UGA Cooperative Extension

Union County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Native Plants Bloooming

WEEK OF MAY 5, 2010

1. Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Indian Turnip, Arisaema triphyllum, is a perennial herb growing from 12-36 inches tall. The plant has two basal leaves that are compound with 3 ovate leaflets at the tip of a sheathed stalk often hiding the flower. The flower is a tiny greenish club shaped spadix encircled by a leaf like bract that surrounds and extends over the spadix. The plant can be found in rich moist woods in the eastern United States. The plant was a food item of Native Americans but was cooked before being consumed. If the tuber is consumed raw it causes a burning reaction due to calcium oxalate crystals.

2. Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is a showy shrub growing up to 10 feet tall with crooked grooved branches. The leaves are evergreen, shiny and oval shaped. The flowers of the plant are pink, cup-shaped about ¾ inches wide. The plant can be found on dry, acidic soils and in rocky woods in upland areas of the eastern United States. All parts of this plant are poison.

3. Indian Physic, Porteranthus stipulatus, is a branched perennial growing up to 3 feet tall. The leaves of the plant are alternate, divided into 3 lance shaped leaflets 2-3 inches long that are toothed. The upper and lower leaves are similar and are finely toothed. The flowers are white with 5 narrow petals. The plant can be found on rich but often acidic soil in most of the eastern United States. Native Americans used the plant as an emetic.

4. Hearts-a-Busting, Euonymus americana, Strawberry Bush, is a gangly, erect, deciduous shrub growing up to 6-7 feet tall. Stems are green and slightly 4 sided. Leaves are opposite, ovate to lance shaped, bright green with finely toothed margins. The flowers are solitary with 5 yellowish green to purplish green petals. The plant can be found from Texas to Florida and north to New York and Illinois. The plant can be seen in moist bottom land forests along small streams.

5. Rattlesnake Weed, Hieracium venosum, is a perennial herb from 8-24 inches tall without stolons. Stems are smooth and leafless. Leaves are basal, 2-6 inches long with purple veins. Flowers are yellow. The plant can be found in dry open woods from Maine to North Georgia. Native Americans believed the plant’s leaves could be chewed and applied to cure the bites from a rattlesnake.