| Scientific Name | Common Name | Class/Order | Characteristics | Plants Identified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aizoaceae | Fig-Marigold (Stone Plant) | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Herbs. Rarely woody. Leaves: Simple, entire. Usually fleshy. Flowers: Appearing singly or in few-flowered cymes. True petals are absent, but some species have linear petals derived from staminoids (abortive stamen). Fruit: Seed capsule. | Trianthema portulacastrum (Desert Horse Purslane)NM; |
| Alismataceae | Arrowhead (Water Plantain) | Liliopsida/Alismatales | Herbaceous plants found in aquatic or wetland habitats. Leaves: Usually on long petioles and stand up out of the water or float on the water. Flowers: Whorls around erect stems. Radially symmetrical. 3 white petals and 3 green sepals. 6 or more stamen. Fruit: Dry, one seeded fruit. | Sagittaria latifolia (Common Arrowhead)NH; |
| Amaranthaceae | Pigweed (Amaranth, Goosefoot) | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Herbs or woody plants. Leaves: Simple, alternate or opposite. Flowers: Small with 5 membranous or fleshy sepals (sometimes fused at the base). Fruit: Small, dry seed. | Atriplex canescens (Four-Wing Saltbush)NM; Chenopodium album (Lambsquarters)NH; Kochia scoparia (Kochia)NM; Salsola tragus (Prickly Russian Thistle)NM; |
| Amaryllidaceae | Amaryllis | Liliopsida/Asparagales | Bulbous (onion-like) plants often cultivated for food. Leaves: Alternate and strap-shaped or linear. Flowers: Borne on a leafless stalk. Often arranged in an umbrel. | Allium geyeri (Geyer’s Onion)NM; Allium schoenoprasum (Wild Chives)NH; Allium vineale (Crow Garlic)CT; |
| Anacardiaceae | Cashew | Magnoliopsida/Sapindales | Trees, shrubs and vines. Produce a milky or watery sap. Leaves: Alternate. Usually pinnately compound. Flowers: Small. Radially symmetrical. 5 petals and 5 sepals. 5 stamen. 3 styles. Fruit: Small seed surrounded by a dry or fleshy covering. | Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)NH; Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac)NH; Rhus trilobata (Skunbush Sumac)NM; Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac)NH; Toxicodendron rydbergii (Western Poison Ivy)NH; |
| Apiaceae | Carrot | Magnoliopsida/Apiales | Herbs, shrubs, trees and vines. Leaves: Alternatve and usually divided. Flowers: Arranged in an umbrel with a flat or rounded top. The white, yellow, pink or purple flowers are small and radially symmetrical. They have 5 petals, 5 sepal and 5 stamen. | Cicuta bulbifera (Bulblet-Bearing Water Hemlock)NH; Cicuta maculata (Spotted Water Hemlock)NH; Daucus carota (Queen Anne’s Lace)NH; Pseudocymopterus montanus (Mountain Parsley)NH; Sanicula marilandica (Maryland Black Snakeroot)NH; Sium suave (Water Parsnip)NH; Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander)NH; |
| Apocynaceae | Dogbane | Magnoliopsida/Gentianales | Herbs or vines, most with milky sap. Leaves: Simple, mostly opposite, but sometimes whorled. Flowers: Branched inflorescences. 5-parted, radially symmetrical. Fruit: From a single ovary that opens along one side to release the seeds. | Apocynum androsaemifolium (Spreading Dogbane)NH; Apocynum cannabinum (Common Dogbane)NH; Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)NH; Asclepias latifolia (Broadleaf Milkweed)NM; Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)NH; Vinca minor (Common Periwinkle)NH; |
| Aquifoliaceae | Holly | Magnoliopsida/Aquifoliales | Woody shrubs or trees. Leaves: Alternate. Toothed or spiney. Flowers: Small. Appearing alone or in branched arrays. Radially symmetrical. Usually 4 petals (sometimes 8). Sepals small and fused at the base. 4 to 5 stamen. Fruit: Small, fleshy berry with hard seeds. | Ilex verticillata (Common Winterberry)NH; |
| Araceae | Arum | Liliopsida/Alismatales | Usually perennial herbs. Often water-borne or in wetlands. The aroids group: the flowers are clustered together in a spike fully or partially concealed within a leaf-like bract. Petals and sepals number 4 to 6, but are sometimes absent. The fruit is a fleshy (sometimes dry) berry. The thalloids group: free-floating on the water. Only one flower per plant. No petals or sepals. One stamen and ovary. Fruit is a dry, thin-walled, one-seeded capsule (uticle). The thalloids are highly-reduced forms of the aroids. | Calla palustris (Water Arum)NH; Symplocarpus foetidus (Skunk Cabbage)NH; |
| Araliaceae | Ginseng | Magnoliopsida/Apiales | Herbs, trees, shrubs and vines. Leaves: Usually alternate or whorled compound leaves (although sometimes simple). Flowers: 5 petals arranged in compound umbrels. Fruit: Berry. | Aralia hispida (Bristly Sarsaparilla)NH; Panax trifolius (Dwarf Ginseng)NH; |
| Asparagaceae | Asparagus, Agava & Allies | Liliopsida/Asparagales | Plants formerly in the families Liliaceae and Agavaceae. Strap-like leaves with parallel veins with tight rosettes at the base or end of the stem. Flowers are showy with identical petals and sepals. Edible plants include asparagus, agave and yucca. | Convallaria majalis (European Lily of the Valley)NH; Maianthemum canadense (Canada Mayflower)NH; Maianthemum racemosum (Feathery False Solomon’s Seal)NH; Maianthemum stellatum (Starry False Solomon’s Seal)NH, NM; Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon’s Seal)NH; Yucca glauca (Soapweed Yucca)NM |
| Asteraceae | Aster | Magnoliopsida/Asterales | Inflorescence is a composite head with large numbers of tiny floret (capitula) enclosed by a whorl of involucral (subtending) bracts. There may or may not be ray florets. Dry, one-seeded fruit with a fringe of hairs (pappus). | Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)NH, NM; Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Annual Ragweed)NH; Antennaria howellii ssp. petaloidea (Small Pussytoes)NH; Antennaria neglecta (Field Pussytoes)NH; Arctium minus (Common Burdock)NH; Artemisia filifolia (Sand Sagebrush)NM; Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort)NH; Berlandiera lyrata (Lyre-Leaf Greeneyes)NM; Bidens cernua (Nodding Beggarticks)NH; Bidens frondosa (Devil’s Beggarticks)NH; Bidens vulgata (Big Devil’s Beggarticks)NH; Centaurea jacea (Brown Knapweed)NH; Centaurea stoebe (Spotted Knapweed)NH; Chloracantha spinosa (Mexican Devilweed)NM; Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle)NH; Cirsium discolor (Field Thistle)NH; Cirsium ochrocentrum (Yellowspine Thistle)NM; Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle)NH; Conyza canadensis (Canadian Horseweed)NH, NM; Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Tickseed)NH; Erechtites hieraciifolia (American Burnweed)NH; Erigeron annuus (Eastern Daisy Fleabane)NH; Erigeron strigosus (Prairie Fleabane)NH; Eupatoriadelphus dubius (Coastal Plain Joe-Pye Weed)NH; Eupatoriadelphus maculatus (Spotted Joe-Pye Weed)NH; Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset)NH; Eurybia divaricata (White Wood Aster)NH; Eurybia schreberi (Schreber’s Aster)NH; Galinsoga quadriradiata (Hairy Galinsoga)NH; Grindelia