PLANTS OF THE FRASER VALLEY: a work in progress

INDIGENOUS PLANTS
These plants were here in B.C. before settlers arrived from other continents.

Blackberry, Trailing
Latin name: Rubus ursinus
Habitat: open fields, ditches, along fences, by the edge of forests (much less common than the nonindigenous blackberries)
Appearance: a trailing vine with 5 oval and fine-toothed leaflets coming out from a central point
Bloom period: end of April onwards with fruit often ready by mid-July

 

Cat-tail
Appearance: spiky leaves start at the base of tall stalks topped with by brown spikes
Latin name: Typha latifolia
Habitat: the edges of wet areas such as marshes, ponds and lakes; many near the bridges at Mill Lake
Native use: the fluffy seeds that appeared when the brown spikes burst were used to stuff pillows and the leaves were used to weave mats
 

Ferns
Appearance: green fronds
Latin name: there are many different kinds of ferns, each with its own Latin name
Habitat: damp shaded areas
Native use: some kinds were eaten when still fiddleheads (very young) in spring

 

Horsetail
Appearance: green skinny leaves in whirls around tall hollow stems up to 75 cm tall
Latin name: Equisetum arvense
Habitat: prefers damp areas but grows just about anywhere; it is one of the most prehistoric plants still growing in our area
 

Oregon Grape
Appearance: a small shrub with shiny evergreen prickly leaves that look like holly
Latin name: Mahonia nervosa
Habitat: in dry areas under coniferous trees; many found along the trail around Mill Lake
Bloom period: bright yellow flower in spring
Native Use: the stems were shredded and steeped in water to make a yellow dye used in basket-making

 

Pacific Bleeding Heart
Latin name: Dicentra Formosa
Habitat: shady moist soil, especially often under trees and shrubs
Bloom period: mid-April to the end of May

 

NON-INDIGENOUS PLANTS

These plants and trees were introduced by settlers from other continents.

 

Daffodils
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Dandelions
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Blackberries, Cutleaf
Latin name: Rubus laciniatus
Origin: Europe
Appearance: a trailing vine with 5 coarsely-toothed leaflets (like a maple leaf) coming out from a central point
Habitat: open fields, ditches, along fences, by the edge of forests
Bloom period: mid-June onwards with fruit often ready by mid-August

 

Blackberries, Himalayan
Latin name: Rubus discolor
Origin: India
Appearance: a trailing vine with 3 oval and fine-toothed leaflets coming out from a central point
Habitat: open fields, ditches, along fences, by the edge of forests
Bloom period: mid-June onwards with fruit often ready by mid-August

 

Blue-Eyed Mary
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Camellia
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Grape Hyacinths
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Heather:
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Lily-of-the-Valley Bush
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Latin name: Pieris japonica
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Lungwort
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Magnolia
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Tulip
Appearance: many different colours of tall flowers like cup atop swaying green stems with strappy leaves
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Rhododendron
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