Bracken Fern – Pteridium Aquilinum

General – only large northern fern with a three part form on a tall stalk (all other large ferns have single fronds rising from the rootstalk); fronds arising singly from a deeply subterranean, much-branched rhizome; commonly found in large patches; up to 1 m high. Bracken Fern Leaves – single, horizontally growing; broad, triangle-shaped; leaflets … Read more

Northern Starflower – Trientalis Borealis

General – a low perennial from slender, creeping rhizomes, stems simple, erect, hairless or with tiny glands; growing up to 20 cm tall. Leaves – simple, in whorls of 5 to 9 at stem tip, with a few small, scale-like leaves below, lance-shaped, 3 – 10 cm long, stalkless or short-stalked, thin, toothless or finely … Read more

Shaggy Moss “Electrified Cat’s Tail Moss”

General – wide-spreading masses; dark- to bright-green or yellowish-green; up to 10 cm tall. Leaves – stem leaves egg- to heart-shaped, with a long tapered and pointed tip. Sporophytes – cylindrical, curved capsules, horizontal to hanging; stalks reddish-brown. Habitat On humus, mineral or organic soils, rotting logs and stumps; mostly in fresh to wet, moderately … Read more