The following list of scientific names is largely based on the Bouchard et al. (1991) and the Meades et al. (2000) publications. As our flora becomes better known, a few of these plants will be dropped from the list and a few new ones will be added.  But to encounter any of these species in the field, whether extremely rare or only borderline, is always a treat for the botanical enthusiast.  In some cases the scientific names used in the Meades et al. (2000) publication will differ from the ones used here, but alternate names can be found listed in the synonyms for those species.

In the following list, an “(S)” after the name indicates that an information sheet has been prepared for that species.  A name in parenthesis ( ) indicates the most common name that may be in use for the species.

Lycopodiaceae (Clubmoss Family)
Lycopodium alpinum – alpine clubmoss (clubmoss)
Lycopodium appressum – southern bog-clubmoss (clubmoss)
Lycopodium digitatum – southern running-pine (clubmoss)

Isoetaceae (Quillwort Family)
Isoetes acadiensis – Acadian quillwort (quillwort)

Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)
Equisetum hymenale – tall scouring rush (horsetail)
Equisetum pratense – meadow horsetail (horsetail)

Ophioglossaceae (Adder’s-Tongue Fern Family)
Botrychium lanceolatum var. angustisegmentum – narrow triangle moonwort (fern)
Botrychium lanceolatum var. lanceolatum – lanceleaf grapefern (fern)
Botrychium simplex – least moonwort (fern)

Dennstaedtiaceae (Hayscented Fern Family)
Dennstaedtia punctilobula – hayscented fern (fern)

Thelypteridaceae (Marsh Fern Family)
Thelypteris palustris var. pubscens – marsh fern (fern)
Thelypteris quelpaertensis – mountain fern (fern)

Aspleniaceae (Spleenwort Family)
Asplenium trichomanes – maidenhair spleenwort (fern)

Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern Family)
Athyrium alpestre – alpine lady fern (fern)
Cystopteris bulbifera – bulblet bladder fern (fern)
Cystopteris laurentiana – Laurentian fragile fern (fern)
Cystopteris montana – mountain bladder fern (fern)
Dryopteris marginalis – marginal wood fern (fern)
Gymnocarpium robertianum – limestone oak fern (fern)
Polystichum scopulinum – crag hollyfern (fern)
Woodsia alpina – alpine cliffbrake (fern)
Woodsia glabella – smooth cliffbrake (fern)

Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Pinus resinosa – red pine (pine)

Cabombaceae (Watershield Family)
Brasenia schreberi – water shield (water shield) (S)

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup or Crowfoot Family)
Anemone canadensis – Canada anemone (anemone) (S)
Anemone multifidia – cutleaf anemone (anemone) (S)
Anemone riparia – riverbank anemone (anemone)(S)
Aquilegia canadensis – columbine (columbine)
Ranunculus lapponicus – Lapland buttercup (buttercup)
Ranunculus gmelinii – Gmelin’s watercrowfoot (crowfoot)
Ranunculus hyperboreus – arctic crowfoot (crowfoot)
Ranunculus macounii – Macouin’s buttercup (buttercup)
Ranunculus pedatifidus – northern buttercup (buttercup)
Ranunculus pensylvanicus – bristly crowfoot (crowfoot)
Ranunculus recurvatus – hooked crowfoot (crowfoot)

Myricaceae (Wax-Myrtle Family)
Myrica pensylvanica – northern bayberry (bayberry)

Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)
Atriplex praecox – Baltic saltbush (saltbush)
Suaeda calceoliformis – low seablite (seablite)
Suaeda richii – Rich’s seablite (seablite)

Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)
Claytonia caroliniana – Carolina spring beauty (spring beauty) (S)

Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family or Chickweed Family)
Cerastium alpinum – alpine chickweed (chickweed)
Cerastium beeringianum – Bering chickweed (chickweed)
Cerastium cerastoides – starwort chickweed (chickweed)
Cerastium terrae-novae – Newfoundland chickweed (chickweed)
Minuartia dawsonensis – Dawson sandwort (sandwort)
Minuartia marcescens – dryleaf sandwort (sandwort)
Stellaria crassifolia – fleshy starwort (starwort)

Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)
Oxyria digyna – mountain sorrel (sorrel) (S)
Polygonum boreale – northern knotweed (knotweed)
Polygonum cilinode – fringed bindweed (bindweed)
Polygonum raii – Ray’s knotweed (knotweed)

Plumbaginaceae (Leadwort Family)
Androsace septentrionalis – northern androsace (androsace)
Limonium carolinianum – sea lavender (lavender) (S)

Elatinaceae (Waterwort Family)
Elatine minima – small waterwort (waterwort)

Hypericaceae (St. Johnswort Family)
Hypericum ellipticum – pale St. Johnswort (St. Johnswort)

Droseraceae (Sundew Family)
Drosera linearis – slenderleaf sundew (sundew) (S)

Cistaceae (Rockrose Family)
Hudsonia ericoides – golden heather (heather)

Violaceae (Violet Family)
Viola lanceolata – lanceleaf violet (violet)
Viola palustris – alpine marsh violet (violet)
Viola selkirkii – Selkirk’s violet (violet)
Viola septentrionalis – woolly blue violet (violet)

Salicaceae (Willow Family)
Salix arctica – arctic willow (willow)
Salix arctophila – northern willow (willow)
Salix ballii – Ball’s willow (willow)
Salix herbacea – snowbed willow (willow)
Salix jejuna – barren willow (willow)
Salix myrtillifolia – bilberry willow (willow)
Salix pedicellaris – bog willow (willow)
Salix pedunculata – peduncled willow (willow)
Salix serissima – autumn willow (willow)

Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Arabis drummondii – Drummond’s rockcress(rockcress)
Braya fernaldii – Fernald’s braya (braya)
Braya humilis – low northern rockcress (rockcress)
Braya longii - Long's braya (braya)
Cardamine pratensis ssp.  angustifolia – meadow bittercress (bittercress)
Draba aurea – golden whitlowgrass (whitlowgrass)
Draba glabella var. pycnosperma – dense whitlowgrass (whitlowgrass)
Draba lactea – milky whitlowgrass (whitlograss)
Draba nivalis – snow whitlowgrass (whitlowgrass)
Erysimum inconspicuum – Gulf of St. Lawrence wormseed mustard (mustard)
Hymenolobus procumbens – prostate hutchinsia (hutchinsia)
Lesquerella arctica – arctic bladderpod (bladderpod)(S)

Empetraceae (Crowberry Family)
Empetrum atropurpureum – purple crowberry (crowberry)

Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Arctostaphylos rubra – red bearberry (bearberry)
Cassiope hypnoides – moss heather (heather)
Chimaphila umbellata – Pipsissewa (pipsissewa) (S)
Gaultheria procumbens – teaberry (teaberry)

Primulaceae (Primrose Family)
Lysimachia thyrsiflora – tufted loosestrife (loosestrife) (S)

Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)
Crassula aquatica – water pygmyweed (pygmyweed)

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)
Parnassia glauca – fen grass-of-Parnassus (bluish grass-of-Parnassus) (S)
Parnassia kotzebuei – Kotzebue’s grass-of-Parnassus (grass-of-Parnassus)(S)
Saxifraga foliolosa – grained saxifrage (saxifrage)
Saxifraga rivularis – alpine brook saxifrage (saxifrage)

Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Alchemilla alpina – alpine lady’s mantle (lady’s mantle)
Amelanchier fernaldii – Fernald’s chuckleypear (chuckleypear)
Crataegus chrysocarpa – fireberry hawthorn (hawthorn)
Crataegus macrosperma – bigfruit hawthorn (hawthorn)
Dryas drummondii – yellow mountain avens (mountain avens) (S)
Potentilla pensylvanica – coastal cinquefoil (cinquefoil) (S)
Potentilla pulchella [P. usticapensis] – Burnt Cape cinquefoil (cinquefoil) (S)

