Flora and Fauna

Millie C.

Wildlife observation is a popular activity for visitors to Ivy Creek Natural Area (ICNA) and a focus of many of the programs offered here. This page contains a variety of guides to plants and animals both known and expected to be found at ICNA and vicinity.

Guides

Butterflies of the Ivy Creek Natural Area – by size and color (pdf)
Butterfly Food – Host Plants for Caterpillars (pdf)
Common Ferns of the Ivy Creek Natural Area (pdf)
All 35 of the dragonflies and damselflies as of July 2016 (pdf)
Hawks (Buteos) from underneath as they migrate over Afton Mountain (pdf)
Landscaping for Wildlife at the Ivy Creek Natural Area (pdf)
Mosses and Liverworts of the Ivy Creek Natural Area (pdf)

Vascular Flora

Flora of Ivy Creek (pdf)
Alphabetical List of Ivy Creek (pdf)
Common Name List of Ivy Creek (pdf)
Flora of Ivy Creek Addendum (pdf)

compiled by Thomas Wieboldt, 1980 | revised by Charles Stevens, 1989 | Timothy Williams, 1995 | Tom Dierauf and Tim Williams, 2010

• Trees, Shrubs and Vines
  

  Class Angiospermea

  Aceraceae	Maple Family
  Acer rubum	Red Maple
  Acer negundo	Box Elder
  Anacardiaceae	Sumac (Cashew) Family
  Rhus copallina	Winged Sumac
  Rhus glabra	Smooth Sumac
  Rhus radicans	Poison Ivy
  Annonaceae	Custard-Apple Family
  Asimina triloba	Pawpaw
  Aquifoliaceae	Holly Family
  Ilex opaca	American Holly
  Ilex verticillata	Winterberry
  Betulaceae	Birch Family
  Alnus serrulata	Smooth Alder
  Betula lenta	Black Birch
  Carpinus caroliniana	American Hornbeam
  Corylus americana	Hazelnut
  Ostrya virginiana	Hophornbeam
  Bignoniaceae
  Campsis radicans	Trumpet Creeper
  Caprifoliaceae	Honeysuckle Family
  Lonicera japonica	Japanese Honeysuckle
  Sambucus canadensis	Elderberry
  Viburnum acerifolium	Maple-leaved Viburnum
  Viburnum prunifolium	Blackhaw
  Viburnum dentatum	Southern Arrowwood
  Viburnum nudum	Possum Haw
  Celastraceae	Bittersweet Family
  Celastrus orbiculatus	European Bittersweet
  Euonymus americanus	Strawberry Bush
  Convolvulaceae	Morning-Glory Family
  Cuscuta gronovii	Common Dodder
  Ipomoea pandurata	Wild Potato Vine
  Ipomoea purpurea	Morning Glory
  Cornaceae	Dogwood Family
  Cornus ammomum	Silky Dogwood
  Cornus florida	Flowering Dogwood
  Ebenaceae	Ebony Family
  Diospyros virginiana	Persimmon
  Eleagnaceae	Oleaster Family
  Eleagnus umbellata	Autumn Olive
  Ericaceae	Heath Family
  Gaylussacia baccata	Huckleberry
  Kalmia latifolia	Mountain Laurel
  Rhododendron periclymenoides	Wild Azalea
  Vaccinium stamineum	Deerberry
  Vaccinium pallidum	Lowbush Blueberry
  Fabaceae	Legume / Pea Family
  Cercis canadensis	Redbud
  Gleditisia triacanthos	Honey Locust
  Robinia Pseudo-acacia	Black Locust
  Fagaceae	Beech Family
  Castanea dentata	American Chestnut
  Castanea pumila	Chinquapin
  Fagus grandifolia	Beech
  Quercus alba	White Oak
  Quercus coccinea	Scarlet Oak
  Quercus falcata	Southern Red Oak
  Quercus prinus	Chestnut Oak
  Quercus rubra	Red Oak
  Quercus Stellata	Post Oak
  Quercus velutina	Black Oak
  Hamamelidaceae	Witch-hazel Family
  Hamamelis virginiana	Witch Hazel
  Juglandaceae	Walnut Family
  Carya cordiformis	Bitternut Hickory
  Carya glabra	Pignut Hickory
  Carya ovata	Shagbark Hickory
  Carya tomentosa	Mockernut Hickory
  Juglans nigra	Black Walnut
  Lauraceae	Laurel Family
  Lindera benzoin	Spicebush
  Sassafras albidum	Sassafras
  Magnoliaceae	Magnolia Family
  Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip Poplar
  Moraceae	Mulberry Family
  Morus rubra	Red Mulberry
  Morus alba	White Mulberry
  Nyssaceae	Tupelo Family
  Nyssa sylvatica	Black Gum
  Oleaceae	Olive Family
  Chionanthus virginicus	Fringetree
  Fraxinus americana	White Ash
  Ligustrum sinense	Privet
  Passifloraceae	Passion Flower Family
  Passiflora lutea	Yellow Passion-flower
  Platanaceae	Sycamore Family
  Platanus occidentalis	Sycamore
  Rhamnaceae	Buckthorn Family
  Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey Tea
  Rhamnus caroliniana	Carolina Buckthorn
  Rosaceae	Rose Family
  Amelanchier arborea	Common Serviceberry
  Amelanchier canadensis	Shadbush
  Crataegus uniflora	Hawthorn
  Prunus avium	Sweet Cherry
  Prunus serotina	Black Cherry
  Pyrus communis	Pear
  Pyrus malus	Apple
  Rosa carolina	Carolina Rose
  Rubus argutus	Blackberry
  Rubus occidentalis	Black Raspberry
  Spiraea betulifolia	Spireae
  Rubiaceae	Madder Family
  Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush
  Salicaceae	Willow Family
  Populus grandidentata	Bigtooth Aspen
  Salix nigra	Black Willow
  Saxifragaceae	Saxifrage Family
  Hydrangea arborescens	Wild Hydrangea
  Scrophulariaceae	Figwort (Snapdragon) Family
  Paulownia tomentosa	Princess Tree
  Simaroubaceae	Ailanthus Family
  Ailanthus altissima	Paradise (Tree of Heaven)
  Ulmaceae	Elm Family
  Celtis occidentalis	Hackberry

