Mayapple

alt Hogapple, Indian apple, Mayflower, Umbrella plant, Wild lemon, Wild mandrake, American mandrake

Podophyllum peltatum
May 19, 2010
 
Most flowers are shameless about strutting their stuff, but this one hides out beneath a dense mat of foot-high foliage. It's pollinated by bumblebees and other bees, perhaps by mistake as it has no nectar. There seems to be a minor academic sub-industry studying the pollination of this thing.
 
Altho the flowers bloom in May, the fruit appears and ripens later in the summer. It's edible in small quantities when ripe, but toxic in large amounts. Sort of like mercury, I guess (if you ask the coal industry). I think I'll pass.
 

Here's a look at the foliage:

Waterleaf

Hydrophyllum
May 19, 2010

Species not certain. I want to say Virginia waterleaf (H. virginianum); it's that or one of several very similar waterleaf species. Some of my photos suggest these were intermixed with a more broadleaved (less deeply lobed) species. If so, the bossoms were identical to my eye and I confused them at the time.

Here's another look:

Dame's Rocket

alt Damask Violet, Dame’s Violet, Dames-wort, Dame’s Gilliflower, Night Scented Gilliflower, Queen’s Gilliflower, Rogue’s Gilliflower, Summer Lilac, Sweet Rocket, Mother-of-the-evening, Winter Gilliflower

Hesperis matronalis
May 19, 2010

Dianthus

Dianthus, species unknown, similar to Dianthus barbatus
May 19, 2010

This amazing creature had me stumped (thistle with a petunia on top?) until a suggestion from my friend Galina pointed me to dianthus.

False Solomon's Seal

alt Treacleberry, Solomon's plume, False Spikenard
Maianthemum racemosum or Smilacina racemosa
May 19, 2010

Note the differences from Starry False Solomon's Seal: smaller flowers, more densely packed; wavy leaf edges.

Pussytoes

alt Catsfoot
Antennaria...
April 28, 2010

Not sure which of the many species this is. To me, it most resembles Alpine (alt Rocky Mountain) Pussytoes (Antennaria alpina) or Little-leaf Pussytoes (Antennaria parvifolia).

A bit more mature than last week, but possibly still not fully in bloom. They really do look like a cat's toes.

Starry False Solomon's Seal

Maianthemum stellatum or Smilacina stellata var. crassa
April 28, 2010

Authorities differ on the genus. Just beginning to blossom.