Trail Ramblings: What IS That Plant?

I give you a re-post this week of some common sights along the trails, because some things don’t change

You ride past them, but do you know what they are? Trail corridors, ditches, and waterways are great places to see both native and invasive plants. Some are medicinal, some are edible, and some are poisonous, would you know the difference? Some trails provide identification markers, and our LPSNRD has installed interpretive signs showing invasive plant species at some state parks and along the Mopac on the other side of the Platte river. Some of you I know are very knowledgeable about identifying plants, others birds, and still others, insects. This week I’ll show you a few common plants from along the trails you may recognize when you’re out riding. One can even help if you get stung out there.

Most of the plants I’m showing here are edible in some form, but always make sure you know what the plant is, what part of the plant you can use, and how to process it before you attempt any use. There are also apps for your smart phone to help with identification, but I haven’t tried them. I have books.

• Sumac planted as landscaping.

Pokeweed is toxic unless you know how to process it.

Milkweed shoots, flowers, and immature pods are edible.

Goldenrod, our state flower. Not the cause of your allergies, that would be ragweed, which blooms at the same time.

New England aster is native here.

There are far too many more for me to mention them here, but try to become familiar with what you ride by, they’re all part of the reason we enjoy being out on our trails unless of course, you’re allergic to them.