SHORTIA NEWSLETTER OF THE WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB SPRING 1997 ELTON and ALINE HANSENS WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB President : Vice-President : Secretary : Don Herrman Elaine Montgomery Laverne Pearson Treasurer : Recorder : Historian : Rachel Conway Erika Parmi Louise Foresman FROM THE PRESIDENT DON HERRMAN Riding home from the annual meeting, I had a very good feeling. This had been a good meeting with good socializing and a good exchange of ideas. Even the ice, cold and snow could not dampen the spirit of the meeting. Everyone at the meeting said they had received the new schedule. It is a good one. Look it over, the field trips and meetings are diversified and interesting. There is something there for everyone. "Macho", my big white male cat is helping me write this. He would like to point out that even though there is not as much botanizing in the ice and snow, the waterfalls and the meadow have a distinct beauty of their own. Standing here looking at the meadow, it is hard to realize what is going to happen in a few months. The crunch of the ice leaves you with the impression that nothing will grow. But come spring we know it will . By then our field trips will be in full swing. Read and reread the schedule. Pick out the trips that appeal to you. Contact the leaders. They know what they are doing come out and enjoy as many as you can . When talking with different individuals at the annual meeting, I was struck by the many different and interesting experiences I was hearing. The Editors of SHORTIA would be more than happy to receive your stories so, send them in. Thanking you very much! WCBC TREASURER'S REPORT, 1996 Balance on Hand, Jan. 1, 1996 Receipts Members dues Donations In ter es t Total Receipts $2,638.01 $680.00 12.00 28.50 720.50 $3,358.51 Disursements 2 schedules (incl. postage) $182. .30 4 SHORTIA (incl. postage) 429. .96 Plant lists 65. .18 Address list 35. ,00 Annual Meeting '96 79. .90 Prepaid Rent, Annual Mtg. '97 75. .00 Treasurer's Expenses 28. .17 Secretary, Misc. 52. .95 Total Disbursements Balance on Hand, Dec. 31, 1996 Elaine Montgomery, Treasurer 948.26 $2,410.25 WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES January 17, 1997, St. John in the Wilderness Church Attendance 31 The meeting began with the reading of the minutes from last year's meeting, followed by the treasurer's report. Both were accepted as read. Elton Hansens informed the members of the exciting news that the New York Botanical Gardens wishes to acquire a complete set of SHORTIA. A staff member at NYBG and friend of Dan Patillo (WCU) contacted Elton about this. The UNCA Botanical Garden and WCU also intend to catalog SHORTIA into their systems. Dan Patillo has offered to help implement this plan. At this point, the cost factor is unknown. Elton reminded the members that SHORTIA is always in need of material, and encouraged all to contribute. Dick Smith gave us some interesting sidelights about other connections between WCBC and NYBG, where, incidentally, he gave his first lecture. Harry Logan, a co-founder of WCBC, and Harvey Krouse, an early member, were both members of the Torrey Botanical Club, which was a highly scientific group related to the NYBG. Both of these organizations were affiliated with Columbia University. Dick sees many similarities between the Torrey Club and WCBC, probably because of the influence of Harry Logan's membership in the Torrey Club. Dean Crawford raised the issue of the future of WCBC. Many of the original, knowledgeable members have passed on or have moved away. How do we keep it going and vital? We need to attract more people who will provide leadership, planning and responsibility. Dean offered suggestions: 1) The officers should prepare a brochure or welcoming letter to be included in the materials that Welcome Wagon brings to new arrivals to our area. This le t t er /brochure would plug the joys of the outdoors, and include an application to join WCBC with the bonus of free membership for the remainder of the year. 2) Newspaper listings of our field trips in the weekly calendar of events in the Times-News and in the Tryon newspaper. It was suggested that the field trips could be placed in the Sunday sports section with the hiking schedules. Jeanne Smith mentioned the Wi ldf lower Weekend in Asheville and the teachers at Blue Ridge Community College as other vehicles for getting our message out. The Nominating Committee, which included Lois McDaniel