Western Carolina Botanical Club

Glassy Mountain – April 4, 2022

Posted on April 7, 2022 by WCBC

Maybe we were a little early this year. We missed a few plants we were hoping to see. Next year we’ll have to go later in April. Photography by Penny Longhurst, Joe Standaert, & Angela Wagner. Click on any picture to zoom. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name.
Read more info on the plants at Glassy at Glassy Mountain Heritage Preserve by Patrick D. McMillan

Roundleaf Ragwort (Packera obovata) [Asteraceae]

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida; Benthamidia florida) [Cornaceae]

Hairy Spiderwort (Tradescantia hirsuticaulis)

Small Bluet, Red-eyed Bluet (Houstonia pusilla) [Rubiaceae]

Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)

False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve) [Liliaceae]

Small's Ragwort (Packera anonyma) [Asteraceae]

Thyme-leaved Bluets (Houstonia serpyllifolia)

Giant or Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) 20220404_113820

Divided-leaf Groundsel (Packera millefolia) [Asteraceae]

Virginia Pine; Scrub Pine (Pinus virginiana) [Pinaceae]

Dwarf Dandelion (Krigia virginica) [Asteraceae; Cichoroideae]

Possibly Red Buckeye - Painted Buckeye hybrid (Aesculus X mutabilis [pavia x sylvatica])

White Ash (Fraxinus americana) [Oleaceae] Blooms

Beaked Corn Salad (Valerianella radiata) [Valerianaceae]

Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron)

Old-field Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis)

Dimpled Trout Lily (Erythronium umbilicatum) [Liliaceae]

Possibly Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis*)

Early Saxifrage (Micranthes virginiensis)

Early Winter Cress (Barbarea verna*) [Brassicaceae]

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) [Portulacaceae]

Plantain-leaved Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia)

Southern Black Haw; Rusty Blackhaw; Rusty Viburnum (Viburnum rufidulum)

Blue Star; Blue Dogbane (Amsonia tabernaemontana)

Three Lobed or Wood Violet (Viola palmata)

White Ash (Fraxinus americana) [Oleaceae] Bark

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Ferns, Hiking, South Carolina, Trees, Views, WCBC, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Twin Bridges – April 1, 2022

Posted on April 3, 2022 by WCBC

Sixteen members turned out for a spectacular show! All our old favorites were still there and many seemed to have spread! Photography by Ken Borgfeldt, Penny Longhurst, Lucy Prim, & Joe Standaert. Click on any picture to enter the slide show.

Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)

Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) Blooms

Purple Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida)

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) [Fumariaceae]

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

Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum) [Ranunculaceae] Male Flowers

Puttyroot; Adam-and-Eve (Aplectrum hyemale)

Foamflower; False Miterwort (Tiarella cordifolia)

Marginal Wood Fern (Dryopteris marginalis) Sori

Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

Toadshade; Little Sweet Betsy (Trillium cuneatum)

Yellow Mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa) Blooms

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense; Asarum acuminatum)

Rattlesnake Fern (Botrypus virginianus; Botrychium virginianum)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) Fruit

Dimpled Trout Lily (Erythronium umbilicatum)

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense; Asarum acuminatum) [Aristolochiaceae]

Southern Chervil (Chaerophyllum tainturieri)

That's the Last Time We Ask Him to Take the Group Photo!

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) Blooms

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia) [Violaceae]

Smooth Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens v. scabriuscula)

Purple Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) Bloom

Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) Blooms

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

Station Cove Falls – March 25, 2022

Posted on March 27, 2022 by WCBC

Finally! We’re back on the trails. After two years the plants and waterfall still seem to be in the same places, although we still didn’t find the elusive Three parted violet (Viola tripartita). However, Pennywort (Obolaria virginica) plants seemed to be everywhere! After Station Cove, John & Daudie led us on a hike at Devil’s Fork State Park to show us the reclusive Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). A first for all of us. What a treat! Photography by Penny Longhurst & Joe Standaert. Click on any picture to enter the slide show.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) & Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) [Ranunculaceae]

Acres of May Apple; Mandrake (Podophyllum peltatum) [Berberidaceae]

Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) [Ranunculaceae]

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)

Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor)

Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) [Polyporaceae]

Pennywort (Obolaria virginica) [Gentianaceae]

Perfoliate Bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata)

Robin's Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) [Asteraceae]

Green-and-Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)

Red-and-Gold Toadshade; Little Sweet Betsy (Trillium cuneatum)

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) [Pinaceae]

Horse Sugar; Sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) [Symplocaceae]

Tree Liverwort (Frullania sp.) on Ironwood or Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

Toadshade; Little Sweet Betsy (Trillium cuneatum) [Melanthiaceae]

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) [Fagaceae] Blooms

Wood Betony; Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis)

Smooth False Foxglove (Aureolaria flava)

Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata) [Ericaceae]

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Ferns, Hiking, South Carolina, Trees, Waterfalls, WCBC, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Lake Jocassee Boat Ride – March 17, 2022

Posted on March 19, 2022 by WCBC

Two years late, we finally got to visit Devils Fork State Park & take our boat trip on Lake Jocassee! Almost didn’t make it – our original date was rained out, but as you can see, once we finally got there it was a beautiful day. Thanks to Kay, David, and Dan from Jocassee Lake Tours for an excellent time on the water. Photography by Penny Longhurst & Aleta Tisdale. Click on any picture to zoom.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) & Foamflower; False Miterwort (Tiarella cordifolia)

Forsstroemia Moss (Forsstroemia trichomitria)

Oconee Bells; Shortia (Shortia galacifolia)

Michaux's Saxifrage (Micranthes petiolaris)

Variable-leaf Heartleaf (Hexastylis heterophylla) [Aristolochiaceae]

Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens) [Pinaceae]

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

American Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum ssp. serotinum ) [Viscaceae]

Posted in Field Trips | Tagged Birds, lake, South Carolina, Trees, Views, Waterfalls, WCBC, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Virtual Holiday Fest 2021

Posted on December 10, 2021 by WCBC

Once again we couldn’t be together for the Holiday Fest but we can still enjoy Ken’s “Blooms and Bloopers” slideshows from previous years (scroll to the bottom and be glad there were not too many incriminating pictures from the last 2 years). Instead, here are some pictures from the field trips we managed to do this year. Happy Holidays everyone. Wishing you all a healthy & happy New Year. Hope to see you all then – sometime!