Western Carolina Botanical Club

Mossing at Jones Farm – October 6, 2023

Posted on October 9, 2023 by WCBC

Perfect day to be looking at moss! Fog & a tad of rain overnight and dry during the walk. Just the way moss likes it. Thanks Betty for arranging that!

Some information about the bryophytes seen today, as well as reference sources can be found on our website here. Photography by Ken Borgfeldt, Penny Longhurst, & Randy Richardson. (Click on any picture to zoom & enter the slide show).

Probably Windswept Broom Moss (Dicranum scoparium) with sporophytes

New York Scalewort Liverwort (Frullania eboracensis)

Probably Haircap Moss (Polytrichum commune) with Splash Cups

British Soldiers (Cladonia cristatella) [Cladoniaceae]

Worm Moss; Spoon-leaved Moss (Bryoandersonia illecebra)

Cat's Tongue Liverwort, Snakeskin Liverwort (Conocephalum salebrosum)

Rustwort Liverwort (Nowellia curvifolia)

Possibly Fan Pocket Moss (Fissidens dubius)

Crispy Starburst Moss (Atrichum crispulum)

Probably Haircap Moss (Polytrichum commune) with Sporophyte Capsules

Probably Beautiful Branch Moss (Callicladium haldanianum)

Threelobed Bazzania Liverwort (Bazzania trilobata)

Probably Mueller’s Pouchwort Liverwort (Calipogeia muelleriana)

Probably Dumortier’s Liverwort (Dumortiera hirsuta)

Grove Earwort Liverwort (Scapania nemorea)

A Sheet of Bazzania Liverwort (Bazzania sp.)

Plagiomnium Moss (Plagiomnium ciliare) [Mniaceae]

a Mixture of Bryoandersonia and Thuidium

Lobe-leaved Tree Moss; American Tree Moss (Climacium americanum)

Saber Tooth Moss (Plagiomnium ciliare) Fertile Stems

Ground Pine (Dendrolycopodium obscurum; Lycopodium obscurum) with Sporing Bodies

Tree Liverwort (Frullania sp.) [Frullaniaceae]

a Veilwort Liverwort (Metzgeria setigera)

a Baby Tooth or Sabre Tooth Moss (Plagiomnium sp.)

Ground Pine (Dendrolycopodium obscurum; Lycopodium obscurum)

Sheet Moss; Curveleaf Hypnum Moss (Hypnum curvifolium)

Ribbonwort; Veilwort Liverwort (Pallavicinia lyellii) [Pallaviciniaceae]

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Bryophytes, Fungi, Hiking, Lichens, Liverworts, Mosses, North Carolina, WCBC | Leave a comment

Bad Creek to the Whitewater River – September 29, 2023

Posted on October 1, 2023 by WCBC

Information about the construction and operation of the Lake Jocassee Pumped Storage Facility can be found here. For a link to the USDA’s Field Guide to Native Oak Species of Eastern North America, click here.

Photography by Penny Longhurst. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name. Click on any picture to zoom and view the slide show.

Orange Grass (Hypericum gentianoides) [Hypericaceae]

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Slender Wild Basil, Slender Calamint (Clinopodium gracile*)

Carolina Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) Flowers

Carolina Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)

Indian Cucumber Root (Medeola virginiana)

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum)

Virginia Pine; Scrub Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) [Magnoliaceae] Bark

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) [Fabaceae] Fruit

Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. asplenioides)

Pinesap (Hypopitys monotropa ) [Ericaceae]

We Lost One. She Must be Heading for Table Rock!

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)

White Ash (Fraxinus americana) [Oleaceae]

Seedbox; False Loosestrife (Ludwigia alternifolia)

Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)

Wooly Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus tomentosus)

Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. asplenioides) [Dryopteridaceae] ) Sori

Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron)

Devil's Walking Stick; Hercules Club (Aralia spinosa) Trunk

White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) Leaves

Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum)

Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima) Blooming Again

Japanese Snowball Viburnum, Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum*) [Adoxaceae]

Slender Wild Basil, Slender Calamint (Clinopodium gracile*) [Lamiaceae]

Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) [Asteraceae]

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) [Pinaceae] Cones

Hyssop-leaved Thoroughwort (Eupatorium hyssopifolium) [Asteraceae]

Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata) & Fraser Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri)

Devil's Walking Stick; Hercules Club (Aralia spinosa) Fruit & Leaves

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Bryophytes, Ferns, Hiking, lichen, moss, River, South Carolina, Trees, WCBC, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Big Ridge Loop – September 22, 2023

Posted on September 25, 2023 by WCBC

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.

