Family Rubiaceae
Bedstraw (Galium aparine) Weak- stemmed plant with hooked bristles on stem and leaves to grab animals or clothing and break off from the ground. Very small (1/8") spring-blooming white flowers on stalks arise from the axils of whorled leaves. There are 4 flower petals and each whorl has 6-8 leaves. Also called "cleavers" because of its clinging habit. Medical research shows that extracts are hypotensive (lower blood pressure) and contain asperuloside, which is anti-inflammatory. May cause slight skin irritation upon contact.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) A shrub with opposite or whorled dark green leaves. White summer-blooming flowers are clusters of 1-2"diameter globes with the long stamens protruding like pins from a pincushion. Prefers very wet locations. Although formerly used as a diuretic, astringent, emitic, and pain reliever, it has caused poisoning in some grazing animals. Ducks, especially, mallards and wood ducks, eat the seeds. Flowers are an excellent source of nectar for butterflies and other insects. Because of its attractive foliage and flowers, it is sometimes planted as an ornamental.

Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) A creeping perennial herb rooting at the leaf nodes. 2 or 3 small, 4-petalled, summer-blooming, faintly hairy, white flowers are found in the axil of each leaf. A very abundant weed in the Southeast.

Family Solanaceae Horse-nettle (Solanum carolinense)Star-shaped white to purple 5-petalled flowers bloom in summer on 2-foot perennial plants with thorns along stems and underside of leaves. Fruits look like little yellow tomatoes, and tomatoes are in the nightshade family as well, but horse-nettle fruit is poisonous if consumed. Many birds eat the fruit, including wood ducks.

Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) Small flowers with protruding yellow stamens and backward-curving petals bloom on 2-foot perennial herb with triangular leaves. Similarly to horse- nettle, many songbirds and small mammals consume the seeds. Some varieties contain steroids called solanine, which can cause death. Violently toxic.

Ground-cherry (Physalis heterophylla or angulata)

Family Saururaceae
Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus) A colony-forming perennial herb to 3 feet tall with heart-shaped leaves. Dense spikes of white flowers curl over at the end, giving the plant its name. Blooms from April to July in moist places. Since it contains some novel compounds with sedative affects, its medicinal properties are being heavily researched. American Indians used it for a wash for general pain or rheumatism for its anti-inflammatory affect. Enjoyed by wood ducks.

Family Verbenaceae
Verbena (Verbena brasiliensis) One of the most common wildflowers along the levee in the summer at the Acadiana Nature Park. Terminal clusters of tiny bluish purple flowers atop a tall herb with square stems and opposite leaves. Seeds are oblong nutlets eaten by songbirds such as sparrows, cardinals, and buntings.

Family Violaceae
Bayou Violet (Viola langloisii) Single triangular leaves are common in the floodplain area throughout the year. In spring, a bluish-purple flower grows at each leaf. 2 upper petals, 2 drooping side petals, and a lower petal which provides a landing strip for insects.

Field-Pansy (Viola rafinesquii) Small pink to purple flowers have dark purple veins in the lower petals. Can be spotted in mowed grass on the prairie terrace area of Acadiana Nature Park. Doves and juncos, as well as other songbirds, eat the seeds, and small butterflies use the nectar. Humans use it as an emetic or a laxative or as a syrup made from the flowers to treat consumption.