This location was the third site I searched before finally finding some American Columbo, a most
unusual plant, in bloom. It is quite uncommon, although not rare, but when found it often occurs
in large colonies. The plant persists as a large rosette of basal leaves for 5-20 years before finally
bolting as a large flowering plant 3-8 feet tall for a single season, then dying.
Early June, 2016 - Track Rock Gap:
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Basal Rosette - I found LOTS of these.
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American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis)
Typical four petaled flower.
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Less common five petaled flower
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Flower, with a few ants...
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Flower group
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Collage showing bee feeding on the fringed nectar pad that occurs in the middle of each corolla lobe.
Note the pollen "saddle bags" on the bee.
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I didn't get a very good photo of the entire flowering plant.
I only found this one plant in bloom, and it was well past prime...
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I came across this Eastern Box Turtle while looking for the Columbo.
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As well as some Hairy Skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica)
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While I only found one plant blooming here in 2016, in 2017 I saw six plants.
My visit was almost too late, as most of the flowers were spent or drooping.
A rainy day in late May, 2017:
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Entire Columbo plant
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I found three plants blooming here in late May, 2018.
Track Rock Gap:
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I just love these unusual flowers...
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In recent years, I've seen this species growing near Brasstown Valley in Young Harris.
Late May, 2020:
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American Columbo flower,
with ants feeding on two of the fringed nectar pads.
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Columbo flower (Frasera caroliniensis)
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Flowering stalk of American Columbo, about 7 feet tall
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A stalk from last year, with dried up seed pods
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Nearby I spotted some Annual Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium rosulatum)
Apparently I had never noticed this smaller version of what I considered the "common" Blue-Eyed Grass.
It has a rather distinctive yellow "eye" surrounded by a burgundy border.
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