Your observations · Field Ledger

Showing 12 of 76 identificationsOne card per identification. Latest observed sighting on the front; more photos on the back. Unidentified sightings stay separate.

Rarity by worldwide iNaturalist sightings

Common 10,000+
Uncommon 1,000–9,999
Rare Under 1,000

How often an identification is recorded; local abundance can differ.

Field LedgerFlora

climbing prairie rose

Rosa setigera

KLY-ming PRAIR-ee ROHZ

Life cyclePerennial↗

UncommonNeeds ID

Edible1/3
Toxic1/3
Native3/3
Utility2/3
Ecology3/3
Allergy1/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Living thorn fence. Prickly stems make a barrier; correctly prepared rose hips have food uses, with irritating seed hairs removed.↗
Around you: Shelter and supper. Flowers feed pollinators, hips feed wildlife, and prickly thickets shelter nests and escaping animals.↗

Observed: Oct 17, 2026

Local field profile

climbing prairie rose

KLY-ming PRAIR-ee ROHZ

Rosa setigera

Marsh Cir, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (1)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

2026-09-14

Rosa setigera: Pink flowers and green compound leaves — **Leaf reference**Flowers and leavesPhoto: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State NC State
For people: Correctly prepared rose hips have food uses, while prickles make the plant useful as a living barrier.NC State USFS Ohio
Human history & craft: Known as one of North America's few climbing native roses; roses more broadly symbolize love, beauty, and secrecy.NC State USFS Ohio
Indigenous knowledge & use: Arapaho documentation describes wild-rose petals and preparations, orange root dye, winter stalks for arrows, and a sacred role in the pipe and Sun Dance. The source discusses wild rose broadly, so these uses are not claimed specifically for Rosa setigera.CU Boulder
Medicinal history: Current references report no species-specific ethnobotanical record for Rosa setigera. Medicinal traditions involving other roses should not be assumed to apply to this species.NC State USFS Ohio
For the ecosystem: Flowers serve pollinators, hips feed wildlife, and dense prickly stems provide nesting and escape cover.NC State USFS Ohio
Attracts & supports: Native bees
Beetles
Butterflies
Fruit-eating birds
Small mammals
Nesting birds
Open flowers supply pollen, rose hips feed wildlife, foliage hosts insects, and thorny canes create protected nesting and escape cover.NC State USFS Ohio
Fun fact: Unlike most roses, climbing prairie rose can scramble high through shrubs instead of staying bush-sized.NC State USFS Ohio

EdibilityLimited parts
Rose hips are generally used for teas, syrups, and preserves; remove irritating inner hairs and verify an untreated plant.NC State USFS Ohio
ToxicityPhysical caution
Prickles and irritating hairs around the seeds are the main concerns; pesticide exposure is another reason not to forage casually.NC State USFS Ohio
Native statusNative locally
Native to central and eastern North America and recognized as one of Ohio's native roses.NC State USFS Ohio
Material utilityUseful
Hips have food uses, and the climbing, prickly stems can form living barriers and wildlife cover.NC State USFS Ohio
Ecological valueHigh value
Flowers feed pollinators, hips feed birds and mammals, and dense prickly growth provides shelter.NC State USFS Ohio
Allergen potentialPossible
Not a typical major airborne allergen, but pollen, fragrance, prickles, or contact may affect sensitive people.NC State USFS Ohio

Field LedgerFlora

Hollow Joe-Pye Weed

Eutrochium fistulosum

yoo-TRO-kee-um fist-yoo-LOW-sum

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonNeeds ID

Native2/3
Utility1/3
Ecology2/3

Effects & relationships

For you: For people. Listed landscape uses: meadow, naturalized area, pond, woodland.↗
Around you: In the food web. Documented visitors: bees, butterflies, pollinators, songbirds. Visits depend on season and habitat.↗

Observed: Oct 14, 2026

Collected field profile

Hollow Joe-Pye Weed

yoo-TRO-kee-um fist-yoo-LOW-sum

Eutrochium fistulosum

Marsh Cir, Loveland, OH, US

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: Listed landscape uses: meadow, naturalized area, pond, woodland.NC State
For the ecosystem: Documented visitors: bees, butterflies, pollinators, songbirds. Visits depend on season and habitat.NC State
Attracts & supports: Bees
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Documented visitors: bees, butterflies, pollinators, songbirds. Visits depend on season and habitat.NC State
Fun fact: Leaf characteristics: simple leaves; lanceolate; whorled arrangement. Family: Asteraceae.NC State

