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Corundum Knob & vicinity, Clay Co., NC Second half of 2020 |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2020) |
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Corundum Knob & vicinity, Clay Co., NC Second half of 2020 |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2020) |
| 1 - July 15, 2020 Last year, I found Melanthium hybridum in bloom here, and wondered if I might see it again. Alas, this species is a reluctant bloomer, and there were no signs of flower stalks this year. |
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| Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) - whitish form |
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| Downy Oak Leach (Aureolaria virginica) |
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| Spotted Wintergreen, aka Spotted Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata) |
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| Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) |
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| Interesting tree trunk/roots. I wonder if this large tree started its life growing on something that has since rotted away... |
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| Purple Crownvetch (Securigera varia) |
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| Southern Agrimony (Agrimonia parviflora); near Glade Gap |
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| I found a mess of Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) in bloom along a trail. |
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| Scarlet Beebalm |
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| Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) - pinkish form |
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| 2 - July 31, 2020 The Turks Cap Lilies seemed a little late this year, but were finally in bloom! |
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| Turk's Cap Lily (Lilium superbum) |
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| Turk's Cap Lilies |
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| Turk's Cap Lilies |
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| Turk's Cap Lilies |
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| 3 - Sept 2, 2020 Almost two months ago, I found what I thought might be Feather Bells in bud, close to where I had found Melanthium hybridum in 2019. It took them forever to mature, but I hoped they would finally be in bloom. |
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| Feather Bells (Stenanthium gramineum) |
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| Feather Bells - upper stalk |
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| Feather Bells - a drooping branch showing flower details |
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| Feather Bells in habitat |
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| Another example... |
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| I came across some Southern Harebells alongside the forest road. Getting down to photograph the small blooms, I noticed a fly pollinating the flowers. This species has both male and female organs, and different insects have different approaches to pollinating the plant. This fly wasn't interested in the nectar at the flower's base, but was busy feeding on and collecting pollen from each flower's long style. |
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| Southern Harebell (Campanula divaricata) with Syphrid Fly feeding on and collecting pollen from the long style. |
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| Southern Harebell with Syphrid Fly feeding and collecting pollen. |
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| Southern Harebell flowers |
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| Southern Harebell (Campanula divaricata) plant |
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| Beech-drops are parasitic plants that obtain their nutrients from the roots of the American Beech tree. Typically when I find these, they are more reddish-copper in color. These were more tannish-gold. |
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| Beech-drops (Epifagus virginianus) |
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| Beech-drops - close-up of flowers |
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| American Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata) |