Plants of Ellisville Marsh and Vicinity (Plymouth, Massachusetts): Illustrated Checklist

The Friends of Ellisville Marsh has a long-term project underway to restore fisheries, wildlife, and plant life in the Ellisville Marsh to former health and diversity. Part of the mission is to catalog plant species—both native and non-native. This web page is intended to aid that process.
This list is work in progress. As of November 2012, it contains 158 species including 51 non-native (color-coded yellow/orange), of which 24 are invasive (color-coded orange). The habitat labels (marsh, dune, perimeter) are rather approximate and cannot depict marginal/intermediate situations. Please refer to captions for more detail. We did not specify a separate beach habitat. Beach plants are included with dune plants.
By clicking on Latin names, you will reach all images for the species available at Salicicola. By clicking on numbers in brackets you will reach photos from Ellisville. Thumbnail images are not necessarily from Ellisville.
We will accept quality photographs from the Marsh, especially for those species not yet illustrated and of course for any new findings. Photographers will be credited.

marsh dune perimeter

Conifers

Cupressaceae — Cypress Family

20060318canon0046 Juniperus virginiana — eastern red cedar — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Dune
dune

Pinaceae — Pine Family

20100820olymp0366 Pinus rigida — pitch pine — photo: [1] [2] — Dune, marsh perimeter marsh dune perimeter
20050517canon0034 Pinus strobus — white pine, Weymouth pine — Rare; Ellisville Rd.

perimeter

Monocots

Araceae — Arum Family

20110607ricoh2572 Acorus calamus — sweetflag — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] — Marsh margin at Ellisville Rd. marsh
perimeter

Commelinaceae — Spiderwort or Dayflower Family

20110603ricoh2522 Tradescantia virginiana — Virginia spiderwort — photo: [1] [2] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Cyperaceae — Sedge Family

20080614canon0587 Carex hormathodes — saltmarsh straw sedge — photo: [1] — Dune, artificial hill, Saltmarsh Ln. parking
dune perimeter
20110603ricoh2347 Carex pensylvanica — Pennsylvania sedge — photo: [1] [2] — Dune, one large clone with ant colony 2196
dune
20110903olymp1989 Cyperus grayi — Gray's flatsedge — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] — Dune 2311
dune

Eleocharis uniglumis (E. halophila) — saline spike-rush, one-glumed spike-rush — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] marsh

20050827canon0197 Scirpus americanus — saltmarsh threesquare — photo: [1] — Marsh 2207 marsh

20050827canon0014 Scirpus robustus — saltmarsh bulrush — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] — Marsh 2190 marsh

20111007ricoh6549 Scirpus tabernaemontani (S. validus) — soft-stemmed bulrush — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] marsh


Juncaceae — Rush Family

20080607canon0239 Juncus gerardii — saltmarsh rush — Marsh 2191 marsh


Juncus sp. — rush — Tall, solitary, marsh marsh

20070721canon0671 Juncus tenuis — path rush, yard rush

perimeter

Juncaginaceae — Arrow-Grass Family

20110904olymp2059 Triglochin maritimum — saltmarsh arrow-grass — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — Marsh marsh


Liliaceae — Lily Family

20070630canon0303 Allium vineale — field garlic — DCR border

perimeter
20050701canon0011 Hemerocallis fulva — orange day-lily — Saltmarsh Ln.

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Poaceae — Grass Family

20110902ricoh4387 Ammophila breviligulata — dune grass — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] — Dune
dune
20110603ricoh2243 Bromus inermis — awnless brome — photo: [1] [2] — DCR parking lot

perimeter
20080614canon0607 Bromus tectorum — drooping brome, downy chess — photo: [1] — Dune at eroded end 2202; artificial hill
dune
20070616canon0696 Deschampsia flexuosa — common hairgrass — Dune 2195
dune
20050902canon0081 Dichanthelium clandestinum (Panicum clandestinum) — deer-tongue — Ellisville Rd., in front of reed

perimeter

Digitaria sanguinalis — large crabgrass

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20050924canon0193 Distichlis spicata — salt grass — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Marsh dominant marsh

