Update of Dr. Mead’s List of Plants of Upland Forests and Woodlands

 by Mark Kluge

Introduction 

Published in The Prairie Farmer in 1846, Dr. Samuel Mead's detailed plant list offers an unparalleled early glimpse into the ecosystems of Illinois. As an early settler and country doctor, he travelled widely in west central Illinois and made an attempt to recognize which habitats supported which plants.

His observations help us understand how different from today were those ancient ecosystems, long impacted by burning. 

He did not see ecosystems as we perceive them today, with the benefit of a century and a half of study. Indeed, the categories he chose were somewhat puzzling:

B - barrens

Bks - Along rivers or creeks

Bts - timber bottoms

H - hills

P - growing in prairies

Pnds - growing in or about ponds

R - roadsides

S - sand

T - in timber

W - wet

Judging from the species listed, his category "barrens" seems to include what today would be called savannas and shrub prairies. But what do we make of "timber" and "hills"? Could not prairies or sand savannas also be found in hilly landscapes? Yet the plants in the various lists suggests that what he called "timber" and "hills" jointly include what the updated Illinois Natural Areas Inventory now calls woodlands and forests. (Wooded hills appeared different enough from flatter wooded lands that he chose to treat them separately.) Thus the list below contains all the species Mead assigned to "Timber" and "Hills" and gives the other communities where he also found those species.    

Mead's original list used scientific names that have long been replaced by others (often many times). So Mark Kluge heroically updated the 800+ names to those current in 2017. (A few more names, current in 2017, have since been changed again). For details on changes and the complete plant list from all habitats, see the post at XXXX (unfinished). 

The List of Native Forest and Woodland Species

as updated by Mark Kluge from:

 A Catalogue of Plants Growing Spontaneously in the State of Illinois, the principal part near Augusta, Hancock County

Dr. Samuel B. Mead

 

Prairie Farmer 1846: Vol. 6, Nos. 1-4. 

