Balsaminaceae

• Impatiens capensis; Synonyms: Impatiens biflora; Orange-spotted Touch-me-Not, Jewelweed; Native; Common to locally abundant in moist bottomlands, along streams and pond margins. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Impatiens pallida; Pale Touch-me-Not, Yellow Jewelweed; Native; Common in moist areas. Often grows intermingled with I. capensis. The ripe fruit explodes upon touch. The juice of these plants is said to counteract insect bites and poison ivy. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

Berberidaceae

• Berberis thunbergii; Japanese Barberry; Introduced (Asia); Rare, according to CCP and Ulaszek (1988). This shrub is spreading from cultivation into disturbed woodlands. Not yet observed in the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Caulophyllum thalictroides; Blue Cohosh; Native; Uncommon in mesic upland forests. Chris Benda and Chris Evans located this plant in the Prison RNA. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Podophyllum peltatum; Mayapple; Native; Locally common to abundant in woods and woodsy areas throughout the Refuge. Varying color of fruit has led some botanists to name distinct subspecies. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

Betulaceae

• Alnus serrulata; Smooth (Brookside) Alder; Native; CCP lists this shrub as rare. Ulaszek (1988) does not mention it. Mohlenbrock (2014) judges it to be occasional in the southern 1/3 of the state, where it occurs along rocky streams. It appears to be more common further south and east. I have not yet found in on the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Betula nigra; River Birch; Native; Common in wet woods, along ponds, creeks and lakes throughout the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Carpinus caroliniana; American Hornbeam / Musclewood; Native; CCP lists this interesting tree as rare. Ulaszek (1988) considers it as occasional along streams in upland forests. It is uncommon in the Refuge. It can be found along Rocky Bluff Trail. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Corylus americana; Hazelnut; Native; Mohlenbrock (2014) lists this plant as common, occurring in every county. In the Refuge it is uncommon in thickets and at the edges of woods. Most easily found in South Grassy Bay area. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Ostrya virginiana; Hop-Hornbeam; Native; A very common tree or shrub, in woods throughout the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

Bignoniaceae

• Campsis radicans; Trumpet-Creeper Vine; Native; Common to abundant in roadsides, disturbed places, hedgerows, woods and fields throughout the Refuge. The tubular flowers attract Hummingbirds. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Catalpa bignonioides; Southern Catalpa; Introduced (SE US); Ulaszek (1988) does not mention this tree. CCP lists it as rare. Not yet confirmed on the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Catalpa speciosa; Northern Catalpa; Native; Ulaszek (1988) found this plant to be spreading into upland thickets and a pine plantation. CCP lists it as occasional. The tree can be found within Refuge boundaries at a few places along Spillway and at the edges of the woods south of Old Main and east of Hwy 148. It is native to our area, but widely planted and escaped elsewhere. One way to tell the two species apart is to crush a leaf. Catalpa bignonioides emits a strong unpleasant odor whereas C. speciosa does not.  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

Boraginaceae

• Cynoglossum virginianum; Wild Comfrey; Native; Uncommon to locally common in dry upland forests. It occurs along the Rocky Bluff Trail. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Hackelia virginiana; Stickseed; Native; Uncommon in thickets and upland forests. Can be found along Harmony Trail. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Mertensia virginica; Bluebells; Native; Locally common in mesic woods and streamsides. One of our most conspicuous spring flowers. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Myosotis macrosperma; Big-fruited Scorpion Grass; Native; Both CCP and Ulaszek (1988) rate this taxon as occasional. However, in woods, fields, and disturbed areas the plant is common to locally abundant. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Myosotis stricta; Small-flowered Forget-me-not; Introduced (Eurasia); Rare. A small population can be found near the boatramp area at Greenbriar. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Myosotis verna; Small Scorpion Grass; Native; Occasional. I found it flowering in the fields to the west of the administration building on Pigeon Creek Road, as well in fields west of Hwy 148. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

