Bunchberry herbs are now flowering in the woods. These creeping members of the dogwood family are named after the clusters of red berries that they will produce in the summer, much to the delight of our vireos.
The yellow flowers that we see now have crisp white “petals,” but they’re not petals; they’re separate leaves that are designed to attract and channel pollinators to the flowers. The plants also are known as Canadian Dogwood, which is the literal translation of their botanical name, Cornus canadensis.
Bunchberry plants are not to be confused with Bunchbottom paint jobs, which also are appearing now. But, that’s another story.
(Brooklin, Maine)