Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

Toxicodendron radicans – Eastern Poison Ivy or Poison Ivy – the plant we love to hate. Poison ivy grows widely in this area. It causes contact dermatitis in most people. Symptoms include inflammation and itching in mild cases and rashes and lesions in more serious cases. Thus, it’s important plant to recognize and avoid.

Poison Ivy is recognized by it’s characteristic trifoliate leaves. However, there are a variety of plants that, superficially, look like Poison Ivy. Although I've lived here for more than 20 years, I approach any plant that looks remotely like Poison Ivy with caution until I’m sure it’s not Poison Ivy and I avoid any plants that I’m unsure about.

I knew that Poison Ivy bloomed - I'd seen pictures. I’ve been looking for blooming plants for many years but it is only this year that I’ve found them both at Fort Yargo State Park and at home.

New leaves. They are among the first plants to emerge each year – still in the winter. Their leaves are shiny and often with a red tinge, possibly due to the cold temperatures. The plants are easy to recognize when the leaves are shiny.

When plants develop in warm weather the initial leaves are shiny and green. These plants have re-grown within a week after being mowed back to bare earth by the local power company.

The plant is a vine and spreads over the ground. The smaller leaves still show some sheen but the larger leaves are matte.

Stems may develop adventitious roots. This plant was growing over boulders.

A cluster of flowers on a vine that has climbed a tree. The flowers were hidden under the leaves and I didn’t see them at first. This photo also shows the hairy vines that are characteristic of Poison Ivy. It's a good rule to avoid any vine - particularly one with hairy stems - growing up a tree. (BTW, I used a stick to hold back the leaves while I photographed the flowers).

A closer view of the flower cluster

This plant looks as if it is supporting itself but it has grown up a tall tree stump. The entire area of lighter green in the foreground belongs to one plant; the stem is 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

A close view of a cluster of flowers on this plant. This flower cluster is much denser than the cluster that developed on the plant growing in the shade of the tree

Close ups of individual flowers and buds; these are about 1/4 inch in diameter.

Toxicodendron radicans (Eastern Poison Ivy) is native to the United States. It grows in the eastern United States and Canada, as well as in Arizona.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Toxicodendron radicans (Eastern Poison Ivy)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

Identification resources:
-Southeastern Flora: Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of Georgia and the Carolinas: Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
- Wikipedia: Toxicodendron radicans

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

Butterfly: Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)

It’s interesting that I saw Question Marks at the lake at Fort Yargo State Park. I haven’t seen any at home but I do see Eastern Commas. They are down in the woods by the creek. Usually I only see individuals although there were three or four a couple of weeks ago. It was cool in the woods and they were perched on leaves or tree trunks sunning themselves in patches of light which were still warm. Most were perched with open wings to absorb the warmth but one made the mistake of folding its wings.

The butterfly with opened wings. Enjoying the late afternoon sun.

The butterfly with closed wings. This isn’t the best photo in the world but you can just see the comma.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:
West Central Georgia Butterflies, Michael Beohm:
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

Bug Guide:
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view

Related post:
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

Butterfly: Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

A couple of weeks ago, I walked into a wooded section of the trail just over the bridge by the boat launch (segment 2) on my way to the dam. I’d come from bright daylight into the dark of the woods and my eyes hadn’t really adjusted. I was aware of some movement near my feet and dismissed it at first as falling leaves.

But when I finally looked down, there were 6 to 8 dark butterflies gathered on the trail. One flew out into the sunlight. It was apparent from its opened wings that it was either an Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) or a Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis). In the woods, their wings were folded, but it was dark enough that it was impossible to see the tell-tale punctuation mark that would identify them. They weren’t eager to let me bend down of a close look so I resorted to flash-illuminated photos from a distance. When I downloaded the images I as able to identify them as Question Marks. After all, it’s all a question of punctuation: comma or question mark, isn’t it?

The butterfly with opened wings.

The butterfly with closed wings. The question mark is quite clear.

I've been back in the same wooded area a couple of time since. I’ve seen isolated individuals or pairs along in the woods along the trail.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:
West Central Georgia Butterflies, Michael Beohm:
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
Bug Guide:
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Liquidambar styraciflua is known by the common names, Sweetgum, Redgum, or Starleaf-Gum. It's a tree that grows to 50 to 60 feet around here. Young trees don't bloom; by the time the trees bloom, they are generally so tall that the lowest flowers I've seen previously are 10 to 12 feet above the ground. Male and female flowers are separate. Usually, I only seem male flower spikes that have fallen on the trail. While the lake level at Fort Yargo State Park was low, I happened upon a Sweetgum that had a few blooms about 7 to 8 feet above the beach. It took a bit of effort to photograph the flowers but it was a unique opportunity to observe them.

Leaves emerge before the flowers.

The leaves fully opened

The flowers. The male flower is the spike in the foreground. A female flower is suspended from the slender stalk immediately to the left of the stalk of the male flower.

A close-up of a male flower. Each cluster is composed of multiple flowerlets

A female flower; the flowerlets are opening.

Pollination is complete. The fruit is beginning to develop. Unfortunately, the lake level had risen at this point; I could not longer access the beach and this tree to follow the development of the fruit.

A seed pod from last year still hangs from a branch.