squarrosa (Curlycup Gumweed)NM; Helianthus annuus (Annual Sunflower)NM; Helianthus decapetalus (Thinleaf Sunflower)NH; Helianthus strumosus (Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower)NH; Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium caespitosum (Meadow Yellow Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium kalmii (Kalm’s Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium paniculatum (Allegheny Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium pilosella (Mouse Ear Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium piloselloides (Glaucous Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium praealtum (Tall Hawkweed)NH; Hieracium scabrum (Rough Hawkweed)NH; KIonactis linariifolia (Flax-Leaved Aster)NH; Krigia virginica (Virginia Dwarf Dandelion)NH; Lactuca biennis (Tall Blue Lettuce)NH; Lactuca canadensis (Canada Lettuce)NH; Lactuca serriola (Prickly Lettuce)NH, NM; Leontodon autumnalis (Fall Dandelion)NH; Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy)NH; Matricaria discoidea (Pineapple Weed)NH; Oclemena acuminata (Whorled Wood Aster)NH; Prenanthes altissima (Tall Rattlesnakeroot)NH; Prenanthes trifoliolata (Gall of the Earth)NH; Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (Rabbit Tobacco)NH; Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)NH; Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis (Cutleaf Coneflower)NH; Solidago bicolor (White Goldenrod)NH; Solidago canadensis var. hargeri (Harger’s Goldenrod)NH; Sonchus arvensis (Field Sowthistle)NH; Sonchus asper (Spiny Sowthistle)NH; Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Common Blue Wood Aster)NH; Symphyotrichum puniceum (Purplestem Aster)NH; Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion)NH; Tragopogon dubius (Yellow Salsify)NH; Tragopogon pratensis (Meadow Salsify)NH; Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot)NH; Xanthisma spinulosum (Lacy Tansyaster)NM |
| Athyriaceae | Lady Fern | Polypodiopsida/Polypodiales | Ferns. Leaves: 1 to 4 times pinnately divided. Sori: Round or elogate (often curved or kidney-shaped). Situated along the veins. | Athyrium angustum (Northern Lady Fern)CT, NH; |
| Balsaminaceae | Touch-Me-Not | Magnoliopsida/Ericales | Herbs. Leaves: Alternate, opposite or whorled. Flowers: Showy. 5 petals, one upper petal and 4 lower petals with two on each side that are fused (creating an illusion of only 3 petals). 3 sepals. The larger sepal projects behind the other two into a spur-like sac. 5 stamen. Fruit: Capsule. | Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed)NH; |
| Berberidaceae | Barberry | agnoliopsida/Ranunculales | Perennial herbs or wood shrubs. Leaves: Alternate. Simple or compound. Spines grow on the stem at the leaf nodes. Flowers: Arranged solitary or in branched inflorescences. Radially symmetrical. 6 to 9 petals. 4 to 6 sepals (sometimes resembling petals). 6 stamen. Fruit: Fleshy berry or naked blue seed. | Berberis haematocarpa (Red Barberry)NM; Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry)NH; |
| Betulaceae | Birch (Alder) | Magnoliopsida/Fagales | Trees and shurbs. Leaves: Alternate, deciduous. Serrated edges (often double-toothed) and straight, branched veins. Flowers: Female and male flowers are arranged in cylindrical catkins. The male flowers are longer and more slender. Fruit: Winged seed. | Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (Speckled Alder)NH; Ostrya virginiana (Hop Hornbeam)CT; |
| Bignoniaceae | Bignonia | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Trees, shrubs or vines. Flowers: Two lips. Often conspicuous, tubular flowers. 4 stamen in pairs of unequal length. Fruit: Capsule. Usually flat and winged. | Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper)NH; |
| Boraginaceae | Borage | Magnoliopsida/Boraginales | Annual or perennial herbs. Often with rough, stiff hairs. Leaves: Simple. Usually alternate. Entire. Flowers: Arranged in a cyme that is curled up and straightens up as the flowers open. 5 petals and 5 petals. The petals are fused at the base to form a tube. 5 stamen grow from the petals in the tube. 1 or 2 styles. The sepals often continue to grow when fruit is produced and the rest of the flower dies. Fruit: Dry capsule that splits in two sections (schizocarp), each holding a seed. | Myosotis stricta (Strict Forget-Me-Not)NH; Symphytum officinale (Common Comfrey)NH; |
| Brassicaceae | Mustard | Magnoliopsida/Brassicales | Alternate family name: Cruciferae. Leaves: Simple or divided into lobes. Alternate. Flowers: Cross-shaped flower parts. Radially symmetrical. 4 petals and 4 sepals, but sepals are often shedded early. Usually 6 stamen. | Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard)NH; Barbarea vulgaris (Garden Yellow Rocket)NH; Berteroa incana (Hoary Alyssum)NH; Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd’s Purse)NH; Cardamine impatiens (Narrowleaf Bittercress)NH; Cardamine pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Bittercress)NH; Draba helleriana (Heller’s Draba)NM; Draba verna (Spring Whitlow Grass)NH; Erysimum capitatum (Western Wallflower)NM; Hesperis matronalis (Dame’s Rocket)NH; Lepidium campestre (Field Pepperweed)NH; Lepidium latifolium (Broadleaved Pepperweed)NM; Lepidium virginicum (Virginia Pepperweed)NH; Lunaria annua (Annual Honesty)NH; Raphanus raphanistrum (Wild Radish)NH; Rorippa palustris (Common Yellowcress)NH; Sisymbrium altissimum (Tumble Hedge Mustard)NH; Thlaspi arvense (Field Pennycress)NH; Turritis glabra (Tower Mustard)NH; |
| Cactaceae | Cactus | Mahnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Stem-succulent shrubs or trees. Modified leaves are reduced into spines to reduce water loss. Leaves are absent in all but some tropical species. Stem covered in waxy layer to reduce water loss. Roots go deep into the soil. | Cylindropuntia imbricata (Tree Cholla)NM; |
| Campanulaceae | Harebell | Magnoliopsida/Asterales | Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves: Simple, alternate and entire or lobed. Flowers: Usually 5 petals and 5 sepals. The petals are usually united at the base to form a bell or a tube. There are 5 stamen. Fruit: A capsule with pores. | Campanula rapunculoides (Creeping Bellflower)NH; Campanula rotundifolia (Bluebell Bellflower)NM; Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinalflower)NH; Lobelia inflata (Lobelia: Indian Tobacco)NH; Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)NH; |
| Caprifoliaceae | Honeysuckle | Magnoliopsida/Dipsacales | Trees, shrubs, vines and herbs. Leaves: Opposite. Flowers: Bilaterally symmetrical with elongate shape. Densely-packed hairs on the lower, inner part of the corolla tube. Fruit: Berry with the remnants of the sepals often attached to the fruit. | Diervilla lonicera (Northern Bush Honeysuckle)NH; Lonicera canadensis (American Fly Honeysuckle)NH; Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)CT; Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s Honeysuckle)CT, NH; Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian Honeysuckle)NH; Lonicera xbella (Bell’s Honeysuckle)NH; Symphoricarpos rotundifolius (Roundleaf Snowberry)NM; |