Native statusRegional native
Native range: Eastern North America. This supports an eastern North American range; it does not establish occurrence in every Ohio county.NC State
Material utilityLandscape uses
Landscape uses listed by the source: meadow, naturalized area, pond, woodland. This rating describes ornamental use, not a recommendation to plant a spreading species.NC State
Ecological valueWildlife support
Documented visitors include bees, butterflies, pollinators, songbirds. This measures documented support, not overall habitat quality.NC State

Field LedgerFlora

ashes

Fraxinus

ASH-iz

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonNeeds ID

Edible0/3
Toxic0/3
Native2/3
Utility3/3
Ecology3/3
Allergy3/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Shock-resistant wood. Ash wood's resilience makes it useful for tool handles, bats, paddles, furniture, and baskets.↗
Around you: Habitat under pressure. Ash supports forest food webs; widespread loss to emerald ash borer changes canopy and habitat.↗
Watch for: Spring pollen. Wind-pollinated ash is a common spring allergy source and can cross-react with other olive-family pollen.↗

Observed: Oct 14, 2026

Local field profile

ashes

ASH-iz

Fraxinus

Charles Snider Rd, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (3)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

Fraxinus americana: Fraxinus americana — **Leaf reference · Related example**LeavesExample: *Fraxinus americana*. The observation is identified only as *Fraxinus*; leaves vary by species.Photo: Virens · CC BY 2.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. These are the options recorded for the genus; a species identification is needed to narrow them down. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: Ash wood bends under shock, making it classic material for tool handles, bats, paddles, furniture, and baskets.NC State NC State
Human history & craft: The world tree Yggdrasil is traditionally described as an ash, linking the genus to Norse cosmology.NC State NC State
Mythology & symbolism: In Norse cosmology, Yggdrasil is described as a vast ash that holds the worlds in its branches and roots. That myth concerns the ash-tree archetype, not a claim that every Fraxinus species is Yggdrasil.UVM
Medicinal history: Bark and leaves of identified ash species appear in Indigenous and European remedies, but genus-level identification is too broad for medicinal use.NC State NC State
For the ecosystem: Ash trees support insects, birds, and mammals; their widespread loss has reshaped forest canopies and food webs.NC State NC State
Attracts & supports: Ash sphinx
Tiger swallowtail
Seed-eating birds
Squirrels
Deer and beavers
Emerald ash borer
Leaves host native caterpillars, seeds and browse feed wildlife, and trunks provide forest structure; emerald ash borer is a destructive introduced user of the genus.NC State NC State
Fun fact: Baseball bats favor ash because its ring-porous wood combines springiness, strength, and relatively low weight.NC State NC State

EdibilityNo genus-wide food use
Do not infer food safety from an ash identification at genus rank.NC State NC State
ToxicityLow general risk
Ash is not generally treated as a major human poison, but species-specific preparations remain unassessed.NC State NC State
Native statusMany native species
Several Fraxinus species are native to Ohio, while planted nonnative ashes also exist.NC State NC State
Material utilityPremier tool wood
Shock-resistant wood is renowned for handles, sports equipment, furniture, baskets, and vehicle parts.NC State NC State
Ecological valueHigh value
Native ashes support forest insects and wildlife; emerald ash borer mortality makes surviving trees ecologically significant.NC State NC State
Allergen potentialMajor tree pollen
Wind-pollinated ash is a common spring aeroallergen and can cross-react with olive-family pollen.NC State NC State

Field LedgerFlora

sassafras

Sassafras albidum

SAS-ah-fras AL-bih-dum

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible1/3
Toxic1/3
Native2/3
Utility2/3
Ecology2/3

Effects & relationships

Watch for: Bark-oil caution. Bark contains safrole, linked to cancer in experimental animals; culinary leaf history does not make bark preparations safe.↗
For you: Flavor and timber history. Leaves have recorded culinary use; wood has furniture and boat uses.↗
Around you: Leaves, fruit, and nests. Hosts swallowtail and imperial-moth larvae, feeds fruit-eating wildlife, and offers dead stems for nesting bees.↗

Observed: Oct 12, 2026

Local field profile

sassafras

SAS-ah-fras AL-bih-dum

Sassafras albidum

Shade Dr, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (1)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

2026-09-15

A reviewed leaf photo is not available for this identification yet.

