Iowa's native and naturalized dicots.

The following information is sorted in ascending order alphabetically by "Family".


The following Acanthaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Justicia americana (L.) Vahl . Water willow . . . . Muddy shores; shallow water. Rare in SE [Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson (1935)] and Lee (1931) Counties]. SE Yes Yes .
Ruellia humilis Nutt. . Wild Petunia . . . . Prairies. Open, dry sand. Dry woods. Frequent to common in S 1/2. Infrequent to rare in N 1/2. All. Yes Yes 4 varieties in E&R: var. humilis, var. frondosa Fern., var. longiflora (Gray) Fern., var expansa Fern.
Ruellia strepens L. . Smooth ruellia . . . . Alluvial woods. Infrequent to rare in S 1/2. EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .

The following Aceraceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Acer ginnala Maxim. . Amur maple . . . . Disturbed habitats. Infrequent escapee from cultivation. . No No .
Acer negundo L. . Box elder . . . . Alluvial woods. Moist disturbed habitats. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Acer nigrum Michx. f. . Black maple . . . . Moist woods. Wooded slopes. Common E 2/3. Rare in SE. NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Acer rubrum L. . Red maple . . . . Wooded bluff. Rare in NE [Allamakee County]. Widely cultivated. NE Yes Yes .
Acer saccharinum L. . Silver maple . . . . Alluvial woods. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Acer saccharum Marsh. . Sugar maple . . . . Moist woods. Wooded slopes. Common in E. NE, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Acer spicatum Lam. . Mountain maple . . . . Steep, moist, north-facing and east-facing wooded slopes. Algific talus slopes. Rare in NE [Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, and Winneshiek Counties]. NE Yes Yes .

The following Adoxaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Adoxa moschatellina L. . Moschatel, muskroot . . . . Moist, shaded soil around ledges on north-facing, wooded slopes. Rare in C, NE, and EC. NE, EC, C Yes Yes .

The following Aizoaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . FNA retains the Aizoaceae, but not as part of Iowa's flora. FNA segregates Mollugo from Aizoaceae to Molluginaceae.
Mollugo verticillata L. . Carpetweed Molluginaceae Mollugo verticillata L. . Dry, open sand. Waste areas. Roadsides. Frequent to common throughout. All No No .

The following Amaranthaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Amaranthus albus L. . Pigweed Amaranthaceae Amaranthus albus L. . Disturbed areas and roadsides. Rare in NW. Frequent to common elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Amaranthus arenicola I. M. Johnston . . Amaranthaceae Amaranthus arenicola I. M. Johnston . Dry, often sandy areas. Rare: WC [Guthrie County], NW [Palo Alto County (1935)], and SE [Muscatine County (1895)]. NW, WC, SE Yes Yes .
Amaranthus graecizans L. . Prostrate pigweed Amaranthaceae Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson . Disturbed or waste ground. Rare in Iowan Surface. Frequent to common elsewhere. All Yes No .
Amaranthus hybridus L. . Green amaranth Amaranthaceae Amaranthus hybridus L. . Waste ground. Disturbed soil. Rare in NE and SW. Infrequent in SE. NE, SE, SW No No .
Amaranthus powellii S. Watson . Smooth pigweed Amaranthaceae Amaranthus powellii S. Watson . Disturbed ground. Rare in NW [Clay and Palo Alto Counties]. NW Yes No FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Amaranthus retroflexus L. . Pigweed Amaranthaceae Amaranthus retroflexus L. . Waste areas. Disturbed ground. Frequent to common throughout. All No No .
Amaranthus rudis Sauer . . . Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer . Marshy ground. Shores. Moist disturbed areas. Infrequent to frequent throughout. All Yes Yes .
Amaranthus spinosus L. . Spiny pigweed Amaranthaceae Amaranthus spinosus L. . Waste ground. Rare in SE [Keokuk and Lee (1925) Counties]. SE No No .
Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer . Water hemp Amaranthaceae Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer . Wet ground. Margins of marshes and sandbars. Frequent to common in SE. Infrequent in NC and NE. Rare in SC. NE, NC, SE, SC. Yes Yes .
Froelichia floridana (Nutt.) Moq. var. campestris (Small) Fern. Cottonweed Amaranthaceae Froelichia floridana (Nutt.) Moq. . Open sandy soil. Common in SE. Frequent in NE. NE, SE Yes Yes .
Froelichia gracilis (Hooker) Moq. . Cottonweed Amaranthaceae Froelichia gracilis (Hooker) Moq. . Open, sandy soil Rare in C, E, and SC. NE, EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes .

The following Anachardiaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Rhus aromatica Aiton . Fragrant sumac . . . . Sandy, open areas. Rocky bluffs. Common in SE. Rare in NE. SE, NE. Yes Yes 4 varieties in E&R: var. aromatica, var. serotina (Greene)Rehder, var. illinoensis (Greene) Rehder, var. arenaria (Greene) Rehder.
Rhus copallina L. . Dwarf sumac . . . . Dry woodland edges and openings. Rare in SE [Davis (1943) & Van Buren (1940) Counties]. Rare in SC [Madison County (1930)]. SE, SC Yes Yes .
Rhus glabra L. . Smooth sumac . . . . Woodland openings. Edges of woods. Disturbed areas. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Rhus typhina L. . Staghorn sumac . . . . Dry openings in woods. Woodland edges. Rocky slopes. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare in remainder of NE. Frequent in extreme EC. NE, EC Yes Yes .
Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze ssp. negundo (Greene) Gillis Poison ivy . . . . Moist woodlands. Fencerows. Open, sandy areas. Disturbed ground. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Toxicodendron rydbergii (Small ex. Rydb.) Greene . Rydberg's poison ivy . . . . Disturbed woods. Waste places. Fencerows. Dry, open sand. Frequent to common in N 1/2 of state. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC Yes Yes .

The following Annonaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal . Paw paw Annonaceae Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal . Wooded alluvium. Wooded slopes. Rare in EC [Clinton & Jackson Counties], SE [Des Moines, Lee, Louisa, & Van Buren Counties], and SW [Fremonth & Taylor Counties]. EC, SE, SW Yes Yes .

