These dusty white thoroughworts are a Midwestern species that began to invade our area in the middle 1900s. They are now ubiquitous, but mostly along the railroads and highways by which they invaded.
For a description of the species, see the Eupatorium altissimum reference page.
The only flat-topped goldenrod in the Pittsburgh area, so it is easy to identify. This plant was making bees happy next to a bridge over Montour Run in Moon Township.
For a thorough description, see the Euthamia graminifolia reference page.
Formerly Eupatorium fistulosum, but the genus Eupatorium has been split into several genera. This beautiful and elegantly constructed plant, also known as Trumpetweed, bears domes of dusty mauve flower heads on towers of whorled leaves, usually five to seven in a whorl. The plants can easily grow to seven feet or more. They prefer a damp environment, and are often seen in the soggier parts of roadsides and fields.
These plants were growing in the native-plant field in Robin Hill Park, Moon Township.
For a description of the species, see the Eutrochium fistulosum reference page.
Our only bright orange dandelion-like flower, impossible to confuse with anything else. In many modern classifications this is placed in the genus Pilosella as Pilosella aurantiaca, but the taxonomy is still more confused than old Pa Pitt cares to sort out. It is not a common flower in the city of Pittsburgh, but a little bit to the north it becomes ubiquitous. St. Peter’s Cemetery in Arlington is one of the places in Pittsburgh where Orange Hawkweed does grow, and that is where these plants were photographed.
Like bright yellow asters, these cheery composite flowers come out in time for Mayday. These were blooming in the Kane Woods Nature Area in Scott Township. There is nothing else like them blooming in the spring around here, so they are easy to recognize.
For a description of the species, see the Packera aurea reference page.
