September 14th, 2012. We
took off up to Stephens County and explored two separate areas: the LakeRussell Wildlife Management Area and Currahee Mountain.
Lake Russell WMA
The road ran through relatively dry
habitat where we found a surprising number of wildfowers in bloom.
A Desmodium sp. – possibly
Desmodium perplexum (Perplexed Tick Trefoil) based on the spicules on the leaf
petioles.
The leaves. The spicules are visible on the petiole just below the leaf on the right.
Lobelia puberula (Downy Lobelia)
Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass) is differentiated easily from Pityopsis aspera (Pineland or Carolina Silkgrass) by the grass-like leaves at the base of
the plant.
The
plant with the grass-like leaves at the base
The
flower
Helianthus
sp. My best guess is that this is
Helianthus atrorubens (Purple-disc Sunflower, Hairy Wood
Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower) but it’s only a guess. I’d love to
know if this is a helianthus.
The
flower
The
leaves
Agalinis
purpurea (Purple False Foxglove or Purple Gerardia)
Chrysopsis
mariana (Maryland Goldenaster)
The
flower
The
leaves
Helianthus
sp. – possibly Helianthus giganteus (Giant Sunflower) – although the leaves
don’t seem right for this species. These were very tall plants.
The
flower
A
bud
The
leaves
Elephantopus
tomentosus (Hairy elephantfoot or Devil’s Grandmother)
We were delighted to have found quite a variety or wildflowers along this very dry, dusty road.
Next,
Currahee Mountain.
Click on an image to view a larger image
Identification
resources:
Duke
University, J. Pippen: Desmodium perplexum (Perplexed Tick Trefoil)
Southeastern
Flora:
Name
that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:
Alan
Cressler:
Distribution:
United
States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
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