☰ Menu

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas

Bell Museum

Home > Biodiversity in the State of Minnesota > Flora of Minnesota
Includes taxa from following child checklists:
Authors: Anita Cholewa, George Weiblen, Katie Noren & Timothy Whitfeld
Less Details
Locality: Minnesota
Abstract:

A comprehensive, annotated list of the vascular plants known, or reported, to occur in Minnesota
as native, naturalized, or adventive species.

Family membership is according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (Bot. J.
Linnean Soc. 141: 399-436, 2003) and species names are based on published volumes of the
Flora of North America (FNA), recent journals for changes after FNA publication (if accepted by major
taxonomic indices), and Gleason and Cronquist 1991 for others. Although not all taxonomists
may agree with FNA, a wide array of experts from many areas have been consulted and this
consequently represents the most up-to-date understanding of our flora.

The checklist was originally developed as a document by Anita Cholewa and was subsequently
translated into a relational database format by George Weiblen and Katie Noren.
Timothy Whitfeld continues to improve the checklist as new volumes of FNA are published.

Common names as given in the USDA-NRCS Plants database (2008) are also provided,
followed by other common names widely used, or by Native American names.

Protection status is indicated for species listed as either endangered, threatened or
of special concern by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Click on a scientific name to view specimens and a distribution map.

Options
Search:
Common Names
Synonyms
Filter:
Display Synonyms
Common Names
Display as Images
Notes & Vouchers
Taxon Authors
Show Taxa Alphabetically
Families: 159
Genera: 811
Species: 2693
Total Taxa (details): 2877
Page 3 of 6: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
Carex richardsonii R. Brown - prairie hummock sedge
Carex rossii Boott - Ross's sedge
threatened
Carex rostrata Stokes - northern yellow lake sedge
most of our specimens identified as C. rostrata in the past are actually C. utriculata fide G. Wheeler; in Minnesota this species appears restricted to the North Shore and vicinity
Carex sartwellii Dewey - running marsh sedge
Carex saximontana Mackenzie - Rocky Mountain sedge
Carex scabrata Schweinitz - eastern rough sedge
to be expected on forested seeps in the St. Croix Valley; known from the WI side in Burnett Co.
Carex scirpoidea Michaux - northern singlespike sedge
Carex scirpoidea subsp. scirpoidea - northern singlespike sedge
special concern
Carex siccata Dewey - dryspike sedge
Carex squarrosa L. - spreading bract sedge
misapplied to our flora, see C. duriuscula; misapplied name
Carex sterilis Willdenow - sterile sedge
threatened
Carex stipata var. stipata - common fox sedge
Carex stricta Lamarck - tussock sedge
Carex suberecta (Olney) Britton - prairie straw sedge
reported for Minnesota by FNA but no specimens at MIN; known from IA, WI
southern limit of distribution; known only from Cook Co. (one cliffside population, collected 1936); endangered
Carex tenera Dewey - marsh straw sedge
Carex tenuiflora Wahlenberg - small headed bog sedge
erroneous report
range extension from WI; known only from Lake Co. (collected 2003)
Carex torreyi Tuckerman - Torrey's sedge
erroneous report
Carex tribuloides Wahlenberg - blunt broom sedge
Carex trichocarpa Willdenow - hairyfruit sedge
Carex trisperma Dewey - three seed bog sedge
Carex tuckermanii Dewey - Tuckerman's sedge
Carex typhina Michaux - cattail sedge
special concern
Gleason & Cronquist (1991) included C. tonsa in this taxon
Carex vaginata Tausch - sheathed sedge
Carex vesicaria L. - inflated sedge
Carex viridula Michaux - little green sedge
Carex vulpinoidea Michaux - yellowfruit sedge
(C. arctata x castanea) reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, MI
special concern
special concern
Cyperus acuminatus Torrey & Hooker - short point umbrella sedge
threatened
Cyperus bipartitus Torrey - brook nutsedge
Cyperus diandrus Torrey - sedge galingale
Cyperus esculentus L. - yellow nutsedge
native to tropical & subtropical regions but persisting; state DOA noxious (CN) weed, first collected 1887, Winona Co.
