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Andy's Northern Ontario WildflowersFlowering Shrubs"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.". -- Albert Einstein |
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Illustrated on this page are some flowering shrubs found in northern Ontario, near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. This area lies within the transition of the boreal forest region and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence forest region. Habitat:Flowering shrubs occur in several habitats: The shrubs generally flower in the spring. Many of the shrubs produce fruit that is an important source of food for many birds and animals. Flowering shrubs found in this area:
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Flower: White; up to 1.5 cm wide; 5 petals on stalks 1-2 cm long; in flat-topped clusters from leaf axils (May - early June). Leaves: Lance-shaped with a long taper to a slender tip; up to 8 cm long; net veined. Bark: Smooth on young trees, dark reddish with widely-spaced orange horizontal markings on mature trees. Fruit: Single red berry on stem; 5-7 mm in diameter; August - September. Height: Up to 15 m, but generally much shorter. Habitat: Dry to moist, open areas, such as along edges of forest or roadsides. Other: Intolerant of shade, so usually found in waste areas, on the edges of deciduous or pine forest, in cut over or disturbed area; many occur as a single tree or in groves. All parts of the plant except the flesh of the fruit are poisonous.
Location: Sudbury |
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Single pin cherry tree. Location: Burwash |
Grove of pin cherry trees in spring bloom. Location Burwash |
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Pin cherry fruit. Location: Burwash |
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Downy Serviceberry; also known as Saskatoon, Indian pear, shadbush. Also known as Saskatoon-berry Flower: White; erect clusters; 5 petals and 5 green sepals; May-early June. Leaves: Oval to almost circular; 2-6 cm long; about 25 teeth to a side; tapered to a sharp tip; many be hairy on underside; folded or very small at flowering time. Bark: Slightly twisted vertical lines of a darker colour. Height: Usually less than 10 m tall. Fruit: Small, reddish or purplish; ripens late July or early August. Habitat: It prefers full sun and on moist, well-drained soil along roadsides, abandoned fields, in existing windbreaks and in woodlands. It does not tolerate extremely wet or the deep shade. Other: Are many different species that are difficult to distinguish. Single tree or small clusters of trees. The fruit is a very important food source for birds preparing for the fall migration. The red squirrel and chipmunk also eat the fruit. Because it flowers so early, the flower in spring is an important source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects.
Location: Trout
Lake Road |
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Downy Serviceberry tree found on the edge of the Wanapetei River. Note that the leaves are not conspicuous at the time the flowers peak. Serviceberry is one of the earlier flowering shrubs in the Sudbury area.
Location: Secord
Road, Wanapetei River.
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Serviceberry fruit. |
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Flower: Erect clusters of yellowish-green flowers at ends of branches after leaves are fully grown; late June. Leaves: Opposite, maple-shaped with coarse teeth along edges; 3-lobed; coarsely and irregularly toothed; reddish stalks; yellow to reddish brown colour in fall. Stem: Straggling shrub to small bushy tree. Bark: Reddish or grayish brown and usually smooth. Height: Up to 6 m. Fruit: Pairs of bright red winged fruit that turn brown when mature; September Other: Also known as dwarf maple or Virginia maple.
Location: Secord Road |
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Ninebark; native deciduous shrub; Also known as Common ninebark, eastern ninebark. Family:Rosaceae Flower: Whitish pink flowers; < 1 cm in diameter; flowers occur in clusters up to 5 cm in diameter; May to June. Leaves: Alternate, simple, deciduous; palmately veined; 3 to 5 lobed leaves; up to 7 cm long; light green to yellow-green leaf color in summer; yellow to bronze fall color. Stem: Multi-stemmed shrub; upright, recurved stems. Bark: Distinctive because of excessive peeling; tan, reddish brown. Height: Up to 3 m. Fruit: Occurs in dropping clusters; reddish; ripens in late August to September in this area. Birds eat the seed. Habitat: Rocky areas on alvars, along streams, rocky banks, gravel bars and in moist thickets. Interest: The common name comes from the extreme peeling of bark. It is said that Ninebark has nine layers of bark. This is a commonly used shrub for domestic landscaping. |
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Peeling bark on stems of Ninebark shrub.
Location: Goat
Island, near Little Current, Manitoulin Island |
Ninebark seed clusters are a food for birds.
