Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0942.JPG-06-30-2017
Flower name (scientific): Circaea canadensis (Linnaeus) Hill PY: 1765. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ser-SE-a kan-ah-DEN-sis
Flower name (common): Enchanter's Nightshade
Family name (common): Evening Primrose
Family name (scientific): Onagraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Named for Circe, enchantress (sorceress and witch) in Greek mythology.
    Specific epithet: Of or from Canada.
Common name origin: Enchanter's refers to its association with the enchantress Circe of Greek mythology. Circaea lutetiana is not one of the poisonous or narcotic nightshade species, so the use of nightshade for this plant is perplexing. Possibly the name was used because of the association of the plant with Circe and of the use of the nightshades in witchcraft.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (3 to 8 mm)
     Petal count: 2 petals, which are deeply notched.
     Color: white to pink.
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description: Erect
     Size: 8 to 36 inches (20 to 91 cm) tall.
     Stem hairy: glabrous at the base, pubescent distally
     Other: Not as toxic as the second part of the common name might suggest.
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size: Leaves are about 5 to 15 cm long and 2.5 to 7.5 cm wide.
     Color: medium green.
     Hairy: glabrous or glabrate.
     Other: Shape: leaf, ovate-cordate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): June to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Moist woods, mesic forests, thickets, shade.
Fruit: Green colored capsule about 3 to 5 mm in length, with a dense covering of hooked hairs, which cling to passing animals, and aid in seed dispersal.
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Circaea alpina (Alpine Enchanter's Nightshade) is similar, but a somwhat smaller plant, tyically 4 to 12 inches tall compared to 8 to 36 inches tall for Circaea canadensis.
Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in Wisconsin. Employed by the Iroquois to treat injured body parts (Moerman, p. 163, 1998).
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Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Circaea lutetiana var. canadensis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 9 (1753).
Homotypic Synonym(s):
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Autonym(s):
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU