Onoclea (sensibilis) – sensitive fern
Dryopterid-aceae

Medium fern; leaves upright with petioles roughly same length as blades; sterile leaves deciduous and surrounding fertile leaves, once pinnately divided at base, opposite, deeply cleft upward wavy margined or coarsely toothed, ֎with a winged central axis; ֎dimorphic fronds (fertile and sterile leaves appearing distinctly different); fertile leaves contain spore clusters produced in summer and overwinter, leaves divided in beadlike pinnules with in rolled margins covering the sori; sori round and covered by indusia; swampy woods, wet shores, wet meadow margins.

Osmunda regalis - royal fern
Osmund-aceae

Large fern; fronds dimorphic; ֎all fronds bipinnate, ֎large and semi-coarse, oblong, ovate; leaflets not opposite, 6 or more pairs; stipe (frond axis) smooth or glabrous, some fronds sterile, some ֎with fertile pinnae at their tips with pinnae smaller; bogs, lake fronts, stream-banks, meadows.

Osmunda cinnamomea - cinnamon fern
Osmund-aceae

Large fern up to 3’; fronds dimorphic; fertile fronds bearing masses of sporangia, green initially turn brown; sterile fronds large, coarse, ֎twice cut, from central root stock; leaflets are lance-shaped, pointed, cut deeply, 20 or more pairs, nearly opposite, with persistent tufts of fine rust-colored hairs on undersurface of pinnae stalks’ axils; bogs, swamps, stream-banks, edges of ponds.

Cicuta sp. – water hemlock
Api-aceae (֎double umbel  ֎typically hollow  ֎typically toxic  ֎often with sheath)

Medium to large herb up to 2m; highly poisonous, handle with caution; from tuberous rootstalk; leaves alternate, ֎2-3 pinnate; leaflets narrow or lanceolate; flowers white or green; fruit round or ovate with pronounced ribs, June-September; wet meadows, marshes, moist soils.

Lycopus americanus – cut-leaved water horehound
Lami-aceae

Medium herb 20-80cm; leaves ֎opposite, ֎deeply serrated; ֎square stems; without odor; flowers small in ֎clusters from leaf axis, corolla is a tube usually with two flaring lips; shores and moist ground.

Lythrum salicaria - purple loosestrife
Lythr-aceae

Large herb up to 2.5m; ֎stems angled, slender, not woody (can be woody as they age); ֎leaves mostly opposite (although often also alternate on the same plant), ֎sessile (no petiole), often almost heart-shaped at base; ֎flowers numerous in long purple spikes; many seeded; wet meadow, shores, shallow marsh. This invasive is common throughout West Michigan and originally escaped from cultivation and was planted as a pretty garden plant. If you see only a few, then remove them, but do not kill native loosestrifes. 

Polygonum sp. - smartweed   (split into  Bistorta, Fallopia, Persicaria)
Polygon-aceae

Herb; leaves long, narrow, lance-shaped; flower pink or whitish spike-like clusters, without petals, made up of sepals; “knotted” or zigzag stems, swollen sheaths or joints with ֎papery sheath (ochrea) at each joint; ֎winged achenes; very shallow marshes, wet places, swales, wet meadows, swamps.

Rumex sp. - dock
Polygon-aceae

Herb; leaves large and clustered at base of plant, or can be leafy stemmed, oblong, flat to wavy margins;  ֎membranous sheath around stem quasi-present at each node (but less pronounced than in polygonum); flowers in crowded whorls in panicles at end of stem, brown, becoming ֎winged achenes; fruit 3-angled achene tipped with a slender beak; June-September; wet meadows and wet non shaded areas.

Boehmeria (cylindrica) - false nettle
Urtic-aceae

Medium herb 16-40”; stem hollow, 4-angled; leaves opposite, ֎NO stinging hairs, well stalked, coarsely toothed, ovate; ֎flowering stalks upright with ֎cylindrical clusters (looks like you gave a kid the ice cream scoop and left the room), often with leaves at the terminal end of the inflorescence, ֎from the leaf axis, green; floodplains, swamps.

