Continued from Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 1)
We were looking at wildflowers at the Anderson Mill Creek Swamp on Enoch Johns Road in Wilkes County, Georgia on September 7th, 2011.
We found some Polygonum hydropiperoides (Swamp Smartweed) plants.
A closer view of individual blooms.
I found a few spikes of Lobelia amoena (Southern lobelia) almost buried in the grass on the south side of the road. I almost missed them.
Agalinis purpurea (Purple Gerardia), I believe. There were several plants on the north and south sides of the road
Desmodium tenuifolium (Slimleaf Tick Trefoil) was growing along the south side of the road.
Small white flowers of Sagittaria latifolia (Common Arrowhead)
Amphicarpa bracteata (Hog Peanut)
Chamaesyce nutans (Spotted Spurge)
Ipomoea lacunosa (White Morning-glory) – with Verbena brasilienses (Brazilian Vervain) and Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligator Weed) and in the background
And last, but not least, a patch of Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed)
In addition to these we saw Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed) that was growing too far from the roadside to photograph. So, in contrast to the lack of wildflowers in dry areas, we were treated to a wonderful collection of wildflowers at the swamp.
Click on an image to view a larger image
Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Polygonum hydropiperoides (Swamp Smartweed)
- Southeastern Flora: Lobelia amoena (Southern Lobelia)
- Jeffrey S. Pippen, North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees: Agalinis purpurea (Purple Gerardia)
- Jeffrey S. Pippen, North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees: Desmodium tenuifolium (Slimleaf Tick Trefoil)
- Southeastern Flora: Sagittaria latifolia (Common Arrowhead)
- Southeastern Flora: Amphicarpa bracteata (Hog Peanut)
- Southeastern Flora: Chamaesyce nutans (Spotted spurge)
- Southeastern Flora: Ipomoea lacunosa (White Morning-glory)
- Jeffrey S. Pippen, North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees: Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed)
Related post:
- Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 1)
September 17th, 2011. There are a couple of swamps on Enoch John Road in Wilkes County, Georgia. The eastern swamp is on a tributary to Fishing Creek; the western swamp is on Anderson Mill Creek. Every time we’re in the area, we drive along this road.
Enoch John Road is a graveled dirt road and often covered with water at the western approach to the bridge over the Anderson Mill Creek swamp. It’s been so dry this summer that there are few wildflowers blooming in our area so we didn’t expect much when we drove through a week ago but we were in for a surprise…
Looking south from the bridge over the swamp
Looking north from the bridge over the swamp.
Looking east from the north side of the bridge over the swamp.
The bridge over the swamp. There’s little traffic on this road so, often, we can park on the bridge. There is an area to park at the east end of the road over the swamp. W is photographing dragonflies. There were quite a few Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) around the bridge.
Mikania scandens (Climbing Hempvine) was growing in several places by the swamp and was covering several shrubs on the north side of the road
A close up of Mikania scandens (Climbing Hempvine) flowers
Murdannia keisak (Wartremoving Herb) was growing along the south side of the road. When it’s not blooming, Murdannia keisak looks like a broad-leaved grass so it can be a surprise to see these delicate flowers in late summer.
I think this is Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala (Common Water-primrose). A few small bushes were growing on the north side of the road.
Verbena brasiliensis (Brazilian vervain) was growing in the south side of the road to the west of the bridge.
Continued at: Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 2)
Click on an image to view a larger image
Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Mikania scandens (Climbing Hempvine)
- Alabama Plants: Murdannia keisak (Wartremoving Herb)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala (Common Water-primrose)
- Southeastern Flora: Verbena brasiliensis (Brazilian vervain)
Related post:
- 2010: Year of the Wildflower
- Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 2)
September 4, 2011. When we drove up to the White Crownbeard (Verbesina virginica) plants, several butterflies were feeding on the flowers. In addition to a yellow Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and a Monarch (Danaus plexippus), there was a dark swallowtail. I assumed it was a black female. When I got close enough to take the photo, it was clear that this butterfly was different. I could see…
the black rib pattern of the yellow form showing through the dark colored wings.
I’d never seen a butterfly like this before but a little research revealed that the female could exist in several forms including this rare ‘intermediate’ form. A lucky find.
See other photos of the intermediate form here and here.
Click on the image to view a larger image
Identification resources:
- Micheal Beohm, West Central Georgia Butterflies: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
- Butterflies and Moths of North America: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
September 4, 2011. We saw a ‘new’ white wildflower as we drove from McDuffie County into Wilkes County. At first there were only small plants with buds but then we encountered a large stand by the roadside. This is Verbesina virginica - known by the common names White Crownbeard, Common Frostweed, Tickweed, Iceplant, Iceweed, Virginia Crownbeard, Indian Tobacco, Richweed, Squawweed. During our trip, we saw it only in the Clarks Hill WMA in Wilkes Country, Georgia.
Part of the stand of plants
The leaves
Developing flower buds
A flower head
Close up of the flowers
Verbesina virginica has two subspecies, virginica and laciniata. The subspecies virginica is distributed more widely – from Pennsylvania west to Iowa and south to Texas - than laciniata which is only found in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. In Georgia, this species is found mainly in the Piedmont and southwest counties as well as a couple of coastal counties. I don’t know which subspecies this plant is.
An interesting note: Verbesina virginica is known as frostweed because after it is exposed to freezing temperatures and still air, liquid water inside the stem freezes and splits the stem open, which then causes water and water vapor inside the stem to emit directly into the air. The water molecules then freeze upon exposure and form delicate ribbons of ice coming from the stem – see a photograph here. - USA Nature Phenology Network
Click on an image to view a larger image
Distribution:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Verbesina virginica (White Crownbeard)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Verbesina virginica
Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: White Crownbeard (Verbesina virginica)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Verbesina virginica (Common Frostweed, Tickweed)
- Missouri Plants: Verbesina virginica
- University of Texas at Austin, Native Plant Database: Verbesina virginica (Frostweed, White Crownbeard, Iceplant, Iceweed, Virginia Crownbeard, Indian Tobacco, Richweed, Squawweed)
Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index
Parnassia asarifolia (Kidneyleaf Grass of Parnassus)