Location: Meldrum
Bay lighthouse, Manitoulin Island. |
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Black and common low bush blueberry fruit. Location: Burwash; Date: August 7, 2003. |
Flower: White; bell-shaped with 5 small lobes, less 6 mm long; crowded clusters; May-June. Leaves: Alternate, oval or narrowly lance-shaped, tapered at base and tip; 1-3 cm long; 4-10 mm wide. Bark: Young branches are greenish-brown; older branches are reddish to blackish, hairless, with flaky ridged bark. Height: Up to 60 cm, but usually less than 35 cm tall. Fruit: Blue or black berries, depending on type (see below); 3 - 10 mm in diameter; June-August. Habitat: Low sweet blueberry occurs on rocky or sandy areas that have been subject to forest fire or logging. The plant also occurs in swamps, bogs, and in depressions on rocky outcrops. Interest: Blueberry fruit is a favourite food for birds and mammals, especially black bears. Blueberry fruit is picked and used raw or processes into jams or dried fruit. Blueberry bushes in the forest are less likely to flower and bear fruit. The following is modified from: The History of the Lowbush Blueberry Industry in Nova Scotia 1950-1990 (1993): Gordon Kinsman, Published by The Wild Blueberry Producers' Association of Nova Scotia: Click here to Link to Publication
There are 4 kinds
of lowbush blueberries grow wild in Canada. The fruits of all, with
the possible exception of ground hurts, are harvested and sold commercially. |
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Blueberry patch growing in a bowl in a rock outcrop. The bowl traps rain water that helps the plant survive dry spells and to produce fruit.
Location: Secord Road |
Blueberry flower.
Location: Burwash |
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Flower: White; 8-10 mm wide; 5 petals; stalks 4-8 mm long; 10-25 in elongated clusters; May-June. Leaves: Alternate, widely oval to egg-shaped; 4-12 cm long; 2-6 cm wide; short-pointed at tip and tapered or rounded at base; margins have fine teeth. Bark: Reddish-brown to purplish-grey; may have a strong, unpleasant odor when bruised. Height: 2-3 m tall; rarely up to 10 m tall and tree-like. Fruit: Deep red, ripening to blackish, round cherries; 8-10 mm in diameter, juicy with large pit in centre; August - September. Habitat: Open areas, old fields, fence lines, edges of forests. Interest: Spreads from shoots and forms thickets. This shrub bears consistent, heavy crops of fruit that is a source of food for many birds and mammals. Choke cherry is a host of black knot fungus that shows up as black growths on branches. ALL PARTS OF THE CHOKE CHERRY, EXCEPT THE BERRIES, ARE POISONOUS TO HUMANS. There are cases where children have been poisoned and have died after ingesting large quantities of berries, which contain the seeds. |
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Choke cherry flowers.
Location: Burwash |
Choke cherry shrub in full bloom - the shrub spreads by suckers.
Location: Burwash |
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Choke cherry fruit.
Location: Sudbury |
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Black knot fungus (Apiosporina morbosa) on chokecherry shrub. Black knot fungus forms large knots that are caused by abnormal growths of bark infected with the fungus. The knots encircle the branch and kill it. Spores from the fungus are released easily by wind and rain. If left unchecked the tree eventually dies.
Location: Burwash |
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Flower: Small green flowers in terminal clusters; 20 cm long; pyramidal; June-July. Leaves: Compound with opposite, lance-like, toothed leaflets 5 - 10 cm long. Bark: Branches covered with velvety hairs. Height: up to 9 m tall. Fruit: Berry-like, reddish-brown, covered with bright red hairs. Other: The soft hairs resemble velvet on a deer's antlers. This accounts for the name "Staghorn" sumac. Language of Flowers: Sumac means "splendor" or " splendid misery". Source |
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Location: Burwash |
Staghorn sumac fruit cluster.
Location: Burwash |
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Leaves: Needle-like, prickly. Bark: Branchlets are greenish and smooth, becoming pale- to dark-brown with ridges and scaly bark. Height: up to 0.5 m tall. Fruit: Round, berry-like cones, fleshy, 6-10 mm wide, bluish-white; waxy powder; May-June. Other: Low spreading shrub.