Sagittaria sp. – arrowhead
Alismat-aceae

Aquatic herb; leaves variable ֎arrow-shaped to elliptical (ribbon-like) to lance-shaped, erect extending above the surface, arising from the base which is normally submersed; inflorescence is a raceme or panicle of whorled white flowers with three round-ish petals; fruit are in dense yellowish heads; ponds, shallow marshes, shores. ֎Leaf veins similar to spider-man symbol.
S. latifolia (duck potato, wapato) with edible tubers in spring or fall (deep).

Peltandra (virginica) – arrow arum
Ar-aceae

Aquatic herb, strong rosette; leaves lobed at base (typically sagittate), each basal lobe with a heavy central vein, 3-nerved,with a small ֎veins that run along the entire leaf margin (like a child traced the leaf); spathe green, fleshy, in-rolled; herbs growing on muddy shores and shallow water.

Pontedaria (cordata) - pickerelweed
Pontedari-aceae

Medium herb typically emergent in shallow water; leaves clustered, large, ֎arrow or heart-shaped with ֎numerous parallel veins that flow from one point like un-mixed paint, extending erect above the water surface; flowering stems consist of a single leaf and a ֎dense spike of blue/purple bilabiate flowers; marsh or pond; shallow water, 15-50cm deep.

Typha sp. - cattail
Typh-aceae

Large emergent herb (generally growing out of shallow water); the two species listed below can produce hybrids so that identification can be difficult; in this class, when given two species the difference will be obvious between the two. Both have ֎long skinny leaves that originate from the same point (round base unlike iris which is fan shaped at the base) and ֎corn-dog looking inflorescences. Flowers small and unisexual, arranged into close cylindrical spikes which consist of an upper region of staminate (male) flowers and a lower region of pistillate (female) flowers in a dark brown spike (the male flower falls off after pollination). The pollen can be harvested and is flour like. The hybrid is generally invasive and can take over large areas.  

Typha angustifolia - narrow-leaved cattail

֎Leaves long thin and ribbon-like, 3-8mm wide; stem is slender, underground stems spread rapidly;  ֎staminate and pistillate portions are usually divided by at least 5mm.

Typha latifolia - broad-leaved cattail

֎Leaves flat, thick and wide, 6-15mm wide; stems stout, underground stems spread rapidly; ֎staminate and pistillate portions are usually contiguous.

Scirpus cyperinus – wool grass
Cyper-aceae

Large sedge 0.5-1m; spikelets terminal ֎like a fountain spray of wool puff ball due to long bristles on achenes; involucels (bracts at the base of spikelets) dull brown with blackish bases; common in wet meadows, shores, very shallow marshes, riverbanks.

Scirpus validus – softstem bulrush (new name: Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani)
Cyper-aceae

Large sedge with single ֎round stem with sheath at base, sometimes leafy and sometimes naked from 70cm-200cm in height, inflorescence sub-terminal and spikelets several, with involucre (bracts) from the base of spikelet; a wide range of water depth habitat from open swales to shallow and deep marshes, common in shallow water of early successional habitats; similar to S. acutus, stem thicker at the base (0.8-2.5cm), light green, ֎soft and spongy (can be easily squished by pinching).

Calamagrostis canadensis - bluejoint
Po-aceae

Medium grass up to 1.5m; leaves very narrow1-5mm thick; ֎1 floret per spikelet; ֎bristle like hairs from floret; stem slight; extensive creeping rootstocks; plants forming hummocks or tufts; inflorescence open loose arrangement (like a true fox’s tail), stamens and pistils borne in same spikelet without spines; shores, swales, wet meadows.

Leersia oryzoides - rice cut grass
Po-aceae

Medium grass 10cm-1m; stems and ֎leaves rough and cutting (feeling sticky); joints of stems with very small stiff bristles or pubescence; inflorescence forming little spikelets, 1.5-2mm wide, fringed margins, overlapping in a single row (֎like a stack of pancakes); wet meadow, shores, shallow marsh.