The following Apiaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Angelica atropurpurea L. . Angelica . . . . Marshes, seeps, sedge meadows, and fens. Rare in NC and E. NE, NC, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Berula erecta (Hudson) Cov. var. incisum (Torrey) Cronq. Water parsnip . . . . Fens and springs. Rare in NW [Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmett (1949), & Palo Alto (1936)]. Rare in SW [Pottawattamie (1853)]. NW, SW Yes Yes .
Chaerophyllum procumbens (L.) Crantz . Chervil . . . . Alluvial woods. Frequent NC and SE. Rare in NE and extreme E. NE, NC, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Cicuta bulbifera L. . Bulblet water hemlock . . . . Marshes, wet ditches, fens. Frequent in lakes area. Rare in E 1/2. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Cicuta maculata L. . Water hemlock . . . . Marshes, wet prairies. Frequent to common throughout most of the state. Rare in W. All Yes Yes .
Conium maculatum L. . Poison hemlock . . . . Roadsides, waste ground, disturbed alluvium. Infrequent in S 1/2. Rare in N 1/2. Not reported from the Paleozoic Plateau. All Yes Yes .
Cryptotaenia canadensis (L.) DC. . Honewort . . . . Moist woods. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Daucus carota L. . Queen Anne's lace . . . . Roadsides, fields, waste places. Frequent to common throughout. All No No .
Eryngium yuccifolium Michx. . Rattlesnake master . . . . Prairie remnants. Infrequent to frequent throughout most of the state. Rate in western tier of counties. All Yes Yes .
Falcaria sioides (Wibel) Ascherson . Sickleweed . . . . Waste ground. Rare in WC [Guthrie (1931)]. WC No No .
Heracleum lanatum Michx. . Cow parsnip . . . . Alluvial woods. Woodland edges. Moist prairies. Frequent in NC. Infrequent in W 1/2. Rare in E. All Yes Yes .
Lomatium foeniculaceum (Nutt.) Coulter & Rose . . . . . . Loess bluffs. Rare in NW [Lyon & Sioux Counties]. Rare in SW [Fremont County]. NW, SW Yes Yes .
Lomatium orientale Coulter & Rose . . . . . . Gravel hills, dry prairies, loess bluffs. Rare in NW [Cherokee, Clay (1942), Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, and Sioux Counties]. Rare in SW [Union County (1926)]. NW, SW Yes Yes .
Osmorhiza claytonii (Michx.) C.B. Clarke . Sweet cicely . . . . Moist, upland woods. Wooded slopes. Common in E 1/2. Infrequent in W 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Osmorhiza longistylis (Torrey) DC. . Anise root . . . . Moist woods & wooded slopes. Infrequent in SW. Frequent to common elsewhere. All Yes Yes 3 varieties in E&R. [var. logistylis, var. villicaulis Fern., and var. brachycoma Blake]
Oxypolis rigidior (L.) Raf. . Cowbane . . . . Moist prairie remnants. Fens. Rare in W, NW, and S. Infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Pastinaca sativa L. . Wild parsnip . . . . Roadsides. Along railroads. Alluvial woods. Waste places. Common throughout. All No No .
Polytaenia nuttallii DC. . Prairie parsley . . . . Prairies and borders of upland woods. Infrequent in NE and SC. Rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Sanicula canadensis L. . Black snakeroot . . . . Upland woods. Frequent to common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Sanicula gregaria Bickn. . Common snakeroot . . . . Moist woods Infrequent in NW. Common elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Sanicula marilandica L. . Black snakeroot . . . . Moist, upland woods. Wooded slopes. Common in Paleozoic Plateau and SE. Infrequent to rare in N 1/2. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE Yes Yes .
Sanicula trifoliata Bickn. . Large-fruited black snakeroot . . . . Moist, wooded, calcareous hillsides. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Absent elsewhere. NE, EC Yes Yes .
Sium suave Walter . Water parsnip . . . . Marshes. Common in lakes area. Frequent to infrequent in S 1/2. Rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Spermolepis inermis (Nutt.) Math. & Const. . . . . . . Open sandy areas. Rare in C [Marshall County (1929)]. Rare in NE [Dubuque County]. Rare in SE [Lee and Muscatine Counties]. NE, C, SE No No .
Taenidia integerrima (L.) Drude . Yellow pimpernel . . . . Wooded, calcareous slopes and bluffs. Dry, upland prairies. infrequent to rare throughout. All Yes Yes .
Thaspium barbinode (Michx.) Nutt. . Meadow parsnip . . . . Moist prairies. Open, wooded slopes. Frequent in E 1/2. Rare in NW 1/4. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Torilis arvensis (Hudson) Link. . Hedge parsley . . . . Waste ground. Infrequent throughout. All No No .
Zizia aptera X Z. aurea . . . . . . . Prairie remnants. Rare in NW [Emmet County]. Rare in NE [Delaware County]. NE, NW Yes Yes = Zizia aptera (Gray) Fern. X Z. aurea (L.) Koch
Zizia aptera (Gray) Fern. . Heart-leaved meadow parsnip . . . . Prairie remnants. Infrequent to rare in N 1/2. No reported elsewhere. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC Yes Yes .
Zizia aurea (L.) Koch . Golden alexanders . . . . Prairie remnants. Sedge meadows. Frequent to common throughout. All Yes Yes .

The following Apocynaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Apocynum X medium Greene . Intermediate dogbane . . . . Roadsides. Along railroads. Prairie remnants. Frequent in SE. SE Yes Yes = Apocynum androsaemifolium X A. sibiricum
Apocynum androsaemifolium L. . Spreading dogbane . . . . Woodland openings. Woodland borders. Upland prairies. Common in NE. Rare in NW. Infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Apocynum cannabinum L. . Indian hemp . . . . Moist, disturbed areas. Frequent to common throughout. All Yes Yes 2 varieties in E&R: var. cannabinum and var. pubescens (Mitchell) A. DC.
Apocynum sibiricum Jacq. . . . . . . Disturbed open areas. Frequent to infrequent throughout. All Yes Yes 2 varieties in E&R: var. sibiricum and var. cordigerum (Greene) Fern.
Vinca minor L. . Common periwinkle . . . . Roadsides and waste ground. Rare escapee from cultivation. . No No .

