Your observations · Field Ledger

Showing 12 of 32 identificationsOne card per identification. Latest observed sighting matching this filter 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

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

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

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 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

Field LedgerInsects

Red-spotted Admiral

Limenitis arthemis

CommonResearch grade

Native2/3
Ecology2/3

Effects & relationships

Around you: Tree-leaf nursery. Caterpillars feed on birch, willow, and poplar, tying this native butterfly to woodland trees.↗
For you: Two looks, one species. Includes white-admiral and red-spotted-purple forms, making wing variation part of the observation story.↗

Observed: Sep 28, 2026

Local field profile

Red-spotted Admiral

Limenitis arthemis

Marsh Cir, Loveland, OH, US

For people: A subject for natural-history observation; wing patterns vary within the species.UMich ADW
Human history & craft: This species includes white-admiral and red-spotted-purple forms.UMich ADW
Medicinal history: No medicinal claim is assigned from the reviewed account.UMich ADW
For the ecosystem: Caterpillars feed on several kinds of deciduous trees.UMich ADW
Attracts & supports: Birch, willow, and poplar host trees
Caterpillars feed on the documented tree groups; this describes larval diet rather than human food use.UMich ADW
Fun fact: The University of Michigan account describes a flap-and-glide flight.UMich ADW

Native statusRegional native
The University of Michigan account records native Nearctic distribution across the eastern United States. This supports a regional native rating.UMich ADW
Ecological valueTree-feeding caterpillars
Documented larval food plants include birch, willow, and poplar. The rating describes a food-web role, not human edibility.UMich ADW

Field LedgerFlora

American tuliptree

Liriodendron tulipifera

lir-ee-o-DEN-dron tew-lip-IF-er-a

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Native3/3
Utility3/3
Ecology2/3
Allergy2/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Wood for everyday things. Timber supplies furniture, plywood, boats, veneer, and paper.↗
Around you: Wildlife gathering tree. Documented visitors include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, and small mammals.↗
Watch for: Wood-contact allergy. A clinical case documents allergy to tulip-tree wood; this is a handling concern, not a pollen claim.↗

Observed: Sep 27, 2026

Local field profile

American tuliptree

lir-ee-o-DEN-dron tew-lip-IF-er-a

Liriodendron tulipifera

Woodgate Rd, Cincinnati, 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: Documented material uses include furniture, plywood, boats, veneer, paper.NC State NIH
Human history & craft: Cultural history and Indigenous knowledge require specific, attributed sources and have not been assigned automatically.NC State NIH
Medicinal history: Medicinal history requires separate review; no treatment claim is inferred from general natural-history information.NC State NIH
For the ecosystem: Documented visitors: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators, small mammals, songbirds. Visits depend on season and habitat.NC State NIH
Attracts & supports: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Pollinators
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Documented visitors: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators, small mammals, songbirds. Visits depend on season and habitat.NC State NIH
Fun fact: Leaf characteristics: simple leaves; orbicular; alternate arrangement. Family: Magnoliaceae.NC State NIH

Native statusNative in Ohio
The source explicitly includes Ohio in the native range.NC State
Material utilityMaterial uses
Documented material uses include furniture, plywood, boats, veneer, paper.NC State
Ecological valueWildlife support
Documented visitors include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators, small mammals, songbirds. This measures documented support, not overall habitat quality.NC State
Allergen potentialWood-contact allergy
A clinical case report documents allergy to tulip-tree wood, indexed under contact dermatitis and human hypersensitivity. This rating concerns wood contact, not airborne pollen.NIH

Field LedgerFlora

yellow archangel

Lamium galeobdolon

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Native0/3
Utility1/3
Ecology1/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Containment burden. Formerly grown as groundcover and in hanging baskets; escaped plants can be difficult to contain.↗
Around you: Understory takeover. Rooting stems form dense mats; King County documents native-plant displacement in the Pacific Northwest.↗

Observed: Sep 27, 2026

Local field profile

yellow archangel

Lamium galeobdolon

Woodgate Rd, Cincinnati, 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: Formerly used as ornamental ground cover and in hanging baskets; escaped plants can be difficult to contain.NC State King County
Human history & craft: Also called Lamiastrum galeobdolon. Silver-marked leaves make it recognizable as an ornamental escape.NC State King County
Medicinal history: No medicinal claim is supported by these reviewed sources.NC State King County
For the ecosystem: King County documents displacement of native understory plants in the Pacific Northwest.NC State King County
Attracts & supports: Native understory competition
The reviewed agency account emphasizes displacement of native plants, rather than useful wildlife support.NC State King County
Fun fact: Its square stems and paired leaves are characteristic of the mint family.NC State King County

