Grand Rapids
Audubon Club
Maher Sanctuary Plant Inventory
During 2002, Dr. David Warners with the Biology Department of Calvin College conducted a biological assessment of the plant species found on the property of the Maher Sanctuary. This is a listing of the plant species he identified.
A copy of Dr. Warners' letter to GRAC explaining his methodology can be found by clicking HERE.
For Dr. Warners' plant inventory in Microsoft Excel™ format click HERE.
| Physiognomy | Scientific Name | COMMON NAME |
Native/ Alien |
| Fern | Asplenium platyneuron | EBONY SPLEENWORT | N |
| Fern | Athyrium filix-femina | LADY FERN | N |
| Fern | Dryopteris carthusiana | SPINULOSE WOODFERN | N |
| Fern | Dryopteris clintoniana | CLINTON'S WOODFERN | N |
| Fern | Dryopteris marginalis | MARGINAL WOODFERN | N |
| Fern | Onoclea sensibilis | SENSITIVE FERN | N |
| Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | CINNAMON FERN | N |
| Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | CHRISTMAS FERN | N |
| Forb | Achillea millefolium | YARROW | N |
| Forb | Actaea rubra | RED BANEBERRY | N |
| Forb | Agrimonia gryposepala | TALL AGRIMONY | N |
| Forb | Allium tricoccum | WILD LEEK; RAMPS | N |
| Forb | Amphicarpaea bracteata | HOG-PEANUT | N |
| Forb | Anaphalis margaritacea | PEARLY EVERLASTING | N |
| Forb | Anemone canadensis | CANADA ANEMONE | N |
| Forb | Anemone quinquefolia | WOOD ANEMONE | N |
| Forb | Anemone virginiana | THIMBLEWEED | N |
| Forb | Angelica atropurpurea | ANGELICA | N |
| Forb | Antennaria parlinii | SMOOTH PUSSYTOES | N |
| Forb | Apios americana | GROUNDNUT; INDIAN-POTATO | N |
| Forb | Apocynum cannabinum | INDIAN HEMP; HEMP DOGBANE | N |
| Forb | Aquilegia canadensis | WILD COLUMBINE | N |
| Forb | Arisaema triphyllum | JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT; INDIAN-TURNIP | N |
| Forb | Asarum canadense | WILD-GINGER | N |
| Forb | Asclepias incarnata | SWAMP MILKWEED | N |
| Forb | Asclepias syriaca | COMMON MILKWEED | N |
| Forb | Aster cordifolius | HEART-LEAVED ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster firmus | SMOOTH SWAMP ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster lanceolatus | EASTERN LINED ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster lateriflorus | SIDE-FLOWERING ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster macrophyllus | BIG-LEAVED ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster pilosus | HAIRY ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster puniceus | SWAMP ASTER | N |
| Forb | Aster umbellatus | TALL FLAT-TOP WHITE ASTER | N |
| Forb | BARBAREA VULGARIS | YELLOW ROCKET | A |
| Forb | Bidens cernuus | NODDING BUR-MARIGOLD | N |
| Forb | Boehmeria cylindrica | FALSE NETTLE | N |
| Forb | Calla palustris | WATER-ARUM; WILD CALLA | N |
| Forb | Caltha palustris | MARSH-MARIGOLD; COWSLIP | N |
| Forb | Campanula aparinoides | MARSH BELLFLOWER | N |
| Forb | Cardamine bulbosa | SPRING CRESS | N |
| Forb | Chelone glabra | TURTLEHEAD | N |
| Forb | Cicuta maculata | WATER HEMLOCK | N |
| Forb | Circaea lutetiana | ENCHANTER'S-NIGHTSHADE | N |
