Botsoc News, September 2009 Volume 83 Number 5 September 2009
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BotSoc News, September 2009 Volume 83 Number 5 September 2009 Georgia Botanical Society ROADSIDE BOTANIZING LEADS TO A NEW SPECIES FOR GEORGIA’S FLORA July 11, 2009 was a beautiful day for our group ditches (with standing water) that were present IN THIS of eleven to repeat a 2005 Roadside Botany Trip at most of our stops. These ditches provided ISSUE: to SE Georgia. We hoped to find some plants we many aquatic and emergent plants including had seen on the previous trip and to relocate a quillwort arrowhead (Sagittaria isoetiformis), plant along Hwy 177 east of Waycross that I had pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata var. lanceo- Society News – photographed and keyed out as large flowered lata), blue waterhyssop (Bacopa caroliniana) p2 rose gentian (Sabatia grandiflora). and numerous members of the sedge family After the 2005 trip, I had thought nothing more (Cyperaceae). These wet ditches also harbored The Lady’s of this plant until early 2008, when Jim Drake the most spectacular flowers we encountered: Slipper – asked me to provide Bartram’s rose p4 a presentation on gentian (Sabatia the Genus Sabatia bartramii), snowy to complement his orchid (Plantan- Upcoming presentation to Bot- thera nivea ) , Field Trips – Soc on other plants l a n c e - l e a v e d p6 in the gentian fam- milkweed (Ascle- ily (Gentianaceae) in pias lancifolia) Field Trip the southeastern U.S. and sweet water Reports - While preparing the lily (Nymphaea talk, I learned that S. odorata). Of that p9 grandiflora had nev- group, the Bar- er been documented tram’s rose gen- from Georgia and, to tian was clearly that end, my earlier the star of the photograph simply large flowered rose gentian Sabatia( grandiflora) show and fortu- would not cut the mustard. nately was very abundant throughout the day. A return trip was organized in hopes of relocat- Bartram’s rose gentian also was the cause of ing the plants along Hwy 177 and a specimen to wet feet. In spite of my announcing to the group voucher the species from Georgia. Alas, we were that we would encounter many more of this not destined to findS. grandiflora along Hwy 177 plant throughout the day that would be more on this day. We did, however, find many repeat spe- accessible than our first look, the initial sight- cies along Hwy 177 and many new ones as well. ing prompted Jim Drake to wade for a picture. Before I embark on the trip description, it is Additionally, failing to heed my own advice, worth noting that folks who came in from Tifton and forgetting about the abundant rainfall of along Hwy 82 were treated to a marvelous show the previous day, I tried to cross to a particular Article by of comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) and a large flower that was photographed the day before Richard Reaves. pink-flowered hibiscus before they ever got to the without getting wet. Unfortunately, the rainfall meeting place. If they were adventurous and got had increased the water depth from halfway up Photos by out for a close look at comfortroot, they also may my boots to above the top of my boots. I joined Anita Reaves. have found piriqueta (Piriqueta cistoides) along Jim in the wet feet club for the remainder of the roadside. The group would see comfortroot the day. At least we were driving/riding rather on our roadside loop, but pink-flowered hibiscus than hiking. and piriqueta were not to reappear. We stopped at a couple of upland locations Rather than single out as individual stops dur- in addition to the many roadside wet areas. In ing the day, I will address the many wet roadside continued on page 3 2 BotSoc News, September 2009 Society News GEORGIA BOTANICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 The Georgia Botanical Society will hold its an- Discussion Items for Meeting: nual business meeting on Saturday, September • Electronic Newsletter - Ed BotSoc News 26, 2009 at 11:00 am at the Visitor’s Center, is published seven • 2010 Wildflower Pilgrimage - Jim Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Historic Site in Paul- times a year (Jan, • Membership Report - Anita Mar, May, Jul, Sep, ding County. Please bring a picnic lunch. After Nov and for the lunch, at ~1:00 pm, Tom Patrick will lead a hike • Treasurer’s Report - Rich Spring Wildflower to observe fall native plants in flower. Georgia • Additional items from the floor. Pilgrimage). Submission deadline aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) and other • Formal Vote to modify Bylaws Article is October 1 for the fall composites should be putting on a show. IV, Section 8, Item 4, November issue. Hope to see you there! Subscriptions Membership Directory are included with (see July BotSoc News) membership. Website: www.gabotsoc.org Editorial Office Jean Smith Take I-75 to