FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER
FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER
Plants of the Chicago River Watershed
Virginia Waterleaf
F
Hydrophyllum virg inianum
W hite flowers
Shagbark Hickory
F
Carya ovata
70- 80 feet tall
The leav es of the waterleaf often have w hitish mottling, as if they have water stains -- hence the name "waterleaf." It likes to grow in moist woodlands.
S hagbark hickory is named so because it has distinctiv e shaggy bark. The sweet nuts, once a staple food for N ative Americans, prov ide food for w ildlife.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virgin ica
F Purple flowers
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
F
Arisaema atro rubens
The sight of a group of V irginia bluebells is truly amazing as the color of the flowers is incredibly bright! Bluebells are more abundant in high elevation, dry areas.
This plant was named so because it's flow er looks like a pulpit with a little preacher standing at it. P refers grow ing in moist w oods and swampy areas.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Black Cherry Prunus serotina
F 50- 60 feet tall
False Nettle Boehmeria cylin drical
F Pale green fl owers
The leav es and inner bark of this tall, slender tree contain a cy anide compound that w as used in cough medicines. The cherries are edible, if somewhat bitter.
This plant has small greenish flower clusters around the stem. The flowers and leaves resemble those of stinging nettle, but this plant lacks the stinging barbs.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Wild Red Columbine
F
Aquileg ia canadensis
Red flowers
Northern Red Oak
F
Quercus rubra
60- 70 feet tall
Columbine is also know n as rock bells as it grow s on rocky w oods and slopes. In Italian "A quila" means "Eagle" because of the talon shaped spurs of the petals.
A magnificent tree is found on lower slopes w ith a northerly or easterly aspect. Its acorns are v ery bitter and not preferred by squirrels because of the tannins in them.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucu llaria
F
W hite flowers
Eastern Redbud
F
Cercis canadensis
20-30 feet tall
The flowers of this plant look like little pairs of old-fashioned pants (breeches). It has a short grow ing season and prefers northfacing slopes and ravines along streams.
Redbud trees hav e redish-purple flow ers in the early spring. Twigs from this tree were used to smoke and season venison and opossum, giving it the name “spicew ood.”
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Virginia Wild Rye Grass
F
False Solomon's Seal
F
Elymus virgin icus
Smilacina racemosa
Virginia w ild rye is very palatable and nutritious, and is readily eaten by livestock w hen it’s green. It grow s well in shaded, w ooded, or riparian areas.
Cluster of flowers at the end of the stalk distinguishes this plant from "true" S olomon's seal, w hich has flow ers along the stem that hang underneath the plant.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
F W hite flowers
W hite flowers
Spotted Jewelweed Impatiens capensis
F Orange flowers
The leav es of the Mayapple look like small umbrellas blanketing the woodland in spring. Nativ e Americans used it to treat warts and other skin grow ths.
This plant is also known as touch-me-not as it shoots its ripe seeds when touched. The leav es, w hen crushed, produce a juice that reliev es the itch of poison ivy.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
False Rue Anemone
F
Spring Beauty
F
Enemion biternatum
Claytonia virgin ica
G row s in moist deciduous woods in valleys, floodplains, rav ine bottoms, and occasionally in open pastures. The nectar of the flowers attracts small bees and flies.
This early bloomer’s flow ers open up on sunny day s and close during cloudy weather or at night. They face upward w hen open, but nod dow nward w hen closed.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
W hite flow ers
P = Prairie S = Sav anna R = Riparian/Floodplain Woodland F = Forest or Upland Woods W = Wetland I- NN = Inv asiv e Non-Nativ e Species I- N = Inv asiv e Nativ e Species X- NN = Non-Nativ e Weed X-N = Nativ e Weed
FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER
Plants of the Chicago River Watershed
Smooth Sumac
F
Rhus glabra
20- 25 feet tal l
Chicory Cicho rium intybus
X- NN Pur ple flow ers
S imilar to S taghorn sumac, but smaller w ith smooth branches. This shrub (or small tree) has a short or multi-stemmed trunk and w ide spreading, open crow n.
Chicory was brought over to the US by the E uropeans. It w as used as a flavoring for coffee. It is almost alw ays only found on roadsides and abandoned lots.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Staghorn Sumac
F
Rhus typhina
20- 25 feet ta ll
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
X- NN Yellow fl owers
The fruits of this tree are dry , red-hairy drupes and have been known to last through w inter into the spring. The tw igs give off a milky sap w hen crushed.
Wild parsnip is mostly found on roadsides in abundance. When y ou touch it has a chemical inside that reacts w ith sunlight and forms huge y ellow blisters on the skin.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Cut-leaved Toothwort Cardamine concatenate
F
White flowers
Kentucky Bluegrass
X- NN
Poa pratensis
The leav es are long, deeply dissected into fiv e segments like fingers on a hand with large "teeth" on the margins. The w hite flow ers grow abov e the plant in a spike.
