Plants by Flower Color and Type
	HOME What Is This? Notebook Plants Main Plant Index Fungi What's New? Shot of the Week Hikes Drives Thoughts Equipment Heroes & Heroines Awards Contact Me Links to Other Sites Book References		GO SET THE TABLE Some people work well with a visual table that breaks flowers down by color and type, and that's what this page is for, to try and identify a plant by generalizing its color and shape. For instance, if you were trying to identify any of the goldenrods, you'd click on the far right icon, third one down, because it's a yellow long cluster. The odd-shaped category has those flowers that are generally symmetrical down the middle (bilateral symmetry), such as irises and pink lady slipper, but also clover and solomon's seal falls into this catch-all group. Note: Some categories do not have any flowers of this type (such as green ray flower). Either i haven't found them yet, or there's not a type like that in this area. Some plants will be in more than one category such as flowering dogwood that has white simple flowers and red berries, and turtlehead that has flowers that can be white or purplish. Click on the picture of the type of flower you'd like to identify. And no, this is not a million-to-one slot machine.  SIMPLE  FLOWERS Most simple flowers, at least the showy ones are part of a flowering strategy that is pollinated by insects, usually bees. Flowers such as these are generally landing indicators for these insects and often have an ultra-violet pattern that aids insect location also, since many insects - bees included - see light in that spectrum.  Simple Flower, Blue Blue Star Amsonia tabernaemontana Bluets Houstonia spp Blue-Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium augustifolium Violet Viola spp. BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, Brown Purple Trillium Trillium erectum Red Trillium Trillium sessile BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, Green Indian Cucumber RootMedeola virginiana BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, Orange Carolina Lily Lilium michauxii Turk's Cap Lilly Lilium superbum BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, Purple None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, Red and Pink Catesby's Trillium Trillium catesbaei Fire Pink Silene virginica Flowering Raspberry Rubus odoratus Houstonia Houstonia purpurea Pink Wood Sorrel Oxalis violacea Purple Trillium Trillium erectum Red Bud Cercis canadensis Red Trillium Trillium sessile Spring Beauty Claytonia caroliniana Swamp Mallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wake Robin Trillium vaseyi Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, White Blackberry Rubus argustus Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis Bowman's Root Gillenia trifoliata Carolina Anemone Anemone caroliniana Chickweed Stellaria media Clinton's Lily Clintonia borealis Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Dodder Coscuta spp. Dogwood Cornus florida Horse Nettle Solanum carolinense Giant Chickweed Stellaria pubera Houstonia Houstonia purpurea Large Flowered Trillium Trillium grandiflorum Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum Nodding Trillium Trillium cernuum Oconee Bells Shortia galicifolia Painted Trillium Trillium undulatum Partridgeberry Mitchella repens Red Raspberry Rubus strigosis Starry Campion Silene stellata Sundew Drosera spp. Thimbleweed Anemone virginiana Twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla Violet Viola spp. Wild Strawberry Fraginaria virginiana Windflower Thalictrum thalictroides Wood Anemone Anemone quinquefolia BACK TO THE TOP  Simple Flower, Yellow Buttercups Ranunculus hispidis Hypericum Hypericum spp Seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia Sourgrass Oxalis europaea Sundrops Oenothera tetragorna Trout Lily Erythromium americanum Violet Viola spp. Yellow Star-Grass Hypoxis hirsuta BACK TO THE TOP  RAY  FLOWERS Composite, or Ray flowers represent an interesting flower strategy and is probably the most insect-pollinated type of flower (if such a thing can be). Each 'flower' unit is actually composed of many flowers in one and usually has two different kinds of flowers to appeal to as many insect-pollinators as possible. The central disk, if present, is usually not mature at once, but over time and represents a long-lasting strategy for multiple plant pollination.  Ray Flower, Blue Aster Aster spp. BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, Brown Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, Green None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, Orange None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, Purple Aster Aster spp. BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, Red and Pink Catesby's Trillium Trillium catesbaei Sweet Shrub Calycanthus floridus BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, White Aster Aster spp. Bushy Aster Aster dumosus Campion Silene ovata Fleabane Erigeron strigosis Oconee Bells Shortia galicifolia Oxeye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Robins-Plantain Erigeron pulchellus Virgin's Bower Clematis virginiana BACK TO THE TOP  Ray Flower, Yellow Aster Aster spp. Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Coreopsis Coreopsis pubescens Dandelion Taraxacum offincinale Dwarf Dandelion Krigia virginica Golden Ragwort Senecio aureus Lance-leaved Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Rattlesnake Weed Hieracium venosum Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Tall Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata BACK TO THE TOP  LONG CLUSTER  FLOWERS Many long cluster flowers are that way for the reason of being an opportunistic plant or pioneer species in fields. The plant grows to a certain height, but when flowering time arrives shoots a long stem filled with flowers up above the rest of the riff-raff plants (so to speak). This is a good strategy for flowers intended to attract insect pollinators, and nearly necessary for the wind-pollinators. Plants such as the ragweeds have male flowers waving in the air releasing pollen (much to the delight of allergists) so that the lower-positioned female flowers on the plant can be fertilized.  Long Cluster, Blue Beard Tongue Penstemon spp. Bellflower Campanula americana Great Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Heal All Prunella vulgaris BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, Brown None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, Green False Hellebore Veratrum viride BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, Orange None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, Purple Larkspur Delphinium tricorne BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, Red and Pink Beard Tongue Penstemon spp. Blazing Star Liatris spicata Kudzu Pueraria lobata Lyre Leaved Sage Salvia lyrata Obedient Plant Dracocephalum virginianum Smartweed Polygonum spp. BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, White Black Cohosh Cimicifuga racemosa Brook Saxifrage Boykinia aconitifolia Canada Mayflower Maianthemum canadense Devil's Bit Chamaelirium luteum False Solomon's Seal Smilacina racemosa Foam Flower Tiarella cordifolia Fly Poison Amianthium muscaetoxicum Galax Galax rotundifolia Goats Beard Aruncas dioicus Horseweed Erigeron canadensis Mountain Lettuce Saxifraga micranthidifolia Poison Ivy Rhus radicans Poke Phytolacca americana Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Wood Betony Pedicularis canadensis BACK TO THE TOP  Long Cluster, Yellow Butter and Eggs Linaria vulgaris Goldenrod Solidago spp Mullein Verbascum thapsus Whorled Loostrife Lysimachea quadrifolia BACK TO THE TOP  ROUND CLUSTER  FLOWERS Cluster flower heads, like the long cluster flowers, represent a flower strategy of "putting your best foot highest" so that they can be found by plant pollinators. Also, they probably intend to attract insects for a long period of time on an individual flower-head to minimize the amount of pollen the plant must produce to get 'stuck' to a pollinator. Because insects tend to linger and, whether a strategy or not, round clusters tend to foster mini-communities of insects specialized to take advantage of this. Flowers such as Milkweed have specialized communities and Queen Anne's lace that has insect predatory spiders and such waiting for lunch.  Round Cluster, Blue Fringed Phacelia Phacelia fimbriata Heal All Prunella vulgaris Phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida Phlox Phlox carolina BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, Brown None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, Green Ginseng panax spp. BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, Orange Butterfly Weed Asclepius tuberosa Flame Azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, Purple None In Database BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, Red and Pink Bee-Balm Monarda spp.. Catawba Rhododendron Rhododendron catawbiense Indian Paintbrush Castilleja coccinea Ironweed Venonia noveboracensis Joe-Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia Pinxter Rhododendron nudiflorum Rosebay Rhododendron maximum Variagated Milkweed Asclepius variagata Wild Bergamont Monarda fistulosa BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, White Baneberry Actaea pachypoda Bee-Balm Monarda spp.. Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata Ginseng panax spp. Great Laurel Rhododendron maximum Hoary Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum incanum Meadow Rue Thalictrum revolutum Mountain Ash Sorbus americana Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia Peppergrass Lepidium virginicum Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota Rabbit Tobacco Gnaphalium obtusifolium Sampson's Snakeroot Gentiana villosa Saxifrage Saxifraga michauxii Soapwort Gentian Gentiana saponaria Tall Meadow Rue Thalictrum polygamum Toothwort Dentaria laciniata Umbrella Leaf Diphylleia cymosa White Snakeroot Eupatorium rugosum Wild Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens Yarrow Archillea millifolium BACK TO THE TOP  Round Cluster, Yellow Bush Honeysuckle Diervilla sessifolia Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis St. John's Wort Hypericum prolificum BACK TO THE TOP  ODD SHAPED  FLOWERS Oddly shaped flowers are usually specialists in the type of pollinators they are trying to attract or specialists in some other way, though its hard to generalize about this diverse group. The plants in this group though tend to be ones that are part of stable habitats where specialization is advantageous.  