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Home , Cypripedium acaule, Cypripedium reginae, Pterocaulon, Sagittaria isoetiformis

BotSoc News, September 2009  Volume 83 Number 5 September 2009

Georgia Botanical Society

Roadside Botanizing Leads to a New Species for ’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 we many aquatic and emergent plants including had seen on the previous trip and to relocate a quillwort arrowhead ( isoetiformis), 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 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 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  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 

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 ( 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 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. It keyed to S. grandiflora in both to get a photograph of a still unidentified tickseed books, for the most part, but with some inconsis- ( sp.) tencies. We scouted the area rather thoroughly and It was a fine day of roadside botanizing for all located several more plants. Tom collected a speci- - with the feather in the cap being the ultimate men to work on the ID later and also to voucher documentation of a new species for the state whatever it turned out to be. Several days later, flora. Tom informed me that indeed we had documented  BotSoc News, September 2009 The Lady’s Slipper sperm available to sustain emerging ady s lipper ypripedium sp seedlings. In the wild, ’ S (C .) species rely on assistance from L article & photos by Jim Drake certain fungal species to “infect” the seeds and provide nutrients until the emerging green leaves can begin food production for the plant. Lady’s slippers are adaptable to soil conditions, growing in acidic soil in some parts of their range and basic soil in other areas. The odor emitted by the flower of the lady’s slipper attracts bees. Pol- len attached to the bee as it presses against the pollen-bearing column of the orchid is then deposited onto the reproductive structures of the next flower visited by the bee. Sometimes bees are entrapped in the pouch (or perhaps become im- patient to seek the exit) and gnaw an escape hole through the side of the slipper. Often no reward is offered and the pollinator may begin avoid- ing these flowers. Low reproduction rates are common in Cypripedium species. This article describes the pink (), ram’s head (C. arietinum) and two color forms of the showy (C. reginae) lady’s slip- pers. A follow-up article in the No- vember BotSoc News will describe the remaining lady’s slippers of the Eastern U.S. and provide a short pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) bibliography.

Lady’s slippers, genus Cypripedium, The lady’s slipper, and all orchids, Pink Lady’s Slipper are some of the best known and most are . The form and (Cypripedium acaule Aiton) loved members of the orchid family. Our structure of the pouch-like third The pink lady’s slipper is one of southern region is blessed with a share of these orchids gives rise to the com- the most widely recognized orchids of these beautiful wildflowers that are mon names of lady’s slipper or moccasin and a mainstay of spring wildflower often the featured species on spring field flower, as well as the generic nomencla- outings. The specific epithetacaule trips and pilgrimages sponsored by the ture melding of the terms cypris (for means “without stem” and this char- Georgia Botanical Society. The genus Venus, the goddess of love) and pedis acteristic gives rise to its other com- Cypripedium is represented by 45 species (foot) . mon name - stemless lady’s slipper. worldwide; hybrids between species are Lady’s slippers bloom in the spring; The leafless flower stalk and pair of common. Six of the twelve species known however, “spring” may extend through basal leaves are attached directly to for (and three variations June and July in northern and higher an underground rhizome making within one species) can be found in the altitude climes. These slow-growing the plant appear, well, stemless. eastern . The range of east- plants take years to mature from seeds Another characteristic lies in the ern lady’s slipper extends from the chill into flowering individuals. Seeds are slipper itself. Unlike other lady’s of northern into the heat of the produced in large number but are min- slippers, the pouch of C. acaule has southern states (but not into Florida). ute, thus limiting the amount of endo- a narrow slit down the center rather BotSoc News, September 2009  The Lady’s Slipper than a hole near the top of the flower. Distinguishing this orchid from any of its relatives is a solitary pink, rarely white, flower with an inflated lip attached to the end of the leafless stem. Preferred habitat in the southern range is fairly acidic soil. Oak-pine woods in dryer areas are likely places to find these mid-spring beauties, although wet boggy areas are also sometimes inhabited. The species does a turn around in its northern range and occurs more often in basic soils.

Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium arietinum R. Brown) Although a strictly northern species, this extremely rare and highly unusual lady’s slipper deserves discus- sion. The specific epithetarietinum means “like a ram”, ram’s head lady’s slipper (Cypripedium arietinum) a reference to the shape of the flower. The range of ram’s head lady’s slipper extends from Canada south only as far as , and and east to and New England. Flowers are typically small, solitary with three lateral non-fused - a unique condition not seen among other North American lady’s slippers. The up- per bloom morphology is similar to other members of the genus; however, in C. arietinum the lower frontal portion of the pouch terminates in a vertical conical lip. Blooms have purple curved-stripe regions alternating with whitish hues below and primarily whitish areas above. The stem is short, extending only a few inches, and the plant is usually less than a foot high. Preferred habitats include pine and mixed forests, cedar woods and cedar bogs. Pollinators are thought to be small bees. showy lady’s slipper () purple form Showy Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium reginae Walter) One of the most flamboyant lady’s slippers, Cyp- ripedium reginae certainly earns the specific epithet reginae meaning “queenly.” Although reported from isolated spots as far south as and , this plant is truly a northeastern species with a range covering much of the upper east quadrant of the U.S. and extending north into southern Canada. This state flower of Minnesota has a purplish-pink lip and bright white sepals and lateral giving it a two-toned appearance. Sometimes the entire flower is almost pure white. Tall leafy stems, up to 36 inches, are topped by one to two large (up to 3 inch) slippers. This orchid grows in calcareous soils and prefers wet areas such as bogs, swamps, moist woods and roadside seeps. Flowering showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae) time is early to mid June in southern sections of its range white form and late June to early July in northern areas.  BotSoc News, September 2009 Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

The September 05 trip to Bowman’s Island is cancelled.

The September 12 trip to Kennesaw Mountain State Park is cancelled.

Sept 19 Manassas Bog, Tattnall County From Atlanta I-75 south, go east on I-16 to exit Martha Joiner 10:00 AM Among the rare species to be found 98/GA 57. Turn right/S on GA 57 to Cobbtown on the sandhill and bog areas of this and Collins. In Collins take GA 292 left/E 912.764.6329 Meet at 5 mi power line ROW are purple through Manassas to Bellville. From Savannah 912.481.1623 at parking pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), I-16 west, take exit 116/US 301. Turn left/S on cell lot across hummingbird flower (Macranthera US 301 to right turn onto GA 169. Continue to from flammea), yellow fringed orchid Bellville and GA 292 intersection at Bernie’s. joiners@ Bernie’s (Platanthera ciliaris), southern white Lunch: Bring to eat in field. Some food at Bernie’s. frontiernet.net store in fringed orchid (P. conspicua), purple Walking: Easy. Prepare for wet feet and full sun. Bellville. honeycomb-head (Balduina atropur- Facilities: At Bernie’s. purea) as well as gorgeous Coastal Bring: Water, insect/tick repellent, sunscreen, Plain grasses. long pants, hat.

Sept 26 Annual Meeting - Pickett’s Mill See map and directions on page 2. Ed McDowell Historic Site, Paulding County 478.396.8901 11:00 AM See details on page 2. (cell, day of meeting)

