Asian Flatsedge

 

 

This plant looks like it's seen some stuff.

 

Common Name: Asian Flatsedge

 

Other Common Names: Lesser Rice-field Flat Sedge

 

Botanical Family: Cyperaceae (The Cyperus Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Cyperus microiria

 

Description & Habitat: The photographed specimen was seen next to a building in Eastover NC. Although most references for the species indicate that it has not been spotted in North Carolina yet they do indicate it has naturalized in Tennessee and Kentucky.  I do have ot note that the location is a spot frequented by interstate vehicle traffic so this plant may have gotten there on a vehicle or someone’s shoes or clothing. The location is a spot prone to light flooding whenever it rains and the soil is pretty poor in quality. It is a full sun site with moderate foot traffic as a concrete walkway is just inches away. I suspect the specimen has survived some herbicide damage as well as regular environmental stresses. Asian Flatsedge as its name suggests is a non-native plant that has an endemic range of the Himalayas to Japan. Under normal conditions it would be an undesirable plant that would appear in the same wetland environments that certain species of rice prefer to grow in. It is considered an annual by most sources and its main reproduction method is via a large number of produced seeds.

 

When & What to Harvest:  In general there is nothing to eat on this plant, but due to its prolific production of seeds one might be able to harvest enough foliage with a focus on the stems in particular to make paper.

 

Non-Dangerous Lookalikes:  The most famous relative of this plant is Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), which is used for making paper.  Beyond this there are at least ten species of Cyperus that are considered weeds of southeastern lawns but also a number of sedge species used as lawn substitutes like Texas Sedge (Carex texensis). There are a lot of sedges in the landscaping trade that are readily available.

 

Related Dangerous Species:  None are known.

 

Recipe:  As far as I can tell this plant is not edible.

 

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=4607&label=0

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cyperus/microiria/

https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant.aspx?id=585

 

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.

 

Fresh Foods:

Soup Kit – Parsnip

Soup Kit – Turnip

Garlic Bulbs

 

Soil Amendment Products:

Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*

Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag

Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag

 

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Lion’s Mane Tincture Sample size

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Lion’s Mane Tincture

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Turkey Tail Tincture

 

 

Garden Plants, Fall Foods:

Arugula, Astro

Cabbage, Pac Choi ‘Rosie’

Collards, Green Glaze

Kale, Prizm

Kale, Redbor

Sorrel, Raspberry Dressing

 

Coming Soon:

Houseplants for the holidays

 

*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

Our group’s online presence has migrated to Nextdoor.com. All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (1): Golden Sage

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is November 9^th  at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.

 

Poison Ivy

 

The Poison Ivy is in the center next to some Virginia Creeper, a plant that is frequently mistaken for Poison Ivy.

In this picture the Poison Ivy is next to the pine straw in the middle on the left. With it is Trumpet Vine, Raspberries (another plant mistaken for Posion Ivy), and Green Briar.

 

 

Common Name: Eastern Poison Ivy

 

Other Common Names: Poison Oak (Incorrect)

 

Botanical Family: Anacardiaceae (The Cashew/Pistachio Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Toxicodenron radicans

 

Description & Habitat: In North Carolina Poison ivy is the one member of the ‘itchy trio’ that is most likely to be found in an urban environment. Its seeds are dispersed by birds and in general it can be found in fields, pastures, yards, the woods, and in gardens. Sometimes this noxious plant is even found growing out of cracks in the cement and up the sides of buildings, telephone poles and infesting more desirable shrubs in the landscape. In general this plant has leaflets in pairs of three new growths may be glossy and may have a reddish color. One way to verify this plant’s presence is to take a close look at the two side leaflets. The side leaflets often have an outward pointed lobe that makes the side-leaflet look kind of like a mitten with ones thumb pressed against the hand. Poison Ivy is a vine in the truest sense of the word and uses numerous hairy looking roots to cling to and climb up hard surfaces leading to the old boy scout saying ‘hairy rope don’t be a dope’.  In general Poison Ivy can spread sexually via it’s berries or asexually through its vines rooting in new places, it flowers from May through July and the greyish-white berries are ripe and present between August and November. Occasionally you will find this plant has killed the shrub it was growing in and essentially has become the shrub. Poison Ivy if free-standing can be up to four feet tall. It should also be mentioned that the active dangerous compound on all parts of Poison ivy called Urushiol can be active for up to five years on surfaces and burning this plant can create airborne oil droplets that pose an inhalation danger.

 

A botanical Latin synonym for this plant is Rhus radicans.

 

When & What to Harvest: Nothing, there is nothing that is safe to harvest unless you’re a fan of suffering.