Phalaris arundinacea - reed canary grass
Po-aceae

Very common grass up to 1.5m; found in large clumps especially in drainage ditches; flowers in spikelets in club-like masses (֎compound spike), stamens and pistils borne in same spikelet without spines, not all on one side; shores, swales, wet meadows; lemma with 2 tufts of silky hairs at base; can be highly invasive.

Ceratophyllum sp. – coontail
Ceratophyll-aceae

Exclusively submerged; leaves ֎whorled, ֎dichotomously forked with ֎spiny teeth along one side, more crowded toward the tip giving the “coontail” appearance; plants free floating, without roots; variable in length; ponds, shallow marshes. Weird fact: vascular plant with no vascular tissue.

Nuphar sp. - yellow water lily
Nymphae-aceae

Floating or emergent herb; large floating leaves, ֎leaf blades oblong to oval or heart-shaped; underground stem (rhizome) thick and fleshy (֎sometimes firm petiole, may have emergent leaves); floating flower, with ֎rounded yellow petal-like sepals.

Nymphaea odorata - fragrant water lily
Nymphae-aceae (֎large floating leaves   ֎massive rhizome   ֎many stamen)

Floating herb; large floating leaves, ֎nearly round in shape with a ֎v-shaped cleft (vampire teeth); underground stem (rhizome) thick and fleshy (֎weak stem, leaf floats directly on water surface); floating flower is white, fragrant with ֎numerous petals and stamens; marshes and ponds, 10-55cm deep.

Ludwigia palustris - water-purslane
Onagr-aceae

Aquatic herb preferring wet soils but can live indefinitely underwater; ֎leaves opposite, ovate to lance-shaped, green to red in color, best recognized by a ֎red bottom (only prominent with high light intensity), tapered at base to ֎winged petiole; stems poor, creeping or partially floating, branched to simple, smooth or with sparse scattered hairs; flowers stalkless and single from leaf axils, petals absent and sepals triangular; fruit a capsule; July-September; shallow water or exposed mud on pond margins. 

Elodea sp. – waterweed
Hydrocharit-aceae

Submerged herb; branching stems forming large masses at the bottom; ֎leaves in whorls of 3, ֎small ribbon-like; flowers from a spathe, pistillate with a long thread-like tube reaching surface; shores, ponds, shallow marshes.

Potamogeton crispus - curly pondweed
Potamogeton-aceae

Invasive submerged herb; ֎stems compressed (flat) with few branches; leaves all submersed, ֎sessile, oblong rounded at tip wavy with ֎fine toothed margins and 3-5 veins; stipule often disintegrating; shallow to deep water of lakes, highly pollution tolerant.

Toxicodendron radicans – poison ivy
Anacardi-aceae

Growth form variable: trailing or climbing vine, small shrub, ground cover; leaves ֎alternate, ֎irregularly serrate, ֎trifoliate, dull green, often w/ toothed leaflets, 4-14”; fruit is a cluster of white berries (drupe), Aug-Nov; vines with hair-like projections when growing on tree trunk.
Causes allergic reaction.

Solanum dulcamara - nightshade
Solan-aceae

Herbaceous vine; leaves heart-shaped and lobed; often with deep lobes form ֎spade-like appearance; flowers purple or blue; ֎berries red (poisonous); moist soil, wet meadow, swales, stream banks, bogs.

Vitis sp. - grape
Vit-aceae

Woody vine; ֎bark shredding and peeling, leaves alternate but often with a tendril opposite the leaf, with ֎grapes.

Ilex verticillata – Michigan holly
Aquifoli-aceae

Deciduous shrub; leaves alternate, ֎acuminate at tip  with numerous fine teeth along margins; dioecious flowers with white petals in late June-early July; ֎fruit a bright red berry (drupe); bogs, swamps, thickets, damp shores, swales, lake and stream margins.

