Have you ever encountered plants that looked like they would be an easy ID, only to find out how little you really know about them? The first I thought was a beartongue or penstemon but I just can't nail it down as such. As you can see it has opposing axial leaves but it also has basal rosettes and rhizomes. The second plant Is a "stemmed" viola of some variation. It most likely, (looking at pointed petals), is a viola conspersa, (dog violet), but the enormous, upturned spur is something I have not seen and there were several colonies with that characteristic. And so I wonder --- is there a viola giganta-spur (just kidding). The third plant I believe must be an escapee from a cultivated planting. I found it on the woods edge near a home I owned 17 years ago that is now a seasonal cabin in Northern Pennsylvania. This is one I looked at and thought --- oh I know what that is but I just can't think of it right now. Only to discover that I don't have a clue.
1. Ajuga reptans albiflora. 3. Convallaria majalis var. rosea. Common name Lily of the Valley. Pink form from the look of your pics.
Wow, thank you all. I am sure now of ajuga reptans albiflora and convallaria majalis var. rosea. Yes. This is my first full year of wildflower chasing, (started in June of 2007) and this site is a wonderful aid in solving flower mysteries. The violet, #2, still seems kind of "in between" other spurred violets. I'll post photos of what I have for long-spurred violet, "viola rosata" and also for great-spurred violet, "viola selkirkii." I think the variation of a very long, upturned spur in the above #2 photo will be evident as substantially different from these other two varieties.. I would have thought it just an anomaly, except that there was a substantial colony with the same spur characteristics. Comments welcomed and thanks again.
Like tipularia I thought 2. was Viola rostrata. Have you seen this site? http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/violarost.html
Yes, I use that site often. Note, (At Ct. Botanical), the "straight" spur and pointed characteristic as compared to the blunt end and upturned spur of my #2. I've seen the "straight" characteristic referred to as a particular identifyer of viola rosata --- long-spurred violet. Conversely, I've seen the blunt-end spur referred to as a distinguishing feature for viola selkirkii --- great-spurred violet. However, in the great-spur violet it is stated that the blunt-end spur is shorter than the straight/pointed spur of the long-spur violet. Here I have spurs, not pointed, but blunt, and longer proportionally than those of long-spurred violets. I think I need a beer!
