Ontario’s Disturbed Wildflowers PART 2 By Andrew Barclay

Purple Loosestrife Beautiful killer that results in a monotypic (pure) stand Introduced in the 1800’s from ship ballast or European ships Invasive species that takes over wetland habitat choking out native plants leaves Purple loosestrife can produce up to 3 million seeds annually

Bladder Campion prefers neutral to alkali soils that are dry and is generally found alongside paths and in open grassy or rough ground important nectar source for butterflies and a favourite food plant of frog hoppers, the insects which create cuckoo spittle.

Buttercup Part of the very large genus Rananculus Begin flowering in April or May and prefers wet soils Poisonous to livestock and horses An old superstition says that if you see yellow light reflected on your skin by holding a buttercup under your chin it means that you like butter

Birds Foot Trefoil A member of the pea/bean family so has nitrogen fixing ability Common in forage, pasture or hay mixes Also referred to as ‘ eggs and bacon’ or ‘butter and eggs’ due to the yellow and orange colour of the flowers Commonly used for road side plantings on bare soil and road cuts

Common Plantain Part of the large genus Plantago, a relative of the banana Plantains are a staple food in the tropical regions of the world Poultice of the leaves relieves insect bites and poison ivy

Red Clover Red clover is part of the family of Leguminosae. Other names that have been given for red clover are cow clover, purple clover and bee-bread. Red clover has a hairy stem to prevent aunts from easily climbing the stems. It also has small leaves with a read flowery head on top. Red clover is used in the treatment of skin complaints and it is also used to help treat breast cancer.

A few important ‘very sane’ native wildflowers

Indian Paintbrush

Yellow Lady Slipper

Lakeside Daisy Lakeside daisy's live on limestone, similar rocks, on cliffs, and alvars and other open sunny areas. Status is threatend They bloom from late May to early July.