Unknown Vine (To Be Announced)

A vine growing over the fence south of the post office at Joppa and Bellona

Close-up of the leaf, same vine, on the north or more shady side of the fence.

Close-up of the fruit, same vine, mid  December.

This is not very mysterious.  It is an ivy, I was just surprised that it is THE ivy.  This will not be a surprise to gardeners, and means I was dozing in some 101 plant talk. I thought it might be a slightly different species.  The mystery might be in the reason a plant would do this: have two forms of leaves depending on age and growing conditions. This is common or English ivy, just at a different stage.  Here is a comparison with the more standard English ivy, smaller more geometric leaves.  As far as age, the specimen below was taken from a bed that has been there for thirty years, perhaps not the same plants.  It was growing at about the same height. The latin is Hedera helix.

One clue from the internet may be the fruit.  The vast majority of illustrations are the common leaf unless there are fruit or berries, when you do see the larger heart shaped leaf.

The two leaf types together, smaller geometric leaf and the larger heart shaped leaf.

Common leaf pattern from old bed, about the same height, facing west, higher elevation.

What's that Plant? From Flower, Black Cohash, Beggar Tick

These are plants not common along Rolandvue but brought in to be analyzed from nearby areas.  They are probably here in low numbers.  There is a survey going on of Lake Roland plants taken along pre-planned transects.  I have skipped the grasses and sedges for the time being, since details are microscopic.

Tiarella cordifolia or foam flower is now more a garden plant but escapes here and there.  It is considered native to the east coast. It will be more obvious when flowering in May.  The photos show the plant in flower and a close up of the leaf.  A number of birds and insects make use of foam flower but it is not mentioned in the usual foraging texts.  It is a low plant, more of a ground cover, with variable markings on the leaves.

foam flowers, from Natural history society, to watch for in May,seen locally but not yet in neighborhood

The black cohosh or common black snakeroot will flower in June to early July.  The white spike of flowers may be six feet tall.  It is a source of patent medicines including Lydia Pinkham's compound. The photos show the basal leaves with five leaflets and the tall fairy candles. The burr like fruit can stick to fur or clothes.

black cohash blossom turning to seed. Locally seen not in neighborhood

Bidens frondosa was seen last month, similar to the bidens along Wagner shown earlier this year. The photos show the leaf pattern and a close-up of the beggar tick, the adherent fruit which gives the common name.

Biden like the one along Wagner last month, different flower.

Seeds have the double spike, which gives the name bidders