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum) is native to the United States. Its range extends from New York-Connecticut in line across the country to Texas and south to Florida. In our area it is one of the most common deciduous trees.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Liquidambar styraciflua

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of Georgia and the Carolinas: Liquidambar styraciflua

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)

Oenothera laciniata is known by the common names of Cutleaf Evening Primrose and Cut-leaved Evening Primrose and is one of three Oenothera species that grows in this area; the others are Oenothera biennis (Common Evening-primrose) and Oenothera fruticosa (Narrowleaf Evening Primrose) which flower later in the year. At Fort Yargo State Park, Oenothera laciniata grows in open areas along the trail eastward from the pedestrian bridge (segment 2). Flowers are open in the early to mid-morning but close during the heat of the day.

The plant – in flower. Again, this plant and flower blends into its background.

Growing along the trail in Fort Yargo State Park

A closer view of a plant showing the bloom and the characteristic cutleaf morphology of the leave of a mature plant

A mature flower with pollen

A flower after pollination

Some flowers are pinkish

A ‘spent’ flower. These flowers tend to be orange. When I first discovered these plants, they only had spent flowers so I spent some time trying to identify an orange flower only to find that the flowers are yellow.

After the main blooming season the plant may grow lanky.

Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose) is native to the eastern and centrai United States and in California. It also grows in Ontario, Canada.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Oenothera laciniata

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of Georgia and the Carolinas: Oenothera laciniata
- Missouri Plants: Oenothera laciniata

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)

Vaccinium stamineum is known by the common names of Deerberry or Squaw Huckleberry. It is a short shrub, not much more than 2-3 feet high. This is another shrub that is easy to miss – I almost did. The small white flowers are about 1/4 inch in diameter; they hang below the branch and were partially hidden by the grayish-green leaves. Easy to miss if you’re not looking for them.

The plant – a plant in flower. You can see how easy how easy it is to overlook the plant and not see the flowers.

The leaves

The cluster of blooms (shot with flash)

The flower in profile

The flower from below

Vaccinium stamineum is native to the eastern United States and Canada. Its range extends from Ontario, New England, and states southeast of a line west to Kansas and south to Texas I found it along the trail just west of the campground (segment 7) and along the trail south of the Fishing Area (segment 13). I haven’t seen it in other locations but, since the shrub is low and the flowers are small, this plant would blend into its background.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Vaccinium stamineum
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Vaccinium stamineum

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Vaccinium stamineum
- Missouri Plants: Vaccinium stamineum

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

Carolina Cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum)

Geranium carolinianum is known by the common names Carolina Geranium and Carolina Cranesbill. The plant usually grows about 12-inches high. The leaves are characteristic; about 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. The flowers are about 1/4 inches in diameter and occur in cymes.

The plant, showing the relative size of flowers to leaves. The flowers are not striking at a distance.

Young flowers that haven’t produced pollen. The petals appear to have translucent veins.

Pollen is appearing

A mature flower.

Fruit are green at first…

... then turn black; other areas are tinged red; finally...

... the seed pod is completely black

Geranium carolinianum.is native to the United States. It grows throughout the United States and Canada.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Geranium carolinianum (Carolina Geranium)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Geranium carolinianum

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Carolina Cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum)
- Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Geranium carolinianum

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

Yellow Woodsorrels (Oxalis spp.)

There may be as many as five yellow Oxalis spp. In Georgia. I thought I had only identified two species but, upon reviewing photographs, I think I have found three species

• Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)
• Tufted Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis priceae)
• Great Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis grandis)

I have identified them based on their flower color. I can’t find good photographs to let me know if I am correct – or not - and would appreciate feedback if these identifications are incorrect. I will probably revisit these next year and revise, if necessary.

I have to smile when I prepare this post. Oxalis were considered a pest where I grew up in Australia. My father would spend hours weeding oxalis – a purple species – from our gardens. He is probably spinning in his grave as I respectfully document Oxalis spp. as wildflowers.

*****

All plants appeared similar

Oxalis stricta. The petals are yellow with little or no red color. If the red color is present, there is just a suggestion of red

Oxalis priceae. The red color is unmistakable; concentrated and distinct

Oxalis grandis. The red color is unmistakable, in clear patches and somewhat diffuse

These Oxalis spp. are native to the United States. Oxalis stricta grows widely in the United States and Canada; notably this species does not grow in the southwestern states. Oxalis grandis and Oxalis priceae are limited to the southeastern U.S.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
- Great Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis grandis)
- Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)
- Tufted Yellow Wodsorrel (Oxalis priceae)

University of North Carolina Herbarium:
- Great Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis grandis)
- Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)

Identification resources:
Southeastern Flora:
- Great Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis grandis)
- Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)
- Tufted Yellow Wodsorrel (Oxalis priceae)

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

Bedstraw (Galium aparine)

Galium aparine is known by a wide variety of common names: Bedstraw, Cleavers, Stickywilly, Clivers, Goosegrass, Stickyweed, Catchweed, Robin-run-the-hedge and Coachweed. This plant has tiny hooked hairs on its stem and leaves that catch on clothes. The blooms are very small, less than one-quarter inch across and easy to miss if you’re not looking for them.

The plant may be straggly, particularly when the begin to bloom

The whorled leaf arrangement is characteristic

As the blooms develop

Flowers are very small. The hooked hairs are visible on the leaves

The fruit

Galium aparine is native to Eurasia and the United States. It grows throughout the United States and Canada,
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Galium aparine (Stickywilly)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Galium aperine

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Bedstraw (Galium aparine)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of Georgia and the Carolinas. Galium aparine
- Missouri Plants: Galium aparine
- Wikipedia: Galium asparine

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower