Pennsylvania Native Plants 2

Nodding Ladies Tresses [Spiranthes cernua]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-22-23

Appalachian Ladies tresses [Spiranthes arcisepala]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 9-8-23.

Female Short Winged Meadow Katydid [Conocrphalus brevipennis] on Blacked Eyed Susan [Rudbeckia hirta]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-7-23. Notice those wonderful antenna!

Yellow Iron Weed [Wingstem] [Verbesina alternifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-22-23.

The beautiful Spotted Bee Balm [Monarda puntata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-6-23

Virigin's Bower [Clematis virginiana]. Lebanon County, Pa. 8-22-23

Indian Grass [Sorghastrum nutas] in flower. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-22-23. The white feathery parts are the stigmas

Bue Mist flower [Conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23.

Three Lined Moth [Schinia trifascia]. on Blue Mist flower [conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23.

Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-25-23

The tiny flower of American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-25-23

The tinest flower that I have ever tried to photograph and this year I finally had success after many years of trying. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-24-23. American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides]

Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium ochroleucum). Schuylkill County, Pa. 8-1-23

There is nothing more beautiful this time of year than Indiangrass in flower and on the breeze. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-23-23 [Sorghastrum nutans]

Maidenhair Fern [Adiantum pedatum] starting to open. Tioga County, Pa. 5-6-22.

Maidenhair Fern progression [Adiantum pedatum]. Tioga County, Pa. 5-6-22 to 5-23-22

One of my favorite flowers is the tiny Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata], a cousin to the beautiful Cardinal Flower [Lobelia cardinalis] . I often wondered what could be pollinating this small beauty. While photographing this wildflower recently a tiny unfamiliar insect appeared going from flower to flower placing its proboscis deep into each flower. Looking like a tiny dragonfly this tiny insect , called a Thick Headed Fly [Stylogaster neglecta], a real beauty of the insect world. Is it a pollinator of lobelia inflata, I do not know but I would say there is definitely a high probability. Schuylkill County, Pa. 8-3-23

Narrow leaved Mountain Mint [Pycnanthemum tenuifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-3-23

Yellow form of Orange Fringed Orchid on right normal coloration on Left. Both beautiful! [Platanthera ciliaris]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 7-31-23

Blue Flag Iris [Iris veriscolor]. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-26-23

Ragged Fringed Orchid [Platanthera lacera]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 7-6-23

Orange Fringed Orchid after a rain [Platanthera ciliaris]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-25-23

American Climbing Fern [Lygodium palmatum]. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-26-23

Orange Fringed orchid [Platanthera ciliaris]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 7-21-23

Tiger Swallowtail [Papilio glaucus] on Butterfly Weed [Asclepias tuberosa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-10-23

Northern Dewberry [Rubus flagellaeis]. Dauphin County, Pa 7-7-23

Fly Poison [Amianthium muscitoxicum], Carbon County, Pa. 6-26-23

Butterfly Weed [Asclepias tubersoa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23

Eastern Smooth Beard Tongue [Penstemon laevigatus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23

Whorled Loosestrife [Lysimachia quadrifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23

Great Spangled Fritillary [Speyeria cybele] enjoying Butterfly Weed [Asclepias tuberosa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-19-23. This is the earliest that I have seen this Butterfly and this plant blooming

Large Purple Fringed Orchid [Platanthera grandiflora]. Lebanon County, Pa.6-13-23

Mosquito caught in just two tentacles of Round Leaved Sundew [Drosera rotundifolia]. Tioga County, Pa. 6-10-23

Large Purple Fringed Orchid [platanthera grandifloria]. Lebanon County, Pa. 6-13-23

Insects caught in the sticky tentacles of Round Leaved Sundew [Drosera rotundifolia]. Tioga County, Pa. 6-10-23

Maidenhair Fern [Adiantum pedatum]. Tioga County, Pa. 6-10-23

Mountain laurel [Kalmia latifolia]. Dauphin County. Pa. 6-9-23

Canada Mayflower [Maianthemum canadense]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-59-23

Starflower [Trientalis borealis]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-29-23 [Above and below]

Pointed Blue Eyed Grass [Sisyrinchium angustifolium]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-29-23

The always elegant Perfoliate Bellwort [Uvularia perfoliata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-19-23