• Conifers
  

  Class Gymnospermae

  Cupressaceae	Cedar Family
  Juniperus virginiana	Eastern Red Cedar
  Pinaceae	Pine Family
  Pinus echinata	Shortleaf Pine
  Pinus rigida	Pitch Pine
  Pinus strobus	White Pine
  Pinus virginiana	Virginia Pine
  Tsuga canadensis	Hemlock

• Flowering Plants
  

  Class Angiospermea

  (Seasons: sp = spring, s = summer, f = fall, w = winter)

  Monocotyledons
  Subclass monocotyledoneae

  Season
  	Alismataceae	Water Plantain Family
  S	Alisma subcordatum	Water Plantain
  S	Sagittaria latifolia	Arrowhead
  	Araceae	Arum Family
  S	Acorus calmus	Sweetflag
  Sp	Arisaema triphyllum	Jack-in-the-Pulpit
  S	Peltandra virginica	Arrow Arum
  	Commelinaceae
  S	Murdannia keisak	Aneilema
  S-F	Commelina communis	Asiatic Dayflower
  	Cyperaceae	Sedge Family
  Sp-S	Carex albicans
  Sp-S	Carex amphibola
  Sp-S	Carex blanda
  Sp-S	Carex cephalophora
  S	Carex complanata
  	Carex crinita
  Sp-S	Carex debilis
  Sp	Carex digitalis
  Sp-S	Carex festucacea
  Sp-S	Carex frankii
  Sp-S	Carex intumescens
  Sp-S	Carex laxiculmis
  Sp-S	Carex lurida
  Sp	Carex nigromarginata
  Sp	Carex pensylvanica
  Sp-S	Carex platyphylla
  	Carex prasina
  Sp-S	Carex rosea
  	Carex scabrata
  S	Carex stipata
  Sp-S	Carex swanii
  Sp-S	Carex tribuloides
  Sp	Carex umbellata
  Sp-S	Carex virescens
  Sp-S	Carex vulpinoidea	Foxtail Sedge
  S	Cyperus crythrorhizos
  S	Cyperus echinatus
  S	Cyperus flavescens
  S	Cyperus lupulinus
  S	Cyperus strigosus	Umbrella Sedge
  S	Cyperus tenuifolius
  S	Eleocharis obtusa	Common Spike Rush
  S-F	Scirpus cyperinus	Wool Grass
  S	Scirpus polyphyllus	Many-leaved Bullrush
  S	Scirpus validus	Great Bullrush
  S-F	Scleria triglomerata	Nut Rush
  	Dioscoreaceae	Yam Family
  Sp-S	Dioscorea villosa	Wild Yam
  	Iridaceae	Iris Family
  Sp-S	Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Blue-eyed Grass
  S	Belamcanda chinensis	Blackberry Lily
  	Juncaceae	Rush Family
  S	Juncus effusus	Common Rush
  S	Juncus subcaudatus	Rush
  S	Juncus tenuis	Path Rush
  S	Luzula echinata	Woodrush
  	Liliaceae	Lily Family
  S	Allium vineale	Field Garlic
  Sp-S	Chamaelirium luteum	Blazing Star
  S	Hemerocallis fulva	Daylily
  Sp-S	Medeola virginiana	Indian Cucumber Root
  Sp	Muscari atlanticum	Grape Hyacinth
  Sp-S	Polygonatum biflorum	True Solomon’s Seal
  Sp-S	Smilacina racemosa	False Solomon’s Seal
  S	Smilax glauca	Catbrier
  S	Smilax rotundifolia	Catbrier
  Sp	Uvularia perfoliata	Bellflower
  	Orchidaceae	Orchid Family
  Sp-S	Aplectrum hyemale	Adam-and-Eve Orchid (Puttyroot)
  S-F	Corallorhiza odontorhiza	Autumn Coralroot
