BotSoc News, January 2010  Volume 84 Number 1 January 2010

Georgia Botanical Society

ll hail the apple maggot AAs Darwin so famously claimed 150 years ago, natural selection drives the origin of species. While IN THIS ISSUE: most of us think of evolutionary change as occurring over hundreds of thousands of years, eco- logical speciation (also known as reproductive isolation) can occur within just a few generations. In a recent commentary for the New York Times, evolutionary biologist Olivia Judson discusses Society News – how quickly populations of our native phytophagous insects become reproductively isolated after p2 colonizing introduced exotic plants. Thinking of these new species, Ms. Judson argues that just as we bemoan extinctions, we might also take time to celebrate the arrival of new species - and Book Review - to illustrate her point, offers up the apple maggot as reason enough for a party. p3 Rhagoletis pomonella, the apple maggot fly, is So why don’t we consider the apple special- in the process of splitting into two species. Until ists a new species? Because they aren’t quite all The Native the mid-1800s, R. pomonella was a hawthorn the way there. From time to time, flies reared Garden - on apple will come to hawthorn to mate. And fly: adults met at hawthorn fruits to mate and p4 lay eggs. But when apples were introduced to although the offspring of such a mating are North America, some less likely to survive, they haw flies found these aren’t inviable or sterile. Upcoming fruits attractive places to This means that there is Field Trips – gather and began to mate still a low level of “gene p6 and lay their eggs on ap- flow” - i.e., successful sex ples instead. Today, the - between the two groups. Field Trip population of flies that But because offspring from Report – like apples have become such matings have a sur- genetically distinct from vival disadvantage, it seems p11 those that like haw. likely that there will come There are a couple a time when the separation of reasons why. First, flies meet each other at will be complete, and we will be able to raise a fruits. Since most flies have a preference for one cheer of welcome for the newly speciated apple fruit over the other, haw-preferring flies tend to maggot. Yippee! meet other haw-preferring flies, and ditto for I can sense your excitement. And perhaps apple flies. that’s the real reason we don’t celebrate apple Second, these mating preferences are rein- maggots, or any of the other new species (and forced by differences in how well the flies survive. there are many we know about) that are in the Attributes that help maggots survive on haw are process of evolving. For when a new species different from those that promote survival on does appear, it’s just not that different from Photo of the apples. Apple trees produce fruits earlier than the old species. To evolve the flamboyant dif- apple maggot fly hawthorn, and apple-specialists must thus ferences that distinguish a swan from a duck, (Rhagoletis pomonella) or a human from a chimpanzee - that takes from Central Science emerge from their pupae earlier, or they risk Laboratory, Harpenden missing the fruit. Emergence is under genetic thousands, even millions, of years. Archive, British Crown, control, so you might expect that apple flies and And that is what we lose with extinction. bugwood.org. haw flies would have genes that predispose them to emerge at different times - and they do. As a Exerpted from “All Hail the Apple Maggot” consequence, if, say, an apple fly should happen by Olivia Judson (http://judson.blogs.nytimes. to go to a haw instead and mate with a haw fly, com/2008/11/18/all-hail-the-apple-maggot/). their offspring will have a mix of haw and apple genes. It will thus be poorly suited to both fruits and less likely to survive.  BotSoc News, January 2010 Society News

2010 Field Trips & Workshops We have an extensive and varied schedule We’ll continue to visit our state parks: Sweet- next year. There are several new locations: McIn- water Creek for spring wildflowers, Providence BotSoc News tosh Reserve in Carroll County, the Monastery of Canyon for Plumleaf Azela, and Stone Mountain is published seven times a year (Jan, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Rockdale County, park for trout lilies. And we’ll offer a series of full Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Paulding Forest in Paulding County, and the and half day trips in the Chattahoochee River Nov and for the Freeman trail in Lumpkin County. NRA throughout the flowering seasons. Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage). This year we are offering several North Plant inventories will continue at Redtop Submission deadline Carolina trips, one for a weekend and two for Mountain State Park. is February 1 for the a day each. March issue. We have scheduled two workshops: one on Subscriptions You have an opportunity to spend Memo- geology, entitled Rocks ‘n’ Bots and one on the are included with rial Day weekend walking and botanizing in the Environments of the Piedmont. Advance regis- membership. mountains. tration will be required for both.

Website: www.gabotsoc.org We’re continuing to broaden the days on We hope to offer a herbarium tour at UGA in which we offer trips with several more weekday Athens in late February, but are unable to con- Editorial Office trips and a few Sunday or Sunday afternoon firm the date as of press time. Please continue Jean Smith trips. to check the web site www.gabotsoc.org for the 1135 Barwick Hill Rd Comer, GA 30629 latest information. We’ll also send out an email ph 706.783.2308 We’re returning to old favorites too - the when we have more information. email: Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, the Lake Winfield jss2holly@ Scott Loop, Ocmulgee Bottomlands, and Oaky Maureen Donohue, windstream.net Woods in Houston County. Field Trip Chair

© 2010 Georgia Bo- tanical Society a private nonprofit organization under IRS 501(c)3. Founded in 1926.

Native Gardening in the Southeast Saturday, February 13, 2010 Chattahoochee Technical College The Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) invites all Georgia Botanical Society members to attend their 15th Plant Symposium at a special rate of $50. Among the topics to be presented are native vines, hollies, trilliums, plant identification, plant propagation, plant communities, and climate change and plant phenology.

Download a registration form and more information from their website (www.gnps.org) or call 770-343-6000. BotSoc News, January 2010  Book Review Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities reviewed by The term “natural” applied to various foods in Bob Linn grocery stores and elsewhere is often seen as an assurance of a more nutritious and healthful prod- Abraham Lincoln’s mother uct. However, as the recent book Wicked Plants: Nancy Hanks (and the exam- the Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other ple used in the book’s subtitle) Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart makes clear, died from “milk sickness” after the word “natural” often means just the opposite of drinking milk that had been healthful. While few plants are as vicious as Audrey tainted with white snakeroot II in the cult movie Little Shop of Horrors, wild (Eupatorium rugosum; now plants can summon defenses against predators just known as Agertina altissima). as animals can. In truth, it’s a jungle out there. In fact, several other members of the Lincoln family as well as neighbors died from the same source. It Wicked Plants: The Plants have evolved mechanisms like colorful Weed that Killed blooms and strong scents to attract friends (like bees is probably just chance that Abe himself was Lincoln’s Mother and other pollinators) but also use strategies like the not killed. White snakeroot is kin to Joe Pye and Other Botani- irritating oils in poison ivy to keep potential foes weed (E. purpureum), a plant reputed to have cal Atrocities medicinal value. away. Often, plants with attractive blooms can have written by Amy very unattractive side effects. For example, monks- Stewart hood (Aconitum napellus) is a beautiful wildflower Stewart’s book does much more than simply that is also extremely toxic. Gardeners are advised report on poisonous plants. She also includes illustrated by short chapters on psychoactive plants, car- Briony Morrow- to wear gloves around the plant and its carrot-like Cribbs root is deadly when eaten. In 2004, the Canadian nivorous plants, and destructive plants (think actor Andre Noble died after eating monkshood on kudzu). All of this is done in brief informative Hardcover a hike. chapters that make this an entertaining book 223 pages to browse. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill While Aconitum napellus is a European native, other Chapel Hill, NC Aconitum species grow in the US, both in the wild One serious idea that comes out of Stewart’s 2009 and as hybrids for gardens. They are all poisonous discussions is the idea that “natural” is not to some degree. Of interest is the fact that Aconitum a useful word when applied to supposedly is part of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family and healthful products. Nature is filled with incred- that its roots can be mistaken for horseradish. Not ible beauty as well as unbelievable ugliness only is the plant deadly, it’s tricky. and with both beneficial plants and deadly ones. Sometimes people take herbal remedies Recent scholarship has suggested that the Lewis and because they are labeled “natural,” but what Clark expedition was nearly ruined by a wild plant. makes a remedy beneficial is not the plant itself Expedition members may gave eaten Zigadenus but the active chemicals in it. The ingredients elegans, helpfully called “death camas” (though of death camas are natural, but include the not labeled as such for the explorers) while they poisonous compound tremetol as an active were in an area near the Bitterroot Mountains. ingredient. Plants are studied to determine if Stewart quotes dietician Elaine Nelson McIntosh, these active ingredients are beneficial (digitalis who thinks that death camas was mistaken for the in foxglove, for example), dangerous (tremetol edible blue camas (Camassia quamash). This error in death camas) or simply non-existent (tests caused serious illness among expedition members have shown that Echinacea has no effect on for two weeks. Z. elegans grows only in the western colds though it is not harmful either). U.S. In north Georgia, C. scilloides or wild hyacinth is a non-poisonous relative. A National Geographic Like our instructions to field trip participants, website warns, “No plants of the genus Zigadenus this book admonishes BotSoccers to not pick should ever be eaten.” And so you are warned. the plants but also warns us not to snack on  BotSoc News, January 2010 The Native Garden Growing natives isn’t always easy Some georgia plants to challenge any gardener A typical list of native plants for the by Hal Massie landscape is usually based on some ornamental aspect or the value of the The natural range of this plant is plant to wildlife. Not so in this case. from southern Virginia to Georgia All of these plants do have ornamental (Bryan County), in the outer coastal quality or wildlife value, but the factor plain. It is usually found in pocosins, that binds them all, from a cultivation Carolina bays, and the edges of ponds, perspective, is that none of them are typically in areas of deep peat soils. It easy to grow! sometimes grows in association with Over the years, I’ve grown quite a Sarracenia flava, yellow pitcher plant. few unique and interesting plants. I’ve This suggests that zenobia prefers a always liked the challenge of growing moist habitat, yet many books will tell rare plants, particularly rare natives, you to plant it in “well drained soils”. and I like having obscure plants in the In reality, dusty zenobia requires very garden to stump visitors. Sometimes moist soils, at least until it is estab- I’ll try a plant that isn’t particularly lished. There is a fine planting of dusty rare, but has a reputation for being zenobia behind the Discovery Center hard to grow. at Callaway Gardens. The zenobias The key word is “try”. I have to con- are planted right up to the waterline fess that I am not always successful. of Mountain Creek Lake in very wet, If you like growing natives in the Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha) mucky soil. Drawing from the Library of Congress in James L. landscape and are up to a serious chal- Ravel’s Gentle Conquest, The Botanical Discovery of Zenobia often has very glaucous lenge, try these plants: North America. leaves, sometimes giving the plant a the very edge of a slope under the high powder blue effect. A few cultivars have Franklinia alatamaha: If a plant shade of mixed pine and hardwoods. been selected based on the glaucous fo- that is extinct in the wild can be called The planting area was amended with liage. The blue leaves and very fragrant rare, Franklinia is the rarest plant in perlite, sand, and ground pine bark to flowers (like so many members of the Georgia. Discovered in 1765 by John improve drainage. Ericaceae) make zenobia a challenge and William Bartram, this shrub of the All of the large Franklinias that I tea family (Theaceae) hasn’t been seen have seen in botanical gardens were again in the wild since at least 1803. planted in similar conditions – slopes Fortunately for the horticultural world, under high shade. I do find it curious the Bartrams collected specimens in that Franklinia, a plant supposedly en- 1770 and grew them, quite success- demic to southeastern Georgia, thrives fully, in their Philadelphia garden. All in Pennsylvania. What clue does this Franklinias in the nursery trade today offer about the cultivation of Franklin- are descended from those plants. ia, or even the origins of this mysterious My experience with growing this plant? Is it a relict that was pushed shrub ranges from death within weeks south by ice and then stranded? to one plant that lived for over nine years. That particular plant bloomed Zenobia pulverulenta: Zenobia, twice before succumbing, possibly to also known as honeycups or dusty zeno- drought. It appears that the critical bia, is a small shrub in the heath family factor in cultivating this plant is perfect (Ericaceae). Of the difficult plants on drainage. The Franklinia specimen this list, zenobia is the one that I have that I had the most success with spent never successfully grown for any period four years in large pots before I planted of time. I have killed this plant over it in the ground. When I finally decided and over, trying different soils and Zenobia (Zenobia pulverulenta) to dig a hole, I planted the Franklinia at techniques to no avail. Drawing from USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. BotSoc News, January 2010  The Native Garden worth pursuing. Yes, despite my failure Carolina; and the National Champion is difficult to grow in containers, which to grow this plant more times than I torreya is a 60-foot tall monster in War- seems counter-intuitive. I suspect the care to admit, I will try again. ren County, North Carolina. real problem is overwatering. Not only Torreya is probably the easiest does this plant prefer well drained sandy Torreya taxifolia: Torreya is a feder- plant on this list to grow – I have had soil, it also doesn’t like to be pampered. ally endangered conifer that grows in fair success growing it, with drought Fellow gardener and amateur bota- ravines on the east side of the Apala- seemingly the greatest enemy in gar- nist Chris Inhulsen overcame the clay chicola River. It is restricted to the den settings. Like so many plants that problem by creating his own sandhill Florida panhandle and one county in are difficult to grow, Torreya prefers a habitat. He mounded sand on top of southwest Georgia. Also referred to as fairly narrow range of “well drained, his native garden soil and then planted Florida torreya or Florida nutmeg, it moist soil”. Growing the plants on a a variety of sandhill specialists, includ- was once called stinking cedar because slope, in deep leaf litter and high shade ing species of Conradina, Clinopodium, the crushed leaves have an unpleas- yields the best results. Keeping it well Agave, Hypericum, Opuntia...and hairy ant odor. The needles are dark green, watered in periods of drought is critical rattleweed. I hope to try this myself, sharp, and reminiscent of a yew. In and probably the leading cause of my provided I can find hairy rattleweed in fact, Torreya is in the yew family own failures with Torreya. the nursery trade again. (Taxaceae). Baptisia arachnifera: Hairy rattle- Magnolia pyramidata: Pyramid weed or hairy wild indigo is a Federally magnolia is perhaps the smallest of Endangered baptisia endemic to sand- hills in Wayne and Brantley Counties of Georgia. The leaves have a cobweb-like pubescence which gives them a blue-