 

Non-Dangerous Lookalikes: Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Boston Ivy (P. tricuspidata), Boxelder (Acer negundo), Raspberries (Rubus sp.), Mock Strawberries (Duchenea indica), Barren Strawberries (Waldsteinia fragarioides), Hog Peanuts (Amphicarpaea bracteata), English Ivy (Hedera helix), Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana), Kudzu (Pueraria lobata), Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia), Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata) and, Strawberries (Fragraria sp.).

 

Related Dangerous Species:  Asian Poison Ivy (T. orientale), Western Poison Ivy (T. rydbergii), Poison Oak (T. pubescens), Poison Sumac (T. vernix).

 

Recipe:  What?! If you’re considering eating this you are crazy.

 

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/toxicodendron-radicans/common-name/eastern-poison-ivy/

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/toxicodendron-pubescens/

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/toxicodendron-vernix/

 

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.

 

Fresh Foods:

Soup Kit – Parsnip

Soup Kit – Turnip

Garlic Bulbs

 

Soil Amendment Products:

Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*

Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag

Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag

 

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Lion’s Mane Tincture Sample size

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Lion’s Mane Tincture

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Turkey Tail Tincture

 

 

Garden Plants, Fall Foods:

Arugula, Astro

Cabbage, Pac Choi ‘Rosie’

Collards, Green Glaze

Kale, Prizm

Kale, Redbor

Sorrel, Raspberry Dressing

 

Coming Soon:

Houseplants for the holidays

 

*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

Our group’s online presence has migrated to Nextdoor.com. All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (3): Aromatic Ginger, A Weird Cat, Parts 1 & 2.

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is November 2^nd at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Broad-Leaved Fleabane

 

This picture was taken at the Botanical Test Gardens in April, not long after the plant was mowed.

 

Common Name: Broad-Leaved Fleabane

 

Other Common Names: Gerunsey Fleabane, Tall Fleabane, White Horseweed, Fleabane.

 

Botanical Family: Asteraeae (The Aster Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Erigeron sumatrensis

 

Description & Habitat: In North Carolina this plant will start actively growing in the spring and you most likely will find it in your lawn, in fields or in meadows. It will often have multiple branches and take on a bushy form by late April if not by May. This plant may also emerge in any site with recently disturbed soil or along roadsides and in construction sites. Broad-leaved Fleabane is believed to originate in South America but has naturalized in North America and in some places is considered a nuisance weed because it can out-compete native species. In general it is a hairy-stemmed plant with bright green foliage. Its leaves have an uneven ragged-looking margin. This fleabane’s leaves are in an alternate arrangement on the fuzzy stems. It is an annual in our climate and spreads by seeds so if you want to control it mowing or pulling it out are good options. Broad-Leaved Fleabane is known in some areas to have developed a resistance to herbicides.

 

A botanical Latin synonym for this plant is Conyza sumatrensis.

 

When & What to Harvest: It was believed that dried clusters of this plant’s stems and foliage could rid one’s home of fleas. Given when this possible superstitious habit originated it likely referred to the weedy type and not specifically the hybridized and cultivated types. Specifically it is said that E. floribundus has uses in Traditional medicine dealing with Rheumatism, Gout, Cystitis, Nephritis, Dysmenorrhea, dental pain and toothaches. So it is possible this plant has similar uses but use with caution.

 

Dangerous Lookalikes: None that I know of.

 

Related Useful Species:  Three related and common species found in North Carolina are Southern Fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius) and Rough Fleabane (E. strigosus). Both have pretty white flowers what look like small traditional daisies and may have use in repelling fleas. Tall Fleabane (E. elatior) is a similar member of the family that shares a common name in many listings.

 

Recipe:  I do not have a recipe for this plant because it’s edibility and the safety of its use in medicine is unclear.

 

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=91898

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.

 

Fresh Foods:

Soup Kit – Parsnip

Soup Kit – Turnip

Garlic Bulbs

Blue Oyster Mushrooms, 4 ounces (New!)

Blue Oyster Mushrooms, 8 ounces (New!)

Blue Oyster Mushrooms, 16 ounces (New!)

 

 

Soil Amendment Products:

Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*

Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag

Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag

 

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Lion’s Mane Tincture Sample size

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Lion’s Mane Tincture

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Turkey Tail Tincture

Sandhills Mushroom Farms – Blue Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit

 

Garden Plants, Fall Foods:

Arugula, Astro

Cabbage, Pac Choi ‘Rosie’

Collards, Green Glaze

Kale, Prizm

Kale, Redbor

Sorrel, Raspberry Dressing

 

Coming Soon:

Houseplants for the holidays

 

*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

Our group’s online presence has migrated to Nextdoor.com. All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (1): Hardy Tapioca

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is October 26^th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.