and Erika Parmi, and was headed by Don Bender, presented the slate of officers for 1997 as follows: Pres., Don Herrman; VP, Elaine Montgomery; Treas . , Rachel Conway; Secy., LaVerne Pearson. All were elected unanimously. Ruth Hoerich reported Challice Weiss had a stroke and was currently recovering at Thoms Rehabilitation Center. President Don Herrman spoke encouragingly about the club's activities, saying that some of those who cannot attend field trips do attend the indoor winter meetings. He also thanked those who so efficiently produce and mail our schedules and SHORTIA. He reminded members that dues are due NOW. The meeting was adjourned, after which the group enjoyed a potluck lunch. NOTE: Former members George and Opal LeMieux, friends of the Smiths, brought some of their magnificent enlargements of wild flowers for our enjoyment and/or purchase. They were much appreciated by everyone present. LaVerne Pearson, Secretary 3. RECORDER'S REPORT THE YEAR 1996 ERIKA S. PARMX Each season has its own beauty . As I write this the trees are covered with ice and snow outlining the branches with daz z ling light against vivid blue sky. 1 1 is a fairyland ! The many uprooted trees and broken 1 imbs will change some familiar views . Nature, however , will soon concea 1 these wounds under a cover of green leaves . In a few years the dead wood will be recycled into the soil enabling plants and flowers to grow where they may not have grown before . "Mother Nature" may have some surprises for us this spring with changed vis tas and altered plant locations ! In the year 1996, 41 field trips and two picnics were scheduled . Of these , s even were cancelled and for three no Recorder ' s reports were made . Thus , this years statistics are based on 33 reports . There were 566 participants , down by abou t 100 , with an average of 1 7 people per trip . La s t year the average was 1 9 per trip. The Givens Estates trip on April 12 , Grassy Ridge on June 2 8 and the Sandburg mushroom walk on Aug . 16 each attracted 30 or more participants . Ten field trips had 20 or more participants , and 1 8 trips attracted 10 or more participants . There were only 4 trips with less than 10 participants . In 1996 we had 3 trips on which we saw more than 60 species in bloom or in bud . They were the Snowbird overnight trip on April 23-25 . Douglas Falls/Coleman Boundry Rd . on May 10 and Pinnacle Mt . on Aug . 23 . There were 8 trips on which we found from 40 to 54 species in bloom . On 1 5 trips 20 to 38 species were in bloom or in bud . Only 4 trips had less than 20 species in bloom . These statistics were formulated from the 30 trips for which I received plant lists. As during the 1994 and 1995 seasons approximately half the trips provided us with a t least 30 species in bloom . This spring it will be in teres ting to see how the extremely warm weather in December followed by January ' s snow , ice and cold will effect the spring flowering season . Whatever we see , I am looking f orward to it. April 21,21,23 THE SMOKIES (Erika Parmi 883-8021 ) (Mon, Tues, Wed) (Elton Hansens 227-7486) Two nights at the Talley-Ho Inn in Townsend, TN on the lush side of the Smokies! Rates will be $39 plus tax for two beds and $29 for a single. We will have a mixture of walks and stop and go viewing of an amazing array of spring flowers , revisiting some old favorites plus some new walks and roads. Walks will be from \ to 4 miles in length with shorter options available for the longer hikes . Reservations required . Please call Erika by April 11. MEETING PLACE: Ingles North TIME: 8:30 AM Join others at Mills River Restaurant TIME: 8:45 DRIVING DISTANCE* 400 miles COST: $7.00. ~ NEW MEMBERS Walls, Kenneth W. & Harriet H . : 132 Frazier Road , Brevard , NC 28712-9743. 4. THE COLOR PURPLE Dick Smith Don Henman's query as to whether Aster puniceus should not be called "Red- stemmed" instead of "Purple-stemmed" Aster reminds us that there is widespread perplexity about the meaning of the word "purple" as it is used in botany. Clearly, Linnaeus knew what he was doing when he assigned the epithet puniceus to this species. To him, the suffused color on the stems resembled that seen in the pulp of Pomegranate fruit. This was a tree he had named Punica granatum , so puniceus must have seemed an appropriate choice. At that time, a Latin or Latinized binomial was considered sufficient to identify a species, and Linnaeus doubtless expected we would leave it that, but inevitably there arose the need for