Torreya (Torreya taxifolia) hairy rattleweed (Baptisia arachnifera) pyramid magnolia (Magnolia pyramidata) Drawing by Jean Hancock in Linda Chafin’sField Guide Drawing by Jean Hancock in Linda Chafin’sField Guide Drawing by Melanie Darst in Robert Godfrey’s Trees, to the Rare Plants of Georgia. to the Rare Plants of Georgia. Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Northern Florida and Adjacent Georgia & Alabama. In the wild, Torreya suffers from a fungal blight that has decimated natural gray cast. The color and arrangement populations. An extensive propagation of the leaves reminds me of a eucalyp- our magnolias, usually only reaching a effort by botanical gardens and groups tus tree. The flowers are a bright, clear height of twenty feet, though individual like the Georgia Plant Conservation yellow which contrasts nicely with the specimens of much greater height are Alliance has yielded very encouraging leaves. Hairy rattleweed is a member of known. This magnolia occurs in the results. Curiously, Torreya, somewhat the bean family (Fabaceae), but isn’t as Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont re- like Franklinia, seems to thrive away easy to grow as most baptisias. gion usually on steep, but mesic slopes. from its natural range, especially far- Because hairy rattleweed is adapted Mature trees can be fairly easily ac- ther north and in mountainous areas. to sandhills, it requires sharp drainage. cessed in both Providence Canyon State There are fine specimens of Torreya at I believe most people have trouble with Park and Sprewell Bluff State Park. the entrance of the Wildflower Trail this plant because they try to grow it in at Callaway Gardens; it thrives on the clay soils. Ironically, I’ve had several continued on page 10 grounds of the Biltmore Estate in North nurserymen tell me that hairy rattleweed  BotSoc News, January 2010 Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

Jan 30 Rocks ‘n’ Bots of Georgia: Savoring I-75 to Cumberland Blvd Exit. From the Scott Ranger Our Landscape, Cobb County north, turn right to Cobb Parkway, (US41) 9:00 AM From the vast flatness of the outer coastal and turn right onto Cobb Parkway, and left scottranger@ plain to the rounded tops of the Blue Ridge, on Riverwood Parkway. Turn left into the comcast.net NOTE Georgia has an abundance of landscape to DECU facility, the large brick building on early savor. How did all this come to be? Were the left. Park in the separate white garage 770.429.1836 start the ancient mountains created when Africa to the left of the DECU building. From time. collided with North America really taller than the south, turn left at the Cumberland the Himalayas? Is the Blue Ridge the rem- Blvd exit and then follow the directions Meet at nant of this continental collision? How did all above. From I-285, use exit 20 to Cobb For questions DECU. this “granite” in the Piedmont form? What’s Parkway (US41 South), turn left (south) about directions: going on with these monadnocks anyway? go past Cumberland Mall on right. Turn Maureen Donohue Why is Lookout Mountain’s top so flat and right at Riverwood Parkway and left into its sides so steep? Where did all that sand the DECU facility. macaire75@ and clay in the coastal plain come from? att.net Can you really tell geology from botany? Delta Community Credit Union (DECU) Why is the Pocket of Pigeon Mountain so 3250 Riverwood Parkway 770.818.9303 rich, and so full of plants of northern affinity? Atlanta, GA 30339 678.687.7963 And what’s with all these loblolly and slash Facilities: Restrooms at the credit cell for day of pines? If you’ve ever wondered to yourself union. Port-a-Potty in the park. workshop only about questions like this but didn’t know Bring: Picnic lunch to eat in the park, where to go for an answer, join with Scott along the Chattahoochee River, $3.00 Ranger for a workshop on the geology and parking fee or annual pass, notepaper, related botany of Georgia. The morning in- pen and pencil, water bottle for after- cludes an illustrated talk and the afternoon noon walk, comfortable walking shoes. a hands-on exploration of some of the most fascinating geology of the Southeast, the Registration required, Brevard Fault Zone. contact Scott, preferably via email.

