Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Hepatica acutiloba

These gorgeous spring ephemerals are usually found in woods with rich, somewhat alkaline, well drained-soils across eastern North America. Their flowers can vary in color and petal count. The hepatica plants pictured were growing on wooded hillsides featuring dolomite rock outcrops.

March 30th, 2023

St. Francois County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Dutchman's Breeches

Dicentra cucullaria

April 12th, 2023

St. Louis County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Largeflower Bellwort

Uvularia grandiflora

Also known as Merrybells, this stunning spring ephemeral in the lily family is found in woods throughout central and eastern North America. Native Americans traditionally used this species as a remedy for certain skin conditions.

April 12th, 2023

St. Louis County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Prairie Trillium

Trillium recurvatum

These unique, dark trillium plants caught our eye while we were exploring woods in Jersey County, Illinois. This species usually has splotchy green leaves. dailybotany suggested these trillium plants may have upped their anthocyanin production in response to exposure to higher levels of solar radiation. There were a few of these trilliums with dark leaves in the general area, and it may have been a sunnier than usual spot in the understory of the forest there, so this theory makes sense. I still wonder if it's possible this small population carries a genetic mutation... I have explored many woods and never seen trilliums this dark. I love listening to different theories and learning new info.

Trillium recurvatum is native to much of the Mississippi River basin in the central / eastern United States. Eastern Ohio has a few populations, which are listed as potentially threatened by their DNR. There are also a couple isolated populations in North Carolina, but it's debated whether or not they were actually planted long ago. Its closest lookalike with overlapping range is trillium sessile; however, the sepals on s. recurvatum plants curve downward as the flower opens, and the stem is usually much shorter than on t. sessile. This species can grow in habitats ranging from floodplains, to mesic forests and mesic savannas. Often, they're found growing in calcareous soils or over calcium-rich rocks such as limestone.

March 20th, 2024

Jersey County, Illinois, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Hop Trefoil Clover

Trifolium campestre

This species of trifolium is not native to the United States, its native range is in Europe and Western Asia, but it has now been introduced in some areas of the US due to being grown for fodder and escaping. However, it's not yet listed as an invasive species here.

June 17th, 2023

Weldon Spring, St. Charles County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Pale Jewelweed

Impatiens pallida

Native to much of eastern North America, pale jewelweed prefers wet soils in bottomland forests, along streams, etc... Jewelweed is also an old remedy for poison ivy rashes. Hummingbirds love the flowers as well. The pictured plants were growing en masse in a bottomland forest next to the Big River.

Sept. 1st, 2021

Washington County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline