Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
Updated May 8th, 2021A carrot-family perennial of moist to mesic, sunny areas, with yellow blossoms, native to eastern North America.
Welcome to bplant.org!
bplant.org is a website to help you learn about plants and their ecology, and share plant distribution information, with an eye towards preserving, protecting, and restoring biodiversity.
Contents
↑Recently Updated Plant Articles
Bishop's Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Updated May 1st, 2021An herbaceous perennial, native to Europe, which spreads aggressively, forming large colonies, by underground rhizomes. Escaped from cultivation at various locations across North America, mostly in the northeast, where it is considered invasive.
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Updated May 1st, 2021A biennial native to Europe, and one of the most damaging invasives in forests of eastern North America.
↑Recently Updated Ecoregion Articles
North America » Northern Forests » Atlantic Highlands » Northeastern Highlands »
Adirondack High Peaks
Updated April 9th, 2021Mid-elevations (1,500-2,800 feet) in the Adirondacks, covered in a more conifer-rich variant of northern hardwood forests.
North America » Northern Forests » Atlantic Highlands » Northeastern Highlands »
Berkshire Transition
Updated April 9th, 2021A hilly, geologically diverse transition between the Berkshire mountains and lower elevations of coastal New England.
North America » Northern Forests » Atlantic Highlands » Northeastern Highlands »
St. John Uplands
Updated April 9th, 2021A mostly unpopulated, hilly upland region at the northern border of Maine, extending into Quebec and New Brunswick.
↑Recently Updated ID / Comparison Guides
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) vs. Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Updated April 28th, 2021These two species are sometimes confused, especially when people do not know to check against Sycamore maple. Both have serrated leaf margins and frequently have reddish-tinged petioles, samaras, and other features. The flower structure and timing is radically different, but the species can also be distinguished by leaves and buds with relative ease if you know what to look for. In North America, red maple is widespread and common, whereas sycamore maple is uncommon in the wild, and usually most common in and near urban areas.
Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) vs. Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Updated April 23rd, 2021These two species are occasionally confused where their ranges overlap in the northeast and Midwest. They are usually easily distinguished by their stems, inflorescence shape, and number of florets per head. They also have average differences in bloom color, leaf texture, and number of leaves per whorl, but these characteristics have more variability and overlap. E. purpureum prefers drier, shadier habitats, whereas E. maculatum is usually found in sunnier wetlands. The two species can hybridize, so it may not be possible to identify all individuals.
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) vs. White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Updated April 4th, 2021These 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. Red mulberry mostly occurs in mature bottomland forests whereas white mulberry is more likely as a pioneer species in disturbed habitats.
Want to get involved? Sign up for our interest list!
↑Recent Observations
↑Recent News (Blog)
A Control Section for Invasive Plants
April 15th, 2021
Progress Bars & State Ecoregion Legends
March 11th, 2021
Our 2020 Achievements
February 9th, 2021
Interlinking Databases for Plant Research
November 11th, 2020