Oct 03 Arabia Davidson Mountain Nature From West (Atlanta): Take I-20 east to exit Jim Allison Preserve, Dekalb County 74 (Evans Mill Rd). Stay on the exit ramp for 10:00 AM Botanist Jim Allison will lead a hike >1 mi, until the 2nd traffic light and turn right 404.849.2645 to the top of Arabia Mountain, past (after passing Dairy Queen) onto Evans Mill Meet at masses of yellow daisies (Helianthus Rd. Make no turns for a mile (road becomes jimbotany@ South porteri) and many less showy fall Woodrow Dr when Evans Mill Rd turns to the aol.com Parking wildflowers. After lunch, those wish- right. Do not turn!). When Woodrow Dr ends Lot. ing to see still more wildflowers can at Klondike Rd, turn right. After another mile, join Jim for a hike to Arabia Lake to pass through a traffic circle at the Rockland check on rare rock asters (Eurybia Rd intersection. After another mile, note North avita) and such associates as nodding Goddard Rd intersecting on the right; the lady-tresses (Spiranthes cernua) and South Parking Lot is just past this, on the left, slender goldenrod (Solidago gracil- around a curve. From East (Conyers): Take lima). I-20 West to exit 74 (Evans Mill Rd). Turn left from the exit ramp. Make no turns for a mile, Davidson-Arabia Mountain following directions above Nature Preserve Walking: Moderate to slightly strenuous 2 mi 4158 Klondike Road (morning); moderate 2 mi after lunch. Lithonia, GA 30038 Facilities: Porta-John at meeting place; rest- 770-484-3060 rooms in Nature Center (lunch location) Bring: Hand lens, notebook, water bottle, pic- nic lunch. Parking is free. BotSoc News, September 2009  Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

Oct 10 Chattahoochee Bend State Park, From Newnan, take US Hwy 27 north ~3 mi to Tom Patrick Coweta County Sargent Community Center parking lot on right. 10:00 AM Georgia’s newest state park, as yet From the north (Whitesburg) head south on US 706.476.4541 undeveloped, features granite out- Hwy 27 Alt./GA Hwy. 16 ~5 mi to Sargent Com- (cell) Meet at crops, montane longleaf pine forests munity Center on left. Com- and levee forest along the Chatta- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, mostly level terrain; tom.patrick@ munity hoochee River. We’ll hike along old 1-2 mi total. dnr.state.ga.us Center in roads with some easy bushwhacking; Facilities: None; nearest food is Newnan; Whites- Sargent, Georgia oak, Stone Mountain daisy, burg has gas stations. to convoy and sizeable trees are along river. Bring: Hand lens, notebook, water bottle, picnic to park. lunch, sturdy hiking shoes, insect repellent, extra thick socks to repel chiggers.

Oct 17 Georgia Aster Count - Pickett’s Take I-75 to exit 277, Acworth/GA Hwy 92. GA Elaine Nash Mill Historic Site, Paulding County 92 makes several turns and an unexpected 770.922.7292 10:00 AM Join us for the third annual count of right just off the freeway. Proceed for 12 mi einash33@ this state . We'll south to turn right at small brown sign for bellsouth.net Meet at survey the corn and wheat fields and Pickett’s Mill at Due West Road (NOT Due park of- tally the number of Georgia Asters we West Street). Go 1.8 mi to turn right onto Mt. Maureen Donohue fice park- find. This survey helps track the sta- Tabor Church Rd to entrance on right. 678.687.7963 ing lot. tus of one of the largest populations Walking: Easy to moderate, some off trails. cell, trip day only in the state. It will be a beautiful Fall Facilities: At Visitor Center. macaire75@ day in the fields. Bring: Hand lens, notebook, water, lunch. att.net

Oct 24 Introductory Warm Season Grass From Atlanta on GA 316, stay in right lane as you Elaine Nash Workshop, Clarke County approach Athens to bear right on GA Loop 10 10:00 AM The State Botanical Garden offers (signs say south Athens/UGA) Take exit 6 from 770.922.7292 a varied habitat for warm-season GA Loop 10, Milledge Ave. Turn right: Garden is Meet at grasses. We’ll see exotics as well as ~1 mi on right. einash33@ Pavi- natives and both warm & cool-season Facilities: At Visitor’s Center bellsouth.net lion in grasses and forbs as we explore the Bring: Snacks, water, bug spray, sun screen. Callaway powerline and the berms and flood- Bring lunch or eat at Conservatory afterwards. Limited to 15 Building plains along the river. Bring a hand Bring: 10X hand lens. A warm-season grass list people. Parking lens. Late October is a good time to will be furnished when you register. Pre-registration Lot. spot the Sporobolus species. Walking: Easy to moderate, some bush-whacking. required.