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: Wood is used for furniture and boats; leaves have a recorded culinary use.NC State
Human history & craft: Aromatic wood and roots; bark contains safrole.NC State
Medicinal history: Historical uses are recorded, but no treatment claim is assigned.NC State
For the ecosystem: Supports swallowtail and imperial-moth larvae, fruit-eating wildlife, and stem-nesting bees.NC State
Attracts & supports: Spicebush swallowtail larvae
Imperial moth larvae
Fruit-eating birds
Stem-nesting bees
NC State documents larval hosts, wildlife fruit use, and bee nesting in dead stems.NC State
Fun fact: Male and female flowers occur on separate trees.NC State

EdibilityLeaf food use recorded
NC State records dried leaves as filé powder. Bark contains safrole; the food-use record does not establish safe preparation of this sighting.NC State
ToxicityLow listed severity
NC State lists low poison severity for bark and identifies safrole, with carcinogenic effects reported in experimental animals.NC State
Native statusRegional native
NC State identifies an eastern North American native range.NC State
Material utilityWood uses
The account documents furniture and boat uses for the wood.NC State
Ecological valueWildlife support
Documented roles include caterpillar host, wildlife fruit source, and nesting stems for bees.NC State

Field LedgerFlora

Blackberries

Rubus

ROO-bus

Life cycleNeeds species ID

CommonNeeds ID

Effects & relationships

For you: For people. The broader genus is grown for fruit and barriers. This subgenus identification does not confirm edible parts or preparation.↗
Around you: In the food web. The genus account records nectar for bees, fruit for birds and mammals, and thickets that shelter wildlife.↗

Observed: Oct 8, 2026

Local field profile

Blackberries

ROO-bus

Rubus

Shade Dr, Loveland, OH, US

A reviewed leaf photo is not available for this identification yet.

Life cycle: Needs species ID. A narrower identification is needed to document this plant's life cycle.
For people: The broader genus is grown for fruit and barriers. This subgenus identification does not confirm edible parts or preparation.NC State
Human history & craft: Blackberries; this observation is identified only to subgenus.NC State
Medicinal history: No medicinal claim is assigned to this subgenus-level observation.NC State
For the ecosystem: The genus account records nectar for bees, fruit for birds and mammals, and thickets that shelter wildlife.NC State
Attracts & supports: Bees
Fruit-eating birds and mammals
Stem-nesting bees
Genus-level context: bramble flowers feed bees, fruit feeds wildlife, thickets provide shelter, and dead stems support nesting bees. Species-specific visitors remain unconfirmed.NC State
Fun fact: Dead, hollow bramble stems can house stem-nesting bees.NC State

Field LedgerFlora

autumn olive

Elaeagnus umbellata

AW-tum OL-iv

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible3/3
Toxic0/3
Native0/3
Utility2/3
Ecology1/3
Allergy1/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Fruit with a responsibility. Tart ripe berries have jam, sauce, and fruit-leather uses; moving seeds can spread the shrub.↗
Around you: Soil-changing invader. Nitrogen-fixing roots favor growth on poor soils; birds disperse seeds and help invasive thickets spread.↗

Observed: Oct 8, 2026

Local field profile

autumn olive

AW-tum OL-iv

Elaeagnus umbellata

Shade Dr, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (4)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

Elaeagnus umbellata: leaf — **Leaf reference**leafPhoto: Mark Fickett · CC BY 2.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State NC State
For people: Tart ripe berries can become jam, sauce, or fruit leather, but harvest must not spread seeds to new sites.NC State
Human history & craft: Once planted for wildlife, erosion control, and reclamation, it became a cautionary invasive-species success story.NC State
Medicinal history: The fruit contains studied nutrients such as lycopene, but food chemistry is not proof of a medicinal treatment.NC State
For the ecosystem: Birds and mammals eat the fruit and disperse seed; nitrogen-fixing roots help the shrub overtake poor soils and disrupt succession.NC State
Attracts & supports: Bees
Songbirds
Game birds
Small mammals
White-tailed deer
Neighboring native plants
Flowers feed insects and prolific fruit feeds wildlife that disperses seed; browsing does not prevent nitrogen-fixing thickets from displacing native habitat.NC State
Fun fact: A mature shrub can produce tens of pounds of fruit, each containing a readily dispersed seed.NC State