Climbing False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens)

Curtis' Aster (Symphyotrichum retroflexum) Bracts

Appalachian Gentian; Showy Gentian (Gentiana decora)

Peruvian Daisy (Galinsoga quadriradiata)

Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) [Araliaceae] in Fruit

Figwort; Carpenter's Square (Scrophularia marilandica) [Scrophulariaceae]

Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) Bracts

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) [Orchidaceae]

Great Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum v. commutatum) Fruit

Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) [Ranunculaceae] Fruit

Northern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

Mountain Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata)

Curtis' Aster (Symphyotrichum retroflexum)

Horse Balm (Collinsonia canadensis) [Lamiaceae] Flowers

Broad Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera)

Purple or Wideleaf Bedstraw (Galium latifolium) [Rubiaceae]

Ox-eye; False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Climbing False Buckwheat (Fallopia scandens) Climbing

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) [Ericaceae]

Appalachian Clasping Aster; Thinleaf Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum phlogifolium)

Obedient Plant; False Dragonhead (Physostegia virginiana) Fruit

Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) Flowers

Silvery Glade Fern (Deparia acrostichoides)

Fringed Campion (Silene ovata) [Caryophyllaceae]

Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) [Ericaceae]

Indian Pipe; Ghost Flower (Monotropa uniflora)

Hairy White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) [Asteraceae] Bracts

Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)

Solomon's Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) [Liliaceae]

Appalachian Gentian; Showy Gentian (Gentiana decora) Calyx Lobes

White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) Going to Seed

Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago roanensis) [Asteraceae] Leaves

Rock Alumroot (Heuchera villosa) [Saxifragaceae]

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus*)

Dwarf St. John's-wort (Hypericum mutilum) [Hypericaceae]

Tall White Lettuce; Tall Rattlesnake Root (Prenanthes altissima)

Broad- or Maple-leaved Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense) [Hydrophyllaceae]

White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) Bracts

Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) [Asteraceae] Bracts

Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens)

Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) [Asteraceae]

Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae]

Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) [Scrophulariaceae]

Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago roanensis) [Asteraceae]

Sparse-lobed Grape Fern (Botrychium biternatum) [Ophioglossaceae] Spore Head

Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens) [Asteraceae] Bracts

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Curtis' Aster (Symphyotrichum retroflexum) [Asteraceae]

Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) [Ranunculaceae]

Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) [Asclepiadaceae]

Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) Leaves

Tall White Lettuce; Tall Rattlesnake Root (Prenanthes altissima) Leaves and Stem

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Blue Ridge Parkway, Ferns, Hiking, North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest, Trees, Views, WCBC, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Park at Flat Rock – September 15, 2023

Posted on September 20, 2023 by WCBC

We saw so many great plants at the Park at Flat Rock last summer that we wanted to check it out again. We identified a new plant, Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis), to add to our database. Photography by Ken Borgfeldt, Penny Longhurst, & Randy Richardson. Click on any picture to zoom. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name.

New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)

Dotted Water Smartweed (Persicaria punctata) [Polygonaceae]

Water Hemlock; Spotted Cowbane (Cicuta maculata ) [Apiaceae] Going to Seed

Pale Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) [Melastomataceae]

Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinnata) [Asteraceae]

Silky or Swamp Dogwood (Cornus amomum) [Cornaceae]

Tag Alder (Alnus serrulata) [Betulaceae] Catkins

Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata*) [Vitaceae] Fruit

Foxglove Beardtongue; White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata*) [Vitaceae]

Rattlesnake Master; Button Snakeroot (Eryngium yuccifolium ) [Apiaceae]

Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) Plant

Silky or Swamp Dogwood (Cornus amomum; Swida amomum) [Cornaceae] Flowers

Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) Blooms

Slender Bush Clover (Lespedeza virginica) [Fabaceae]

Virginia Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) Plant

Mistflower; Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum) [Asteraceae] Blooms

White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) Stem and Leaves

Arrow-leaved Tearthumb (Persicaria sagittata) [Polygonaceae]

Beggar Ticks; Sticktights (Bidens frondosa) [Asteraceae]

Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis)

Ants Tending to Aphids on Beggar Ticks (Bidens frondosa)

Pink Smartweed (Persicaria pensylvanica) [Polygonaceae] Blooms

Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantica)

Common Dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) Flowers

Spotted Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis) [Balsaminaceae]

Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) [Asteraceae]

Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) Flowers

Pilewort; Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius) [Asteraceae]

Groundnut; Potato Bean (Apios americana) [Fabaceae] Fruit

Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) [Asteraceae] Flowers

Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) Stem

Common Cat-tail (Typha latifolia) [Typhaceae]

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) [Dryopteridaceae]

Pilewort; Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius) [Asteraceae] Leaves

Purple Gerardia; Purple False Foxglove (Agalinis purpurea) [Scrophulariaceae]

Bushy Aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) [Asteraceae]

Pale Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) Leaves and Stem

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica*) Flowers

Slender Bush Clover (Lespedeza virginica) Leaves

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) [Anacardiaceae]

Pink Smartweed (Persicaria pensylvanica) [Polygonaceae] Leaves and Stem

Pale Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) [Melastomataceae] Fruit

Thunberg's Geranium (Geranium thunbergii*) [Geraniaceae]

Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae] Glandular Phyllaries

Virginia Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) [Lamiaceae]

Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinnata) Fruit

Elm-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia) [Asteraceae]

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Henderson County, Hiking, North Carolina, Trees, WCBC, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Sam Knob Meadow – September 11, 2023

Posted on September 16, 2023 by WCBC

This is our fourth monthly post on the flora of Sam Knob Meadow. The meadow was glorious! Photography by Ken Borgfeldt and Penny Longhurst. Click on any picture to zoom & enter the slide show. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name.