April 20th, 2013. It was
clear from our trip to Boggs Creek Recreation Area in the Chestatee Wildlife
Management in Lumpkin County on March 30th that this would be an
interesting place to follow through the Spring wildflower season. We visited a
second time on April 13th to look at the mystery trillium and check
on wildflowers that were developing on our previous visit. This was our third
visit…
Actaea pachypoda (Doll’s-eyes
or White baneberry, White Cohosh, Doll’s-eyes)
White Baneberry plants were scattered in the shade under the pine
trees. On our previous visit, buds were developing or just starting to open.
Now most were open.
Flower and leaves, and...
Flowers at various stages of
opening
Tiarella cordifolia (Heartleaf
Foamflower, Foamflower, Mountain Foamflower,
False Miterwort)
Foamflowers were still
flourishing.
Clusters of plants in the woods, and
an individual flower spike that still has unopened buds at the
tip.
Waldsteineria fragaroides (Appalachian Barren Strawberry)
There are two species of Waldsteineria in this area: Waldsteinaria
fragarioides (Appalachian Barren Strawberry) and Waldsteinaria lobata (Piedmont
Barren Strawberry). These are differentiated by the leaves Which are trifoliate
in both species. The lobes of W. fragarioides leaves are completely separated whereas
those of W. lobata are not. W. fragarioides is distributed throughout many
eastern states compared with W. lobata which occurs only in the Carolinas and
Georgia. W. fragarioides is found more in north Georgia; W. lobata has been
documented in fewer counties but over a wider geographic area.
A plant growing on the floor of the pine woods where the trilliums
were growing.
A closer view of the plant showing that that lobes of the leaves
were completely separated
A closer view of an individual flower which has lost some petals.
Pedicularis canadensis (Canadian Lousewort, Lousewort, Wood Betony, Eastern Lousewort,
Fernleaf)
The ‘native’ form of this species has cream flowers; a form with
maroon flowers is a variant of this species.
Most of the flowers we found were
deep maroon, whereas some were…
intermediate between the original
cream form and the deep maroon form. On this visit, we were able to get better
photos of this lighter form.
Iris cristata (Dwarf Crested Iris)
This species is found mostly in the
far north Georgia counties. We found a few plants near the lousewort plants;
these wouldn’t flower for another couple of weeks. As we drove up the road, we
found…
a patch of plants at the edge of the
road that had much greater sun exposure. Many of these plants were blooming.
Close up of one of the flowers.
Thalictrum thalictroides (Rue
Anemone, Windflower)
We didn’t find many Rue Anemones in this area but there were a few
Close view of an individual flower
Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)
We had found Bloodroot plants along the embankments at Dicks Creek
but hadn’t seen any previously at Boggs Creek. On this visit, just after
turning around at the end of the road and starting back down the road, we
spotted…
characteristic Bloodroot leaves near the base of a tree.
Closer views of the plants that are setting seed. Another site to
view this wildflower.
Under normal conditions, we would have gone over to Dicks Creek
again. However, we were travelling in a vehicle that probably would not have
handled the rougher road very well, we headed over to Sosebee Cove – our first
visit to this site – to see what was blooming…
Click
on an image to view a larger image
Identification Resources:
Southeastern Flora
Natural
and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:
Distribution:
United
States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
Related
post:
- Spring Wildflowers at
Dicks Creek (Part 2)
