learn more or continue identification …
starting with the flower's ❀❀❀❀❀❀ color or ◯ ∩ ⚮✾✤❀✽ ♆ ☹ configuration : ⇦ if you have Color Vision Deficiency CVD, start here
with petals / tepals / sepals / bracts that are colored: ❀ white ❀ beige ❀ tan ❀ brown
❀ red ❀ orange ❀ yellow ❀ gold ❀ green ❀ cyan ❀ blue ❀ violet ❀ pink ❀ magenta
❀ multiple
or with each flowerhead composed of a: cluster[?] of small flowers, shape=◯ round cluster of small flowers, shape=∩ elongated
single blossom, radial symmetry with ⚮ 2 equal parts ( ⚮ two-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✾ 3 equal parts (⛛three-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✤ 4 equal parts ( ✤ four-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ❀ 5 equal parts ( ❀ five-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✽❁ 6+ equal parts (✽❁ six+-fold rotational symmetry) Petal numbers — observed in real flowers — that also appear in the 🐇︎ Fibonacci sequence : 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, and even 89 petals!
single blossom, ♆ bilateral (🪞 mirror) (☹ face-like) symmetry
❀ white ❀ beige
❀ red ❀ orange ❀ green ❀ cyan ❀ blue ❀ violet ❀ pink ❀ magenta
❀ red ❀ yellow ❀ gold ❀ green ❀ cyan ❀ blue ❀ violet ❀ pink ❀ magenta
❀ pink ❀ magenta
❀ red ❀ pink ❀ magenta ❀ yellow ❀ gold ❀ green
❀ yellow ❀ gold ❀ green ❀ cyan ❀ blue ❀ violet ❀ pink ❀ magenta
❀ red ❀ orange ❀ cyan ❀ blue ❀ violet ❀ pink ❀ magenta
❀ red ❀ green ❀ cyan ❀ blue ❀ violet ❀ pink ❀ magenta
and each flowerhead contains a: cluster[?] of small flowers, shape=◯ round cluster of small flowers, shape=∩ elongated
single blossom, radial symmetry with ⚮ 2 equal parts ( ⚮ two-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✾ 3 equal parts (⛛three-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✤ 4 equal parts ( ✤ four-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ❀ 5 equal parts ( ❀ five-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✽❁ 6+ equal parts (✽❁ six+-fold rotational symmetry)
white flowers, ╟ alternate[?] leaves (thumbnail photos) (Missouri) ╫ opposite
shrub/understory tree[?];flowers early in the growing season, in clusters each with ❀ 5 long skinny white petalsserviceberry genus Amelanchier 🚶︎ adult-high woody shrub;clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=white around white or yellow stamens, 20% of a sphere,leaves=compoundelderberry genus Sambucus
very-tall herbaceous perennial;huge clusters of very-small white flowers, 20% of a sphere,leaves=huge, wide, ♧ lobed, like Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota on steroids⚠︎✋︎☠︎ giant 🐖︎ hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum ☠︎✋︎⚠︎ tall herbaceous perennial;huge clusters of very-small white flowers, 20% of a sphere,leaves=huge, wide, ♧ lobed, like Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota on steroids⚠︎✋︎☠︎ common 🐄︎ cowparsnip Heracleum maximum ☠︎✋︎⚠︎
waist-high herbaceous perennial;clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=white around a white center, 20% of a sphere,leaves=simple, very narrowwhorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
herbaceous[?]; pink or white irregular clusters of ✤ four-petal flowers, looking like cotton candyqueen of the prairie Filipendula rubra herbaceous; white or yellow-green very-tall and -thin clusters of ❀ five-petal flowers late in growing season; stems segmented like bambooJapanese knotweed Fallopia japonica
shrub[?]; small white ❀ 5 petals with a large green center, that turn into green then dark-purple fruitAmerican pokeweed Phytolacca americana
tree[?]; ❀ 5 petals;leaves=short (<10 cm) (<4 in), firm, leathery, broad midrib◼︎🍒︎ black cherry Prunus serotina tree; ❀ 5 petals;leaves=short (<10 cm) (<4 in), teeth curve toward base🍒︎ chokecherry Prunus virginiana
⚮ 2-sided white outer- and inner-petalsAsian bleeding-heart Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'
growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced petals (white, yellow, green, red or pink/magenta), above … ✾ 3 sepals (◼︎◼︎ green or reddish), above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal leavestrillium genus Trillium growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced ◼︎◼︎ white petals, above … ✾ 3 sepals (◼︎◼︎ green or reddish), above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal leaves◼︎ white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