EdibilityEdible ripe fruit
Ripe red berries are tart-sweet and used fresh, cooked, or dried; dispose of seeds responsibly.NC State
ToxicityLow documented risk
Ripe fruit is eaten as food; thorns, site contamination, and individual sensitivity are more practical concerns.NC State
Native statusIntroduced invasive
Native to Asia and invasive through much of eastern and central North America.NC State
Material utilityFood with management caveat
Fruit is useful, and the shrub was planted for erosion and windbreaks, but propagation worsens an invasive problem.NC State
Ecological valueFood but net harm
Wildlife eats the fruit, yet seed dispersal, dense shade, and altered nutrient cycling harm native communities.NC State
Allergen potentialUsually minor
Not a leading seasonal pollen allergen; fragrant flowers and fruit can still affect individuals.NC State

Field LedgerFlora

broomsedge bluestem

Anatherum virginicum

a-NAH-the-rum ver-JIN-ih-kus

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonNeeds ID

Utility1/3
Ecology2/3

Effects & relationships

For you: For people. Listed landscape uses: meadow, naturalized area, accent, barrier.↗
Around you: In the food web. Documented visitors: butterflies, pollinators. Visits depend on season and habitat.↗

Observed: Oct 8, 2026

Collected field profile

broomsedge bluestem

a-NAH-the-rum ver-JIN-ih-kus

Anatherum virginicum

Shade Dr, Loveland, OH, US

A reviewed leaf photo is not available for this identification yet.

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: Listed landscape uses: meadow, naturalized area, accent, barrier.NC State
For the ecosystem: Documented visitors: butterflies, pollinators. Visits depend on season and habitat.NC State
Attracts & supports: Butterflies
Pollinators
Documented visitors: butterflies, pollinators. Visits depend on season and habitat.NC State
Fun fact: Leaf characteristics: sheath leaves. Family: Poaceae.NC State

Material utilityLandscape uses
Landscape uses listed by the source: meadow, naturalized area, accent, barrier. This rating describes ornamental use, not a recommendation to plant a spreading species.NC State
Ecological valueWildlife support
Documented visitors include butterflies, pollinators. This measures documented support, not overall habitat quality.NC State

Field LedgerFlora

Japanese honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica

jap-uh-NEEZ HUN-ee-suk-ul

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible1/3
Toxic2/3
Native0/3
Utility3/3
Ecology1/3
Allergy1/3

Effects & relationships

Watch for: Do not eat the berries. Fruit contains saponins and can cause serious symptoms when eaten in quantity.↗
Around you: Smothering climber. Dense vines suppress native plants and stop tree seedlings, despite feeding some wildlife.↗
For you: Fiber from removal. Removed vines have basket and cordage uses; their invasive growth is the main local concern.↗

Observed: Oct 8, 2026

Local field profile

Japanese honeysuckle

jap-uh-NEEZ HUN-ee-suk-ul

Lonicera japonica

Shade Dr, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (3)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

Lonicera japonica: Leafy shoots with terminal white and yellow flowers. — **Leaf reference**Lonicera japonica. Branches and flowersPhoto: Lucy Bradley · CC BY 4.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: Removed vines can be repurposed for baskets and cordage; the berries should not be eaten.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Human history & craft: Known for sweet fragrance and the childhood custom of sipping flower nectar; its Chinese name means “gold-silver flower.”NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Medicinal history: Dried flower buds, called jinyinhua, have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries for feverish illnesses and sores. Standardized medicinal material is not the same as a wild-foraged vine.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
For the ecosystem: It feeds and shelters some wildlife, but dense vines smother native plants and inhibit tree seedlings.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Attracts & supports: Bees
Butterflies and moths
Hummingbirds
Fruit-eating birds
White-tailed deer
Neighboring plants
Flowers and berries attract wildlife and deer browse the vine, but its dense growth smothers shrubs, seedlings, and young trees.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Fun fact: Its flowers age from white to yellow, inspiring the name “gold-and-silver honeysuckle.”NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH

EdibilityVery limited
Flower nectar and flowers have some food uses, but the berries are not edible and can be toxic.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
ToxicityMeaningful caution
The fruits contain saponins and may cause serious symptoms if eaten in quantity.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Native statusIntroduced invasive
Native to eastern Asia and highly invasive in the eastern United States, where it can smother native vegetation.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Material utilityExcellent weaving vine
Long runners are documented in Cherokee basketry and can be prepared for weaving or cordage. Harvest only where permitted.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Ecological valueNet ecological cost
It supplies fruit, forage, and cover, but dense growth suppresses tree seedlings and displaces native plants.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH
Allergen potentialPossible
Not a major seasonal pollen source; fragrance, pollen, or contact may still affect sensitive people.NC State USFS Penn Museum NIH