a colloquial name which English-speaking peoples could use when referring to this plant. In response, someone came up with "Purple-stemmed Aster," which was just as descriptive as the scientific name conferred upon it by Linnaeus, and was a perfectly suitable equivalent— although today we seem to have our doubts. We need to realize that the English language had many words for denoting hues that were blends of red and blue, and that originally these were carefully divided between the "purples," which were near the red end of the spectrum, and the "violets," which were closer to blue. "Purple" was an inclusive term, encompassing and not always differentiated from similar colors such as maroon, garnet, and magenta. The word was used to describe such flowers as we see in our Northern Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia purpurea., Purple Trillium, Trillium ereclum\ Leather Flower, Clematis viorna\ and Meadow Beauty', Rhexia virginica. As to the second category, "Violet" really has no synonym, and the term as it was applied to flower color can best be visualized from examples like Zigzag Spiderwort, Tradescantia subaspera\ Self Heal, Prunella vulgarise and of course many Violets, Viola spp. If the sharp distinction between these two color groups had been consistently maintained we would be less confused today, but that would have been too much to expect. One reason is that the difference between them has been blurred by the discovery that there are many "borderline" flower hues between red and blue-more than anywhere else in the spectrum— especially when it comes to the lighter tints. Also, taxonomists have sometimes leaned over backwards to extend epithets like purpurea to flowers that are decidedly bluish; possibly they were reluctant to use violacea because it would translate into English as "violet," a noun already too widely applied to well-known flowers as a common name for us to welcome it as an adjective for others. Finally, think about this: Isn’t it true that most of us have gradually slipped into the careless habit of using the words "purple" and "violet" interchangeably in our speech and writing? If so, all we need to do is adjust our conceptions of color to conform to traditional standards. We have nothing to lose, except possibly part of our reputation for imprecision in the use of language. 5. California Fuchsia by Kathryn K. McNeil I am a fellow member of yours who lives in San Francisco in the winter and the Smokies in the summer. After spending the lush, wet months of June, July and August in my home on a mountain top near Waynesville, it is always a shock to return to parched California where no rain has fallen since May. The rainless months stretch to November and turn much of California into a true Mediterranean ecosystem. There is a survivor of such conditions, a charming wildflower, which often begins to bloom in mid summer and continues through weeks of high temperatures until December when the rams return again. It is affectionately called “California Fuchsia,” though it is a member of the Evening Primrose family, because it looks like a fuchsia with its tubular shaped flower head, its petals slightly recurved, and protruding stamens and stigma. For over a century it has been known botanically as Zauchneria until California flora was lately re-classified. Now it is called Epilobium canum and grouped with the Fireweeds. The mountaineer of this genus is E. canum ssp. latifolium and is found at 10,000 feet in the Sierras. California Fuchsia likes the stoniest, most inhospitable of soils where it perches in rocky crevasses and on dry, flinty hillsides, dazzling the eye with its scarlet bugles in a monotone world of burnt grasses and parched chapparal. The flowers have a habit of blooming horizontally on their woody stems, deliciously appealing to hummingbirds, offering flaming miniature trumpets one to two inches long. Their growth habits vary depending on their location, rising from rhizomes into straggly clumps of grey green lance- shaped leaves, variable in size, and often covered with white hairs. The bark is shreddy as one would expect, surviving as the fuchsia does on hot dry slopes with no rain for four to five months. Over the years many horticultural hybrids have been developed from Zauchneria californica, some with pink trumpets, some with white. It is well to remember, however, their true nature is to die back after flowering, so their winter appearnce in a garden setting is not admirable. To hikers, finding California Fuchsias blooming on the dusty trails is reward enough. They gladden the eye and quicken the heart and reaffirm the resilence of Nature. 