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View of full plant
Note yellow flower clusters
Zizia aurea
Common Name: Golden
Alexander
Family: Apiaceae
Leaves: The leaves are double compounded and are divided up to 3 times. The leaflets themselves can be either lanced or oval shaped and finely toothed.
Flowers: The tiny yellow flowers are found in clusters at the top of the plant. The clusters tend to be 2 inches across. In each individual flower the leaves are folded in on themselves. It flowers in spring to early summer.
Seeds:
Stem: The stem is branching, erect and can have a reddish tinge.
Branching Pattern: Alternate
Height: 1-3 feet
Conditions/Habitat/Kind of Forest: Meadows, wet thickets, swamps. Does not like the shade and requires moist soil
Known Wildlife Interactions: The plant can be pollinated by insects. However, also note that this plant can also self-pollinate.
Range: Quebec, Canada down the eastern United States to Florida and Texas.
Conservation Status-US/ World Wide: Not threatened in U.S. or globally.
Uses (Human): Flowers can be added to salads. It has also been used as a tea to treat headaches.
References:
Connecticut Wildflowers. January 20, 2006. Connecticut Botanical Society. Accessed: March 14, 2006. <http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/polygonumsagi.html>
Plants for a Future. June 2004. Accessed: March 14, 2006. <http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Polygonum+sagittatum>
The Pennsylvania Flora Project. Botany Department, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Accessed: March 14, 2006. <http://www.paflora.org>
Missouri Flora Website. http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Zizia_aurea_page.html
Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. 1977. pg. 226
Peterson, Roger T., MicKenny, Margaret. Wildflowers: Northeast/ North-Central America. Peterson Field Guides.1996. pg 162
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species <http://www.iucnredlist.org>