Oct 24 Plant Inventory - Pickett’s Mill Take I-75 to exit 277, Acworth/GA Hwy 92. GA Tom Patrick Note date Historic Site, Paulding County 92 makes several turns and an unexpected right change! Participate in BotSoc’s inventory of just off the freeway. Proceed for 12 mi south to 706.476.4541 the park’s flora, see Georgia As- turn right at small brown sign for Pickett’s Mill (cell) 10:00 AM ter in full bloom and explore other at Due West Road (NOT Due West Street). Go plant habitats - a trip for the well 1.8 mi to turn right onto Mt. Tabor Church Rd to tom.patrick@ Meet at experienced and those who wish to entrance on right. dnr.state.ga.us park office learn plants. The inventory to date Walking: Easy to moderate 1 - 3 mi, some off parking has documented over 400 vascular trails. Short walk in morning, more after lunch. lot. plants for the park (checklist avail- Facilities: At Visitor Center. able on day of trip). Bring: Lunch and snacks, extra water, notebook, hand lens, manual or field guide.  BotSoc News, September 2009 Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

Oct 25 Red Top Mountain Plant Inventory, From Interstate 75, take exit 285, Red Top Tom Patrick Sunday Bartow County Mountain Rd to go 1.5 mi east to park. Note date This trip to complete a park flora will Walking: Easy to moderate, some bush- 706.476.4541 change! explore a new addition (Allatoona whacking off trails in historic fields. (cell) Pass) for the first time and access Facilities: At Visitor Center and in picnic area 10:00 AM wilder portions of the park. The state for lunch. tom.patrick@ park has a lodge (770.975.0055) tent Bring: Lunch and snacks, extra water, note- dnr.state.ga.us Meet at camping and yurts; otherwise Cart- book, hand lens, manual or field guide (plant Visitor ersville has abundant motels. checklist available on day of trip) Center.

Oct 31 Geology of Atlanta, Bartow County Take I-75 to Exit 290 and head EAST on GA 20 Scott Ranger 10:00 AM Reprising popular trips of the past, (Canton Highway) toward Canton. McDonalds we'll start with the pre-Cambrian will be on the left about a mile after the exit. Direc- 404.210.3088 Meet at basement of Rodinia (1 billion years tions to each geology stop will be available. (cell) McDonald's old!) and work through the long Walking: Easy, with some short rock scrambling, 770.429.1836 5651 Hwy periods of erosion that shaped the so wear sturdy shoes. (home) 20 landscape of Atlanta. We’ll car cara- Facilities: At the meeting place & lunch stop. scottranger@ Cartersville van ~30 mi stopping at rock outcrops Bring: Water, lunch to be eaten on picnic tables comcast.net illustrating geologic history and sam- and not carried. If interested, an early dinner at a pling the area’s botany as well. Mexican restaurant nearby is also possible.

Nov 07 Fall Foliage: Vineyard Mountain From I-75 exit 285 turn west off exit ramp to John Manion Eagle Scout Trails, Allatoona turn north on US Hwy 41. Continue ~1 mi to Dam, Bartow County turn right (Old Allatoona Dam Rd or Power- 404.814.4073 10:00 AM The forested slopes of Vineyard house Rd) and continue past entry kiosk and Mountain provide a vantage for the first picnic areas to last parking area. Trail- jmanion@ Meet at beautiful vistas of the Etowah River head is on the right. See “Yellow Trail”map at atlantahistory Riverside Valley, Allatoona Lake & Dam and the http://www.lakeallatoona.com/recreation/hiking- center.com Park. Cooper's Furnace historic area. We’ll trails/vineyard-mountain-eagle-scout-trails.htm. see the wonders of autumn, when the Walking: Moderate, ~ 5 miles brilliant hues of the leaf color come to Facilities: At Riverside Park. the fore. The dynamics of fall color will Bring: Lunch to eat on hike; usually no fee in be discussed, as will stories of the fall/winter but be prepared for $4 entry fee. many plants we will observe.