6. Epilobium canum ( Zauchnerio californica) Illustration by William Pierson used with permission of artist & FREMONTIA (Calif. Native Plant Soc.) 7. NOTES FROM WHITE SQUIRREL CHARLES R. GUNN My avowed intention has been to write about regional plants and plant families. However. this column will report on other matters . First - A new genus has been officially named for me: Bobgunnia . This is an unusual African genus whose species were previously assigned to a South American genus. The paper is being published by the New York Botanical Garden. But more about this later. Second - In November I was in Mission Memorial Hospital, Asheville and a pacemaker was installed. I am feeling a lot better and I am also walking again. This little "vacation" caused me to miss the first meeting of tropical drift seed collectors held in Cocoa Beach, FL on December 4 and 5. In 1966, Robert Mossman of West Palm Beach sent seeds that he had collected to the Smithsonian Institution for identification. Because I identified seeds for the Smithsonian, these seeds were sent to me. My response to Bob and the resulting correspondence with him and Corinne E. Edwards of Coconut Grove resulted in my first tropical drift seed paper in the March/April 1968 Garden Journal of the New York Botanical Garden. Seeds and fruits found on the beaches are produced by tropical plants, and float in sea water. They are transported from the tropics via sea currents to beaches in the temperate zone. Cathie Katz (in Florida) and I (in Brevard) started The Drifting Seed, a semiannual newsletter. Our newesletter will be printed and distributed from Florida. At least I can still write for it! My obscure avocation, started in 1968, now has become a worldwide organi za t ion . CRACK WILLOW A NEW WAY TO GET AROUND BILL VERDUIN Seeds, stump sprouts, sprouts from shallow roots, low hanging branches that root where they touch the ground, twigs cut by man and rooted in the nursery-- And then there is Salix f ragilis , crack willow, which has its own unique (as far as I know-) way of reproduction. We all know how easily willows of all kinds root if a twig is stuck into wet soil. Crack willow takes full advantage of this ability. It deliberately produces a weak spot in the lateral twigs just an eighth of an inch or so beyond the point of connection with the main branch. Comes a winter wind brushing branch against branch and -- voila -- twigs here and there crack off and are carried by the wind. The lucky few dropped on wet soil promptly take root and we have a new crack willow tree. This willow is a native of Europe and was introduced into this country in early colonial times. It escaped from farmyards and pastures and is common in the eastern states. It occurs at the Kanuga Conference Center near Hendersonville, NC. 8. LOOK AGAIN ! Amateur botanists--and not just beginners either--are often baffled when coming across what they perceive to be "strawberry plants with yellow blossoms." Usually they are already well enough acquainted with the Cinquefoils to have dismissed most species on the basis of their having more than 3 leaflets, and the one that does have trifoliolate leaves for having undersized flowers. POTE NT! LLA CANADENSIS DUCHESNEA INDICA Along the way they would have observed that in both Straw- berries (Fragaria ) and Cinquefoils ( Potentilla ) the 5 sepals alternate with 5 similar but smaller bracts. If, however, the plant in question has bracts that are larger than the sepals and have 3 or more distinct teeth, it can be put down as Indian Strawberry, Duchesnea indica, an immigrant from Asia that produces a red but dry fruit resembling a Strawberry. I h/A LDS TE/AJ /A FEAGAE/Q! DE5 On the other hand, if there are no bracts at all interspersed with the sepals, the plant is another impostor (although a native one), Waldsteinia f ragar ioides , known as Barren Strawberry. 9. SPRING 1997 S H 0 R T I A VOL. XIX, No. 1 A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB Editors ; Elton J and Aline Hansens Distribution : Ruth Hoerich Please submit contributions (articles, Letters to the Editors, notes, etc. for the next issue by April 20 to Aline Hansens, 125 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803. 