Smooth Hedgenettle

Smooth Hedgenettle

Stachys tennufolia var. hispida

Here's a taxonomist's nightmare.  They call one plant 'Smooth' something or other, then another one 'Hairy', then some genius decides that they're really the same species, just that some are hairier than others.   So, which is it?  Are they called 'Smooth' even though some are hairy, or should they be 'Hairy' with some smooth ones?

This is especially difficult when you're trying to find it in a field guide.  In any event, this picture is the hairy version of the Smooth Hedgenettle, hence the 'var hispida' in the scientific name.

Look for this member of the mint family in wetter areas.



Hairy stem

The small flowers are quite attractive up close

Rough Avens

Rough Avens

Geum laciniatum

"Both basal and cauline leaves are produced; the cauline leaves are alternate, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. The basal and lower cauline leaves are oddly pinnate (often with 5 leaflets), while the upper cauline leaves are trifoliate or simple. The simple leaves and leaflets of the compound leaves are up to 3" long and 2½" across. They are lanceolate to ovate-oval, coarsely serrated or shallowly cleft along the margins, and largely hairless. Sometimes the leaves and leaflets are deeply cleft into 2 or 3 lobes. The terminal leaflet is larger in size than the lateral leaflets. The basal and lower cauline leaves have stout petioles, while the upper cauline leaves are nearly sessile. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of leafy stipules that are cleft or dentate; each stipule is up to ½" long."

That's how botanists describe leaves of plants!  This one is from a web page called Illinois Wildflowers, which is really a totally awesome site to learn about plants in the Midwest!  I go there all the time to look up things.  I just pull out my botanical dictionary and I'm all set.

Petals are shorter than the sepals



Basal leaf - grows from the base of the plant at ground level

Cauline leaves - grow along the stem of the plant

Note the rough stem

Seed head

White Avens

White Avens

Geum canadense

There are six species of Avens in Indiana.  You probably didn't know that.

They're non-descript, spindly plants that the field guides tend to overlook.   You've certainly come across them during your wanderings because they're rather common, just not much to look at.

They're not too hard to tell apart.  After all, they have names like White Avens, Yellow Avens, Purple Avens, Cream Avens.  Even the names are boring, but they're good names.  The White Avens is distinguished from other white flowered Avens by its petals, which are longer than the sepals, its smooth stem, and its toothed upper leaves and divided lower leaves.



Note that the petals are longer than the sepals

Upper leaves are toothed

Lower leaves are divided

Seed head

They will have seed heads and flower heads at the same time