Group+2+Page

**__Group 2__--Danielle, Jill, Nathan, Olivia**
__**Plant 1:**__ //**Urtica dioica**// __**Plant Identity**__ Genus: //Urtica// Species: //dioica// Scientific name and Family: //Urtica dioica// (//Urticaceae//) Common name: Stinging Nettle

__**Habitat and Location**__ //Urtica dioica// is found almost anywhere in North America as long as the habitat is favorable to the species. Stinging Nettle grows along waterways on moist soils, prefering nutrient rich soils, but also growing in disturbed areas like ditches and roadsides. Stinging nettle also prefers to be exposed to full sunlight. Our lab group walked to Silver Creek from UW Manitowoc, and found //Urtica dioica// about a foot away from the creek, growing a distance away from towering vegetation to recieve the maximum amount of light. __**Plant Description**__ It grows 5-8 feet tall, has elongate deep green leaves with coarse ridges, and stinging hairs are present on the underside of mature leaves and on the stem of the plant; the young leaves can have both short, non-stinging hairs and the long stinging ones covering all areas of the leaf. Both the leaves and the stems are covered with brittle, hollow, silky hairs that contain formic acid as a defence against grazing animals. The hairs and spines on the leaves and stems of this weed release formic acid when touched, which gives a burning or stinging sensation to humans (4). Flowers of the stinging nettle plant are small,ball shaped, and grow at the axils of the plant. //Urtica dioica// is so nutritious that without the protective "stinging" hairs, the plant would be foraged to the point of extinction. They are very high in Vitamin A and C, calcium, magnesium, iron, and is also higher in protein than any other known green vegetable (8). Stinging nettle may be cooked briefly to destroy the stinging property within them, after which they may be used in soups, salads, and many other food dishes (8). The leaves of stinging nettle are also commonly dried to make a hearty tea.
 * __Interesting Characteristics__**

__**References:**__ 1.DesCamp, W. (2004, May 3). //Plant Data Sheet Urtica dioica//. Retrieved May 5, 2011, from http://depts.washington.edu/‌propplnt/‌Plants/‌Urtica%20dioica.htm 2//.Stinging-nettle//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thehealthage.com/‌site/‌wp-content/‌uploads/‌2010/‌04/‌stinging-nettle.jpg 3//.Stinging Nettle//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://upload.wikimedia.org/‌wikipedia/‌commons/‌2/‌2c/‌Urtica_dioica38_ies.jpg 4.Stinging Nettle. (2006). //Vitamins and Health Supplement Guide//. Retrieved from http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/‌herbal-supplements/‌stinging-nettle.php 5//.Stinging Nettle and Ricotta Mezzalune, Poppy Seed Butter//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://starlingcafe.com/‌wp-content/‌uploads/‌2008/‌05/‌stinging_nettle_2.jpg 6.//Stinging Nettle Mayonnaise-Recipe///‌//Island Vittles//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://farm5.static.flickr.com/‌4011/‌4368945475_c2e3ce42a0_o.jpg 7.//Stinging Nettle Plant//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://earthdivasblog.com/‌wp-content/‌uploads/‌2010/‌12/‌FileUrtica-dioicaBlueten.jpg 8.Thayer, S. (2006). Stinging Nettle. In //the Forager’s Harvest a Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants// (pp. 170-176). Ogema, WI: Forager’s Harvest.

