Wildflowers: Red Berry Tree and Numerous unknown plant/weed

These two sets of photos were taken at a state park in North-Central Indiana. The tree is well over 30 ft tall with red berries and maple-like leaves. Yes, that's the trunk in the background. The flowering plant is very numerous here and typically about 3-4 ft tall (the one with the white flowers). After much research, I'm unable to identify either, so I'm asking the experts. Thanks.

 

White one might be Eupatorium altissimum.

 

Might be a Viburnum

 

I think you are right. The first one might be Viburnum - if it's indeed a shrub.

 

#2 looks like Asclepias incarnata

 

Agree with tipularia.

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/eupatoriumalti.html

Asclepia incarnata flowers are very different shape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swamp_Milkweed_Asclepias_incarnata_'Ice_Ballet'_Flowers.jpg

 

I may need to take another look at the tree (it's about 10 miles away) and make sure I wasn't looking at a shrub close to the tree. After reviewing the photos, the trunks almost look like those of a Yellow Poplar (Tulip Tree), which are numerous here.

 

Viburnum
Eupatorium
Solidago

 

1 - looks like Viburnum trilobum / opulus

 

Yes, I thought so too at first. I will have to go back and confirm that what I saw was a shrub and not a tree. If it's a shrub, it's a tall one since many of the branches and berries were high above.

 

The trunk behind the viburnum is something else.

 

You can also check the berry: there is a single flattened round pit in each Viburnum berry.

 

I will check that out.

 

Yep, I am beginning to believe that too. I will confirm that when I return to the area.

 

Seeds of V. opulus:

 

Nice! Industrial approach to Viburnum cultivation?

 

:) Last year I was a volunteer / seed collector in this project: http://www.pannonmagbank.hu/indexe.html

 

Interesting! Kind of Vavilov's project for the local area. The number of species, however, seems to be underestimated - 50% = 800 species ==> total, about 1600 species.
Even in our desert, there are about 3000 species described.

 

I returned to the area and the first two photos are indeed of a Viburnum. I believe it's V. trilobum since the petiole glands are slightly stalked. Anyway, the Viburnum was growing so close to a neighboring Ash tree that it looked like it had sprouted out from the tree itself. It then wrapped itself partially around the Ash as it grew. With the Viburnum's branches coming out from behind the trunk, they appeared to be part of the Ash tree. And since the Ash tree's leaves were so high up, it was difficult/impossible to make out the details of the leaves and I assumed they were the same as the Viburnum leaves.

The berries do have a single flattened seed in them.

Thanks for your help