| Caryophyllaceae | Pink | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Mostly herbs. Stem: Swollen nodes at leaf attachment. Leaves: Usually opposite (but in some species alternate or whorled). Flowers: Solitary or branched inflorescences. 4 to 5 distinct petals with a notch at the end or divided nearly to the base. | Cerastium fontanum (Mouse-Ear Chickweed)NH; Cerastium semidecandrum (Five Stamen Chickweed)NH; Cerastium tomentosum (Tomentose Chickweed)NH; Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink)NH; Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William Pink)NH; Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink)NH; Eremogone fendleri (Fendler’s Sandwort)NM; Myosoton aquaticum (Giant Chickweed)NH; Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort)NH; Scleranthus annuus (Annual Knawel)NH; Silene latifolia (White Campion)NH; Silene vulgaris (Bladder Campion)NH; Spergularia rubra (Red Sandspurry)NH; Stellaria gramine (Grass-Leaved Stitchwort)NH; |
| Celastraceae | Bittersweet (Spindle Tree) | Magnoliopsida/Celastrales | Woody shrubs or vines. Leaves: Alternate or opposite. Simple and sometimes toothed. Flowers: Branched arrays either from leaf attachment or the end of the stems. 4 or 5 petals. Fruit: berry with a brightly (red or orange) colored appendage to the seed to attract animals. | Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet)NH; Euonymus alatus (Winged Burning Bush)NH; |
| Cistaceae | Rockrose | Magnoliopsida/Malvales | Shrubs or herbs. Leaves: Small (sometimes even scale-like), alternate. Sometime branched hairs on the leaves. Flowers: Arranged singly or in branched inflorescences. 5 petals and 5 sepals. Two of the sepals are much narrower than the other 3. Fruit: Capsule opening along a number of seams. | Helianthemum canadense (Longbranch Frostweed)NH; |
| Colchicaceae | Colchicum | Liliopsida/Liliales | Perennial herbs that grown from an underground corm (vertical stem) or rhizome (horizontal stem). Leaves: May grow from the ground or the stem. Entire. Parallel veins. Flowers: May grow out of the ground or at the end of the stem. 6 tepals in 2 whorls of 3 which may be fused at the base. 6 stamen. 1 or 3 styles. Fruit: Capsule. | Uvularia sessilifolia (Sessile Bellwort)NH; |
| Commelinaceae | Spiderwort | Liliopsida/Commelinales | Annual or perennial herbs with soft stems. Leaves: Sheaths at the base of the stem. Parallel veins. Flowers: Grow as branched inflorescences at the junction of leaf and stem or at the end of the stem. Spathe (modified leaf) may surround the inflorescence. Radially or bilaterally symmetrical. 3 petals and 3 sepals. The petals may or may not be fused to form a tube. 6 stamen in 2 groups of 3. 1 stigma and 1 style. Fruit: Dry capsule. | Commelina communis (Asiatic Dayflower)NH; Tradescantia ohiensis (Smooth Spiderwort)NH; Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort)NH; |
| Convolvulaceae | Bindweed (Morning Glory) | Magnoliopsida/Solanales | Annual or perennial vines. Leaves: Simple and alternate. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Usually 5 petals and 5 sepals. Petals are fused at the base to form a funnel. Fruit: Capsule. Some species (formerly in Cuscutaceae have scales for leaves growing along pink-yellow to orange stems and flowers with 4 or 5 petals and sepals. | Calystegia sepium (Hedge False Bindweed) NH ; Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed)NM ; |
| Cornaceae | Dogwood | Magnoliopsida/Cornales | Trees or shrubs (rarely herbs). Wide-spreading branches with a low, dense crown. Leaves: Simple, usually opposite (rarely spiral). Usually without stipules. Veins curved like a bow (arcuate). Flowers: Arrange in cymes (rarely racemes). Showy. 4 petals surrounded by bracts. Fruit: Berry | Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)NH; Cornus canadensis (Bunchberry)NH; Cornus sericea (Red Osier Dogwood)NH; |
| Crassulaceae | Stonecrop (Orpine) | Magnoliopsida/Saxifragales | Fleshy, succulent herbs. Leaves: Simple. Entire or toothed. Some species have a basal rosette of leaves. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Arranged in branched inflorescences. 4 to 5 petals and sepals. Stamen usually twice the number of petals (rarely once). Petal are distinct from one another, but sometimes fused at the base. Fruit: Follicle (opening on one side). | Hylotelephium telephium (Orpine)NH; Sedum sarmentosum (Stringy Stonecrop)CT; |
| Cucurbitaceae | Gourd | Magnoliopsida/Cucurbitales | Annual or perennial vines. Leaves: Alternate. Lobed or divided into 3 or more leaflets. Tendrils at the base of the leaf stalk. Flowers: Arranged singly or in arrays. Radially symmetrical. White, yellow or greenish. 5 petals, 5 sepals and 5 stamen. Fruit: Usually a fleshy fruit with a firm skin. | Echinocystis lobata (Wild Cucumber)NH; Sicyos angulatus (Oneseed Bur-Cucumber)NH; |
| Cupressaceae | Cypress | Pinopsida/Pinales | Cone-bearing, resinous trees or shrubs. Almost always evergreen. Leaves: Opposite or whorled and usually scale-like. Seed cones on same or separate plants and appearing as a small, woody cone or berry with leathery scales. | Hesperocyparis arizonica (Arizona Cypress)NM; Juniperus deppeana (Alligator Juniper)NM; Juniperus monosperma (One-Seed Juniper)NM |
| Dennstaedtiaceae | Bracken | Polypodiopsida/Polypodiales | Perennial ferns. Leaves: Divided into leaflets which may be further divided or lobed. Leaf midrib is usually deeply grooved. Sporagia arranged at the edges of the leftlets (tip of the veins). They are covered by a layer or false indusium (comprised of a curled over leaf margin and tooth. | Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Hay-Scented Fern)CT, NH; Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken Fern)NH; |
| Dryopteridaceae | Wood Fern | Polypodiopsida/Polypodiales | Perennial ferns. Leaves: Once or more divided and/or lobed. Petioles have scales and 3-7 vascular bundles near the base. The sori on the underside of the leaves are kidney-shaped and covered with a layer of indusium (flap of tissue). | Dryopteris intermedia (Evergreen Wood Fern)NH; Dryopteris marginalis (Marginal Wood Fern)NH; Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern)NH; |
| Elaeagnaceae | Oleaster | Magnoliopsida/Rosales | Deciduous or evergreen shrubs/tress. Leaves: Simple, alternative or opposite, untoothed with small, silver and/or brown scales on their surface (often densse). Flowers are small, growing alone or in rays. 4 to 8 stamen. Hypanthium (fusion of basal petals, sepals & stamen) is tube-shaped. Fruit is a drupe or berry. | Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian Olive)NM; Elaeagnus umbellata (Autumn Olive)NH |