exit 277, Acworth/GA Hwy 92. GA 1135 Barwick Hill Rd 92 makes several turns and an unexpected right Comer, GA 30629 just off the freeway. Proceed for 12 mi south to ph 706.783.2308 email: turn right at small brown sign for Pickett’s Mill jss2holly@ at Due West Road (NOT Due West Street). Go windstream.net 1.8 mi to turn right onto Mt. Tabor Church Rd to entrance on right. © 2009 Georgia Bo- tanical Society a private nonprofit organization under IRS 501(c)3. Founded in 1926. THE GEORGIA BOTANICAL SOCIETY WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE GENEROSITY OF OUR MEMBERS DONOR LEVEL MEMBERS FOR 2009: Ellen and Dan Corrie, Susan and Ron Determann, Elizabeth Dominy, Dave and Linda Hanson, Margaret Harbin, Shepherd and Sarah Howell, Hugh and Carol Nourse, Michael and Raquel Nugent and Anne and Jim Topple. IN MEMORY OF LEO THOMAS BARBER, JR.: Donors: Sidney and Vicki Fontenot, The Geologi- cal Survey Coffee Fund and Linda Strickland. IN MEMORY OF VIVIAN EMERSON: Donor: Dr. Helen Brown to "my botanical inspiration and faithful helper when I was active in GBS". NEW LIFE MEMBERS: Doug and Claudia Davis, Cindy and Ed Fielder and Ed and Jean McDowell. MEMBER DONATIONS: And although we cannot list each one, we are also grateful to the 39 members who generously donated to the Marie Mellinger and/or the Tipularia funds in the past 12 months. Thank you all. Anita Reaves, Membership Chair BotSoc News, September 2009 3 New Species for Georgia’s Flora (cont. from page 1) a pine plantation that was clear-cut and replanted probably around 2003, we found meadow beauty (Rhexia alifanus) to be common, as well as rab- bit bells (Baptisia perfoliata) and flag pawpaw (Asimina incarna) - the latter two plants fruiting rather than flowering. James Van Horne spotted Walter’s milkweed (Asclepias cinerea) - in flower but much less abundant than in 2005. Other flow- ers of interest here included vanilla plant (Carph- ephorus odoratissimus), coastal plain chaffhead (C. corymbosus), kidney-leaved rosinweed (Silphium compositum), blackroot (Pterocaulon pycnosta- chum), rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) and Florida bluehearts (Buchnera floridana). Our second upland stop netted hairy wicky (Kalmia hirsuta), chalky bluestem (Andropogon capillipes) and Lindheimer’s beeblossom (Gaura large flowered rose lindheimeri). An additional stop before lunch gentian for Geor- found snowy orchid but none of the yellow rhexia gia. Curiously, the (Rhexia lutea) seen here in 2005. way the specimen At Nahunta, we turned south along Hwy 301 dried was critical to and headed toward Folkston. We stopped for lunch making a positive by a ditch full of snowy orchid and Bartram’s rose identification. gentian. With the combination of looking, photo- So, as I said graphing and eating, it was not a short stop. We earlier, we did not lost one of our vehicles (two folks) after lunch, but find S. grandiflo- the remainder of the group pressed on. I pulled the ra along Hwy 177, group over at a spot where I thought I might have where I had photo- spotted Rhexia cubensis the day before. It had been graphed it in 2005. raining on Friday and I only made a hasty look, We did, however, which could have resulted in my stopping at the find it along Hwy wrong spot on Saturday or just misinterpreting 301. the soggy plants on Friday. There was no Rhexia We made an- cubensis, but we did find fringed meadow beauty other quick stop to (Rhexia petiolata) and handsome Harry (Rhexia look at powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa) and then Top: The group effort virginica). additional stops along Hwy 1 for snowy orchid to identify large flowered rose gentian Fate smiled on us in another way at this stop. and more Bartram’s rose gentian before reach- (Sabatia grandiflora). We found a stunted white flowered Sabatia that ing Hwy 177. We stopped along the roadside Bottom: Bartram’s rose gentian (Sabatia was likely lanceleaf rose gentian (Sabatia diffor- and could enjoy the pitchers of hooded pitcher bartramii) was one of mis). While the bulk of the group was looking at plant (Sarracenia minor), grassleaf Barbara’s the most spectacular plants encountered in that flower, I located a small innocuous 5-petaled buttons (Marshallia tenuifolia), sticky tofieldia the wet ditches of SE pink Sabatia. Tom Patrick came over with his (Tofieldia glutinosa), eastern false dragonhead Georgia and abundant Weakley and we quickly discovered that Weakley (Physostegia purpurea), bog cheetos (Polygala throughout the day. had not included large flowered rose gentian (S. lutea), and - yes - more Bartram’s rose gentian. grandiflora) in his key yet. Fortunately, this was the last stop of the day, I returned to the vehicle and picked up both as I mistook a floating vegetation mat for solid Clewell’s and Wunderlin’s books and we set about ground and went WAY over my boot tops trying keying the plant.