Field LedgerFlora

wild teasel

Dipsacus fullonum

KOM-un TEE-zul

Life cycleBiennial / Perennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible1/3
Native0/3
Utility1/3
Ecology1/3

Effects & relationships

Around you: Meadow takeover. Dense stands crowd out native prairie and savanna plants, turning a roadside curiosity into a habitat problem.↗
For you: Spiny keepsake. Dried heads appear in arrangements, but prickles complicate handling and moving seeded heads can spread the plant.↗
Know the context: One bloom, many descendants. Grows as a rosette, flowers once, and can produce thousands of seeds before dying.↗

Observed: Oct 7, 2026

Local field profile

wild teasel

KOM-un TEE-zul

Dipsacus fullonum

SR-28, Loveland, OH, US

A reviewed leaf photo is not available for this identification yet.

Life cycle: Biennial / Perennial. Biennial plants usually complete their life cycle over two growing seasons. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Usually biennial, but a rosette can persist beyond its second season. Each plant dies after its single flowering; perennial here does not mean repeated flowering. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.UMN Extension USFS
For people: Spiky heads are used in dried arrangements, but moving seeded heads can spread the plant; prickly stems and leaves complicate handling.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.Kew Kew
Human history & craft: Dried arrangements are a documented ornamental use; teasel textile history concerns the group rather than a confirmed use unique to this species.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.Kew Kew
Medicinal history: Kew records a medicinal-use category without a specific treatment or preparation; no effectiveness claim is assigned.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.Kew Kew
For the ecosystem: Illinois Extension documents dense stands that displace native prairie and savanna plants.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.Kew Kew
Attracts & supports: Native prairie plants (competition)
Savanna plants (competition)
Dense common-teasel stands displace native prairie and savanna vegetation. No particular wildlife visitor is inferred from the reviewed invasion account.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.Kew Kew
Fun fact: A plant can spend more than one year as a rosette, then flower once, set thousands of seeds, and die.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.Kew Kew

EdibilityFood-use record only
Kew records food use without edible parts or preparation details. This does not establish safe identification or foraging.Kew
Native statusIntroduced in Ohio
Kew lists a native range from Europe to the Caucasus and northwestern Africa, with Ohio in the introduced range.Kew
Material utilityDried arrangements
Illinois Extension records dried-flower and cut-arrangement use; moving seed-bearing heads can spread this invasive plant.Illinois Ext.Illinois Ext.
Ecological valueInvasive concern
Dense stands can displace native prairie and savanna plants; this rating reflects that documented ecological cost.Illinois Ext.

Field LedgerFlora

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

new ENG-land AS-ter

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible0/3
Toxic0/3
Native3/3
Utility2/3
Ecology3/3
Allergy1/3

Effects & relationships

Around you: Late-season fuel. Flowers feed migrating monarchs, native bees, and hover flies when many summer blooms are over.↗
Around you: Caterpillar nursery. Leaves host pearl crescent caterpillars; seeds feed birds and small mammals.↗
For you: Rain-garden color. A native pollinator-garden plant; tall stems may need staking or spring pinching.↗

Observed: Oct 6, 2026

Local field profile

New England aster

new ENG-land AS-ter

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Charles Snider Rd, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (1)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

2026-09-18

Symphyotrichum novae angliae: Leaves in the fall in Moore County — **Leaf reference · Related example**Symphyotrichum novae-angliae - Leaves in the fall in Moore CountyExample: *Symphyotrichum novae angliae*. The observation is identified only as *Symphyotrichum novae-angliae*; leaves vary by species.Photo: Susan Strine · CC BY 2.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: Widely grown in native, rain, and pollinator gardens for vivid late-season color; tall plants may need staking or spring pinching.NC State USFS KU
Human history & craft: Famous for deep purple-to-pink flowers that brighten meadows around the time many summer wildflowers are fading.NC State USFS KU
Mythology & symbolism: In Greek flower lore, asters were said to have sprung from the tears of the goddess Astraea. This is a broader aster tradition rather than a story unique to New England aster.UVM
Medicinal history: The University of Kansas research garden records minor historical medicinal use but does not provide enough detail here to assign a remedy. Historical use is not evidence of safety or effectiveness.NC State USFS KU
For the ecosystem: Late flowers feed native bees, hover flies, butterflies, and migrating monarchs; foliage hosts pearl crescent caterpillars, and seeds feed birds and small mammals.NC State USFS KU
Attracts & supports: Aster specialist bees
Bumblebees
Hover flies
Migrating monarchs
Pearl crescent
Seed-eating birds
Late nectar and pollen sustain insects near the end of the flowering season, leaves feed pearl crescent caterpillars, and fall-to-winter seeds feed birds and small mammals.NC State USFS KU
Fun fact: A single flower head can carry roughly one hundred purple ray florets around nearly as many tiny yellow disk florets.NC State USFS KU

