False Solomon's Seal

Solomon's seal at the Avenue of the Giants

False Solomon's seal (or star-flowered Solomon's seal) is a very attractive plant with silky smooth leaves. When in bloom, it produces small white flowers that turn into berries as the plant matures. Sometimes this plant covers a large ground forming a meadow right there in the forest. The plant likes semi shade and grows well under the trees.

False Solomon's seal flower turning into berries

The Latin name is Maianthemum stellatum, not to be confused with Maianthemum racemosum. The latter has much smaller flowers forming "plumes". I have not seen the latter plant in our forest wheres the former grows in abundance at the Avenue of the Giants. They are closely related though, as can be seen from the similar genus name. The plant known as Solomon's seal (the true) is a different genus: Polygonatum  (not to be confused with Polygonum, a totally different and unrelated plant) commutatum: a beautiful plant with lots of white bell shaped flowers. Unfortunately it does not grow in our part of the world but mainly in the eastern part of the country.

False Solomon's seal leaves

All the aforementioned plants belong to asparagus family (Asparagaceae).

The juice from Maianthemum stellatum is effective against nettle sting. Just rub the fresh leaf against the damaged part to release the juices. 

Hebe

Hebe inflorescence. Notice the 2 long stamens and style. 

Hebe is a nice decorative plant that can be seen along the roadside as part of planted hedges. It has 4 almost perpendicular rows of leaves and flowered that are arranged in long spiked that come in different colors. The flowers have long stamens and style (middle parts inside the flower). When the flowers turn to seed, the plant loses much of its attraction as these seeds look like ordinary brown seeds that look more like grains of mud actually.

Hebe leaves arranged in cross-like shape along the stem.

Hebes are related to plantains and even more so to veronicas as they belong to the same family Plantaginaceae. This plant is the largest genus in New Zealand and apparently is much loved there. Hebes apparently don't take much care and therefore make a nice plants for hedges and flowerbeds as well as an excellent lawn plant.

Hebe view from the side. Notice how the leaves alternate along the stem.

Achlys

Achlys triphylla

 
Achlys, also known as vanilla leaf or deerfoot is a plant that can be found in the forest. So far I've only seen it twice, both times in a redwood forest. It is a rare plant and does not grow all over the place like, say, redwood sorrel.

Vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylla) is so called for its supposedly vanilla smell of the dried leaves. Well, I got one leaf, dried it and smelled it. It did not smell like vanilla! Why is it called vanilla leaf? Fresh leaves do not smell either. I am not going to call it that. I am going to call it achlys or deerfoot.

Deerfoot (Achlys triphylla)

Anyway, achlys is easy to recognize by the shape of its leaves: they are big, separated into 3 distinct parts that sometimes touch each other so it looks like one whole leaf. Achlys blooms too, but at the time when this picture was taken it was not blooming so I cannot show you the flowers.

Achlys belongs to the barberry family (Berberidaceae).  As a forest plant, it likes shade. Fresh leaves can be rubbed on skin to act as a mosquito repellent.

California Poppy

 California poppy

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the state flower of California. It has bright orange flowers and it is actually encountered in the wild a lot: you'll see it in meadows, as well as in lawns and flower beds.

California poppy

Poppy belongs to poppy family (Papaveraceae). Other members of the family include Matilija or tree poppy (Romneya) and opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The latter is also the one that produces poppy seeds that we use in baking.

 Matilija poppy

Matilija poppy

Polygonum hydropiperoides

Polygonum hydropiperoides is another polygonum that can be seen at the marshes and swamps. The name means "looks like water pepper". Sometimes they can even grow partially submerged in water. This plant is much smaller than Polygonum cuspidatum discussed in previous post. It is just a regular plant with small white flowers.

In the picture below notice the distinct joint. This plant grew in water or at least very close to water as I could not get too close to it.

Polygonum hydropiperoides

And here is a view of close-up of the flowers. Notice the red stem.

Polygonum hydropiperoides flowers

Polygonum cuspidatum

Polygonum cuspidatum bush

Knotweeds, also known as polygonums (or polygoni?) belong to knotweed family (Polygonaceae), a characterristic feature of this family being that lots of plant have swollen  or at least dictinct joints. That is well reflected in the Latin name of the family: poly means "many" and goni means "knee" or "joint". As a typical representative of the family, polygonum is a classic example.

There are a whole lots of polygonum species. Some grow in or near the water and some on high ground. I found one specie growing on high ground right here in the town where I live. An interesting thing is that it seems to grow at just one particular location as I've never seen it anywhere else. It is probably Polygonum cuspidatum but the species are hard to tell apart.

And here is a close-up of the branch where you can see these swollen joints.

Polygonum cuspidatum joint

The stems are red or reddish. The leaves are big, nicely shaped and symmetrical.

Polygonum cuspidatum branch

The flowers are small, formed in spikes. In this particular species the flowers are white but some species have pink flowers. They are shaped the same though.

Polygonum cuspidatum branch

And here is a nice picture of close-up of the flowers Notice the black anthers.