tree[?]; very large blossoms=white, pink or green; ╫ opposite branchingdogwood genus Cornus tree, very small blossoms=white; ╟ alternate branchingautumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata
🦵 knee- to 🚶︎ head-high herb[?]; pink or white irregular clusters of ✤ four-petal flowers, looking like cotton candyqueen of the prairie Filipendula rubra 🦵 knee-high herb; very small blossoms=whitegarlic mustard Alliaria petiolata
full-sized tree low groundcover, herbaceous, or understory tree
no thorn-like twigs;leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed, ▲▲ toothed, each lateral vein terminates in ▴▴▴ multiple teeth, thin, hairless🍒︎ pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica no thorn-like twigs;leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed, ▲▲ toothed, teeth curve toward base, leaves=short (<10 cm) (<4 in);clusters of flowers with ❀ 5 petals🍒︎ chokecherry Prunus virginiana
thorn-like twigs; leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed, undersurface=woolly ⫴ hair🍎︎ common apple Malus pumila thorn-like twigs;leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed, tip=long tapering, undersurface=vein network intricateAmerican plum Prunus americana
thorn-like twigs;leaves=somewhat-♧-lobed; twigs, petioles and leaf undersurface=woolly🍎︎ prairie crabapple Malus ioensis thorn-like twigs;leaves=somewhat-♧-lobed; twigs and leaves=not woolly🍎︎ wild crabapple Malus coronaria
shrub/understory tree[?];flowers early in the growing season, in clusters each with ❀ 5 long skinny white petalsserviceberry genus Amelanchier
🦵 knee- to 🚶︎ head-high scrambling woody canes, armed with nasty recurved ⍋ prickles[?]multiflora rose Rosa multiflora
waist-high herbaceous perennial; clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=white around a white center, 20% of a sphere;leaves=simple, very narrowwhorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata waist-high herbaceous perennial; single-flower petals=blue, violet, pink, red or white;leaves=🍂︎ non-lobedphlox genus Phlox
👟︎ ankle- to 🦵 knee-high groundcover; flowers=white with pink linesVirginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica 👟︎ ankle-high groundcover; flowers have yellow center, leaves have 3 leaflets and ▲▲ large teeth🍓︎ strawberry genus Fragaria
6 white petals (extending out, curled back, or 3 of each);leaves=👟︎ ankle-high, two-color (gray and dark-green)◼︎ white trout lily Erythronium albidum 6 white petals, hidden under two large ♧╤♧ horizontal lobed leaves, 🥾 boot-top- to 🦵 knee-high; plants grouped together in a forest, only visible early in growing seasonmayapple Podophyllum peltatum
8–10–12 white petals (4 smaller petals on top, 4 bigger ones behind, defining a ⬜ square), yellow center; 👟︎ ankle-high; when plant pulled up, roots drip red sapbloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
many petals, yellow center✽ common daisy Bellis perennis
🚧 under construction
single blossom, radial symmetry with ✾ 3 equal parts (⛛three-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ❀ 5 equal parts ( ❀ five-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✽❁ 6+ equal parts (✽❁ six+-fold rotational symmetry)
red flowers, ╟ alternate[?] leaves (thumbnail photos) (Missouri) ╫ opposite
tree[?]; very-showy, small blossoms, appear early in growing season — often before leaves◼︎ 🍁︎ red maple Acer rubrum
herbaceous[?] (waist-high); very-showy, large combined blossoms, stem shape=◼︎ square◼︎ 🐝︎ scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma
size and shape of small ice cream cone, inverted above branch, deep-red (fruit) or yellow-green (flower); small tree[?]staghorn sumac Rhus typhina
small flowers in cluster each have ♆ ☹ bilateral symmetry[?]; herbaceous plant[?]cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis
growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced petals (white, yellow, green, red or pink/magenta), above … ✾ 3 sepals (◼︎◼︎ green or reddish), above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal leavestrillium genus Trillium deep-red, right at ground level (dig through leaf-litter to see it)wild ginger genus Asarum
