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↑Recently Updated Plant Articles

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Updated January 8th, 2025

A shade-tolerant deciduous tree of the northeast, often associated with climax communities on rich, mesic sites.

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Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)

Updated January 8th, 2025

An evergreen conifer native to North America, and a late-successional species found in areas that have not been disturbed recently. The only fir found in the northeast.

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Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)

Updated December 2nd, 2024

A tall perennial of moist, rich, disturbed sites, native to the eastern U.S.; the tallest Eutrochium.

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↑Recently Updated Ecoregion Articles

North America » Great Plains » South Central Semi-Arid Prairies » Cross Timbers »

Northern Cross Timbers

Updated January 30th, 2025

A region in Oklahoma and slightly into Kansas, with varied topography, soils, and vegetation cover.

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North America » Northwestern Forested Mountains » Western Cordillera » Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills »

Oak/Conifer Foothills

Updated January 23rd, 2025

Oak-pine savanna, transitional between the forested Cascades and open grasslands, straddling the Washington-Oregon border.

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North America » Northwestern Forested Mountains » Western Cordillera »

Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills

Updated January 23rd, 2025

Low mountains, hills, and plateaus in the rain shadow of the cascades, with open forests and grasslands at low elevations.

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↑Recently Updated ID / Comparison Guides (See All)

Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) vs. Giant Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

Updated February 4th, 2025

These 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, and they have many other differences. 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 into drier habitats, but requiring better drainage.

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American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) vs. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

Updated January 30th, 2025

These species, one native, and one introduced and widely considered invasive, are visually similar. They can be reliably distinguished by flower and fruit cluster arrangement, and sometimes by fruit capsule color, leaf shape, or leaf serration pattern. Both species are variable in appearance, and looking at multiple characteristics is important. These species also can potentially hybridize; the rate of hybridization in the wild is unknown. The native C. scandens ranges farther north and west, prefers calcareous or mafic soils, and is slightly more drought-tolerant, whereas the introduced C. orbiculatus ranges farther southeast, tolerates a wider variety of soils but is less drought-tolerant.

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Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) vs. Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

Updated January 24th, 2025

These two goldenrods are challenging to tell apart where their ranges overlap. Both are tall, rhizomatous, grow in sunny habitats, and have triple-nerved leaves and large inflorescences. They can be distinguished by degree of serration on upper leaves, and by involucre and pappus length. Ball galls on the stem identify some plants as S. altissima. There are average differences in inflorescence shape, bloom time, and pubescence on leaves and stems. S. altissima ranges much farther south and west, and tolerates drier conditions. S. canadensis ranges farther north, prefers moister conditions, and is slightly more shade-tolerant. Inconsistent taxonomic treatments complicates ID.

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