Cyperus filiculmis Vahl - fern flatsedge
native to eastern coastal states; known only from Goodhue Co. (one railroad population, collected 2010)
Cyperus fuscus L. - brown flatsedge
native to temperate Eurasia; known only from Itasca Co. (one park population, collected 2007)
Cyperus lupulinus subsp. lupulinus - Great Plains flatsedge
Cyperus odoratus L. - fragrant cyperus
Cyperus rotundus L. - purple nutsedge
Cyperus squarrosus L. - awned umbrellasedge
Cyperus strigosus L. - straw colored umbrellasedge
Cyperus x mesochorus Geise - Midland sandsedge
(C. lupulinus x schweinitzii)
Dulichium arundinaceum L. - threeway sedge
last collected 1939; special concern
Eleocharis compressa Sullivant - flattened spikerush
Eleocharis elliptica Kunth - elliptic spikerush
Eleocharis engelmannii Steudel - Engelmann's spikerush
northwest limit of distribution; threatened
Eleocharis intermedia Schultes - intermediate spikerush
reported for Minnesota by FNA but no specimens at MIN; known from Canada and WI; often mistaken for E. macrostachya or E. palustris
Eleocharis nitida Fernald - neat spikerush
special concern
Gleason & Cronquist (1991) included E. engelmannii and E. obtusa in this taxon
Gleason & Cronquist (1991) included E. erythropoda, E. macrostachya, and E. mamillata in this taxon
special concern
Eleocharis robbinsii Oakes - Robbins' spikerush
range extension from WI; threatened
threatened
erroneous report
this is part of the circumboreal E. chamissonis-scheuchzeri complex; in the strict sense (see J. Cayouette, DAO, 2004) this taxon is restricted to AK and BC and ours would then be called E. russeolum Fries subsp. leiocarpum Novoselova
Eriophorum tenellum Nuttall - delicate cottongrass
Eriophorum vaginatum L. - tussock cottongrass
vars. not recognized
Eriophorum virginicum L. - tawny cottongrass
special concern
range extension from NE; endangered
reported for Minnesota by FNA but no specimens at MIN; known from NE, west- and southward
Rhynchospora capillacea Torrey - hair like beakrush
threatened
reported for Minnesota by FNA but no specimens at MIN; known from WI (Burnett and Douglas counties); DNR watch list
Rhynchospora fusca (L.) W.T. Aiton - sooty colored beakrush
status: not endemic; distribution: PNG & Indonesia; growth habit: herbaceous; life form: not reported; verified by: D.A. Simpson; reference: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families; Flora Malesiana Vol 7, Cyperaceae - I.; expert comment: none; basionym published: 1805
(S. acutus x heterochaetus)
misapplied; see Schoenoplectus pungens
Scirpus atrocinctus - blackgirdle bulrush
hybridizes with S. cyperinus and S. pedicellatus
Scirpus atrovirens Willdenow - dark green bulrush
highly variable taxon often confused with closely related S. georgianus, S. hattorianus, and S. palidus; also hybridizes with S. pallidus
Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth - cottongrass bulrush
Gleason & Cronquist (1991) included S. atrocinctus and S. pedicellatus in this taxon; also hybridizes with S. pedicellatus
known only from Chisago Co. (one road-ditch population collected 1973); DNR watch list
Scirpus hattorianus Makino - mosquito bulrush
northwest limit of distribution; endangered
northwest limit of distribution; threatened
threatened
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn - western brackenfern
status: not endemic; distribution: not evaluated; growth habit: herbaceous; life form: not reported; verified by: none; reference: none; expert comment: none; basionym published: year not recorded
state DOA noxious (CN) weed; moderately toxic to livestock
Diervilla lonicera Mill. - northern bush honeysuckle
Upland-Conifer Forest, Honeysuckle Family
Cephalaria gigantea (Ledeb.) Bobr. - giant pincushion flower
native to Eurasia; known only from Hennepin Co. (Minneapolis city park; collected 1941
Dipsacus fullonum L. - fuller's teasel
native to Eurasia; known only from Winona Co. (collected 2004)
Dipsacus laciniatus L. - cutleaf teasel
native to Europe
native to Europe
Drosera anglica Hudson - English sundew
special concern
Drosera intermedia Hayne - spatulate leaved sundew
Drosera linearis Goldie - linear leaved sundew
special concern
Drosera rotundifolia L. - roundleaf sundew
status: not endemic; distribution: PNG & Indonesia; growth habit: herbaceous; life form: not reported; verified by: R. Camara Leret; reference: FM5; expert comment: none; basionym published: 1753
Drosera x obovata Mert. & Koch - obovate-leaved sundew
(D. anglica x rotundifolia) disjunct from Pacific Northwest; known only from Beltrami Co. peatland (collected 1978)
