Hesperis Matronalis

Hesperis Matronalis

Large patches of H. Matronalis in the sun-shade edge.

 Hesperis Matronalis is a very common flower in southwest Michigan and can be found in large patches in fields and along the roadside. It is a part of the mustard family and produces white flowers and many shades of purple flowers. The flowers are very small, around two inches across. The leaves are also relatively small. The plants themselves can be more than two feet tall. Its common name is "mother of the evening" because it can be seen better in the evening. It is considered a "biennial" plant, which means it produces flowers every two years.

An up-close photo of purple flowers. 

These pictures were taken at the Bird Sanctuary on the first day of class. We were measuring the antioxidant levels in the flowers and leaves for both purple and white flowers. We also observed the abundance of each flower color in the shade versus the sun. We also took height measurements and counted the number of leaves and pollinators.