  S	Goodyera pubescens	Rattlesnake Plantain
  Sp-S	Isotria verticillata	Whorled Pogonia
  Sp-S	Liparis liliifolia	Large Twayblade
  Sp	Orchis spectabilis	Showy Orchis
  S-F	Spiranthes cernua	Nodding Ladies’ Tresses
  S-F	Spiranthes gracilis	Slender Ladies Tresses
  S	Tipularia discolor	Cranefly Orchid
  	Poaceae	Grass Family
  Sp-S	Agrostis gigantea	Redtop
  S-F	Agrostis perennans	Autumn Bent
  S-F	Andropogon scoparius	Little Bluestem
  S-F	Andropogon ternacius	a Broom Sedge
  S-F	Andropogon virginicus	Broom Sedge
  Sp-S	Anthoxanthum odoratum	Sweet Vernal Grass
  S-F	Arthraxon hispidus
  S	Brachyeltrum erectum	Long Arm Wool Grass
  S	Bromus japonicus	Japanese Broom Grass
  S	Bromus racemosus	Hairy Chess
  S-F	Cinna arundinacea	Wood Reed
  S	Dactylis glomerata	Orchard Grass
  S	Danthonia spicata	Poverty Oatgrass
  	Dichanthelium boscii	Panic Grass
  S	Dichanthelium clandestinum	Deertongue Grass
  	Dichanthelium commutatum	Panic Grass
  	Dichanthelium depauperatum
  S	Dichanthelium dichotomum	Bushy Panic Grass
  S	Dichanthelium lanuginosum	Hairy Panic Grass
  S	Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon	Many-flowered Panic Grass
  S-F	Digitaria sanguinalis	Crab Grass
  S-F	Echinochloa crusgalli	Urchin Grass
  S-F	Eleusine indica	Goose Grass
  S	Elymus riparius	a wild Rye Grass
  S	Elymus villosus	a wild Rye Grass
  S	Eragrostis spectabilis	Purple Lovegrass
  F	Erianthus Alopecuroides	Plumegrass
  S	Festuca elatior	Meadow Fescue
  S	Festuca obtusa	Fescue
  S	Festuca octoflora	Six-weeks Fescue
  S	Glyceria striata	Fowl Mannagrass
  S-F	Leersia oryzoides	Rice Cutgrass
  S	Leersia virginica	White Grass
  S	Lolium perenne	Perennial Rye Grass
  	Microstegium vimineum	Japanese Grass
  S-F	Muhlenbergia schreberi	Nimble Will
  S-F	Panicum anceps	Flat-stemmed Panic Grass
  	Panicum depauperatum	Panic Grass
  S-F	Panicum dichotomiflorum	Spreading Witch Grass
  S-F	Panicum rigidulum	Tall Flat Panic Grass
  S	Paspalum laeve	Smooth Papalum
  S	Phalaris arundinacea	Reed Canary Grass
  S	Phleum pratense	Timothy
  Sp-S	Poa annua	Annual Bluegrass
  S	Poa compressa	Canada Bluegrass
  Sp	Poa cuspidata	Short-leaved Bluegrass
  Sp-S	Poa pratensis	Kentucky Bluegrass
  S	Setaria faberi	Faber’s Foxtail
  	Sorghastrum nutans	Indian Grass
  	Sphenopholis nitida	a grass
  S	Tridens flavus	Grease Grass; Purple Top
  	Pontederiaceae	Pickerelweed Family
  S	Heteranthera reniformis	Mud Plantain
  	Sparganiaceae	Bur Reed Family
  S	Sparganium americanum	American Bur Reed
  	Typhaceae	Cattail Family
  S	Typha latifolia	Cattail