| Forb | CIRSIUM ARVENSE | CANADIAN-THISTLE | A |
| Forb | Cirsium muticum | SWAMP-THISTLE | N |
| Forb | CIRSIUM VULGARE | BULL-THISTLE | A |
| Forb | Claytonia virginica | SPRING-BEAUTY | N |
| Forb | Cryptotaenia canadensis | HONEWORT | N |
| Forb | DAUCUS CAROTA | WILD CARROT; QUEEN-ANNE'S-LACE | A |
| Forb | Dentaria diphylla | TWO-LEAVED TOOTHWORT | N |
| Forb | Dentaria laciniata | CUT-LEAVED TOOTHWORT | N |
| Forb | Desmodium canadense | SHOWY TICK-TREFOIL | N |
| Forb | DIANTHUS ARMERIA | DEPTFORD PINK | A |
| Forb | Drosera rotundifolia | ROUND-LEAVED SUNDEW | N |
| Forb | Epilobium ciliatum | WILLOW-HERB | N |
| Forb | Erythronium americanum | YELLOW TROUT LILY | N |
| Forb | Eupatorium maculatum | JOE-PYE WEED | N |
| Forb | Eupatorium perfoliatum | COMMON BONESET | N |
| Forb | Eupatorium rugosum | WHITE SNAKEROOT | N |
| Forb | Euthamia graminifolia | GRASS-LEAVED GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Fragaria virginiana | WILD STRAWBERRY | N |
| Forb | Galium asprellum | ROUGH BEDSTRAW | N |
| Forb | Galium circaezans | WHITE WILD LICORICE | N |
| Forb | Galium pilosum | HAIRY BEDSTRAW | N |
| Forb | Galium tinctorium | STIFF BEDSTRAW | N |
| Forb | Gentiana andrewsii | CLOSED GENTIAN | N |
| Forb | Geranium maculatum | WILD GERANIUM | N |
| Forb | Geum canadense | WHITE AVENS | N |
| Forb | Helianthus divaricatus | WOODLAND SUNFLOWER | N |
| Forb | Helianthus giganteus | TALL SUNFLOWER | N |
| Forb | Helianthus strumosus | PALE-LEAVED SUNFLOWER | N |
| Forb | Hepatica acutiloba | SHARP-LOBED HEPATICA | N |
| Forb | HIERACIUM CAESPITOSUM | KING-DEVIL | A |
| Forb | Hypericum boreale | NORTHERN ST. JOHN'S-WORT | N |
| Forb | HYPERICUM PERFORATUM | COMMON ST. JOHN'S-WORT | A |
| Forb | Impatiens capensis | SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT | N |
| Forb | Iris virginica | SOUTHERN BLUE FLAG | N |
| Forb | Isopyrum biternatum | FALSE RUE ANEMONE | N |
| Forb | Juncus dudleyi | DUDLEY'S RUSH | N |
| Forb | Juncus effusus | SOFT-STEMMED RUSH | N |
| Forb | Lactuca canadensis | TALL LETTUCE | N |
| Forb | Laportea canadensis | WOOD NETTLE | N |
| Forb | Lathyrus palustris | MARSH PEA | N |
| Forb | LEONURUS CARDIACA | MOTHERWORT | A |
| Forb | Lilium michiganense | MICHIGAN LILY | N |
| Forb | Lobelia cardinalis | CARDINAL FLOWER | N |
| Forb | Lobelia siphilitica | GREAT BLUE LOBELIA | N |
| Forb | Ludwigia palustris | WATER-PURSLANE | N |
| Forb | Luzula multiflora | COMMON WOOD RUSH | N |
| Forb | Lycopus americanus | COMMON WATER HOREHOUND | N |
| Forb | Lycopus uniflorus | NORTHERN BUGLE WEED | N |
| Forb | Lysimachia ciliata | FRINGED LOOSESTRIFE | N |
| Forb | Maianthemum canadense | CANADA MAYFLOWER; LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY | N |
| Forb | Mentha arvensis | WILD MINT | N |
| Forb | Mitella diphylla | BISHOP'S CAP | N |
| Forb | Monarda fistulosa | WILD BERGAMOT | N |
| Forb | NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE | WATERCRESS | A |
| Forb | Nuphar variegata | YELLOW POND-LILY | N |