Kentucky bluegrass is the grass that most of us use for lawns. It often escapes cultiv ation but is not a very problematic invader in prairies and meadow s.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Red Trillium
F
Trillium erectum
R ed flow ers
European Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
I- NN 20-30 feet tall
This plant is also known as the w ake-robin for its red flow ers, heralding spring. The flow ers have the very -unspringlike smell of rotting meat, and are pollinated by flies.
E uropean buckthorn invades prairies, sav annas, w oodlands and floodplain forests. It produces purple berries that are cathartic (accelerating defecation) in birds.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
John M. Randall, The Nature Co nservancy
White Trillium
F
Trillium g randiflo rum
White fl owers
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiola ta
I- NN W hite flowers
This w ildflower is often most common on steep slopes where it is protected from grazing w hite-tailed deer (w hich dislike grazing on inclines).
This plant is the scourge of our woodlands and savannas, taking over aggressively and displacing many native species. It was brought from E urope as a cooking herb.
Jim Stasz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Trout Lily Erythronium albidum
F W hite flowe rs
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
I- NN Purple flowers
The trout lily has spotted or mottled leaves. This w ildflower is a good indicator that spring has arriv ed, as it is one of the first poke its head up to bloom.
G round ivy, or C reeping C harlie, is a common weed in gardens and floodplain forests and has a very strong smell. It grow s to form dense mats.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Common Blue Violet Viola so roria
F Purple flowers
Tartarian Honeysuckle Lonicera tartarica
I- NN R ed berries
The violet has broad, heart-shaped leaves w ith flow ers and leaves on separate stems that arise from the roots. The flow ers do not stand much abov e the leaves.
Tartarian honey suckle is a shrub that is often used as a landscape plant. It has escaped to become an inv ader in our prairies, sav annas and woodlands.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Black Walnut Juglans nigra
F 70-100 feet tall
Nightshade Solanum dulcamara
I- NN Pur ple flow ers
The seed, or nut, of the black walnut is encased in a smelly y ellow husk. This foul smell discourages most animals from eating them, but not the squirrel.
“Bittersweet” or w oody nightshade if found in shady areas and is a poisonous member of the tomato family . The berries are eaten by birds, w hich then disperse the seeds.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
P = Prairie S = Sav anna R = Riparian/Floodplain Woodland F = Forest or Upland Woods W = Wetland I- NN = Inv asiv e Non-Nativ e Species I- N = Inv asiv e Nativ e Species X- NN = Non-Nativ e Weed X-N = Nativ e Weed
Plants of the Chicago River Watershed
Virginia Waterleaf
F
Hydrophyllum virg inianum
W hite flowers
Shagbark Hickory
F
Carya ovata
70- 80 feet tall
The leav es of the waterleaf often have w hitish mottling, as if they have water stains -- hence the name "waterleaf." It likes to grow in moist woodlands.
S hagbark hickory is named so because it has distinctiv e shaggy bark. The sweet nuts, once a staple food for N ative Americans, prov ide food for w ildlife.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virgin ica
F Purple flowers
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
F
Arisaema atro rubens
The sight of a group of V irginia bluebells is truly amazing as the color of the flowers is incredibly bright! Bluebells are more abundant in high elevation, dry areas.
This plant was named so because it's flow er looks like a pulpit with a little preacher standing at it. P refers grow ing in moist w oods and swampy areas.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Black Cherry Prunus serotina
F 50- 60 feet tall
False Nettle Boehmeria cylin drical
F Pale green fl owers
The leav es and inner bark of this tall, slender tree contain a cy anide compound that w as used in cough medicines. The cherries are edible, if somewhat bitter.
This plant has small greenish flower clusters around the stem. The flowers and leaves resemble those of stinging nettle, but this plant lacks the stinging barbs.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Wild Red Columbine
F
Aquileg ia canadensis
Red flowers
Northern Red Oak
F
Quercus rubra
60- 70 feet tall
Columbine is also know n as rock bells as it grow s on rocky w oods and slopes. In Italian "A quila" means "Eagle" because of the talon shaped spurs of the petals.
A magnificent tree is found on lower slopes w ith a northerly or easterly aspect. Its acorns are v ery bitter and not preferred by squirrels because of the tannins in them.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucu llaria
F
W hite flowers
Eastern Redbud
F
Cercis canadensis
20-30 feet tall
The flowers of this plant look like little pairs of old-fashioned pants (breeches). It has a short grow ing season and prefers northfacing slopes and ravines along streams.
Redbud trees hav e redish-purple flow ers in the early spring. Twigs from this tree were used to smoke and season venison and opossum, giving it the name “spicew ood.”
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Virginia Wild Rye Grass
F
False Solomon's Seal
F
Elymus virgin icus
Smilacina racemosa
Virginia w ild rye is very palatable and nutritious, and is readily eaten by livestock w hen it’s green. It grow s well in shaded, w ooded, or riparian areas.
