All in the Family

No, we are not talking Archie Bunker and "Meat-head" here! This post is my tip-of-the-hat to those really smart scientists who came up with the scientific naming scheme for plants and wildflowers. As many of you probably know already, this is called Plant Taxonomy.

I'll be the first to say that I have no formal training in plant taxonomy, but since starting this journal I have been fascinated with both the common and scientific naming of wildflowers. Plant taxonomy existed even in ancient Greek times, but our current system really started with a Swede named Linneaus in 1737. He came up with the organization and structure of the system still in use today. Many others helped refine it over the years. With modern DNA testing and other advanced techniques, the system continues to evolve even today. I won't dwell on taxonomy here, but if you want more, see: http://www.vtasg.biz/WildflowerNames.asp

For individual wildflower plants, the common names usually reflect some local and historical aspect of the plant. Some of these names go way back and were translated from indigenous people's naming. Others seem to have been haphazardly given, as if by a drunken miner! Fortunately, with scientific names, we have more precision and a way to record and compare similar species. For more information on naming, see: http://www.vtasg.biz/BotanicalNames.asp

To close up this post, I would like to present four seemingly very different plants that are actually all in the Asteraceae family. This family is commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, and sunflower family. 

Western Aster (Aster occidentalis)

These native to the western U.S. plants look like they should be in your own flower garden! And in fact they have been hybridized extensively for that purpose. These have blue to pink flowers and grow to 3 ft. tall. The flower is about an inch across. We found these at Jackson Bottom Wetlands.

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

Another western native that is just starting to bloom now (8/04/2013). It's large, colorful flower heads attract legions of bees. It can be eaten by livestock, but is quick to colonize in open sunny areas. Some countries have declared it invasive as it edges out native plants. Goldenrod has been used as an anti-inflammatory, urinary tract antiseptic, and a treatment for upper respiratory inflammation and congestion. I spotted this clump growing next to a field on the Banks-Vernonia bike trail.

These were about 5 feet tall!

Black bumblebees covered these extensive blooms.

Mountain Tarweed (Madia glomerata)

If you don't recognize this plant's name or flower, you may remember its strong odor! The stems, leaves, and buds are coated with a sticky sap that smells somewhat like camphor to me; I don't find it disagreeable, but most books say it's bad! There are thousands of these growing at Jackson Bottom Wetlands. The tiny flowers are easy to miss, but as I mentioned before, you won't miss the smell! It is also native to the western U.S. and grows in just about any disturbed area, along gravel roads, or near wetlands.

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

As one of the most disliked invasive "weeds," Canada Thistle has one of my favorite alternate common names: "Lettuce from Hell Thistle!" Some other local names for this Eurasian native:  California Thistle, Corn Thistle, Cursed Thistle, Field Thistle, Green Thistle, Hard Thistle, Perennial Thistle, Prickly Thistle, Small-flowered Thistle and Way Thistle. These renegades are unisex, meaning it takes two plants (Male and Female) to tango, er, make seeds. But they also reproduce through an extensive root system, making them difficult to get rid of, as you may have experienced first hand!

On the bright side, the seeds are very popular with goldfinches, and the foliage is favored by numerous butterfly caterpillars. We found these growing on Laurelview Road near home in late June.

Male Canada Thistle Plant