Wild Plants of Illinois, 1818

John Wood's List

The following is a list of plants that John Woods Wanboro, Illinois in 1818 described as growing wild in the area around his farm. When he wrote this, he had not yet started plowing his fields. He learned from his neighbors which plants were similar to those in England, which ones could be cultivated, and which were better gathered in the wild. He gathered wild plants for food and other purposes.

Wild Plants

Scientific Name Common Name
Helianthus annuus sunflower image
Sunflowers
Solidago sp goldenrod
Goldenrod
Delphinium sp Larkspur
Dianthus barbata Sweet-william
Dianthus sp Pinks
uncertain description Lilies
Mertensia sp Blue cowslips
Rosa sp Roses
Polygonum persicaria Persicaries (Lady's Thumb)
Viola sp viola image
Violets
@ Kenneth Robertson
Monarda didyma ? Balm (bergamot)
Hedeoma pulegioides Pennyroyal
Foeniculum vulgare Fennel
Coriandrum Sativum Coriander
Mentha X piperita Peppermint
Mentha spicata Spearmint
Eupatorium rugosum Snake-root
Gentiana sp. (puberulenta) gentian image
Gentian (Downy)
@Kenneth Robertson
Panax ginseng Ginseng
Rhus aromatica Sumach (fragrant?)
Sassafras albidum, Sassafras officinale ? Sassafras tree
Morchella esculenta Morel mushroom
Allium stellatum Prairie onion
Vitis vinifera Grapevine
Punica granatum Pomegranate
Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus Watermelon
Diospyros virginiana Persimmon
Asimina triloba pawpaw
Pawpaw Leaves
ISM Herbarium Sheet
Prunus sp Cherry
Rubus idaeus Raspberry
Podophyllum peltatum May-apple
Prunus sp Plum
Rubus sp Blackberry
Sambucus canadensis Elderberry
Carya illinoinensis Pecan
Juglans nigra walnut image
Walnut Juglans nigra
ISM Herbarium Sheet
Corylus americana Hazelnut (filbert)
Arachis hypogaea Peanut