Posted by wilde on May 25th, 2007 — Posted in Vegetable
The most popular Springtime wildflower color seems to be white, so it is rather pleasing to find flowers of different colors. Wild geraniums that grow along our lane and in the open woods sport light violet to pink flowers.
Also known as Cranesbill, Geranium maculatum, the Wild Geranium has five-parted, deeply lobed leaves and occurs in shady, wooded areas and roadsides.
Wild geranium in the mountainous forest of central Pennsylvania.
Lilac-toned flower of Cranesbill.
Flowers with five large, rounded petals occur in small clusters with only one or two blooms open at a given time. The “cranesbill” — which is the future seedpod — lies at the center of each flower. Stems and sepals are very hairy.
Erect seedpods that become elongated as they mature give this woodland Geranium its common name, Cranesbill.
Later in the season, when the seeds are fully mature, the seedpods burst open and forcefully eject the seeds to colonize new areas.
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Posted by wilde on May 24th, 2007 — Posted in Vegetable
Deerberry occurs as a small shrub in the undergrowth of the oak-white pine-hickory forests of the Northeastern United States. In Pennsylvania this colony of deerberry is predominately 2-3 feet tall, but one shrub has grown to about 6 feet in height.
Deerberry blooming in the woods of Pennsylvania.
Foliage consists of alternating leaves that grow to larger sizes nearer the distal end of the branches. Oval, pointed leaves measure 1-3 inches long.
Leaves of the deerberry shrub are entire, alternating, oval, pointed and pale on the underside.
Deerberry flowers hang from racemes that have smaller leaves and bracts.
Hanging blossoms of Deerberry, Vaccinium stamineum, have flower stems longer than the blossoms. The light green, cup-shaped calyx contains five white petals that flare out to the side.
Stamens protrude beyond the edge of the deerberry flower bell, which alludes to the species name.
Deerberries are inedible, so perhaps the value of this shrub is in providing habitat for wildlife. It grows in shady areas and, apparently, is not browsed by deer.
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