Tag Archives: Michigan Wildflowers

Spring Wildflowers III

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Caltha palustris

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold (Calthus palustris) grows throughout the state. In fact, it grows around the world in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. It likes to grow were its roots are wet. It blooms in May in the Lower Peninsula and into June in the Upper. Its showy flowers can often be seen from a moving car.

Stylophorum diphyllum

Yellow Wood Poppy

Yellow Wood Poppy also called Celandine (Stylophorum diphyllum) occurs in the Lower Peninsula. Blooming in May, the attractive flowers provide yellow highlights in the rich woods. Later it sets hairy seedpods. Its flowers are greater than 17mm and it has opposite leaves. The similar, imported, yellow-flowered, Celandine (Chelidonium majus) has flowers less than 14mm across, alternate leaves, and smooth seedpods. Although it is smaller than the Yellow Wood Poppy it is sometimes called Greater Celandine from a translation of its scientific name.

Stylophorum diphyllum

Yellow Wood Poppy

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a common woodland species in southern Michigan. Eleven species from this genus have been recorded from Michigan, but this one has the showiest flowers. The common garden geranium is from the genus Pelargonium that has many species and hybrids in cultivation.

Geranium maculatum

Wild Geranium

Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

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Spring Wildflowers II

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Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot Tenhave Woods, Royal Oak, MI

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a common Michigan wildflower. Red plant juices flow through all parts of the plant, whence the common name. The juices were used as a non-permanent fabric dye and by the Native Americans as body paint. In southern Michigan, it flowers in April. Large colonies are found in rich woodlots. It reproduces by rhizomes that can form large clumps and by seed. The seeds are myrmecochorous, meaning ants distribute them.

Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman’s-breeches, Tenhave Woods, Royal Oak, MI

Dutchman’s-breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is another common Michigan wildflower. It is often found with bloodroot and blossoms at the same time. The common name comes from the shape of the flower that resembles a pair of upside-down pants.

Erythronium americanum

Yellow Trout Lily, Tenhave Woods, Royal Oak, MI

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). As now recognized Michigan has only two genera in the lily family, Erythronium and the true Lilies (Lilium). The remaining genera that once formed this large family have been moved into ten other families. Other common names for this species are Dog-tooth-violet, Yellow Adder’s Tongue, and Yellow Fawn Lily. This is one of the problems with common names and a good reason to use the scientific name. The yellow hanging flowers and mottled leaves are the key characters of this plant. This species has yellow anther individuals and red-brown anther individuals.

Erythronium albidum

White Trout Lily

White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum) is a similar species with white flowers and the leaves less mottled. It is absent north of Bay City in the Lower Peninsula and is only found in the western Upper Peninsula. It trends to grow in floodplains and is locally common.

 

 

 
 

Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

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