The following Aquifoliaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray . Winterberry . . . . Sandy woods. Streamsides. Rare in NC [Mitchell County]. Rare in NE [Allamakee, Bremer, & Howard Counties]. Rare in EC [Linn County]. NE, NC, EC Yes Yes .

The following Araliaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Aralia nudicaulis L. . Wild sarsaparilla . . . . Moist, wooded slopes. Frequent to common in NC and NE. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Aralia racemosa L. . Spikenard . . . . Moist woods. Rocky, wooded slopes. Frequent in E 1/2. Infrequent to rare in W 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Panax quinquefolius L. . Ginseng . . . . Moist woods. Frequent in NE and EC. Infrequent in SE. Rare in W 1/2. All Yes Yes .

The following Aristolochiaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Aristolochia serpentaria L. . Virginia snakeroot Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia serpentaria L. . Moist woods. Rare in SE [Henry, Lee, and Muscatine (1897) Counties]. SE Yes Yes .
Asarum canadense L. . Wild ginger Aristolochiaceae Asarum canadense L. . Moist, wooded slopes. Common in E 2/3. Frequent in SW. Rare in NW. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes 3 varieties in E&R: var. canadense, var. acuminatum Ashe, var. reflexum (Bickn.) B. L. Robinson

The following Asclepiadaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
Asclepias amplexicaulis Smith . Sand milkweed . . . . Dry, open, sandy soil. Mesic prairies. Frequent in E. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias engelmanniana Woodson . Eared milkweed . . . . Dry loess bluffs. Rare in WC [Monona County]. Rare in SW [Pottawattamie County]. WC, SW Yes Yes .
Asclepias exaltata L. . Poke milkweed . . . . Moist, upland woods. Woodland borders. Frequent in Paleozoid Plateau. Rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias hirtella (Pennell) Woodson . Tall green milkweed . . . . Usually sandy, dry to mesic prairie remnants. Not reported in C and W. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. NE, NC, EC, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Asclepias incarnata L. . Swamp milkweed . . . . Marsh edges. Prairie swales. Wet ditches. Frequent to common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias lanuginosa Nutt. . Wooly milkweed . . . . Dry, sandy, hillside prairies. Rare in N 1/2. Rare in SE [Muscatine County only]. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE Yes Yes .
Asclepias meadii Torrey ex Gray . Mead's milkweed . . . . Dry to mesic prairies. Rare in EC [Scott (1889)]. Rare in S [Adams (1899), Adair, Clarke, Decatur, and Warren Counties]. EC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Asclepias ovalifolia Dcne. . Oval milkweed . . . . Dry upland prairies. Rare to infrequent in N. NE, NC, NW. Yes Yes .
Asclepias purpurascens L. . Purple milkweed . . . . Woodland openings. Dry to mesic sandy prairies. Infrequent to rare throughout. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias quadrifolia Jacq. . Whorled milkweed . . . . Dry to mesic, upland woods. Rare in C and SC. Infrequent in SE. C, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Asclepias speciosa Torrey . Showy milkweed . . . . Prairies. Woodland openings. Infrequent to rare in W 1/2. NC, NW, C, WC, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Asclepias stenophylla Gray . Narrow-leaved milkweed . . . . Dry, loess or gravel prairies. Rare in WC [Guthrie County]. Rare in NW [Plymouth and Sioux Counties]. NW, WC Yes Yes .
Asclepias sullivantii Engelm. ex. Gray . Prairie milkweed . . . . Mesic prairies. Infrequent to rare throughout most of the state. Apparently absent from NE and EC. NC, NW, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Asclepias syriaca L. . Common milkweed . . . . Disturbed open ground. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias tuberosa L. ssp. interior Woodson Butterfly weed . . . . Prairie remnants. Infrequent to frequent throughout. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias verticillata L. . Whorled milkweed . . . . Open, dry soil. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Asclepias viridiflora Raf. . Green milkweed . . . . Dry, often sandy prairies. Loess bluffs. Frequent to common in W 1/2. Infrequent to rare in E 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers. . Bluevine . . . . Alluvial woods. Moist, sandy soil. Frequent in SW. Rare in SE [Lee County and Louisa County (late 1800s)] SW, SE Yes Yes .

In this category a total of 90 dicots were recorded from the state of Iowa.

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