herbaceous,          slightly 4-sided, mainly simple or with a few branches, erect.
Height: 12 to 30 cm.
Habitat: Grows on          moist ground, such as the sides of rivers, marshes, lakes, and beaver ponds.
Interest: The name "Hypericum" comes from the ancient Greek name derived from hyper, "above," and ikons, "picture," from the practice          of placing flowers above an image in the house to ward off evil          spirits at the midsummer festival, which became the feast of St. John.
Location:          Wanapitei River
Creeping          Spearwort; native perennial; also known as Creeping Buttercup, Acrid          Crowfoot, Spearwort Buttercup, Flam Buttercup; a very common          narrow-leaved buttercup that grows in wet meadows and pasture, fens,          swamps, lake edges, canals and river banks.
Flower: Yellow; 4          to 7 petals; flower is 3 mm wide; July-August.
Leaves: Narrow;          0.5 mm and up to 10 mm long; lance-shaped.
Stem:More or less          prostrate, rooting at the nodes and creeping.
Height: >5 cm, prostrate.
Habitat: Grows on          moist ground, such as the sides of rivers, marshes, lakes, and beaver ponds. The plant grows in sandy, loamy and heavy clay-rich acid, neutral and          basic soils. It can grow in semi-shade and full sun, but it must have          moist or wet soil.
Caution:          All parts of the plant are poisonous. The plant also has a strongly          acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin.
Location:          Wanapitei River
Creeping Spearwort          plant - each flower head is about 3 mm across.
Location:          Wanapitei River
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Purple          Gerardia; annual; slender, wiry, branched plants; member of          snapdragon family.
Flower: Purple,          pink, or rarely white bell-shaped flowers; 2.5 cm long; bloom on          short stalks in the axils of leaves; corolla has 5 fused petals; 4          stamens; July-September.
Leaves: Narrow; 3          mm wide and up to 4 cm long; lance-shaped; opposite
Stem: Slender,          branched, smooth; upward spreading branches.
Height: Up to 50          cm tall.
Habitat: Grows on          moist ground, such as the sides of rivers, marshes, lakes, and beaver ponds.
Location:          Killarney Lighthouse
Tall          meadow rue; also known as Muskrat Weed; perennial.
Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Flower: White; no          petals; 4-5 white sepals that are 2 - 3.5 mm long; oblong, blunt;          female flowers have many showy stamens protruding from the sepals;          June - August.
Leaves: Alternate,          compound, bluish- to olive-green colour; divided into 3's or 3-lobed          and leaflets are rounded to oblong; 1-5 cm wide and about 3 cm long.
Height: 0.5 - 2.5 m
Habitat: Wet areas          such as lake edges, ditches, wet forest edges, river edges.
Interest: The          nickname Muskrat Weed reflects the presence of this plant along pond          edges and rivers where muskrat frequent.  Some members of the          genus contain thalictrine, which is considered to be a strong cardiac poison.
Location: Secord Road
Northern          sweet coltsfoot; native, perennial; also known as Arctic sweet-colt's-foot.
Family Asteraceae
Flower: Creamy          white; in terminal clusters; 8-13 mm wide; 30 or more stalked flowers          occur at the top of the stem; rounded or flat-topped clusters; May.
Leaves: Basal, on          long slender stalks; generally cut into 5-7 lobes or segments; deeply          cut palm-shaped; 5-40 cm wide on long stalk; upper surface green,          hairless; underside white-woolly; margins coarsely toothed.
Height: 10-30 cm tall.
Habitat: Found in          swamps and wet areas, moist deciduous forest and wet meadows.
Interest:          Flowering stems appear before leaves emerge. One of the earliest          plants to flower. Like other members of the Aster Family, what appear          to be flowers are actually clusters of florets, modified true          flowers. The derivation of the scientific name: Petasites:          from the Greek word for the "broad-brimmed felt hat" worn          by Greek shepherds, referring to large leaves.  The word frigidus refers to "stiff, of the cold", which tells us that the          plant grows in cold regions. All parts of the plant have a sweet          celery-like scent.
Location: Burwash
Leaf of northern          sweet coltsfoot
Location: Burwash
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Ragged          fringed orchid; perennial; also known as Prairie White Fringed          Orchid or Green Fringed Orchid.
Flower:          Whitish-green; on raceme with 20 - 40 flowers; each flower has          lacerated lip petals; 3-parted lip petals on spikes; up to 1 cm long;          sepals and petals are same colour; 2 narrow petals stand erect,          lateral petals are ovate and spreading, and lip petal is deeply          3-parted; outer flower lobes are deeply divided into almost          threadlike segments; June - August.