A trip to the University of Georgia Herbarium with a demonstration of plant mounting is tentatively scheduled for late February. Please contact Maureen Donohue if you are interested in participating: [email protected]; 678-687-7963.

Feb 15 Powers Island Chattahoochee River From I-285 West, take exit 22, turn right Maureen Donohue NRA, Fulton County on to New Northside Drive. Use the Monday We normally visit this park unit in the through lane to pick up Interstate North 770.818.9303 1:00 PM Spring, but now we’ll take a wonderful Parkway. Powers Island is 0.6 mi on the winter stroll along the river, enjoying the right before the river. From I-285 East, 678.687.7963 Meet in views. Then a good walk up the hill to see take exit 22. Go to 2nd traffic light and cell for day of the park- if we find any early signs of the wildflow- turn left onto New Northside Drive. Use walk only ing lot ers that will bloom in April. the through lane to pick up Interstate nearest North Parkway. Follow as above. For macaire75@ Pavillon. directions from other areas, contact att.net leader. Walking: Easy, ~2.5 mi. One moderate hill. Facilities: Restrooms at pavilion Bring: Good walking shoes, water, snacks, camera BotSoc News, January 2010  Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

Feb 20 Slide Show, Exploring the Natural From the West, take I-285E to Exit 29. Turn Scott Ranger History of Southeast Alaska, Dun- left onto Ashford Dunwoody Rd. Bear right 10:00 AM woody Library, Dekalb County onto Mt. Vernon Rd. Turn right on Chamblee 770.429.1836 Alaska was purchased for a mere pit- Dunwoody Rd. The Library is on the left. Meet at tance ($7.2 million) because the Rus- Fom the East, take I-285 North or West to Exit scottranger@ library sians destroyed their golden goose 29 Turn right on to Ashford Dunwoody Rd. comcast.net in the (fur seals and sea otters). Joe Juneau Continue right on Mt. Vernon Rd. Follow as Williams and Richard Harris initiated the next above. Room. pillaging reign when they were led to Bring: Notebook, pencils and your curiosity. gold by a Tlingit Indian. The Tongass Facilities: On site. National Forest has lost 80% of its big trees. What’s next in the human Dunwoody Library history of SE AK? Join Scott Ranger 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road who will delight us with his recent ad- Dunwoody,GA 30338 ventures in Southeast Alaska. 770.512.4640

Mar 5 West Palisades, Paces Mill, Chatta- From I-75S: Cumberland Blvd exit. Turn right Maureen Donohue Friday hoochee River NRA, Cobb County end of exit ramp to reach Cobb Pway, US41. We’ll walk to Rottenwood Creek to Turn left (downhill) to just beyond the BP station 770.818.9303 1:00 pm see the trout lilies’ hillside display and at Paces Mill Rd. Turn right at the large brown along the way, see toothwort, blood- National Park sign. From I-75N: Mt Paran Rd 678.687.7963 Note root and toadshade trillium in bloom. exit. Turn left at exit ramp and right on Northside/ cell phone for date & Eastern redbud will start flowering US41 (becomes Cobb Parkway after the river). day of walk only time! now too. Green-and-gold leaves will Turn left at National Park sign before Paces Mill be out and black cohosh will reappear, Rd. For other directions, contact leader. macaire75@ Meet at although not blooming yet. Afterwards, Walking: 1 mi round trip on a paved easy trail. att.net Paces depending on time and weather, we Terrain for optional 2nd walk is easy downhill, Mill park- may head upriver via foot or car to the but moderately steep uphill return. ing lot. next unit about a mile away to find wild Facilities: Port-a-potty at Paces Mill. geranium and other forest delights. Bring: comfortable walking shoes, hand lens, Paces Mill Unit, 3445 Cobb Parkway, $3.00 parking fee or annual pass, water, camera, Atlanta, GA 30339. field guide.

Mar 7 Trout Lilies at Stone Mountain From US 78 take the Stone Mountain Park exit. Jane Trentin Park, DeKalb County If entering from East Gate (Athens area), bear janetrentin@ Sunday We will see areas of Stone Mountain right at road fork before depot. Continue to Con- yahoo.com Note Park that are carpeted in blooming federate Hall and the Walk Up Trail parking lot 770.978.1839 date! trout lilies. There should also be on left. If entering from West Gate (Atlanta area), 770.598.5291 some hepatica in bloom at this time. bear right and turn left into the Walk Up Trail cell Meet at There will be an option for those parking lot. To avoid $8 - $10 parking fee, meet 10 AM who do not want to walk the whole outside the park (at 9:45) at Marta bus parking lot Susan Cowan at Walk way around the mountain on the on 4th Street in Stone Mountain Village for short 770.483.6523 Up Trail Cherokee Trail to view the trout lilies walk to gate across from Walk Up Trail. 770.313.0145 parking a short distance beyond the Nature Facilities: Bathrooms at the meeting place cell lot near Garden and then return to their cars and spaced at intervals along the trail restroom on their own. For those who wish to Walking: Mostly easy with some rocky, root Susan will meet or at 9:45 walk the 6.2 miles around the moun- crossed sections on well maintained trails. people at 4th at the tain, plan to bring a trail lunch. Some areas where we walk on rock may be Street Marta lot Marta lot slick if there has been rain. at 9:45 to walk on 4th Bring: $8 to $10 parking fee inside Park. into park. street.  BotSoc News, January 2010 Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

