Daisy Fleabane

Its common name comes from its daisy-

like flower which, when dried, were once

believed to keep away fleas.

Spotted Knapweed

It is possibly an allelopathic plant that

chemically changes soil to discourage

other plants and favor its own offspring.

Bouncing Bet

This flower is also called soapwort

because its roots contain suponin, a

chemical that becomes slippery and sudsy

when wet.

Queen Anne’s Lace

Queens Anne’s Lace also called wild

carrot, is tall with stems covered by tiny

hairs. Take caution: Queen Anne’s Lace

is sometimes confused with deadly water

hemlock.

Green Headed Coneflower

A tall, robust prairie perennial, green-

headed coneflower grows in moist soils

throughout the state look for its green

center (cone) and drooping yellow petals.

Common Mullein

Common Mullein is known for its very

soft, flannel-like leaves, hence its other

common name, Flannel plant. Early

settlers and Americans Indians placed the

soft wholly leaves in their footwear for

warmth and comfort.

Evening Primrose

The flowers of this plant are

pollinated by Sphinx Moths at night.

Yarrow

This is one of the

most familiar weeds near old

buildings, in pastures, and along

roadsides. At one time it was a

popular medicinal herd used for

stopping the flow of blood. A tea

was brewed from the leaves as a

cure for colds.

Bittersweet Nightshade

Sometimes Bittersweet Nightshade is

called Deadly Nightshade because its

leaves and unripe fruit contain the

alkaloid solanine. Although the toxin is

not fatal, it can cause problems for

young children if eaten in any quantity.

Sow Thistles

The Sow Thistles is a very common

weed that usually grows 1 to 3 feet

tall.

Common Milkweed

The plants milky sap contains

cardiac glycosides and, if eaten, will

cause hot flashes, rapid heart rate

and general weakness.

Bristle Grass

Bristle grass seed heads are

like miniature bristle

brushes.

Field Thistle

The white “wool” under its clasping

leaves and the set of small leaves

just beneath each flower help to

positively identify the Field Thistle,

one of many thistles found in

Michigan. The plant is favorite of

bees and wasps.

Horehound

Like many other mints, it has 4-

angled stems, opposite aroma. The

stems are whitish, and the dark

gray-green, tiny white flowers are

in whorls in the leaf axils.

Chicory

Also called Blue Sailor or Ragged

Sailor. Chicory’s few flowers open

one at a time and last only one day.

Heal-All

The common names refer to this

plant’s use as a folk medicine in

many cultures throughout the

world.

Knotweed

Knotweed is also known as

Knotgrass, Bird grass, Door weed,

and Way grass, is of uncertain

origin; it may have come from

Eurasia.