This research program was initiated in 1999 as part of an SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station funded program in the laboratory of Dr. R. Neil Reese. This project is designed to provide research and educational opportunities to students interested in conservation and utilization of native plant species, as well as encourage the use of native plants by small family farmers as alternative crops in South Dakota.
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This site is dedicated to Mrs. Dorothy Gill, a Dakota Elder, a mentor and friend.
- To locate a plant by the Native American name, or common name use the search box in the left side-bar.
- A glossary of terms used in this collection can be found here.
- Each plant contains supplemental images documenting the life cycle of the plant.
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Taxonomy on this site follows that of the USDA (https://plants.usda.gov/home), many of the Lakota plant names are taken from Black Elk and Flying By (https://puc.sd.gov/commission/dockets/HydrocarbonPipeline/2014/HP14-001/testimony/betest.pdf) and taxonomic descriptions are adapted in part from the Flora of the Great Plains, Great Plains Flora Association ; Ronald L. McGregor, coordinator ; T.M. Barkley, editor ; Ralph E. Brooks, associate editor ; Eileen K. Schofield, associate editor. University Press of Kansas, 1986.
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Scrophulariaceae : Penstemon grandiflorus
R. Neil Reese
Penstemon grandiflorus is a weakly perennial herb with 1-3 erect, smooth, waxy stems arising from a woody caudex growing up to about 1 m tall. The blue-green leaves are both basal and cauline, thick (succulent) and often covered in a waxy bloom, with entire margins. The basal and lower most stem leaves are shortly petiolate, spatula-shaped to orbicular, 3 to 16 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, rounded to pointed at the tip and tapering at the base. The sessile, opposite, ascending cauline leaves are 2- 9 cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, more broadly egg-shaped, clasping at the base and reduced to bracts on the upper stem. The inflorescence consists of 3-9 clusters of flowers, with peduncles arising in the axils of the upper leaves, each cluster having 2-4 flowers on short pedicels. The green calyx has 5 lobes, 7-11 mm long. The bilabiate corolla is 35-48 mm long, abruptly inflated, lavender to bluish purple in color, the throat 15-18 mm wide, with magenta nectar guides on the inside. The lobes of the upper lip are spreading to reflexed, the lower lips spreading. The style and 4 stamens with black anthers hug the upper part of the tube and a white sterile stamen with a few yellow hairs on its tip is contained within the tube. The fruit is an ovoid capsule, 16-25 mm long containing several black to brown seeds up to 4 mm long. Large-flowered beardtongue blooms in May and June on prairies scattered throughout South Dakota.
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Solanaceae : Physalis heterophylla
R. Neil Reese
Physalis heterophylla is a(n) herbaceous, which grows 1.5 dm to 9 dm in height. This species is commonly found "sandy soil, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed areas -can also be. The leaves are alternate. Physalis heterophylla has yellow pale yellow flowers that bloom from May to October.
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Verbenaceae : Verbena hastata
R. Neil Reese
Verbena hastata is a(n) perennial herb, which grows 0.4 m to 1 m in height. This species is commonly found at low to mid elevations, more common in the southern Black Hills than elsewhere; stream banks, shores, wet meadows, and springs. The leaves are opposite, short-petioled; blades lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, occasionally lobed near base, roughened. Verbena hastata has dark blue to a purple flowers that bloom from July to September.
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Verbenaceae : Verbena stricta
R. Neil Reese
Hoary Vervain is a weakly perennial forb that is well adapted to dry to mesic conditions. It reaches 2-4 feet in height with several to many spikes of flowers..
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Violaceae : Viola canadensis
R. Neil Reese
Viola canadensis is a(n) perennial herb, which grows 10 cm to 30 cm in height. This species is commonly found at low to high elevatons throughout the Blanck Hills; moist coniferous or deciduous forest habitats, especially along drainages. The leaves are long-petioled, balades eniform to broadly ovate-cordate, often abruptly tapered to a sharp tip, usually broader than long, bluntly serrate, usually short-pubescent at least on the veins beneath. Viola canadensis has white, yellow toward the base, flowers that bloom from May to June.
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Violaceae : Viola nephrophylla
R. Neil Reese
Viola nephrophylla is a(n) perennial herb, which grows 3 cm to 16 cm in height. This species is commonly found from low to high elevations throughout the Black Hills area; wet meadows, stream banks, fens, and boggy areas. The leaves are petioles; blades ovate-cordate to renifrom, bluntly toothed. Viola nephrophylla has blue-violate colored flowers that bloom from May to September.
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Violaceae : Viola pedatifida
R. Neil Reese
Viola pedatifida is a(n) perennial herb, which grows 5 cm to 25 cm in height. This species is commonly found at low to mid elevations in the cental and northern Black Hills and the Bear Lodge Mts.; meadows, clearings, and open pine forests. The leaves are bladed and palmately divided into linear or oblong segments, oval to semicircular in outline, somtime rather lax. Viola pedatifida has violet or lilac colored flowers that bloom from May to March.
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Violaceae : Viola pubescens
R. Neil Reese
Viola pubescens is a(n) perennial herb, which grows 10 cm to 30 cm in height. This species is commonly found at low to mid elevatoions in the central and northern Black Hills and the Bear Lodge Mts.; moist deciduous or mixed forests, often along streams. The leaves are long-petioled, stem leaves concentrated near top of stem; blades ovate and weakly to strongly cordate, or some rotund-ovate to reniform, rather coarsely but bluntly toothed; stipules ovate to lanceolate. Viola pubescens has yellow flowers that bloom from May to June.
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Vitaceae : Vitis riparia
R. Neil Reese
Vitis riparia is a(n) dioecious viny shrub, which grows or climbing to 25m in height. This species is commonly found streambanks, open hillsides, and rich woodlands. The leaves are deeply lobed cordate-ovate. Vitis riparia has yellow green flowers that bloom from May to June.