July 7th, 2012. We wandered north and found ourselves
at the
Wilson Shoals Wildlife Management Area
in Banks County. We’d visited
this WMA previously in … As
we did last time, we entered the WMA from the Yonah-Homer Road (GA-51) and
drove north on Grant Mill Road.
Our
first finds were...
*****
*****
A
single ironweed plant growing in the shade. I think this one is the Broadleaf Ironweed (Vernonia glauca), and…
A
single Rosepink (Sabatia angularis). We saw several more plants along Grant
Mill Road up to the ridge.
We
continued along Grant Mill Road and turned along Hunt Camp Road and found a
number of plants blooming or fruiting. In a short section of road, not far from
the turn off, we found…
Several
Ludwigia alternifolia (Bushy Seedbox, Alternate-leaf
Seedbox) bushes in bloom.
*****
More
Rosepink plants in bloom, probably a dozen or so.
We
started to see Pycnanthemum incanum (Hoarymountainmint) plants. These are much more ‘heavily
frosted’ at these higher elevations in the mountains compared with the lightly
‘frosted’ leaves on plants lower in the Piedmont.
*****
The
flower had is a cyme with many small individual flowers that are easy to
overlook.
And
my find of the day, plant-wise – a couple of buckeye bushes fruiting. I’ve seen
a lot of bushes in bloom but none fruiting. Based on the fruit, I believe these
are Aesculus sylvatica (Painted Buckeye).
The
road dropped down into an unnamed creek valley where we found a
wild
ginger, and
a
viola, probably Viola walteri (Prostrate Blue Violet). We’ll have to
check these out in the Spring.
The
road climbed out onto a ridge where we found…
Cirsium
vulgare (Bull Thistle). This plant serves as the reminder of a missed
opportunity. We stopped beside the plant and I started to get out before I
realized that a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) was feeding on the flower. By
the time I saw it, I had startled it and it flew off into the woods. It’s good
to know, however, that this is an area to look for this butterfly whose range
doesn’t extend much south of here in Georgia.
*****
Immediately
across the road was a plant that looks like Aralia spinosa (Devil's
walkingstick) just starting to bloom. Wish I’d looked at the stems more closely
to be sure.
We
drove a along the road until the road dropped precipitously and we couldn’t see
how steep it would be to go further. The road was covered with loose gravel
and, even with four-wheel drive we decided it would be prudent to turn around.
When we started back to Grant Mill Road, we spotted…
a
nice group of bracket fungi. These belong to the genus Ganoderma.
Next:
More photos of fruiting buckeye bushes.
Click
on an image to view a larger image
Identification
resources:
Duke
University, Jeffrey Pippen: Vernonia glauca (Broadleaf Ironweed)
Duke
University, Will Cook: Asculus
sylvatica (Painted Buckeye)
Missouri
Plants: Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle)
Related
post:
2 comments:
It is a spinosa based on the stem of the flower, which is a singular stalk the flowers radiate from, to the best of my knowledge. Great posts, as always!
Thanks Sean.
I saw another one close-up the following day and was able to get a good look at the stem with its spikes. I'm usually more compulsive about getting more photos of stems etc. but was hot off the disappointment of missing the Great Spangled Fritillary photos. Must be more disciplined next time. :-)
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