Nearctica - Biomes - Eastern Deciduous Forest

Wildflowers of Eastern Deciduous Forest 2

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	Trout Lily, also sometimes called Yellow Adder's Tongue, is one of the more common spring flowers of the Eastern Deciduous Forest. The species is easily recognized by its yellow, star-shaped flower with orange stamens borne on a long stem and by its blotchy leaves. The species occurs throughout eastern North America from Nova Scotia in the north, southward to Florida, and westward to the eastern edge of the prairie regions of the continent. There are other species of Erythronium, a few in the east, but several in the western parts of North America.
	Herb Robert is just one species in the large genus Geranium. Species of Geranium are found throughout the Eastern Deciduous Forest, mostly in forest, although some species are found in empty fields and in roadside ditches. This particular species is a denizen of open woods or meadows. It flowers throughout the summer and can be recognized by the small flowers in pairs and leaves which are not as complexly cut as most other species of wild geraniums. Wild Geraniums are not related to the "Geraniums" sold as garden flowers.
	Wild Ginger is found in rich woodlands throughout the Eastern Deciduous Forest. The plant and flower appear in the early spring and is easily recognized by the heart-shaped fuzzy leaves, and the cup-like red flower arising from the base of the plant. Wild Ginger gets it name from volatile oils that smell like commercial ginger root. However Wild Ginger is not related to commercial ginger.
	Jack-in-the-pulpit (Araceae: Arisaema triphyllum) is one of the most peculiar plant species of the Eastern Deciduous Forest. The species is found throughout the eastern United States in rich woods and swamps. The flowers (the peculiar structure in the middle of picture) consists of a cylindrical, striped structure called a "spathe" with a club-shaped "spadix" inside it. The flower has reminded people of a parson in a pulpit, hence the name. The flower and plant appear in the spring and early summer. The berries, appearing later in the summer or fall, are bright red. The berries are full of oxalic acid and are considered poisonous.