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Recently Updated Plant Articles

Dwarf Cinquefoil

Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)

Updated May 5th, 2025

A native, creeping perennial of Eastern North America, occurring on dry to mesic, lightly-shaded sites with acidic soil.

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Tall Thoroughwort

Tall Thoroughwort (Eupatorium altissimum)

Updated April 17th, 2025

An upright perennial of dry, sunny, disturbed habitats, often on high-pH soils, native to the eastern to central US and expanding into the northeast.

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Purple Deadnettle

Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)

Updated April 17th, 2025

A winter annual native to Eurasia and introduced in North America, usually found on rich, moist sites with disturbed soil.

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Recently Updated Ecoregion Articles

tall, narrow coniferous trees in the foreground, and a hilly landscape with a few areas of now in the background
North America » Northern Forests » Boreal Plain »

Clear Hills and Western Alberta Uplands

Updated April 10th, 2025

A hilly region central along the Alberta-British Columbia border, east of the Canadian Rockies, covered in boreal forest.

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overlook from a somewhat open deciduous forest in winter, with water in the background
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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Recently Updated ID / Comparison Guides (See All)

collage of Red Mulberry and White Mulberry

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) vs. White Mulberry (Morus alba)

Updated June 3rd, 2025

These species are usually easy to tell apart if looking at a pure species, but they readily hybridize and form intergrades, and it may not be possible to identify all individuals. The native red mulberry mostly occurs in mature bottomland forests whereas the invasive white mulberry ranges farther north and west, and is more likely as a pioneer species in disturbed habitats.

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collage of Clayton's Sweetroot and Aniseroot

Clayton's Sweetroot (Osmorhiza claytonii) vs. Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis)

Updated May 12th, 2025

These two species are visually similar, frequently occur together in the same habitat, and bloom at the same time. They can be told apart by examination of their flower clusters and seeds, and they have subtle differences in their leaves as well. O. claytonii ranges farther north, favors higher elevations, tolerates slightly drier sites and rockier soil, and is slightly more restricted to sites with good drainage, whereas O. longistylis ranges farther south and west, favors lower elevations, and is slightly more likely on moister sites.

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collage of Dwarf Cinquefoil and  European Cinquefoil

Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis) vs. European Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)

Updated May 1st, 2025

These two species, one native and one introduced, are visually-similar and easily confused; both can grow in lawns, but they have little overlap in preferred soil conditions. They can be distinguished by leaves and flowers as well as several other subtle differences. The native P. canadensis has a more extensive range, and prefers dry, acidic soils, whereas P. reptans has only been introduced at scattered sites, but it can occur farther west, and can be invasive where it occurs. It ranges into moister conditions and prefers near-neutral pH.

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