| Equisetaceae | Horsetail | Polypodiopsida/Equisetales | Perennial or annual herbs with hollow, jointed stems. Stems grow from creeping rhizomes. Most species have just the stem, but some are branched. There is a spore cone that grows at the tip of the stem that produces spores. No flowers. | Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail)NH, NM; Equisetum hyemale (Scouringrush Horsetail)NH; Equisetum palustre (Marsh Horsetail)NH; Equisetum pratense (Meadow Horsetail)NH; Equisetum sylvaticum (Wood Horsetail)NH; |
| Ericaceae | Heath | Magnoliopsida/Ericales | Herbs and shurbs. Leaves: Evergreen and simple. Usually alternate, but sometimes opposite or whorled. Flowers: 4-5 petals (some have no petals), radially symmetrical. In some cases, petals may be fused to form a cup. Fruit: Berry or dry capsule. | Chimaphila maculata (Striped Pipsissewa)NH; Chimaphila umbellata (Pipsissewa)NH; Epigaea repens (Trailing Arbutus)NH; Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen)NH; Gaylussacia baccata (Black Huckleberry)NH; Kalmia angustifolia (Sheep Laurel)NH; Lyonia ligustrina (Maleberry)NH; Monotropa uniflora (Indian Pipe)NH; Pyrola americana (Round-Leaved Shinleaf)NH; Pyrola elliptica (Elliptic Shinleaf)NH; Rhododendron carolinianum (Carolina Rhododendron)NH; Rhododendron catawbiense (Rosebay Catawba)NH; Vaccinium angustifolium (Lowbush Blueberry)NH; Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry)NH; |
| Euphorbiaceae | Spurge | Magnoliopsida/Malpighiales | Herbs. Leaves: Simple and usually alternate. Flowers small and radially symmetrical. Styles are usually forked. In the genus Euphorbia, the flowers are arranged inside cup-like tissue. | Acalypha gracilens (Slender Threeseed Mercury)NH; Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress Spurge)NH; Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge)NH; Euphorbia maculata (Spotted Sandmat)NH; |
| Fabaceae | Pea/Bean | Magnoliopsida/Fabales | Leaves: Alternative and usually compound (pinnately, palmately or trifoliate). Flowers: 5 petals and 5 sepals; radially or bilaterally symetrical. Often, there is a larger upper petal, 2 wing petals and two lower (keel) petals that are fused together. The sepals form a tube with lobes. The fruit is usually a legume. | Amorpha fruticosa (Desert False Indigo)NH; Amphicarpaea bracteata (Hog Peanut)NH; Apios americana (Groundnut)NH; Chamaecrista nictitans (Sensitive Partridge Pea)NH; Desmodium canadense (Showy Ticktrefoil)NH; Desmodium nudiflorum (Nakedflower Ticktrefoil)NH; Lathyrus japonicus (Beach Pea)CT; Lathyrus latifolius (Perennial Pea)NH; Lespedeza capitata (Roundhead Bush Clover)NH; Lotus corniculatus (Bird’s-Foot Trefoil)NH; Lupinus perennis (Sundial Lupine)NH; Lupinus polyphyllus (Bigleaf Lupine)NH; Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)NM; Melilotus albus (White Sweetclover)NM; Melilotus officinalis (Yellow Sweetclover)NH; Prosopis glandulosa (Honey Mesquite)NM; Robinia hispida (Bristly Locust)NH; Robinia neomexicana (New Mexico Locust)NM; Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust)NH, NM; Securigera varia (Crown Vetch)NH; Trifolium arvense (Rabbit Foot Clover)NH; Trifolium aureum (Hop Clover)NH; Trifolium campestre (Low Hop Clover)CT; Trifolium hybridum (Alsike Clover)NH; Trifolium pratense (Red Clover)NH; Trifolium repens (White Clover)NH; Vicia cracca (Cow Vetch)NH; Vicia tetrasperma (Four-Seeded Vetch)CT; |
| Fagaceae | Beech | Magnoliopsida/Fagales | Deciduous or evergreen shrubs/tress. Fruit: Presence of a nut surrounded by a modified leaf or bract (Acorn, Chestnut, Beechnut, etc.) Leaves: Simple, alternate, and lobed, toothed or entire margins. Male flowers occur in spike-like catkins or singly; Female flowers single or in clusters. | Fagus grandifolia (American Beech)NH; Quercus alba (White Oak)NH; Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)NH; Quercus gambelii (Gambel Oak)NM; Quercus grisea (Gray Oak)NM; Quercus ilicifolia (Bear Oak)NM; Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak)NH; Quercus turbinella (Sonoran Scrub Oak)NM; |
| Gentianaceae | Gentian | Magnoliopsida/Gentianales | Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves: Simple, hairless (or nearly so), entire, without petioles. Sometimes the leaf blades are tiny, like scales. Flowers: Radially symmetrical, arranged singly or in branched inflorescences. 4 to 5 petals and sepals that are fused together at the base. Fruit: Capsule with many small seeds. | Gentiana clausa (Bottle Gential)NH; |
| Geraniaceae | Geranium | Magnoliopsida/Geraniales | Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves: Alternate or opposite. Lobed or compound. Stipules just beneath where they attached to the stem. Flowers: Radially symmetrical, 5 petals and sepals. Usually 10 stamens. Solitary or in branched arrays growing from junction of leaf stalk and stem. Fruit: Dry, separates into 5 parts, each with a seed, when mature. | Geranium maculatum (Spotted Geranium)CT; Geranium richardsonii (Richardson’s Geranium)NM; |
| Hamamelidaceae | Witch Hazel | Magnoliopsida/Saxifragales | Deciduous shrubs or small trees. Leaves: Alternate. Stipule beneath each leaf. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Arranged in arrays with a few flowers. 4 white and long petals and 4 small and triangular sepals. 4 stamen. Fruit: Woody, dry capsule. | Hamamelis virginiana (American Witchhazel)NH; |
| Hymenochaetaceae | Parasitic Wood-Growing Fungi | Agaricomycetes/ Hymenochaetales (Kingdom: Fungi; Phylum: Basidiomycota) |
Parasitic wood-growing fungi that contains bracket polypores and a crust fungi. Often with a brown fruiting body. Associated with many plant diseases of broad-leaved and coniferous trees. | Inonotus obliquus (Chaga)NH; |
| Hypericaceae | St. John’s Wort | Magnoliopsida/Malpighiales | Annual or perennial herbs or shurbs. Leaves: Opposite along the stem. Untoothed (entire). Often dotted with tiny black or translucent spots. Flowers: Arranged in branched inflorescences. Radially symmetrical. 4 to 5 petals. 4 to 5 sepals. Many stamen with long filaments that are sometimes fused together. Fruit: Dry Capsule. | Hypericum mutilum (Dwarf St. John’s Wort)NH; Hypericum perforatum (Common St. John’s Wort)NH; |
| Iridaceae | Iris | Liliopsida/Asparagales | Perennial herb growing from bulbs, corms (underground vertical stem) or rhizomes (underground horizontal stem). Leaves: Long and straight. Growing from the base or sometimes from the stem. The edges are set against the stem. Parallel veins. Flowers: Showy with petals and petal-like sepals. 3 stamen growing opposite the sepals. Anthers bend outwards. 1 style (usually in 3 parts). Fruit: Capsule. | Iris versicolor (Blue Iris)CT; Sisyrinchium angustifolium (Narrow-Leaved Blue-Eye Grass)NH; |
| Juglandaceae | Walnut | Magnoliopsida/Fagales | Trees. Leaves: Alternate. Pinnately-compound. Flowers: Small with 4 tepals. Fruit: Nut protected by a fibrous husk. | Carya cordiformis (Bitternut Hickory)CT; Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)NH; Juglans major (Arizona Walnut)NM Juglans nigra (Black Walnut)CT; |