Sibbaldia procumbens – creeping sibbaldi (sibaldia) (S)

Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Astragalus alpinus var. alpinus – alpine milkvetch (milkvetch)
Astragalus alpinus var. brunetianus – Labrador milkvetch (milkvetch)
Astragalus bodinii – Bodin’s milkvetch (milkvetch)
Astragalus eucosmus – elegant milkvetch (milkvetch)
Astragalus robbinsii var. fernaldii – fernald’s milkvetch (milkvetch)
Hedysarum boreale ssp. mackenzii – Mackenzie’s sweetvetch (sweetvetch) (S)
Oxytropis deflexa – pendantpod oxytrope (oxytrope) (S)

Haloragaceae (Water-Milfoil Family)
Myriophyllum farwellii – Farwell’s watermilfoil (watermilfoil)
Myriophyllum sibiricum – spiked watermilfoil (watermilfoil)
Myriophyllum verticillatum – whorled watermilfoil (watermilfoil)

Onagraceae (Evening-Primrose Family)
Epilobium anagallidifolium – alpine willowherb (willowherb)
Epilobium davuricum – Dahurian willowherb (willowherb)
Epilobium lactiflorum – milky willowherb (willowherb)
Epilobium saximontanum – Rocky Mountain willowherb (willowherb)

Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
Cornus alternifolia - alternateleaf dogwood (dogwood)

Loranthaceae (Mistletoe Family)
Arceuthobium pusillum – dwarf mistletoe (mistletoe)

Polygalaceae (Milkwort Family)
Polygala paucifolia – fringed milkwort (milkwort)

Oxalidaceae (Woodsorrel Family)
Oxalis montana – common woodsorrel (woodsorrel)(S)

Balsaminaceae (Touch-me-not Family)
Impatiens pallida – pale jewelweed (jewelweed) (S)

Apiaceae (Parsley Family)
Angelica laurentiana – Laurentian angelica (angelica)
Hydrocotyle americana – water pennywort (pennywort)
Osmorhiza berteroi - tapering sweet cicely (sweet cicely)
Osmorhiza depauperata - blunt sweet cicely (sweet cicely)

Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)
Bartonia virginica - yellow screwstem
Gentianella propinqua – fourpart gentian (gentian) (S)

Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)
Apocynum cannabinum – Indian hemp (hemp) (S)

Menyanthaceae (Buckbean Family)
Nymphoides cordata – floatingheart (floatingheart) (S)

Boraginaceae (Borage Family)
Cynoglossum virginianum – northern wild comfrey (comfrey)

Callitrichaceae (Water-Starwort Family)
Callitriche hermaphroditica – northern waterstarwort (waterstarwort)

Oleaceae (Olive Family)
Fraxinus nigra – black ash (black ash)

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)
Bartsia alpina – velvetbells (velvetbells) (S)
Gratiola aurea – golden pert (pert)
Limosella aquatica – northern mudwort (mudwort)
Limosella australis – southern mudwort (mudwort)
Pedicularis flammea – red-tipped lousewort [flame lousewort] (lousewort) (S)
Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa – northern speedwell (speedwell)
Veronica wormskjoldii – Wormskjold’s alpine speedwell (speedwell)

Lentibulariaceae (Bladderwort Family)
Utricularia geminiscapa – hidden fruit bladderwort (bladderwort) (S)
Utricularia purpurea – purple bladderwort (bladderwort) (S)

Rubiaceae (Madder Family)
Galium kamtschaticum – northern wild licorice (bedstraw)
Mitchella repens – twoeyed berry (twoeyed berry) (S)

Valerianaceae (Valerian Family)
Valeriana dioica – northern valerian (valerian) (S)

