What is it Wednesday archive: January 2, 2019

Can you identify what's in this photo?

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

the day after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on January 2, 2019. 

And the answer is....

These are the rose hips of a multiflora rose bush. 

The hips of a rose are its fruit – the seeds are held inside the bright red berry. Rose hips are high in vitamin C, and teas, jams, and other beverages  can be made from them. The hips of multiflora rose, however, are tiny and full of many prickly seeds. Because of this, they aren’t the greatest for use in teas or other foods, but they do have an interesting sweet-and-tart flavor (though some might call it bitter). (Remember to only taste wild plants if you are certain of its identification and usage, or are with someone who is!) Many animals also find the hips a useful food in winter.

Multiflora rose, unfortunately, is abundant around Lutherlyn and all over Pennsylvania and the northeast. It is a thorny invasive non-native plant that was encouraged in the 1930’s for erosion control, fencing, and animal habitat. It spreads aggressively, with average plants producing about a million seeds a year, which can remain viable for up to 20 years! Keeping the multiflora rose contained is an ongoing battle at Lutherlyn, but at least we can enjoy the beauty of the colorful red hips that brighten up the dark days of winter.

For more on how LEEP can help you become aware of both the challenging and beneficial features of the things around us in nature, check out www.Lutherlyn.com/ee.

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!