Acalypha virginica

Virginia Mercury

T

BTS

P

Actaea pachypoda

White Baneberry

T

H

Adiantum pedatum

Maidenhair Fern

T

Agalinis tenuifolia

Slender False Foxglove

T

P

Ambrosia trifida

Giant Ragweed

T

P

Amelanchier arborea

Downy Serviceberry

T

H

Amphicarpaea bracteata

Hog Peanut

T

Andropogon gerardii

Big Bluestem

T

P

Anemone acutiloba

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

T

H

Anemone quinquefolia

Wood Anemone

T

Aplectrum hyemale

Putty-root Orchid

T

Apocynum cannabinum

Indian Hemp

T

P

Aquilegia canadensis

Wild Columbine

T

Arabis pycnocarpa

Hairy Rock Cress

T

P

Aralia racemosa

Spikenard

T

H

Arisaema dracontium

Green Dragon

T

Arisaema triphyllum

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

T

H

Arnoglossun atriplicifolium

Sweet Indian Plantain

T

Artemisia caudata

Sand Wormwood

H

B

P

S

Artemisia frigida

Western Sagebrush

H

B

S

Asarum canadense

Wild Ginger

T

H

Asclepias exaltata

Poke Milkweed

T

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed

T

P

W

Asclepias quadrifolia

Fourleaf Milkweed

T

Asclepias syriaca

Common Milkweed

T

P

Asclepias verticillata

Whorled Milkweed

T

H

P

Asplenium rhizophyllum

Walking Fern

T

H

Astragalus canadensis

Canada Milk Vetch

T

Aureolaria flava macrantha

Smooth False Foxglove

T

Blephilia ciliata

Downy Wood Mint

T

Boechera Canadensis

Sicklepod

T

Bouteloua curtipendula

Side Oats Grama

H

P

S

Bouteloua hirsuta

Hairy Grama

H

S

Brachyelytrum erectum

Long-awned Wood Grass

T

Brickellia eupatorioides

False Boneset

T

H

P

Bromus ciliatus

Canada Brome Grass

T

BKS

P

Bromus pubescens

Hairy Woodland Brome

T

Bromus secalinus

Common Chess

T

Calystegia sepium

Hedge Bindweed

T

P

W

Calystegia spithamaea

Low Bindweed

H

B

Cardamine concatenata

Toothwort

T

Carex blanda

Common Wood Sedge

T

Carex cephalophora

Capitate Sedge

T

Carex crus-corvi

Raven’s Foot Sedge

T

PDS

Carex granularis

Meadow Sedge

T

BTS

W

Carex hirtifolia

Hairy Sedge

T

Carex laxiflora

Broad Loose-flowered Sedge

T

BTS

Carex muhlenbergii

Sand Sedge

T

BTS

W

Carex pensylvanica

Penn Sedge

T

Carex rosea

Curly-styled Wood Sedge

T

Carex sparganioides

Bur Reed sedge

T

BTS

P

Carex squarrosa

Squarrose Sedge

T

PDS

Carex tenera

Remote Sedge

T

P

Carex tincta

Tinted Sedge

T

Carex virescens

Hairy-fruited Sedge

T

H

Carpinus caroliniana

Musclewood (American Hornbeam)

