This is where we want to have news of what's going on. Have you found something interesting? Do you want to share it with others? Do you want to find out what others have found? We hope folks will want to share information. If you want to add something to our news page or just announce "Hey, Gang, the Hepatica is in bloom at Limerock!"
You can contact us at news@among-ri-wildflowers.org
What's Happening?
Click on the thumbnail image to view a larger photo.
Posted July 21, 2010 from GP in Tiverton
JPS of the Tiverton Open Space Commission was recently "policing" the trails of Fort Barton Woods and noticed this beautiful cluster of emerging Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora). Catching it on that one day before the flowers bent downward to hide their interior provided an unusual glimpse at the delicate beauty of this common woodland saprophyte – proving once again that flowers don't need chlorophyll to be lovely.
Posted July 16, 2010 from GP in Tiverton
Ten years or so ago, I planted a Turk's Cap lily in the perfect spot for it in my meadow at the edge of the woodland. It sprouted weakly the following year then I never noticed it again and concluded it was another of my trial plantings that died from neglect. In my "sanctuary" if plant can't make it on its own it doesn't belong there. I assumed that happened with the Turk's Cap. A week or so ago, at evening twilight I was wandering through the trees and, a burst of brilliant orange could be seen through the thicket of goldenrod and wild raspberries. Right where it was planted 10 years ago I discovered the lily had made it on its own. It had made it, indeed!
Posted June 24, 2010 from kb
Last March, Fran asked for help in identifying an exotic he found last year. The other day, I was researching another plant on line when I spotted a photo of Gilia tricolor (Bird's Eye Gilia) at the Bird Mom website.
http://www.birdmom.net/WildflowersBlue/GiliaBird's-Eye4-17-05CU.jpg.
Her notes pretty much clinched the id. I verified what Gilia tricolor looked like at a couple of other websites and then e-mailed Fran. I also thought folks who read the ARIWF News might be interested, so I'm posting the result here.
Posted June 21, 2010 from DMcG
Two years ago I saw brown shriveled up orchid in the Great Swamp, but I could not tell what it was. I finally made it back to find it blooming. There was a patch of a dozen Tubercled Orchids (Platanthera flava var. herbiola), a state-endangered species.
I was walking down a shady road in Charlestown and nearly bumped into Poke Milkweed(Asclepias exaltata) blooming on the side of the road. It was surprising since I've walked that road before without noticing it. It is a species of "concern" in Rhode Island. Poke Milkweed is a woodland species, but I sometimes see it on shaded roads. With its white flowers with protruding horns, it reminds me of barnacles.
Here's something I never saw before, and never imagined before. Fruiting sphagnum moss. This was on power lines Glocester. Close up they appear as honey pots mounted on green translucent pedestals (you may have to squint). You can see that most are plump — full of spores, while a few look as though they've already expended themselves. Read more about sphagnum reproduction at
Posted June 20, 2010 from DMcG
While exploring the Pitch
Pine forests of the Black
Farm WMA in Hopkinton I
was surprised to see a galax plant (Galax urceolata) blooming beside the trail. It is generally a plant of the Appalachian mountains, from Virginia south. I saw plenty of it on the Blue
Ridge parkway last year. It has evergreen leaves and a wand-like spike of flowers near-ly 2 feet tall. At Black Farm, it looked right at home growing beside Mountain Laurel and Trailing Arbutus. It is reported in Massachusetts and New York, but not considered native there. I wouldn't mind seeing more of it.
Posted June 12, 2010 from DMcG
It's June 11 and the Calopogon are blooming. I saw a dozen in a well-known field in Coventry. I did not see them when I looked a week ago. This seems 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. In the same field, the cranberry (Vaccinium sp.) was blooming and the Swamp Candles (Lysimachia terrestris)
On June 5 Grass-leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea) was blooming in a pond 10 feet from the road in Foster. It is a species of "concern" in Rhode Island.
On Memorial Day I visited a few bogs searching for Arethusa bulbosa. I only located it at a previously documented bog in Richmond. It can be a lot of work to get out onto a quaking peat mat, but the variety of plants there make it worth the effort.
Here are some photos of what was up. Click on the name to view the image.
Included are:
Dragon's Mouth Orchid (Arethusa bulbosa).
Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).
Common Bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza),
Rose Pogonia Orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides).
Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea).
Bog Clubmoss (Lycopodiella appressa?).
Dwarf Huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa).