| Lamiaceae | Mint | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Herbs and shrubs with square stems. Leaves: Opposite or whorled. Flowers: Clustered in whorls at end of stem or leaf junction. Usually 5 petals and 5 sepals. 2 petals fused at base to form an upper lip and 3 petals fused at base forming a lower lip. | Ajuga reptans (Carpet Bugle)CT; Glechoma hederacea (Ground Ivy)NH; Lamium purpureum (Purple Deadnettle)NH; Mentha arvensis (Wild Mint)NH; Prunella vulgaris (Self-Heal)NH; Trichostema dichotomum (Forked Bluecurls)NH; |
| Lauraceae | Laurel | Magnoliopsida/Laurales | Shrubs or trees. Leaves: Aromatic. Entire or lobed (but not toothed). Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Grow from the junction of the branches and leaves. Male and female flowers growing on separate plants. Ovule-bearing flowers have yellow tepals with 2 whorls of 3 tepals. They have 1 carpel. The pollen-bearing flowers have 9 stamen. Fruit: Berry. | Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)CT; |
| Liliaceae | Lily | Liliopsida/Liliales | Perennial herbs growing from bulbs or rhizomes. Leaves: Confined to the base of the plant or on the stem. Leaves are undivided, longer than wide and with parellel veins. Flowers: Solitary, pairs or in arrayed inflorescences. Showy. 6 tepals in 2 whorls of 3. 6 stamen and 1 styles (sometimes split into 3 branches). Fruit: Dry capsule or fleshy berry. | Clintonia borealis (Bluebead Lily)NH; Erythronium americanum (American Trout-Lily)NH; Lilium canadense (Canada Lily)NH; Medeola virginiana (Indian Cucumber)NH; |
| Lycopodiaceae | Club Moss | Lycopodiopsida/Lycopodiales | Perennial herbs. Horizontal stem running along the ground. Upright stem (branched or unbranched). Leaves: Short, scale-like. Sporangia (spore producing structure) located at the top of the stem in a base of modified leaves as single or multiple spore cones (strobili). Strobili may be stalked or unstalked. Sporangia are spherical or kidney-shaped. | Diphasiastrum digitatum (Southern Ground Cedar)NH; Lycopodium annotinum (Stiff Clubmoss)NH; Lycopodium clavatum (Running Clubmoss)NH; Lycopodium hickeyi (Pennsylvania Clubmoss)NH; Lycopodium obscurum (Flat-Branched Ground Pine)NH; |
| Lythraceae | Loosestrife | Magnoliopsida/Myrtales | Annual or perennial herbs (sometimes with woody bases). Leaves: Simple. Opposite (but sometimes alternate or whorled). Flowers: Solitary or arranged in a spike or another type of inflorescence. Usually radially symmetrical (sometimes bilaterally symmetrical). 4 to 8 petals and 4 to 8 sepals that are fused to form a tubular hypanthium. Alternating with the sepals are bracts. There is one style with 1 stigma at its tip. Fruit: Usually a dry capsule. | Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)NH; |
| Malvaceae | Mallow (Hibiscus) | Magnoliopsida/Malvales | Usually perennial herbs (sometimes woody as for Tilia). Crushing any part of the plants will produce a mucilaginous texture. Leaves: Simple, alternate, often lobed. Stipule on the stem underneath the leaf. Flower: 5 separate petals and 3 to 5 sepals surrounded by bracts. The is a column of fused stamen surrounding the pistal in the center of the flower. Fruit: Dry capsule that splits into two parts (schizocarp). | Sphaeralcea incana (Gray Globemallow)NM; Tilia americana (American Basswood / American Linden)NH; |
| Melanthiaceae | Bunchflower | Liliopsida/Liliales | Perennial herbs. Usually grow from rhizomes, but sometimes bulbs or tubers. Leaves: Clustered at base of stem on most species, but in some species alternate or whorled on the stem. Parallel veins or pinnately-branched veins. Entire. Flowers: 3 petals and 3 sepals. in 2 whorls with the inner whorl being the petals. The sepals may be green or colored as the petals. Radially symmetrical. Usually 6 stamen and 1 or 3 styles. Fruit: Capsule or berry. | Trillium erectum (Red Trillium)NH; Trillium undulatum (Painted Trillium)NH; Veratrum viride (Green False Hellebore)NH; |
| Menispermaceae | Moonseed | Magnoliopsida/Ranunculales | Twinning, woody climbing plants or vines. Rarely shrubs or small trees. Leaves: Simple, alternate (spirally-arranged). Often lobed or palmate. No stipules. Petiole cushioned (pulvinate) at both ends. Flowers: Small. Radially symmetrical (rarely bilaterally symmetrical). Petal number varies. Sepals 6 to many. | Menispermum canadense (Canada Moonseed)CT; |
| Molluginaceae | Carpetweed | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Leaves: Usually opposite or whorled (sometimes alternate). Entire. Flowers: Small. Solitary or arranged in cymes. Radially symmetrical. 4 to 5 sepals joined at the base or free. Petals absent or originating from the stamens. Fruits: 3- to 5-valved capsules. | Mollugo verticillata (Green Carpetweed)NH; |
| Moraceae | Mulberry | Magnoliopsida/Rosales | Trees. Milky or watery latex. Leaves: Usually simple, alternate, entire, sometimes lobed or unlobed (on the same tree) and pinnately-veined. Flowers: Often small with petals or sepals (but not both). Pistals and stamen in different flowers. Fruit: Compound, fleshy berry. | Morus alba (White Mulberry)NH, NM; |
| Myricaceae | Sweet Gale (Bayberry, Wax Myrtle) | Magnoliopsida/Fagales | Herbs, trees and shrubs. Leaves: Aromatic (often eminating from yellow glandular dots). Flowers: Small, greenish, growing in catkin clusters and inconspicuous. | Comptonia peregrina (Sweet Fern)NH; |
| Nymphaeaceae | Water Lily | Magnoliopsida/Nymphaeales | Perennial aquatic herbs growing from a thick rhizome. Air chambers in the stems and leaves assist with floating. Stems erect. Leaves: Entire. Long petioles arising from the rhizome or stem. Leave usually float on the water or, in some species, are submersed. Submersed leaves are palmately-divided. In some species the petiole is attached to the center of the leaf. Flowers: Long stalk. Solitary. 3 petals and 3 sepals. 4-35 carpels. In species where the carpels are fused, a leathery, seed-like fruit is formed. | Nymphaea odorata (American White Water Lily)NH; |
| Oleaceae | Olive | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Trees and shurbs (rarely vines). Leaves: Opposite, without stipules. Flowers: 4 petals and sepals. Petals are usually joined at the base to form a tube. 2 stamen. Arranged in a cyme or solitary flowers. | Forsythia x intermedia (Showy Forsythia)NH; Ligustrum obtusifolium (Border Privet)CT; |
| Onagraceae | Evening Primrose | Magnoliopsida/Myrtales | Annual, perennial or biennial herbs. Biennial species often go through the Winter as a basal rosette. Leaves: Simple, alternate or opposite, toothed, entire or lobed. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. 4 petals and 4 sepals fused at or near the base to form a floral tube. 1 style and 1 stigma (may be branched or lobed). Fruit: Capsule. | Circaea alpina (Small Enchanter’s Nightshade)NH; Circaea canadensis (Broadleaf Enchanter’s Nightshade)NH; Oenothera biennis (Common Evening Primrose)NH; Oenothera curtiflora (Velvetweed)NM; Oenothera gaura (Biennial Bee-Blossom)NH; Oenothera pilosella (Northern Evening Primrose)NH; Oenothera parviflora (Meadow Evening Primrose)NH; |