20110903olymp2012 Elymus virginicus var. halophilus — saltmarsh wild rye — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] — Saltmarsh Ln. parking, dune 2309, 2310
dune perimeter
20110603ricoh2539 Festuca arundinacea — tall fescue — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4]

perimeter
20070615canon0660 Festuca ovina — sheep fescue — photo: [1] — Dune 2203, 2205
dune
20110603ricoh2471 Festuca rubra — red fescue — photo: [1] [2] — Dune; artificial hill 2204
dune
20060819canon0195 Phalaris arundinacea — reed canarygrass — DCR border

perimeter
20091107canon0149 Phragmites australis — common reed — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] — Off Saltmarsh Ln., Ellisville Rd., DCR border marsh
perimeter
20110603ricoh2349 Puccinellia maritima — seaside alkali-grass — photo: [1] [2] — Dune 2197
dune
20110603ricoh2268 Spartina alterniflora — saltwater cordgrass — photo: [1] [2] — Marsh dominant marsh

20071023canon0083cs Spartina patens — tall salt-hay — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Marsh dominant marsh


Smilacaceae — Greenbrier Family

20100612canon0100 Smilax glauca — sawbrier, wild sarsaparilla — Mostly dune
dune perimeter
20070914canon0848 Smilax rotundifolia — catbrier, bullbrier — photo: [1] — Common
dune perimeter

Dicots

Aceraceae — Maple Family

20080607canon0346 Acer pseudoplatanus — sycamore maple — Once, Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20060520canon0428 Acer rubrum — red maple — Common

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Anacardiaceae — Sumac Family

20061007fujif0118cs Rhus copallina — flameleaf sumac, winged sumac — Dune
dune
20070630canon0307 Rhus typhina (R. hirta) — staghorn sumac — Saltmarsh Ln., Ellisville Rd.

perimeter
20050506canon0011 Toxicodendron radicans (Rhus radicans) — poison ivy — Common
dune perimeter

Apiaceae — Carrot or Celery Family

20110603ricoh2387 Angelica lucida — seaside angelica — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] — Watch-listed; once, back of dune 2200
dune
20110603ricoh2494 Heracleum maximum (H. lanatum) — cow parsnip — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] — Once, Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Apocynaceae — Dogbane Family

20100319canon0796 Vinca minor — periwinkle — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Aquifoliaceae — Holly Family

20050924canon0238 Ilex verticillata — common winterberry — Saltmarsh Ln.

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Araliaceae — Ivy Family

20101008ricoh0113 Aralia nudicaulis — wild sarsaparilla — photo: [1] — Once, dune
dune

Asclepiadaceae — Milkweed Family

20090703canon0099 Cynanchum louiseae (C. nigrum) — black swallow-wort — photo: [1] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Asteraceae — Daisy or Aster Family

20070623canon0177 Achillea millefolium — yarrow — Dune; could be a native variety: seaside yarrow - to be researched
dune
20050904canon0328 Ambrosia artemisiifolia — annual ragweed — Dune
dune
20110603ricoh2411 Artemisia absinthium — absinthe — photo: [1] [2] — Dune
dune
20110603ricoh2404 Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata — seaside wormwood — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] — Dune; artificial hill
dune
20080614canon0561 Artemisia stelleriana — dustymiller, beach wormwood — photo: [1] [2] — Dune
dune
20050902canon0012 Artemisia vulgaris — common wormwood, mugwort — Dune at eroded end
dune perimeter
20100906ricoh0396 Aster ericoides (Symphyotrichum ericoides) — heath white aster — photo: [1]

perimeter
20100917ricoh0422 Aster linariifolius (Ionactis linariifolia) — stiff aster, spruce aster — photo: [1] — Dune
dune
20070921canon0037 Aster pilosus (Symphyotrichum pilosum) — white oldfield aster — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Dune 2317
dune
20111008olymp2913 Aster subulatus (Symphyotrichum subulatum) — annual saltmarsh aster — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] — Rare marsh

20110916ricoh5118 Aster tenuifolius (Symphyotrichum tenuifolium) — perennial saltmarsh aster — photo: [1] [2] — Rare marsh

