September 21st, 2012. The next
promising roads after the Coleman River Road and the Tallulah River – Tate City roads were the Popcorn – Plum Orchard roads, still in Rabun County.
Popcorn Road drops quite steeply
from US-76 and then climbs quite steeply again. When it drops down ino the next
valley, the road fords and unnamed creek and curves slightly to the left. The
road then winds its way uphill into an area dominated by rhododendrons and
crossed several times by small creeks; this area is full of springs. When
Popcorn Road met Plum Orchard Road, we continued up Plum Orchard Road. We found
a variety of wildflowers and mushrooms along these roads.
Gentiana saponaria (Soapwort
Gentian, Harvestbells)
We found Soapwort gentians at lower
elevations.
Buds
A closer view
Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed)
We didn’t see many plants along
this road but the flowers were striking.
Amanita muscaria (Southern Fly
Agaric)?
Just a couple, growing on an
embankment
A closer view
Goodyera pubescens (Downy
Rattlesnake Plantain)
Plants covered a high embankment at one point on Plum Orchard
Road. I've not seen so many plants in one location
A closer view of a few plants. These are easy to recognize at a
distance
Lycopodium
digitatum (Fan Clubmoss, Running Cedar, Fan Ground-pine,
Running Ground Pine, Common Running-pine)
Plants
were starting to fruit
Gentiana
decora (Showy Gentian, Appalachian Gentian, Striped
Gentian)
Showy
Gentians were blooming at higher elevations
We
found some particularly beautiful specimens
Gentianella
quinquifolia (Fivefinger Gentian, Eastern Agueweed,
Stiff Gentian, Agueweed)
Plants
in this area were growing in partial shade and were more delicate flowers
compared with those we found at Patterson Gap.
These
were good finds but the best were yet to come…
Click
on an image to view a larger image
Identification Resources:
Southeastern Flora
Natural
and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:
- Impatiens capensis (Spotted Jewelweed, Spotted Touch-me-not,Orange Jewelweed, Orange Touch-me-not)
Georgia Museum of Natural History: Southern Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)?
Distribution:
United
States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
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post:
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