EdibilityNot a food plant
No reviewed source in this profile supports treating New England aster as food; ornamental or historical use does not establish edibility.NC State USFS KU
ToxicityLow documented risk
It is not highlighted as a common poisonous plant by the reviewed horticultural sources, but that does not make unidentified plant material safe to ingest.NC State USFS KU
Native statusNative locally
Native across eastern North America, including the Ohio region, in moist meadows, prairies, thickets, valleys, and stream edges.NC State USFS KU
Material utilityGarden and restoration value
Useful in native gardens, rain gardens, naturalized plantings, pond margins, and late-season pollinator habitat.NC State USFS KU
Ecological valueHigh value
Provides unusually important late nectar and pollen, hosts pearl crescent larvae, and leaves seed for birds and small mammals.NC State USFS KU
Allergen potentialPossible
Its pollen is carried mainly by insects rather than broadcast like ragweed pollen, though contact or pollen sensitivity can still occur.NC State USFS KU

Field LedgerFungi

Lactarius psammicola

UncommonNeeds ID

Edible1/3
Ecology2/3

Effects & relationships

Around you: Tree-root partner. Iowa State describes the nominate form as a root-associated fungus in deciduous and coniferous woods.↗
For you: Read the milkcap. Latex released when damaged is a milkcap feature; a species name on a photo is not a food-safety check.↗
Know the context: Food record has limits. A Mexican ethnomycology study records local food use; it does not establish safe identification or preparation of this mushroom.↗

Observed: Oct 1, 2026

Local field profile

Lactarius psammicola

Shade Dr, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (1)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

2026-10-01

For people: USGS documents this species during a mushroom foray in Sullivan, Missouri, as an example for learning milkcap identification.Iowa State USGS NIH
Human history & craft: USGS contrasts this latex-producing mushroom with a Russula specimen from the same Missouri conservation area.Iowa State USGS NIH
Medicinal history: No medicinal claim is assigned from the reviewed accounts.Iowa State USGS NIH
For the ecosystem: Iowa State describes the nominate form as ectomycorrhizal, a root-associated nutritional mode.Iowa State USGS NIH
Attracts & supports: Mycorrhizal root association
Iowa State documents the nominate form as ectomycorrhizal in both deciduous and coniferous woods; individual host species are not specified.Iowa State USGS NIH
Fun fact: The milky fluid released by damaged tissue gives milkcaps their familiar name.Iowa State USGS NIH

EdibilityFood use recorded
An ethnomycology study records use as food in San Mateo Huexoyucan, Mexico. This documents a local food tradition, not safe identification or preparation of this sighting.NIH
Ecological valueRoot-associated fungus
The nominate form is documented as ectomycorrhizal: associated with plant roots. The account does not name particular host species.Iowa State

Field LedgerFlora

river birch

Betula nigra

RIV-er BURCH

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible1/3
Toxic0/3
Native3/3
Utility3/3
Ecology3/3
Allergy3/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Rain-garden workhorse. Native wet-ground tree used for erosion control, furniture, basket hoops, fuel, and small wooden goods.↗
Around you: Riverbank pantry. Leaves host butterfly larvae; seeds and catkins feed birds and rodents, while deer browse young growth.↗
Watch for: Major spring allergen. Windborne birch pollen is a strong allergy source and can be involved in pollen-food cross-reactions.↗

Observed: Sep 30, 2026

Local field profile

river birch

RIV-er BURCH

Betula nigra

Marsh Cir, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (2)

From this observation and others with the same identification. Tap to view on iNaturalist.