20050806canon0213 Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (C. maculosa ) — spotted or bushy knapweed — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Artificial hill, DCR border, dune
dune perimeter
20071015canon0393 Conyza canadensis — horseweed, hogweed — photo: [1] — Dune
dune
20070915canon0010 Euthamia graminifolia (Solidago graminifolia) — flat-topped goldenrod — photo: [1] — Marsh perimeter, uncommon

perimeter
20100819olymp0281 Gnaphalium obtusifolium (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium) — sweet everlasting, fragrant cudweed — Dune
dune
20050611canon0007 Hypochaeris radicata — hairy cat's-ear — photo: [1] [2] — Dune
dune
20050827canon0069 Iva frutescens ssp. oraria — hightide bush, saltmarsh-elder — Marsh dominant marsh

20070609canon0494 Solidago sempervirens — seaside goldenrod — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] — Marsh margin, dune, common marsh dune
20110902ricoh4315 Sonchus arvensis — field sow-thistle — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] — Once, 2305
dune
20110905olymp2169 Xanthium echinatum (strumarium var. canadense) — cocklebur, clotbur — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] — Dune 2308
dune

Betulaceae — Birch Family


Alnus rugosa — speckled alder — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4]


20110603ricoh2506cs Alnus serrulata — smooth alder, common alder — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20110402ricoh0077 Betula populifolia — gray birch — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] — Twice, marsh perimeter marsh
perimeter

Bignoniaceae — Trumpet Creeper Family

20050808canon0378 Campsis radicans — trumpet creeper — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Brassicaceae — Mustard or Cabbage Family

20110512ricoh1340 Barbarea vulgaris — yellow rocket

perimeter
20110902ricoh4422 Berteroa incana — hoary alyssum — photos: [1] [2] [3] — DCR parking

perimeter
20070728canon0143 Cakile edentula — sea rocket — photo: [1] [2] — Beach
dune
20070414canon0140 Draba verna — whitlow-grass — photo: [1] — One group, at eroded end of dune
dune
20100615canon0346 Raphanus raphanistrum — wild radish — Dune, beach
dune

Caprifoliaceae — Honeysuckle Family

20081129canon0069cs Lonicera japonica — Japanese honeysuckle — Saltmarsh Ln., DCR border

perimeter
20110516olymp1129 Lonicera morrowii — Morrow's honeysuckle — DCR dam, artificial hill, Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Lonicera x bella (morrowii x tatarica) — whitebell honeysuckle — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

perimeter
20070710canon0340 Sambucus canadensis — common elderberry — Ellisville Rd.

perimeter
20050905canon0013cs Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum (V. recognitum) — northern arrow-wood — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20060819canon0200cs Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides — wild raisin, witherod — photo: [1] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Caryophyllaceae — Pink Family

20110902ricoh4394 Honckenya peploides ssp. robusta — seabeach sandwort — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] — Beach
dune
20110603ricoh2548 Silene latifolia ssp. alba (Lychnis alba) — white campion or evening lychnis — photo: [1] [2] — DCR border

perimeter
20111007ricoh6525 Spergularia salina (S. marina) — saltmarsh sand-spurrey — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] — Marsh, rare 2326 marsh


Celastraceae — Bittersweet Family

20061104canon0091 Celastrus orbiculata — Oriental bittersweet, Asian bittersweet — photo: [1] — Dune (once), Saltmarsh Ln., DCR border
dune perimeter
20050601canon0007 Euonymus alata — winged spindletree, burning bush — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Chenopodiaceae — Goosefoot Family

20111007ricoh6530 Atriplex cristata (A. arenaria) — seabeach orache — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4]
dune
20111007ricoh6547 Atriplex glabriuscula — prostrate orache — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] marsh

20110903olymp2027 Atriplex prostrata (A. patula var. hastata) — halberd-leaf orache — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] — Marsh, marsh margin 2315 marsh

20060731nikon0014 Chenopodium album — pigweed, lamb's quarters — photo: [1]

perimeter
20110905olymp2092 Chenopodium macrocalycium (C. berlandieri var. macrocalycium) — seabeach pigweed — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — Beach, dune 2320, 2322
dune
20110905olymp2112 Chenopodium rubrum — coast-blite, red goosefoot — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] marsh dune
20110603ricoh2282 Salicornia maritima (S. europaea) — annual glasswort — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] — Marsh 2192 marsh