Asteraceae (Aster Family or Daisy Family)
Antennaria alpina ssp. canescens - alpine pussytoes (pussytoes)
Antennaria eucosma - Newfoundland pussytoes (pussytoes)
Antennaria howellii ssp. gaspensis - Howell's pussytoes (pussytoes)
Antennaria howellii ssp. howellii - Howell's pussytoes (pussytoes)
Antennaria pulvinate - pulvinate pussytoes (pussytoes)
Arnica angustifolia ssp. angustifolia – narrowleaf arnica (arnica)
Arnica angustifolia ssp. tomentosa – wooly arnica (arnica)
Arnica griscomii ssp.  griscomii – Griscom’s arnica (arnica)
Aster acuminatus – sharp leaf aster (aster)
Aster ciliolatus – Lindley’s aster (aster)
Aster lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus – lanceleaf aster (aster)
Crepis nana – dwarf hawk’s beard (hawk’s beard) (S)
Erigeron compositus – cutleaf fleabane (fleabane) (S)
Erigeron elatus - angular fleabane (fleabane)
Gnaphalium norvegicum – Norwegian cudweed (cudweed)
Gnaphalium supinum – dwarf cudweed (cudweed)
Hieracium groenlandicum – Greenland hawkweed (hawkweed)
Hieracium robinsonii – Robinson’s hawkweed (hawkweed)
Prenathes racemosa – rattlesnakeroot (rattlesnakeroot) (S)
Senecio cymbalaria – dwarf arctic ragwort (ragwort)
Senecio pauciflorus – alpine ragwort (S) (ragwort)
Solidago semipervirens – seaside goldenrod (goldenrod)
Taraxacum latilobum – broadlobed dandelion (dandelion)
Taraxacum laurentianum – Laurentian dandelion (dandelion)
Taraxacum phymatocarpum – harp dandelion (dandelion)

Alismataceae (Water-Plantain Family)
Alisma plantago-aquatica var. americanum – northern waterplantain (waterplantain) (S)
Sagittaria latifolia – broadleaf arrowhead (arrowhead) (S)

Potamogetonaceae (Pondweed Family)
Potamogeton amplifolius – broadleaf pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton foliosus – leafy pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton friesii – Frie’s pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton obtusifolius – bluntleaf pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton pectinatus – sago pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton spirillus – northern snailseed pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton strictifolius – narrowleaf pondweed (pondweed)
Potamogeton vaginatus – western threadleaf (pondweed)
Potamogeton zosteriformis – flatstem pondweed (pondweed)

Najadaceae (Naiad Family)
Najas flexilis – nodding waternymph (waternymph)

Zannichelliaceae (Horned Pondweed Family)
Zannichellia palustris – horned pondweed (horned pondweed)

Araceae (Aram Family)
Acorus americanus – sweetflag (sweetflag) (S)
Calla palustris – wild calla (calla) (S)

Juncaceae (Rush Family)
Juncus longistylis – longstyle rush (rush)
Juncus nodosus – knotted rush (rush)
Juncus subcaudatus – Engleman’s rush (rush)
Juncus subtilis – creeping rush (rush)
Juncus tenuis var. dudleyi – Dudley’s rush (rush)
Luzula acuminata – hairy woodrush (woodrush)

