A Picture Guide to InterestingFlowering Plants

Bluets (Hedyotis caerulea)Madder FamilyThis species is one of the first plants to flower in the spring. Itcontinues to flower until the beginning of June. Bluets occur inopen areas of sandplains, mainly where high soil disturbancehas occurred. Like violets in the sandplains, these flowers arepatchy, occurring in white patches across the landscape.

Yellow Stargrass (Hypoxis hirsuta)Amaryllis FamilyThis species occurs at Long Point in only oneknown location where the soils are highlydisturbed. It blooms in May and is foundalongside Bluets in many cases.

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)Heath FamilyHeathlands at Wasque and Long Point are composedof many species. Some, such as Black Huckleberry,are highly flammable. Others such as Bearberry resistflames. A spring burn can char all vegetationsurrounding Bearberry, while barely affecting thisspecies (left). Bearberry forms low mats of densevegetation and have flowers that are bell-shaped likeblueberries (similar in part because they are in thesame family). They produce large red fruits similar tocranberries (also a heath species), but they should notbe eaten.

by Lloyd RaleighMay 25, 1999

Golden Heather (Hudsonia ericoides)Rockrose FamilyA low-lying shrub with yellow flowers, GoldenHeather blooms beginning in May. This species isfound in open areas of the sandplain grasslands andcoastal heathlands.

Beach Plum (Prunusmaritima)Rose FamilyBeach Plum bloomsbeginning in late May priorto leafing out. Fruit is pickedin late summer to makejellies and is excellent forwildlife. This species occurson well developed dunes orin sandy soils near the shore.

Scrub Oak (Quercus ilicifolia)Beech FamilyBlooming in late May, Scrub Oak is acommon shrub in open areas. Many raremoth species feed on Scrub Oak as larvae(caterpillars). Scrub Oaks dominate frostbottoms, a glacial relict.

Late Lowbush Blueberry(Vaccinium angustifolium)Heath FamilyThree species of blueberries bloom inMay. Their berries ripen in thesummer. Late lowbush blueberry islow-lying and is abundant, especiallyat Wasque.

Nantucket Shadbush (Amelanchiernantucketensis)Rose FamilyNantucket Shadbush blooms in May. This species is a rareshrub that occurs only on the Islands of Massachusetts.Shadbush bloom when the shad are arriving in the spring. Itis common at Long Point and Wasque.

Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)Rose FamilyThis small plant blooms beginning in early May or lateApril. This species is a common plant spreading throughthe sandplains. Its leaves are often mistaken for wildstrawberry, which also occurs in these open habitats.

Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)Rose FamilyTwo species of chokeberry exist in the sandplains: Redand Black Chokeberry. Both closely resemble oneanother. This species blooms beginning in May and isfound in the sandplains along with other shrubs such asNorthern Bayberry and Black Huckleberry.

Rockrose (Helianthemum spp.)Rockrose FamilyFour species of rockrose inhabit the sandplains.Each of these species is similar in that they all havebright yellow flowers. One of the four species,Bushy Rockrose, is a rare, state-listed plant. Thesespecies bloom in late May and early June.

Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)Rose FamilyWithin the sandplains are brambles: dewberriesand blackberries. These species all sharesimilar flowers and berries, which are edible inlate summer. Blackberries bloom beginning inlate May.

Blue Toadflax (Linaria canadensis)Figwort FamilyBlue Toadflax is a common plant in the dunes ofCape Poge. It blooms beginning in May. Theflowers are small, yet can be seen if one lookscarefully.

Sandplain Blue-eyed Grass(Sisyrinchium fuscatum)Iris FamilyThis is a rare species characteristic of thesandplains. It blooms beginning in June.Several species of blue-eyed grass occur onMartha’s Vineyard, yet the Sandplain Blue-eyed Grass grows only in the sandplains, inmore diverse, disturbed areas.

Yellow Thistle (Cirsiumhorridulum)Composite FamilyThis thistle blooms in late May and June. It is acommon species in the sandplains. The flowerhead is actually composed of hundreds of tinyflowers, each of which will produce a seed.

Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus)Legume FamilyThis beach pea blooms beginning in June. Itsnitrogen-fixing capabilities enrich the sterile soils ofbeach dunes. It occurs along with Beach Grass.Later in the summer, beans can be seen. They areedible.

Arrow-wood (Viburnum dentatum)Honeysuckle FamilyNative Americans made arrows from the narrow,straight branches of this shrub. Arrow-woodblooms in June and is abundant in the sandplains.

Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor)Composite FamilyThis invasive exotic species blooms in Julyand is common throughout the sandplains.Its spiny leaves deter herbivores such asdeer or grazing sheep.

Goat’s Rue (Tephrosiavirginiana)Legume FamilyGoat’s Rue blooms in July and occurs indense patches within the sandplains. Itsflowers are creamy rose.

Beach Heather (Hudsonia tomentosa)Rockrose FamilyThis species is closely related to the GoldenHeather found in the sandplains. Found in theforeground of this picture, Beach Heather grows inthe sand dunes of Cape Poge. Pictured here is adune near The Cedars.

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalismargaritacea)Composite FamilyThis species blooms in August, yetretains its white blooms into the fall, asits seeds develop. This species favorsgrassy areas and is fairly common.

Wild Indigo (Baptesiatinctora)Legume FamilyWild Indigo blooms in mid summer. It isa common plant in open areas of thesandplains. In the fall, its stem breaksand the plant rolls around liketumbleweeds, dispersing its seed.

Wild Morning Glory (Calystegiasepium)Morning Glory FamilyThis species blooms during the summer,predominately in July. It is found in shrubbyareas in the sandplains, near dunes. Thisspecies is more common at Long Point.

Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)Rose FamilyRoses range from Virginia Rose to Salt-sprayRose. Most of these species bloom throughoutthe summer, predominately in July. Roses areabundant and form dense patches. The rose hips(fruit) are edible and high in Vitamin C.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)Composite FamilyThis species blooms in July and is commonlyfound in the sandplains at both Wasque andLong Point. It appears similar to Queen Ann’sLace, which is in the parsley family and occursin richer meadows.

Sickle-leaved GoldenAster (Chrysopsisfalcata)Composite FamilyThis aster blooms throughoutthe late summer on dunes andwithin heavily disturbed areasof the sandplains. LittleCopper and other insects (seephoto) feed upon its nectar.

Racemed Milkwort(Polygala polygama)Milkwort FamilyThis species bloomspredominately in July in thesandplains, mainly in grassyareas. In this photograph itis blooming along with twocommon grasses of thesandplains: Sheep Fescueand Poverty Grass.

Wood Lily (Liliumphiladelphicum)Lily FamilyWood Lily occurs at Long Point inseveral locations. This species is moreuncommon on our properties. It bloomsin August.

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)Pokeweed FamilyPokeweed occurs in more disturbed areas. Its smallflowers bloom in the summer, but its purple berries in thefall are more conspicuous and provide food for birds.The berries are, however, toxic to humans.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)Milkweed FamilyThis species blooms in August and September,providing food for many insect species feeding onits nectar. It is uncommon at both Wasque andLong Point.

Grass-leaved and Lance-leaved Goldenrods(Euthamia spp.)Composite FamilyThese two goldenrods are abundantthroughout the sandplains, oftenassociated with shrubs such asNorthern Bayberry. Their leaves arelong and thin, distinguishing themfrom other goldenrods.

Northern BlazingStar (Liatrisscariosa)Composite FamilyThis brilliant purple flower iscommon at Wasque. It is arare species found only inopen areas such as thesandplains and blooms in latesummer and early fall.

Downy Goldenrod (Solidago puberula)Composite FamilyDowny Goldenrods are fairly common. They bloom inthe sandplains in September.

Asters (Aster spp.)Composite FamilyAsters with purple flowers such asShowy Aster and Stiff Aster coverthe sandplains with color inSeptember. They occur in patchesalong with Little Bluestem, the tallbrown grass in the background ofthis photo.

Asters (Aster spp.)Composite FamilyAsters with white flowers are also common in thesandplains. Several species exist, ranging from theFlat-topped Asters, which bloom during the peak ofsummer, to the Heath Aster, pictured here, whichblooms in late summer.

Jointweed (Polygonella articulata)Buckwheat FamilyThis species (pictured below) has very small whiteflowers which bloom in late summer. This species iscommon in sandy areas of Cape Poge and on thesandplains of Wasque.

Seaside Goldenrod (Solidagosempervirens)Composite FamilySeaside Goldenrod (left) is abundant on dunes andsaltmarshes and is the last goldenrod to bloom. Itblooms into October and is characterized by thickfleshy leaves.

Rough-stemmedGoldenrod(Solidagorugosa)Composite FamilyRough-stemmedGoldenrod occursin thick patcheswith largedrooping flowerclusters.