Alnus incana – speckled alder
Betul-aceae

Thicket forming shrub up to 15’; leaves simple, dull above, whitened beneath, ֎doubly toothed, with blunt teeth; twigs and young leaves not sticky; male and females flowers separate on same plant, forming catkins; ֎female catkins cone-like and persisting for more than 1 year; male catkins long and flexible.

Sambucus sp. – elderberry
Caprifoli-aceae (֎paired flower   moved to Adox-aceae)

Medium to large shrub or small tree to 3m, may from thickets; stems pithy with protruding wart-like lenticels; leaves large, ֎opposite, ֎pinnate divided into 5-11 leaflets; leaflets lancelate or oval in shape tapered to a sharp long tip, ֎sharply forward serrated; leaf base often asymmetrical; flowers small, white, perfect, 5-lobed in large clusters at edge of stem (flat-topped purple berry– S. canadensis; pyramidal red berry – S. racemose); fruit ֎berry-like drupe; July-August; most wet areas. Elderberry extract (Sambucol) is a commonly available flu remedy supported by scientific evidence.

Viburnum sp. – viburnum
Caprifoli-aceae

Medium to tall shrub; ֎opposite leaves, simple; fruit a 1 seeded drupe, typically on a ֎corymb inflorescence.  Commonly planted for their showy flowers, often edible berries, and fall colors.

Cornus sp. – dogwood
Corn-aceae

Shrub or small tree; entire leaves usually opposite; ֎leaf veins follow the smooth leaf edges toward the tips; ֎silky sap apparent between veins when leaves are gently broken; twigs often reddish or purple; leaf buds with only 1 pair of scales; flowers 4 petaled with greatly reduced or no calyx, some species with showy bracts; typically very hard wood. 

Rosa palustris - marsh rose
Ros-aceae

Highly branching prickly shrub; leaves with ֎stipules, alternate and ֎pinnately divided into usually seven leaflets; leaflets ֎fine toothed margins; twigs red-brown with ֎paired ֎downward curved ֎deciduous -prickles; ֎flowers single at terminal end of branches, strong ֎hypanthium; fruit round and reddish orange (edible ֎rose-hips) often with 5 sepals remaining; July-August; high prevalence in disturbed wetlands, moist to wet areas, open bogs.

Spirea sp. - spirea
Ros-aceae

Shrubs with slender wand-like twigs, narrow based and ֎mostly toothed leaves, lacking stipules, papery bark that often flakes off, and raised leaf scars with only 1 bundle scar; clusters of tiny dry ֎5 parted fruits often are present at twig tips following white or pink flowers; ֎stamen numerous and ֎often longer than petals.

Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush
Rubi-aceae

Medium shrub; ֎leaves opposite or whorls of 3, 2-3” long, waxy and thick, elliptic, sharp pointed; flowers in ֎spherical ball-like heads at the end of a long stalk in the axils of the upper leaves, whitish in color; shallow marshes and ponds, scrub/shrub, floodplains along streams.

Salix sp. - willow
Salic-aceae

Shurbs and trees; often difficult to identify to species; ֎leaves alternate, usually lanceolate, ֎typically long and narrow; ֎flowers arranged in catkins; characteristic of stream-banks and moist conditions, floodplains, pond edges, shores; young branches commonly fall and make new individuals. Salicylic acid (aspirin) in the bark of nearly all species throughout the world, you can chew on a young twig (eating large dry bark is undesirable and less effective).  

Acer rubrum – red maple
Acer-aceae (֎palmately lobed with irregular teeth   ֎opposite   ֎winged-paired seeds new name Sapind-aceae)                          

Medium tree 20-60’; leaves ֎opposite 3-5 lobed, ֎toothed, base of terminal lobe wide; twigs and buds reddish; flowers red in spring; lowland, poorly drained deciduous swamps, moist soil, bogs, floodplains, river banks.

Videos of plants at Hofma Park