Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants
Media
![Common dandelion flower head viewed from above](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Common_Dandelion_Taraxacum_officinale_4-8-20.jpg?itok=oOTCAUvo)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Taraxacum officinale
Description
The common dandelion is a well-known common weed of lawns, roadsides, and other disturbed places. Originally from Europe, it occurs nearly worldwide.
Media
![Photo of Carolina false dandelion flowerhead.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/07/false_dandelion_flower_7-15-14.jpg?itok=H1FXcWI1)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Description
One of several native plants called dandelions, Carolina false dandelion is an annual with sulphur yellow flowers and puffy seedheads.
Media
![Photo of eastern prickly pear plant with flowers](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/03/eastern_prickly_pear_plant_03-20-14.jpg?itok=tJ14PeS5)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Opuntia humifusa (formerly O. compressa)
Description
Cacti make us think of the desert southwest, but there is at least one species native to Missouri. This prickly pear grows in glades, sand prairies, rocky open hillsides, and other dry, sun-soaked areas.
Media
![Photo of common evening primrose, closeup of flowers.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/07/common_evening_primrose_flowers_7-22-14.jpg?itok=_PHjYaMR)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Oenothera biennis
Description
True to its name, common evening primrose is the most common and widespread evening primrose in Missouri. It is most noticeable late in the season, when it reaches its greatest height and the flowers at the top are most visible.
Media
![Photo of yellow wood sorrel plant showing flowers and leaves.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/07/yellow_wood_sorrel_7-7-14.jpg?itok=4dz3FrMr)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Oxalis stricta
Description
Yellow wood sorrel is both a garden weed and a wild edible. It has a pleasant sour taste, which is why some people call it sourgrass and add it to salads.
Media
![Photo of several cattail flowering stalks](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/02/cattails_02-04-14.jpg?itok=c-G_-hhg)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Typha spp.
Description
Missouri’s cattails are all tall wetland plants with narrow, upright leaves emerging from a thick base, and a central stalk bearing a brown, sausage-shaped flower spike.
Media
![Photo of a spatterdock flower held against a leaf](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/05/spatterdock_flower_leaf_5-22-14.jpg?itok=mXN8aoth)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Nuphar advena (formerly N. lutea)
Description
Spatterdock is a native aquatic plant with deep yellow, saucer-or globe-shaped flowers to 3 inches across. It grows in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving to stagnant portions of streams, rivers, and spring branches.
Media
![Arrowhead plant showing leaves and flowers](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/2021-05/Arrowhead_Plant_7-18-03.jpg?itok=AFl2fnZP)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Sagittaria spp.
Description
Arrowheads are aquatic plants with erect, usually arrow-shaped leaves and distinctive three-petaled flowers. They are often called duck potatoes because ducks, geese, and swans relish the tuberlike rootstocks.
Media
![Photo of common ground cherry flower](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/03/ground_cherry_flower_3-20-14.jpg?itok=RRu_KGzF)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Physalis longifolia
Description
Common ground cherry is closely related to the tomatillo, which you’ve probably seen in the grocery store or had in a delicious salsa verde at a Mexican restaurant. The fruits of ground cherry are edible, too.
Media
![Photo of the upper portions of two Jerusalem artichoke plants.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2014/09/jerusalem_artichoke_plants_9-30-14.jpg?itok=hhqdUG4k)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Helianthus tuberosus
Description
Jerusalem artichoke deserves a better common name. This tall native sunflower has edible tubers and great crop potential, but it has never been very big commercially. Fortunately, we can enjoy it for free in nature.
See Also
About Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants in Missouri
A very simple way of thinking about the green world is to divide the vascular plants into two groups: woody and nonwoody (or herbaceous). But this is an artificial division; many plant families include some species that are woody and some that are not. The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! Think of all the ferns, grasses, sedges, lilies, peas, sunflowers, nightshades, milkweeds, mustards, mints, and mallows — weeds and wildflowers — and many more!