note that the epithet is "filix-femina" not "felix-femina" as often misspelled
Cystopteris tennesseensis Shaver - Tennessee bladder fern
Cystopteris x illinoensis R.C. Moran - Illinois bladder fern
special concern
erroneous report
report unverified
special concern
Dryopteris marginalis (L.) A. Gray - marginal shield fern
northwest limit of distribution; endangered
(D. cristata x intermedia) disposition uncertain (FNA does not recognize names for hybrids involving D. cristata); known only from Winona Co. (last collected 1980); uncertain status
Dryopteris x triploidea Wherry - triploid shield fern
(D. carthusiana x intermedia)
(D. carthusiana x cristata) not D. uliginosa (Kunze) C. Christensen; an accepted name for the hybrid (fide ITIS & IPNI) but not included in FNA; uncertain status
special concern
(G. disjunctum x dryopteris)
Gymnocarpium x intermedium Sarvela - intermediate oak fern
(G. jessoense x parvulum)
Onoclea sensibilis L. - sensitive fern
northwest limit of distribution; endangered
threatened
Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth - northern holly fern
reported for Minnesota (northeast corner) by FNA but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario and WI
threatened
threatened
Woodsia obtusa (Sprengel) Torrey - bluntlobe cliff fern
Woodsia obtusa subsp. obtusa - blunt lobed woodsia
Woodsia oregana D.C. Eaton - Oregon cliff fern
Woodsia scopulina D.C. Eaton - Rocky Mountain woodsia
known only from Cook Co.; threatened
Woodsia x abbeae Butters - Abbe's woodsia
(W. ilvensis x oregana cathcartiana) sterile hybrid
(W. alpina x ilvensis) sterile hybrid
(W. oregana x scopulina) known only from Cook Co. (one population, collected 1947); rare historic record
native to Eurasia
native to eastern Asia; reported for Minnesota (Brown Co.) by U.S. Forest Service but no specimens at MIN; known from IA and WI
special concern
Elatine rubella Rydb. - southwestern waterwort
Elatine triandra Schkuhr - three-stamened waterwort
Equisetum arvense L. - field horsetail
toxic to livestock, especially horses
Equisetum fluviatile L. - river horsetail
Equisetum hyemale L. - scouringrush horsetail
toxic to livestock, especially horses; considered a weed by some as can be aggressive
Equisetum laevigatum A. Braun - smooth scouring rush
Equisetum palustre L. - marsh horsetail
toxic to livestock
Equisetum pratense Ehrhart - meadow horsetail
Equisetum scirpoides Michaux - dwarf scouringrush
Equisetum sylvaticum L. - woods horsetail
Equisetum x ferrissii Clute - Ferriss' scouring-rush
(E. hyemale x laevigatum)
Equisetum x litorale K - shallow-water horsetail
(E. arvense x fluviatile)
(E. hyemale x variegatum)
Andromeda polifolia L. - bog rosemary
subsp. not recognized; leaves contain toxic compounds
Upland-Conifer Forest, Shin-leaf Family
disjunct from eastern Canada; known only from Cook Co. (last collected 1980); endangered
Empetrum nigrum L. - black crowberry
known only from Cook Co. (last collected in 1929); var./subsp. not recognized; endangered
Epigaea repens L. - trailing arbutus
leaves contain toxic compounds
Upland-Conifer Forest, Heath Family
threatened
Moneses uniflora (L.) A. Gray - one flowered pyrola
Monotropa hypopitys L. - many flowered Indian pipe
(note change in spelling)
Orthilia secunda (L.) House - one sided pyrola
Pyrola americana Sweet - round leaf pyrola
leaves contain toxic compounds
Pyrola asarifolia Michaux - liverleaf wintergreen
Pyrola elliptica Nuttall - elliptic shinleaf
Upland-Conifer Forest, Shin-leaf Family
Pyrola minor L. - small shinleaf
special concern
Pyrola rotundifolia L. - round leaf pyrola
Upland-Conifer Forest, Shin-leaf Family
Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton - sweet lobush blueberry
Upland-Conifer Forest, Heath Family
(note change in spelling)
Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton - large cranberry
erroneous report
Vaccinium myrtilloides Michaux - velvetleaf blueberry
Upland-Conifer Forest, Heath Family
Vaccinium oxycoccos L. - small cranberry
Vaccinium pallidum Aiton - Blue Ridge blueberry
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from WI, IL south-and eastward
Vaccinium uliginosum L. - alpine bilberry
known only from Cook Co. (last collected 2002); vars. not recognized; endangered
Eriocaulon aquaticum (Hill) Druce - sevenangle pipewort
Acalypha rhomboidea Rafinesque - diamond copperleaf
Chamaesyce missurica Raf. - Missouri spurge
special concern
Croton glandulosus L. - tooth leaf croton
erroneous report
native to western Great Plains and mountain states; reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; erroneous record
