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Wildflowers in the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes has hundreds of species of wildflowers, some native, others introduced by the colonists from Europe. A few introduced plants have become invasive weeds that take over an area, preventing native plants from growing. Here are some of the native plants you might see as you travel around the Finger Lakes. You can see them along the roadsides, in state parks and forests, in fields and growing in public gardens. You may want to purchase one of the excellent field guides available from the Amazon bookstore at the bottom of this page.

 

 

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

 

 

Botanical name:

Aquilegia canadensis

Common name:

Columbine

Habitat:

Dry areas like roadsides and rocky slopes along creeks

Photo taken:

Lake Treman

 

Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

 

 

Botanical name:

Asclepias tuberosa

Common name:

Butterflyweed

Habitat:

Dry fields and roadsides

Photo taken:

Mendon Ponds Park

 

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)

 

 

Botanical name:

Caltha palustris

Common name:

Marsh marigold

Habitat:

Moist areas, bogs, wetlands

Photo taken:

 

Pink lady's-slipper (Cypripedium acaule)

 

 

Botanical name:

Cypripedium acaule

Common name:

Pink lady's-slipper

Habitat:

Moist, acidic woods

Photo taken:

Two Rivers State Park

 

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

 

 

Botanical name:

Gaultheria procumbens

Common name:

Wintergreen

Habitat:

Moist woods. Flowers are small, white bells.

Photo taken:

Two Rivers State Park

 

Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus)

 

 

Botanical name:

Lathyrus japonicus

Common name:

Beach pea

Habitat:

Sandy beaches

Photo taken:

Fair Haven Beach State Park

 

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

 

 

Botanical name:

Lobelia cardinalis

Common name:

Cardinal flower

Habitat:

Moist areas at the edge of ponds and marshes

Photo taken:

Chicago Bog at Lime Hollow Nature Center

 

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

 

 

Botanical name:

Maianthemum canadense

Common name:

Canada mayflower

Habitat:

Moist woods

Photo taken:

Watkins Glen State Park

 

Fragrant waterlily (Nymphaea odorata)

 

 

Botanical name:

Nymphaea odorata

Common name:

Fragrant waterlily

Habitat:

Ponds and small lakes

Photo taken:

Sanford Lake

 

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

 

 

Botanical name:

Phytolacca americana

Common name:

Pokeweed

Habitat:

Edges of damp upland woods, roadsides, and old pastures

Photo taken:

Erie Canal trail (Wayne County)

 

Silverweed (Potentilla anserina)

 

 

Botanical name:

Potentilla anserina

Common name:

Silverweed

Habitat:

Sandy or gravelly shores

Photo taken:

Onondaga Lake

 

Prairie rose (Rosa setigera)

 

 

Botanical name:

Rosa setigera

Common name:

Prairie rose

Habitat:

Shrub, usually found in open areas where the ground is fairly moist.

Photo taken:

Hamlin Beach State Park

 

Flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)

 

 

Botanical name:

Rubus odoratus

Common name:

Flowering raspberry

Habitat:

Shrub, usually found in open areas where the ground is fairly moist.

Photo taken:

Chimney Bluffs State Park

 

 Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

 

Botanical name:

Tiarella cordifolia

Common name:

Foamflower

Habitat:

Moist woods

Photo taken:

Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park

 

Common cattail (Typha latifolia)

 

 

Botanical name:

Typha latifolia

Common name:

Common cattail

Habitat:

Ponds and marshes

Photo taken:

Jennings Pond. Can also be found around Braddock Bay and at the southern end of some of the Finger Lakes.

 

Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata) 

 

Botanical name:

Uvularia perfoliata

Common name:

Perfoliate bellwort

Habitat:

Moist woods

Photo taken:

Lake Treman

 

Created 1 September 2011

 

 

 

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