# Wildflower IDs - New England - Please put me out of my misery! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624 "2011-08-13T23:30:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/1 "2011-08-13T23:30:21Z")
I need to ID these wildflowers. I took the pics in South Central Massachusetts. I have looked in my Audubon guide to New England and I have spent over 2 hours searching the net and I can’t find any of them. Please help me! [White and green leafy plant](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg) [Purple and white stalky flowers (there was a third flower too but I can’t remember what color it was)](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ2QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D204.jpg) [Very distinctive 6 petaled orange flower with spots. WHY CAN’T I FIND THIS!!!???](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ3QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D201.jpg) [White bunches of flowers](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ4QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D194.jpg) [I think I thought this was Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed but now I’m not sure](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ5QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D164.jpg) [Light purple and white bunchy flowers](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ6QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D157.jpg) [Yellow](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ8QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D141.jpg) [Kinda purple, pink, whitish](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ9QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D136.jpg) [Purple with funky petals](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ10QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D106.jpg) Yes, I am doing homework. BUT, I needed 20 plants and I have 21 identified. These are just annoying the hell out of me because I can’t find them. I don’t actually need them for the project. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/2 "2011-08-14T00:16:07Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > … > [Very distinctive 6 petaled orange flower with spots. WHY CAN’T I FIND THIS!!!???](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ3QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D201.jpg) You’ll kick yourself… > **[Google Search](http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=leopard%2Blily)** ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/3 "2011-08-14T00:30:09Z")
I am actually very happy to say that I have never heard of a leopard lily. 😃 Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/4 "2011-08-14T00:38:46Z")
Heh. Nor me - I guessed it based on just identifying it as something in the Lily family, and it having spots. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/5 "2011-08-14T00:44:53Z")
I actually tried that too but I was thrown by all the pictures with curled petals. I saw the pictures but never looked at the name because I was so sure it was wrong. Unfortunately, I forgot that half the assignment is identifying the plants. The other half is describing the leaves. I neglected to tell my boyfriend that as he was taking the pictures and he focused on the flowers. Now I have to search the internet to find good enough pictures of the leaves to finish my assignment. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/6 "2011-08-14T00:47:49Z")
Let’s have a look at some of the others… > [@congodwarf](#): > > [Purple and white stalky flowers (there was a third flower too but I can’t remember what color it was)](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ2QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D204.jpg) Don’t know, but looks like it belongs in the Labiatae/Lamiacae (same family as mint, rosemary, sage) > [@](#): > > [Light purple and white bunchy flowers](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ6QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D157.jpg) Some kind of clover. > [@](#): > > [Yellow](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ8QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D141.jpg) Evening Primrose > [@](#): > > [Purple with funky petals](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ10QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D106.jpg) Looks like chicory to me - but I can’t discern the non-flowering parts of the plant well enough in the photo. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/7 "2011-08-14T03:56:43Z")
If you have time, you could also make another field trip to Framingham to [The Garden in the Woods.](http://www.newfs.org/visit/Garden-in-the-Woods) When I had a toxic plant project long ago, I was able to find many of the plants there (with identifying signs). Their website also has a bloom gallery that might help you right now. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/8 "2011-08-14T04:14:35Z")
I would actually very much like to go there. Unfortunately I have no time. I didn’t even get the instructions for this project until late last night and it’s due on Tuesday. And, having signs is cheating. 😛 I have to identify them myself. I only asked for these because I don’t need them for the project and they were annoying me. I will check out the bloom gallery though, definitely. 7 hours at Old Sturbridge Village just to find 21 definite wildflowers. 5 hours collecting additional info, creating PowerPoint 2 hours, at least, to finish putting the info into the presentation, before I get to go to bed. It’s a good thing I enjoyed the 7 hour search today because it nearly makes up for this tedious project. I have to say though, my virtual herbarium looks very cool. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/9 "2011-08-14T04:43:18Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > [White and green leafy plant](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg) [Snow-on-the-mountain](http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week274.shtml) > [@](#): > > [Purple and white stalky flowers (there was a third flower too but I can’t remember what color it was)](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ2QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D204.jpg) [Great Blue Lobelia](http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/gb_lobeliax.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/10 "2011-08-14T15:13:25Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Great Blue Lobelia](http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/gb_lobeliax.htm) Well I never… I was so sure that one was a Labiate ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/11 "2011-08-14T15:37:18Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > [I think I thought this was Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed but now I’m not sure](http://s862.photobucket.com/albums/ab183/spike1380/?action=view¤t=220.jpg#!oZZ5QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs862.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab183%2Fspike1380%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D164.jpg) It’s Joe-pye weed. As to species, it’s probably either Eupatorium purpureum (eastern Joe-pye weed) or E. maculatum (spotted Joe-pye weed). The latter is supposed to have narrower leaves that taper gradually toward the base, but I can’t see the foliage well enough in your photo to make an educated guess on exactly what species it is. I should be an expert on E. purpureum by now, seeing as how I was foolish enough a decade ago to plant one small specimen in my garden and it has now reseeded itself into several solid stands in different parts of my perennial borders. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/12 "2011-08-14T15:56:29Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’s Joe-pye weed. As to species, it’s probably either Eupatorium purpureum (eastern Joe-pye weed) or E. maculatum (spotted Joe-pye weed). The latter is supposed to have narrower leaves that taper gradually toward the base, but I can’t see the foliage well enough in your photo to make an educated guess on exactly what species it is. > > I should be an expert on E. purpureum by now, seeing as how I was foolish enough a decade ago to plant one small specimen in my garden and it has now reseeded itself into several solid stands in different parts of my perennial borders. It could be ironweed, too. They’re pretty similar, as far as flowers and leaves go. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/13 "2011-08-14T16:08:24Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Let’s have a look at some of the others… > > Don’t know, but looks like it belongs in the Labiatae/Lamiacae (same family as mint, rosemary, sage) > > Some kind of clover. > > Evening Primrose > > Looks like chicory to me - but I can’t discern the non-flowering parts of the plant well enough in the photo. It is chicory. The plant is chopped off. Normally this would be over two feet tall. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/14 "2011-08-14T16:30:18Z")
White bunches of flowers - Sweet Pepperbush ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/15 "2011-08-14T16:38:37Z")
Kinda purple, pink, whitish - Slender Knotweed ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/16 "2011-08-14T18:35:10Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It could be ironweed, too. They’re pretty similar, as far as flowers and leaves go. It’s a thought, but I haven’t seen ironweed blossoms that splayed out like that. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/17 "2011-08-14T21:39:07Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It could be ironweed, too. They’re pretty similar, as far as flowers and leaves go. It’s definitely Joe-Pye-Weed. I had to go back today to get leaf pictures and the herb garden had it, labelled. Of course, when I did my search, I did it the hard way, by spending 7 hours walking around the place looking for wildflowers by the side of the paths. It never occurred to me to check the herb garden. They have a whole section of wildflowers. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wildflower-ids-new-england-please-put-me-out-of-my-misery/592624/18 "2011-08-15T16:57:52Z")
Light purple and white bunchy flowers = definitely clover. If you pull the flower petals off, you can suck on the ends. They’re very sweet.