Kentucky Plant Life: Herbaceous Flowering Plants
A "wildflower" simply refers to a flowering plant growing without the aid of human cultivation. Scientists do not normally use the term "wildflower". Instead, dividing herbaceous flowering plants into native, introduced, and naturalized species. Some examples of flowering plant species native to Kentucky are shown below.
Goldenrod
Photo Compliments of the U.S. Government.
Goldenrod is the common name for the flowering plant pictured above. This perennial, one of about 100 related species, typically blooms in the autumn and is adaptable to a variety of habitats. It will grow and flourish on flat or hilly land, and under the cover of woods or in open meadows. It grows from 1 to 7 feet, (30 cm to 2 meters). Common throughout the state, the goldenrod was adopted as the Kentucky State Flower in 1926.
Squirrel's Corn
Copyright Tom Barnes, University of Kentucky. All Rights Reserved. Used with
permission
Squirrel's Corn is a perennial that grows to 6 inches (15 cm) in height and is a member of the fumitory family as is the Dutchman's Breeches shown below. Compare the blooms of the two native Kentucky plants, which are similar. The Squirrel's Corn and Dutchman's Breeches can sometimes be found growing side by side in Kentucky, as the plants thrive in similar environments.
Dutchman's Breeches
Public domain photo by Catie Drew.
Dutchman's Breeches (or Britches) gets it name from the appearance of the blooms which look like pants hanging upside down on a clothesline. This flower is a perennial and a spring time bloomer. The plant can reach a height of 5-10 inches. Notice the similarities of both the blooms and leaves of this flower and its cousin, Squirrel's Corn, pictured above it.
Fire Pink
© Copyright 2006 Roger D. Benge. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
Fire Pink is a native species to Kentucky. This flowering herbaceous plant is also called "Catch Fly" because insects stick to its foliage.
Yellow Lady's Slipper
The Yellow Lady's Slipper, shown above, is one of the orchids native to Kentucky. The orchid family is second only to the grasses as the largest in the plant kingdom. Wild orchids grow throughout the world except in the coldest regions. |
Kentucky Lady's Slipper
The Kentucky Lady's Slipper is a close relative of the Yellow Lady's Slipper, shown at left. Once thought to be the same flower, it has been determined that the flower shown above (Cypripedium kentuckiense - Kentucky Lady's Slipper) is a species all its own. This species has the largest bloom known of the Lady's Slipper orchids. |
Pennyroyal
|
Parts of this plant have been put to various uses in folk
medicine. The essential oil is highly concentrated and can be quite toxic
to humans. The oil has been used to ward off insects and ticks,
and as a flea repellant for pets. [See: Pennyroyal Region] |
