Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wildflowers At Dockery Lake


September 1st, 2012. It was the Labor Day (US) holiday weekend so we took the opportunity to make an overnight trip into the Chattahoochee National Forest. Our first stop was a side trip down to Dockery Lake in the Chestatee Wildlife Management Area. We found interesting wildflowers along the road down to the lake and by the road near the lake.
Desmodium paniculatum (Panicledleaf Ticktrefoil)

The flower

The leaves

Stenanthium gramineum (Eastern Featherbells, Common Featherbells)
These plants were growing along the roadside in many areas. They were particularly obvious along the road down to the lake.

The flowerhead. The stem is often 12 to 18 inches tall.

The plant looks like a grass when it’s not in bloom.

A closer view of the flower stem, and an 

individual flower. The flowers are about ½ inches in diameter

Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain)
The leaves of these plants are a dead giveaway. I’ve found a lot of plants from time to time but have never seen one in bloom. We didn’t this time either, but it was clear that a number of plants in this area had bloomed so we have a place to check on next year.

The plant: leaves and flower stalk developing seeds

The leaves

The developing seed pods

Hypoxis hirsuta (Common Yellowstar Grass, Common Goldstar, Yellow Stargrass, Hairy Yellow Stargrass, Common Stargrass)
Hypoxis hirsuta usually blooms in the Spring. I was lucky enough to spot a single plant that was blooming.

The bloom, photographed using artificial light

Chimaphila maculata (Pipsissewa, Striped Wintergreen, Spotted Wintergreen, Striped Prince’s Pine)
It’s easy to recognize this plant in the woods by their distinctive leaves and by the seedpods. I’ve posted photos of the flowers here and here

Developing seed pods.

Campanula divaricata (Small Bonny Bellflower, Southern Harebell, Appalachian Bellflower)
These plants were growing on the embankments by the road down to the lake. The flowers would be easy to overlook because they are so small.

The plant
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Closer view of the individual flowers. It would have been easy to overlook these flowers because they are so small.

Aureolaria flava (Smooth Yellow False Foxglove)
These plants were growing on the embankments by the road down to the lake.

Buds

Open flowers

Collinsonia canadensis (Richweed)
These plants were growing on the embankments by the road down to the lake.

The plant

The branching flowerhead

An individual flower

We were surprised and delighted by the variety of wildflowers we found at Dockery Lake.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:
Southeastern Flora:
- Hypoxis hirsuta (Common Yellowstar Grass)
- Campanula divaricata (Small Bonny Bellflower)
- Collinsonia canadensis (Richweed, Horse Balm) 
 
Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:
- Hypoxis hirsuta (Yellow Stargrass, Hairy Yellow Stargrass,Common Stargrass) 
- Chimaphila maculata (Pipsissewa, Striped Wintergreen, Spotted Wintergreen)
- Aureolaria laevigata (Appalachian Oak-leach, Smooth False-foxglove) 
Distribution:
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:

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