Cross sections of bulrush stems showing aerenchyma tissue.
Water smartweed is an example of polymorphic leaves. In saturated soils or shallow water it produces an erect, "terrestrial" form shown here.


In deeper water depths, water smartweed develops an aquatic form with submergent and floating leaves shown here.
A stand of wild rice. Wild rice is of great cultural significance to Minnesota's native people's, and is an important commercial crop.


A close-up of rose pogonia orchids.
Sphagnum moss, the characteristic species of bogs. More than two dozen species of Sphagnum occur in Minnesota.


Pitcher plants, beautiful and carnivorous. To counter the low availability of nutrients in bogs, some plants have evolved a carnivorous habit to capture insects or other small organisms and "digest" them for nutrients.
Sphagnum moss and another carnivorous species, sundew. Sundew have glandular hairs that secrete dew-like drops of a sticky fluid that traps minute animal life.


Showy ladyslipper, the Minnesota state flower, a spectacular orchid of bogs, wooded swamps and some fens.
Cranberries, a very small, weak, evergreen, vine-like shrub of bogs that produces the famous, tart berry.


Labrador tea, a common evergreen shrub of bogs.
My favorite picture of the bunch, a tree frog.
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