Flora Pittsburghensis

Author: Father Pitt

  • St.-John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

    Hypericum perforatum

    A cheerful yellow flower that pops up in vacant lots and poor soil; here it was growing between the stones of the railroad viaduct that runs along the back of the South Side. As an herbal remedy for depression, St.-John’s-Wort seems to be one of the few herbal remedies actually supported by good science; unfortunately, the unregulated state of herbal medicines in the United States means that pills labeled “St.-John’s-Wort” may not contain the amount indicated on the label, or any at all.

    For a fuller description and more pictures, see the Hypericum perforatum reference page.

    St.-John’s-Wort

  • Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

    Hemerocallis fulva

    We see daylilies everywhere, in gardens and in the wild. But we seldom see them growing out of a stone wall. These plants live between the stones of the railroad viaduct that runs along the back of the South Side, where they were photographed June 20.

    Daylily growing from a stone wall

    For a fuller description of the species, see the Hemerocallis fulva reference page.

    Daylily flowers

  • Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria), Yellow and White Forms

    White form of Verbascum blattaria

    It seems that the yellow form is the more common form in most of this species’ range, but in Pittsburgh it is rare compared to the white form, which is everywhere. We found both colors growing in a recently cleared site along the Monongahela on the South Side.

    For a fuller description, see the Verbascum blattaria reference page.

    Yellow form of Verbascum blattaria
    White form again
    Yellow again
    Yellow

  • Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

    Penstemon digitalis

    A beautiful native flower, prized by gardeners, that is surprisingly common around here. This plant was growing in recently disturbed ground near a construction site—always a good place to look for interesting plants—along the Monongahela on the South Side. The pictures were taken on June 10.

    For a fuller description, see the Penstemon digitalis reference page.

    In the close-up picture below, we can see the hairy tongue, inside the tube of the flower, that gives “beardtongues” their name.

    Foxglove Beardtongue

  • Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)

    Also classified in the genus Lysimachia. These are unmistakable flowers, little bursts of scarlet popping out of sidewalk cracks and dry banks. They open only in fine weather and close, apparently in response to a drop in barometric pressure, if a storm is coming: thus another common name, “Poor Man’s Weatherglass.” These pictures were taken June 10 along the Mon on the South Side—in fine weather, as the flowers are happy to tell you.

    Baroness Orczy’s crusading fop took his name from these flowers.

    For a fuller description, see the Anagallis arvensis reference page.