  Dicotyledons
  Subclass Dicotyledoneae

  Season
  	Acanthaceae	Acanthus Family
  S	Justicia americana	Water Willow
  S	Ruellia caroliniensis	Wild Petunia
  	Amaranthaceae	Amaranthus Family
  S	Amaranthus spinosus	Spiny Amaranthus
  	Apiaceae	Parsley Family
  S-F	Angelica venenosa	Hairy Angelica
  S	Cicuta maculata	Poison Water Hemlock
  S	Cryptotaenia canadensis	Honewort
  S	Daucus carota	Queen Anne’s Lace
  S	Osmorhiiza claytoni	Hairy Sweet Cicely
  S	Sanicula canadensis	Black Snakeroot
  	Apocynaceae	Dogbane Family
  S	Apocynum androsaemifolium	Spreading Dogbane
  	Araliaceae	Ginseng Family
  Sp	Aralia nudicaulis	Wild Sarsaparilla
  S	Aralia racemosa	American Spikenard
  	Aristolochiaceae	Birthwort Family
  Sp	Asarum canadense	Canada Wild Ginger
  Sp	Hexastylis virginica	Evergreen Wild Ginger
  	Asclepiadaceae	Milkweed Family
  S	Asclepias amplexicaulis	Clasping Milkweed
  S	Asclepias incarnata	Swamp Milkweed
  Sp-S	Asclepias syriaca	Common Milkweed
  S-F	Asclepias verticillata	Whorled Milkweed
  S	Asclepias viridiflora	Green-flowered Milkweed
  	Asteraceae	Composite Family
  S-F	Achillea millefolium	Yarrow
  S-F	Ageratina altissima	White Snakeroot
  S-F	Ambrosia artemisiifolia	Ragweed
  S-F	Ambrosia trifida	Giant Ragweed
  Sp	Antennaria plantaginifolia	Pussytoes
  S-F	Arctium minus	Burdock
  F	Aster cordifolius	Blue Wood Aster
  S-F	Aster divaricatus	White Wood Aster
  F	Aster lateriflorus	Starved Aster
  S-F	Aster puniceus	Purple-stemmed Aster
  F	Aster vimineus	Small Wood Aster
  S-F	Bidens bipinnata	Spanish Needles
  F	Bidens cernua	Nodding Beggar-Ticks
  S-F	Bidens frondosa	Beggar-Ticks
  F	Bidens tripartita	Beggar-Ticks
  S-F	Carduus lanceolata	Common Thistle
  S-F	Centaurea maculosa	Spotted Knapweed
  S	Chondrilla juncea	Skeletonweed
  S-F	Chrysanthemum leucanthemum	Ox-eye Daisy
  Sp-S	Chrysogonum virginianum	Golden Star
  S-F	Cichorium intybus	Chicory
  S-F	Cirsium discolor	Field Thistle
  S-F	Cirsium pumilum	Pasture Thistle
  S-F	Cirsium vulgare	Bull Thistle
  	Coreopsis verticillata	Whorled Tickseed
  S-F	Eclipta alba	Yerba de Tado
  S	Elephantopus carolinianus	Elephant’s foot
  S-F	Erichtites hieracifolia	Fireweed
  S	Erigeron annuus	Daisy Fleabane
  S-F	Erigeron canadensis	Horseweed
  S	Erigeron strigosus	Daisy Fleabane
  S-F	Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus	Common Joe-Pye-Weed
  S-F	Eupatorium album	White Throughwort
  S-F	Eupatorium perfoliatum	Boneset
  S-F	Galinsoga quadriradiata	Devil’s Delight
  S-F	Gnaphalium obtusifolium	Rabbit Tobacco
  S-F	Gnaphalium purpureum	Purplish Cudweed
  F	Helianthus strumosus	Pale-leaved Sunflower
  S-F	Heterotheca mariana	Golden Aster
  Sp-S	Hieracium caespitosum	Field Hawkweed
  S	Hieracium paniculatum	Woodland Hawkweed
  Sp	Hieracium pilosella	Mouse-ear Hawkweed
  S-F	Hieracium venosum	Rattlesnake Weed
  S-F	Pyrrhopappus carolinianus	False Dandelion
  S	Rudbeckia hirta	Black-eyed Susan
  S	Rudbeckia laciniata	Tall Coneflower
  Sp-S	Senecio anonymus	Ragwort