Georgia Botanical Society Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Bainbridge and SW Georgia March 12 - 14, 2010 Use the registration form in the pilgrimage issue (coming to your mailbox soon) or download the registration form and pilgrimage information from gabotsoc.org. Registration deadline is February 16, 2010.

Mar 20 Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy From I-20 exit 82, turn south onto GA Hwy Jim Allison Spirit, Conyers, Rockdale County 20/138. Proceed 1.2 mi to the 4th traffic light, 10:00 AM Assisted by naturalist Francis then turn right to stay on Hwy 138. Proceed 4 Michael Stiteler (the Monastery’s mi to traffic light at Hwy 212 and turn left. Go 706.818.0210 Meet abbot, i.e. Head Honcho), we will another 2.5 mi. Entrance is on the left, at the at the tour some developed areas of bottom of a hill. At the end of a long entry drive jimbotany@ parking interest and open to the general flanked by magnolias, look for parking lot on aol.com lot for the public and then hike to see early right at the gift shop. From I-75 exit 216, turn gift shop. spring wildflowers at several places left onto GA Hwy 155. In McDonough continue on the nearly 2000 acres of this straight onto GA Hwy 20 and continue for 11 Trappist monastery. At least one mi. Turn left onto GA Hwy 212 (Kinnet Rd). plant rare in Georgia should be in Immediately after turning left onto Hwy 212, bloom, Corydalis flavula (yellow turn left again to stay on 212. In ~4 mi, the fumewort). This will apparently be Monastery entrance will be on your right, at the society’s first field trip to this the bottom of a hill. Park as instructed above. famous Greater Atlanta landmark. Facilities: Rest rooms available near meeting Find general information about the and lunch locations. Monastery at http://www.trappist. Walking: Easy to moderate; carpooling will be net/. combined with short hikes. Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery Lunch: Bring a picnic lunch (to eat indoors in 2625 Highway 212 SW event of inclement weather). Conyers, GA 30094-4044 Bring: Dress for weather of the day. Entry and 770-483-8705 parking are free.

Mar 21 Spring Wildflowers at West From I-75S: Cumberland Blvd exit. Turn right Jerry Hightower Sunday Palisades, Chattahoochee River end of exit ramp to reach Cobb Pway, US41. Note day! NRA, Fulton County Turn left (downhill) to just beyond the BP sta- 770.206.0338 We’ll celebrate the start of spring tion at Paces Mill Rd. Turn right at the large and look at the early spring forest brown National Park sign. From I-75N: Mt 678.538.1245 10:00 AM and great views from atop West Paran Rd exit. Turn left at exit ramp and right cell phone for Palisades Ridge. The hike will lead on Northside/US41 (becomes Cobb Parkway day of walk only Meet at us across the upper section of Trout after the river). Turn left at National Park sign Paces Lily Creek, through a mature oak- before Paces Mill Rd. jerry_hightower Mill park- hickory forest. Walking: Moderately strenuous @nps.gov ing to Paces Mill Parking Area Facilities: At Paces Mill and at dispatch office shuttle to 3445 Cobb Parkway at Akers Mill. Akers Mill Atlanta, GA 30339 Bring: Annual pass or $3 parking fee. Lunch trail head. for forest picnic. Camera, hand lens and bin- Reservations required: oculars are recommended. 678-538-1200 BotSoc News, January 2010  Upcoming Field Trips

