Crocosmia: Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora. Crocosmia is a member of the Iris Family native to grasslands of southern and eastern Africa. Our crocosmia is a hybrid that has become mildly invasive in temperate coastal environments.

Crocosmia: Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora. Originally introduced as an ornamental plant crocosmia has become mildly invasive in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and along the Pacific Coast of the United States.

Creeping Buttercup: Ranunculus repens. Creeping buttercup is a member of the Buttercup Family native to Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa, but widely naturalized and sometimes mildly invasive, especially in pastures with perennially moist soil.

Creeping Buttercup: Ranunculus repens. The plant can form dense patches that crowd out other species, but seldom take over entire pastures.

Tall Mallow: Malva sylvestris. Tall mallow is a member of the Mallow Family native to Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa, but widely naturalized across the English-speaking world.

Tall Mallow: Malva sylvestris. The plant lives well under the blade of a lawnmower, but can grow to three or four feet tall if left uncut.

Bird's Foot Trefoil: Lotus corniculatus. Bird's foot trefoil is a member of the Pea Family native to Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa, but widely introduced around the world as a forage plant for livestock. From cultivation, it naturally spreads into local environments.

Tree lupine: Lupinus arboreus. Tree lupine, also known as yellow bush lupine, is a member of the Pea Family native to California. It has escaped cultivation to become naturalized in western Europe, New Zealand, Australia, parts of southern South America and the Falkland Islands.

Gorse: Ulex europaeus. Gorse is a member of the Pea Family native to Europe. It has been intentionally or accidentally spread around the world, often becoming a serious problem. In New Zealand, gorse was introduced for use as a hedge, but turned into an invasive plant, overtaking pastures with its coarse and spiny vegetation. Gorse has also become a problem plant in the western United States and Chile.

Scotch Broom: Cytisus scoparius. Broom is a member of the Pea Family native to Europe. It has been intentionally or accidentally spread around the world, often becoming a serious problem. It has become an invasive species in the Pacific Coast of North America as well as in New Zeealand, Australia, and India.

Common Heather: Calluna vulgaris. Common heather is a member of the Heath Family native to Europe, best known for its association with the heathlands or moorlands, typically growing in acidic soil. It was introduced to New Zealand where it has become a dominant plant in Tongariro National Park.

Self-Heal: Prunella vulgaris. Self-heal is a member of the Mint Family native to Europe and Asia, but widely naturalized in temperate climates around the world. Unlike typical Mints, self-heal lacks a minty smell, and doesn't have very square stems. It is edible as a salad green or potherb, and best known as a mild "cure-all," taken internally or applied externally for just about any kind of malady.

Wild Carrot / Queen Anne's Lace: Daucus carota. Wild carrot is a member of the Parsley Family native to Europe and southwest Asia. It is widely naturalized across North America, Australia, and New Zealand, often found growing along roadsides. Cultivated carrots were bred from a subspecies of wild carrot.

Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare. Fennel is a member of the Parsley Family native to the Mediterranean and widely naturalized in suitable habitats worldwide. The anise-flavored leaves, seeds, and basal stalks are edible.

St. John's Wort: Hypericum perforatum. St. John's Wort is a member of the St. Johns Wort Family native to the Europe, but widely naturalized and often invasive in suitable habitats worldwide. It is used herbally as an antidepressant.

Yarrow: Achillea millefolium. Yarrow is a member of the Aster Family native to temperate North America, Europe, and Asia, but also naturalized in New Zealand and other temperate habitats around the world.

Cat's Ear: Hypochaeris radicata. Cat's Ear is a member of the Aster Family native to Europe, but naturalized in the Americas, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant is related to dandelions and edible like dandelions.

Ragwort: Jacobaea vulgaris. Ragwort is a member of the Aster Family native to northern Eurasia, but widely naturalized around the world and very abundant in some areas of New Zealand.

Creeping Thistle / Canada Thistle: Cirsium arvense. Creeping thistle is a member of the Aster Family native to northern Eurasia, but widely naturalized and invasive New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, where it is erroneously called "Canada thistle." The plant is also edible, as noted in Foraging the Mountain West.

Spear Thistle: Cirsium vulgare. Spear thistle is a member of the Aster Family native to Eurasia and northwestern Africa, but widely naturalized in New Zealand, Australia, and North America.

Viper's Bugloss: Echium vulgare. Viper's bugloss is a member of the Borage Family native to Eurasia, but widely naturalized North America and New Zealand.

Viper's Bugloss: Echium vulgare.

Purple Morning Glory: Ipomoea purpurea.

Purple Morning Glory: Ipomoea purpurea. Purple morning glory is a member of the Morning Glory Family native to Mexico and Central America, but introduced and widespread in warm temperate regions of the world, including New Zealand and along the Pacific Coast of North America. The triangular seeds have been used as a psychedelic with effects similar to LSD.

Common Monkey Flower: Mimulus guttatus. Monkey flower is a member of the Lopseed Family (formerly part of the Figwort Family) native to streambanks and seeps in the western North America, including my home state of Montana. It was a surprise to me to see isolated pockets of this familiar native on the other side of the world in New Zealand.

Common Monkey Flower: Mimulus guttatus.

Common Mullein: Verbascum thapsus. Mullein is a member of the Figwort Family native to Eurasia and northern Africa, but widely naturalized in the Americas and Australia, and present in New Zealand.

Twiggy Mullein: Verbascum virgatum. Twiggy mullein is a member of the Figwort Family native to western Europe, but widely naturalized around the world.

Foxglove: Digitalis purpurea. Foxglove is a member of the Plantain Family (formerly part of the Figwort Family) native to Europe, but widely naturalized in North America and New Zealand.

Foxglove: Digitalis purpurea. The flowers are usually pinkish-purple, but sometimes white.

Peruvian Groundcherry: Physalis peruviana. Peruvian Groundcherry is a member of the Nightshade Family native to South America, but widely cultivated and often naturalized in temperate climates around the world.

Peruvian Groundcherry: Physalis peruviana. Unlike many Nighshade family fruits, these tomato-like berries are edible and tastey.

Himalayan Honeysuckle: Leycesteria formosa. Himalayan Honeysuckle is a member of the Honeysuckle Family native to Himalaya and southwestern China, but widely naturalized and often invasive in Australia, New Zealand, and Micronesia.

Himalayan Honeysuckle: Leycesteria formosa. Like many other members of the Honeysuckle family, the flowers and fruits often form in pairs.