Flora Pittsburghensis

Wild flowers of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania


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Tall Thoroughwort (Eupatorium altissimum)

Eupatorium altissimumPhotographed September 13.

Long stands of this dusty white thoroughwort line our highways. The narrow grey-green three-ribbed leaves (sometimes there are five ribs) are distinctive, and the mounds of white flowers are very attractive to honeybees. “All specimens in the Herbarium were collected recently,” says the 1951 Check List of the Vascular Flora of Allegheny County. “This is a Mississippi Valley species, entering the State from the southwest, particularly along the river bluffs.” Since then, the plant has become very much at home here, but it is still found mostly along the highways and railroads by which it entered.

More at the full article on Eupatorium altissimum.


Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

Solidago flexicaulis

We have added three more pictures of this woodland goldenrod. See a description at the full article on Solidago flexicaulis.

Solidago flexicaulisSolidago flexicaulis

Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)

Clematis ternifloraPhotographed September 5.

Two more pictures of a vine growing wild on a bank in Beechview. See more pictures at the full article on Clematis terniflora.


Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

Photographed September 5.

Even the usual plain white flowers are very attractive. The rarer bicolor forms like this are beautiful—and almost poetic when we add raindrops. The plant may be a pernicious weed, but we should appreciate the beauty even of our pernicious weeds.

More at the full article on Calystegia sepium.


Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)

Ipomoea purpureaPhotographed August 31.

More pictures of these weedy but gorgeous vines. See a complete description, and several more colors, at the article on Ipomoea purpurea.






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