Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is not listed in Haliburton Flora, as it’s another southern Ontario native. And even there it is rare. The tree has rather nefarious looking clusters of large thorns. And memorable large, brown boomerang shaped seed pods. Where I grew up, quite a ways south of Ontario, honey locust had filled a …
Northern bayberry (Morella pensylvanica syn. Myrica pensylvanica) isn’t listed in Haliburton Flora and despite the name is more abundant to the south. Its relation sweet gale/ bog myrtle is more common in our area. It’s native to Ontario but may be closer to near native in cottage country. Edible Uses of Northern Bayberry As the …
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) isn’t in the wilds of Haliburton, Ontario. There is one recorded on iNat in Dysart et al, but I can guarantee it was planted there. It’s only truly native to Pelee island as far as Ontario goes and according to Vascan the species is extirpated. A few hundred miles south and …
Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) is the only maidenhair fern in Ontario, Canada. You’ll find it in deciduous or mixed woods in leaf covered hummus. I find it deep in woods that humans haven’t touched too much. It’s a good sign of that (humans not disturbing an area much) when you see it in the …
The polypody ferns (Polypodium spp.) used to include maidenhair (next month’s feature plant), lady fern and wood ferns amoung other ferns. But the family has been narrowed down to 31 polypody species presently (2024). Rock polypody (Polypodium virginianum) is the most prevalent in Ontario, Canada by far. It’s common on rocky banks and rocky outcrops …
Rose twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus formerly S. roseus) is common around Haliburton county, Ontario. It prefers moist woods and partly shaded grassy banks. I tend to find it hiding in shady forest edges. It’s easy to miss the flowers, which hang underneath the leaves. But when you look close, its flowers are some of the prettiest …