Location:
Manitoulin Island |
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Leaves: Needle-like, prickly. Bark: Branchlets are greenish and smooth, becoming pale- to dark-brown with ridges and scaly bark. Height: up to 1.5 m tall. Fruit: Round, berry-like cones, fleshy, 6-10 mm wide, bluish-white; waxy powder; May-June. Stem: Branches curve upward. Other: Juniper berries were used as the flavoring agent in gin. Juniper trees were also used to make soap and perfume. Use with caution because excessive use may cause kidney irritation. There are reports that juniper consumption may raise glucose levels - of concern to people with diabetes. In addition, application of the juniper oil directly to skin can cause a rash. Location: Burwash |
Common juniper berry |
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Family: Rose (Rosaceae) Flower: White; 5 petals; numerous in dense, narrow, cluster at branch tips; July-September. Leaves: Alternate, coarsely toothed; oval or lance-shaped; 3-8 cm long; 1-3 cm wide; hairless. Bark: Branchlets are yellowish-brown, hairless; older branches are purplish-grey with bark peeling off in papery-thin narrow strips. Height: 0.5 - 1.5 m tall. Habitat: Low, moist ground, meadows, fields, and edges of lakes and creeks. Other: Aromatic leaves, like almond. In 1839, it was proven the meadowsweet contained salicylic acid, also known as aspirin. The name aspirin is a derivative of meadowsweet's botanical name - spirea. Language of Flowers: Means "usefulness". Source See following two photos. |
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Broad-leaved meadow-sweet shrub |
Broad-leaved meadow-sweet in the spring, prior to leaves or flowers. |
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Also known as Hardhack. Family: Rose (Rosaceae) Flower: Steeple-shaped, branched clusters of pink flowers; flowers less 6 mm wide; 5 sepals, 5 petals, numerous stamens; July-September. See following photo. Leaves: Oblong, 2-5 cm long, toothed, woolly on underside. Stem: Woody old growth. Height: 60-120 cm. Habitat: Moist meadows, old fields, pastures, sides of rivers and lakes.
Location: Makynen
Road, Sudbury |
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Steeplebush flower cluster.
Location: Burwash |
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Shrubby Cinquefoil (Shrubby Potentilla); botanical name for a group of hardy perennials and shrubs; is the only shrubby species among the cinquefoils. Flower: Yellow; saucer-shaped; June to September. Leaves: Smooth-edged; compound with 3 - 7 leaflets, but generally 5, hence the name "cinquefoil"; Stem: Woody shrub; the bark is reddish-brown and shreds easily. Height: up to 1 m. Habitat: Hot and dry locations or moist partial shade areas, such as alvars, open fields, edges of rivers, and rocky areas. Interest: "Potentilla" means potent. Historically, the entire plant can be gathered as medicine to reduce inflammation of gums and tonsils, the tannin was used in the tanning of leathers, and the plant was used to stop the flow of blood when applied directly to open cuts; also used as a fever-reducing agent. The leaves have been used to make tea. Potentilla is a popular "home gardener" shrub because it is easy to grow, showy, is low maintenance and is tolerates dry conditions.
Location: Manitoulin |
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Flower: Yellow-white; 5 petals; 3-6 mm wide; elongated, pyramid-shaped clusters 5-15 cm long; May-June. Leaves: Opposite; 5-13 cm long, 2-6 cm wide; on stalks; 5-7 leaflets egg- to lance-shaped with pointed tip; upper surface green, underside paler; toothed margins. Fruit: Bright red, rounded; 5 mm wide; clusters; July - August. Height: Up to 4 m tall. Habitat: Occurs in a range of habitats from wet or moist sites along river edge or lakeside to moist mixed forest swamps and drier mixed forests. Other: The berries, bark, leaves, and roots are poisonous. Click here for more information on the poisonous qualities. The flowers do not smell very nice. |
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Red-berried elder: The flower buds in early spring have a distinctive "bud-shape". Other: Compared to the elderberry, the red-berried elder has cone-shaped flower clusters in May and poisonous, bright red fruit (See following photo). By contrast, the elderberry (see following shrub) has flat-topped flower clusters in June-July and edible purplish fruit. |
Red-berried elder fruit. |
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Red-berried elder shrub in bloom.
Location: Burwash |
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Flower: Creamy white; parasol or flat-topped cluster at tips of branches; each flower 6 mm across and star-shaped; 5 petals; mid-July. Leaves: Compound, opposite with 5 - 15 leaflets (usually 7); oval-shaped, toothed, pointed tip. Fruit: Deep purple to black berries; round berry with 3-5 seeds; late August - September. Other: Compared to the red-berried elder (see previous shrub), the elderberry has flat-topped flower clusters in June-July and edible purplish fruit. The red-berried elder has cone-shaped flower clusters in May and poisonous, bright red fruit.
