Flora Pittsburghensis

Category: Compositae

  • Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)

    Eutrochium fistulosum
    Photographed August 1 with a Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6.

    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.

    Close-up of the flower heads

    These plants were growing in the native-plant field in Robin Hill Park, Moon Township.

    Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed
    Trumpetweed

    For a description of the species, see the Eutrochium fistulosum reference page.

  • Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)

    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.

    Photographed June 24 with a Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6.

  • Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)

    Packera aurea

    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.

    Golden Ragwort
    Photographed April 30 with a Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6.

    For a description of the species, see the Packera aurea reference page.

  • Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

    Tussilago farfara
    Photographed March 14.

    Coltsfoot is up and blooming, pushing its way through the leaf litter in Bird Park, Mount Lebanon.

    For a description, see the Tussilago farfara reference page.

    Coltsfoot emerging from the leaves
    Two Coltsfoot flowers

  • Chicory (Cichorium intybus), White Form

    White form of Chicory

    Chicory is almost always blue, but like many blue flowers it can sometimes appear in a pink or white form. This pure-white Chicory was growing in a cemetery in Etna.

    Cichorium intybus, white form

    For a fuller description, see the Cichorium intybus reference page.