Native Plant of the Day 05/04/2013
Photo from April 19, 2008. Location: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
Bladdernut – for more photos / info go to the Staphylea trifolia detail page.
American Bladdernut – Staphylea trifolia
Fraser’s Sedge, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/02/2013.) Scientific name is Cymophyllus fraserianus. Photo below was taken in the Nantahala Gorge, Swain County, NC on Apr 8, 2013. Go to the Fraser’s Sedge detail page for more photos and information.
Fraser’s Sedge, Fraser’s Cymophyllus – Cymophyllus fraserianus
Wood Anemone, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/24/2013.) Scientific name is Anemone quinquefolia. Photo below was taken near the Cosby Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cocke County, TN on Apr 7, 2013. Go to the Wood Anemone detail page for more photos and information.
Wood Anemone, Nightcaps, Twoleaf Anemone – Anemone quinquefolia
Yellow Sweetclover, an introduced species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/23/2013.) Scientific name is Melilotus officinalis. It is also known by the common names Yellow Melilot, Common Melilot, Field Melilot, Cornilla Real, and White Sweetclover. Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA, on May 6, 2012. Go to the Yellow Sweetclover detail page for more information.
Yellow Sweetclover, Field Melilot, Cornilla Real – Melilotus officinalis
It’s been a very busy two weeks, but we made it down to The Pocket today; unfortunately only the boardwalk. The spectacular show is definitely winding down, but there is still plenty to see. Among the flowers now at peak are the Wild Hyacinth – Camassia scilloides.
Wild Hyacinth; Atlantic Camas – Camassia scilloides
Virginia Plantain, a species native to much the United States, but naturalized in other parts and naturalized in parts of Canada, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/17/2013.) Scientific name is Plantago virginica. It is also known by the common names Dwarf Plantain, Southern Plantain, Hoary Plantain, and Paleseed Indianwheat. Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA on Apr 29, 2012. Go to the Virginia Plantain detail page for more photos and information.
Virginia Plantain, Dwarf Plantain, Southern Plantain, Hoary Plantain, Paleseed Indianwheat – Plantago virginica
As my wife and I were returning from North Carolina on Monday, we passed a huge display of Trillium grandiflorum along the roadway. (Several Trillium simile also included – we’ll see those later.) Amongst the display I found this double form of the plant. I don’t recall seeing one before. 6 petals, 6 leaves (bracts), 6 sepals (presumably, I see 5 in the photo, but didn’t count because I was precariously positioned on the roadbank taking the photo.)
Double Trillium grandiflorum
Native Plant of the Day 04/10/2013
Photo from April 17, 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA.
Sweet Anise – for more photos / info go to the Osmorhiza longistylis detail page.
Longstyle Sweetroot, Sweet Anise, Aniseroot – Osmorhiza longistylis
Sorry, but I don’t have time for a full update. Quickly, however – the Bent White Trillium have started their bloom, Phacelia and Phlox are full-blown. There are a few Trillium cuneatum that have opened up along the horse trail. Dutchman’s Breeches and Bloodroot are gone, and Hepatica are almost completely gone (supplanted by Rue Anemone.)
Bent White Trillium – Trillium flexipes
Native Plant of the Day 04/06/2013
Photo from April 4, 2009. Location: Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
Squawroot – for more photos / info go to the Conopholis americana detail page.
Squawroot – Conopholis americana