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IA
Euphorbia corollata L. - flowering spurge
Euphorbia cyparissias L. - cypress spurge
native to Eurasia; may cause severe skin irritation, poisonous to cattle
Euphorbia davidii Subils - David's spurge
Euphorbia dentata Michaux - toothed spurge
Euphorbia esula L. - leafy spurge
misapplied; see E. virgata
Euphorbia glyptosperma Engelmann - ridge-seeded spurge
native to Europe; known only from Winona Co. (historical collection from 1885)
native to southern Great Plains; reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN
Euphorbia maculata L. - prostrate hairy spurge
Euphorbia marginata Pursh - snow on the mountain
may cause severe skin irritation
Euphorbia prostrata Aiton - thyme-leaf spurge
Euphorbia serpillifolia Pers. - thyme-leaf spurge
Euphorbia vermiculata Raf. - wormseed sandmat
source: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/lead-plant
Amorpha fruticosa L. - false indigo bush
Amorpha nana Nuttall - fragrant indigo bush
Astragalus alpinus L. - alpine milk-vetch
disjunct from Canada and western mountains of US; first collected 1991; endangered
Astragalus canadensis L. - Canadian milk vetch
Astragalus cicer L. - chickpea milkvetch
native to Europe; known only from St. Louis Co. (one mining road population, collected 2001)
Astragalus crassicarpus Nuttall - ground-plum milk-vetch
special concern
Astragalus laxmannii Jacq. - Laxmann's milkvetch
Astragalus missouriensis Nuttall - Missouri milk-vetch
special concern
Astragalus racemosus Pursh - cream milk-vetch
known only from Pipestone Co. (historical collection from 1895); rare historic record
Astragalus tenellus Pursh - looseflower milkvetch
eastern limit of distribution; known only from Otter Tail Co. (historical collections to 1892); rare historic record
Baptisia alba (L.) Vent - white wild indigo
special concern
special concern
Wild blue indigo provides nectar to a number of butterflies as well as other pollinators. Depending on location and availability of competing food plants (most notably crown vetch and alfalfa), the following caterpillars may use blue wild indigo for food: Clouded Sulphur: Caterpillars eat leaves of many plants in the pea family. Orange Sulphur: Caterpillars eat the leaves of many plants in the pea family. Frosted Elfin: Caterpillars eat flowers and young seedpods. Eastern Tailed-Blue: Caterpillar eggs are laid on flower buds and the caterpillars then eat the bud, flowers, and seeds. Hoary Edge Skipper: Individual eggs are laid in flower buds. Caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods. Wild Indigo Duskywing: A widespread butterfly that is fairly common in it's range., source: http://www.nababutterfly.com/wild_blue_inidigo.html
native to eastern and southeastern US; known only from St. Louis Co. (Duluth area; one roadside population, collected 1956), probably garden escapee; roots possibly toxic
special concern
Baptisia lactea var. lactea - white wild indigo
special concern
native to eastern US and Canada; known only from Lake City area (historical collection from 1882)
Caragana arborescens Lamarck - Siberian peashrub
native to Siberia
Caragana frutex (L.) K.Koch - Russian peashrub
Long-tongued bees are responsible for pollination of the flowers, which includes honeybees, bumblebees, long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Two species of bees, Anthophora walshii and Svastra atripes atripes, are oligoleges of Partridge Pea. Sometimes leaf-cutting bees cut off portions of the petals for their brood chambers. The petiolar nectaries attract a completely different assortment of insects, including: Halictid bees, wasps, flies, and ants (Robertson, 1929). Unusual visitors to the nectaries are velvet ants (Mutillidae). The caterpillars of several sulfur butterflies feed on the foliage of this plant, including Eurema lisa (Little Sulfur), Eurema nicippe (Sleepy Orange), and Phoebis sennae cubule (Cloudless Sulfur); see Opler & Krizek (1984). Other insects that feed on Partridge Pea include Cerotoma trifurcata (Bean Leaf Beetle) and Sennius cruentatus (Partridge Pea Seed Beetle); see Clark et al. (2004) and Vestal (1913)., source: https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/part_peax.htm
Clitoria mariana L. - Atlantic pigeonwings
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from WI, IA, NE
Coronilla varia L. - crownvetch
native to Mediterranean region
Crotalaria sagittalis L. - arrowhead rattlebox
special concern