Date Description Directions Leader

Mar 27 Spring Wildflowers at Indian Trails From I-285 East: Take exit 22, Northside Jerry Hightower East Palisades, Chattahoochee Drive/ New Northside Dr/ Powers Ferry Rd. 10:00 AM River NRA. Fulton County Turn right on Northside Dr, then left to go un- 770.206.0338 We’ll look for spring wildflowers der I-285. Go through intersection at Powers Meet at along Indian Trail Ridge Trail to Ferry Rd where the name changes to North- 678.538.1245 Indian Charlie’s Trapping Creek, then up side Dr. Travel ~1 mi to Indian Trail. Turn cell phone for Trail park- the Salamander Creek Trail to en- right on Indian Trail which goes directly to the day of walk only ing area joy the view from Overlook Ridge. park. From I-285 West : Take exit 22, and go at bulletin We will then take Cabin Creek Trail straight to turn right at Northside Dr, in front of jerry_hightower board. through a beautiful forest to Cabin McDonalds. Continue ~1 mi, turning right on @nps.gov Creek. Along the way we hope to Indian Trail and follow as above. see hepatica, hastate violet, tooth- Facilities: Big trees and lots of bushes. wort, trilliums, May apple and more. Difficulty: Moderately strenuous, off trail for Jerry has been roaming these short sections. ridges since childhood, but don’t Bring: Annual pass or $3 parking fee. Lunch believe all of his tales. for forest picnic. Camera, hand lens and bin- East Palisades Unit/Indian Trail oculars are recommended. 1425 Indian Trail NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 Reservations required: 678-538-1200 Mar 27 Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Take I-75 exit 320. Go west on GA136, cross- Mike Christison Walker County ing US27 onto GA193 west into downtown 10:00 AM Every year we look forward to Lafayette. From South Main St, follow GA193 770.973.6482 spring and our return to the premier for 8 mi to Davis Crossroads at intersection Meet at spot in Georgia for early wildflow- with GA341. Turn left on Hog Jowl Rd (maybe 770.596.3564 Pocket ers! This area, part of the Cumber- unmarked, but paved), go south 2.6 mi passing cell for day of Cove land Plateau, contains many plant Mt Herman Baptist Church. At next hill top, turn walk only parking species rare to our state. We will left onto Pocket Rd and drive 1.2 mi to parking area. be looking for Virginia bluebells, lot on left. mikepaddler@ celandine poppy, bent trillium, Ohio Facilities: None; restaurants in Lafayette. netscape.net buckeye, twin leaf and a variety of Difficulty: Short & easy from parking lot. other early spring flowers. Optional moderately strenuous to falls and off trail to twin leaf site. Bring: Lunch for parking lot picnic. Mar 28 Spring Wildflowers, Sweetwater From Atlanta take I-20 West to Exit 44, Thorn- John Manion Sunday Creek State Park, Douglas County ton Road. Turn left and go ¼ mile. Turn right A moderate 5 mile walk with some on Blairs Bridge Rd. After 2 miles, turn left on 540.894.6551 1:00 PM strenuous spots over rocks along Mt. Vernon Rd and proceed to the park. phone for day of Note day the creek. We will follow the Facilities: At the Visitor’s Center. walk and time! “White” hiking trail to see a wonder- Bring: $5.00 daily parking fee or annual state ful display of spring wildflowers, park pass, snack, water, sunscreen, hat, field jmanion@ Meet in Including: bloodroot, toadshade tril- guide, hand lens. Wear sturdy walking shoes. atlantahistory- parking lium, toothwort, green and gold, wild center.com lot near geranium and many more. There Sweetwater Creek State Park Visitor’s may even be a few trout lilies still in 1750 Mt. Vernon Rd Center. bloom. There are wonderful views Lithia Springs, GA 30122 of Sweetwater Creek, which rivals 770 732-5871 the Chattahoochee River in size. If it’s sunny, we will see many turtles sunning themselves on logs and rocks in the wide creek. 10 BotSoc News, January 2010 The Native Garden (cont) The leaves of pyramid magnolia resemble those centers. An easily accessible mature specimen of bigleaf and Fraser magnolia, with the same dis- can be found growing in a narrow strip between tinctly auriculate base of those two closely related Hummingbird Lake and the Scenic Drive at Cal- trees. Pyramid magnolia leaves are generally laway Gardens. I have also seen this tree growing shorter than the other two species. The flowers reasonably well in large containers. have an unusual...fragrance...that is sometimes Loblolly-bay is definitely not a plant for the described as reminiscent of turpentine. faint-of-heart gardener. In his Manual of Woody Pyramid magnolia grows in the wild within Landscape Plants, Michael Dirr states, “The thirty miles of my home – on steep ravines and lack of ease-of-cultivation probably dooms it to in the flood plain of the Flint River near Sprewell novelty or collector status”. Bluff. Most of the pyramid magnolias I have seen Georgia offers an exciting array of native in the wild were growing as understory trees on plants worthy of cultivation. A few (Elliottia, relatively steep slopes in deep leaf litter. My guess some orchids) are so difficult to propagate that is that they have a very narrow range of require- they will always be difficult to acquire, let alone ments for drainage and moisture retention. grow. The plants listed above aren’t easy, but In my own garden I have tried to duplicate provide a worthwhile challenge to the persistent, those conditions as closely as possible, but have or maybe stubborn, gardener. Along the way, we had zero success growing this rare tree. I’ve grown can learn quite a bit about their environmental several other native magnolias, including bigleaf, requirements and maybe even some insights into Ashe, and cucumbertree with good results, but their ecological history pyramid magnolia eludes me so far.

Gordonia lasianthus: I actually have no personal experience growing Gordonia, also Gordonia called loblolly-bay. The tree has such a terrible Sources: (Gordonia lasianthus) Nearly Native Nursery Photo by Hal Massie reputation for refusing to grow in cultivation that I have just avoided it 776 McBride Road altogether. Fayetteville, Ga 30215 Loblolly-bay occurs 770-460-6284 naturally in the outer www.nearlynativenursery.com coastal plain in wet con- ditions such as Carolina Woodlanders, Inc. bays, pocosins, swamp 1128 Colleton Ave. edges and moist pine sa- Aiken, SC 29801 vannas. This tree is often 803-648-7522 found growing in stand- www.woodlanders.net ing water, but, ironically, under cultivation seems References: to require perfect drain- Brown, Claud L., Kirkman, L. Katherine, “Trees of age. One theory is that Georgia and Adjacent States,” 1990, Timber Press, the acid conditions of its Portland, Oregon natural habitat protect Chafin, Linda G., “Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia”, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, loblolly-bay from some Athens, Georgia disease organism. Dirr, Michael A., “Manual of Woody Landscape Gordonia is another Plants,” 1998, Stipes Publishing, Champaign, member of the tea family Illinois and is probably the clos- Bozeman, John R., Rogers, George A., “This Very est relative of Franklinia; Curious Tree,” Tipularia, November 1986, The Georgia Botanical Society, p. 9 hybrids between the two Weakley, Alan S., “Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, have been produced. It Georgia, and Surrounding Areas”, 5 Aug 2009 is a striking tree in ma- Working Draft, Unpublished turity, with deeply furrowed gray bark, handsome smooth leaves and large white flowers with yellow BotSoc News, January 2010 11 Field Trip Report are carpeted almost entirely in native grasses ickett s ill P ’ M and sedges, such as Indian grass, big and little Battlefield Historic Site bluestems and brown sedge, and other grassland Plant Inventory 2009 species such as goldenrods.