Cluster of flowers at the end of the stalk distinguishes this plant from "true" S olomon's seal, w hich has flow ers along the stem that hang underneath the plant.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
F W hite flowers
W hite flowers
Spotted Jewelweed Impatiens capensis
F Orange flowers
The leav es of the Mayapple look like small umbrellas blanketing the woodland in spring. Nativ e Americans used it to treat warts and other skin grow ths.
This plant is also known as touch-me-not as it shoots its ripe seeds when touched. The leav es, w hen crushed, produce a juice that reliev es the itch of poison ivy.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
False Rue Anemone
F
Spring Beauty
F
Enemion biternatum
Claytonia virgin ica
G row s in moist deciduous woods in valleys, floodplains, rav ine bottoms, and occasionally in open pastures. The nectar of the flowers attracts small bees and flies.
This early bloomer’s flow ers open up on sunny day s and close during cloudy weather or at night. They face upward w hen open, but nod dow nward w hen closed.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
W hite flow ers
P = Prairie S = Sav anna R = Riparian/Floodplain Woodland F = Forest or Upland Woods W = Wetland I- NN = Inv asiv e Non-Nativ e Species I- N = Inv asiv e Nativ e Species X- NN = Non-Nativ e Weed X-N = Nativ e Weed
FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER
Plants of the Chicago River Watershed
Smooth Sumac
F
Rhus glabra
20- 25 feet tal l
Chicory Cicho rium intybus
X- NN Pur ple flow ers
S imilar to S taghorn sumac, but smaller w ith smooth branches. This shrub (or small tree) has a short or multi-stemmed trunk and w ide spreading, open crow n.
Chicory was brought over to the US by the E uropeans. It w as used as a flavoring for coffee. It is almost alw ays only found on roadsides and abandoned lots.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Staghorn Sumac
F
Rhus typhina
20- 25 feet ta ll
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
X- NN Yellow fl owers
The fruits of this tree are dry , red-hairy drupes and have been known to last through w inter into the spring. The tw igs give off a milky sap w hen crushed.
Wild parsnip is mostly found on roadsides in abundance. When y ou touch it has a chemical inside that reacts w ith sunlight and forms huge y ellow blisters on the skin.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Cut-leaved Toothwort Cardamine concatenate
F
White flowers
Kentucky Bluegrass
X- NN
Poa pratensis
The leav es are long, deeply dissected into fiv e segments like fingers on a hand with large "teeth" on the margins. The w hite flow ers grow abov e the plant in a spike.
Kentucky bluegrass is the grass that most of us use for lawns. It often escapes cultiv ation but is not a very problematic invader in prairies and meadow s.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Red Trillium
F
Trillium erectum
R ed flow ers
European Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
I- NN 20-30 feet tall
This plant is also known as the w ake-robin for its red flow ers, heralding spring. The flow ers have the very -unspringlike smell of rotting meat, and are pollinated by flies.
E uropean buckthorn invades prairies, sav annas, w oodlands and floodplain forests. It produces purple berries that are cathartic (accelerating defecation) in birds.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
John M. Randall, The Nature Co nservancy
White Trillium
F
Trillium g randiflo rum
White fl owers
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiola ta
I- NN W hite flowers
This w ildflower is often most common on steep slopes where it is protected from grazing w hite-tailed deer (w hich dislike grazing on inclines).
This plant is the scourge of our woodlands and savannas, taking over aggressively and displacing many native species. It was brought from E urope as a cooking herb.
Jim Stasz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Trout Lily Erythronium albidum
F W hite flowe rs
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
I- NN Purple flowers
The trout lily has spotted or mottled leaves. This w ildflower is a good indicator that spring has arriv ed, as it is one of the first poke its head up to bloom.
G round ivy, or C reeping C harlie, is a common weed in gardens and floodplain forests and has a very strong smell. It grow s to form dense mats.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Common Blue Violet Viola so roria
F Purple flowers
Tartarian Honeysuckle Lonicera tartarica
I- NN R ed berries
The violet has broad, heart-shaped leaves w ith flow ers and leaves on separate stems that arise from the roots. The flow ers do not stand much abov e the leaves.
Tartarian honey suckle is a shrub that is often used as a landscape plant. It has escaped to become an inv ader in our prairies, sav annas and woodlands.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Black Walnut Juglans nigra
F 70-100 feet tall
Nightshade Solanum dulcamara
I- NN Pur ple flow ers
The seed, or nut, of the black walnut is encased in a smelly y ellow husk. This foul smell discourages most animals from eating them, but not the squirrel.
“Bittersweet” or w oody nightshade if found in shady areas and is a poisonous member of the tomato family . The berries are eaten by birds, w hich then disperse the seeds.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
P = Prairie S = Sav anna R = Riparian/Floodplain Woodland F = Forest or Upland Woods W = Wetland I- NN = Inv asiv e Non-Nativ e Species I- N = Inv asiv e Nativ e Species X- NN = Non-Nativ e Weed X-N = Nativ e Weed