Smooth Solomon's Seal [Polygonatum biflourum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-19-23

It was certainly was a great way to start the orchid season, in the snow! Neottia cordata, Heart leaved Twayblade. Northeast, Pa. 5-1-23

Mayapple [Podophyllum peltatum]. Perry County, Pa. 5-9-23

I have never seen so many Downy Rattlesnake orchid plants at one spot before! Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23 [Goodyera pubescens]

Pink Lady's Slipper [Cypripedium acaule] covered in Eastern Cottonwood [Populus deltoides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Fringed Polygala [Polygala paucifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-23

Wild Sarsaparilla [Aralia nudicaulis]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-4-23

Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Fox Grapes [Vitis labrusca]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Early Coralroot orchid [Corallorhiza trifida]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-1-23

Goldenthread [Coptis grovenlandica]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 5-2-23

The beautiful foliage of False Hellebore [Veratrum viride]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 5-4-23

Wood Anemone [Anemone quinquefolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-23

Heart Leaved Twayblade orchid [Neottia cordata]. Northeast Pa. 5-1-23

Jack-in-the-Pulpit [Arisaema triphyllum]. Perry County, Pa. 4-24-23

Miterwort [Mitella diphylla]. Perry County, Pa. 4-24-23

I have always loved Rattlesnake Weed [Pilosella venosa]. But to really appreciate their vibrant colors and veining one must see them on a rainy day, that's when their contrasting colors of green and purple really stand out! Dauphin County, Pa.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing tiny pollen gains on the stamens [male] found at the end of the connecting filaments, in the middle of the flower the greenish points are the stigmas [female]. The ovaries can be found at the base of the stigmas

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing tiny pollen gains on the stamens.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing the stigma [female] and anthers containing the stamen [male]

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Dutchman Breeches [Dicentra cucullaria]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal [11] Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal [11] Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Pink with a touch of yellow Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

This is what is referred to as a "maiden" flower. Only having stigma [female parts] and no stamens [male parts]. It is still possible to reproduce and have fruit or seeds, if it gets pollen from an adjacent flower with stamens. This plant is in the same area as the double flowering plants, I can't help but wonder if this and other maiden plants in the area are somehow responsible for the mystery of rare double flowering plants found here. Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Pink Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23. I was fortunate to discover this rare colony of double flowing plants interspersed with hundreds of normally flowing Hepatica last year. There were 32 of these double flowering plants found last year[1 plant would be considered an extraordinary find] and so far this year there are around half that number, with hopefully more to come. There is a wonderful mystery surrounding these particular plants, how they ever came to be. As they have no stamen or stigma [male and female parts] of the plant to reproduce [last year there were no seeds produced by these plants]. What is at work here that produces plants like these, is there some kind of genetic mutation? Only time will tell and it would be okay with me if we never know the wonderful mystery of these plants. For now just enjoy the extraordinary beauty of these spring ephemerals from the mountains of northern Pennsylvania. Notice the white with a blush of pink with a hint of yellow in these particular flowers.

Trailing arbutus [Epigaea repens], Dauphin County, Pa. 4-6-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-3-22

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta] just starting to open. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica just starting to open up [bloom] Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23 [Hepatica Americana var. acuta]

The stamen [male part of the flower] on Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23. Notice the tiny grains of pollen on the stamens.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica American var. acuta] Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23Nothing can stop spring wildflowers and their never ending will to flower and reproduce as they've waited an entire year for this one moment in time.

Native Lupine [Lupinus perennis] Schuylkill County, Pa. 3-29-23

Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens] flower buds from 3-24-23 [left] to 3-29-23 [right] it won't be long now! Dauphin County, Pa.

Rattlesnake Weed already showing new growth [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 3-3-23

Princess Pine [Dendrolycopodium obscurum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-2-23

Seed Pods from Partridge Pea [Chamaecrista fasciculata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-31-23

Wild Grape in winter. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-2-23 [Vitis]

I have been trying to find this tiny plant in winter for a long time now and finally success. Its hard to believe that this small plant will be 3 feet or higher with its beautiful tropical flowers and its wonderful aromatic scent, in just 6 months from now! Spotted Bee Balm [Monarda punctata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-31-23. You can see last years flower stem behind the plant in the last picture.

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.