| Forb | Oxypolis rigidior | COWBANE | N |
| Forb | Panax trifolius | DWARF GINSENG | N |
| Forb | Pedicularis canadensis | WOOD-BETONY; LOUSEWORT | N |
| Forb | Pedicularis lanceolata | SWAMP-BETONY; LOUSEWORT | N |
| Forb | Phytolacca americana | POKEWEED; INKBERRY | N |
| Forb | Pilea pumila | CLEARWEED | N |
| Forb | PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA | ENGLISH PLANTAIN; RIBGRASS | A |
| Forb | Podophyllum peltatum | MAY APPLE; MANDRAKE | N |
| Forb | Polygonum amphibium | WATER SMARTWEED | N |
| Forb | Polygonum hydropiperoides | WATER-PEPPER | N |
| Forb | Polygonum virginianum | JUMPSEED | N |
| Forb | POTENTILLA RECTA | ROUGH-FRUITED CINQUEFOIL | A |
| Forb | Potentilla simplex | OLD-FIELD or COMMON CINQUEFOIL | N |
| Forb | Prenanthes alba | WHITE LETTUCE; RATTLESNAKE-ROOT | N |
| Forb | PRUNELLA VULGARIS | LAWN PRUNELLA | A |
| Forb | Pycnanthemum virginianum | COMMON MOUNTAIN MINT | N |
| Forb | Ranunculus abortivus | SMALL-FLOWERED BUTTERCUP | N |
| Forb | Ranunculus fascicularis | EARLY BUTTERCUP | N |
| Forb | Ranunculus hispidus | SWAMP BUTTERCUP | N |
| Forb | Ranunculus sceleratus | CURSED CROWFOOT | N |
| Forb | Rudbeckia hirta | BLACK-EYED SUSAN | N |
| Forb | RUMEX ACETOSELLA | SHEEP or RED SORREL | A |
| Forb | RUMEX OBTUSIFOLIUS | BITTER DOCK | A |
| Forb | Rumex orbiculatus | GREAT WATER DOCK | N |
| Forb | Sagittaria latifolia | COMMON ARROWHEAD | N |
| Forb | Sanguinaria canadensis | BLOODROOT | N |
| Forb | Sanicula gregaria | BLACK SNAKEROOT | N |
| Forb | SAPONARIA OFFICINALIS | BOUNCING BET; SOAPWORT | A |
| Forb | Saxifraga pensylvanica | SWAMP SAXIFRAGE | N |
| Forb | Scutellaria galericulata | COMMON SKULLCAP | N |
| Forb | Senecio aureus | GOLDEN RAGWORT | N |
| Forb | Smilacina racemosa | FALSE SPIKENARD | N |
| Forb | Smilacina stellata | STARRY FALSE SOLOMON-SEAL | N |
| Forb | SOLANUM CAROLINENSE | HORSE NETTLE | A |
| Forb | Solidago caesia | BLUE-STEMMED GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Solidago canadensis | CANADA GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Solidago gigantea | LATE GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Solidago nemoralis | OLD-FIELD GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Solidago patula | SWAMP GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Solidago rugosa | ROUGH GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Solidago uliginosa | BOG GOLDENROD | N |
| Forb | Streptopus roseus | ROSE TWISTED-STALK | N |
| Forb | Symplocarpus foetidus | SKUNK-CABBAGE | N |
| Forb | TARAXACUM OFFICINALE | COMMON DANDELION | A |
| Forb | Thalictrum dioicum | EARLY MEADOW-RUE | N |
| Forb | TRAGOPOGON DUBIUS | GOAT'S BEARD | A |
| Forb | Trillium grandiflorum | COMMON TRILLIUM | N |
| Forb | Typha latifolia | BROAD-LEAVED CAT-TAIL | N |
| Forb | Urtica dioica | NETTLE | N |
| Forb | VERBASCUM THAPSUS | COMMON MULLEIN | A |
| Forb | Verbena hastata | BLUE VERVAIN | N |
| Forb | Verbena urticifolia | WHITE VERVAIN | N |
| Forb | Viola blanda | SWEET WHITE VIOLET | N |
| Forb | Viola sororia | COMMON BLUE VIOLET | N |