1997 WCBC Membership Dues are $8.00. If you have not paid, send your check to: Western Carolina Botanical Club, Rachel M. Conway, Treas. , 211 Aldersgate Circle, Asheville, NC 28803. SHORTIA c/o Ruth Hoerich 215 Newport Road Hendersonville, NC 28739 FIRST CLASS SHORTIA NEWSLETTER OF THE WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB SUMMER 1997 LIBRARY JUN - 2 1997 NEW YORK ELTON and ALINE HANSENS WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB President: Don Herrman Treasurer: Rachel Conway Vice-President: Elaine Montgomery Recorder: Erika Parmi Secretary: Laverne Pearson Historian: Louise Foresraan FROM THE PRESIDENT DON HERRMAN Spring is here! Now that you have paid your dues, come out and participate. The field trips are many and varied. The Program Committee has met again and the second half of the year looks just as good as the first half. While attendance has been good, we can handle larger groups safely, without trampling the environment. Oh yes, to a few of you, there is still plenty of time to send in your dues. Today it is raining - a great day for hiking! (See Dean). The dog and cats went down to the meadow with me. Moss is everywhere and thriving but where are the spring beauties? Maybe it is too early - or maybe I am the only one who doesn't know that. Yesterday, as I was washing the dishes, I glanced out the kitchen window. A white squirrel was headed for the yard. I got all excited! By the time I got the camera it had disappeared. Later I saw him again but he took off before I could get that picture. But guess what? Standing in my front yard, stretching all the way down past my 5 tree orchard are all the violets you will ever want. They are everywhere. Only the arbutus are able to stand in their way. This has been a great year for arbutus. It hugs low to the ground and is blooming and spreading. Between the two, arbutus and violets, I won't worry about mowing. There is one other thing about violets they are too successful in the vegetable garden. Would you believe I am transplanting violets to an undeveloped area of my yard. Excuse my rambling. (After all this is "Ramblewood" ) . There is one last question. I have noticed there are quite a few different and varied colors of violets. Does anyone know the names of all of these violets? FROM THE EDITORS ELTON and ALINE HANSENS "LOOK AGAIN" has been a feature of every issue of SHORTIA since the spring of 1982 when we joined the WCBC. DICK SMITH has written and illustrated four pages each year for more than 15 years. We are sure that all members of WCBC recognize the skill and dedication of the author. This issue of SHORTIA presents the last of the series. We hope Dick will produce further copy for SHORTIA from time to time. We need his expertise. Your editors are delighted to present this issue of SHORTIA with a challenging array of contributions. Our members have responded to our urging and we ask many more of you to help. This number introduces the "WCBC Forum --- A Place for Open Discussion". 2. GETTING TO KNOW YOU ALINE HANSENS Davies, Walter and Betse: 200 Crestview Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 (704) 891-5926. Betse originally from Ohio and Walter from Wales, UK, moved here from FL about 1% years ago. Walter's business as a chemical engineer kept them on the move in this country and overseas but now the rolling stones are slowly coming to a halt in H'ville. Time to stop and smell the wild flowers. Hilton, James (Jim) L. and Mary: 20 Indigo Way, Hendersonville, NC 28739, (704) 696-1629. Jim Originally from TN and Mary from VA, moved to this area a year ago, drawn by the lure of the mountains. Both have degrees in botany and science. Mary, a teacher and Jim with a PhD in botany and biochemistry, retired from the USDA. Both joined the club hoping to learn the local flora . Matthes, Herbert F. and Anne M. 151 Arthur Lane, Hendersonville, NC. 28791. (704) 891-9700. Moved here from New England 9 years ago, as semi-retirees, to escape cold winters and drawn by the natural beauty of the area. Both have had a lifelong interest in botany but with no formal training. They learned of the club from Dean Crawford. Vande-Weghe, Linda: P. 0. Box 302, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718 (704) 966-9481. Grew up in NJ but moved here from Chicago drawn by the beauty of the mountains and nearness to family. Linda established a landscape design business specializing in woodland and shade gardens has a degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design . Yeamans, Meg: 20 Nottingham Rd., Brevard. NC 28712. (704) 884 -6980. A biology major, Meg