Nov 11 Remnant Longleaf Pine on Pine Take US 27 to Roosevelt State Park and Hal Massie Wednesday Mountain, Harris County turn east on GA 190. Go ~4.3 mi, passing Veteran’s This trip will take us to a small rem- park headquarters and Roosevelt Memorial 478.836.4907 Day nant tract of montane longleaf pine Bridge. Turn left into Fox Den Cove parking on the Pine Mountain Ridge. Fall lot. Alternatively, take US 27-Alt south from 478.957.6095 10:00 AM foliage should be at its peak in the Warm Springs or North from Columbus. At the (cell, day of hike; Pine Mountain region. We will walk top of the Pine Mountain Ridge, turn west onto reception iffy) Meet at less than a mile on the Pine Moun- GA 190 and proceed ~7.4 mi to Fox Den Cove Fox Den tain Trial, and then wander through parking lot on the right. massiefarm@ Cove the pines. Later, we will drive to Facilities: Bathrooms at park headquarters. aol.com parking other sites with short walks to see Walking: Easy on well-maintained trail for ~1 lot. Georgia oak, cherry, and mi. If we go off trail, we’ll go slowly. more montane longleaf and may Lunch: Bring to eat with FDR at Dowdell’s visit an area where FDR planted Knob. longleaf pine and another longleaf pine stand near Warm Springs. BotSoc News, September 2009  Field Trip Reports 3. Confirm your conclusion with eco- than those of large gallberry (I. logical and distributional information. coriacea). While looking at Florida Plant ID Workshop For example, if you ID the plant as Clethra torreya (Torreya taxifolia), we had January 17-18, 2009 acuminata, a mountain species, yet you the opportunity for some “hands on” are in the Coastal Plain, the plant is likely learning: torreya needles are painful

Bullock County to be C. alnifolia. If possible, figure out to grasp; yew needles are not. what led you astray (e.g. poor analysis or There was much more to see than A working knowledge of plant termi- a mistake in keying or both). weather and time permitted. The nology and the ability to key plants can Hattaway shared such practical tips as: Garden is beautifully laid out on an be hard to acquire. Bobby Hattaway’s “A woody plant that’s difficult to ID is bound old farmstead with many interest- workshop at Georgia Southern Univer- to be a persimmon, black gum, deciduous ing native and heritage plants and sity was a push in the right direction holly, in the heath family, or an oak” and “If contemporary sculptures. for those of us who hope to some day you have to stare, it ain’t there - except with Perhaps soon we’ll have a follow identify plants on our own. stipules.” He stressed the importance of up workshop to put our new skills We began with an overview of plant a typical plant sample. For example, very to use: a day in a high diversity eco- systematics and the somewhat turbu- large leaves might not be an identifying system with tables for manuals and lent nature of plant classification. After feature but rather the result of the plant’s equipment set up under an outdoor an introduction to the concept of plant being cut back. Oaks in particular produce pavilion - and an expert like Bobby family and detailed discussion of several vigorous sucker growth when cut back. Hattaway to guide us. families, we put our new knowledge to After a review of class material on Ellen Corrie, Tifton work on specimens brought in for the Sunday morning, we braved class. It was quickly apparent that there the cold and rain at the GSU is no substitute for hands-on experi- Botanical Garden to reinforce ence, especially if given the opportunity some of the terms and family to use a dissecting microscope. and diagnostic characteristics We struggled (some more than oth- we’d just learned - or at least ers) to distinguish inferior versus supe- been exposed to. We saw the rior ovary, berry versus drupe, actino- ocrea or stipular scar encircl- morphic versus zygomorphic flower. We ing the twig in Magnoliaceae learned that plant identification comes ( family) and the in- down to a three-step process: terpetiolar stipules or stipular 1. Analyze the plant’s vegetative and re- scar connecting petioles in productive characteristics without a key. Rubiaceae (Madder family). In learning to ID plant families, there is no substitute for 2. Key the plant, preferably using a book We saw that inkberry (Ilex gla- hands-on experience - preferably with a good dissecting that has keys to families. bra) leaves are indeed blunter microscope. Photo by Maureen Donohue.