Location: Burwash |
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Elderberry shrub with flat topped flower head. Interest: The elderberry has reputations for great powers of good and evil. The evil folklore: a) no carpenter would make a cradle of elderberry wood for fear of bringing harm to the baby; b) the wood for Christ's cross was elderberry; c) if seen in a dream, it is supposed to mean that illness is on the way. The good folklore: a) the wood wards off witches if collected on the last day of April and put on the windows and doors of houses. Danger: Some species of elderberry leaves, stems, and roots contain compounds of cyanide. The cooked berries are reported to be safe and are used to make wine, jellies, and preserves.
Location: Burwash |
Elderberry fruit.
Location: Burwash |
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Wild raisin: photo of early spring leaves with flower bud. Also known as Witherod, Appalachian tea, False paraguay tea. Flower: Creamy-white flowers; umbrella-shaped cluster at ends of branches; individual flowers have 5 petals; unpleasant scent; middle to end of June. Leaves: Opposite; edges vary from smooth to toothed; up to 10 cm long; narrow with pointed tips; turn pink or crimson in autumn. Fruit: Clusters of small oval berries; pink, then turning blue-black; late August and September. Height: Up to 4 m tall. See following photo. Twig: The presence of a cinnamon-brown terminal bud at the tip of the twig is distinctive, especially in the winter. Similar plant: Wild raisin can be confused with Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago). The wild raisin leaves are has smooth- to wavy-edged or irregularly blunt-toothed leaves, its stalked flower clusters and its cinnamon-coloured or golden to yellowish buds. The leaves of Nannyberry are sharp-pointed and edged with fine, sharp, incurved teeth. The flower clusters are stalkless. The variety Viburnum lentago is most common in northwestern Ontario and in southern Ontario.
Location: Burwash |
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Wild raisin shrub.
Location: Makynen Road |
Wild raisin flowers.
Location: Makynen Road |
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Wild raisin fruit.
Location: Burwash |
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Flower: Creamy-white; flat-topped clusters; 10-12 cm across; at ends of branches; each cluster composed of tiny fertile creamy-white flowers surrounded by showier white sterile flowers; See following photo; June. Leaves: Opposite; three-lobed; maple-like in appearance; edges may be smooth or toothed. Fruit: Bright red berries; turn glossy or translucent after frost; may be present into winter; September. See following photos. Height: Up to 4 m tall. Habitat: Wet areas, such as sides of rivers and lakes, swamps and bogs. Interest: The fruit of the highbush cranberry is commonly observed in mid- to late-winter still hanging on the tree. It is a late winter food source for birds and animals. |
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Highbush cranberry flower.
Location: Burwash
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Highbush cranberry fruit.
Location: Paddy Creek |
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Flower: Creamy white blossoms; 4 petals; flat-toped clusters at tips of branches; June. Leaves: Untoothed; pairs on opposite sides of twigs; dark green on top, lighter green underneath; 5-7 pairs of prominent veins. Fruit: White or bluish-tinged berries; September. See following photos. Stem: Bushy shrub; bark is lime green in summer and wine-red in winter; becomes grey with age. Habitat: Prefers moist soil found in swamps and streamside forest. It also occurs in open forest and thickets and bog-forest edges and disturbed sites. Interest: Dogwood branches were used to make fish traps and basket rims. Larger limbs were used to make frame poles for tents. The bark was twisted into a type of rope used to lash fish traps, raised caches, and other structures. The bark was mixed with other organic materials to make a red dye. |
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Red osier dogwood flower. Note the red colour of the branch.
Location: Burwash |
Red osier dogwood fruit. Note the white colour of the fruit.
Location: Kingston |
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Red osier dogwood plant in the early spring. Note the distinctive red colour of the wood.