T

Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory

T

Carya tomentosa

Mockernut Hickory

T

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Blue cohosh

T

Celastrus scandens

American Bittersweet

T

Cerastium nutans

Nodding Chickweed

T

Cercis canadensis

Redbud

T

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Partridge Pea

T

Chamaecrista nictitans

Wild Sensitive Plant

H

Chasmanthum latifolium

Inland Oats

T

BKS

Chenopodium urbicum

City Goosefoot

T

P

Chrysopsis villosa

Hairy Prairie Golden Aster

H

P

S

Cinna arundinacea

Wood Reed {W

T

P

W

Circaea lutetiana

Enchanter’s Nightshade

T

Cirsium altissimum

Tall Thistle

T

Claytonia virginica

Spring Beauty

T

Clematis virginiana

Virgin’s Bower

T

Commelina erecta

Dayflower

H

B

S

Conyza canadensis

Horseweed

T

P

Cornus racemosa

Gray Dogwood

T

Cornus sericea

Red-Osier Dogwood

T

Crataegus calpodendron

Sugar Hawthorn

T

Crataegus crus-galli

Cockspur Hawthorn

T

Crataegus punctata

Dotted Hawthorn

T

Cryptotaenia canadensis

Honewort

T

Cuphea viscosissima

Waxweed

T

BKS

Cyperus lupulinus

Great Plains Flatsedge

H

P

S

Cypripedium parviflorum pubescens

Yellow Lady’s Slipper

T

Cystopteris fragilis

Fragile Fern

T

H

Danthonia spicata

Poverty Oat Grass

T

H

Delphinium tricorne

Dwarf Larkspur

T

Desmodium cuspidatum

Large-bracted Tick Trefoil

T

Desmodium glutinosum

Pointed-leaved Tick Trefoil

T

Desmodium nudiflorum

Naked-flowered Tick Trefoil

T

Desmodium sessilifolium

Sessile-leaved Tick Trefoil

H

B

Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman’s Breeches

T

Dichanthelium acuminatum

Woolly Panic Grass

T

Dichanthelium clandestinum

Deer-tongue Grass

T

Dichanthelium dichotomum

Forked Panic Grass

T

H

B

Dichanthelium dichotomum barbulatum

Forked Panic Grass

H

P

S

Dichanthelium latifolium

Broad-leaved Panic Grass

T

Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower

T

Echinocystis lobata

Wild Cucumber

T

BKS

Ellisia nyctelea

Aunt Lucy

T

BTS

Elymus hystrix

Bottlebrush Grass

T

P

Elymus villosus

Silky Rye

T

Enemion biternartum

False Rue Anemone

T

BTS

Erichtites hieracifolia

Pilewort

T

P

Erigeron annuus

Annual Fleabane

T

Erigeron philadelphicus

Marsh Fleabane

T

P

Erigeron pulchellus

Robin’s Plantain

T

Erysimum capitatum

Western Wallflower

T

H

P

S

Euonymous atropurpureus

Wahoo

T

Euphorbia corollata

Flowering Spurge

T

P

Euphorbia maculata

Milk Purslane

T

H

P

Eutrochium purpureum

Sweet Joe-Pye Weed

T

Fallopia convovulus

Black Bindweed

T

B

Fallopia scandens

Climbing Buckwheat

T

B

Festuca pratensis

Meadow Fescue

T

P

W

Festuca subverticillata

Nodding Fescue

T

Fragaria virginiana

Wild Strawberry

T

P

Fraxinus Americana

White Ash

T

Galearis spectabilis

Showy Orchis

T

Galium aparine

Cleavers

T

Galium asprellum

Rough Bedstraw

T

Galium tinctorium

Stiff Bedstraw

T

P

Geranium maculatum

Wild geranium

T

Gymnocladus dioicus

Kentucky Coffee Tree

T

Hackelia virginiana

Stickseed

T

Hedeoma pulegioides

American Pennyroyal

T

Heliopsis helianthoides

Oxeye Sunflower

T

P

Hieracium gronovii

Hairy Hawkweed

T

Hieracium scabrum

Rough Hawkweed

T

Hydrastis canadensis

Goldenseal

T

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Virginia Waterleaf

T

Hymenopappus scabiosaeus

Old Plainsman

H

Hypericum majus

St. John’s Wort

H

Hypericum prolificum

Shrubby St. John’s Wort

T

Hypericum pyramidatum

Great St. John’s Wort

T

Hypericum sphaerocarpum

Round-fruited St. John’s Wort

H

B

Impatiens capensis

Spotted Jewelweed

T

Impatiens pallida

Yellow Jewelweed

T

Isanthus brachiatus

false pennyroyal

H

BKS

P

Juniperus virginiana

Red Cedar

H

BKS

Lactuca canadensis

Wild Lettuce

T

P

Lactuca floridana

Woodland Lettuce

T

B

Leersia virginica

White Grass

T

P

W

Lespedeza violacea

Violet Bush Clover

T

H

Lespedeza virginica

Slender Bush Clover

H

B

Liparis liliifolia

Purple Twayblade

H

B

Lobelia inflata

Indian Tobacco

T

Lobelia siphilitica

Great Blue Lobelia

T

Ludwigia alternifolia

Seedbox

T

P

W

Maianthemum racemosum

False Solomon’s Seal

T

H

Malaxis unifolia

Adder’s-mouth Orchid

T

H

Malus ioensis

Iowa Crab Apple

T

Melica mutica

Two-flowered Melic Grass

T

H

Menispermum canadense

Moonseed

T

Mertensia virginica

Virginia Bluebells

T

Moehringia lateriflora

Grove Sandwort

T

Monarda punctata

Ohio Horsemint

H

B

S

Morus rubra

Red Mulberry

T

Muhhlenbergia sylvatica

Woodland Muhly

T

H

Muhlenbergia mexicana

Wirestem Muhly

T

Muhlenbergia tenuiflora

Slender Satin Grass

T

Myosotis verna

Scorpion Grass

T

H

Nabalus crepidineus

Great White Lettuce

T

Oenothera biennis

Common Evening Primrose

T

P

Oligoneuron rigidum

Stiff Goldenrod

T

P

Onosmodium molle

Marbleseed

T

P

W

Orobanche uniflora

One-flowered Broomrape

T

Osmorhiza claytonii

Sweet Cicely

T

Osmorhiza longistylis

Anise Root

T

Osmunda claytoniana

Interrupted Fern

T

Ostrya virginiana

Hop Hornbeam

T

H

Oxalis stricta

Yellow Wood Sorrel

T

B

Panax quinquefolius

American Ginseng

T

Paronychia canadensis

Slender Forked Chickweed

T

B

Paronychia jamesii

Low Forked Chickweed (?)