deep-red, along a ☙ vine◼︎ pale swallow-wort Cynanchum rossicum
very-showy, large combined blossoms, herbaceous, stem shape=◼︎ square◼︎ 🐝︎ scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma
elongated clusters of small red flowers, each with ♆ ☹ bilateral symmetry; herbaceous plantcardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis
and each flowerhead contains a: cluster[?] of small flowers, shape=◯ round
single blossom, radial symmetry with ❀ 5 equal parts ( ❀ five-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✽❁ 6+ equal parts (✽❁ six+-fold rotational symmetry)
5 brilliant orange petals around a yellow center, 10% of a sphere,👃︎ little smellbutterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa
5 brilliant orange petals around a yellow center,👃︎ little smellbutterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa
4 or 8[?] very-thin crinkled petals, yellow to yellow-green (inner) and school-bus-yellow (outer); flowers very late in growing season, long into dormant seasonAmerican witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
reminds Kelly D. Norris of 🌐︎ Northern Hemisphere August (🌐︎ Southern Hemisphere February). Continue with whether each flowerhead contains a: cluster[?] of small flowers, shape=∩ elongated
single blossom, radial symmetry with ✾ 3 equal parts (⛛three-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✤ 4 equal parts ( ✤ four-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✽❁ 6+ equal parts (✽❁ six+-fold rotational symmetry)
yellow flowers, ╟ alternate[?] leaves (thumbnail photos) (Missouri) ╫ opposite
tree[?]; large flower cluster above branch, yellow-to-green; crushed leaflets[?] 👃︎ smell like 🥜︎ peanut butter or rotting cashewstree of heaven Ailanthus altissima small tree; flower cluster size and shape of very-large ice cream cone, inverted above branch, yellow-green (flower) or deep-red (fruit)staghorn sumac Rhus typhina
herbaceous[?]; gold very-tall and -thin clusters of many-petal flowers late in growing seasongoldenrod genus Solidago herbaceous; white or yellow-green very-tall and -thin clusters of ❀ five-petal flowers late in growing season; stems segmented like bambooJapanese knotweed Fallopia japonica
growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced petals (white, yellow, green, red or pink/magenta), above … ✾ 3 sepals (◼︎◼︎ green or reddish), above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal leavestrillium genus Trillium growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced yellow petals, above … ✾ 3 green sepals, above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal ▥ variegated leaves (two colors — green and gray-green)◼︎ yellow trillium Trillium luteum
small tree[?]; 4 very-small yellow to yellow-green petals (actually sepals, after longer outer petals fall off); flowers very late in growing season, long into dormant seasonAmerican witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana woody shrub, waist- to 🚶︎ head-high; flowers=very-showy, appear early in growing season — often before leavesforsythia genus Forsythia
herbaceous[?], 🥾 boot-top-high; petals do not overlapgreater celandine poppy Chelidonium majus herbaceous, 🥾 boot-top-high; petals overlapcelandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
6 yellow petals (extending out, curled back, or 3 of each);leaves=👟︎ ankle-high, two-color (gray and dark-green)◼︎ yellow trout lily or ◼︎ ◼︎ yellow dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
4 or 8[?] very-thin crinkled petals, yellow to yellow-green (inner) and school-bus-yellow (outer); flowers very late in growing season, long into dormant seasonAmerican witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana 7–8–11 petals, aquaticlesser celandine or fig buttercup Ficaria verna
many yellow petals, yellow center, 👟︎ ankle-highdandelion genus Taraxacum many yellow petals, roughly 🚶︎ head-high🌻︎ sunflower genus Helianthus
green flowers, ╟ alternate[?] leaves (thumbnail photos) (Missouri) ╫ opposite