Dalea candida Michaux ex Willdenow - white prairie clover
Dalea candida var. candida - white prairie clover
special concern
Dalea purpurea Ventenat - purple prairie clover
The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of insects, including honeybees, bumblebees, cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp., Coelioxys spp.), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (including green metallic bees), plasterer bees (Colletes spp.), Sphecid wasps, Tiphiid wasps, Syrphid flies, bee flies (Bombyliidae), thick-headed flies (Conopidae), small butterflies, skippers, and beetles (Robertson, 1929; Reed, 1993, 1995). The following plasterer bees are oligoleges (specialist pollinators) of Dalea spp. (prairie clovers): Colletes albescens, Colletes robertsonii, Colletes susannae, and Colletes wilmattae. Other insects feed destructively on the seeds, foliage, and other parts of Purple Prairie Clover and other prairie clovers. These species include seed-eating larvae of some weevils (Apion reconditum, Apion tenuirostrum, Apion capitone), seed-eating larvae of a beetle (Acanthoscelides seminulum), a plant bug (Lopidea minor), Three-spotted Treehopper (Vanduzea triguttata), Little Pasture Grasshopper (Melanoplus confusus), and larvae of two butterflies, the Dogface Sulphur (Colias cesonia) and Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola); see Sauer (2005), Boe & Johnson (2014), Kingsolver (2004), Knight (1941), Haarstad (2002), Campbell et al. (1974), and Opler & Krizek (1984)., source: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ppr_cloverx.htm
Dalea purpurea var. purpurea - purple prairie clover
Dalea villosa (Nuttall) Sprengel - silky prairie clover
Dalea villosa var. villosa - silky prairie clover
Desmodium canadense (L.) DeCandolle - Canadian tick trefoil
The most important pollinators of the flowers are long-tongued bees, including bumblebees, Melissodes spp. (long-horned bees), and Megachile spp. (leaf-cutting bees). Other insects feed on the foliage, seeds, and other parts of Showy Tick Trefoil and other Desmodium spp. (tick trefoils). These species include the seed-eating larvae of such weevils as Apion decoloratum and Apion reconditum; Odontota horni (Soybean Leafminer), Pachybrachis othonus, and other leaf beetles; larvae of such gall flies as Choristoneura hamata and Neolasioptera desmodii; Microparsus desmodiorum, Microparsus olivei, and other aphids; the seed-eating Megalotomus quinquespinosus (Lupine Bug); leaf-eating larvae of Atomacera debilis (an Argid sawfly); leaf-eating larvae of such moths as Caloptilia violacella and Parectopa lespedezaefoliella; leaf-eating larvae of such skippers as Thorybes bathyllus (Southern Cloudywing) and Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing); larvae of two butterflies, Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak); and Neohydatathrips desmodianus (Tick Trefoil Thrips). The flowering stems of Showy Tick Trefoil are a preferred food source of Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle), which can weaken this plant sufficiently to interfere with the formation of seedpods., source: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/shw_trefoilx.htm
Desmodium canescens (L.) DC. - hoary ticktrefoil
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IA, NE
Desmodium illinoense A. Gray - prairie tick trefoil
threatened
native to China and Japan; occasionally reported along farm roadsides but not persisting
Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh - American licorice
Gymnocladus dioica (L.) K. Koch - Kentucky coffee tree
special concern
Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffeetree
seeds toxic to livestock; special concern
Lathyrus latifolius L. - everlasting pea
native to southern Europe; toxic to animals
Lathyrus ochroleucus Hooker - cream vetchling
Lathyrus palustris L. - marsh vetchling
native to Europe; reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN
Lathyrus tuberosus L. - earth nut vetchling
native to Eurasia
Lespedeza capitata Michx. - round headed bush clover
Lespedeza cuneata G. Don - Chinese lespedeza
native to eastern Asia; known only from Sherburne Co. (nursery holding area, collected 2005)
federal Threatened list; northern limit of distribution; threatened
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IA, NE
Lespedeza virginica (L.) Britton - slender bush clover
native to eastern US; known only from Winona Co. (one revegetated-field population, collected 1997)
Lotus corniculatus L. - bird's-foot trefoil
native to Europe
