Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
Updated December 2nd, 2024A tall perennial of moist, rich, disturbed sites, native to the eastern U.S.; the tallest Eutrochium.
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Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium)
Updated September 12th, 2024A perennial of moist, sandy, acidic soils native to the coastal plain from New England south through South Carolina.
Persian Silktree (Albizia julibrissin)
Updated August 28th, 2024A small nitrogen-fixing tree native to the warmer parts of Asia. and planted as an ornamental in the US, where it has become invasive.
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North America » Northwestern Forested Mountains »
Boreal Cordillera
Updated November 7th, 2024An assemblage of mountains in interior northwestern Canada and Alaska, spanning the transition between forests and open tundra.
North America » Tundra » Alaska Tundra »
Seward Peninsula
Updated November 6th, 2024The peninsula of western Alaska closest to Asia, with varied topography and sparse, but diverse vegetation cover.
North America » Tundra » Alaska Tundra »
Subarctic Coastal Plains
Updated November 4th, 2024A poorly-drained region of open tundra with numerous small ponds, on the coast of western Alaska along the Bering Sea.
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Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) vs. Giant Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
Updated December 5th, 2024These two tall, thicket-forming goldenrods have a large range overlap and are easily confused. Both have triple-veined leaves and similar inflorescences. They are usually easily told apart by texture of the stems and leaves. Although their habitats overlap slightly, Solidago gigantea ranges farther north, is more restricted to richer, moister habitats, and is more tolerant of shade and poor drainage. Solidago altissima is more of a generalist, ranges farther south, and occurs in a wider range of habitats, particularly ranging into drier habitats, but is not quite as tolerant of poor drainage.
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) vs. Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
Updated October 13th, 2024Although these species sometimes look blatantly different, significant variation in individual leaf shape and other characteristics can make them challenging to tell apart. Both trees have broad habitat preferences, with considerable overlap. Black oak ranges farther south and prefers slightly warmer, drier sites, and is more tolerant of nutrient-poor sites, whereas northern red oak ranges farther north, prefers slightly cooler, moister sites, and is more shade-tolerant. The two species can also hybridize and form intergrades, so it may not be possible to identify all individuals.
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) vs. Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum)
Updated October 13th, 2024These closely-related plants can be tricky to distinguish, especially early in the season, before they bloom. Although they have some overlap in habitat, late boneset ranges farther south and prefers sunnier, wetter habitats, and is more tolerant of acidic soil, whereas white snakeroot ranges farther north and prefers shadier, drier conditions but requires more neutral soils.
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