Location: Burwash |
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Location: Goat
Island alvar |
Downy Arrow-wood; also known as Downy Arrowwood, Arrow-wood. Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) Flower: White or creamy white; upright terminal clusters; numerous, small, flowers; late May and June. Leaves: Opposite; very short petioles; elliptical to ovate; 4-8 cm long and 3-5 cm wide; toothed; dark green on upper surface; hairy on under side. In fall, the leaves take on a rose to maroon colour. Fruit: Dark blue-black or black; clusters at ends of branches; about 10 mm long; contains a flat stone; July to September. Stem: Spreading, but straight stems. Height: up to 2 m tall. Habit: An understory shrub in the western Boreal forest; grows on dry calcareous soils of open Alvar areas on Manitoulin Island. Interest: Erect or spreading deciduous shrub with pale gray twigs. The buds have two pairs of scales. Tolerates drought and is used as an ornamental shrub for landscaping. Name derivation: Viburnum: classical Latin name, meaning obscure. Rafinesquianum: after Constantine Samuel Rafinesque (1783-1840), who was a naturalist and author of many new plant names. |
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Downy Arrow-wood flowers.
Location: Gore Bay
airport, Manitoulin Island |
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Flower: Greenish-yellow; bell-shaped; 7 mm long; 5 petals; loose clusters of 2-3 flowers from leaf axils; May-June. See following photo. Leaves: Alternate, simple, 2-6 cm long; 3-5 lobes with pointed tips. Fruit: Smooth, round, bluish-black berries, 8-12 mm diameter; July-August. Stem: scattered prickles and spines where leafstalks join branches. Height: up to 90 cm. Habit: Open woods, prairies, moist beaver meadows, moist hillsides, along the banks of streams, in thickets at the edge of meadows, and open or wooded mountain ridges. Interest: Gooseberries contain vitamins A and D, and are high in vitamin C, as well as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, niacin, and dietary fiber. Gooseberries are rich in pectin and are ideal for jams and jellies. Gooseberries are reported to contain ellagitannin, which is converted to ellagic acid when consumed, a natural cancer-fighting substance. |
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Smooth gooseberry flower.
Location: Burwash
beaver meadow |
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Bush honeysuckle; also known as Northern Bush Honeysuckle, Bush Honeysuckle, Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle, Life-of-Man, Yellow Flowered Upright Honeysuckle. Shrub Family: Honeysuckle Flower: Yellow and turn orange; funnel-shaped; 5 lobes; 2 cm long; clusters of 2-6 at branch tips or in leaf axils; June-early July. Leaves: Opposite, simple, egg-shaped to oblong, tapering to a point; 5-13 cm long; 1.5 - 6 cm wide; upper surface darker green compared to underside; margins toothed. Height: 1 m. Habitat: Dry, infertile soil in cool, sandy or rocky woods, on cliffs, and in open pastures. It tolerates high pH soils and windy conditions. Interest: This shrub is self sterile. Therefore, to set seed, the flower must be pollinated by insects that have travelled from another patch, usually some distance away. The flowers are adapted for pollination by bumblebees, butterflies and hawkmoths.
Location: Makynen
Road, Sudbury
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Bush honeysuckle leaves and flowers.
Location: Paddy Creek
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Bush honeysuckle flower detail.
Location: Makynen
Road, Sudbury |
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Fly honeysuckle; also known as Medaddy Bush, American Fly Honeysuckle; perennial shrub. This is an early flowering shrub found in moist deciduous or mixed forests. Fly Honeysuckle is named after a former German botanist. Habit: Loosely branched erect shrub. Flower: Pale yellow to yellowish green; funnel-shaped; 5 short lobes; 1.2 - 1.8 cm long; in pairs on stalks from leaf axils; May - June. Leaves: Opposite, simple, egg-shaped to oblong, blunt tip; rounded base; 3-9 cm long, 1-3 cm wide; bright green upper surface; no teeth on margins; short stalks. Height: 1.5 m. Habitat: Damp, rocky woods. Fruit: Red; egg-shaped; 6 mm wide; June-July. Interest: Lonicera was named after a former German botanist. Language of Flowers: The name Honeysuckle means "The colour of my fate", "Devoted love", and "Rustic beauty."
Location: Trout
Lake Road |
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Fly honeysuckle fruit.