blossoms each have 6 petals, opens very early in growing seasonsassafras Sassafras albidum
tree[?]; large flower cluster above branch, yellow-to-green; crushed leaflets[?] 👃︎ smell like 🥜︎ peanut butter or rotting cashewstree of heaven Ailanthus altissima small tree; flower cluster size and shape of very-large ice cream cone, inverted above branch, yellow-green (flower) or deep-red (fruit)staghorn sumac Rhus typhina herbaceous[?]; white or yellow-green very-tall and -thin clusters of ❀ five-petal flowers late in growing season; stems segmented like bambooJapanese knotweed Fallopia japonica
growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced petals (white, yellow, green, red or pink/magenta), above … ✾ 3 sepals (◼︎◼︎ green or reddish), above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal leavestrillium genus Trillium
very large blossoms=white, pink or green; branching=╫ opposite[?]; leaves=___ smooth, ♦ taper at both ends, and pass the dogwood leaf test[?]dogwood genus Cornus blossoms=green; branching=sub-opposite[?]; ▴▴▴▴ small teeth; inner bark=orange (scrape with 🔪︎ knife)common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
very-small yellow to yellow-green petals (actually sepals, after longer outer petals fall off); flowers very late in growing season, long into dormant seasonAmerican witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
blossoms in round clusters, opens very early in growing seasonsassafras Sassafras albidum
🥾 boot-top-high, like a small cup with a built-in cover over the top; may have red mixed in with green if mature; only appears early in growing seasonJack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum
single blossom, radial symmetry with ✤ 4 equal parts ( ✤ four-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ❀ 5 equal parts ( ❀ five-fold rotational symmetry) single blossom, radial symmetry with ✽❁ 6+ equal parts (✽❁ six+-fold rotational symmetry)
blue flowers, ╟ alternate[?] leaves (thumbnail photos) (Missouri) ╫ opposite
light purple or pink around white center, 40% of a sphere,👃︎ subtle smell of vanilla◼︎ ♒︎ rose or swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata cyan or purple, connected together into a trumpet shape, clustered irregularlyVirginia bluebell Mertensia virginica
violet, very showy, large combined blossoms, herbaceous, stem shape=◼︎ square🐝︎ beebalm / bergamot / 🐎︎ horsemint genus Monarda violetcrown vetch Securigera varia
violet, each flower has bilateral (🪞 mirror) (☹ face-like) symmetry[?]; ☙ vine;leaves=🌿︎ compound 3 leafletskudzu Pueraria montana violet, each flower has bilateral (🪞 mirror) (☹ face-like) symmetry[?]; herb;leaves=❋ whorled[?] five-to-28 leafletslupine (bluebonnet) genus Lupinus
violetcrown vetch Securigera varia violet◼︎ mint/sage family Lamiaceae
usually lavender or purple, sometimes white or pink, or mixed in cultivarsdame's rocket Hesperis matronalis
leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed; petals=purple (very-dark) or black◼︎ black swallow-wort Cynanchum louiseae leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed; petals=cyan, with yellow center; low (👟︎ ankle-high)forget-me-not genus Myosotis leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed; petals=cyan or purple, connected together into a trumpet shape, clustered irregularlyVirginia bluebell Mertensia virginica leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed; petals=blue, violet, pink, red or whitephlox genus Phlox
leaves=5-♧-lobed; petals=violet, pink, rarely white; low (👟︎ ankle-high)wild geranium Geranium maculatum
violet, very showy, large combined blossoms, herbaceous, stem shape=◼︎ square🐝︎ beebalm / bergamot / 🐎︎ horsemint genus Monarda
violet, leaves=❋ whorled five-to-28 leafletslupine (bluebonnet) genus Lupinus
pink flowers, ╟ alternate[?] leaves (thumbnail photos) (Missouri) ╫ opposite
clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=pink or light purple around white center, 40% of a sphere,👃︎ subtle smell of vanilla◼︎ ♒︎ rose or swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=dusty rose, 80% of a sphere,👃︎ smells flowerycommon milkweed Asclepias syriaca
