Field Study 4: Potter Woods Park

Question 1

Canada Mayflower name

Answer 1

Maianthemum canadense

Question 2

Canada Mayflower family

Answer 2

Asparagaceae

Question 3

Maianthemum canadense description

Answer 3

Small native forest ground cover with 1 to 3 alternate leaves. Slightly heart-shaped leaves have parallel veins and stem looks like it’s going through the bottom part of leaf. Tiny white 4 petaled flowers in clusters in spring followed by speckled red berries.

Question 4

White Pine name

Answer 4

Pinus strobus

Question 5

White Pine family

Answer 5

Pinaceae

Question 6

Pinus strobus description

Answer 6

Native tall tree with long soft thin needles with 5 in a bundle. Older bark is dark brown. Wood is soft and breaks easily. Orange flowers produce long brown cones.

Question 7

Princess Pine / Tree-clubmoss name

Answer 7

Lycopodium obscurum

Question 8

Princess Pine / Tree-clubmoss family

Answer 8

Lycopodiaceae

Question 9

Lycopodium obscurum description

Answer 9

Native plant that looks like a baby pine tree. Has microphylls (leaves) along stems and grows on runners underground. Strobili are its reproductive cones. In early summer the tips of the plant are a lighter green which stands out against the darker green of the rest of the plant.

Question 10

Pennsylvania Sedge name

Answer 10

Carex pensylvanica

Question 11

Pennsylvania Sedge family

Answer 11

Cyperaceae

Question 12

Carex pensylvanica description

Answer 12

Native soft grass-like plant that forms colonies in forests. Has red leaf edges before roots and straw-colored dead growth at base from previous year. Grass has “edges” and feels like hair.

Question 13

White Oak name

Answer 13

Quercus alba

Question 14

White Oak family

Answer 14

Fagaceae

Question 15

Quercus alba description

Answer 15

Native tree with white bark. Alternate leaves with round lobes. The tops of leaves are dark green and undersides are whitish.

Question 16

Burning-bush / Winged Euonymus name

Answer 16

Euonymus alatus

Question 17

Burning-bush / Winged Euonymus family

Answer 17

Celastraceae

Question 18

Euonymus alatus description

Answer 18

Invasive shrub with opposite serrate leaves. Stems are green with brown corky wings. Leaves turn a bright red color in fall. Greenish yellow flowers dangle on a long petiole.

Question 19

Wild Geranium / Spotted Geranium name

Answer 19

Geranium malculatum

Question 20

Wild Geranium / Spotted Geranium family

Answer 20

Geraniaceae

Question 21

Geranium malculatum description

Answer 21

Small native plants plant with deeply divided prorate leaves with 5 or more lobes. Some leaves have mottling color. Veins deep and distinct. Flower is pink-purple in color with 5 petals in spring.

Question 22

Cleavers / Stickywilly name

Answer 22

Galium aparine

Question 23

Cleavers / Stickywilly family

Answer 23

Rubiaceae

Question 24

Galium aparine description

Answer 24

Native plant with 7-8 leaves per whorl. Hooked hairs on leaves and stems allow it to stick to clothing like velcro. Small white 4 petal flowers that become round velcro fruit, pairs of sticky balls.

Question 25

Skunk Cabbage name

Answer 25

Symplocarpus foetidus

Question 26

Skunk Cabbage family

Answer 26

Araceae

Question 27

Symplocarpus foetidus description

Answer 27

Large native leafy plant that grows in wet soils. Araceous flowers emerge in early spring as snow melts. Plant also produces its own heat to bloom. Broad leaves with a skunk-like odor when broken. Strings within the stem when broken.

Question 28

Spicebush name

Answer 28

Lindera benzoin

Question 29

Spicebush family

Answer 29

Lauraceae

Question 30

Lindera benzoin description

Answer 30

Medium native shrub found in moist soils. Alternate, matte green colored, thin leaves. Lemon-y odor when leaves are broken. Small yellowish flowers in spring before leaves and red berries when ripe.

Question 31

American Witchhazel name

Answer 31

Hamamelis virginiana

Question 32

American Witchhazel family

Answer 32

Hamamelidaceae

Question 33

Hamamelis virginiana description

Answer 33

Small to large growing native shrub. Leaves grow in pairs alternately on branches. Leaves have a scalloped shape with an asymmetrical main vein. Some leaves have cone shaped leaf galls from insects (looks like a witch hat).

Question 34

American Chesnut name

Answer 34

Castaneda dentata

Question 35

American Chestnut family

Answer 35

Fagaceae

Question 36

Castaneda dentata description

Answer 36

Native tree that grows from the root sprouts of dead trees. Alternate, long, dentate-serrate leaves. Bark of tree looks like stretch marks.