  Sp	Senecio aureus	Golden Ragwort
  S-F	Sericocarpus asteroides	Toothed White-topped Aster
  F	Solidago bicolor	Silverrod
  S-F	Solidago caesia	Wreath Goldenrod
  F	Solidago canadensis	Tall Goldenrod
  F	Solidago erecta	Slender Goldenrod
  F	Solidago gigantea	Late Goldenrod
  	Solidago nemoralis	Oldfield Goldenrod
  F	Solidago odora	Sweet Goldenrod
  Sp-F	Taraxacum officinale	Dandelion
  S-F	Tragopogon pratensis	Yellow Goatsbeard
  S-F	Verbesina alternifolia	Wingstem
  	Verbesina occidentalis	Crown-beard
  S-F	Vernonia noveboracensis	New York Ironweed
  	Balsaminaceae	Jewelweed Family
  S-F	Impatiens capensis	Jewelweed
  	Berberidaceae	Barberry Family
  Sp	Podophyllum peltatum	May Apple; Mandrake
  	Boraginaceae	Borage Family
  Sp	Lithospermum arvense	Corn Gromwell
  Sp	Mertensia virginica	Virginia Bluebells
  	Brassicaceae	Mustard Family
  Sp	Arabadopsis thaliana	Mouse-ear Cress
  Sp	Arabis canadensis	Sicklepod
  Sp	Barbarea vulgaris	Winter Cress
  Sp	Brassica rapa	Turnip
  Sp	Capsella bursa-pastoris	Shepherd’s Purse
  Sp	Cardamine hirsuta	Hairy Bittercress
  Sp-S	Cardamine pensylvanica	Pennsylvania Bittercress
  Sp	Lepidium campestre	Field Cress
  Sp-S	Lepidium virginicum	Peppergrass
  S-F	Rorippa palustris	March Yellow Cress
  Sp-S	Sisymbrium altissumum	Tumble Mustard
  Sp-S	Thlaspi arvense	Field Pennycress
  	Callitrichaceae
  	Callitriche heterophylla	Larger Water Starwort
  	Campanulaceae	Bluebell Family
  F	Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal Flower
  S-F	Lobelia inflata	Indian Tobacco
  S	Lobelia spicata	Spiked Lobelia
  S	Triodanis perfoliata	Venus’ Looking Glass
  	Caryophyllaceae	Pink Family
  S	Dianthus armeria	Deptford Pink
  Sp	Holosteum umbellatum	Jagged Chickweed
  Sp-S	Scleranthus annuus	Knawel
  S	Silene antirrhina	Sleepy Catchfly
  Sp-S	Silene caroliniana	Wild Pink
  Sp-S	Silene virginica	Fire Pink
  Sp-F	Stellaria media	Common Chickweed
  Sp-S	Stellaria pubera	Giant Chickweed
  	Chenopodiaceae	Goosefoot Family
  S-F	Chenopodium album	Lamb’s Quarters
  S-F	Chenopodium ambrosioides	Mexican Tea
  	Cistaceae	Rockrose Family
  S	Lechea racemulosa	Pinweed
  	Ericaeae	Heath Family
  S	Chimaphila maculata	Striped (or Spotted) Wintergreen
  S	Chimaphila umbellata	Pipsissewa
  Sp	Epigaea repens	Trailing Arbutus
  Sp-S	Lyonia ligustrina	Maleberry
  S-F	Monotropa hypopithys	Pinesap
  S	Monotropa uniflora	Indian Pipe
  S	Pyrola rotundifolia	American Wintergreen
  	Euphorbiaceae	Spurge Family
  S-F	Acalypha rhomboidea	Three-seeded Mercury
  S	Euphorbia corollata	Flowering Spurge
  S-F	Euphorbia maculata	Eyebane
  	Fabaceae	Pea Family
  S-F	Amphicarpa bracteata	Hog-Peanut
  S-F	Apios americana	Groundnut
  S	Cassia chamaecrista	Partridge Pea
  S	Cassia marilandica	Wild Senna
  S	Clitoria mariana	Butterfly Pea
  S-F	Desmodium canescens	Tick-trefoil
  S-F	Desmodium nudiflorum	Tick-trefoil
  S-F	Desmodium paniculatum	Tick-trefoil
  S-F	Desmodium rotundifolium	Prostrate Tick-trefoil
  S-F	Lespedeza cuneata	Sericea
  S-F	Lespedeza hirta	Hairy Bushclover
