Plants
Big Bluestem Grass
This grass is also called Turkey feet because the shape of the seed heads look like turkey feet. It is also called beard grass. The name big bluestem grass comes from the fact that this grass can grow to very big, 3 to 10 feet as a matter of fact. It blooms from June through September.Big bluestem is known as a bunch grass because it grows in little hill shapes. This grass forms 3 inch bronze to purple or green seed heads. The tall and slender stems are blue-green in the summer.The hairy blades, which can get to be 12 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, will get a red tinge on the leaves as they get older, and turn bronze in the fall.Common Names: Turkey Feet, Beard Grass
Genus: Andropogon
Species: gerardii
This grass is also called Turkey feet because the shape of the seed heads look like turkey feet. It is also called beard grass. The name big bluestem grass comes from the fact that this grass can grow to very big, 3 to 10 feet as a matter of fact. It blooms from June through September.Big bluestem is known as a bunch grass because it grows in little hill shapes. This grass forms 3 inch bronze to purple or green seed heads. The tall and slender stems are blue-green in the summer.The hairy blades, which can get to be 12 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, will get a red tinge on the leaves as they get older, and turn bronze in the fall.Common Names: Turkey Feet, Beard Grass
Genus: Andropogon
Species: gerardii
Purple Coneflower
Genus: Echinacea
Species: purpurea
Parts Used: the flowers, stems and roots
The purple cone flower has a reddish center and purple, red or white petals that hang down. It can grow to be 2-3 feet tall. The center can grow to the size of a child's fist, and the petals are about as long as the diameter of the center. It is part of the daisy and dandelion family.The purple coneflower is a native plant of North America and grows on the plains of midwestern United States. It was used a lot by the Native Americans and early settlers. It also has been successfully grown in New Zealand.It is still used today to treat fever and infections.
Genus: Echinacea
Species: purpurea
Parts Used: the flowers, stems and roots
The purple cone flower has a reddish center and purple, red or white petals that hang down. It can grow to be 2-3 feet tall. The center can grow to the size of a child's fist, and the petals are about as long as the diameter of the center. It is part of the daisy and dandelion family.The purple coneflower is a native plant of North America and grows on the plains of midwestern United States. It was used a lot by the Native Americans and early settlers. It also has been successfully grown in New Zealand.It is still used today to treat fever and infections.
Milkweed
Common Names: Blood-flower, Tropical Milkweed
Genus: Asclepias
Species: curassavica
Parts Used: roots and flowers
This herb produces red and yellow blossoms in the spring which are less than an inch across. The 5 outside petals, or corolla, are red and curve down. The 5 inside petals are hooded and yellow or orange. They grow in a cluster at the top of woody stems. The milkweed has a white, poisonous sap from which it gets its name, and can grow to be 2 to 3 1/2 feet. It has big leaves that can grow to be 9 inches -1 foot long. The seeds, which grow in a pod, have a silky tuft of hair which allows them to be blown by the wind like little parachutes.It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Monarch butterflies particularly like it , just like butterfly weed, which is in the same family. Milkweed is the flower of choice for Monarchs in North America.
Common Names: Blood-flower, Tropical Milkweed
Genus: Asclepias
Species: curassavica
Parts Used: roots and flowers
This herb produces red and yellow blossoms in the spring which are less than an inch across. The 5 outside petals, or corolla, are red and curve down. The 5 inside petals are hooded and yellow or orange. They grow in a cluster at the top of woody stems. The milkweed has a white, poisonous sap from which it gets its name, and can grow to be 2 to 3 1/2 feet. It has big leaves that can grow to be 9 inches -1 foot long. The seeds, which grow in a pod, have a silky tuft of hair which allows them to be blown by the wind like little parachutes.It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Monarch butterflies particularly like it , just like butterfly weed, which is in the same family. Milkweed is the flower of choice for Monarchs in North America.
Stinging Nettle
Common Names: Great stinging Nettle, Common Nettle
Genus: Urtica
Species: dioica
Parts Used: roots and leaves
This plant is a very interesting plant. When you look at it, it looks like an ordinary, hairy weed with attractive little flowers. It can be a very dangerous plant, however, because when you touch it with your bare skin, you will get a terrible sting, which is very painful. When you get this sting it can be so bad that you might need treatment for it. If it is a minor sting and you get home quick enough, you can put some anesthetic cream on it. The sting feels very much like a bee sting and can last for hours or days. The stinging sensation is caused by formic acid which covers the tiny hairs of the plant.
The stinging nettle grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet. The slender
stems are four-sided. It has a creeping, stretching root from which new shoots emerge. The dull, dark green leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are thin and sort of egg-shaped with a toothed and tapered end and covered with stinging hairs. They are 2 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. The hairs on the leaves are particularly painful. They loose their stinging qualities when they are dried.
Common Names: Great stinging Nettle, Common Nettle
Genus: Urtica
Species: dioica
Parts Used: roots and leaves
This plant is a very interesting plant. When you look at it, it looks like an ordinary, hairy weed with attractive little flowers. It can be a very dangerous plant, however, because when you touch it with your bare skin, you will get a terrible sting, which is very painful. When you get this sting it can be so bad that you might need treatment for it. If it is a minor sting and you get home quick enough, you can put some anesthetic cream on it. The sting feels very much like a bee sting and can last for hours or days. The stinging sensation is caused by formic acid which covers the tiny hairs of the plant.
The stinging nettle grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet. The slender
stems are four-sided. It has a creeping, stretching root from which new shoots emerge. The dull, dark green leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are thin and sort of egg-shaped with a toothed and tapered end and covered with stinging hairs. They are 2 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. The hairs on the leaves are particularly painful. They loose their stinging qualities when they are dried.
June Grass
Genus: Koeleria
Species: cristata
June Grass has pale green-silvery colored flowers. Its lower stems are covered with small hair about .5 inches along the stem. The stem is hollow at the bottom of the plant. June Grass grows to about 1-2 feet, and is a cool season grass commonly found in sandy soil of dry upland prairies and open woods. June Grass grows straight up, has relatively fine leaves and has a shallow root system. June Grass is a long-lived perennial. June Grass has small and skinny leaves. Its flowers look like long fuzzy spikes and bloom in May-July and mostly June. June Grass likes to grow where there is 10 inches or more annual precipitation. June Grass prefers sandy or coarser soils but will grow on clay loam soils. June Grass will grow in the dry prairies of Midwestern USA.
Genus: Koeleria
Species: cristata
June Grass has pale green-silvery colored flowers. Its lower stems are covered with small hair about .5 inches along the stem. The stem is hollow at the bottom of the plant. June Grass grows to about 1-2 feet, and is a cool season grass commonly found in sandy soil of dry upland prairies and open woods. June Grass grows straight up, has relatively fine leaves and has a shallow root system. June Grass is a long-lived perennial. June Grass has small and skinny leaves. Its flowers look like long fuzzy spikes and bloom in May-July and mostly June. June Grass likes to grow where there is 10 inches or more annual precipitation. June Grass prefers sandy or coarser soils but will grow on clay loam soils. June Grass will grow in the dry prairies of Midwestern USA.