| Onocleaceae | Sensitive Fern | Polypodiopsida/Polypodiales | Ferns with rhizomes. Leaves (fronds): Sterile leaves are green and produced early in the season. The fertile fronds are dark colored and last throughout the Winter. The sori are hidden below hardened, in-rolled leaf edges. | Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) NH; Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern)NH; |
| Orchidaceae | Orchid | Liliopsida/Asparagales | Perennial herbs with upright stems. Leaves: Parallel veins. Entire. May be alternate, opposite, whorled or a basal rosette. Flowers: 3-parts, bilaterally symmetrical. 3 petals, the lower one modified into the lower lobe (labellum). 3 sepals. 1 to 3 stamen. Fruit: Capsule. | Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady’s Slipper)NH; |
| Orobanchaceae | Broomrape | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Herbs that are non-photosynthetic (parasitic only) and herbs that are both phyotosynthetic and parasitic. The stems of the non-phtotosynthetic herbs are yellow or brown and the leaves are small like scales. The stems of the photosynthetic herbs are green (but darken when dry) and they have larger leaves. Flowers: Bilaterally symmetrical. They often have a hooded, upper lip. There are 4-5 petals fused at the base and 2 to 5 sepals also fused at the base. 1 style with 1 stigma. Fruit: Dry capsule with many seeds. | Melampyrum lineare (Narrowleaf Cow Wheat)NH; Pedicularis procera (Fern-Leaf Lousewort)NM; |
| Osmundaceae | Royal Fern | Polypodiopsida/Osmundales | Herbaceous herbs growing in clumps. Leaves grow upright from a horizontal stem. They may be divided into lobes or twice divided. Leaf stem has a groove. Young leaves are covered in fine reddish or brown hairs. The sporangia grow directly on the edge of the modified leaf blade segments. The spores are green. | Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon Fern)NH; Osmunda claytoniana (Interrupted Fern)NH; Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern)NH; |
| Oxalidaceae | Wood Sorrel (Oxalis) | Magnoliopsida/Oxalidales | Mostly perennial herbs (rarely shrubs or small trees). Short stem or without a stem. Grows from rhizome or bulbous tubers. Leaves: Alternate. Often trifoliolate (sometimes pinnate or palmate). Leaflets fold at night. No stipules. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Stamen united at the base. Styles free. | Oxalis stricta (Common Yellow Wood Sorrel)NH; |
| Papaveraceae | Poppy | Magnoliopsida/Ranunculales | Perennial or annual herbs. Stems and leaves contain milky sap. Leaves: Lobed or divided into leaflets. Flowers: Showy and solitary or in branched arrays. 4 or more petals that can be separate or fused into various shapes. Fruit: Dry capsule. | Capnoides sempervirens (Pink Corydalis)NH; Chelidonium majus (Celandine)NH; Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches)CT; Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)CT; |
| Penthoraceae | Ditch Stonecrop (Penthorum) | Magnoliopsida/Saxifragales | Perennial herbs. Leaves: Simple. Alternate. Petiole present or absent. Margins serrate or doubly serrate. Flowers: Arranged in a curled raceme. Terminal on stem. Petals usually absent. 5-8 sepals attached at the base. 10 stamen. Usually 5 styles. Fruit: Dry capsule. | Penthorum sedoides (Ditch Stonecrop)NH; |
| Phrymaceae | Lopseed (Phryma) | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Perennial (sometimes aquatic) herbs. Leaves: Simple. Opposite. Petioles. Toothed margins. Flowers: Solitary or in varied inflorescences. Growing from the tips of the stem or branches. Bilaterally symmetrical. 5 sepals fused at the base to form a tube. 5 petals are also fused at the base. The petals may form a straight upper lip and a 3-lobed, longer lower lip. 4 stamen arranged in pairs. 1 long style with a 2-lobed stigma. Fruit: Capsule or 1-seeded fruit (achene). | Mimulus ringens (Allegheny Monkeyflower)NH; |
| Phytolaccaceae | Pokeweed | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Herbs (rarely trees or shrubs). Leaves: Simple. Usually alternate. Entire. Sometimes undulate. Tiny or absent stipules. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Usually 4-5 petals. Flower bracts are small. Solitary or arranged in cymes, spikes, panicles or racemes. | Phytolacca americana (American Pokeweed)NH; |
| Pinaceae | Pine | Cone-bearing evergreen trees (except Larches, Larix, are deciduous). Older trees have bark that is deeply grooved. Leaves: Needles that are group in bundles (fascicles). Pollen and the much larger seed cones grow on the same tree. Each woody scale of the seed cone contains a bract and 2 seeds. | Pinus edulis (Pinyon Pine)NM; Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)NM; Pinus resinosa (Red Pine)NH; Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine)NH; Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)NH; Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock)NH; | |
| Plantaginaceae | Plantain | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Perennial or annual herbs. Leaves: Basal, alternate or opposite. Flowers: Bilaterally symmetrical. Usually 4 to 5 sepals and 5 petals, although some species have no sepal and petals. The petals are often fused to for a lobed tube. Often 4 stamen and 1 style. Fruit: Capsule that splits open to release seeds. | Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax)NH; Nuttallanthus canadensis (Canada Toadflax)NH; Plantago lanceolata (Narrowleaf Plantain)NH; Plantago major (Common Plantain)NH; Plantago rugelii (Blackseed Plantain)NH; Veronica officinalis (Corn Speedwell)NH; Veronica arvensis (Common Speedwell)NH; Veronica serpyllifolia (Thyme-Leaved Speedwell)NH; |
| Poaceae | Grass | Liliopsida/Poales | Leaves: Much longer than wide. Parallel veins. Cylindrical sheath wraps around the stem with the blade above. Stems: Nodes where the leaf attaches. Flowers: Small without obvious petals or sepals. Arranged in spikelets - flowers with subtending scales (glumes, lemmas, paleas). Fruit is a caryopsis (grain). | Arundo donax (Giant Reed)NM; Chloris virgata (Fethery Rhodes Grass)NM; Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass)NM; |
| Polemoniaceae | Phlox | Magnoliopsida/Ericales | Annual and perennial herbs (rarely shrubs or trees). Leaves: Alternate or opposite. Entire. No stipules. Flowers: 5 fused petals. 5 sepals. 5 stamen that alternate with the lobes of the corolla. Ovary is made up of 3 fused carpels. Fruit: Capsule. | Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)NH; Polemonium foliosissimum (Jacob’s Ladder)NM; |
| Polygalaceae | Milkwort | Magnoliopsida/Fabales | Herbs, vines, shrubs, trees. Leaves: Simple, alternate (spiraling up the stem). Flowers: Irregular. 3 to 5 fused petals. The front petal is usually fringed at the apex and boat-shaped. 5 sepals, but 2 may be very large and petal-like. Usually 8 stamens united at the base and fused with the petals. Fruit: Capsule, nut or fleshy fruit with a seed. | Polygala paucifolia (Gaywings)NH; Polygala sanguinea (Purple Milkwort)NH; |