=
Claytonia Virginica is a plant of the rich hardwood forests, which for the most part are dominated by the sugar maple tree. This plant is very widespread and abundant in these forests. It can also be found in river bottom wetlands. In the United States it is present in the eastern half of the country. This plant was found down in silver creek park just north of the creek. =====

=
// Claytonia Virginica // is a small, fleshy perrennial that grows to be less than 10 inches tall. This plant has many short stems that grow up from a single root. A single pair of two dark green colored leaves grows opposite of one another half way up the stem. For the most part, these leaves are elongated like blades of grass and they lack a petiole. The flowers of this plant are five petaled white or light pink colored, around half an inch in width. The flowers also only open when it is sunny out and they turn to face the sun. =====

=
// Claytonia Virginica // is one of the earliest spring bloomers, and is in the flowering stage from February- May. For being such an early bloomer, this is a fairly long flowering season. It is also an edible plant and is pretty tasty. The Underground tubers are said to have a chestnut flavor, and the leaves can be added to salads for an extra flavor. =====

__**References:**__

 * 1) //Spring Beauty (n.d)// Retrieved from []
 * 2) //Claytonia Virginica Distribution// (n.d.) Retrieved from []
 * 3) //Spring Beauty Edibility (n.d)// Retrieved from []
 * 4) The Gay Gardener []
 * 5) Thayer, S. (2006). Spring Beauty. In //the Forager’s Harvest a Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants// . Ogema, WI: Forager’s Harvest.
 * 6) Claytonia Virginica L []

__**Plant 3: //Fragaria spp.// (Wild Strawberries)**__


 * Identity:**
 * Common Name: Wild Strawberries
 * Genus: //Fragaria//
 * Species: //vesca// and //virginiana//
 * Scientific Name: //Fragaria vesca// and //Fragaria virginiana// (Two perrenial species in Wisconsin)
 * Family: //Rosaceae//
 * Group: Angiosperms (flowering plant) (Dicot)

//Fragaria vesca// is the most common woodland strawberry, widespread in forests and shady areas. //Fragaria virginiana// is less common, but is also found in woodlands and shady sites. //Fragaria virginiana// have adapted to be able to withstand colder temperatures. The species our group found was most likely //Fragaria vesca//, which was found a few feet north of Silver Creek, sprouting low to the ground in the shade of the taller vegetation.
 * Location and Habitat:**

//Fragaria vesca//

//Fragaria virginiana//

//Fragaria vesca// can grow to be 15 to 30 centimeters in height. The leaves are thin and green with a serrated edge, and grow in a compound manner in groups of three. The undersides of the leaves are a lighter green, with fuzzy hairs that run down onto the stem. The stem is green near the top, but deepens into a red color near the base, with fine hairs that run all along its length. Flowers have five white petals, and the fruit is generally quite aromatic and soft, with noticeable seeds. These plants are common, and were easily spotted near Silver Creek (although the specimen our group found was in its earlier stages, and therefore had no flowers or fruit).
 * Plant Description:**



//Fragaria virginiana// differ in that the leaves are thicker and darker, and not as serrated. The flowers are larger, but still contain five white petals. The main difference is the fruit, which is generally about two times the size of the //Fragaria vesca// fruit, and is a deeper red and more deeply pitted.

//Fragaria vesca// has several different varieties around the world, including varieties that are runnerless and reproduce solely through seed distribution, varieties that spread mainly using runners, varieties with red fruit, and even varieties with yellow or white fruit. This species was once more widely cultivated, but was replaced by the garden strawberry species (//Fragaria ananassa//) which was larger and better suited for breeding. It is mainly a domestic fruit nowadays, but Turkey still harvests tons of the fruit for export.
 * Interesting Facts:**


 * References:**
 * 1) Darrow, G.M. "The Strawberry Species." //The Strawberry Species//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2011. .
 * 2) "Wild Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)." //Common Plants of Wisconsin//. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Department of Biology, n.d. Web. 11 May 2011. .
 * 3) "Flowers in the Aspen Groves." //Celebrating Wildflowers//. US Forest Service, 13 October 2010. Web. 11 May 2011. .
 * 4) Hagen, Tim. "Fragaria virginiana." //Washinton Native Plant Society//. Washington Native Plant Society, 18 March 2008. Web. 11 May 2011. .
 * 5) Wachsmuth, Brigitte. "Alpine, Wild, and Musk Strawberry Varieties Currently in Cultivation." //Homepage der Familie Wachsmuth//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2011. .