Native statusIntroduced
NC State gives its native range as Europe to Iran, outside Ohio.NC State
Material utilityOrnamental history
Grown as ground cover and in hanging baskets; that use is not a recommendation to plant it.King County
Ecological valueInvasive concern
Dense growth can replace native ground vegetation; King County documents this impact in the Pacific Northwest.King County

Field LedgerFlora

Common Lambsquarters

Chenopodium album

LAMZ-kwor-terz

Life cycleAnnual↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible2/3
Toxic1/3
Native0/3
Utility2/3
Ecology2/3
Allergy3/3

Effects & relationships

Watch for: Pollen season. Windborne pollen contains recognized allergens and can contribute to seasonal symptoms.↗
For you: Greens with conditions. Young growth and seeds have food uses, but identification and preparation matter; large raw servings can cause harm.↗
Around you: Weed into wildlife food. Leaves feed caterpillars; abundant seeds feed songbirds and small mammals.↗

Observed: Sep 27, 2026

Local field profile

Common Lambsquarters

LAMZ-kwor-terz

Chenopodium album

Marsh Cir, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (1)

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

2026-09-16

Chenopodium album: A single leaf with three lobes & an irregularly toothed margin — **Leaf reference**Chenopodium albumPhoto: NY State IPM Program · CC BY 2.0 · NC State Extension

Life cycle: Annual. Annual plants complete their life cycle in one growing season.NC State
For people: Young growth and seeds have food uses, but proper preparation and confident identification matter.NC State NIH NIH
Human history & craft: The old name “fat hen” reflects its reputation as poultry feed; people have eaten its seeds since prehistoric times.NC State NIH NIH
Medicinal history: Ayurvedic and other traditional systems have used lambsquarters as a digestive, diuretic, laxative, and topical preparation. Most modern evidence is laboratory or preclinical rather than clinical.NC State NIH NIH
For the ecosystem: Caterpillars browse the leaves, while songbirds and small mammals eat the abundant seeds.NC State NIH NIH
Attracts & supports: Leaf-mining insects
Caterpillars
Sparrows
Finches
Mice
Soft foliage feeds several small herbivores, while the abundant, persistent seed becomes food for birds and rodents.NC State NIH NIH
Fun fact: A single vigorous plant can produce tens of thousands of long-lived seeds.NC State NIH NIH

EdibilityEdible with care
Young leaves, shoots, and seeds have food uses; cooking helps reduce saponins and oxalic acid.NC State NIH NIH
ToxicityLow caution
Large quantities—especially older raw plant parts—can cause digestive or other adverse effects.NC State NIH NIH
Native statusIntroduced here
Generally treated as Eurasian in origin and now widespread in disturbed North American habitats.NC State NIH NIH
Material utilityUseful
Young greens are used as food, seeds have been ground into flour, and plants have been used as poultry forage.NC State NIH NIH
Ecological valueMixed value
It feeds several caterpillars, beetles, mammals, and seed-eating birds, but can be an aggressive weed.NC State NIH NIH
Allergen potentialKnown pollen allergen
Its wind-borne pollen contains recognized allergens and can contribute to seasonal allergic symptoms.NC State NIH NIH

Field LedgerFlora

fortune's spindle

Euonymus fortunei

WIN-ter-kree-per

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible0/3
Toxic1/3
Native0/3
Utility1/3
Ecology0/3
Allergy1/3

Effects & relationships

Around you: Evergreen takeover. Ground mats suppress native plants; climbing vines and bird-dispersed seeds extend the invasion.↗
For you: A costly groundcover. Year-round cover and tough growth turn into containment work when this ornamental escapes.↗
Watch for: Keep out of mouths. Eating large amounts can cause digestive, weakness, or neurological symptoms; berries are not a food use.↗

Observed: Sep 21, 2026

Local field profile

fortune's spindle

WIN-ter-kree-per

Euonymus fortunei

Marsh Cir, Loveland, OH, US

More of your photos (1)