| Polygonaceae | Buckwheat | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Leaves: Simple and are alternate on the stem or grow as a rossette. Distinctive: Paper sheath (stipule) on the stem just above where the leaf attaches. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Arranged singly or as branched inflorescences. Fruit: achene (dry, usually 1-seeded, does not open at maturity). | Fallopia japonica (Japanese Knotweed)NH; Persicaria meisneriana (Arrowleaf Tearthumb)NH; Polygonum aviculare (Dooryard Knotweed)CT; Polygonum lapathifolium (Curlytop Knotweed)NH; Polygonum pensylvanicum (Pennsylvania Smartweed)NH; Rumex acetosella (Sheep Sorrel)NH; Rumex crispus (Curly Dock)NH, NM; Rumex obtusifolius (Bitter Dock)NH; |
| Pontederiaceae | Pickerel-Weed | Liliopsida/Commelinales | Aquatic herbs that are rooted in mud or free-floating. Leaves: Usually has a basal sheath, distinct petiole and an expanded leaf blade (although in rare cases can have a grass-like blade). Flowers: Blue, purple or white. Tepals are fused at the base and the upper tepal may have 2 spots. Bilaterally or radially symmetrical. 3-6 stamen. 1 style. 3- or 6-lobed stigma. Fruit: Capsule or 1-seeded fruit (achene). | Pontederia cordata (Pickerelweed)NH; |
| Primulaceae | Primrose | Magnoliopsida/Ericales | Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves: Basal, whorled or opposite. Flowers: Solitary or in an array. 4 to 5 petals and 4 to 5 sepals. 5 stamen. Stamen are positioned opposite the petals. | Lysimachia ciliata (Fringed Yellow Loosestrife)NH; Lysimachia nummularia (Moneywort)NH; Lysimachia quadrifolia (Whorled Yellow Loosestrife)NH; Trientalis borealis (Starflower)NH; |
| Ranunculaceae | Buttercup | Magnoliopsida/Ranunculales | Herbs and rarely woody. Leaves: Alternate, simple and usually much divided. There is often sheathing at the base. Flowers: Arranged in solitary fashion, or in racemes or cymes. Usually 5 petals and often (but not always) radially symmetrical. | Actaea pachypoda (White Baneberry)NH; Actaea rubra (Red Baneberry)NH; Anemone quinquefolia (Wood Anemone)NH; Aquilegia canadensis (Red Columbine)NH; Clematis virginiana (Virgin’s Bower)NH; Coptis trifolia (Threeleaf Goldthread)NH; Ranunculus abortivus (Kidney-Leaved Crowfoot)NH; Ranunculus acris (Tall Buttercup)NH; Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup)NH; Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup)NH; Thalictrum fendleri (Fendler’s Meadow-Rue)NM; Thalictrum pubescens (Tall Meadow-Rue)NH; |
| Rhamnaceae | Buckthorn | Magnoliopsida/Rosales | Usually trees, shrubs or vines (rarely herbs). Leaves: Simple, opposite or alternate. Stipules presents (sometimes as spines). Flowers: Radially symmetrical. There are 5 (sometimes 4) separate sepals and 5 (sometimes 4 or none) separate petals. The flowers are usually small. Fruit: Mostly berries (sometimes nuts). | Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea)NH; Frangula alnus (Glossy Buckthorn)NH; Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn)NH; |
| Rosaceae | Rose | Magnoliopsida/Rosales | Herbs, vines, shrubs or trees. Leaves: alternate, simple or compound. Usually toothed. Stipules on the stem at the base of the leaves. Flowers: Radially symetrical with the petals and sepals fused forming a cup. Fruit is a drupe, pome, aggregate, follicle or capsule. | Agrimonia gryposepala (Tall Hairy Agrimony)NH; Aronia prunifolia (Purple Chokeberry)NH; Cercocarpus montanus (Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany)NM; Dalibarda repens (Dewdrop)NH; Dasiphora floribunda (Shrubby Cinquefoil)NH; Fallugia paradoxa (Apache Plume)NM; Fragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry)NH; Geum canadense (White Avens)NH; Holodiscus dumosus (Mountain Spray)NM; Physocarpus monogynus (Mountain Ninebark)NM; Potentilla argentea (Silver Cinquefoil)NH; Potentilla canadensis (Candian Dwarf Cinquefoil)NH; Potentilla hippiana (Woolly Cinquefoil)NM; Potentilla norvegica (Norwegian Cinquefoil)NH; Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil)NH; Potentilla simplex (Common Cinquefoil)NH; Prunus pensylvanica (Pin Cherry)NH; Prunus serotina (Black Cherry)CT; Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)NH; Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose)NH; Rosa rugosa (Beach Rose)CT; Rubus allegheniensis (Common Blackberry)NH; Rubus flagellaris (Northern Dewberry)NH; Rubus occidentalis (Black Raspberry)NH; Rubus odoratus (Purple-Flowering Raspberry)NH; Rubus phoenicolasius (Wine Raspberry)CT; Sorbus aucuparia (European Mountain Ash - Rowan)NH; Spiraea latifolia (White Meadowsweet)NH; Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)NH; |
| Rubiaceae | Madder | Magnoliopsida/Gentianales | Herbs, shrubs, vines. Climbing is not done by tendrils, but by leaning on top of other vegetation. Leaves: Usually opposite (sometimes whorled). Entire margins. Fusion of two stipules from opposite leaves on the stem. Flowers: Single flower or many small flowers clustered together. Petals and sepals number 4 to 5. | Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common Buttonbush)NH; Galium album (White Bedstraw)NH; Galium aparine (Scratch Bedstraw)CT; Galium mollugo (Whorled Bedstraw)NH; Galium triflorum (Fragrant Bedstraw)NH; Houstonia caerulea (Azure Bluet)NH; Mitchella repens (Patridge Berry)NH; |
| Salicaceae | Willow | Magnoliopsida/Malpighiales | Trees or shrubs. Leaves: Simple. Alternate (except Salix purpurea). Flowers: Dioecious (Male and female flowers appearing on separate plants). No petals. Sepals reduced or absent. The male flower has 2 or more stamen. The female flower has 2 to 4 carpels united to form a single chamber of the ovary. Fruit: Capsule with white “cotton” to transport the seeds by air. | Populus freemontii (Freemont Cottonwood)NM; Populus grandidentata (Big-Toothed Aspen)NH; Salix bonplandiana (Bonpland Willow)NM; |
| Sapindaceae | Soapberry | Magnoliopsida/Sapindales | Trees or shrubs. Leaves: Simple or divided into 3 or more leaflets. Flowers: Branched arrays. 4 to 5 petals and sepals. Usually 2 whorls of 5 stamen. Fruit: Dry seeds that usually separates into two winged segments. | Acer pensylvanicum (Striped Maple)NH; Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)NH; Acer rubrum (Red Maple)NH; Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)NH; Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple)NH; Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)CT; |
| Saururaceae | Lizard Tail | Magnoliopsida/Piperales | Perennial herbs. Leaves: Sheath at the base. Flowers: Arranged in a slender spike covered with tiny, closely appressed flowers. The flowers have no petals or sepals, but the colored bract below the spike makes it appear as if it is just one flower. | Anemopsis californica (Yerba Mansa)NM; |
| Saxifragaceae | Saxifrage | Magnoliopsida/Saxifragales | Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Leaves: Simple. Grow in a rosette or arranged along the stem in alternative or opposite fashion. Flowers: Radially symmetrical. Arranged singly or in branched inflorescences. Usually 5 petals and 5 sepals (although in rare cases, petals are absent). 5 to 10 stamens. Basal portion of petals, sepals and stamen are fused to form a hypanthium (floral cup.) Fruit: Has 2 to 4 beaks and is a dry capsule (opening on two seams) or follicle (opening on one seam). | Heuchera pulchella (Coralbells)NM; |
| Scrophulariaceae | Figwort | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Annual, biennial or perennial herbs or shrubs. Leaves: Flowers: Bilaterally symmetrical. 4-5 petals and 4-5 sepals. Usually both are fused at the base to form a bell-shaped flower. 4-5 stamens opening by a distal slit to the right angle of the anther (pollen-bearing structure). Fruit: Capsule. | Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)NH; |
| Simaroubaceae | Tree-of-Heavan (Quassia) | Magnoliopsida/Sapindales | Trees and shrubs. Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound. Bark contains bitter compounds. Small flowers and fleshy fruit that is sometimes winged. | Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven)CT; |
| Smilacaceae | Catbrier | Liliopsida/Liliales | Herbaceous vines that climb with tendrils formed from the stipules. Usually (but not always) armed with prickles. Leaves: Alternate. 3 prominent veins radiating outwards from the base of the leaf. There is a network of smaller veins between. Flowers: Small. Greenish or yellowish. 6 tepals. Stalked inflorescences growing from the leaf axil. Pollen-bearing flowers have 6 stamen. Ovule-bearing flowers have 1 ovary. Fruit: Fleshy berry. | Smilax rotundifolia (Common Greenbrier)CT; |
| Solanaceae | Nightshade | Magnoliopsida/Solanales | Herbs, climbing vines or shrubs. Leaves: Simple (except rarely pinnately-compound) and alternate. Flowers: Solitary or clustered. 5 petals and sepals that are fused. 5 stamen. Ovary is situated above the attachment point of the other flower parts. The ovary is composed of two fused carpels and situated in the flower on a basal disk of tissue. Fruit is usually a berry. | Solanum dulcamara (Bittersweet Nightshade)NH; Solanum elaeagnifolium (Silverleaf Nightshade)NM; |
| Tamaricaceae | Tamarisk | Magnoliopsida/Caryophyllales | Leaves: Shrubs and trees. Deciduous. Branches spreading and drooping. Very small. Simple. Scale-like. Blue-green. No petiole. Flowers: Very small. Pink. Arranged in large, branched inflorescences at the ends of the branches. 5 petals. Bark: Gray, smooth. | Tamarix chinensis (Chinese Tamarisk)NM; |
| Thelypteridaceae | Marsh Fern | Polypodiopsida/Polypodiales | Fern. Leaves: Deeply divided, lobed leaflets. Pointed, transparent hairs on the leaf or stalk. The central axis of the leaf (rachis) is covered with fine hairs and grooved on the upper side. Sori: Round or oblong and located on the edges or the leaf or along the veins. | Parathelypteris noveboracensis (New York Fern)NH; |
| Typhaceae | Cattail (Bur-Reed) | Liliopsida/Poales | Perennial herbs that grow in fresh water and brackish wetlands. Leaves: Alternate. Long and narrow. Sheathing bases and clasping at the stem. Flowers: Pollen-bearing flowers are positioned above the ovule-bearing flowers. Pollen-bearing flowers have 1-8 stamen. Ovule-bearing flowers has 1-2 carpals. Arranged as cylindrical or spherical arrays. 3-6 tepals or sepals that appear as capillary bristles. | Typha latifolia (Broadleaf Cattail)NH; |
| Ulmaceae | Elm | Magnoliopsida/Rosales | Trees or shrubs with mucilaginous substances in leaves and bark tissue. Leaves: Simples, usually alternate. Leaf base is often asymmetical. Margins entire or toothed. | Ulmus americana (American Elm)NH; Ulmus pumila (Siberian Elm)NM; |
| Urticaceae | Nettle | Magnoliopsida/Rosales | Herbs, shrubs or vines. Calcium carbonate outgrowths of the cell walls and in some species, these outgrowths form needles. Sap is watery. Leaves: Alternate or opposite, spirally-arranged. Flowers: 4-5 tepals. Fruit: Dried seed | Boehmeria cylindrica (Small-Spike False Nettle)NH; Pilea pumila (Canadian Clearweed)NH; Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)NH; Urtica urens (Dwarf Nettle)NH; |
| Verbenaceae | Vervain (Verbena) | Magnoliopsida/Lamiales | Mostly herbs. Usually square stems. Leaves: Simple, opposite.Flowers: Arranged in spikes. Bilaterally symmetrical. 5 petals are fused at the base into a widening tube. 5 sepals fused at the base into a lobed tube. 4 stamen united near the base. 1 style and 1 stigma. Fruit: Dry, splits into 1-seeded sections. | Aloysia wrightii (Wright’s Beebrush)NM; Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain)NH; Verbena urticifolia (White Vervain)NH; |
| Viburnaceae | Viburnum | Magnoliopsida/Dipsacales | Previously was part of the Adoxaceae and Caprifoliaceae families. Trees and shrubs. Leaves: Evergreen or deciduous. Simple or compound. Opposite (rarely whorled). Flowers: Arranged in many-flowered cymes Radially symetrical, disc-like and petals fused together at the base. Fruit is fleshy. | Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (American Black Elderberry)NH; Sambucus racemosa (Red Elderberry)NM; Viburnum acerifolium (Mapleleaf Viburnum)NH; Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum (Northern Arrowwood)NH; Viburnum lantanoides (Hobblebush)NH; Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry)NH; Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American Cranberrybush)NH; Viburnum opulus var. opulus (European Cranberrybush)NH; |
| Violaceae | Violet | Magnoliopsida/Malpighiales | Herbs, shrubs, trees and vines. Leaves: Simple, undivided. Alternate or opposite. Leafy stipules. Flowers: Some species have cleistogamous flowers that are produced prior to or after the production of typical flowers with petals. 5 unequal petals. The front-most (anterior) petal is often spurred. 5 stamen often spurred at the base. Fruit: Capsule. | Viola adunca (Hooked-Spur Violet)NH; Viola affinis (Le Conte’s Violet)CT; Viola arvensis (Eurpean Field Pansy)NH; Viola blanda (Sweet White Violet)NH; Viola labradorica (American Dog Violet)NH; Viola nephrophylla (Northern Bog Violet)NH; Viola pallens (Smooth White Violet)NH; Viola sagittata var. ovata (Arrowleaf Violet)NH; Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet)NH; |
| Vitaceae | Grape | Magnoliopsida/Vitales | Vines (rarely herbs) with tendrils opposite the leaves. Flowers: 4-5 petals that often fall away as the flower opens. 4-5 tiny sepals. 4-5 stamen. Clusters of flowers. Fruit: Berry. | Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper)NH; Vitis labrusca (Fox Grape)NH; Vitis riparia (Riverbank Grape)NH; |
| Zygophyllaceae | Creasote Bush (Caltrop) | Magnoliopsida/Zygophyllales | Herbs, shrubs and trees that produce a spiked-seed (caltrop). Leaves: Opposite or spirally-arranged. Found in dry habitats. Flowers: Showy with 5 petals. | Tribulus terrestris (Puncturevine)NM; |