This was our first official field trip to Baldwin Field Branch after last year’s scouting expedition. We found some more new plants: Hairy Nightshade (Solanum sarrachoides*), an alien invasive weed that hasn’t previously been reported in the mountains & a lovely Hypericum, Golden St John’s-wort (Hypericum frondosum).

Botanical plant names seem to change almost every day, but for now we mostly use those approved by ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System.  Silphium reniforme (Ragged Rosinweed) is not (yet) an approved name, although the plant is clearly different from Silphium compositum – sorry Ken! Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name. Photography by Hugh Irwin, Sarah King, & Penny Longhurst. Click on any picture to zoom & enter the slide show.

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