Large-leaf Avens (Geum macrophyllum)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185324967
Large-leaf Avens (Geum macrophyllum)
When I went to my little place to take the picture, it was raining. Pippin and I were soaked to the skin when we finished taking photos. But this is the usual weather this time of year, and I enjoy rain even when it's falling from the sky like someone has a bucket pouring it out. It wasn't too cold, so it still was enjoyable.
I have chosen a common weed that grows everywhere in Alaska called Large-leaf Avens (Geum macrophyllum) but can be found "across the northern hemisphere, but also present in southern Africa and the Andes of South America" (Fretig). "The genus Geum in the rose family (Rosaceae) contains about 40 species" (Fretig).
It hasn't been used for food but instead more for medicinal purposes by Indigenous peoples by using the root to make tea for stomach pains and the leaves in a poultice for boils. The people groups have been identified as the Nuxalk, Quileute, Snohomish and Quinault (Brietze et al.).
If you look closely at the pictures I have put up, you will see that the leaves are "shaped like a maple leaf and are significantly larger than the other leaflets farther down the leaf blade", so you see the larger leaves at the top and then as they run down the stalk with each leaf getting smaller (Fretig). In another picture, the one with the hand is holding the remains of the summer bloom that has turned into "fruiting heads of this species a bristly, pincushion-like appearance" (Fretig). Unfortunately, it is too late in the season to see the pretty five-stared yellow flower that resembles a cinquefoil (Potentilla), a closely related species.
Another weird trait that the flower has is that it has an ultraviolet black dot at the bottom of the petals that, as humans, we cannot see. However, it attracts little flies who can see this dot will pollinate for the Avens because of these "nectar guides." (Fretig)
I have watched this weed throughout the summer, and the flowers are not spectacular; they are easily missed because they aren't elegant. I have also noticed they are often some of the first weeds to pop out in the spring and some of the last to die out. In my observation, they wait underground when the snow and cold arrive, and in the first bright sun, they will break the ground and show their sweet leaves. These Large-leaf Avens are some of my favorite plants to watch throughout the seasons.
Brietze, Chanda, et al. "Large-Leaved Avens • Geum Macrophyllum." Biodiversity of the Central Coast, 2016, www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/large-leaved-avens-bull-geum-macrophyllum-ssp-macrophyllum.html.
Fertig, Walter. "U.S. Forest Service." Forest Service Shield, United States Department of Agriculture, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/geum_macrophyllum.shtml. Accessed 27 Sept. 2023.
Comentarios
Gayleen, I really enjoyed learning about the Large-leaf Avens which I've never heard of until now! It is easy to pass by smaller plants when large leafy plants overshadow many in Southeast Alaska. I will have to keep my eyes peeled for these weeds and take a closer look to identify them in my own area. I find it particularly interesting the fact about the ultraviolet dot on their leaves which attract flies to aid in pollination. What a resourceful trick! It makes me curious to learn about what secrets other plants might be hiding. Thank you for sharing!
Another observation from the Rose family. Someone else did a species from the Rose family a couple of weeks ago. I never knew we had so many variations; it's amazing. The only ones I see are at the store, the stereotypical rose. I find it difficult to find species, especially since all the plants look the same around my house, but you've shown me to take a closer look, and I could find something amazing. The species are used in tea for stomach pains and can be used for boils; that's incredable. Your observation is so versatile and far more interesting than its appearance would indicate. The dot attracts flys, that's interesting, especially since it's at the bottom of the leaf. Anyway, I enjoyed reading your observation this week.
Hello, Gayleen! Thank you for sharing yet another great observation of a naturally occurring organism you found in your community. I have to be honest and say, though it is a common weed in a lot of places as you state in your post, I can not recall ever taking notice of this plant. However, I found I did learn much from your post–for instance, I did not know that the large-leaf Avens, or Geum macrophyllum, you saw is closely related to the first plant I posted on iNaturalist, a variation of the Potentilla. It is also really interesting that their blooms have an ultraviolet dot invisible to human eyes that attracts pollinators.
Wow! That green is so vibrant, it looks technicolor! Since living in Alaska, I’ve been surprised to learn just how many plants here are part of the Rose family, a family I had previously considered only, well, the “roses” we typically see.
I wonder how the black dot was discovered and it makes me wonder how many other things are right under our nose, but unseen to our ordinary human eyes. It’s fun how many surprises are out there, if we just open our minds. That thought pattern is analogous to so much more I’ve been discovering throughout this class and reading your thoughts and feedback.
Hi Gayleen – I wonder if those grow in the northwest region. I looked up the yellow flower blossoms to see if I would recognize them and they did look very familiar to me but the leaves themselves don’t. I’ll have to try and take notice next spring, summer, and fall. I spend most of my time near my cabin, which is nothing but an arctic tundra and very little vegetation. The Indigenous groups you mentioned sound more like they are from the southeast region so perhaps its not common in my area. One thing that does seem common is that most of the plants utilized are made in to teas for internal ailments.
Yes, it's getting harder and harder to get outdoors in our state! It's why we do iNaturalist in the first part of the semester, and not the second half! Thanks, Gayleen, for sharing so much information in the way of your photos that you snapped despite the weather, and also in the way of your research.
One small note about MLA format: as with one of your peers this week, you correctly formatted one entry and included the "Accessed" date at the end of the entry, but didn't include it for the other entry. Be sure to always include an "Accessed" date information in the entries for your web-based resources.
Best,
Prof Brooke
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