20110904ricoh4521 Salicornia virginica — perennial glasswort — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] — Marsh 2327 marsh

20110902ricoh4402 Salsola kali — prickly or seabeach saltwort — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] — Beach
dune
20071023canon0049 Suaeda linearis — erect sea-blite — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — Marsh 2230 marsh

20110905olymp2153 Suaeda maritima — saltmarsh sea-blite — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] — Marsh 2303 marsh


Cistaceae — Rockrose Family

20110729ricoh3465 Lechea maritima — beach pinweed — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — One area, dune 2201
dune

Convolvulaceae — Bindweed Family

20080607canon0216 Calystegia sepium — morning-glory — Dune 2316
dune

Cornaceae — Dogwood Family

20060826canon0485 Cornus amomum — silky dogwood — Marsh, Saltmarsh Ln. marsh


Elaeagnaceae — Oleaster Family

20071101canon0004 Elaeagnus umbellata — autumn-olive, oleaster — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Ericaceae — Heath Family

20080712canon0057 Vaccinium angustifolium — lowbush blueberry — photo: [1] — Once, dune
dune
20070528canon0743 Vaccinium corymbosum — highbush blueberry — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Euphorbiaceae — Spurge Family

20070728canon0123 Euphorbia polygonifolia (Chamaecyce polygonifolia) — seaside spurge — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — Beach 2313
dune

Fabaceae — Bean Family

20110603ricoh2483 Amorpha fruticosa — indigo bush — photo: [1] [2] — Saltmarsh Ln. near parking

perimeter
20110603ricoh2392cs Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus — beach pea — photo: [1] [2] — Dune
dune
20100612canon0108cs Robinia hispida — bristly locust — photo: [1] [2] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20110603ricoh2557 Trifolium agrarium (T. aureum) — golden clover, palmate clover — photo: [1] — DCR border

perimeter
20060715canon0429sc Trifolium arvense — rabbit-foot clover — Parking at Saltmarsh Ln., DCR parking

perimeter
20110603ricoh2551 Vicia cracca — bird vetch — photo: [1] [2] — DCR border

perimeter
20110603olymp1329 Vicia hirsuta — tiny vetch, hairy vetch — photos: [1] [2] [3] — DCR border 2209

perimeter

Fagaceae — Beech or Oak Family

20070914canon0656 Quercus alba — white oak — photo: [1] — Marsh perimeter, less common than black and red

perimeter
20061216canon0667 Quercus coccinea — scarlet oak

perimeter
20110603ricoh2456 Quercus ilicifolia — scrub oak, bear oak — photo: [1] [2] — Once, dune
dune
20080607samsu0090 Quercus palustris — pin oak — Saltmarsh Ln. (native in western MA)

perimeter
20050710canon0207 Quercus rubra — northern red oak — Common
dune perimeter
20050618canon0017 Quercus velutina — black oak — Common
dune perimeter

Grossulariaceae — Currant or Gooseberry Family

20110603ricoh2378 Ribes hirtellum — swamp gooseberry — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Once, back of dune 2199
dune

Juglandaceae — Walnut Family

20110618olymp1431 Carya alba (C. tomentosa) — mockernut hickory — Once, marsh perimeter

perimeter

Lamiaceae — Mint Family

20110904ricoh4554 Teucrium canadense — American germander, saltmarsh germander — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] — Back of dune 2198 marsh dune

Lauraceae — Laurel Family

20070509canon0168 Sassafras albidum — sassafras — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Myricaceae — Bayberry Family

20110603ricoh2318 Myrica pensylvanica — bayberry, wax-myrtle — photo: [1] — Dune,common/dominant
dune

Nyssaceae — Tupelo Family

20071015canon0523 Nyssa sylvatica — tupelo, black gum — photo: [1] — Grove at intersect. of Ellisville Rd. and Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Oleaceae — Olive Family

20060211canon0010ce Ligustrum obtusifolium — Japanese privet, ibota privet — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Onagraceae — Evening Primrose Family

20050821canon0011 Oenothera biennis — common evening-primrose — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Dune; DCR border
dune perimeter