Lotus unifoliolatus (Hook.) Benth. - American bird's-foot trefoil
Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus - American bird's-foot trefoil
Lupinus perennis L. - wild lupine
The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by honeybees, bumblebees, digger bees (Synhalonia spp.), Mason bees (Osmia spp.), and other long-tongued bees. Other floral visitors include Halictid bees and bee flies. Only pollen is available as a floral reward, which is forcibly ejected into the faces of insects. Occasionally, the Karner Blue and other butterflies visit the flowers, searching for nectar, with no success. Several insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Wild Lupine. These insects include caterpillars of the butterflies Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Karner Blue) and Callophrys irus (Frosted Elfin), and caterpillars of the skippers Erynnis baptisiae (Wild Indigo Duskywing) and Erynnis persius (Persius Duskywing). The caterpillars of several moths also feed on Wild Lupine: Caenurgina crassiuscula (Clover Looper), Grammia phyllira (Phyllira Tiger Moth), Grammia placentia (Placentia Tiger Moth), Utetheisa bella (Bella Moth), and Walshia miscecolorella (Sweet Clover Root Borer). Other insects feeders include Empoasca fabae (Potato Leafhopper), Hadronema militaris (Military Plant Bug), and seed-eating larvae of the weevil Apion minor., source: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wild_lupine.htm
Lupinus polyphyllus Lindley - large leaved lupine
Medicago lupulina L. - black medick
native to Eurasia
native to Eurasia
native to Eurasia; moderately toxic to livestock; considered by some to be a color variant of M. officinalis
Melilotus indicus (L.) All. - annual yellow sweetclover
native to Mediterranean region; reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN
native to Eurasia; moderately toxic to livestock
native to southern Europe; known only from Otter Tail Co. (historical collection of 1911; population soon destroyed after discovery)
Oxytropis borealis DC. - boreal locoweed
Oxytropis lambertii Pursh - purple locoweed
poisonous to livestock
only known specimen from Minnesota ("Chippewa River") deposted at GH; poisonous to livestock
Oxytropis viscida Nuttall - sticky locoweed
disjunct from western North America and arctic regions, known only from Cook Co., (last collected 1997); poisonous to livestock; endangered
endangered
Robinia hispida L. - bristly locust
native to southeastern US; flowers possibly toxic
native to southeastern US; potentially invasive; toxic, especially to children and horses
Robinia viscosa Ventenat - clammy locust
Securigera varia - crownvetch
The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, including honeybees. Some insects are known to feed on the foliage of Crown Vetch in North America. These species include both adults and larvae of the Bean Leaf Beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata), both adults and larvae of a flea beetle (Disonycha punctigera), larvae of a leaf-miner fly (Liriomyza trifoliearum), larvae of the butterflies, Orange Sulfur (Colias eurytheme) and Melissa Blue (Lycaenides melissa melissa), larvae of the skipper, Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae), the Alfalfa Plant Bug (Adelphocoris limbatus), Marmorated Brown Stink Bug (Holcostethus limbolarius), Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis), and Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum); see Clark et al. (2004), Spencer & Steyskal (1986), Gucker (2009), Bouseman et al. (2006), Wheeler et al. (1983), and Rider (2009) for more information., source: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/crown_vetch.htm
may cause skin irritation, seeds toxic; special concern
Trifolium arvense L. - rabbitfoot clover
native to Eurasia and northern Africa
Trifolium aureum Pollich - palmate hopclover
native to Eurasia
native to Eurasia and northern Africa
Trifolium dubium Sibth. - suckling clover
native to Europe; reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN
Not native in Minnesota., source: minnesotawildflowers.info
Trifolium hybridum L. - alsike clover
native to Eurasia
Trifolium incarnatum L. - crimson clover
native to Europe
native to Europe
Trifolium repens L. - white clover
native to Eurasia
Vicia caroliniana Walt. - Carolina vetch
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IL
Vicia cracca L. - tufted vetch
native to Eurasia
Vicia sativa L. - garden vetch
native to southern Europe
native to Eurasia; known only from St. Louis Co. (Duluth area; one population collected 2009)
