Flower Description

Wild roseRosa speciesDescription: This shrub grows 60 centimeters to 2.5 meters high. It has alternate leaves and sharp prickles. Its flowers may be red, pink, or yellow. Its fruit, called rose hip, stays on the shrub year-round.Habitat and Distribution: Look for wild roses in dry fields and open woods throughout the Northern Hemisphere.Edible Parts: The flowers and buds are edible raw or boiled. In an emergency, you can peel and eat the young shoots. You can boil fresh, young leaves in water to make a tea. After the flower petals fall, eat the rose hips; the pulp is highly nutritious and an excellent source of vitamin C. Crush or grind dried rose hips to make flour.Rosa acicularisPrickly Wild RoseRosaceae (Rose Family)DescriptionGeneral - bushy shrub, 0.3-1.5 m tall; stems stout, usually denselycovered with many straight, weak bristles and straight slenderthorns.Leaves - alternate; compound, 3-9 oblong leaflets (usually 5), each2-5 cm long, (usually 3-4 cm), sharply double-toothed, usuallysomewhat hairy beneath.Flowers - single, on short side branches; pink, showy, 5-7 cmacross; appear in late May to July.Fruit - scarlet, spherical to pear-shaped, fleshy 'hips', about 1.5 cmlong.HabitatOpen forest, thickets, riverbanks, and clearings; widespread andcommon across the NW Ontario region; nearly circumpolar.NotesThe Prickly Wild Rose could be confused with the Common Wild Rose, also called Wood Rose, but the upper stems of that species lack the many small bristles and prickles that cover the stems of the Prickly Wild Rose. Instead, the Common Wild Rose has a few scattered thorns, usually at stem nodes. It is found infrequently across the boreal forest from southern Manitobato eastern Alaska. Despite its name, the Common Wild Rose is by far the less common of the two species in our region.The fruit of the Prickly Wild Rose has a high vitamin C content and makes excellent jelly. Also, rose hips are gathered for the preparation of rose hip tea.Rosa multiflora(Rose Family)Threats to Native HabitatsMultiflora rose is an aggressive colonizer of open unplowed land and is highly successful on forest edges. This prolific seed producer can create extremely dense, impenetrable thickets that crowd out other vegetation and inhibit regrowth of native plants. Associated vegetation of multiflora rose thickets is often limited to a few tree stems that have managed to overtop the rose before the thicket developed. Dense stands of multiflora rose can slow down forest regeneration: the species can dominate a forest understory. Anyone who has attempted to traverse a thicket of this plant would have few kind words for it, as its interweaving, abundantly-thorned branches snag on clothes and hair and can be quite painful. Large populations are sometimes associated with former plantings, but the plant has naturalized throughout much of the United States and continues to be spread with the help of birds.DescriptionMultiflora rose is a robust perennial shrub with thorny arching stems. It has alternately arranged compound leaves, generally with seven or nine leaflets. It forms large clusters of fragrant white or pink flowers that bloom from June to July. Like other roses, it forms small red pulpy fruits called hips, which may be eaten by birds. It reproduces from seeds or by rooting at the tip of arching stems that touch the ground. It can be distinguished from native roses by its long arching stems and numerous small white flowers or hips depending on the season. To verify identification of this plant contact a natural resources professional.HabitatMultiflora Roses (photos by the Maine Natural Areas Program, and John A. Lynch, courtesy of the New England Wild Flower Society)Multiflora rose prefers old fields, fencerows, power lines,roadsides, and forest edges. In other parts of its range it issuccessful in the understory of hardwood forests. It tolerates bothmoist and relatively dry conditions.DistributionMultiflora rose is native to eastern Asia. It was brought to North America in the late nineteenth century to be used in horticultural plantings. Since then it has been widely planted for a variety of reasons, including wildlife food and cover, erosion control, and as a living fence to border properties or pen livestock. Its use was historically advocated by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and by some state conservation departments. Multiflora rose is now naturalized (established and reproducing in the wild) throughout much of the United States. In Maine, it is documented in Oxford, Waldo, and York Counties, but likely occurs in more.ControlThe best method of controlling multiflora rose is to prevent it from becoming established in the first place. It should be removed as soon as possible if it is found colonizing an area. Repeated mowing—at least six cuts per year near the ground for two or more years—can successfully eliminate light infestations. In areas where thickets have formed it may be necessary to use a bulldozer to remove the plants. Coarse mechanical removal by bulldozer or otherwise must be followed by removal of root sprouts or new growth from the seedbank if reinfestation is to be prevented. The herbicides glyphosate and triclopyr are also effective. Use a 2% solution of glyphosate or