  S-F	Lespedeza procumbens	Trailing Bushclover
  S-F	Lespedeza repens	Creeping Bushclover
  S-F	Lespedeza striata	Japan Bushclover
  S	Medicago sativa	Alfalfa
  S	Melilotus alba	White Sweetclover
  S	Tephrosia virginiana	Goat’s Rue
  Sp-F	Trifolium arvense	Rabbitsfoot Clover
  Sp-F	Trifolium campestre	Low Hop Clover
  S-F	Trifolium dubium	Least Hop Clover
  Sp-F	Trifolium pratense	Red Clover
  Sp-S	Vicia satvia	Common Vetch
  Sp-F	Trifolium repens	White Clover
  Sp-S	Wisteria sinensis	Wisteria
  	Fumariaceae	Fumitory Family
  Sp-S	Corydalis flavula	Yellow Corydalis
  	Geraniaceae	Geranium Family
  Sp-F	Erodium cicutarium	Storksbill
  Sp-F	Geranium carolinianum	Carolina Crane’s Bill
  Sp	Geranium maculatum	Wild Geranium
  	Gentianaceae
  S	Sabatia angularis	Rose Pink
  	Hypericaceae	St. Johnswort Family
  S	Hypericum hypericoides	Pineweed
  S	Hypericum mutilum	Dwarf St. Johnswort
  S	Hypericum perforatum	Common St. Johnswort
  S	Hypericum punctatum	Spotted St. Johnswort
  	Lamiaceae	Mint Family
  S	Collinsonia canadensis	Horse Balm
  S	Cunila origanoides	Dittany
  S	Hedeoma pulegioides	American Pennyroyal
  Sp	Lamium amplexicaule	Henbit
  Sp	Lamium purpureum	Purple Dead Nettle
  S	Lycopus virginicus	Virginia Bugleweed
  	Mentha piperita	Peppermint
  S	Monarda fistulosa	Wild Bergamot
  S	Monarda punctata	Horsemint
  S	Nepeta cataria	Catnip
  S	Perilla frutescens	Beefsteak Plant
  S	Prunella vulgaris	Heal-All
  S	Pycanthemum tenuifolium	Narrow-leaved Mountain Mint
  Sp	Salvia lyrata	Lyre-leaved Sage
  S	Satureja vulgaris	Basil
  S	Scutellaria elliptica	Hairy Skullcap
  S	Scutellaria integrifolia	Hyssop Skullcap
  S-F	Scutellaria lateriflora	Mad-dog Skullcap
  Sp-S	Scutellaria serrata	Showy Skullcap
  S	Trichostema dichotomum	Blue Curls
  	Linaceae	Flax Family
  S	Linum virginianum	Yellow Flax
  	Loranthaceae	Mistletoe Family
  F	Phoradendron serotinum	Mistletoe
  	Malvaceae	Mallow Family
  Sp-F	Malva neglecta	Common Mallow
  S-F	Abutilon theophrasti	Pie-print; Velvetleaf
  	Onagraceae	Evening Primrose Family
  S	Circaea lutetiana	Enchanter’s Nightshade
  S	Epilobium coloratum	Purple-leaved Willow-herb
  S	Ludwigia alternifolia	Seedbox
  S-F	Ludwigia decurrens	Primrose Willow
  S-F	Ludwigia palustris	Marsh Purslane
  S	Oenothera biennis	Evening Primrose
  	Orobancaceae	Broomrape Family
  Sp-S	Conophosis americana	Squawroot
  	Epifagus virginiana	Beech Drops
  	Oxalidaceae	Wood Sorrel Family
  Sp-F	Oxalis dillenii	Upright Yellow Wood Sorrel
  Sp-S	Oxalis violacea	Violet Wood Sorrel
  	Papaveraceae	Poppy Family
  Sp	Sanguinaria canadensis	Bloodroot
  	Phrymaceae	Lopseed Family
  S	Phryma leptostachya	Lopseed
  	Phytolaccaceae	Pokeweed Family
  S	Phytolacca americana	Pokeweed
  	Plantaginaceae	Plantain Family
  Sp	Plantago aristata	Bracted Plantain
  Sp-F	Plantago lanceolata	Narrow-leaved Plantain
  Sp-F	Plantago virginica	Dwarf Plantain
  	Polygonaceae	Buckwheat Family
  Sp-F	Polygonum arifolium	Halberd-leaved Tearthumb
  S-F	Polygonum aviculare	Knotweed