Vicia villosa Roth - hairy vetch
erroneous report
Fagus grandifolia Ehrhart - American beech
Quercus alba L. - white oak
Quercus bicolor Willdenow - swamp white oak
special concern
erroneous report
Oak Savanna, Quér-cus, ancient Latin name; el-lip-so-i-dà-lis, ellipsoidal, referring to the acorn
Oak Savanna, Quér-cus, ancient Latin name; ma-cro-cár-pa, large-fruited
known only from Houston Co. (historical collection from 1899); rare historic record
Quercus prinoides Willd. - dwarf chinkapin oak
erroneous report
Quercus rubra L. - northern red oak
Upland-Conifer Forest
(Q. alba x macrocarpa)
Quercus x hawkinsiae Sudworth - Hawkins' hybrid oak
(Q. rubra x velutina) known only from Houston Co. (last collected 1982)
(Q. ellipsoidalis x velutina) known only from Houston (last collected 1915) and Wabash (collected 2000) counties
Quercus x schuettei Trelease - Schuette's hybrid oak
(Q. bicolor x macrocarpa) known in Minnesota only from urban street trees (historical collections to 1918); this hybrid not named in FNA
Corydalis aurea Willd. - scrambled eggs
Corydalis aurea var. aurea - golden corydalis
plant potentially toxic
Corydalis sempervirens (L.) Persoon - pink and yellow corydalis
special concern
may cause skin irritation, leaves and roots potentially poisonous
native to Europe and northern Africa; known only from Winona Co. (one population, collected 1901)
western limit of distribution; endangered
native to Europe; doubtfully persisting annual
Gentiana affinis Grisebach - northern gentian
special concern
Gentiana andrewsii Grisebach - closed bottle gentian
Bumblebees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, as they are one of the few insects that can force their way past the closed corolla. This floral characteristic excludes smaller insects that are less efficient at pollination from robbing nectar and pollen from the bumblebees., source: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/bt_gentianx.htm
Gentiana andrewsii var. andrewsii - closed bottle gentian
Gentiana rubricaulis Schweinitz - Great Lakes gentian
Gentiana x billingtonii Farwell - Billington's gentian
(G. andrewsii x puberulenta) known only from Dakota Co. (one railroad population, collected 1956)
(Gentiana alba x puberulenta)
(G. andrewsii x rubricaulis) reported as endemic to MN and WI by USDA-NRCS; in MN known only from Clearwater County (Itasca SP, collected 1935)
(G. alba x andrewsii) reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IA
special concern
Gentianopsis crinita (Froelich) Ma - greater fringed gentian
misapplied name; see Gentianopsis virgata subsp. macounii
Gentianopsis virgata (Raf.) Holub - soft-stem spikerush
Gentianopsis virgata subsp. virgata - lesser fringed gentian
Halenia deflexa Grisebach - American spurred gentian
Halenia deflexa var. deflexa - American spurred gentian
native to Mediterranean region
Geranium bicknellii Britton - northern crane's bill
Geranium carolinianum L. - Carolina crane's bill
Geranium maculatum L. - wild geranium
Geranium pratense L. - meadow geranium
native to Europe; known only from St. Louis Co. (last collected 2004)
Geranium pusillum L. - small geranium
native to Europe; reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN
Geranium sanguineum L. - bloody crane
native to Europe; only known collection at DUL
Geranium sibiricum L. - Siberian crane's bill
native to Eurasia
Ribes americanum Miller - wild black currant
Ribes aureum Pursh - golden currant
considered native in the Great Plains (west of the Mississippi River) but widely spreading elsewhere
Ribes glandulosum Grauer - skunk currant
Ribes hirtellum Michaux - swamp gooseberry
Ribes hudsonianum Richardson - northern black currant
vars. not recognized, although in some regions distinctions occur
Ribes lacustre (Persoon) Poiret - bristly black currant
Ribes missouriense Nuttall - Missouri gooseberry
Ribes nigrum L. - European black currant
native to Eurasia; known only from Ramsey Co. (one agricultural population, collected 1924)
Ribes oxyacanthoides L. - Canadian gooseberry
Ribes rubrum L. - red currant
native to Eurasia
Ribes triste Pallas - red currant
Ribes uva-crispa L. - European gooseberry
erroneous report
Myriophyllum alterniflorum de Candolle - alternate flower watermilfoil
Myriophyllum farwellii Morong - Farwell's watermilfoil
Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michaux - broadleaf watermilfoil
known only from St. Louis Co. (one population, collected 1992); special concern
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from WI, IL