triclopyr mixed with a 0.5% surfactant, and thoroughly wet the leaves. To aid in the absorption of the herbicide apply when temperatures are greater than 65 degrees F. Herbicides can also be used in combination with mechanical treatments or as follow-up to a burn. Consult a licensed herbicide applicator before applying herbicides over large areas.Yellow water lily: DescriptionYellow water lily (Nymphaea mexicana) is closely related to fragrant or white water lily. It is rooted, with floating leaves. the leaves are almost circular, with a split to the center where the stalk is attached (view photos). Leaves are green on top and reddish purple underneath. The large, yellow flowers are 2 to 4 inches across and can be used to distinguish it readily from the white water lily.The yellow water lily flowers from May to October. Reproduction is from seeds and from rhizomes. It is usually found along the shallow margins of ponds and lakes; this lily can sometimes completely cover shallow ponds. Yellow water lily is extremely rare in Mississippi. The listed treatments will give good control.Professionals have given particular attention to make certain all herbicide treatments have been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency for use in the manner described. Registrations for specific practices are often changed or deleted; therefore, treatments suggested in this information sheet may not remain current indefinitely. Read and observe the manufacturer's label to prevent misuse of a herbicide. It is not intended or proposed that usage of any given practice suggested at this site be in violation with existing registration or manufacturer's label.Canna lilyCanna indicaDescription: The canna lily is a coarse perennial herb, 90 centimeters to 3 meters tall. The plant grows from a large, thick, underground rootstock that is edible. Its large leaves resemble those of the banana plant but are not so large. The flowers of wild canna lily are usually small, relatively inconspicuous, and brightly colored reds, oranges, or yellows.Habitat and Distribution: As a wild plant, the canna lily is found in all tropical areas, especially in moist places along streams, springs, ditches, and the margins of woods. It may also be found in wet temperate, mountainous regions. It is easy to recognize because it is commonly cultivated in flower gardens in the United States.Edible Parts: The large and much branched rootstocks are full of edible starch. The younger parts may be finely chopped and then boiled or pulverized into a meal. Mix in the young shoots of palm cabbage for flavoring.Name:Dianthus, its botanical name, means divine flower. Carnation was the flesh-pink colour Elizabethan portrait painters used as a background wash.Description: The carnation is available as a standard carnation - one large flower per stem, or a spray carnation with lots of smaller flowers.Colour: Available in a huge range of colours, almost all except blue. A mauve carnation with a blue tinge has been developed by Florigene in Australia. But they look best in hot Latin shades of red, pink and orange.Availability: All year round.Varieties: New varieties have been bred which look like old-fashioned garden pinks, but in bright colours. They have daintier relatives, the fantastically fragrant Sweet Williams and Pinks.Care Tips: Carnations can last up to three weeks but should be kept away from ripening fruit and vegetables becaise of ethylene gas.Trivia:Facts: Carnations are the UK's best-selling cut flower, by miles. They are an excellent cut-flower, great value, very long-lasting, Since the 1950's they have been frowned upon by the style gurus, but are now making a comeback.Folklore: Used on mothering Sunday. In Canada you wear a red flower if your mother is alive or a white flower if your mother has died.Language of Flowers:Red carnation for "alas for my poor heart", striped for refusal, yellow for disdain, pink for woman's love.Name:Dianthus, its botanical name, means divine flower. Carnation was the flesh-pink colour Elizabethan portrait painters used as a background wash.Description: The carnation is available as a standard carnation - one large flower per stem, or a spray carnation with lots of smaller flowers.Colour: Available in a huge range of colours, almost all except blue. A mauve carnation with a blue tinge has been developed by Florigene in Australia. But they look best in hot Latin shades of red, pink and orange.Availability: All year round.Varieties: New varieties have been bred which look like old-fashioned garden pinks, but in bright colours. They have daintier relatives, the fantastically fragrant Sweet Williams and Pinks.Care Tips: Carnations can last up to three weeks but should be kept away from ripening fruit and vegetables becaise of ethylene gas.Trivia:Facts: Carnations are the UK's best-selling cut flower, by miles. They are an excellent cut-flower, great value, very long-lasting, Since the 1950's they have been frowned upon by the style gurus, but are now making a comeback.Folklore: Used on mothering Sunday. In Canada you wear a red flower if your mother is alive or a white flower if your mother has died.Language of Flowers:Red carnation for "alas for my poor heart", striped for refusal, yellow for disdain, pink for woman's love.。