Locust Blooming, Fringe Tree, Poppy, Wood Poppy, Dames Rocket

There seems to be more dame's rocket this year, growing with the common relative garlic mustard. The picture was from early in the month, at the top of Rolandvue hill. This is another of those ambivalent plants, pretty blossoms, sweet smell in the evening, but moderately invasive. It is a Eurasia native, escaped from early gardens. It is a broccoli relative as well so the unopened flowers can be foraged, nutritionally similar to broccoli.

four petalled flowers of Dame's rocket, possible foraging since  invasive

The wood poppies have moved from Cloverlea to Rolandvue, along the western end.  Birds or animals may have spread the seeds, but not sure what happened to the original colony. Another semi-invasive but with attractive flowers.

Wood poppy has moved from Cloverlea to Rolandvue  west end on the north side.

This was an off-site curiosity, a poppy growing along the north central trail at mile 12. This could be a volunteer, or a entrepreneur starting a growth business.  There were a dozen plants. Not sure of the species or how productive the plant might be.

The fringe trees on the east side of Rolandvue hill were mentioned last year but this year caught the blossoms better, with a view of the characteristic multiple trunks.  This is a native tree that is under appreciated. I did not catch the fruit production in the fall and will look for that this year, attracts birds.

pair of Fringe trees along Rolandvue,hardy native trees

fringe tree blossoms 

characteristic multiple trunks of the fringe tree


Finally, a prominent feature of the country side  from early May has been the blooming locust trees.  I may have been more tuned to the locust since they were mentioned last year as being forage material(pod), invasive and subject to breakage. This is a tree along the Goucher trail that was downed by a spring storm.  It is still bearing the numerous white flowers. The rough bark is shown as well.  The grove of locust has lasted fifty years, they grow quickly and provide shade for previously open ares.

locust blossoms seen along every road side, here from fallen tree at Goucher

rough bark of a locust tree

Oregon Grape, Red Leaves and bearing fruit

In "How Plants Work" red leaves (anthrocyanins) of the Oregon grape are used to illustrate how the red pigments can protect a plant from the cold.  The photo was taken on a relatively cold, (fifties), day in May but no snow in sight.  There is a long list of normal and stressful reasons for the leaves to turn red, nutrition, toxins, soil acidity, temperature and variations in metabolism.  Both bushes shown here were near the road, possibly exposed to more chemicals and salt. Every leave has a tale to tell.

This May(2017)we are concentrating on differences from the weekly notes last year.  In this case I do not remember seeing the grapes on the Oregon grape, said to be useful for jam or jelly.

Red(anthrocyanins) leaves on Oregon grape,possible roadside stress

Grapes of the Oregon grape

Another roadside plant with red leaves, Maples can vary, possible stress.

The Most Deadly Plant in North America?

This plant seems more common in May 2017, along Rolandvue and around Lake Roland.  There are numerous members of the wild carrot family (Apiaceae), some useful as food and some highly toxic. The experienced forager is confident harvesting Queen Anne's lace while the novice, with good reason, worries about the fatal look-a-likes.

The photos show some of the characteristics of the local plant,  it may not be strictly Corium maculata but another related species, also toxic.  It will not be toxic unless eaten and the cases of human poisoning are rare.  There are lacy pinnately compound leaves, umbral flower heads with the unusual single large petal on magnification. The lower stem is red, known as Socrate's blood.  An extract of this plant was used in his execution. The stem is hollow. The root seems to be solid rather than chambered and I do not detect any carrot smell.  There are no bracts under the umbrals.  With magnification the stem is smooth but there are fine hairs at the joints. There are some low ridges.

Different sources do not always agree on the details adding to the uncertainty. I will leave the whole family alone as far as foraging.  It is not the much larger related cow parsnip mentioned last year, seen out at Western Run.

This plant rivals the ricin producing castor oil plant in toxicity.  Do not use the hollow stem as a straw.

Pinnately compound leaves(near center) some what feathery.

Flowering umbral without braces

Hollow stem few small hairs but slightly fluted

The red tinged lower stem ? Socrate's blood

Close-up of individual flowers with single large petal.