Plantaginaceae — Plantain Family

20111007ricoh6625 Plantago major — common plantain, white man's foot — photo: [1]

perimeter
20110904ricoh4541 Plantago maritima var. juncoides — seaside plantain — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — Marsh, common marsh


Plumbaginaceae — Leadwort Family

20070728canon0103 Limonium carolinianum — sea-lavender — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] — Marsh, back of dune, common/dominant marsh dune

Polygonaceae — Buckwheat or Smartweed Family

20070921canon0067c Polygonella articulata — jointweed — photo: [1] [2] — Dune, common 2312
dune
20110904olymp2044cs Polygonum aviculare (P. arenastrum) — doorweed — photos: [1] [2] [3]

perimeter
20090718canon0483 Polygonum cuspidatum (Fallopia japonica) — Japanese knotweed — One clump, Ellisville Rd.

perimeter
20110603ricoh2515 Polygonum cuspidatum var. compactum (P. compactum) — dwarf Japanese knotweed — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] — One clump, Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20060821canon0308c Polygonum scandens — climbing false buckwheat — photo: [1] [2] — Marsh perimeter, dune
dune perimeter
20090703canon0084 Rumex acetosella — sheep sorrel, red sorrel — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Dune
dune
20110811olymp1688 Rumex crispus — curly dock — Dune 2239; near Saltmarsh Ln. parking
dune
20110714olymp1572 Rumex obtusifolius — red-veined dock — Marsh perimeter 2227

perimeter
20110904ricoh4568cs Rumex sp. — dock marsh


Primulaceae — Primrose Family

20050621canon0126 Lysimachia quadrifolia — whorled loosestrife — Ellisville Rd., along road on the marsh side marsh
perimeter
20090706canon0485 Lysimachia terrestris — swamp candles — Ellisville Rd., along road on hill side

perimeter

Rosaceae — Rose Family

20110512ricoh1329 Amelanchier canadensis — thicket shadbush, eastern serviceberry, juneberry — Marsh perimeter, Saltmarsh Ln., w/fungus on fruit
dune perimeter
20110603ricoh2260 Potentilla egedii ssp. groenlandica (anserina var. groenlandica) — saltmarsh silverweed — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] — Marsh margin marsh

20060529canon0903 Prunus serotina — black cherry — photo: [1] — Dune; near Saltmarsh Ln. parking (seaside form)
dune perimeter
20090625canon0727 Rosa carolina — Carolina rose, pasture rose — photo: [1] — Dune
dune
20060614canon0232 Rosa multiflora — multiflora rose — photo: [1] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20110603ricoh2322 Rosa rugosa — Japanese rose, saltspray rose — photos: [1] [2] [3] — Dune, dominant
dune
20100608olymp0087 Rosa virginiana — Virginia rose, low rose — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] — Marsh perimeter, back of dune, common
dune perimeter
20050607canon0010 Rubus allegheniensis — Allegheny blackberry, common blackberry — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter

Rubiaceae — Bedstraw or Coffee Family

20070615canon0671 Galium mollugo — white bedstraw — photo: [1] — DCR border

perimeter

Salicaceae — Willow Family

20070721canon0697 Populus grandidentata — bigtooth aspen — photo: [1] — Ellisville Rd.

perimeter
20071101canon0207 Salix atrocinerea (S. cinerea ssp. oleifolia) — rusty willow — Ellisville Rd. (or S. cinerea hybrid)

perimeter

Salix cinerea — ash willow

perimeter

Scrophulariaceae — Figwort Family

20110904ricoh4560 Agalinis maritima (Gerardia maritima) — saltmarsh false foxglove — photos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] — One large group found, marsh 2330 marsh

20040715fujif0048 Nuttallanthus canadensis (Linaria canadensis) — blue toadflax, old-field toadflax — Dune, common
dune
20051105canon0906 Verbascum thapsus — common mullein — Dune; DCR border
dune perimeter

Vitaceae — Grape Family

20061010fujif0172 Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (heterophylla var. brevipedunculata) — Amur peppervine, porcelain berry — photo: [1] — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
20060909canon0421 Parthenocissus quinquefolia — Virginia creeper — Dune, common
dune
20060826canon0508 Vitis labrusca — fox grape — Saltmarsh Ln.

perimeter
15 Sep 2011 — 10 Nov 2012
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