Everyone should be seeing a variety of autumn wildflowers, especially asters, sunflowers and goldenrod. I've captured some here.  I found all of these on roadsides in September. Most of you will see these through October. Enjoy! 

Helianthus tuberosus or Jerusalem Artichoke. This is a sunflower, which is in the Aster family. The tubers are highly nutritious and can be boiled or roasted. I just tried them and they are delicious--like potatoes but kind of a nutty taste. It is said that Lewis and Clark dined on these tubers in the area of North Dakota. Native Americans must have showed them how to eat them. Jerusalem in the common name is a corruption of the Italian "girasole" meaning turning to the sun. These plants are very tall, five to ten feet. The flower heads are up to three inches. According to the USDA, this flower is in most every State and Canada. If you have them, pull them up after blooming, then pluck off the tubers on the roots. Boil gently, eat with a little butter. Yum! Oh, and invite me over.

Aster novae-angliae or New England Aster. There are 1,100 genera and 20,000 species in the Aster family. They are difficult to distinguish. My best guess is this is a New England Aster, which is showier than others and is native. Despite its name, it grows throughout the U.S. including Alabama, Wyoming and New Mexico.

Aster linariifolius or Stiff Aster. My best guess again. The yellow central disk turns bronze. Grows all over U.S. too.

Aster lateriflorus or Calico Aster. These flowers are less than one-half inch. The central disk in this flower varies from yellow to purple. Grows from Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas and north to Minnesota.

Myosoton aquaticum or Giant Chickweed. This plant is from Europe but looks like native Star Chickweed but the latter blooms in the spring. 

Bidens frondosa or Devil's Beggartick. What a common name! A native annual that grows in about every State in the U.S. and is best known for its brown fruits that are dry and barbed and stick on everything, especially dogs. 

Calystegia sepium or Hedge False Bindweed. This vine is in every State and Canada and mostly classified as a noxious weed. It can smother other plants and is easy to get entangled in. 

Saponaria officinalis or Soapwort or Bouncing Bet. This European herb looks like Phlox but is shorter, usually standing a foot to two feet. When mixed with water, the crushed leaves and roots make a lather like soap, hence the common name. It has been used as a remedy for boils, acne, rashes and jaundice. 

Solidago or Goldenrod. In the Aster family, there are many Goldenrods that are hard to distinguish. According to one naturalist, there are 34 different species in the northeastern U.S. Most stand three to five feet tall and are quite showy. I think this is Canada Goldenrod, which is common, but don't hold me to it. Goldenrod has been used for fevers, sore throats and snakebites.

Phlox paniculata or Garden Phlox or Fall Phlox. Although I have phlox in my garden, this perennial I found on the side of the road. Perhaps all the roadside phlox have escaped from gardens. There is plenty of it in all eastern states, the plains and some western states. Leaf extract of the plant has been used as a laxative and for treating boils.

All rights reserved Sheba Marx. For Sheba Marx's Good Things about Unemployment, see unemployedmarx.blogspot.com.