  S-F	Polygonum cespitosum	Asiatic Water Pepper
  S-F	Polygonum hydropiper	Common Smartweed
  S-F	Polygonum pensylvanicum	Pennsylvania Smartweed
  S-F	Polygonum persicaria	Lady’s Thumb
  S-F	Polygonum punctatum	Water Smartweed
  S-F	Polygonum sagittatum	Arrowleaf Tearthumb
  S-F	Polygonum virginiana	Virginia Knotweed
  Sp-F	Rumex acetosella	Sheep Sorrel
  	Primulaceae	Primrose Family
  S	Lysimachia ciliata	Fringed Loosestrife
  Sp-S	Lysimachia quadrifolia	Whorled Loosestrife
  	Ranunculaceae	Buttercup Family
  S	Anemone virginiana	Thimbleweed
  Sp	Anemonella thalictroides	Rue Anemone
  S	Cimifuga racemosa	Black Cohosh
  Sp	Hepatica americana	Round-lobed Hepatica
  Sp-S	Ranunculus abortivus	Kidney-leaved Buttercup
  Sp-S	Ranunculus bulbosus	Common Buttercup
  Sp-S	Thalictrum revolutum	Meadowrue
  	Rosaceae	Rose Family
  Sp-S	Alchemilla microcarpa	A winter annual
  Sp-S	Aruncus dioicus	Goatsbeard
  Sp-S	Duchesnia indica	Indian Strawberry
  Sp-S	Fragaria virginiana	Wild Strawberry
  S	Geum canadense	White Avens
  Sp-S	Gillenia trifoliatus	Indian Physic
  Sp-F	Potentilla canadensis	Canada Cinquefoil
  S	Potentilla norvegica	Rough Cinquefoil
  S	Potentilla recta	Upright Cinquefoil
  	Rubiaceae	Madder Family
  S	Diodia teres	Rough Buttonweed
  Sp-S	Galium aparine	Cleavers
  Sp-S	Galium circaezans	Wild Licorice
  S	Galium pilosum	Hairy Bedstraw
  Sp-S	Galium tinctorium	Clayton’s Bedstraw
  Sp-S	Galium triflorum	Sweet-scented Bedstraw
  Sp	Houstonia caerulea	Bluets
  Sp-S	Houstonia longifolia	Long-leaved Summer Bluets
  Sp-S	Houstonia purpurea	Large Summer Bluets
  S	Mitchella repens	Partridgeberry
  	Saxifragaceae	Saxifrage Family
  Sp	Chrysosplenium americanum	Golden Saxifrage
  Sp-S	Heuchera americana	Alum Root
  S	Penthorum sedoides	Ditch Stonecrop
  Sp	Saxifraga virginiensis	Early Saxifrage
  	Scrophulariaceae	Figwort Family
  S	Aureolaria flava	Smooth yellow Foxglove
  S-F	Chelone glabra	Turtlehead
  S-F	Gratiola neglecta	Clammy Hedge Hyssop
  S-F	Linaria vulgaris	Butter-and-Eggs
  S	Mimulus ringens	Common Monkeyflower
  S	Scrophularia marilandica	Maryland Figwort
  S	Verbascum thapsus	Common Mullein
  Sp-S	Veronica arvensis	Corn Speedwell
  Sp-S	Veronica officinialis	Common Speedwell
  Sp-F	Veronica persica	Persian Speedwell
  	Solanaceae	Nightshade Family
  S-F	Datura stramonium	Jimson Weed
  S	Solanum carolinense	Horsenettle
  	Urticaceae	Nettle Family
  S	Bochmeia cylindrica	False Nettle
  S-F	Pilea pumila	Clearweed
  	Valerianaceae	Valerian Family
  S	Valerianella locusta	Blue Corn Salad
  Sp	Valerianella olitoria	Corn Salad
  	Verbenaceae	Vervain Family
  S	Verbena urticifolia	White Vervain
  	Violaceae	Violet Family
  Sp	Viola palmata	Common Blue Violet
  Sp	Viola pedata	Bird’s-foot Violet
  Sp	Viola rafinesquii	Field Pansy
  	Vitacea	Vine Family
  S	Parthenocissus quinquifolia	Virginia Creeper
  Sp-S	Vitis labrusca	Fox Grape
  Sp-S	Vitis riparia	Riverbank Grape
  Sp-S	Vitis vulpina	Winter Grape
  S	Rumex crispus	Curly Dock