magenta 16 petals, big orange-maroon center◼︎ eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea magenta or red ∼30 petals (many tubular), stem shape=◼︎ square◼︎ 🐝︎ scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma
magenta, flowers come out top ¼ of a spheremilk thistle Silybum marianum magenta, flowers come out top ¾ of a sphere◼︎ 🍀︎ red clover Trifolium pratense
magentacrown vetch Securigera varia
magenta-pink, flowers come out top ½ of a sphere, small blossom (size of little-fingernail), plant knee- to waist-highspotted knapweed Centaurea stoebe
very-showy, very-small magenta blossoms, along branches (not just tips);actually ♆ ☹ bilateral symmetric[?], but early blossoms can appear as 3 identical petalseastern redbud Cercis canadensis magentacrown vetch Securigera varia pink or white irregular clusters of ✤ four-petal flowers, looking like cotton candyqueen of the prairie Filipendula rubra
⚮ 2-sided fuchsia-pink outer-petals, white inner-petals, non-woody herbAsian bleeding-heart Lamprocapnos spectabilis
growing halfway between your 👟︎ ankle and 🦵 knee, with: ✾ 3 striking equally-spaced petals (white, yellow, green, red or pink/magenta), above … ✾ 3 sepals (◼︎◼︎ green or reddish), above … ✾ 3 equally-spaced ╤ horizontal leavestrillium genus Trillium very-showy, very-small magenta blossoms, along branches (not just tips);actually ♆ ☹ bilateral symmetric[?], but early blossoms can appear as 3 identical petalseastern redbud Cercis canadensis
very large blossoms=white, pink or green; ╫ opposite branchingdogwood genus Cornus ordinary-sized blossoms, usually lavender or purple, sometimes white or pink, or mixed in cultivarsdame's rocket Hesperis matronalis pink or white irregular clusters of ✤ four-petal flowers, looking like cotton candyqueen of the prairie Filipendula rubra
woody shrub[?]; leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed; petals=light pink, eastern North Americapinxter azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides
non-woody herb[?]; low (👟︎ ankle-high);leaves=5-♧-lobed; petals=violet, pink, rarely whitewild geranium Geranium maculatum non-woody herb; waist-high;leaves=🍂︎ non-lobed; single-flower petals=blue, violet, pink, red or whitephlox genus Phlox non-woody herb;clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=pink or light purple around white center, 40% of a sphere,👃︎ subtle smell of vanilla◼︎ ♒︎ rose or swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata non-woody herb;clusters of very-small flowers with ❀ 5 petals=dusty rose, 80% of a sphere,👃︎ smells flowerycommon milkweed Asclepias syriaca
magenta 16 petals, big orange-maroon center◼︎ eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea many very-long furry ░ "smoky" petals, below 🦵 knee-high;leaves are 👟︎ ankle-high░ prairie smoke Geum triflorum magenta or red ∼30 petals (many tubular), stem shape=◼︎ square◼︎ 🐝︎ scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma magenta or purple, bright or pale, ∼12 petals (many tubular)wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa pale pink/violet blossom on multiple levels like a ⋮ kebab, spots on the petals[?] between the more-noticeable sepals[?]spotted/dotted 🐝︎ beebalm / 🐎︎ horsemint Monarda punctata
very-showy, very-small magenta blossoms, along branches (not just tips), appears early in growing season — before leaves; treeeastern redbud Cercis canadensis
and each flowerhead contains a: single blossom, radial symmetry with ❀ 5 equal parts ( ❀ five-fold rotational symmetry)
Probably exhibits mirror-symmetry, see …
Plant is 👟︎ ankle-high, and … 5 petals point 4 ↑ up and 1 ↓ down; big blotch of contrasting color in middle of flower (particularly lower petals); exhibits mirror-symmetrypansy (pansies) genus Viola 5 petals point 2 ↑ up and 3 ↓ down;may have big blotch of contrasting color in middle of flower (particularly lower petals);may exhibit mirror-symmetryviolets genus Viola and many others
Uses by native peoples(Ethnobotany database)
Plant and gardening terminology Flower structure, flower clusters (inflorescences), floral formula, "Nature's Secret Code: New Findings Shatter Long-Held Beliefs About Fibonacci Spirals."
Flora of North America Wikipedia
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