Brassicaceae

• Alliaria petiolata; Garlic Mustard; Introduced and naturalized (Europe); Increasingly common throughout the Refuge. Since neither CCP nor Ulaszek (1988) reference this plant, its populations must have increased rapidly in the last few decades. A seriously invasive species, appearing in diverse sections of the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Arabidopsis thaliana; Mouse-ear Cress; Introduced (Europe); Occasional in disturbed areas. Probably more common than surmised, since this plant is easily overlooked or assumed to be Cardamine. It can be found in fallow fields along Greenbriar Road where it grows intermixed with Cardamine parviflora. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Barbarea vulgaris; Winter Cress; Introduced (Europe); Both CCP and Ulaszek (1988) rate this plant as occasional. It is actually common to locally abundant in fields, woods, and disturbed areas throughout the Refuge. A conspicuous spring flower.  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Boechera laevigata; Synonyms: Arabis laevigata; Smooth Rock Cress; Native; Locally common in rocky woods and shaded banks. Easily found in early spring in appropriate habitat throughout the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Brassica rapa; Field Mustard; Introduced (Eurasia); Though locally common in southern Illinois it is uncommon to rare within the Refuge. Chris Evans found it within the Union County Refuge boundary. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Capsella bursa-pastoris; Shepherd’s-Purse; Introduced (Europe); Another common plant easily found in roadsides and disturbed areas throughout the Refuge. Ulaszek (1988) and CCP list it as occasional. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Cardamine hirsuta; Hairy Spring Cress; Introduced (Eurasia); Although both Mohlenbrock (2014) and Ulaszek (1988) rate this plant as occasional, it is locally common to sometimes abundant in waste ground, fields, and roadsides throughout the Refuge. One of the earliest plants to flower in the spring. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Cardamine parviflora; Small-flowered Spring Cress; Native; Very common in woods and fields. It tends to bloom somewhat later than C. hirsuta. Native (although a variety occurs in Europe). Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Cardamine pensylvanica; Bitter Cress; Native; Uncommon in wet, generally wooded areas. It occurs in shady, moist areas along bluffs. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Dentaria laciniata; Synonyms: Cardamine concatenata; Cut-leaved Toothwort; Native;Common to locally abundant in woods throughout the Refuge. Another common spring flower.  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Draba brachycarpa; Short-fruited Whitlow Grass; Native; Uncommon to common in fields and disturbed areas. An early-flowering plant, it often grows together with Cardamine hirsuta. Ulaszek (1988) and CCP consider it occasional. Mohlenbrock (2014) lists it as common whereas Jones (2005) lists this plant as rare in Kentucky. It appears to be common in the southern half of Missouri. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Draba verna; Synonyms: Eriophila verna; Vernal Whitlow Grass; Introduced (Eurasia); Another early-flowering plant, abundant in disturbed places throughout the Refuge. Mohlenbrock (2002) assigned it to the genus Eriophila whereas in his 2014 edition the species is listed as Draba.  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Erysimum repandum; Treacle Mustard; Introduced (Eurasia); Rare. Neither CCP nor Ulaszek (1988) mention this taxon. It can be found in a disturbed area one-half mile west of Wolf Creek Causeway. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Lepidium campestre; Field Pepper Grass; Introduced (Europe); Common in disturbed areas, along roadsides and trails, and in fallow fields throughout the Refuge. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Lepidium densiflorum; Small Peppergrass; Introduced (Eurasia); Occasional. In parking area at Wolf Creek Causeway. Its origin is uncertain. Some regard it as native. Others (e.g., Mohlenbrock) suggest it came from Eurasia. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Lepidium virginicum; Common Peppergrass; Native; A common to abundant plant in disturbed areas, roadsides, fields, and edges of woods throughout the Refuge.  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Microthlaspi perfoliatum; Synonyms: Thlaspi perfoliatum; Perfoliate Penny Cress; Introduced (Europe); Occasional. Near parking area at Harmony Trail and Devils Kitchen dam. This plant flowers March - April, not June - July as reported in Mohlenbrock (2014).  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Planodes virginica; Synonyms: Arabis virginica, Sibara virginica; Virginia Rock Cress; Native; Occasional. It occurs in the fields along the west side of Highway 148. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Rorippa palustris; Synonyms: Rorippa islandica;  Marsh Yellow Cress; Native; Uncommon to rare. The plant occurs in the wet area west of Harmony Trail. Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Sisymbrium officinale; Hedge Mustard; Introduced (Eurasia); Locally common (e.g., along Tacoma Lake Road). Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants

• Thlaspi arvense; Penny Cress; Introduced (Eurasia); Occasional. In disturbed area one-half mile west of Wolf Creek Causeway. Also in fields along Highway 148.  Photos Phytoimages; USDA Plants