If you get Enemion biternatum and Thalictrum thalictroides mixed up, you’re not alone. It doesn’t help that their common names—false rue anemone and rue anemone—are so similar. Both spring ephemerals are in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Both have typically white petaloid sepals and three-lobed leaves. Here are some differences in their appearance: E. biternatum has…
Read more

The Illinois Native Plant Society is excited to announce its 2021 roster of Research and Survey Grant recipients. An interesting variety of projects from different parts of the State will conduct research on Illinois native plants in the field or the lab, or will implement field surveys of very rare listed species to provide data to the Illinois Natural Heritage Database.

This year we have already had 2 field trips, one at Bruce Semans’ Cabin and the other at Veara Woods.  Both field trips were well attended.  Another field trip is being planned for the Route 66 Prairie outside of Litchfield. Chris Benda led the field trip on April 18 at Bruce Semans’ Cabin along the…
Read more

The Morton Arboretum is iconic for many reasons. And I’m not sure founder Joy Morton had any idea that his grand idea would evolve into an international center for tree research, centered in its labs and respected herbarium, almost 100 years later. In 1940, their first superintendent, Clarence Godschalk, hired teacher May Theilgaard Watts. May…
Read more

While researching an article for Erigenia, the peer-reviewed journal of the Illinois Native Plant Society, I ran across a notation about a “Mrs. Chase.” Since she was the only woman mentioned amid many eminent male botanists, my interest was piqued. A cursory internet search for her yielded no immediate helpful results so I dropped it…
Read more

Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is an aster family species native to a large portion of North America and introduced to Europe and Asia. This species has the beautiful golden-yellow flowers typical of other goldenrods, and blooms from late summer into the fall. The plants tend to stand out at the end of their flowering period…
Read more

March 19, 2021 We are writing as concerned members and board of the Northeast Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society (INPS). The mission of the INPS is to promote the study, appreciation, and conservation of the native flora and natural communities of Illinois. A recently proposed ordinance to create a Managed Native Garden Registry…
Read more

The 2021 Illinois Indigenous Plants Symposium will be held virtually from April 15 through April 17! Join us to explore this year’s theme, “Putting Theory into Practice: Ecosystem Restoration and Management.” Nine sessions held over three days provide numerous learning opportunities on topics ranging from different management techniques to successful management partnerships. Join us!  The…
Read more

2021 Research and Survey Grant Applications are now closed; however, the Program Explanation and Guidelines for both grants are still available for viewing in the Grants section for future reference and for submission of final reports by 2021 grantees.

Chicago Managed Native Garden Registry Town HallTuesday, March 2nd, 2021 at 7PMRSVP (Zoom) Join a virtual “town hall” on the proposed Managed Native Garden Registry Ordinance for the City of Chicago on Tuesday, March 2nd at 7PM. Representatives from the offices of co-sponsoring aldermen and the Department of Planning and Development will be present to…
Read more