It’s been a while since we walked this trail in the fall. We got some surprises! Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name. Photography by Ken Borgfeldt, Penny Longhurst, Jim Poling, Lucy Prim, & Joe Standaert. Click on any picture to zoom.
![Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sparse-lobed-grape-fern-botrychium-biternatum.jpg?w=152&h=270&ssl=1 "Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae]")
![Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago roanensis) [Asteraceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/mountain-goldenrod-solidago-roanensis.jpg?w=228&h=303&ssl=1 "Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago roanensis) [Asteraceae]")
![Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) [Orchidaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/nodding-ladies-tresses-spiranthes-cernua-plant.jpg?w=403&h=537&ssl=1 "Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) [Orchidaceae]")
![Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sparse-lobed-grape-fern-botrychium-biternatum-leaf.jpg?w=296&h=222&ssl=1 "Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae]")
![Broad- or Maple-leaved Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense) [Hydrophyllaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/broad-leaved-waterleaf-hydrophyllum-canadense.jpg?w=296&h=222&ssl=1 "Broad- or Maple-leaved Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense) [Hydrophyllaceae]")
![Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) [Ericaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sourwood-oxydendrum-arboreum-bark.jpg?w=355&h=631&ssl=1 "Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) [Ericaceae]")
![Solomon's Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) [Liliaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/solomons-plume-maianthemum-racemosum.jpg?w=277&h=208&ssl=1 "Solomon's Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) [Liliaceae]")
![Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae] Spore Head](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sparse-lobed-grape-fern-botrychium-biternatum-spore-head.jpg?w=188&h=333&ssl=1 "Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae] Spore Head")
![Dwarf St. John's-wort (Hypericum mutilum) [Hypericaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dwarf-st.-johns-wort-hypericum-mutilum.jpg?w=203&h=203&crop=1&ssl=1 "Dwarf St. John's-wort (Hypericum mutilum) [Hypericaceae]")
![Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) [Scrophulariaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pink-turtlehead-chelone-lyonii.jpg?w=361&h=203&ssl=1 "Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) [Scrophulariaceae]")
![Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens) [Asteraceae] Bracts](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/late-purple-aster-symphyotrichum-patens-bracts.jpg?w=404&h=303&ssl=1 "Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens) [Asteraceae] Bracts")
![Purple or Wideleaf Bedstraw (Galium latifolium) [Rubiaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/purple-or-wideleaf-bedstraw-galium-latifolium.jpg?w=189&h=189&crop=1&ssl=1 "Purple or Wideleaf Bedstraw (Galium latifolium) [Rubiaceae]")
![Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago roanensis) [Asteraceae] Leaves](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/mountain-goldenrod-solidago-roanensis-leaves.jpg?w=250&h=334&ssl=1 "Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago roanensis) [Asteraceae] Leaves")
![Rock Alumroot (Heuchera villosa) [Saxifragaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/rock-alumroot-heuchera-villosa.jpg?w=209&h=156&ssl=1 "Rock Alumroot (Heuchera villosa) [Saxifragaceae]")
![Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) [Araliaceae] in Fruit](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/spikenard-aralia-racemosa-in-fruit.jpg?w=362&h=204&ssl=1 "Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) [Araliaceae] in Fruit")
![Fringed Campion (Silene ovata) [Caryophyllaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/fringed-campion-silene-ovata.jpg?w=270&h=479&ssl=1 "Fringed Campion (Silene ovata) [Caryophyllaceae]")
![Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) [Asclepiadaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/poke-milkweed-asclepias-exaltata.jpg?w=399&h=532&ssl=1 "Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) [Asclepiadaceae]")
![Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) [Ericaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trailing-arbutus-epigaea-repens.jpg?w=233&h=174&ssl=1 "Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) [Ericaceae]")
![Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) [Ranunculaceae] Fruit](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/virgins-bower-clematis-virginiana-.jpg?w=210&h=118&ssl=1 "Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) [Ranunculaceae] Fruit")
![Hairy White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) [Asteraceae] Bracts](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/white-heath-aster-symphyotrichum-pilosum-bracts.jpg?w=360&h=480&ssl=1 "Hairy White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) [Asteraceae] Bracts")
![Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) [Asteraceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wingstem-verbesina-alternifolia.jpg?w=361&h=271&ssl=1 "Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) [Asteraceae]")
![Horse Balm (Collinsonia canadensis) [Lamiaceae] Flowers](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/horse-balm-collinsonia-canadensis-bloom.jpg?w=336&h=448&ssl=1 "Horse Balm (Collinsonia canadensis) [Lamiaceae] Flowers")
![Curtis' Aster (Symphyotrichum retroflexum) [Asteraceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/curtis-aster-symphyotrichum-retroflexum-leaves.jpg?w=116&h=207&ssl=1 "Curtis' Aster (Symphyotrichum retroflexum) [Asteraceae]")
![Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) [Asteraceae] Bracts](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/heart-leaved-aster-symphyotrichum-cordifolium-bracts.jpg?w=276&h=207&ssl=1 "Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) [Asteraceae] Bracts")
![Figwort; Carpenter's Square (Scrophularia marilandica) [Scrophulariaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/figwort-carpenters-square-scrophularia-marilandica-.jpg?w=116&h=207&ssl=1 "Figwort; Carpenter's Square (Scrophularia marilandica) [Scrophulariaceae]")
![Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) [Ranunculaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/black-cohosh-actaea-racemosa.jpg?w=116&h=207&ssl=1 "Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) [Ranunculaceae]")
Western Carolina Botanical Club 