| Forb | Zizia aurea | GOLDEN ALEXANDERS | N |
| Grass | AGROSTIS GIGANTEA | REDTOP | A |
| Grass | AGROSTIS STOLONIFERA | CREEPING BENT | A |
| Grass | Andropogon gerardii | BIG BLUESTEM GRASS; TURKEYFOOT | N |
| Grass | Andropogon virginicus | BROOM-SEDGE | N |
| Grass | BROMUS INERMIS | HUNGARIAN BROME; SMOOTH BROME | A |
| Grass | BROMUS JAPONICUS | JAPANESE BROME | A |
| Grass | Bromus pubescens | CANADA BROME | N |
| Grass | Calamagrostis canadensis | BLUE-JOINT GRASS | N |
| Grass | Calamagrostis inexpansa | BOG REEDGRASS | N |
| Grass | Cinna arundinacea | WOOD REEDGRASS | N |
| Grass | Danthonia spicata | POVERTY GRASS; OATGRASS | N |
| Grass | Elymus villosus | SILKY WILD-RYE | N |
| Grass | Elymus virginicus | VIRGINIA WILD-RYE | N |
| Grass | Festuca subverticillata | NODDING FESCUE | N |
| Grass | Glyceria septentrionalis | FLOATING MANNA GRASS | N |
| Grass | Glyceria striata | FOWL MANNA GRASS | N |
| Grass | Hystrix patula | BOTTLEBRUSH GRASS | N |
| Grass | Leersia oryzoides | CUT GRASS | N |
| Grass | LOLIUM PERENNE | PERENNIAL RYE GRASS | A |
| Grass | Milium effusum | WOOD MILLET | N |
| Grass | Muhlenbergia mexicana | LEAFY SATIN GRASS | N |
| Grass | Muhlenbergia schreberi | NIMBLEWILL | N |
| Grass | Panicum implicatum | PANIC GRASS | N |
| Grass | PANICUM MILIACEUM | PROSO; BROOMCORN MILLET | A |
| Grass | Phalaris arundinacea | REED CANARY GRASS | N |
| Grass | PHLEUM PRATENSE | TIMOTHY | A |
| Grass | POA COMPRESSA | CANADA BLUEGRASS | A |
| Grass | Poa palustris | FOWL MEADOW GRASS | N |
| Grass | Sorghastrum nutans | INDIAN GRASS | N |
| Grass | Sphenopholis intermedia | SLENDER WEDGEGRASS | N |
| Grass | Sporobolus cryptandrus | SAND DROPSEED | N |
| Sedge | Carex albursina | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex aquatilis | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex blanda | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex brunnescens | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex gracillima | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex hystericina | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex lacustris | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex leptalea | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex pedunculata | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex pensylvanica | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex prairea | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex rostrata | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex sartwellii | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex stipata | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex stricta | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Carex vulpinoidea | SEDGE | N |
| Sedge | Eriophorum viridi-carinatum | GREEN-KEELED COTTON-GRASS | N |
| Sedge | Scirpus acutus | HARDSTEM BULRUSH | N |
| Sedge | Scirpus atrovirens | BULRUSH | N |
| Shrub | Aronia prunifolia | BLACK CHOKEBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Cornus foemina | GRAY DOGWOOD | N |
| Shrub | Cornus stolonifera | RED-OSIER DOGWOOD | N |