Polygonum cuspidatum flowers

And while we are at it I have another picture of different polygonum species.

How to identify plants

In this blog I will post an example of identifying the plant. It constantly amazes me to see books on plants where the plants are subdivided into groups based on the colour of the flower. Yes, I know it might be easier for the novice but chances for the novice to identify a plant is pretty small. Most common reason being that the plant is usually not in the book. Anyway, the proper way to subdivide plants should be by families as plants of the same family share certain structural resemblance that allow for identification with much greater degree of certainty. We all know Aster family and immediately see resemblance between, say, sunflowers and daisies. It's not always that easy but it is much better than just enlisting all blue or all yellow flowers. The nice thing about division by families is that you don't have to be a botanist to start noticing family resemblance.

Anyway, in this article we are going to identify a plant that took me a while to identify. It grows at the marsh right next to the waterline so here we immediately see the habitat: salt marshes and brackish marshes. Here is the picture of our subject:

Unidentified plant

So I am not going to give away the name yet. I have another picture, so let's look at it from a slightly different angle:

Unidentified plant

So, what can we see about this plant? We already determined the habitat: it's useful when we try to pin the plant down to the species but first let's decide on the family.

I have list of the plant that are supposed to grow at this particular marsh but the list has been compiles 10 or so year ago and by now is hopelessly obsolete. Anyway, none of the plants on the list fitted. Okay, we don't really need a list.

What does it look like? Actually this plant resembles the one that lots of people know as it grows everywhere, namely lamb's quarters. The same reddish and striped stem and even the shape of the leaves is similar but the leaves of our plant look bigger. So let's check it out.

The Latin name for lamb's quarters is Chenopodium album and it belong to Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) so let's check if if it fits the Chenopodium genus. It can be done with the internet or books. It does not always work but it sure beats trying to identify a plant randomly without having the slightest idea. Anyway after some research I decided that it was not a Chenopodium genus after all. But I still think it belongs to Amaranthaceae family. After checking more I found out that it resembles the genus orache, in Latin Atriplex. The leaves look really close. So it's probably some kind of atriplex. Let's see if we can pin it down to the species. After another check we find out that the plant it resembles the closest is Atriplex prostrata or hastate-leaved orache. So we identified our plant.

Hastate-leaved orache (Atriplex prostrata)
Family: Amaranthaceae

Not all the cases are that clear-cut, lots of time you'll be lucky to pin it to the genus but anyway it shows the importance to look for structural similarities. Right now I am writing a book on the plants of the marsh and I subdivide plants by families. I think it makes more sense than doing it by color of the flower. Notice that in our example we don't even have a flower, we only have leaves and stem.

Now go and identify some plants!

Plantain

 Plantago lanceolata (British plantain)

Plantain (Plantago) is a common plant that grows pretty much everywhere. It is as familiar as dandelion. Plantain usually catches everyone's attention. The most common varieties are broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) and narrowleaf plantain, also known as English plantain (Plantago lanceolata).

Plantain flower

The leaves grow in rosette and the stems are leafless bearing a compact narrow head of tiny flowers. I have read somewhere that plantain is supposed to be edible but I found it too fibrous and therefore don't recommend it.

Plantago lanceolata at the Arcata marsh

Plantain is a typical representative of the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) after which the family is named. Recently there has been some shuffling of the plants in and out of the families based on phylogenetic studies, the plantain family being especially affected.

Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) at the Arcata Redwood forest

Indians used to call plantain "white man's foot" meaning that the plant spread with the white people's invasion into their land, reflecting in the language the introduced nature of the species.

Pandorea jasminoides

I don't know if it's a wild plant but it attracted my attention by its unusual flowers. I only saw it once in Southern California and it makes a good decorative plant in spite of its weird looks. The flowers are supposed to smell like jasmine but I haven't sniffed them. (It's just I often observed that when so-and-so plant is supposed to smell like this or that it's hardly ever a case.) The flowers are rather big, white with a dark purple middle. The leaves are smooth. This plant is related to trumpet-vine.

Pandorea jasminoides bush

Pandorea jasminoides flowers

Spearmint

Spearmint at Redding Arboretum

 I have previously written a post about hyssop then found out that it was not hyssop after all. Twice, in fact, as it turned out to be. Hyssop keeps eluding me though I'd like very much to see the plant.

Spearmintp leaves close-up

Spearmint or Mentha spicata has been known since ancient time and for good reasons too. Like lots of other mints it is a very aromatic plant: you don't even have to rub the leaves: the pleasant odour is still present. The flowerheads are elongated clusters of tiny flowers, so tiny indeed that I could not capture them on my camera. The stem is typical square stem with opposite leaves alternating on the stem characteristic of the mint family.Like other mints the stems are covered with fuzz.

Mentha spicata

This mint is very good looking and extremely aromatic and it's a jewel plant for every herb garden. It can be grown from seed or propagated from cuttings or even root divisions.

