Pennsylvania Native Plants 2

Mountain Mint  [Pycnanthemum virginianum] coming up through the snow. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23. 

The fruit [seeds] of White Avens [Geum canadense]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23. Notice the hooked fruits, snagging passersby.

The unmistakable elegant form of American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides] in winter. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-13-23

American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides]. A comparison between flowering in August and January's dried Calyxes [that hold the inflorescence [flowers]. Notice in the winter [and summer] picture that calyxes are 5 toothed and 2 lower teeth are covered in tiny spikes or hairs, making the lower teeth look like formidable weapons. What is the function of these hairs are I cannot say, but you can be sure that in nature, there is a reason! This is one of my favorite tiny wildflowers, summer or winter, and is an annual, coming up from seed every year. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-10-23

Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-10-23.

A tiny leaf of Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-10-23. Its hard to believe that this tiny leaf will quadruple in size if not more by the time of blooming in late May, and will have all the fantastic purple veining that this plant is famous for. I can't help pondering the reasoning for the long hairs that are always present on each and every leaf and also the dark pin hole markings that always accompany each leaf, and wonder if eons ago this plant may have been in the cactus family.