Hobbies And Interests
Polygonum Hydropiper
Polygonum hydropiper, common smartweed or water pepper, lives in wet soils. It is an annual plant with fibrous roots. It flowers from June to November. The flowers form drooping arches that can get up to about 3.5 inches in length. Their seeds provide feed for aquatic animals. About 20 species of Polygonum occur in Michigan.
Sarracenia Purpurea
Sarracenia purpurea, Northern Pitcher-plant or Purple Pitcher-plant, lives in Michigan's bogs. Because bog soil contains few nutrients, this plant adapted by becoming carnivorous. It captures and digests insects. Pitcher plants grow from 8 to 24 inches in height. The plant flowers from May to July, revealing dark, red flowers.
Picea Mariana
Black spruce, or Picea mariana, lives in bogs and swamps of the upper peninsula of Michigan and northern lower peninsula. It is a conifer tree. It has needles for leaves and its fruit are pine cones. This tree has a skinny trunk and grows about 80 feet tall. The wood of the Black Spruce is used to make Asian chopsticks.
Sagittaria Latifolia
Common Arrowhead, or Sagittaria latifolia, is a perennial and grows in shallow water. This plant has clusters of two or three white flowers. The flowers have three petals with yellow stamens. It is also known as the duck potato because its tuber provides food for waterfowl.
Larix Laricina
Tamarack, or American Larch, Larix laricina, belongs in the pine family. It grows up to a hundred feet tall. At one time, its wood was used for building sailing ships. It grows in swamps and bogs. Larches are unique because they shed their needles in the fall.