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red trillium

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Our ace botanists are here to help you identify wild New England plants and to answer questions about their ecology and conservation. When posting a question, please provide the location, habitat (e.g. river, mountain, woodland), and photographs of the plant.

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Recently answered questions

Question

Hello Mr. Botanist, Is this Viola blanda? See pictures. Thanks, JuliaB

Answer

Dear JuliaB, good afternoon. You look like you may have photographed Viola striata. The plant in the pictures has an aerial stem (Viola blanda does not). I can't see the margins of the sepals, given the resolution, but they should have tiny hairs (cilia) along the margin. If you look with some magnification, you should be able to see them to confirm the identification. If the sepals are eciliate, then we need another hypothesis. Feel free to contact me at ahaines@nativeplanttrust.org to continue the conversation. (Thursday, 8 May 2025)
Question

hello, I just want to know what your default nomenclature for Viola pallens is. It’s obvious from the gobotany page. -however I’ve heard its really macloskeyi ssp. pallens, ( listed as synonym on your page) and now Viola minuscula for most of the country except western regions. Any thoughts? thank you

Answer

Dear Ethnobotanist, for a long while, Viola pallens was considered to be a subspecies of the western Viola macloskeyi. Recent research reaffirms they are distinct species and should be treated as such. However, examination of the type material to which the name Viola pallens is based on shows that it is Viola palustris. So, the next available name was Viola minuscula (published in 1906). The recent for the number of name changes for this violet are based on recent phylogenetic studies and misapplication of names due to a misidentification. I hope this is helpful. (Tuesday, 6 May 2025)
Question

Hi Ace Botanists! =) Last summer in my yard I removed a bunch of invasive Campanula rapunculoides (bellflower) and replaced it with some Garden in the Woods Conoclinium coelestinum (mistflower). The mistflower was healthy, grew quickly, flowered and filled its patch. But this year when I look at where it was, all I see is bellflower, I think. I've spent some time with the GoBotany key and wikipedia, as well as iNaturalist. I guess I will wait for the flowers before pulling it up?

Answer

Dear waggledance, good morning. Conoclinum coelestinum has opposite leaves, but these are alternate (based on your nice images), which suggests Campanula rapunculoides. The leaf outline is a better match for the latter species. Because these bellflower has underground stems (i.e., rhizomes), it can be difficult to remove. It is capable of resprouting from the rhizomes. Good luck with your yard. (Friday, 2 May 2025)