Iris versicolor
 Common Name: Blue Flag Iris
 Description: This plant usually grows about
two to three feet tall. It has large showy flowers
in various colors. The flowers of this plant are
composed of three large, petal-like sepals and
three smaller petals. The leaves are large and
narrow.
 Habitat: This plant was found along the path
behind the Administration building on the
Seattle University campus on a dry, sunny day.
Iris versicolor is usually found in more
northern regions. They can be commonly found
by swamps or in wetter areas such as marshes,
damp forests, and wet meadows.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Liliopsida
o Order: Liliales
o Family: Iridacae
o Genus: Iris
~The large sepals of this flower act as landing pad for its pollinators such as bumblebees,
Skipper butterflies, and beetles.
~ The leaves of this plant are used to treat small burns and sores.
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
Rook, J.S. Earl. Iris Versicolor. http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/aquatics/irisver.html
Downloaded May 22, 2007
Iowa DNR Prairie Resource Unit. Seeds of Diversity
.http://www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/pdfs/09212006_newsletter.pdf Downloaded May 23,
2007
Maianthemum Dilatatum
 Common Name: False Lily of the
Valley
 Description: False Lily of the
Valley is a small herbaceous plant
with small white flowers in the form
of a racemose. The leaves have
parallel veins and are heart-shaped.
 Habitat: This plant was found along
the path behind the Administration
building on the Seattle University
campus on a dry, sunny day.
Maianthemum dilatatum is usually
found in moist areas such as
streambanks and dense woods.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Liliopsida
o Order: Liliales
o Family: Liliaceae
o Genus: Maianthemum
~The fruit of this plant has been used to treat tuberculosis.
~False Lily of the Valley grows in nitrogen rich soil.
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
Maianthemum Dilatatum. Plants for a future. http://www.pfaf.org/index.html. Downloaded May
22, 2007
Maianthemum Dilatatum http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_a701.html.
Backyard gardner. Downloaded May 22, 2007
Camassia quamish
 Common Name: Common Camas
 Description: Camas has small purplishblue flowers that are arranged in a
raceme. The leaves of this plant are
slender and grass-like.
 Habitat: This plant was found along the
path behind the Administration building
on the Seattle University campus on a
dry, sunny day. It is usually found in
moist areas that are dry by late spring.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Liliopsida
o Order: Liliales
o Family: Liliacae
o Genus: Camassia
~The seeds of camas take two years to mature and bloom.
~The bulb of this plant can be cooked for a sweet, tasty treat!
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
Author Unknown. Camas. http://www.paghat.com/camas.html. Downloaded. May 22, 2007
Dicentra Formosa
 Common Name: Pacific Bleeding
Heart
 Description: The bleeding heart is
a small herbaceous plant with
pinkish-purple flowers that are
heart-shaped.
 Habitat: This plant was found
along the path behind the
Administration building on the
Seattle University campus on a
dry, sunny day. They are usually
found in moist woods.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Magnoliopsida
o Order: Papaverales
o Family: Fumariaceae
o Genus: Dicentra
~Bleeding hearts are poisonous to cattle.
~The seeds contain bits of fat to attract ants which in turn carry the seeds to new locations.
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
Peters, Geoffery. Wildflowers: Bleeding Hearts.
http://www.intangibility.com/inw/Wildflowers/Bleeding-Heart.html. Downloaded May
23, 2007
Gage, Sarah. Pacific bleeding heart: Dicentra formosahttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com
/html/homegarden/2002924881_gardennative12.html?syndication=rss Downloaded May
23, 2007
Pulmonaria officinalis
 Common Name: Lungworts
 Description: Lungworts are
bluish-purple bell-shaped
flowers. Their leaves have small
white dots all over the surface
giving a mottled look.
 Habitat: This plant was found
along the path behind the
Administration building on the
Seattle University campus on a
dry, sunny day. This plant
usually grows in cool, wet
places.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Magnoliopsida
o Order: Lamiales
o Family: Boraginaceae
o Genus: Pulmonaria
~This plant provides nectar for bees early in the season when most plants are not producing
nectar.
~Lungwort has been used to treat chronic bronchitis.
