Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is not listed in Haliburton Flora because it’s only near native here. Its northernmost range is southern Ontario. While spicebush can grow slightly north of Toronto, it’s likely if you see bright yellow flowers on a bush along the highway here you’ve spotted an escapee nonnative forsythia shrub. The resemblance lending … [Read more…]
Boletes (Boletus spp.) are not necessarily a beginner mushroom. They are also one of the least edible looking, with a spongey surface of pores where you’d expect the gills. Many varieties of boletes are toxic and will make you sick. Most of these toxic boletes having red to orange pore/”mouth” structures and/or they cut and … [Read more…]
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) are one of the top foraged mushrooms in our area. They’re up there with choice morsels like morels, chanterelles and dryad’s saddle. In some areas oysters are the most popular wild mushroom bought at farmer’s markets and stores. You can find oysters on hardwood trees, especially living and dead elm. Our … [Read more…]
Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides syn. Viburnum alnifolium) is the most common viburnum around Haliburton, Ontario. It’s easy to find along roadsides and in thickets on the edges of woods. Like some of our other shrubs, you may find it nonblooming in the understory. Sometimes called moosewood, it’s not to be confused with striped maple. Like other … [Read more…]
German chamomile alternately spelled camomile (Matricaria chamomilla syn. Matricaria recutita) is one of the few medicinal herbs that’s more of a household name. Although nonnative to Ontario, Canada, it’s an annual that isn’t much of a garden escapee. You’re unlikely to find it in the wild. And if you did find it, it’s likely near someone’s garden … [Read more…]
Watershield (Brasenia schreberi) is common around Haliburton, Ontario in still or slow flowing waters up to 1 m deep. Like lilypads, the leaves float on surface. They may also be confused with some species of pond leaves. The underside of the leaves are coated in slime. Edible Uses of Watershield The young leaves when still … [Read more…]