• Non-Flowering Plants
  

  FERNS

  Ophioglossaceae	Adder’s Tongue Fam.
  Botrychium dissectum	Grapefern
  Botrychium virginianum	Rattlesnake fern
  Ophioglossum vulgatum	Adder’s-tongue fern
  Osmundaceae	Royal Fern Family
  Osmunda cinnamomea	Cinnamon fern
  Osmunda claytoniana	Interrupted fern
  Polypodiaceae
  Adiantum pedatum	Maidenhair fern
  Asplenium platyneuron	Ebony Spleenwort
  Asplenium rhizophyllum	Walking fern
  Athyrium asplenioides	Southern lady fern
  Athyrium thelypteroides	Silvery spleenwort
  Dennstaedtia punctilobula	Hay-scented fern
  Dryopteris intermedia	Intermediate woodfern
  Dryopteris marginalis	Marginal woodfern
  Dryopteris spinulosa	Spinulose woodfern
  Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern
  Phegopteris hexagonoptera	Broad beech fern
  Polypodium virginianum	Common polypody
  Polystichum acrasticoides	Christmas fern
  Pteridium aquilinum	Bracken fern
  Thelypteris noveboracensis	New York fern
  Woodsia obtusa	Blunt-lobed woodsia

  FERN ALLIES

  Lycopodiaceae	Clubmoss Family
  Lycopodium digitatum	Running Cedar
  Lycopodium lucidulum	Ground Pine
  Lycopodium obscurum	Tree club-moss
  Selaginellaceae	Spikemoss Family
  Selaginella apoda	Meadow Spikemoss

• Native Grasses
  

  Photo: Donna Watkins

  From the Osage Hills of Oklahoma to the sandhills of Nebraska, Big Bluestem is the dominant plant in the tallgrass prairie. But Big Bluestem is not indigenous to the Great Plains. Its origin was in the successional grasslands of the eastern states until largely replaced by farmers with bluegrass and introduced fescue which are ideally suited to the pasturing of European cattle. These latter grasses are cool-season grasses, that is, they start growing early in the year, providing good grazing so that cattle can gain marketable weight more rapidly.

  Big Bluestem, along with Indian Grass and Little Bluestem, which have been reseeded at Ivy Creek, are warm-season grasses. These species do not begin growing until the time of summer rains and do not flower until summer is almost over.

  Warm season grasses are well-adapted to drought and fire. They have an obligatory symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi which grow into their root cells and expand through the soil increasing the zone of influence of the fibrous root system, facilitating water and nutrient uptake. More importantly they have an auxiliary photosynthetic system that is not found in the cool-season grasses, allowing them to store carbon dioxide from the air in an organic compound during the heat of the day when it closes the pores in its leaves to conserve water. As summer rains decrease and the threat of fire increases, warm season grasses transfer organic compounds from their leaves to storage in the root system, sequestering them from loss in a fire.

  Indeed, the management of warm-season grasslands is by periodic fire rather than mowing in that woody plants with their growing tissue at the tips of the branches are killed by the fire while warm season grasses remain as secure as b’re rabbit in the briar patch.

  Big Bluestem
  Andropogon gerardii

  Sometimes called the King of native grasses, Big Bluestem can grow up to eight feet tall with long thin flowers radiating from the top of the stem, thus its common name of “turkey foot”. It displays an array of color throughout the summer and fall, from steel gray-blue in the summer to brown, red and purple in the fall. Root systems extending 12 feet down give the plant an extraordinary capacity to withstand drought and extreme temperature.

  

  Little Bluestem
  Schizachyrium scoparium

  Little Bluestem is an unfortunate name for this striking grass because it is neither little not particularly blue — except when the shoots come up in early summer. By the time it flowers, it has turned a rich mixture of tan and brown with wine-red branches. Probably the most abundant native grass and known as an old-field invader, Little Bluestem is also an excellent forage plant.

  

  Indian Grass
  Sorghastrum nutans

  Competing with Big Bluestem for height, Indian Grass is distinctive for the small twisted bristles on its slightly fuzzy, late summer flowers. The inflorescence is tall and narrow and turns a shining golden brown. The fruit, six to 10 inches long, appears as copper-colored plumes, making this a very attractive plant.

  

  Broomsedge
  Andropogon virginicus

  A common grass at Ivy Creek, Broomsedgea is very coarse and turns a beautiful bronze-orange in the winter. It is leafier than other grasses and the flower stalk, surrounded by silvery white hairs, is tucked inside the leaves. Although the plant is not good livestock forage, it has long been the backbone of Virginia quail habitat.