to wear as well! It’s only in the mid 40’s, and suggests Boott’s sedge (C. picta). but with the constant wind it feels quite Weakley notes that it is “locally abun- ast Palisades E cold. Steve Bowling and a colleague, Chris dant and forms doughnut clumps, Chattahoochee Brookshire, show up along with John sometimes aggregated to form a River NRA Little, Carol Schneier and Parrie Pinyon. coarse turf.” I walk down slope and January 30, 2009 Maureen Donohue is our leader and she examine about a dozen clumps - all Fulton County takes us down the Indian Trail. I’m on new exhibiting the “doughnut” form and On a blustery, brilliant, blue-sky day ground. In nearly 30 years in Atlanta, I’ve appearing almost as a lawn on the eight BotSoccers arrive at the Indian never been on this trail before. slope. The leaves are about 4mm Trail parking lot of the Chattahoochee Wandering down a cove, I spot a sedge wide and 10-12 mm long with many River NRA. Shortly after I get there, that covers at least three acres on a north- yellowed under the duff and green Charles Seabrook says that just the oth- facing 30 degree slope as a discontinuous surface. Steve states his speculation er day he told someone about his friend but obvious ground cover. I recognize it that C. picta likes situations with Scott Ranger who is never seen on the as a Carex immediately, but have no idea more that average calcium. trail without shorts, no matter what the about the species. When Steve comes, he Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia weather. Today I’m in long pants, and mentions C. pensylvanica but that is one macrophylla) and chalk maple (Acer not only that, when I left the house, I of the few I’m familiar with, and this is not leucoderme) are abundant in this turned around and got another layer it. Steve points out a “fairy ring” structure cove, both mafic indicator species. 10 BotSoc News, September 2009 Field Trip Reports Magnolia leaves, not yet skeletonized, and have never found any sharp-lobed before the north end of the trail. The litter the forest floor. Tawny maple leaves hepatica in the Atlanta area. canes are easily 50 feet tall, maybe are mostly still on the trees, characteristic We come upon two ferns, both quite taller. Since I have my diameter tape of the species and one way to tell it from young that just don’t look like our na- with me, I measure about a dozen Southern sugar maple (A. barbatum). tive marginal wood fern (Dryopteris and the champion for the day is 4.75 Gorge or punctatum rhododendron marginalis) that is common in the river inches in diameter - 14.5 inches in (Rhododendron minus) is common along gorge. These have intermediate sori with circumference. Virtually every in- the lower slopes and the river. The leaves the more blunt pinnae of marginal fern. ternodal space is 12 inches! are longer, narrower-lanceolate and duller It turns out to be Autumn or Japanese Someone broke off a cantaloupe- than mountain laurel and don’t form the sized ball of a lion’s mane fungus little umbrella at the end like mountain (Hericium erinaceus) with long teeth laurel. The buds are about a half inch with tips for us to examine. tall and a quarter inch wide. Steve tells a Steve and I enjoy a debate about funny story about the name: “In Bat Cave, fire. He mentions these woods prob- NC I heard a local man refer to the plant as ably burned on the order of every 25 ‘punkin tater bush.’ Only later did I real- years or so. I tell him that I’m be- ize that this was probably left over from coming a curmudgeonly skeptic on when this species was collected for the fire in the Piedmont. My experience nursery trade. At the time, the scientific here is that fire is uncommon, and name would have been Rhododendron not simply because it is suppressed. punctatum; hence, the common name I ask him to take a look at the bases punctatum and the probable origin of the of the large trees to find fire scars. local name punkin tater.” We do this for most of the walk Two toothworts have erupted and I and find none! Lightning is com- have no idea how to tell the leaves apart mon, but so is moisture. If Steve at this stage. Steve says “I think of Car- is right, cool ground fires probably marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis) damine angustata as having no, or little Illustration from Britton & Brown, 1913. would not leave much evidence, peppery taste; the presence of some pep- USDA-NRCS Plants Database. but tree-base charring should be pery taste usually indicates that there has shield fern (D. erythrosora). Steve says common if fires are common, and been mixing with C. diphylla.” I pull one he’s finding more of this fern in urban stumps should have fire damage leaf to eat - it tastes like wasabi! buffer areas as it is common in the hor- near ground level when cut and ex- Round-lobed hepatica or liverleaf ticultural trade. amined. I simply find this rare from (Anemone americana) has leaves newly Giant timber bamboo (Phyllostachys my all too little sampling. emerged for this season. I keep looking for bambusoides) forms a 2-acre forest just Scott Ranger, Marietta