On May 27 I saw a plant I never saw before. Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)on the ledges above the highway in Smithfield. Compared to Penstemon digitalis, hirsutus has hairy stems and leaves, and narrower flowers
Posted May 28, 2010 from DMcG
I had not seen Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum) in Rhode Island before even though it is considered "common". There were 100s at this location in Bristol in early May.
Rhodora (Rhododendron canadense)(shown above)is another "common" plant in Rhode Island that few enthusiasts ever see blooming here. I know of only one spot, at a bog in Exeter. It blooms early. These photos were taken May 22 and it seemed most had gone by.
Throughout the winter I've been seeking out new populations of Smooth Sandwort(Minuartia groenlandica ssp. glabra) on flat, sunny ledges in Washington county. The dead plants are recognizable. It's nice to see them blooming again. These were seen on May 22 in Westerly.
Posted May 22, 2010 from DMcG
I recently noticed a patch of these little ferns called Daisy-leaved Grape Ferns (Botrychium matricariifolium). They were growing amongst Sugar Maples and Bloodroot in Cumberland.
Posted May 18, 2010.
ARIWF recently received the following e-mail from
Professor Eldridge Adams of the University of Connecticut.
Hello,
I am a biologist studying an invasive stinging ant that is spreading in New England. We are seeking help from parks, nature centers, and similar organizations to find locations of this species. They are more aggressive and more likely to sting than our native ants (although a few of those sting or bite if sufficiently provoked). The sting is painful and may cause swelling and itching for a day or two, so anyone unfortunate enough to run into this insect usually remembers. For this reason, we are often able to locate the ant through reports from people who are active outdoors.
Please let us know if you encounter stinging ants in your area. Specific locations are very useful, such as street addresses or names of rivers, ponds or other landscape features. Negative answers are also helpful. We'd be happy to answer any questions, and we will visit reported sites to confirm identifications. The ant, Myrmica rubra, is sometimes called the "European fire ant." The workers are reddish brown and about a quarter of an inch in length. In southern New England, they are especially common in wet areas (e.g., near marshes and streams). Some basic information (including a photo) is available from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmica_rubra
Many thanks,
Eldridge Adams
Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-3043
(860)-486-5894
Posted May 9, 2010 from FRU
Nabalus serpentarius, Lion’s Foot, is a rare native perennial listed as State Historical in RI. It is known to occur in CT and MA and has been found historically in NH. New England is at the northern limit of the range for this species in the U.S.
On May 7, 2010 a population of Lion’s Foot was found in Providence County by Kathy Barton. This population will be monitored for flowers and fruit production this summer. To see site, click here.
Tom Rawinski observed a population, also in Providence County in 2009, and was able to obtain some flowering material.
In May 2003, plants presumed to be Lion’s Foot were found in Washington County by Francis Underwood. This population has never bloomed probably because it is growing in woods without adequate sunlight to stimulate flower production.
ARIW plans to update readers on the status of this rare plant in RI as the season progresses.
More detailed information on this plant can be found at http://www.newfs.org/docs/pdf/Nabalusserpentarius.pdf
Posted May 8, 2010 from FRU
Mt. Fly Honeysuckle, Lonicera villosa var. villosa, is a rare shrub in RI known from only a few populations in Kent and Washington counties. I recently found this shrub growing in Washington County. The only other population that I had seen was in Kent County in 1999. It disappeared as the swamp it grew in, created by a beaver dam, dried up after the beaver were trapped.
Posted May 7, 2010 from DMcG
There's undeveloped conservation land in Smithfield that has several large patches for Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Although the plant is native to Massachusetts and Connecticut, it is considered not so in Rhode Island. They are blooming now and make quite a sight.
Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis) is not consider rare in RI. However, in my years of wandering the state I've only come
across it three times. This photo is from a patch in Smithfield of about 300 plants. They come in varieties of red and yellow.
This was a first for me this year. Yellow Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus flabellaris) was growing in a stream on landtrust property in Cumberland. It was easy to miss as it blended in with the Marsh Marigolds. Of course, the big difference was the feathery leaves. It is a species of concern in RI.
In mid-April this Purple Trillium (Trillium erectum) was blooming at a "known" locale in East Greenwich.
Posted May 3, 2010 from kb
On May 1, the Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Yellow Ladyslipper) in Cumberland was blooming. They've been caged again this year to protect them from deer browse. There were 15 shoots and 2 blossoms. To view a photo of the plant site, click here.
Posted April 6, 2010 from DMcG
On April 5, Viola rotundifolia (Yellow Round-leaved Violets) were blooming. This photo was taken at a refuge in Coventry. To view a photo of plant and habitat click here.