Betula nigra: Shoot with alternate, ovate, toothed leaves. — **Leaf reference**Betula nigra. Leaves.Photo: Kathleen Moore · CC BY 2.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Perennial. Perennial plants live for more than two years. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.NC State
For people: It is widely planted in rain gardens and wet landscapes; its close-grained wood has served for fuel, furniture, basket hoops, toys, and other small objects.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Human history & craft: River birch wood has supplied fuel, basket hoops, inexpensive furniture, toys, and small woodenware; its sap has also been fermented into birch beer. Today the tree is especially useful for wet-site landscaping and erosion control.NC State USFS
Indigenous knowledge & use: University of Vermont ethnobotanical notes record Catawba use of boiled river-birch buds for ringworm and sores, Cherokee use of leaves or bark preparations for digestive, cold, and urinary complaints, and Muscogee (Creek) use connected with tuberculosis. These are distinct historical records, not universal Indigenous practice or treatment advice.UVM
Medicinal history: Catawba, Cherokee, and Muscogee (Creek) records describe distinct historical preparations of buds, leaves, or bark. These accounts document cultural history, not evidence that home remedies are safe or effective.NC State USFS NIH UVM
For the ecosystem: Seeds and catkins feed birds and rodents, twigs and foliage are browsed by deer, and the leaves host mourning cloak and dreamy duskywing caterpillars.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Attracts & supports: Mourning cloak
Dreamy duskywing
Grouse and wild turkey
Songbirds and rodents
White-tailed deer
Bottomland wildlife
Caterpillars feed on foliage, birds and rodents take seeds and catkins, deer browse young growth, and the floodplain tree contributes cover and nesting structure.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Fun fact: Unlike most birches, river birch ripens and sheds its tiny winged seeds in late spring or early summer rather than in autumn.NC State USFS NIH UVM

EdibilityLimited traditional use
The sap has been fermented into birch beer and concentrated as a sweetener, but this tree is not a routine food source and should not be damaged for casual sampling.NC State USFS NIH UVM
ToxicityLow documented risk
River birch is not classed as a major human poison; that does not make unidentified bark, leaves, or preparations appropriate to ingest.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Native statusNative locally
Native to the central and eastern United States, including Ohio, especially along streams, floodplains, and other wet ground.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Material utilityMany practical uses
Useful for erosion control, stormwater planting, fuel, small wooden goods, basket hoops, toys, and historically birch beverages.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Ecological valueHigh habitat value
Feeds caterpillars, birds, rodents, and browsing mammals while adding cover and structure to rich bottomland habitat.NC State USFS NIH UVM
Allergen potentialImportant pollen allergen
Birches release abundant windborne spring pollen; Betula pollen is a major respiratory allergen source and can be involved in pollen-food cross-reactions.NC State USFS NIH UVM

Scroll to discover more observations.

Copy catalog names76 unique identifications from observations with photos

American asters (Symphyotrichum)
American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
American tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Apples and crabapples (Malus)
Ashes (Fraxinus)
Asteroideae
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Bearded Beggarticks (Bidens aristosa)
Beggarticks (Bidens)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Blackberries (Rubus)
Blue spruce (Picea pungens)
Bonesets (Eupatorium)
Brambles (Rubus)
Broomsedge bluestem (Anatherum virginicum)
Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Chinese bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata)
Climbing prairie rose (Rosa setigera)
Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Common ivy (Hedera helix)
Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)
Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Common Three-seeded Mercury (Acalypha rhomboidea)
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
Dandelions (Taraxacum)
Diapheromera
Dicots (Magnoliopsida)
Dooryard violet (Viola communis)
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
Fortune's spindle (Euonymus fortunei)
Frost grape (Vitis vulpina)
Gingers, bananas, and allies (Zingiberales)
Goldenrods (Solidago)
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Hardy begonia (Begonia grandis)
Hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
Hostas (Hosta)
Hypoestes
Interior sandbar willow (Salix interior)
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese Spirea (Spiraea japonica)
Lactarius psammicola
Late boneset (Eupatorium serotinum)
Liriope (Liriope muscari)
Maleae
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Northern arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum)
Oaks (Quercus)
Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
Prostrate sandmat (Euphorbia prostrata)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
River birch (Betula nigra)
Sandmats (Anisophyllum)
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Small carpetgrass (Arthraxon hispidus)
Sunflowers (Helianthus)
Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
Teasels (Dipsacus)
Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)
Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
Wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Willows (Salix)
Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon)

One name per line, ready to paste anywhere.