Myriophyllum sibiricum Komarov - common watermilfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum L. - Eurasian watermilfoil
native to Eurasia; state DOA noxious weed and MN-DNR Prohibited Invasive Species list; recent research suggests that this is problematical only when forming dense surface mats that shade out native vegetation below
Myriophyllum tenellum Bigelow - slender watermilfoil
Myriophyllum verticillatum L. - whorled watermilfoil
Hamamelis virginiana L. - American witchhazel
threatened
native to Asia
native to Asia; reported by Ownbey & Morley 1991 as occasionally escaping from cultivation but no specimens at MIN
Philadelphus coronarius L. - sweet mock orange
erroneous report
Egeria densa Planch. - Brazilian waterweed
native to S. America; unverified report from Hennepin Co.; probably not long-persisting (introduced with aquarium trade)
Elodea bifoliata H. St.John - twoleaf waterweed
endangered
special concern
Najas marina L. - sea naiad
special concern
Najas minor Allioni - brittle naiad
on MN-DNR Prohibited Invasive Species list; disjunct from IL, IN, MI, probably introduced; known only from Dakota Co. (one population, collected 2003)
vars. not recognized
Hypericum ascyron L. - great St. Johnswort
Hypericum canadense L. - lesser Canadian St Johnswort
erroneous report
Hypericum ellipticum Hooker - pale St. Johnswort
reported for Minnesota by Gleason & Cronquist 1991 but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IA
Hypericum kalmianum L. - Kalm's St. Johnswort
disjunct from central and eastern Great Lakes, known only from Lake Co. (one population at wilderness entry point, 2005)
Hypericum maculatum Crantz - spotted St. Johnswort
native to Europe; known only from St. Louis Co. (Duluth area; collected 2007)
Hypericum majus (A.Gray) Britton - large St. Johnswort
Hypericum mutilum L. - dwarf St. Johnswort
Hypericum perforatum L. - common Saint John
Hypericum prolificum L. - shrubby St. Johnswort
reported for Minnesota by USDA-NRCS but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, WI, IA
Hypericum punctatum Lamarck - spotted St. Johnswort
Hypericum pyramidatum Aiton - great St. Johnswort
Triadenum fraseri (Spach) Gleason - Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort
Hypoxis hirsuta (L.) Coville - eastern yellow star grass
native to eastern Asia; reported by Ownbey & Morley 1991 as escaping cultivation in Waseca Co. but no specimens at MIN
Iris germanica L. - German bearded iris
native to Europe; known only from Sherburne Co. (Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, one hillside population, collected 2001)
Iris missouriensis Nuttall - Rocky Mountain iris
erroneous report
native to Mediterranean region; known only from Douglas Co. (one roadside population, collected 1940)
Iris pseudacorus L. - yellow flag
native to Europe
Iris versicolor L. - northern blue flag
roots poisonous
Iris virginica L. - southern blue flag
vars. not recognized
Sisyrinchium angustifolium Miller - narrowleaf blue-eyed grass
native of eastern US and Canada; known only from St. Louis Co. (Duluth area; last collected 1950), probably introduced initially with ballast; DNR watch list
Sisyrinchium campestre E.P. Bicknell - field blue eyed grass
Sisyrinchium montanum Greene - strict blue-eyed grass
erroneous report
Sisyrinchium montanum var. montanum - strict blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium mucronatum Michaux - pointed petal blue eyed grass
vars. not recognized
Isoetes lacustris L. - lake quillwort
northern limit of distribution; endangered
misapplied to our flora, see I. echinospora
Carya ovata (Miller) K. Koch - shagbark hickory
Carya ovata var. ovata - shellbark hickory
Juglans cinerea L. - white walnut
endangered
Juglans nigra L. - black walnut
moderately toxic to dogs and horses (particularly bark/wood shavings for bedding)
reported for Minnesota by FNA and MN-DNR but no specimens at MIN; known from IA, WI
reported for Minnesota by FNA and MN-DNR but no specimens at MIN; known from Ontario, IA, WI
erroneous report
Juncus articulatus L. - jointed rush
previously known only from Ramsey Co. (collected 1922) but recently (1998) collected from Aitkin Co.; endangered
Juncus brachycarpus Engelmann - short fruited rush
disjunct from IL; known only from Blue Earth Co. (collected 1948)
erroneous report
Juncus bufonius L. - seaside rush
vars. not recognized
Juncus canadensis J. Gay - Canadian rush
Juncus compressus Jacquin - compressed rush
Juncus dudleyi Wiegand - Dudley's rush
Display next 500 taxa...
© Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Privacy Statement