Latin Name: (Tiarella cordifolia)

Tiarella cordifolia, commonly called foamflower, is clump-forming perennial which spreads rapidly by runners (stolons) to form dense, 1-2' wide clumps of foliage. Plants are in the same family as and somewhat suggestive of Heuchera, Tellima and Mitella. Sometimes commonly called false miterwort because of its similarity to Mitella (miterwort). Semi-glossy, heart-shaped, 3-5 lobed leaves (4" across) rise directly from the stolons. Leaves may have reddish variegation along the veins. Foliage is evergreen in mild winters, often turning reddish bronze in autumn and winter. Tiny, white flowers with very long stamens (foamy texture of stamens results in the common name) appear in airy racemes in spring for about 6 weeks on numerous, erect, wiry, mostly leafless flower stems which rise well above the foliage clump to a height of 10-12". Flower buds are pinkish. (Source: Missouri Botanical Garden 'Plant Finder')

Latin Name: (Asimina triloba)

Ojibwe Name: Gozigwaakomin

Asimina triloba, commonly called pawpaw, is a Missouri native small understory tree or large shrub which typically grows 15-20' tall (sometimes to 30') and occurs in low bottom woods, wooded slopes, ravines and along streams. Often spreads by root suckers to form colonies or thickets. Large, slightly drooping, elliptical, medium green leaves (6-12" long) retain green color well into fall before turning to a bright (but sometimes undistinguished) yellow. Cup-shaped, purple flowers (3 green sepals and 6 purple petals in two tiers) appear in spring, and give way to edible, oblong, yellowish green fruits which mature in early autumn to a dark brown. Flavor and fleshy consistency of the sweet-flavored fruits resembles bananas. Fruits are frequently eaten raw or used in ice creams or pies, although they can produce nausea in some people. Wildlife (e.g., raccoons, squirrels and opossums) eagerly seek out the fruits and often beat humans to the harvest. Early Americans made a yellow dye from the pulp of the ripened fruit. (Source: Missouri Botanical Garden 'Plant Finder')

Latin Name: Amelanchier laevis

Menominee Name: Oskēh-nēpen mēn, "early summer blueberry" based on its appearance and that it comes a few months before blueberries

melanchier laevis, commomly called Allegheny serviceberry, is a small, deciduous, usually multi-trunked understory tree or tall shrub which is native to thickets, open woods, sheltered slopes and wood margins in Eastern North America where it typically grows 15-25' (less frequently to 40') tall. Features showy, 5-petaled, slightly fragrant, white flowers in drooping clusters which appear in early spring (April) before the leaves. Flowers give way to small, round, edible berries which ripen to dark purplish-black in June (hence the sometimes common name of Juneberry) and resemble blueberries in size, color and taste. Berries are often used in jams, jellies and pies. Finely-toothed, obovate leaves emerge with a bronzish-purple tinge in spring, mature to lustrous dark green in summer and turn red-orange in fall. This tree is primarily distinguished from the very similar Missouri native downy serviceberry (A. arborea) by its hairless foliage, purplish-tinged new growth and tastier (sweeter and juicier) berries. (Source: Missouri Botanical Garden 'Plant Finder')

Latin Name: (Asimina triloba)

Ojibwe Name: Gozigwaakomin

Asimina triloba, commonly called pawpaw, is a Missouri native small understory tree or large shrub which typically grows 15-20' tall (sometimes to 30') and occurs in low bottom woods, wooded slopes, ravines and along streams. Often spreads by root suckers to form colonies or thickets. Large, slightly drooping, elliptical, medium green leaves (6-12" long) retain green color well into fall before turning to a bright (but sometimes undistinguished) yellow. Cup-shaped, purple flowers (3 green sepals and 6 purple petals in two tiers) appear in spring, and give way to edible, oblong, yellowish green fruits which mature in early autumn to a dark brown. Flavor and fleshy consistency of the sweet-flavored fruits resembles bananas. Fruits are frequently eaten raw or used in ice creams or pies, although they can produce nausea in some people. Wildlife (e.g., raccoons, squirrels and opossums) eagerly seek out the fruits and often beat humans to the harvest. Early Americans made a yellow dye from the pulp of the ripened fruit. (Source: Missouri Botanical Garden 'Plant Finder')

Latin Name:  Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

Menominee Name:Nōnākanawas

This is a perennial fern with ovate, lance-shaped, sterile fronds 2 to 5 feet tall with pinnate segments surrounding much narrower erect fertile fronds. The top of each fertile frond is a mass of cinnamon-brown sporangia (equivalent to seeds in more developed plants) from which it takes its name. It grows in moist, fertile soil, along ponds where it can make a striking focal point, or in backgrounds of perennial beds as long as they are kept damp. It is hardy in USDA Zone 4. (Source: Chicago Botanic Garden)

Latin Name: Allium tricoccum

Menominee Name: Pekuac-sekākūhsyah, translates to "wild skunk plant" due to its strong smell.

This is the plant for which Chicago is named. In Illinois Indian language, its name was Chicagoua. This name probably was applied as a metaphor for the skunk-like odor of the leaves when crushed by walking on them. Chicagoua basically means skunk, from the spraying of defensive liquid. Contrary to popular belief, it does not mean offensive odor, which would be matchi miaganoue. This information appears in 17th-century Jesuit linguistic manuscripts.

The leaves emerge in April, and then the plant is edible; but when flowers emerge, the flavor turns very pungent, and most people would deem it inedible. If eaten at this flowering stage or later in its life cycle, it produces a highly odorific breath which must be experienced to be believed. (Source: Chicago Botanic Garden)

Latin Name: Carex pensylvanica

Menominee Name: Kenūpikwas,  translates to "snake grass", which is the general name for sedges

This perennial grows to a height of 1 foot with partial shade to full shade and dry to moderate moisture conditions. Native to the Midwest, it belongs in a border or can be used as a ground cover. (Source: Chicago Botanic Garden)

Latin Name: Carex pensylvanica

Menominee Name: Kenūpikwas,  translates to "snake grass", which is the general name for sedges

This perennial grows to a height of 1 foot with partial shade to full shade and dry to moderate moisture conditions. Native to the Midwest, it belongs in a border or can be used as a ground cover. (Source: Chicago Botanic Garden)