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LuEsther T. Mertz Library
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Maine Native Plant Societies: Home

Native Plant Trust Logo

The Native Plant Trust formerly called the New England Wildflower Society is based at the Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts but its interests and activities cover all of New England. "From this base, 25 staff and more than 700 volunteers work throughout New England to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. The Society also operates a native plant nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and has seven sanctuaries in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public." Please see their website for more information.

 

Society Newsletter

Native Plant News is available to members and the public on their website.

Only Found in Maine

Furbish's lousewort, Pedicularis furbishiae

 

The Furbish's lousewort, Pedicularis furbishiae, can only be found on a 130-mile stretch of the Saint John River in Maine. It was discovered in 1880 by Catherine Furbish (1834-1931), an American botanist, who spent 60 years traveling all over the state of Maine collecting, classifying and illustrating the native flora of Maine.

Recommended Reading

A Trail Worth Taking

 Trillium, Trillium erectum

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Saffron Blaze.

The Appalachian Trail stretches between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is about 2,200 miles long and travels through 14 states. The section through Maine is a challenge for most hikers for the trail is steep, craggy and slippery. But don’t let this stop you, the wildflowers in Maine are abundant and beautiful. From the moment the snow starts to melt you can see the trillium, Trillium erectum, also known in Maine as Stinking Benjamin, showing off their 6-8 inch flower blooms!