Odd-shaped, Blue Dayflower Commelina communis Spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, Brown Dutchman's Pipe Aristolochia macrophylla Heart Leaf, Ginger Hexastylus heterophylla Jack In The Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidas Squaw Root Conopholus americana Wild Ginger Asaram canadense BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, Green Arrow Arum Peltandra virginica Blue Beard Lily Clintonia umbellulata Carrion Flower Smilax herbacea False Nettle Boehmaria cylindrica False Hellebore Veratrum viride Jack In The Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Plantain Plantago spp. Smooth Sumac Rhus glabra Solomon's Seal Polygonatum biflorum Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Winged Sumac Rhus copallina Wood Nettle Laportea canadensis BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, Orange Jewelweed Impatiens capensis Yellow Fringed Orchid (Habenaria ciliaris) BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, Purple Clover Trifolium spp Crested Dwarf Iris Iris cristata Dwarf Iris Iris verna Stiff Gentian Gentiana quinquefolia Turtlehead Chelone cuthbertii BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, Red and Pink Bleeding Heart Dicentra exima Bull Thistle Carduus lanceolatus Clover Trifolium spp Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Indian Paintbrush Castilleja coccinea Pink Lady Slipper Cyprepedium acaule Pinxter Rhododendron nudiflorum Pitcher Plant Sarracenia spp. Shooting Star Dodecatheon meadia Showy Orchid Orchis spectablis Spurred Butterfly Pea Centrosema virginianum Twisted Stalk Streptopus roseus BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, White Button Bush Cephalanthus occidentalis Clover Trifolium spp Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra circullaria Golden Seal Hydrastis canadensis Indian Pipe Monotropa uniflora Nodding Mandarin Disporum maculatum Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Leucothoe Leucothoe spp. Lily of the Valley Convallaria montana Showy Orchid Orchis spectablis Solomon's Seal Polygonatum biflorum Squirrel Corn Dicentra canadensis Teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Turtlehead Chelone cuthbertii BACK TO THE TOP  Odd-shaped, Yellow Arrow Arum Peltandra virginica Halberd Leaved Yellow Violet Viola hastata Pale Jewelweed Impatiens pallida Pussy Willow Salix discolor Squaw Root Conopholus americana Wild Oats, Bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana Yellow Ladyslipper Cyprepedium calceaolus var. pubescens BACK TO THE TOP  SEED &  FRUIT The strategy of seed and fruit types could probably fill a website itself. Sweet fruits tend to attract mammals for the advantage of wide seed dispersal, or 'seedy' and un-sweet fruits appealing to habitat-specific birds whose taste-buds are not sweet-oriented. Some seeds are tiny and attractive to ants who take the seeds back to the nest and bury them. Other seeds employ 'shooting' or 'popping' strategy of dispersal (such as Jewelweed, known for this reason as Touch-Me-Not) so consequently have no need for a fruit capsule to attract animals.  Seed & Fruit, Blue Carrion Flower Smilax herbacea Clinton's Lily Clintonia borealis BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, Brown Seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia Smooth Sumac Rhus glabra Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina Winged Sumac Rhus copallina BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, Green None In Database Many unripened fruits such as Solomon's Seal are green. BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, Orange Mountain Ash Sorbus americana BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, Purple Blackberry Rubus argustus Blue Beard Lily Clintonia umbellulata Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Indian Cucumber Root Medeola virginiana Poke Phytolacca americana BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, Red and Pink Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Dogwood Cornus florida Ginseng panax spp. Jack In The Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Partridgeberry Mitchella repens Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina Smooth Sumac Rhus glabra Teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Winged Sumac Rhus copallina BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, White Baneberry Actaea pachypoda Common Milkweed Asclepius syriaca Dandelion Taraxacum offincinale BACK TO THE TOP  Seed & Fruit, Yellow None In Database BACK TO THE TOP