Rabbitfoot Clover (Trifolium arvense)

Trifolium arvense is known by the common name Rabbitfoot Clover; it is one of five Trifolium species that grow in this area. I’ve only seen it on the dam (segment 5). at Fort Yargo State and along the roadsides in Walton County.

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Developing flower heads. Some are white with a distinct pink ‘hairs’; others may be almost pure white. Individual flowers are visible in both photos.

The characteristic leaf arrangement.

A half-developed flowerhead. The flowerlets are arranged in rows.

A fully developed flowerhead with the characteristic ‘rabbitfoot’ appearance.

Trifolium arvense (Rabbitfoot Clover) is native to Europe but grows widely in the United States and Canada.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Trifolium arvense (Rabbitfoot Clover)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Trifolium arvense

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Rabbitfoot Clover (Trifolium arvense)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Trifolium arvense
- Missouri Plants: Trifolium arvense

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower - Wildflower Index
- Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens)

Dragonfly: Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)

This is a new dragonfly for my life list. I’ve seen them in Wilkes and Jasper counties. I’ve not seen them at Fort Yargo State Park or at home. Interestingly, Each of the dragons I’ve photographed have been femaies which have a cream-colored segment on the front edge at the end of each wing. (The males have an orange-brown segment instead of the cream segment).

The first encounter was at the Broad River Wildlife Management Area in Wilkes County on the south side of the river. It alighted on this stalk in the same in a clear-cut area where I photographed the Red-headed Woodpecker. The stalk was light and the dragon spent most of its time trying to balance in a brisk breeze.

Lateral view

Dorsal view

Both of these photographs were taken with a zoom lens.

The second encounter was at Charlie Elliot Wildlife Management Area in Jasper County. These dragons were on more substantial perches in an open area by Fox Lake, again in a brisk breeze.

Lateral view

This photo was taken with a macro setting and holding it at arms length as I quietly moved within arms length.

I didn't see a male Halloween Pennant on this occasion but photographed one in late August. The males have an orange-brown segment instead of the cream segment on the front edge of the wing. Males also have orange-pink colored patches on the dorsal side of the abdomen whereas females have cream patches. Click here to see a photograph of the male Halloween Pennant.
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Identification resources:
- BugGuide: Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) [Male] [Female]
- Georgia Dragonfly Survey: Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)

American Snowbell (Styrax americanus)

Styrax americanus is known by the common names American Snowbell or American Storax. So far, I’ve only seen it at Fort Yargo State Park where at least one plant is growing along the shore of the lake (segment 2). I couldn’t get too close to it but managed to reach over and get some photos. It is a strikingly beautiful flower.

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The flower, from several angles.

The leaves.

Stryax americanus (American Snowbell) is native to the southeastern United States. It grows from Virginia south to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma as well as in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Styrax americanus (American Snowbell)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Styrax americanus

Identification resources:
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Styrax americanus
- Alabama Plants: Styrax americanus

Related posts: - 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)

Ligustrum sinense is known by the common name Chinese Privet. It seems to be ubiquitous in this area. It’s considered a pest and we keep open areas mowed to prevent it from taking over; it can grow to 20-30 feet tall.. Consequently, it usually survives at the edge of, or in open areas in the woods in full or partial sun. At Fort Yargo State Park, it grows on both sides of the trail in two areas along the trail from the Section B boat ramp (segment 2) before the trail reaches the pipeline right-of-way. In these locations, it is not uncommon to find Spring Azure butterflies in the Spring and it provides welcome shade from the sun in Summer.

I found this bush growing along the shore when the lake level was lowered early this year.

The buds are just beginning to develop. I’d forgotten what it was and thought how interesting they were.

The buds are not far from opening.

Flower clusters.

Flowers, a little closer.

An individual flower. It is quite exquisite.

Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet) is native to the Southeast Asia (China, Taipei, and Vietnam). It grows in the southeastern United States.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Ligustrum sinense

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Ligustrum sinense

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

Trees

This post was submitted to: Festival of the Trees #50: Through a Child's Eyes. This months edition is being hosted by Roberta at Growing with Science Blog. Click on this link to read more posts about trees.

Every week, since the beginning of the year, I’ve been walking a couple of routes in Fort Yargo State Park in Barrow County, Georgia, to photograph all the wildflowers I could find. One of these routes connects the Fishing Area to the main picnic area. I photographed points on the trail coming and going in the Winter when trees were leafless.

This year, it seems as if it’s been in the 90s (F) forever - for close to three months now. After a colder-than-normal Winter, this long, hot Spring and Summer hasn’t been a lot of fun. I’ve really appreciated the shade the trees have provided during these walks. It’s all too easy to take them for granted but they are beautiful.

A small bridge crosses a gully just south of the Fishing Area.

Just north of the cliff. A slip-rail fence, starting at the right-hand side of the photo, protects against falls and gives me something to lean on when I’m looking for wildflowers or fish in the water below. The Bank Swallow nesting hole is hidden behind a tree.

Looking back along the slip-rail fence. The woods are fairly thick here. It's a great area for shade-tolerant wildflowers. I keep being surprised at how many different wildflowers grow here.

A little further along the trail. It’s not an illusion. The bridge decking has developed a bit of a list to the right. I have to take it carefully and hold onto the rail in the middle. Hope it doesn’t collapse; this is a major connection between the Fishing Area and the picnic area – and for the disc golf course that meanders through the woods above.

The woods are a little more open here. A totally different set of wildflowers that like partial to full sun.

