Union Bay Natural Area: Forbs Tour 5/24/12
Off of the trail at the UBNA, we were showed the white clover. I learned that white clover is poisonous if damaged. It has three leaves, each exhibiting a v-shape pattern. White clover is used to make clover honey.
We saw some tall buttercups that grow to be 1-3 feet tall. These plants have yellow flowers and have the ability to grow in a variety of habitats. The buttercup can be toxic to grazing animals. We were taken to see the common vetch, which is part of the pea family. Common vetch has dark purple flowers and a distinctive oval leaves. Despite being so common in the Pacific Northwest, Vetch was brought over from Europe. Vetch is a nitrogen-fixing legume, making it a good rotational drop.
We met with someone who gave us some dandelion wine to try. Despite being considered a pest, dandelions are extremely nutritious and can be made into a wide range of different foods.
Our last stop was to see thimbleberry. Thimbleberry is often compared to salmonberry for the similar taste and appearance of the berries. The main differences between the two are the berry fruiting times and the color of the flowers. Thimbleberries tend to have a white flower while salmonberry tends to have pink.
Species list
Common vetch (Vicia sativa)
Clover (Trifolium)
Tall buttercup (Ranunculcus acris)
Thimble berry (Rubus Parviflorus)
Salmon berry (Rubus spectabilis)
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