olivia_stl's Identifications

There is a dark green splash in the middle of the adaxial surface of most leaves. Smooth adaxial surface, tiny hooks along the leaf vein of the abaxial side. Inflorescences darker towards the apex, getting lighter towards the base.

Small herbaceous plant with raceme (plant is ~ 30 cm tall, inflorescence is 6.5 cm). Fruit is present (red berry). Berries are 8 mm wide. Two alternate leaves with parallel veins (1 distinct main vein down the middle). Leaf shape is cuneate with no stalk (wraps around the stem). Leaf blade length is 10 - 12 cm and lacks hairs on the underside of the leaf.

Tall herbaceous plant (40-60 cm tall), with bright green stem and distinct flower spikelet at the top. Flowers are zygomorphic, showy and mostly white in color, with pink/purple near the apex (some with small purple dots). Flowers appear in pairs along the stem and each is connected by a separate petiole. Leaves are similar in shape (lanceolate/linear, with serrated edges) along the entire stem, but leaves are much larger towards the base (~14cm) compared to the top (~6cm). Flowers have 4 distinct stamens with fluffy pollen sacs, as well as one much smaller stamen. Stem appears almost woody (suffrutescent) towards the base only. Fruit is a dry capsule.

Small herbaceous plant (between 20 - 30cm tall) with showy purple flowers. Flowers have deep purple/blue tips with distinct fringe and 4 petals (corolla length between 2 - 4 cm). Leaf width is not more than 1cm (between 0.5 – 1cm ). The base of the flowers range from white to deep purple, with deep purple vertical stripes. Some of the petals are “open”, revealing 4 yellow anthers/filaments, and 2 connate carpals. Some flowers remain closed. Large green sepals surround the petals, but are never longer than the petals. Opposite leaves through the entire stem, most of which are green with deep purple tip. Plant is growing in sparse clusters (between 3-10 plants in nearby vicinity). The length of the calyx is between 2 - 2.3cm long and flower length is between 3 - 3.5cm.

Plant is tall (0.65 cm), self-supporting and herbaceous. Inflorescence is a pink/purple globose head (3 – 7 cm long), with more than 30 individual flowers. Individual flowers are zygomorphic and have a fused calyx tube. The flowers are 14 – 16 mm in length. Leaves are compound and lanceolate in shape, with a blunted leaf tip (obtuse). Leaves have a mottled appearance with lighter patch on the upper-side of each leaf. Stipules are present and abruptly narrow to a short awn. Plant is fragrant, with a sweet smell.

Fruits are berries, three colored variants can be seen, green, pink and red. The plant is a bush as tall as 1.5m. Have compound imparipinnate leaves, individual leaflets are toothed and have cordate base. Fruit is arranged in a panicle around stem or at the tip.

Light purple petals (5-merous perianth) with three white striations running down the length of each petal. Calyx, stems and leaves pubescent. Leaves are palmately compound. There are two leaves per node.

These photos are from two specimens: the first was found in my yard while the second was found in the woods a short distance from my home at the top of a small rocky cliff.

This plant was found on the side of a railroad, growing in a ditch.

Prickles on stem and branches.

Sepals remaining on fruit,

Receptacle with bristles.

Fruit an aggregate of drupes, copper-colored pappus between drupes

Large leaves with toothed edges varying in color from red to green, pinnately veined, small lobes; pinnately compound with 5 leaflets

Red juicy fruit, when crushed, white-beige seeds held together in a red substance

Receptacle still with 5 dried sepals

About 17 fruits in a bunch

Leaves simple pinnately veined, entire, cordate base and attenuate tip