Spearmint bloom

Notice the wide variety within the genus mentha alone. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) looks very different from wild mint (Mentha arvensis) or water mint (Mentha aquatica). Mint species can be crossed to make hybrids, for example peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is hybrid of  Mentha spicata and Mentha aquatica.

I will keep looking for hyssop (Hyssopus).

Prunella

 Prunella vulgaris bloom

Prunella or self-heal is a low growing plant of the mint familty (Lamiaceae). As the common name implies, it is reputed to cure a whole range of minor diseases. More probably though, the plant was used to treat minor cuts and inflammations thus helping the skin to "heal itself".

Prunella vulgaris in the Redwood forest

Like other typical mints, prunella has a square stem and typical minty flowers with two upper and three lower lips. Prunella's stems are fuzzy. The plant has a pleasant fragrance when the leaves are rubbed. As lots of other aromatic mints, prunella is edible though commonly is not used as food.

Prunella grows in meadows but can be encountered even in forests (clearings) if there is suficient sunlight.

Yellow Parentucellia

 Yellow parentucellia at Arcata marsh

Yellow parentucellia (or yellow bartsia) is not a very common plant. It is most most often encountered in meadows. Though the flowers make it look like a member of figworts (Scrophulariaceae), this plant belongs to broomrape family (Orobanchaceae).

Yellow parentucellia

Parentucellua flowers

Creeping Buttercup

Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is probably the most ubiquitous plant of the area. It can be found in all kinds of habitat: in the redwood forest, marsh and even in flower beds. It is rather conspicuous plant with deeply lobed dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers.

Creeping buttercup at the Arcata marsh

The plant is poisonous and cows avoid eating it as it does not taste good. Strangely enough though, when it is dried with hay, the toxins disappear.

Creeping buttercup flower

Buttercup belongs to Buttercup family  (Ranunculaceae). 

Iberis

Iberis at Humboldt fort garden

Iberis is a beautiful plant that would decorate any garden. It belongs to mustard family (Brassicaceae). The bloom consists of umbrella of several 4-petals flowers. The common name for these species is candytuft. According to Wikipedia, the name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but derives from Candia, the former name of Iraklion on the island of Crete.

Iberis is not supposed to be edible but has some medicinal propeties. It is chiefly cultivated as a decorative plant. 

Iberis flower close-up

Iberis species come in variety of colors. The most common are purple and white.

White iberis

Iberis in the garden

Evening Primrose

Evening primrose at the curb of the street

 
Evening primrose (Oenothera) is a showy plant that belongs to Evening Primrose family (Onagraceae). The characteristic features of this family are flowers with 4 petals and stigma with X shape at the tip. The plant is edible: young roots can be cooked and young leaves eaten in salad.

Flowers of an Oenothera usually open within about a minute. They are supposed to open in the evening but the plant in the photograph was always open during the day whenever I was passing by.

Evening primrose flower. Notice the cross at the end of the stigma

The leaves grow in a basal rosette then spiral along the stem. 

Evening primrose leaves in a basal rosette

Note: Shortly after the picture was taken, someone had destroyed the plant that had not been doing any harm. The plant was growing at the curb and only added nice colour to the environment. I might add that the plant is rather rare and it's sad to see this unique and rarely seen plant mindlessly destroyed for no apparent reason. 

Pickleweed

Pickleweed at the Arcata marsh

 Pickleweed is a very interesting plant. It can only be seen in a specific habitat: salt marshes. It's botanical name is salicornia, common names include glasswort and samphire though these common names might denote other plants species as well. Glasswort is an apt name because it describes the plant's appearance: it looks like it's made of glass. Pickleweed, as the name suggests, means that the plant is edible and it tastes like pickles. I actually tried tasting it and I can confirm that it does indeed taste like pickles. For that reason it can be used as food and even be seen in restaurants menus under the name of sea beans. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Pickleweed turns red as the plant matures. Picture taken at Eureka bay.

The plant belongs to the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae)

Willowherb

Epilobium or willowherb in the Redwood forest

 
Willowherb is a very common plants that can be observed everywhere: meadows, forests, disturbed places, commons, etc. This plant has long avoided identification but finally it is there. So let's look closer at this interesting plant.

Willowherb also known as epilobium belongs to the Evening primrose family (Onagraceae). The flowers of this family have 4 petals and 4 sepals. The stigma has 4 lobes at the end that look like a cross. The stigma is longer than stamens. There are many species of epilobium. The most common around here is Epilobium parviflorum. It is an erect plant about a foot tall with small pink flowers. Each flower has 4 petals that are dissected at the outer edge to the middle of the petal's length.

 Epilobium parviflorum flower

Epilobium parviflorum

This Epilobium parviflorum (small flowered willowherb) is the most common specie around but I have seen another one, Epilobium angustifolium (also known as chamerion, fireweed or rosebay willowherb). This species is much taller and has bigger flowers, also with 4 petals.

Epilobium angustifolium

Epilobium angustifolium bloom

 The epilobium is supposed to be edible and the plant is used in folk medicine.