Beautiful Plants with Awful Names: Rouge Hills, June 2020

Have a look at this interesting and unusual plant for which bladder is part of the name:

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)

Campion means that it resembles a bell and part of it; a bladder. It is a widespread weed of European origin common along roadsides and railroads.

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)

Here is another one:

Hairy Beard-tongue (Penstemon hirsutus)

Hairy, beard and tongue are not lovely words but they are all incorporated in the name of this wildflower. It is a native plant found in sandy, barren, open and usually dry ground such as prairies, roadsides stream and river banks and rocky ground.

Hairy Beard-tongue (Penstemon hirsutus)
Hairy Beard-tongue (Penstemon hirsutus)

Other botany:

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
Timothy (Phleum pratense)
Buckhorn (Plantago lanceolatum)
Yellow Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium
Apple Cedar Rust in Red Cedar
Spittlebug in Mugwort
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Dark Green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
Shining Willow (Salix lucida)
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
Cinquefoil (Potentilla)
Bulblet Fern
Christmas Fern
Wild Geranium in seed (Geranium maculata)
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Smooth Wild Rose (Rosa blanda)

Park scenes:

Some wildlife:

Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Canada Goose
Painted Turtles
Painted Turtle
Painted Turtles

NATURE POETRY

Then came fair May, the fairest maid on ground,
Decked all with dainties of her season’s pride,
And throwing flowers out of her lap around:
Upon two brethren’s shoulders she did ride,
The twins of Leda; which on either side
Supported her like to their sovereign queen.
Lord! how all creatures laughed, when her they spied,
And leaped and danced as they had ravished been!
And Cupid self about her fluttered all in green.      – Edmund Spenser (1552–99)

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Beautiful Plants with Awful Names: Rouge Hills, June 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Spittlebug in Mugwort sounded the most disgusting, I thought. Regardless–it’s all beautiful! I love the Rouge. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply
  2. Nada

    A very funny article, and very informative, as always. Many thanks Miles, your love for nature is very infectious… Nada

    Reply

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