The Journal of the South Carolina Native Plant Society Spring 2007 Orchids of the Francis Marion National Forest, Berkeley County, SC In this issue By Jim Fowler Orchids ....................... 1 Reprinted with permission from: North President’s Perspective .... 2 American Native Orchid Journal & the Plant Terms .................. 2 Author. All orchid photos by Jim Fowler Georgia Aster ................ 3 The Francis Marion National Cogongrass .................6-7 Forest (known by locals as the USDA Plants Website ..... 8 Francis Marion) is a popular desti- nation for botanists, especially for those interested in orchids and car- nivorous plants. It comprises about 250,000 acres of mixed hardwoods, Name That bottomland swamps, and longleaf pine savannahs. It contains some Native Plant! unique geological features known This perennial as Carolina Bays. These bays are forb is found shallow oval depressions (their on roadsides origin is still hotly debated) that and forest edges make excellent habitat for many throughout SC. rare and unusual plant species, Calopogon barbatus, bearded grass-pink It can be very including about two dozen of South showy in mid- Carolina’s fi fty-fi ve native orchid spring to mid- species and hybrids. summer. It has The largest portion of the trifoliate leaves. Francis Marion is located in It might help Berkeley County, the rest being in if we showed adjacent Charleston County, in the more of the southern portion of coastal South plant, but Carolina. It is criss-crossed by where’s the fun hundreds of sandy, one-lane USFS in making it roads that wind through areas with easy? To see names like Hellhole Swamp, Dog more of the Swamp, Florida Bay, Tiger Cor- ner, and Yellow-jacket Island, and plant go to Ponthieva racemosa, shadow-witch orchid www.scnps.org. offering views of dense pocosins and vast longleaf pine savannahs. These local names bring to mind the many seemingly impenetrable areas of boot-sucking mud, chiggers, ticks, mosquitoes, leeches, snakes, and alligators. But, we never let those minor inconveniences The answer is embedded in the text somewhere hold us back, do we? in this newsletter. Photo by Bill Stringer. (See Orchids, page 4) South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2007 1 State of the SC Native Plant Plant origin terms Native plant – A plant species that is Society - Spring, 2007 found in a region because it developed and evolved in that region over thou- The Society continues to actively pursue sands of years. Plants that existed in a our mission of “preserving and restoring native region prior to settlement. plant communities in South Carolina”. This has happened via an impressive expense of time and Exotic (introduced) plant – A plant energy by a growing number of members. A par- species that exists in a region because tial list of activities this spring includes 7 chapter it was brought to that region by man, meetings with speakers, 10 field trips to see native during and since settlement of the plant communities, 6 fundraiser plant sales, and region. We are still introducing exotic participation in 6 public information events, like plants, by intention or by accident. Earth Day or Home Shows. We have had at least 6 organized plant rescues, to save native plants Naturalized plant – An exotic plant from the bulldozer. Many of these plants have that was introduced into an area, es- been re-planted in public park or garden sites. caped from cultivation and reproduces We have had 2 informational workshops, with an Bill Stringer on its own (includes exotic invasive expert showing and telling about a topic, to make plants). Many plants commonly our members more knowledgeable and effective in the future. thought to be natives were actually I think I can safely report that we are gaining visibility and support for our introduced by early settlers. goals and activities. We are collaborating with other naturalist/environmental Exotic invasive plant – An exotic groups, such as SCAN and TNC. As often as not, these groups are seeking plant species that is able to invade us out. We have been very successful in getting our message into the media, and overrun native ecosystems. Some which is not an easy job. We have re-established regular publication of our native plants can become invasive un- quarterly newsletter, and it has been getting good reviews among the member- der certain conditions, but most inva- ship. Two Chapters have local newsletters, as well. And our website... Wow! sive species are introduced (exotic). We have a terrific website, full of information on activities, articles on native plant issues, and a large number of beautiful photos to interact with your senses Ornamental plant – A plant species as you cruise the site. or cultivar that is grown for its beauty Another indication of the Society “gaining traction” is