Here are some of the southeast Michigan winter wildflowers with small pods. By small I mean shorter then 13mm [1/2 inch] and a diameter less than 6mm (1/4 inch).

Hoary Alyssum

Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana) has a small, see-through, flat, pod with an elongate tip. Normally some of the hairs remain along the stem. It is seldom taller than 30cm (12 inches). The seeds are in a simple raceme. A raceme is a flowering spike where the individual flowers are on short, unbranched stems of equal lengths.

Peppergrass

Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) has flat, two seeded pods that are notched at the tip. Nine species in this genus occur in Michigan and can be identified  by the shape of the seedpod. Peterson’s A Field Guide to Wildflowers illustrates several species. The dense raceme is characteristic of this genus.

Common St. John’s-wort

Common St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) has  seedpods arranged in a cyme which is central flowering stalk that ends at a group of flowers and has branched side stalks from the central stalk. Seedpods are open at one end and have three elongated thread-like tips.

Foxglove Beard-tongue

Foxglove Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis) has seedpods that are narrower than Common St. John’s-wort and the tips on the seedpods are not as narrow. The number of tips varies from three to five. The seedpods are acute.

Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp.) has a narrow seedpod that splits into four sections. They are arranged in a simple raceme. The plants can be 2m (6 feet) tall.
Copyright 2015 by Donald Drife

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