The bright yellow wingstem flowers (Verbisina alternifolia) are visible along Towson Run and across the field north of Rolandvue. They are more common along Bellona and at the north entrance to Lake Roland near L'Hirondelle club. It is in the aster family with yellow daisy-like flowers, somewhat ragged in appearance. The name is from the ridges or wings along the stem. Leaves are lance like with variable margins. There are long rhizomes on the roots accounting for closely packed colonies. It prefers rich soil and moisture like the flood plain along Roland Run.
There is little in my handy references about foraging wingstem despite it being a native plant. It is ok for livestock but can be invasive and hard to control. Apparently not eaten by deer by preferred by numerous bees and butterflies. Not listed among the medicinal plants.
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| ragged daisy-like flowers of wingstem |
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| clump of wingstem probably from rhizomes |
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| the ridges along the stem |
We mentioned ground cherry(Physalis) last year, it is fruiting along the north side of Wagner near the end. It had been near the beech last fall. It is the nightshade family, associated with toxicity but like potatoes and tomatoes edible with care. The fruit inside the hanging lanterns is still green.
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| ground cherry, Wagner Road, not ready for pie as yet |
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