Location: Paddy
Creek Trail (C109) |
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Hairy honeysuckle; climbing deciduous shrub or vine; may be trailing; woody branches. Habit: Loosely branched, climbing shrub. Flower: Orange to yellow that turn reddish; narrow tubes with 5 spreading lobes; about 2 cm long; occur in a whorled cluster on the uppermost leaves; June - July. Leaves: Opposite, short stalked; oval or egg-shaped; 5-10 cm long and 2- 8 cm wide; upper side has flattened hairs; lower side has soft hairs; upper leaves are united around the stem. Height: Climbs to 2-3 m tall. Habitat: Mixed forest and forest openings and along shorelines. Fruit: Orange to red fruit in stalked clusters from centre of uppermost leaves; ripen August - September. Language of Flowers: The name Honeysuckle means "The colour of my fate", "Devoted love", and "Rustic beauty."
Location: Paddy
Creek trail |
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Hairy honeysuckle leaves and climbing stem.
Location: Paddy
Creek trail |
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Northern dewberry; perennial; trailing vine; also known as American Dewberry, Northern Dewberry, Prickly Dewberry, Dewberry, Dewberry Bush, and Running Blackberry. Flower: White; 10-15 mm wide; 5 petals; solitary or in terminal cluster of 2-5 on stems; June. Leaves: Alternate, compound with 3-5 leaflets. 5-20 cm wide; terminal leaflet is egg-shaped to nearly elliptical with point. Fruit: Rounded red clusters, raspberry-like; July-August. Stem: Brown to purplish red with scattered prickles. Height: 30 cm tall; whip-like branches 2-4 m long. Habitat: Sun to part shade typical of open fields, woodlands and forest margins. Interest: Rubus is a Latin name meaning red. Flagellaris refers to the long, thin whip-like appearance of the canes. The fruits are eaten in jams and are a source of food for birds and mammals. Colonies are often referred to as "brambles".
Location: Burwash |
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Leaves of northern dewberry. The branches are whip-like. Location: Burwash |
Northern dewberry fruit.
Location: Burwash |
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Flower: White, 7 mm in diameter; 5 petals; in dense round or flat-topped clusters 5-15 cm in diameter; June-July. Leaves: Alternate, stalked, compound with 11-17 leaflets; leaflets are lance-shaped; pointed tip, 5-10 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide; toothed. Height: 10 m. Fruit: Bright red, round berries, 7 mm in diameter; berries are a preferred food source for many birds. Because the fruit hangs throughout winter, the berries excellent emergency food; August-September. Habitat: Common along fencelines and windbreaks, hillsides or forest clearings. It prefers full sunlight and will grow under a variety of conditions. It will not tolerate flooding. Other: LEAVES CONTAIN CYANIDE AND ARE POISONOUS. Interest: One superstition holds that on the eve of May day, it was customary to tie branches of Mountain Ash over barn doors to protect livestock from evil spirits. |
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American mountain ash fruit. Language of Flowers: Mountain ash means "prudence" and "I watch over you". Source In Ojibway, Mountain ash is called bearberry or ma-Ko-me-none (Source Andy Yesno, Eabametoong First Nation).
Location: Burwash |
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Location: Makynen Road |
Spreading Dogbane; also known as Indian Hemp; native shrub. Family: Dogbane (Apocynaceae) Flower: Pinkish, fragrant; 5 spreading lobes, bell-shaped, 8 mm wide; stalked; June-July. Leaves: Opposite, stalked; hanging, simple, egg-shaped with pointed tip; 2-7 cm long; 2-6 cm wide. Stem: Smooth and much branched. Height: Flowering stems 10-70 cm tall. Habitat: Occurs in open, sunny pastures, edges of forests, waste areas, fields and roadsides and other waster areas, usually in dry areas or on shallow soils. Interest: All parts of the plant contain milky juice when broken. The word Apocynum means "a plant that a dog should keep away from". Spreading Dogbane is reported to be poisonous, but this has not been proven. Language of Flowers: Means "deceit" or "falsehood". Source |
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Spreading dogbane that has formed seed pods.
Location:
Makynen Road, Sudbury |
Spreading dogbane that has formed seed pods.
Location:
Trout Lake Road |
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Japanese bamboo or Japanese knotweed Flower: Greenish-white; male and female flowers on separate plants; 3 mm long in clusters up to 8 cm long; 5 sepals, no petals; August-September. Fruit: Seed-like, black, smooth, 3-sided. Leaves: Rounded to ovate; 10-15 cm long; pointed. Stems: Hollow, jointed and mottled. Height: up to 2 m Habit: Large, bushy, spreading plant. Waste places and roadsides. This is an invasive exotic plant that should not be transplanted.
Location: Burwash |
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