Edible Mushrooms: March Wax Cap (Hygrophorus marzuolus)
Karen The March wax cap grows singly, scattered or in clusters in the siliceous soil of mixed forests in the mountains of North America, Europe and Asia. It appears in the…
Plant Profile: Prostrate Sand Verbena (Abronia umbellata)
Also known as beach sand verbena and purple sand verbena, this tender perennial is often grown as an annual and is a member of the four o’clock family, Nyctaginaceae, that…
Plant Profile: Caucasian Wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia)
Native to deep moist soils of the Caucasus, this suckering deciduous tree is a member of the walnut family, Juglandaceae, that also includes pecan and hickory. It grows up to…
Edible Mushrooms: The Cep (Boletus edulis)
Also known as the porcino (plural, porcini) mushroom, this distinctive fungus is a favorite of cooks. It is found in late summer and fall growing in deciduous woods especially oak…
Plant Profile: Warley Rose Stonecress (Aethionema x warleyense)
This evergreen subshrub is probably a cross of A. armenum and A. grandiflorum. It is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes broccoli, cabbage, and asylum. Plants…
Edible Mushrooms: Charcoal Burner (Russula cyanoxantha)
The charcoal burner can be found singly or in troops from summer to fall in deciduous and coniferous woodlands of the northern temperate zone including North America and Europe. It…
Plant Profile: Redwood Inside-Outside Flower (Vancouveria planipetala aka V. parviflora)
Also known as redwood ivy, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the barberry family, Berberidaceae, that also includes nandina, mahonia, and epimedium. It is native to northwestern California…
Edible Mushrooms: Saffron Milk Cap (Lactarius deliciosus)
Groups or troops of saffron milk cap can be found in summer and fall growing in the calcareous and siliceous soil in coniferous forests especially under pines. It is native…
Plant Profile: Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Sneezeweed is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to eastern and north central North America where it…
Edible Mushrooms: Orange Peel Fungus (Aleuria aurantia)
Orange peel fungus belongs to the group called “sac fungi”, Ascomycetes, because they produce their spores is sac-like structures called asci (singular ascus). The asci are produced in cup-like orange…