April 2nd,
2014. Continued from Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls: Wildflowers (Part 1). We made a short trip over to Devil’s Fork State Park, South Carolina in search of Shortia galacifolia (Oconee
Bells, Southern Shortia) and Monotropsis odorata
(Pygmy Pipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweet Pinesap). While
we were there we made a side trip to Oconee Station Historic Site and the
Station Cove Falls.
Map of the trails from the Oconee Station Historic Site to
the falls. We parked at the historic site and walked down to the pond. The main
trail stays on the highway side of the pond and follows the creek up to the
highway. Although the map shows a trail around the pond, it is quite primitive.
It was late in the day so we decided to hike to the falls the following
morning.
The
vegetation changed about half-way along the trail. It was moister than the
first part of the trail.
There
were several large areas covered with Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum).
Some had
buds that will develop white flowers
There
were clusters of these plants standing by themselves and among the Mayapples. I
knew I should know what they were, but it wasn’t until I saw the Perfoliate
Bellwort that I realized they were Sessileleaf Bellwort (Uvularia
sessilifolia) that will produce flowers like these (photographed by Hugh Nourse).
Halberd-leaf
Yellow Violets (Viola hastata) were blooming along the bank beside the trail.
Rue
Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)
Foamflower
(Tiarella cordifolia). Most were still in bud but a couple had opened flowers.
Wood
Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia). This was the first Wood Anemone I had seen, and
the only one I saw along the trail.
A promise
of dwarf iris blooms to come. My guess is the Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) although they could be the Dwarf Iris (Iris verna).
Lousewort
(Pedicularis canadensis) were just starting to bud at the very edge of the
trail. We saw these in full bloom at Boggs Creek.
I think this might be Spotted
Mandarin (Prosartes maculata) that will produce flowers like these (photographed by Hugh Nourse in North Carolina). Another guess. This plant, and I only found one,
was growing quite near to the crossing
to the final approach to Station Falls. It’s not been officially documented in
South Carolina but occurs in surrounding states.
On the
final approach to Station Cove Falls looking back to the crossing over Station
Creek. The vegetation here was different from the drier areas along the trail
on the other side of the creek. There were Mayapples which we had seen earlier
on the trail but then several plants that appeared to be unique here.
Canadian white violet (Viola
canadensis). Some are visible in the photo above but they carpeted the area to
the left of the trail moving towards the falls.
The area to the right of the path
was covered with Mayapples. Among the Mayapples the ground was covered with
Sharplobe Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta) plants. They had finished
blooming for the season. The flowers are similar to those of the Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa).
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum
thalictroides). The final gem on the trail was a single Blue Cohosh, and in
bloom.
This is a rich botanical area for Spring wildflowers that
would require several trips at different times to fully appreciate the variety
of flowers that could be viewed.
Related
posts:
No comments:
Post a Comment