Girdwood Flora abounds with the progression of summer

Goatsbeard (scientific name: Aruncus Sylvester)
White sweetclover (scientific name: Melilotus alba)	Northern groundcone (scientific name: Boschniakia rossica)

By Betty Charnon
Special to the Turnagain Times

With the progression of summer comes a new group of plants. This article highlights the native goatsbeard (the good), the invasive white sweetclover (the bad), and the odd looking northern groundcone (the ugly).
Goatsbeard (scientific name: Aruncus Sylvester) is a common plant in our area and anyone driving on the Seward Highway may have noticed the plumes of feathery white/cream flowers. Besides along roadsides, goatsbeard occurs throughout the Chugach National Forest in moist forests, meadows, and streambanks. It is also a very good garden plant for those interested in gardening with native species.
White sweetclover (scientific name: Melilotus alba) is a non-native invasive plant that is rapidly spreading along several major river systems in Alaska. The impacts to wildlife and fisheries habitat are not well understood yet but numerous studies are underway. Invasive plant experts throughout the state consider this species as one of the most invasive plants in Alaska. This species is very abundant along the Seward Highway and the Bird to Gird bike path; however, due to community weed pulls targeting this species for the past few years, there are far fewer white sweetclover in Girdwood.
Northern groundcone (scientific name: Boschniakia rossica) is an odd looking plant that looks like a large brown pine cone sitting on the ground. It is a parasitic plant that derives all of its nutrients water from another plant. Northern groundcones are typically parasitic on alders.

Jonnie Lazarus contributed to this column.