Woodland Agrimony

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Woodland Agrimony (Beaked Agrimony)
Agrimonia rostellata [C-value 10]
Rose family (Rosaceae)
Blooms mid-July - August

The native Woodland Agrimony is uncommon in our area. It prefers partial sun to light shade and medium-moist to slightly dry soil containing loam or rocky material. Habitats include upland woodlands, upland savannas and rocky bluffs. This perennial becomes 1¼–2½' tall with light green central stem that is sparsely hairy and unbranched with alternate compound leaves along the lower half that are odd-pinnate with 3-9 primary leaflets. Successive pairs of primary leaflets become gradually larger with the terminal primary leaflet being largest, about 2–3½" long and 1¼–2" across and toothed. The central stem terminates in an unbranched (usually) spike-like raceme (½–1¼' long) of alternately distributed flowers, each about ¼" across with bright yellow petals. Each flower later develops into a fruit (bur) with 2-3 rows of widely spreading hooked spines around the middle of each fruit.

Woodland Agrimony at Baker Woods Forest Preserve August 4, 2014

Woodland Agrimony (blooming from the bottom up) at Lyon Forest Preserve July 21, 2013

Woodland Agrimony foliage at Lyon Forest Preserve July 21, 2013

Woodland Agrimony (with burrs and final flowering) at Baker Woods Forest Preserve August 4, 2014

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