H

B

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia Creeper

T

Penstemon digitalis

Foxglove Penstemon

T

Persicaria virginiana

Jumpseed

T

Phlox divaricata laphamii

Woodland Phlox

T

Phryma leptostachya

Lopseed

T

Plantago rugelii

Black-seeded Plantain

T

P

Plantago virginica

Virginia Plantain

H

BKS

Poa nemoralis

Woodland Blue Grass

T

Poa sylvestris

Woodland Bluegrass

T

Podophyllum peltatum

Mayapple

T

Polemonium reptans

Jacob’s Ladder

T

Polygala ambigua

Alternate Milkwort

T

B

Polygala senega

Seneca Snakeroot

H

B

Polygonatum commutatum

Solomon’s Seal

T

Polystichum acrostichoides

Shield Fern

T

H

Potentilla simplex

Common Cinquefoil

T

H

Ptelea trifoliata

Wafer Ash

T

Pteridium aquilinum

Bracken Fern

T

Pycnanthmum pilosum

Hairy Mountain Mint

T

B

Quercus alba

White Oak

H

Quercus falcata

Southern Red Oak

H

B

Quercus marilandica

Blackjack Oak

H

B

Quercus muhlenbergii

Chinquapin Oak

H

Quercus rubra

Northern Red Oak

T

Quercus stellata

Post Oak

H

Quercus velutina

Black Oak

H

B

Quercus x leana

hybrid of Q. velutina and Q. imbricaria

T

Ranunculus repens

Creeping Buttercup

T

P

Rubus flagellaris

Common Dewberry

T

Rubus hispidus

Swamp Dewberry

T

H

Rubus occidentalis

Black Raspberry

T

Rudbeckia triloba

Brown-eyed Susan

T

BTS

Sambucus nigra canadensis

Elderberry

T

BTS

Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot

T

Sanicula marilandica

Black Snakeroot

T

Sassafras albidum

Sassafras

T

H

Scrophularia lanceolata

Early Figwort

T

Scrophularia marilandica

Late Figwort

T

Scutellaria galericulata

Marsh Skullcap

T

W

Scutellaria ovata

Heart-leaved Skullcap

T

Senna marilandica

Maryland Senna

T

BTS

Silene anthirrina

Sleepy Catchfly

T

Silene stellata

Starry Campion

T

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Blue-eyed Grass

T

Smilax hispida

Greenbrier

T

Smilax lasioneura

Common Carrion Flower

T

Solidago flexicaulis

Zigzag Goldenrod

T

H

Solidago gigantea

Giant Goldenrod

T

P

W

Solidago speciosa

Showy Goldenrod

T

P

Solidago uliginosa

Bog Goldenrod

T

Sorghastrum nutans

Indian Grass

T

P

Spigelia marilandica

Indian Pink

T

Spiranthes gracilis

Slender Ladies’ Tresses

T

P

Sporobulus vaginiflorus

Poverty Grass

T

P

Staphylea trifolia

Bladdernut

T

Stellaria longifolia

Stitchwort

T

BTS

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Coralberry

T

H

Symphyotrichum turbinellum

Turbinate Aster

T

B

Tephrosia virginiana

Goat’s Rue

H

B

P

Thalictrum dioicum

Early Meadow Rue

T

Thalictrum thalictroides

Rue Anemone

T

Thaspium barbinode

Hairy Meadow Parsnip

T

BTS

Tilia Americana

Basswood

T

Toxicodendron radicans

Poison Ivy

T

Tridens flavus

Purple-top

T

BTS

Trillium grandiflorum

Large-flowered Trillium

T

H

Trillium recurvatum

Prairie Trillium

T

Trillum flexipes

Declined Trillium

T

Triodanis perfoliata

Venus’ Looking Glass

T

Triosteum perfoliatum

Late Horse Gentian

T

Tripsacum dactyloides

Gama Grass

T

BTS

Turritis glabra

Tower Mustard

T

H

Ulmus americana

American Elm

T

BTS

Ulmus rubra

Slippery Elm

T

BKS

Uvularia grandiflora

Large-flowered Bellwort

T

Veratrum woodii

False Hellebore

H

B

Verbascum thapsis

Mullein

T

R

Verbena simplex

Narrow-leaved Vervain

H

P

R

Viburnum prunifolium

Black Haw

T

Viola cucullata

Marsh Blue Violet

T

Viola palmata

Cleft Violet

T

P

Viola pubescens

Downy Yellow Violet

T

Viola sororia

Woolly Blue Violet

T

Vitis aestivalis

Summer Grape

T

Vitis riparia

Riverbank Grape

T

Vulpia octoflora

Six-weeks Fescue

T

H

R