Leaves: 2-5 lower          leaves up to 20 cm long, lanceolate, and sheath the stem; become          bracts above; upper leaves are smaller.
Height: 30 - 50 cm.
Habitat: Acidic          soils of bogs, wet woods, wet meadows and fields, so long as the area          area is not completely dry. Grows among grasses, shrubs, and sedges          in bogs, ditches, moist areas and sometimes in deep shade of low          deciduous woods.
Interest: One of          the more common orchids. The presence of native orchids indicates a          little disturbed area because orchids require certain microorganisms          in the soil for their seeds to germinate. The fringed lip is          distinctive. The specific name lacera is the Latin meaning "torn". This descriptor refers to the fringed margin of the          side flower lobes. This flower is pollinated by noctuid moths          (nocturnal moth) and hawkmoths.
Language of          Flowers: Orchis means "Supreme beauty", "a belle",          or a "Luxury".
Location: Burwash
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Small          purple-fringed orchid; perennial herb.
Flower: Light          purple; lower lip is 8-13 mm long and wide with 3 fringed fan-shaped          parts; the lower lip looks like 3 petals; slender curved spur; June - August.
Leaves: Oval or          lance-shaped; 5-20 cm long, 2-7 cm wide; leaves are smaller upward          along the stem.
Stem: Tall and flowering.
Height: 20 - 90 cm.
Habitat: Moist          open areas such as wet forest edges, stream and river banks, roadside          ditches, and moist meadows. In forests and swamps, the soil is often          highly organic.
Distinctive: The          colour of the flower and the fringed lower lip.
Language of          Flowers: Orchis means "Supreme beauty", "a belle",          or a "Luxury".
Location: Burwash
Small          purple-fringed orchid flower detail.
Location: Burwash
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Rough          bedstraw; perennial herb.
Flower: White; 2-3          mm wide; usually 4 petals; in numerous clusters that are terminal or          from leaf axils; June - August.
Leaves: Whorls of          six, with 4-5 on branchlets; stalkless, simple, pointed tip; 1-2 cm          long; 2-4 mm wide; edges are rough with stiff hairs.
Stem: Tall and          flowering; lots of weak branches that usually reclines on adjacent vegetation.
Height: 50 - 180 cm.
Habitat: Moist          areas such as hardwood stands adjacent to stream and river banks,          conifer swamps, open wet forest edges.
Distinctive: The          rough bedstraw is rough to touch and can stick to clothing
Location: Burwash
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Fowl          Manna Grass; Also known as Fowl Manna Grass, Fowl Mannagrass, Fowl          Meadow Grass; Perennial grass.
Flower clusters:          Open panicle 10-20 cm long with branches ascending; nodding at tips;          spiklets are green or purplish, 2-3 mm wide, up to 4 mm long; mid-summer.
Leaves: Blades          flat, 2-3 mm wide.
Stem: Flowering          stems are slender and tufted.
Height: 50 - 120 m.
Habitat: Shores of          lakes or rivers and in hardwood and conifer swamps, ditches, and fens.
Interest: This is          a good species to help stabilize upper shoreline zones and banks of streams and in vegetated swales.  The flowers have both male and          female organs (hermaphrodite) and are pollinated by the wind.
Location: Old          Chicago Road
Arrow-leaved          tearthumb; annual; also known as False buckwheat, Arrow-leaf          Tearthumb, Arrow-leaved Tear Thumb, and  Arrowleaf Tearthumb.
Family: Smartweed          or Buckwheat (Polygonaceae)
Flowers: White to          pink; small clusters of 1-10 flowers at the ends of branches; occur          on the ends of leafless flower stalks; June - September.
Leaves: Arrow-shaped          leaves; without          hairs; petiolate; up to 6 cm long; leaf bases often encircle the          stem and give the leaves even more of an arrowhead appearance.
Stem: Climbing and          branching stems          with many prickles that are turned oppositely from          the direction of the stem.
Height: Reclined          and generally less than 60 cm tall.
Habitat: Arrow-leaved          tearthumb occurs as an aquatic weed along  shorelines, marshes,          and swamps.
Interest:          Tearthumb uses the backward-pointing prickles on the stem and leaves          to help it climb over other plants. The prickles give rise to the          name "tearthumb."  The flowers are hermaphrodite -          they flower has both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
Location: Burwash