| Shrub | Corylus americana | HAZELNUT | N |
| Shrub | ELAEAGNUS UMBELLATA | AUTUMN-OLIVE | A |
| Shrub | Euonymus obovata | RUNNING STRAWBERRY BUSH | N |
| Shrub | Hamamelis virginiana | WITCH-HAZEL | N |
| Shrub | Ilex verticillata | WINTERBERRY; MICHIGAN HOLLY | N |
| Shrub | Juniperus communis | COMMON or GROUND JUNIPER | N |
| Shrub | Lindera benzoin | SPICEBUSH | N |
| Shrub | LONICERA TATARICA | SMOOTH TARTARIAN HONEYSUCKLE | A |
| Shrub | Mitchella repens | PARTRIDGE BERRY | N |
| Shrub | Physocarpus opulifolius | NINEBARK | N |
| Shrub | Ribes americanum | WILD BLACK CURRANT | N |
| Shrub | Ribes cynosbati | PRICKLY or WILD GOOSEBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Rosa palustris | SWAMP ROSE | N |
| Shrub | Rubus allegheniensis | COMMON BLACKBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Rubus occidentalis | BLACK RASPBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Rubus strigosus | WILD RED RASPBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Salix discolor | PUSSY WILLOW | N |
| Shrub | Salix petiolaris | SLENDER or MEADOW WILLOW | N |
| Shrub | Sambucus canadensis | ELDERBERRY; COMMON ELDER | N |
| Shrub | Spiraea alba | MEADOWSWEET | N |
| Shrub | Toxicodendron vernix | POISON SUMAC | N |
| Shrub | Vaccinium macrocarpon | LARGE CRANBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Viburnum dentatum | SMOOTH ARROW-WOOD | N |
| Shrub | Viburnum lentago | NANNYBERRY; SHEEPBERRY | N |
| Shrub | Zanthoxylum americanum | PRICKLY-ASH | N |
| Tree | Acer negundo | BOX ELDER | N |
| Tree | Acer rubrum | RED MAPLE | N |
| Tree | Acer saccharum | SUGAR MAPLE; HARD MAPLE | N |
| Tree | Carpinus caroliniana | HORNBEAM; BLUE-BEECH | N |
| Tree | Carya ovata | SHELLBARK or SHAGBARK HICKORY | N |
| Tree | Celtis occidentalis | HACKBERRY | N |
| Tree | Cornus alternifolia | ALTERNATE-LEAVED DOGWOOD | N |
| Tree | Fagus grandifolia | AMERICAN BEECH | N |
| Tree | Fraxinus americana | WHITE ASH | N |
| Tree | Fraxinus nigra | BLACK ASH | N |
| Tree | Juglans cinerea | BUTTERNUT | N |
| Tree | Juglans nigra | BLACK WALNUT | N |
| Tree | Juniperus virginiana | RED-CEDAR | N |
| Tree | Ostrya virginiana | IRONWOOD; HOP HORNBEAM | N |
| Tree | Platanus occidentalis | SYCAMORE | N |
| Tree | Populus deltoides | COTTONWOOD | N |
| Tree | Populus tremuloides | QUAKING ASPEN | N |
| Tree | Prunus serotina | WILD BLACK CHERRY | N |
| Tree | Quercus alba | WHITE OAK | N |
| Tree | Quercus bicolor | SWAMP WHITE OAK | N |
| Tree | Quercus macrocarpa | BUR OAK | N |
| Tree | Quercus palustris | PIN OAK | N |
| Tree | Quercus rubra | RED OAK | N |
| Tree | Thuja occidentalis | ARBOR VITAE | N |
| Tree | Tilia americana | LINDEN; BASSWOOD | N |
| Tree | Ulmus americana | WHITE or AMERICAN ELM | N |
| Tree | Ulmus rubra | RED or SLIPPERY ELM | N |
| Vine | Clematis virginiana | VIRGIN'S BOWER | N |
| Vine | Dioscorea villosa | WILD YAM | N |
| Vine | Menispermum canadense | MOONSEED | N |
| Vine | SOLANUM DULCAMARA | BITTERSWEET NIGHTSHADE | A |
| Vine | Vitis riparia | RIVERBANK GRAPE | N |