Sources:
Pulmonaria officinalis .Plants for a future. http://www.pfaf.org/index.html. Downloaded May
22, 2007
Pulmonaria officinalis United States Department of Agricultural http://plants.usda.gov.
Downloaded May 22, 2007
Hyacinthoides hispanica
 Common Name: Spanish Bluebell
 Description: Spanish bluebells have small,
light blue flowers in the shape of bells.
Their leaves are grass-like and have
parallel venation.
 Habitat: This plant was found along the
path behind the Administration building on
the Seattle University campus on a dry,
sunny day. This plant usually grows in
moist areas with partial sun.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Liliopsida
o Order: Liliales
o Family: Liliaceae
o Genus: Hyacinthoides
~This pretty flower is poisonous when eaten.
~These plants are native to the UK but have been introduced into the US and can be found in
Washington and Virginia
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
United States Department of Agricultural http://plants.usda.gov. Downloaded May 22, 2007
Geranium oxonianum
 Common Name: Hardy geraniums
 Description: These herbaceous
plants have purple flowers with five
bilobed petals each. Their petals
have dark purple veins giving them
a striped look.
 Habitat: This plant was found along
the path behind the Administration
building on the Seattle University
campus on a dry, sunny day. These
plants prefer moist soil and partial
sunlight.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Magnoliopsida
o Order: Geraniales
o Family: Geraniaceae
o Genus: Geranium
~These plants are a cross between Geranium endressii and Geranium versicolor
~These plants can tolerate low temperatures, including those under 0°C
Sources:
Missouri Botanical garden. http://www.mobot.org/default.asp Downloaded: May 22, 2007
Author Unknown. HARDY GERANIUMS .http://www.esatclear.ie/~emal/geran.html
Downloaded: May 22, 2007
Polygonatum biflorium
 Common Name: Solomon’s
Seal
 Description: Solomon’s seal
has large parallel veined leaves.
White, tube-like flowers hang
underneath the leaves in groups
of two.
 Habitat: This plant was found
along the path behind the
Administration building on the
Seattle University campus on a
dry, sunny day. Solomon’s seal
prefers moist woodlands
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Liliopsida
o Order: Liliales
o Family: Liliaceae
o Genus: Polygonatum
~Pollinators of the plant include long-tongued bees such as bumblebees and also hummingbirds.
~The rhizomes of this plant are edible.
Sources:
Illinois Wild Flowers. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/water_hemlock.htm.
Downloaded: May 22, 2007
Missouri Botanical garden. http://www.mobot.org/default.asp Downloaded: May 22, 2007
Circuta Douglasii
 Common Name: Water Hemlock
 Description: This plant has small
white flowers that form and umbel
at the top of a stalk.
 Habitat: This plant was found
along the path behind the
Administration building on the
Seattle University campus on a
dry, sunny day. These plants are
usually found in wet areas such as
moist meadows.
 Taxonomy:
o Divison: Magnoliophyta
o Class: Liliopsida
o Order: Apiales
o Family: Apiaceae
o Genus: Circuta
~These plants are very poisonous, especially to cattle.
~These flowers provide nectar for many insects.
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
Goetz, Rebecca; Jordan, Thomas, and John McCain. Indiana Plants Poisonous to Livestock and
Pets Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University
Illinois Wild Flowers. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/water_hemlock.htm.
Downloaded: May 22, 2007
Equisetum Telmateia
 Common Name: Horsetail
 Description: Horsetail is a small herbaceous plant
with needle like leaves which protrude from the
center stalk in a radial arrangement.
 Habitat: This plant was found along the path
behind the Administration building on the Seattle
University campus on a dry, sunny day. Horsetail
is usually found in low, moist areas.
 Taxonomy:
o Division: Equisetophyta
o Class: Equisetopsida
o Order: Equisetales
o Family: Equisetaceae
o Genus: Equisetum
~When rinsed in hair, this plant can repel lice and fleas.
~This plant contains thiaminase which is an enzyme that depletes the body of vitamin B.
Sources:
Hitchcock, Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press. Seattle. 1973
Equisetum Telmateia .Plants for a future. http://www.pfaf.org/index.html. Downloaded May 22,
2007