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Carex abdita – umbellate sedge (sedge)
Carex arcta – northern clustered sedge (sedge)
Carex bicolor – bicolored sedge (sedge)
Carex capitata – capitate sedge (sedge)
Carex chordorrhiza – creeping sedge (sedge)
Carex concinna – low northern sedge (sedge)
Carex conoidea – field sedge (sedge)
Carex crawei – Crawe’s sedge (sedge)
Carex cryptolepis – northeastern sedge (sedge)
Carex glacialis – glacier sedge (sedge)
Carex hormathodes – marsh straw sedge (sedge)
Carex hostiana – tawny sedge (sedge)
Carex houghtonii – Houghton’s sedge (sedge)
Carex hystricina – porcupine sedge (sedge)
Carex lachenalii – arctic hare’s-foot sedge (sedge)
Carex lacustris – lake sedge (sedge)
Carex maritima – seaside sedge (sedge)
Carex microglochin – bristle sedge (sedge)
Carex norvegica – alpine sedge (sedge)
Carex novae-angliae – New England sedge (sedge)
Carex pedunculata – longstalked sedge (sedge)
Carex petricosa var misandroides – rock dwelling sedge (sedge)
Carex pseudo-cyperus – cyperus sedge (sedge)
Carex silicea – seabeach sedge (sedge)
Carex tonsa – deepgreen sedge (sedge)
Carex vulpinoidea – fox sedge (sedge)
Cladiium mariscoides – twigrush (sedge)
Eleocharis kamtschatica – Kamtschatka sedge (spikerush)
Eleocharis nitida – slender spikerush (spikerush)
Eleocharis ovata – ovoid spikerush (spikerush)
Eleocharis quinqueflora – fewflowering spikerush (spikerush)
Eriophorum brachyantherum – close-sheathed cottongrass (cottongrass)
Eriophorum callitrix – sheathed cottongrass (cottongrass)
Eriophorum gracile – slender cottongrass (cottongrass)
Eriophorum scheuchzeri – Scheuchzer’s cottongrass (cottongrass)
Rhynchospora capillacea – capillary beakrush (beakrush)
Scirpus atrovirens – darkgreen bulrush (bulrush)
Scirpus maritimus – saltmarsh bulrush (bulrush)
Scirpus validus – great bulrush (bulrush)

Poaceae (Grass Family)
Agrostis perennans – upland bent (grass)
Calamagrostris purpurascens – purple reedgrass (grass)
Danthona intermedia – timber oatgrass (grass)
Elymus virginicus – Virginia wildrye (grass)
Festuca prolifera – proliferating fescue (grass)
Festuca altaica – northern rough fescue (grass)
Festuca brachyphylla – alpine fescue (grass)
Festuca saximontana – Rocky Mountain fescue (grass)
Festuca vivipara ssp. hirsuta – viviparous fescue (grass)
Hordeum brachyantherum – meadow barley (grass)
Milium effusum – wood millet (grass)
Oryzopsis canadensis – Canada mountain rice (grass)
Phleum alpinum – alpine timothy (grass)
Poa arctica – Arctic bluegrass (grass)
Poa eminens – largeflower bluegrass (grass)
Poa fernaldiana – Fernald’s poa (grass)
Puccinellia ambigua – ambiguous alkali-grass (grass)
Spartina alterniflora – saltwater cordgrass (grass)
Spartina patens – saltmeadow grass (grass)
Sphenopholis intermedia – slender wedgescale (grass)
Trisetum melicoides – purple false oats (grass)
Vahlodea atropurpurea – mountain hairgrass (grass)

Sparganiaceae (Burreed Family)
Sparganium eurycarpum – giant burreed (burreed) (S)
Sparganium fluctuans – floating burreed (burreed)

Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Allium schoenoprasum – chives (chives) (S)
Maianthemum racemosum – false Solomon’s seal (Solomon’s seal) (S)

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)
Amerorchis rotundifolia – small roundleaf orchid (orchid) (S)
Calypso bulbosa – calypso orchid (orchid) (S)
Coeloglossum viride var. viride  – longbracted frog orchid (orchid) (S)
Corallorhiza striata - striped coralroot (coralroot)
Cypripedium calcelous var. planipetalum – large yellow ladyslipper [flat-petalled yellow ladyslipper] (orchid)(S)
Cypripedium reginae – showy ladyslipper (orchid) (S)
Dactylorhiza majalis var. praetermissa – Tilt Cove orchid (orchid)
Dactylorhiza majalis var. junialis – leopard march orchid (orchid)
Goodyera oblongifolia – Menzie’s rattlesnake plantain (orchid) (S)
Listera borealis – northern twayblade  (orchid)(S)
Malaxis monophyllos var. brachypoda – white aldersmouth (orchid) (S)
Platanthera albida var. straminea – Newfoundland orchid (orchid) (S)
Platanthera foetida – Alaska orchid (orchid)
Platanthera grandiflora – large purple fringed orchid (orchid)
Platanthera hookeri – Hooker’s orchid (orchid)
Platanthera orbiculata var. macrophylla – large roundleaf orchid (orchid)