Yesterday’s snow managed to stick long enough for a lovely winter walk (unlike the last few snow storms that transitioned to rain before they were over and washed away all evidence of the snowfall by morning). One of the interesting things about a walk in the snow is that the stark white background makes the stalks, stems and seed heads of last year’s wildflowers even more evident. Among the much taller common evening primrose and sweet fern, even remnants of last year’s smaller plants were obvious. 

Orange-grass, also known as pineweed (Hypericum gentianoides), is a relative of common St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Despite its common names, this plant is neither a pine nor a grass, although the name orange-grass was inspired by the citrus-like scent that you can smell when you crush the leaves of the fresh plant. This annual plant is comprised of many wiry, opposite branches and rarely grows taller than 6 inches. The fruits are difficult to distinguish due to their small size, but they are three-parted capsules, like those of common St. John’s Wort. Orange-grass prefers dry sandy soil, and can often be found along railroad embankments and old gravel pits, as well as along power line easements, such as the ones pictured here.