Posted March 17, 2010 from DMcG
In December I posted news of several (30) locations for Minuartia groenlandica ssp. Glabra in Charlestown. Last weekend, in the rain, I found 4 populations in Westerly. These are also on conservation land.
I think this plant is very interesting. In New England, it is present in RI, CT, NH, and ME. It is listed as Threatened or Special Concern in each of those states. Prior to Charlestown, the only place I had seen it was Mt. Washington.
They seem to prefer sunny, flat expanses of rock like the one pictured. They find purchase in the cracks and the duff, among the mosses and lichens
Posted March 1, 2010 from Fran
I found this pink-flowered plant last summer in a gravel pit in West Greenwich, RI. It is obviously an exotic of some kind, but I haven’t been able to identify it. It is probably from a wildflower mixture of seeds. If you know what it is please let us at Among RI Wildflowers know. You can e-mail us at news@among-ri-wildflowers.org
Photo Credits: © Francis R. Underwood 2010
Posted January 1, 2010
A year ago, we started this website because we felt the Rhode Island wild plant community needed a place offering information and support. We’ve been surprised over the response to the website. Over the past year, we’ve had over 7200 visitors. Since June we’ve averaged over 20 visitors a day and have had hits from 40 countries. Although, we’re still scratching our heads over why in the month of October we had hundreds of hits from Italy and Argentina. Since July, we’ve had 400 hits on the news page. Our thanks to GP, DMcG and Tom Rawinski for their support and contributions. And thanks to Anne Wagner and Betty Allen for their participation in the Mystery Plant game.
There’s been a lot of activity in the reference section, particularly with Bailey’s books. Over the next year we hope to expand this section. One hundred-fifty people viewed the Rare Plants of the Big River Management Area webpage and seventy-five people viewed the pdf of the article. Fran is working on some new wild plant and Amateur Botanist articles. Watch for the Rare Plants of City Park, Warwick.
So keep checking the website. And if you have something you want to add or comment on, e-mail us.
Fran and Kathy
Posted December 19, 2009
We at ARIW regret to announce that Norm Boyer passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Norm was a personal friend to both of us here at Among RI Wildflowers and we will miss him. He was a warm, friendly man with great sense of humor and a contagious laugh. Norm was a long time supporter of plant preservation, a charter member of RIWPS and a Plant Conservation Volunteer for New England Wild Flower Society. In the field, you could depend upon his sharp eyes to discover the hidden botanical treasures. He was an outstanding photographer and an early contributor to this website. Some of his photos can be seen on our Oddities page.
Our sincerest sympathy and condolences go out to
his wife, Bea, and his daughter, Susan.
Posted December 15, 2009 from DMcG
The dead, brown stems in this photo are what’s left of some Smooth Sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica ssp. glabra). Compare that photo to the better looking one taken in May. On December 12th, I noted 9 new patches on state-owned conservation land in Charlestown.
Earlier this year I had surveyed the two previously documented locations of this “regionally rare” plant. I noted that they grow on sunny, exposed ledge in that area. Its bright green stems and pretty, white flowers look out of place growing among the lichens on the dry rocks.
Looking at aerial photos, and even driving down the road, I could see several similar spots. Nearly all of them had the plants. Thirty locations have been found so far.
Even though it’s 27 degrees, there is still some good plant hunting to be done.
Posted December 8, 2009 from DMcG
In response to your September 11 posting, I am submitting another finding for Selaginella rupestris.This patch is in North Smithfield growing in soil on a ledge of soft black rock. The ledge is virtually encrusted with a variety of mosses and lichens.
Posted December 1, 2009 from DMcG
Today I stumbled upon some Hartford Ferns (Lygodium palmatum) in Burrillville. It is a species of "concern" in our state. They were growing beside the floodplain of a small stream. It was a nice, healthy patch of about a 1,000 plants. I have seen several other populations and it seems to me this fern is always in the company of Pitch Pine, club mosses and Royal Fern.
In early May I saw these pretty white Cuckoo flowers at the edge of the Blackstone River. It was the first time I'd ever seen it and have not found any since. I believe it to be Cardamine pratensis L. var. palustris. It is not a listed plant. The Vascular Flora of Rhode Island describes it as native, but lacks a herbarium specimen or other formal documentation. Thus, its status is undetermined. I'd like to know if anyone has seen the plant elsewhere?
You can e-mail Doug at news@among-ri-wildflowers.org
and we'll forward it to him.
