Can you identify these? (Answers at the bottom)
Answers
Up top (1): a Trillium sp. most likely Trillium sessile or Toadshade.
(2): This crustacean-esque plant is a species of Rockcress. These belong to the family Cruciferae, like many well known leafy greens. At this stage it looks a lot like some kind of lobster/crayfish/prawn.
(3): Cut-leaved Toothwort. A classic spring ephemeral which should be blooming any day now.
(4): Draba verna or common whitlowgrass is also in the Mustard family, like rockcress. Apparently a whitlow is an infection of the tip of the finger caused by herpes, which Draba verna was used to treat. Invasive/naturalized.
(5): Big Toothed Aspen. Without more context you might not be able to get this one down to the species, but you could infer the genus Populus, the aspens/cottonwoods. These catkins are not coming up, but rather falling down to the forest floor, where you can find lots of evidence for what’s going on above. You can begin to see the cotton-y seeds which will soon be spread in the wind.
(6): Red Maple. Another piece of evidence found fallen on the ground.
recycled paper clips 