Paulding County “You won’t find many old fields like this in Georgia,” Patrick said. The grasses also are what Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Historic Site in botanists call “native phenotypes,” meaning that Paulding County, northeast of Atlanta, is said to not only are the species native to Georgia, they be one of the nation’s best preserved Civil War are direct descendants of the grasses that were battlefields. During fierce fighting there on May here hundreds of years ago. 27, 1864, more than 1,600 Union soldiers and 500 Confederates were killed. Today in the park, visi- That’s why Botanical Society volunteers come tors can travel roads used by troops of both sides, to Pickett’s Mill to harvest some of the native see the earthworks they built and walk through seeds. The seeds will be sown in other locales the ravine where hundreds died. in Georgia — part of an effort to restore native grasslands in the state. The other day, some of us members of the Charles Seabrook writing for the Atlanta Georgia Botanical Society were there to perform Journal-Constitution, November 05, 2009. another mission — an ongoing plant inventory of the 765-acre park.

Where Minié balls once whizzed and men clashed in deadly combat, the now peaceful historic site encompasses many natural habitats — including hardwood forests, stream banks, old fields — that harbor a large diversity of native flora. The inventory project is a partnership be- tween the botanical society and the state historic site to help the park’s managers learn about and protect the native plants. Since the project began in 2006, more than 450 species of wild plants have been identified at Pickett’s Mill. One is the Georgia aster, a threatened species. Its beautiful blue flowers were still blooming in the fields when we were doing inventory the other day.

On that survey, we also found two more na- tive species to add to Pickett’s Mill’s inventory list. One was the lesser snakeroot (Ageratina aromatica), which sports white blooms in late summer. Our leader, Tom Patrick, a Depart- ment of Natural Resources botanist, noted that the plant is very similar to the one that killed lesser snakeroot (Ageratina aromatica) Abraham Lincoln’s mother — white snakeroot Photo by James H. (Ageratina altissima). On Oct. 5, 1818, when Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood. young Abe was 9 years old, Nancy Hanks Lincoln org. died of “milk sickness,” contracted from drinking the milk of a cow that had eaten the poisonous white snakeroot.

Seed gathering: Pickett’s Mill’s old, grassy fields are of special botanical significance — they 12 BotSoc News, January 2010 Botanical Society Contacts

OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS President - Ed McDowell (478.929.1267) [email protected] Vice-President - Jim Drake ( 678.482.2127) [email protected] Treasurer - Rich Reaves (770.827.5186) [email protected] Secretary - Linda Chafin (706.548.1697) [email protected] Past President - Leslie Edwards (404.892.6026) [email protected] Field Trip - Maureen Donohue (770.818.9303) [email protected] Membership - Anita Reaves (770.827.5186) [email protected] BotSoc Boutique - Jenneke Somerville (706.354.7837) [email protected] Marie Mellinger Grant Fund - Elaine Nash (770.922.7292) [email protected] Pickett’s Mill State Park Project - Elaine Nash (770.922.7292) [email protected] Historian - Nancy Shofner (404-881-6346) [email protected] CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES Martha Joiner (912.764.6329) [email protected] Bobby Hattaway (912.653.2228) [email protected] For all Membership inquiries please contact: MEMBERS AT LARGE Rich or Anita Reaves Hal Massie (478.836.4907) [email protected] (770.827.5186) Wayne Morris (334-670-3940) [email protected] [email protected] Teresa Ware (706.232.3435) [email protected] Vicki Williams (770.423.1012) [email protected] Gil Nelson (229.377.1857) [email protected] TIPULARIA Chairman - Richard Ware (706.232.3435) [email protected] TIPULARIA Editor - Brad Sanders (706.548.6446) [email protected] NEWSLETTER Managing Editor - Jean Smith (706.783.2308) [email protected] NEWSLETTER Trip Report Editor - Carol Howel Gomez (706.624.9262) [email protected]

WEBMASTER Merrill Morris (706.354.4139) [email protected]

