My mystery wildflower is now identified thanks to a mystery visitor who leaves no link. miss m, where ever you are thanks for the lead.

Her comment was short and sweet. Euphrasia stricta ! methinks Of course I went right to my field guides. DOH! Euphrasia americana was right in front of me all this time. Guess I need new glasses. You can see how tiny the flowers are in the small image.

(about lifesize)

Too many names: Euphrasia americana Euphrasia nemorosa Euphrasia arctica Euphrasia borealis Euphrasia canadensis Euphrasia curta Euphrasia officinalis Euphrasia pectinata Euphrasia tatarica There are several similar/same species and since I’m a happy go lucky kind of guy I’ll pass on the stricta and officinalis and go americana on this one.

I think Euphrasia stricta refers to a similar/same plant in Europe. It’s all so confusing with different sites using so many different names.

Euphrasia americana

A macro image shows why you might want to get a closer look on what you’re stepping on without noticing. But don’t bother looking unless you live fairly far north.

Euphrasia canadensis and Euphrasia borealis are probably better suited names. If you can’t see the Northern Lights you probably are too far south to be in the plant’s range.

The common name, Eyebright comes from the plant’s use as a medicinal plant to treat eye ailments. Google Eyebright and many sites will come up hawking their solutions.

It was interesting to find out this is a semi-parasitic plant that attaches to the roots of other plants.

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And now for a completely different THANK YOU for everyone over at Blotanical that voted for me during the Awards process.

My Goodness what where you thinking?
Did you really think I was the best NY State blog or did you stare at the Hypno-frog too long?

Anyway
Thank You for Staring.

Snakeroot has ‘fuzzy’ flower clusters similar to Boneset to which it is related.

Snakeroot – Eupatorium rugosum

This is a close relative to Joe-Pye-Weed, Boneset and Thoroughworts – all are Eupatoriums and members of the larger Daisy Family. White Snake-root is widely distributed across the country and found in thickets and open areas in rich woodlands. Average height of the plants is about 3 feet and the heart shaped toothed leaves are a good clue to it’s identity. A much closer look will revel tiny flowers with details almost too small to see with the naked eye.

This is a deadly beauty. The plant is poisonous and the source of Milk Sickness that causes weakness and nausea. When dairy cows eat the plant the toxins are passed through to the milk and passed along to anyone drinking it. Drinking milk tainted this way can cause death.

Gone to Seed

Seeds are tiny too. They’re designed to disperse on the wind. A few caught in a spider’s web didn’t catch a breeze.

Native Americans used the root to prepare a medicinal tea. Snake bites were treated with a poultice and smoke from burning the plant was used to revive the unconscious.

… and now for something a little friendlier

click for desktop background version

I still don’t know why they’re called Garter Snakes. I can’t imagine any woman holding up her stockings with a pair of these. One maybe – at a wedding.

While not rare this blue gentian is a bit harder to find than other wildflowers. It prefers wet meadows and I find it scattered here and there and each time I do is a pleasant surprise. So when I found these growing in a ‘lost’ corner of my yard I was thrilled.

Gentiana andrewsii

But now the thrill is gone. Somebody ate the tops off my new prize. A sure sign of Autumn in my yard is the return of the deer. I don’t mind them eating the Hostas. I’ll put up with then munching on the garden phlox. I even let them prune my Lilacs. But they went too far when they munched on the only Gentians on the property. As my hero and role model would say Of course you know this means war

I did find a little consolation prize growing in the lawn. I can’t identify it but this tiny flower is a real beauty.

I don’t have a clue. Wildflower? Garden Escapee? This is so tiny I can only think of thyme when I consider it as an escapee. I’m hoping someone can give me a clue. I probably only need a good smack upside the head so I can focus my thoughts. Right now I’m distracted by trying to figure out just what season it is.