Rolandvue 1st Week June,Kousa Dogwood,Honeysuckle,Field Onion,Cryptomaria Pollen

The Kousa dogwoods are blooming, about a month later than the native dogwoods. They are imported from asia, being resistant to the anthracnose fungus disease.  Kousas are scattered around the neighborhood,in the woods but pictures are from south side of Rolandvue. They will have a custard like fruit later in the season.  It is so typical that even this beginner forager has tried it. This Spring the flowers seem very dramatic, particularly along Lake Roland near the dam.

Kousa or Asian Dogwood,disease resistant,prominently floral,same 4 bracts

Honeysuckle is also more obvious this week.  There is bush honeysuckle and vine honeysuckle, native and Asian honeysuckle.  This seems to be the vine type and fits more with the Japanese honeysuckle but there are native vines as well. So specific type is undetermined. Both have opposite leaves and bilateral symmetry in the flowers.  The Asian variety may be more invasive. Most of the fruit, dark berries, is good for birds but toxic to humans. The name derives from a sweet nectar which can be drained directly from the flowers.

Foragers say to use your nose when distinguishing field garlic/onion from other more toxic members of the lily family.  If it smells like onion or garlic it is edible. Check the stem, hollow seems to mean onion. The color of the flower coming out of the top bulblet  may indicate onion.  The whole plant is potential forage.

close-up of flower bursting out of top capsule,onion

stalk of field onion with turret cap,hollow stem,onion smell

This is the season for emergency room visits in Japan where cryptomeria is widespread and causes severe allergies.  Some varieties of cryptomeria are less allergenic and some produce little pollen when young.  There are scattered trees going toward the end of Wagner, maybe not enough to cause a problem.  The photo shows a change in the last tree,possibly the male fruit.  Pollen is commonly associated with flowers, but the more showy flowers are designed for insect pollination.  It is the air pollen that is more hazardous,cedars,oaks and cryptomeria.

Cryptomeria seeds on a tree which can produce allergenic pollen