in the impressive (in its end use), rather than commer- list of awards coming to our group and its members. In the past year, members cial or production reasons. have received the SC Wildlife Federation’s Conservationist of the Year (Land), and Conservationist of the Year (Water). The Society was awarded Greenville Variety – Within a species, a natu- Soil and Water Conservation District’s Conservation Award. Most recently, rally occurring sub-group of plants Rick Huffman was awarded the Governor’s Environmental Awareness Award, that have one or more minor charac- in a ceremony at the Statehouse. teristics that set it apart from the rest We are not able to rest on our laurels, however. We have gained 86 new of the species. Ex.: Solidago odora var. members since the start of 2006. Unfortunately, that number has been bal- chapmanii. anced out by the failure of 86 members to renew their membership. We need to work on member retention. We have been working on that in the Chapters. Cultivar – Short for “cultivated We have also devoted some effort at the state level to helping our two smaller variety”. A plant “variety” developed chapters in raising their numbers and visibility, and we will continue to do so. by man via plant selection and/or I have saved for last an important issue: LEADERSHIP. Not that we genetic manipulation to exhibit a set don’t have good leaders, he said modestly. The thing is, we need more, newer, of plant characteristics. Cultivars are younger members to step up to the plate, to help share the load, and to prepare maintained via controlled pollination for future leadership roles. The Chapters need this, and the Statewide orga- or vegetative means, so that cultivar nization does, too. For instance, as of now, we do not have a statewide vice- characteristics are passed to ensuing president, which is of concern to yours truly. So, if you are interested in taking generations. on a role at any level, and we haven’t asked you, please take the initiative and Ecovar – Short for “ecological vari- button-hole one of your officers. We will be most attentive to you. ety”. A plant “variety” developed by man from a collection of plants of a Thanks! Bill Stringer, President (See Plant terms, page 3) 2 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2007 Two New Georgia Aster Finds Sudie Daves, - USDA-NRCS & Ron and I had John Nel- Midlands Chapter son, USC botanist, confirm the A Richland County plant rescue identification. The population organized by Ron Chicone for the contained about 500 stems, and Midlands Chapter yielded a very nice is a previously undocumented surprise. Having forgotten to re-set population for Richland County, my clock for daylight savings time, according to SCDNR records. I arrived at the rescue site an hour Now that’s an exciting way to early, so I passed the time investigat- “pass some time”! ing a right-of-way I had passed on the way. I found woodland sunflower, Janie Marlow, Karen eastern silvery aster, whorled coreop- Burnett, Ted Thern, - sis, Maryland golden aster, rosinweed, Upstate Chapter narrow-leaf mountain-mint, Indi- Roadsides and utility right- scrubby loblolly and Virginia pines and angrass, plumegrass, little bluestem, of-ways are among the few places immature deciduous trees, surrounded split-beard bluestem, bushy bluestem, where South Carolina’s native by Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora Virginia wild rye and a mystery aster, prairie plants can still be found, rose, cedar, broomsedge and goldenrod. later identified by Ron as New York but who takes time to investigate Kudzu is encroaching from the railroad aster. these “scruffy-looking” sites? Vol- embankment. Then there was another aster unteers on a SCNPS Native Plant The population grows on a slight that looked familiar, one that I had Seed Collection field trip — that’s ridge beside the railroad cut, by tracks not seen in a while. It had composite who! On Oct. 28, 2006, we were that were laid in the early 1900s and flowers about 2 inches collecting seeds of are still in use. The site appears to have wide with deep purple big bluestem, little retained more of the sandy clay topsoil ray flowers, pale bluestem and pur- than areas around it – maybe cotton white disk flowers, pletop, on property fields were not planted that close to the and rough clasping wedged between railroad? alternate leaves. The road and railroad habitat was a dis- in southern Pick- turbed right-of-way/ ens County. (Any roadside with clay site in the Upstate soils and the associate with big bluestem species listed above. I warrants piling out tentatively identified of the van). An it as Georgia Aster (Symphyotrichum intensely vivid color caught the georgianum), a species I knew from eye of Ted Thern — an aster, but previous Piedmont Prairie restora- such a deep, rich purple... tion work.