enjoys the outdoors and nature. Originally from Michigan and Ohio but with close ties to western Carolina since childhood and finally made her home in Sherwood Forest. She learned of the WCBC through friends. PEARSON'S FALLS By saxifrage and trillium. By violet and by rue. Such tiny , fragile flowers We passed them - me and you! We walked in the wet morning And in wakening Spring . We felt old Nature's promise And heard the river sing. - Walter Davies 3. RECORDER'S REPORT, FEBRUARY - MAY 1977 ERIKA S. PARMI The FENCE trip on March 21 inaugurated the spring flower season with 22 plants in bloom. The trips to the waterfalls were inspiring both for their beauty and their flowers — Pearson ' s Falls on March 28, Oconee Station on April 7, and Pacolet Falls on April 14. The Givens Estates trip was especially rewarding in spite of a temperature in the 30' s and a strong, cold wind. Fifty- two species were recorded including several plants of the rare spotted mandarin (Disporum maculatum) . On April 11 a star was bom! The field trip to Glassy Mountain Heritage Preserve in SC was an unqualified success. We hiked on 3 rock faces highlighted with spectacular displays of white smooth sandwort (Minuartia groenlandica var. glabra) and false garlic (Allium bivalve) interspersed with the blue and pink of an uncommon spiderwort Tlbadescantia hirsuticaulis . The undisputed star of the show was the tiny elf orpine ( Sedum or Diamorpha smallii) . The red stems and leaves with their tiny pink and white flowers bathed the rock faces in a fiery glow. In addition to all this glory, there were great views of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and of Table Rock. The fourth rockface which had the most spectacular view had a beautiful red buckeye on its face along with a mass display of blues tar (Amsonia tabemaemon tanum ) at its edge. The Smokies overnight April 21-23 was headquartered at our favorite motel, the Talley Ho, in Townsend, TN. Despite inclement weather the first day we walked the Nature Trail and Sutton Ridge Trail at Cosby and the Ashopper Branch Trail near Sugar lands Visitor Center. Although Tuesday was mostly cloudy we had a full day of botanizing in all the usual Little River areas. The rain arrived after dinner, so we did not visit Cades Cove. Showy orchis and trilliums were everywhere this year, both on the Smokies trip and on our local trips. Perhaps the star performer was the Horse Cove Trail on May 2 when five species of trillium were found — Trillium erectum (the red form), T. grandiflorum, T. undulatum, T. vaseyi and T. cemuum. The last named may actually be T. mgelii as some of the ovaries were deep red rather than lavender. Trillium catesbaei was prolific along the Pacolet Falls trail. Jackson Park on April 28 was the only trip cancelled because of rain. If the summer season continues as the spring season has begun, it should be a great wild flower year. I jet's all get out and enjoy! THE SMOKIES, APRIL 21-23. In spite of weather this was a wonderful trip. Two of the highlights were seeing the cross vine, Anisos t ichus capreolata and one-flowered cancer root, (Orobanche uni.flor’a)"j The cross vine was spectacular on Little River Road. We also saw a very large display of wild ginger, Asarum canadense , on the Little River Trail at Elkmont. We owe a big hand of gratitude to leaders, Erika Parmi and Elton and Aline Hansens. Erika, especially, put great effort into scouting many trails and planning a detailed schedule. All we had to do was follow! Our accomodations were nice. I feel very priveleged to be a part of this group of nice people. Mary Helen Harris. 4. HARDY SOULS AND COOKIES by THE SHADOW Is Western Carolina Botanical Club a misnomer? Can a Club be botanical? In any case, when something is accepted long enough, it becomes a tradition. Another of our traditions is that each winter, usually in February, we schedule the Hardy Souls Hike. The original idea was to whet the appetites of members experiencing a little "cabin fever" and provide anticipation that soon we'd be taking our gatherings into the field to observe and identify plants in bloom.. In spite of its title, this hike has sometimes been canceled because of inclement weather! This year the decision was made, and incorporated into the printed schedule, that the hardy souls would hike regardless of weather. So it was that February 28 dawned in a cold drizzle. Two members showed up at the Hendersonville meeting place; another two were waiting at the secondary