The woods thicken again. Mostly muscadines in the more open areas.

Then into a thick pine forest.

Then time to turn around again and enjoy them again all the way back to the car.
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Roundleaf Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia)

There are so many plants that I may have overlooked because the flowers are very small, green and, it seems, the plants have to be a certain age before they bloom. Smilax rotundifolia (Roundleaf Greenbriar) appears to be another one of these plants. I’ve been looking at the plants round our place for many years. Finally, this year, I saw blooms.

Smilax rotundifolia is known by the common names Roundleaf Greenbrier, Common Greenbrier, Common Catbrier, Bullbrier, or Horsebrier. It’s fairly common in this area. At Fort Yargo State Park it grows along the trail on the right, just past the woods when leaving the bridge from the Section B boat launch (segment 2).

Early in the season, the leaves are not particularly rounded.

By the end of the season the leaves are quite rounded.

A flower cluster – front on.

A flower cluster – from the back.

A flower, up close.

Smilax rotundifolia (Roundleaf Greenbrier) is native to the eastern United States and Canada.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Smilax rotundifolia (Roundleaf Greenbrier)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Smilax rotundifolia

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Roundleaf Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Smilax rotundifolia

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower - Wildflower Index

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)

Dioscorea villosa is known by the common name Wild Yam. Most Discorea sp. have male and female plants. I’ve seen it at Fort Yargo State Park where I saw only male plants (segment 12) and at home where it didn’t bloom. So, it’s going to be on my watchlist for next year.

The first leaves. It was the ‘group-of-five’ leaves with the radiating veins that attracted my attention. It was striking among other plants. Some plants developed several sets of five leaves and some produced sets of three before starting to ‘run’ across the ground. One plant had a set of seven leaves.

The vine, running across the ground.

The male flowers, at a distance.

A little closer.

Closer still.

Male flowers, close up. They were small; only about one-quarter inch across.

Dioscorea villosa (Wild Yam) is native to the eastern United States. It grows in states including and east of Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas; it doesn’t grow in New Hampshire or Maine. In Canada, it grows only in Ontario.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Dioscorea villosa (Wild Yam)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Dioscorea villosa

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Dioscorea villosa

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower - Wildflower Index

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

Itea virginica is known by the common name Virginia Sweetspire or Virginia-willow. So far, I’ve only seen it at Fort Yargo State Park. There are several plants along the trail from the Section B boat launch (segment 2) and some along the shoreline (segment 12). These are somewhat difficult to photograph because the plants tend to hang out over the water.

A bush in flower, in the early morning sun.

The flower head is just developing (April 18th).

Still developing, a little further along (April 23rd).

And still further. (May 2nd).

The flowers are opening from the base of the flower head (May 8th).

The flowers, close up (May 8th).

The flower head is almost completely open (May 14th).

Flowers up close (May 14th).

The fruits are starting to develop (May 28th).

The fruits, up close (May 30th).

Seedpods, empty of seeds.

Empty seedpods, up close.

Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire) is native to the eastern United States but not Canada. It grows from Maryland west to Missouri (with the exception of Iowa and West Virginia), south to Texas and in all states east to the Atlanta Ocean and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Itea virginica

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Itea virginica

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower - Wildflower Index

Uvularia sp.: Perfoliate Bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata)?

Five Uvularia species grow in the Carolinas and Georgia. Based on the leaf shape and the stalked flower arrangement, this plant appears to be either Uvularia grandiflora (Largeflower Bellwort) or Uvularia perfoliata (Perfoliate Bellwort). I didn’t see the flower. However, based on the known geographic disribution of U. grandiflora and U. perfoliata, this species is probably U. perfoliata. So far, I’ve only seen it at Fort Yargo State Park where I saw one plant along the trail on segment 12.

Another plant I almost missed. For a long time I thought the flowers hadn’t developed. I’m inclined to think now that I may have photographed the developing fruit. Can anyone throw any light on this? I’ll have to stalk this plant next Spring and see if I can photograph the bloom.

The plant. It stood about 2 feet high in the woods along the Rock Garden trail.

A closer view of the stem showing the leaf arrangement.

A little closer still.

A close up, May 2nd.

Close up, May 16th.

Rebecca in the Woods sent me this link to her photos of the U. perfoliata fruit. Thanks Rebecca! This seems to confirm that 'my' fruit didn't develop. A challenge for next year.

The Uvularia species, U. grandiflora and U. perfoliata, are native to the United States and Canada. U. grandiflora has a wider range than U. perfoliata.
U. grandiflora grows in the eastern United States and Canada. In the United States, it grows in states including, and east of North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana; it doesn’t grow in Maine or Florida. In Canada, it grows in Mannitoba, Ontario and Quebec. In Georgia it has only been reported from three counties – Chatooga, Walker, and Floyd - in the far northwest of the state.
U. perfoliata has a more limited range. In the United States, it grows in states including and east of Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas; it does grow in Maine and Florida. In Canada, it grows only in Ontario. In Georgia it has been reported from many counties.
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Distribution Map:
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
- Uvularia perfoliata (Perfoliate Bellwort)
- Uvularia grandiflora (Largeflower Bellwort)
University of North Carolina Herbarium:
- Uvularia perfoliata
- Uvularia grandiflora

Identification resources:
Southeastern Flora:
- Perfoliate Bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata)
- Largeflower Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:
- Uvularia perfoliata
- Uvularia grandiflora

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower - Wildflower Index