most spectacular bloom of trout lilies and even endangered in Florida. The olf Creek & you’ll see anywhere.” plant, whose name comes from its W He wasn’t exaggerating. On a gentle, speckled leaves resembling a trout’s ost reek L C north-facing slope along Wolf Creek skin, is much more common in North February 21 & 22, 2009 west of the city of Cairo, near the Florida Georgia, where it thrives in moist, state line, acres of yellow-flowered cool, rich soil - and is a harbinger Grady & Thomas Counties trout lilies carpeted the forest floor. of spring because of its February Everywhere I looked, as far as the eye bloom time. Despite Georgia’s rampant development could see through the woods, thousands The trout lilies, though, weren’t and land clearing, numerous little- of trout lilies were in full bloom. I have the only early bloomers at the Wolf known natural places of amazing beauty seen mass colonies of flowering trout Creek site. Also in bloom were - untouched by chain saw or bulldozer lilies elsewhere, but nothing like this. scores of relatively rare spotted - still exist in the state and take my breath Discovered a few years ago by trilliums (Trillium maculatum) away when I first see them. Such was the southwest Georgia botanist Angus sporting their eye-catching maroon case last weekend when my botanist friend Gholson, the Wolf Creek forest is now flowers. Other wildflowers of note Ed McDowell of Warner Robins took me called the greatest expanse of trout lilies (but not blooming last weekend) at to a 140-acre hardwood forest bordering in the world. What also makes this mass the site include three wild orchid Wolf Creek in Grady County in southwest blooming so unusual is that the trout lily species - crane fly, green fly and Georgia. The forest, Ed said, harbors “the is considered a rarity in South Georgia - twayblade orchids. BotSoc News, September 2009 11 Field Trip Reports Wolf Creek’s botanical richness City Council - to protect prompted conservation groups it as a natural preserve - the Georgia Botanical Society rather than develop it and the native plant societies of into an industrial park. Florida and Georgia - to work for Helping lead the battle is permanent protection of the tract. Beth Grant of Thomasville. Toward that end, the Georgia Land As she led us through the Conservation Program in 2008 forest last weekend, she contributed $342,000, half of the pointed out beech, white property’s purchase price. Most of oak and chestnut oak trees the rest has come from donations. more than a century old - However, $52,000 still is needed evidence that the hardwood to complete the deal this spring. If forest probably has existed it isn’t forthcoming, the state could A large crowd turned out for a first hand look at Wolf Creek and its for centuries. “It makes no revoke its grant and preservation astounding population of trout lilies. Photo by Anita Reaves. sense now to turn it into an of the site could be in jeopardy. industrial park,” she said. [Editor’s note: Dan Miller reports that a battles continue. We also visited the site private donor stepped forward with the of one of those efforts - the 200-acre Lost Excerpted by permission from the remaining funds and as of June 15 Wolf Creek Creek forest in Thomas County in South article “Natural Beauty Still Has is owned by Grady County and managed as a Georgia. A local citizens group is trying Its Spots” by Charles Seabrook for passive nature preserve.] hard to persuade the tract’s owners - the the Atlanta Journal-Constitution For other groups, the save-the-land County Commission and the Thomasville Sunday, March 01, 2009 edition.