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PAID POSTAGE U.S. NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT 2010 GEORGIA BOTANICAL SOCIETY FIELD TRIPS & WORKSHOPS Date Trip / Workshop Leader/ Facilitator County 30Jan Geology Workshop Scott Ranger Cobb 13 Feb GA Native Plant Society Symposium GNPS Cobb 15Feb Power
s Island  Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Fulton 20Feb Southeast Alaska Slide Show & Winter Walk Scott Ranger Dekalb 5Mar West Palisades  Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 7Mar Stone Mountain Trentin/Cowan Dekalb 1214 Mar GA BotSoc Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Jim Drake SW Georgia 20Mar Monastery of Holy Spirit Jim Allison Rockdale 21Mar West Palisades  Chattahoochee River NRA Jerry Hightower Cobb 27Mar The Pocket at Pigeon Mt. Mike Christison Walker/Floyd 27Mar East Palisades  Chattahoochee River NRA Jerry Hightower Fulton 28Mar Sweetwater Creek State Park John Manion Douglas 2Apr Cochran Shoals  Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 2Apr Quarry Garden  Atlanta History Center John Manion Fulton 10Apr Plant Inventory  Redtop Mt. State Park Tom Patrick Bartow 10Apr Broxton Rocks  TNC Frankie Snow Coffee 17Apr Paulding Forest Rich Reaves Paulding 18Apr Forest Cove/Hambridge Center & Till Ridge Cove Patty Lowe Rabun 21Apr Sope Creek, Fox Creek Wildflower Loop Jerry Hightower Cobb 2225Apr TN Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Amy Delaplaine Gatlinburg, TN 24Apr Environments of the Piedmont Workshop L. Edwards/T. Govus Hall 1May Devils
s Den Tom Govus Fanin 2May Lake Winfield Scott Loop Linda Chafin Union 2May SE Georgia Wildflowers Ed McDowell Ware 4May Paces Mill, West Palisades,Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 8May Beech Creek/ Bull Cove Eddi Minche North Carolina 8May Wild Edible Workshop & Walk Jerry Hightower Fulton 9May Pine Mt Recreation Area Annette Ranger Bartow 14May Vickery Creek Magnolia & Ridge Overlook Jerry Hightower Fulton 14May Vickery Creek Rhododendron Loop Jerry Hightower Fulton 15May McIntosh Reserve D. Morgan/W. H00mes Carroll 22May Lower Panther Creek/ Davidson Creek Area Ben Cash Stephens 22May Flint & Shoals Spider Lilies Float Jerry Hightower Talbot 29May Chestatee Canoe Float & Spring Wildflowers Jerry Hightower Lumpkin 29May Chattooga River Trails Ben Cash South Carolina 30May Wagon Wheel Trail C. Inhulsen/H. Massie Towns/ Union 31May Black Rock Mountain State Park Rich Reaves Rabun 1June Southern Highlands Reserve Ellen Honeycutt North Carolina 5June Oaky Woods  Black Belt Prairies Ed McDowell Houston 19June Plant Inventory  Redtop Mt. State Park Tom Patrick Bartow 10July Roan Mt N. C. Jim Drake North Carolina 11July Blue Ridge Parkway Jim Drake North Carolina 17July Providence Canyon State Park Tom Patrick Stewart 29 Jul  31 Jul Cullowhee Native Plant Conference Ed McDowell North Carolina 7Aug Slide Show  Central Alaska Rich Reaves TBA 15Aug Freeman Trail Linda Chafin Lumpkin 15Aug Palisades Float & Late Summer Flora Jerry Hightower Fulton/Cobb 27Aug Paces Mill, West Palisades, Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 4Sept Woody Gap  Appalachian Trail Rich Reaves Union/Lumpkin 11Sept Annual Meeting Ed McDowell TBA 18Sept Plant Inventory  Redtop Mt. State Park Tom Patrick Bartow Continued on back page 24Sept Paces Mill, W. Palisades, Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 25Sept Taylor County Sandhills C. Inhulsen/H. Massie Taylor 2Oct Brasstown Bald/Track Rock Jim Drake Union 4Oct Gold Branch Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 9Oct Ocmulgee Bottomlands Tom Patrick Houston 11Oct Pigeon Creek Tract of Sprewell Bluff Natural Area Hal Massie Meriwether 16Oct Stone Mountain Park Jim Allison Dekalb 30Oct Georgia Aster Count  Picketts Mill Historic Site M. Donohue/ E. Nash Paulding 5Nov Indian Trails East PalisadesChattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Fulton 12Nov West Palisades  Chattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 26Nov Sope Creek/Cochran ShoalsChattahoochee River NRA Maureen Donohue Cobb 4Dec Holiday Party Ed Mc Dowell TBA

BotSoc Field Trips...... are open to everyone interested in Georgias native plants. Trips usually meet at 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays with directions to the meeting site published in the BotSoc News and on the BotSoc website www.gabotsoc.org. Simply show up at the site to join the trip. If overnight accommodations are needed, you are expected to arrange them on your own, but we often list suitable local places. Newcomers are encouraged to ask questions and not be intimidated by overheard esoteric discussions of whether that protrusion at the end of a leaf is a spine or a bristle. Questions like
What is it, how can you tell, does it have a use? are always in order. Weve heard more dumb answers than dumb questions! Many of our members simply enjoy seeing beautiful plants in natural settings; some go well beyond that. We accommodate all levels of interest enthusiastically! Before heading out to a BotSoc trip, it is a good idea to see if anything has changed by calling the field trip chair Maureen Donohue [email protected]; 678.687.7963 or the trip leader listed for the trip in the BotSoc News. Remember that all trips are tentative. We rarely cancel a trip, but they do change occasionally. Directions for a field trip are in the latest issue of the BotSoc News and on our website www.gabotsoc.org. You can receive email reminders of upcoming field trips by including your email on your BotSoc membership form or by contacting Anita Reaves [email protected]. Please be aware that these are outdoor field trips, and there is some risk involved. An indication of the physical nature of the trip is included in BotSoc News so that you may determine if the trip is appropriate for your abilities. Most trips involve easy to moderate walking at a leisurely pace suitable for virtually anyone who goes outdoors. Trips marked
exploration can mean strenuous, long, crosscountry travel in difficult terrain, and that we dont know what were going to find. Canoe trips expect that all attending can swim and have at least novice ability at canoeing these trips are not the time to learn to paddle a canoe! and that personal flotation devices will be worn when on the water. Summer trips can be blisteringly hot and insects can be miserable accompaniments to your hike. Trips in the mountains usually involve some strenuous stretches of trail. If you have any question about the physical nature of the trip, ask the leader at the site before heading out. All participants in BotSoc field trips are expected to sign a liability waiver as a condition of attending.

A few rules for those attending BotSoc field trips: NO PLANT COLLECTING We sometimes collect specimens for a recognized herbarium, but please dont use our trips to
scout for plants. It is unethical to return to a botanical site to dig plants for your garden or for any other purpose. NO PICKING OF PLANTS We often pick part of a plant for teaching identification of the plant, but please, no bouquets! STAY ON THE TRAILS If there is a trail, we expect you to stay on it. DON
T TRAMPLE VEGETATION When we go crosscountry, there is no choice but to walk through, over, and on vegetation. On those occasions, we dont walk singlefile, but spread out so that we do not all stomp the same plants. NO SMOKING Except in your privately owned vehicle. NO PETS On the trail. It is our policy to visit private property only with permission of the owner.