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

2026-09-06

Euonymus fortunei: Euonymus fortunei — **Leaf reference**Leaf close-upPhoto: Purdue Arboretum · CC BY 1.0 · 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 stays green and tolerates difficult sites, but those same traits make it a damaging, high-maintenance invasive.NC State
Human history & craft: Famous as a once-popular evergreen groundcover that became a forest invader.NC State
Medicinal history: No evidence-based medicinal use is assigned; related Euonymus species contain biologically active and potentially poisonous compounds.NC State
For the ecosystem: Birds disperse its fruit, while thick mats and climbing growth suppress native herbs, shrubs, and trees.NC State
Attracts & supports: Bees
Fruit-eating birds
White-tailed deer
Trees and ground flora
Birds disperse fruit and deer browse foliage, but climbing vines and ground mats suppress native herbs, shrubs, seedlings, and mature trees.NC State
Fun fact: It changes form when it climbs: elevated adult branches flower and fruit while creeping juvenile growth usually does not.NC State

EdibilityAvoid
The berries and other parts should not be eaten, particularly in quantity.NC State
ToxicityLow but real caution
Large amounts may cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or neurological symptoms; related species are poisonous.NC State
Native statusIntroduced invasive
Native to East Asia and invasive in Ohio and many eastern states.NC State
Material utilityOrnamental only
Useful as evergreen groundcover or a vine, but ecological damage makes planting it a poor tradeoff.NC State
Ecological valueEcologically harmful
It smothers ground flora, climbs trees, and uses bird-dispersed seed to invade intact woods.NC State
Allergen potentialContact possible
Not a major airborne allergen; sap or plant handling may still irritate sensitive people.NC State

Field LedgerFlora

interior sandbar willow

Salix interior

SANDBAR WIL-oh

Life cyclePerennial↗

CommonResearch grade

Edible0/3
Toxic1/3
Native3/3
Utility3/3
Ecology3/3
Allergy2/3

Effects & relationships

For you: Living bank armor. Fast-rooting stems stabilize streambanks and shorelines in restoration projects.↗
Around you: Riverside refuge. Thickets shelter birds, feed early insects and browsers, and catch sediment while slowing erosion.↗
Watch for: Not homemade aspirin. Willow compounds can be unsafe for some people; plant preparations are not standardized aspirin.↗

Observed: Sep 18, 2026

Local field profile

interior sandbar willow

SANDBAR WIL-oh

Salix interior

SR-28, 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. The U.S. Geological Survey lists its lifespan as perennial. Perennial does not guarantee winter survival in every climate.USGS
For people: Its fast-rooting stems and spreading colonies are used in streambank stabilization, shoreline restoration, and living soil-bioengineering systems.USDA GovInfo NLM
Human history & craft: A pioneer of newly deposited sandbars, it helps turn shifting wet sediment into more stable ground where a riparian community can develop.USDA GovInfo NLM
Indigenous knowledge & use: Arapaho documentation records willow generally for baskets, cradle and sweat-lodge frames, backrests, tools, arrows, and the Sun Dance altar. The source does not identify Salix interior specifically, so this is presented as a wider willow tradition rather than a species claim.CU Boulder
Medicinal history: Willow bark has a long history in pain and fever remedies, and salicin research helped lead to aspirin. That genus-wide history is not a recommendation to prepare this species and carries salicylate-related risks.USDA GovInfo NLM
For the ecosystem: Dense riverside thickets shelter birds, furnish browse for deer and other mammals, feed early insects, and slow erosion while catching sediment.USDA GovInfo NLM
Attracts & supports: Early native bees
Willow-feeding caterpillars
Game birds
White-tailed deer
Beavers and rabbits
Riparian plant communities
Catkins and foliage support insects, browse and woody cover support birds and mammals, and sediment-catching colonies create more stable stream-edge habitat for neighboring plants.USDA GovInfo NLM
Fun fact: Male and female catkins grow on separate plants, while creeping rootstocks let one plant expand into a broad, nearly impenetrable colony.USDA GovInfo NLM

EdibilityNot a food plant
This catalog does not treat sandbar willow as food; historical willow preparations should not be confused with ordinary edibility.USDA GovInfo NLM
ToxicitySalicylate caution
Willows contain salicylate-related compounds; internal preparations can be unsafe for some people and are not equivalent to standardized aspirin.USDA GovInfo NLM
Native statusNative locally
A native North American willow found across the Northeast and interior regions on streambanks, shores, ditches, and flood-prone ground.USDA GovInfo NLM
Material utilityHighly useful
Fast-rooting cuttings and dense colonies make it valuable for erosion control, riparian restoration, and living streambank structures.USDA GovInfo NLM
Ecological valueHigh value
Early catkins, browse, woody cover, and sediment-trapping thickets support both wildlife and the physical structure of riparian habitat.USDA GovInfo NLM
Allergen potentialModerate pollen potential
Male willows release airborne pollen that can affect sensitive people, although exposure varies with plant sex, season, and distance.USDA GovInfo NLM

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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)

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