leaves poked through the leaf litter, and coral honeysuckle (Lonicera Pilgrimage Field Trip nearby a lone trillium (Trillium cuneatum) sempervirens) sprouted. Armuchee Elementary bloomed. Beside the stream, all along While walking along Scenic the basin rim, multitudes of windflowers Road, the hikers examined School April 03, 2009 (Anemone quinquefolia) showed fine several beautiful lichens along Floyd County form accompanied by roundlobe liverleaf the shoulder, including British (Hepatica americana). Toothwort soldiers (Cladonia cristatella) Students at Armuchee Elementary (Dentaria heterophylla) and spring beauty and reindeer moss (Cladina School can walk out the school’s back door (Claytonia virginica) were plentiful, but rangiferina). into a 25 acre campus that includes The Armuchee School ten acres of largely undisturbed campus adjoins the 20,000+ mixed pine and hardwood forest. acre Berry College Wildlife Running across bedrock, a beautiful Management Area. Just clear stream brims with crawdads, upstream from the campus salamanders, small fish, periwinkle is an abandoned railroad snails, and all sorts of macro- bed dating to the 1800s invertebrate life. The stone outcrops and a small pond that was on the face of the small steep bluff constructed by the Civilian that overlooks the stream host a Conservation Corps in the variety of wildflowers throughout the 1930s. The springs and rocky growing season. seep that feed the pond are The Bot Soc group, led by Jim lush with flora. Just across Drake and Armuchee teacher Terrell Scenic Road from the side BotSoccers enjoying themselves at Armuchee School. Shaw, tramped along the meandering Photo by Jim Drake. entrance is another section trail, down a hill toward the stream of the Berry WMA and the basin. Along the way, bluestar (Amsonia only a few were still in flower. Farther larger Armuchee Creek. All of tabernaemontana) in bud grew near along the trail grew a few rue anemones these elements of the campus the trail while climbing hydrangea (Thalictrum thalictroides). As the group and adjoining areas make it rich (Decumaria barbara) hugged a nearby proceeded up the far rim toward the with opportunities to examine, tree. On the basin floorTipularia discolor paved road, some leafy stems of a small discover, appreciate and learn 12 BotSoc News, September 2009 Field Trip Reports principles of zoology, botany, ecology, the stream specimens of lovely wood circle down to the stream and back. hydrology and other sciences. betony (Pedicularis canadensis) had An outdoor classroom and stage were From Scenic Road, the group walked begun opening, a patch of dwarf crested built along the trail. The school has along the deserted railway bed onto the irises ( cristata) opened fully, and participated in the effort to reestablish Berry College . Although quite more rue anemones decorated the sturgeon in local rivers. The school’s early in the season, several interesting streambank. Later in the year many students are the only elementary school wildflowers made appearances. Lizard’s additional flowers should be in full group in history to propose and win tail (Saururus cernuus) leaves could be bloom. passage of a state law - the adoption seen sprouting from the seep areas. Jim Drake, Suwanee of the Green Tree Frog as our official Sprouts of what were believed to be state amphibian. turtleheads (Chelone spp.) dotted the Field Trip Editor’s note: Armuchee Recently teachers and students area along with fiddleheads of netted Elementary School has tried since its wrote and won a Department of Natural chain fern (Woodwardia areolata). inception to use this special outdoor Resources grant to extend the nature A couple of small Southern adder’s environment as a context for learning. trail and purchase books and equipment tongue ferns (Ophioglossum spp.) were Each classroom opens onto a courtyard to continue nature studies into the spotted around the fringes of the seep. garden where plants have been grown as future. Two beautiful bridges have been On the return trail, a patch of pawpaw host plants for butterflies. Hundreds of built over the stream to give students (Asimina triloba) displayed its dark monarch butterflies have been captured access to more of the campus. A third maroon blooms and one clump of and tagged as part of the Monarch bridge will be installed in the next few (Yucca filamentosa) was noted. Watch program. A bog garden has weeks. With help from former Georgia Back on Armuchee campus trail, been constructed, a grove of American Botanical Society president, Richard a few stems of Catesby’s trillium chestnuts planted and a fountain model Ware, a database listing and photo (Trillium catesbaei) emerged near of Rome’s three rivers built. Early on collection of plants on the campus is

the stream crossing bridge. Along a small nature trail was constructed to well underway.

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