site. These four intrepid souls piled into one car and headed into increasing rain, proceeding to the trailhead. This year's goal was to discover the first wildflower blooms of the year, always a possibility with trailing arbutus. The intent foursome slogged onward and upward, peeking in vain under one arbutus leaf after another. Finally a bud about to open was sighted and the search was arbitrarily declared a success! As a reward, the rain diminished enough to allow our brave pioneers to have lunch at a nearby campground in relative dryness. They even ventured across a river for a short distance to explore a trail which might hold promise for a future expedition. Aren't you sorry you didn't take part? Will you plan now to be a hardy soul in 1998? Another of our traditions is the annual December Cookie Fest. At this year's event we will have a special contest with a fantastic prize! If you give the designated recorder a slip of paper containing the correct names of the aforementioned "Hardy Souls" from the 1997 hike (and your name as the contestant) you will be the winner. The prize: you will be selected to take home some of the leftover cookies!! (The true Hardy Souls are not eligible. They already had their own intrinsic reward and may not be brave enough to feast on cookies. Anyone even hinting that four of our members trudging through the mud are anything less than heroic will be in danger of having their cookies cut off! WCBC FORUM Dick Smith writes "Rhode Island is a small state and its flora must be limited but its Wild Plant Society members are long on enthusiasm!" He enclosed an announcement from the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society as follows: "Painted Trillium Viewing. Date, time and place: To Be Announced. Here's an opportunity to see a Painted Trillium, if it blooms this year! RIWPS member Norm Boyer will notify registrants when the trillium is blooming, (usually in the first week of May) and will lead us to the site on private property. Participants must be able to adjust their schedule on a day's notice." 5. WCBC FORUM "A Place for Open Discussion”. I purchased "Wild Flowers of Pearson's Falls Glenn", published in 1995 by the Tryon Garden Club (cost $2.50). Pen and ink drawings illustrate 40 flowers with a description of each. An acknowledgement states "Special appreciation must be expressed to Ivan Kuster, Botanical Consultant, who has given so generously of his time, expertise dnd support in compiling this guide". Millie Blaha. An inexpensive guide to N.C. trees, COMMON FOREST TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA, a pocket manual, 1995 edition, can be ordered from the Division of Forest Resources, P.0. Box 29581, Raleigh, N.C. 27626-0581. This small 9" x 5" paperback covers 84 of the most common N.C. trees. Drawings are from The Book of Trees by William C. Grimm and include the flower, leaf, fruit, and in some cases both leaf scar and end bud, as well as a map showing where the plant grows in our state. Enclose $1.95 to cover costs. -- Anne Ulinski LOOK - SEE! PICK - NIX! Picture touring Arizona on a sunny blue sky day. A beautiful patch of Eschscholzia califomica (California poppy) appeared beside the road. In a moment we were parked, my camera was in hand, and I was crouched to shoot a close-up. . Louisa was also examining the blossoms. Then we heard the crunch of tires on gravel and saw the Highway Patrol. Fortunately the camera satisfied him as to our intentions. I still have the picture. But we were lectured impressively about the depredation of wildflowers and particularly cacti by visitors as well as residents. On a WCBC hike several years ago Habenaria ciliaris (yellow fringed orchis) was featured. None were seen. Instead, plainly visible, were many rather uniform bare shallow holes left by a poacher. Only one bedraggled specimen was left to prove its existence. Last year .on a trail in early spring I encountered two pleasant elderly ladies. They were openly carrying off several Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) plants. They assured me they meant no harm, that there were plenty of plants and that they only wanted some to plant in their gardens, all of which was undoubtedly true. I told them that this was not condoned, and that the plant would probably not survive, which was also true. What I did not say is that they were stealing. That was true, too. This spring, friends showed us two sizable patches of Epigea repens (Trailing arbutus) in full bloom in a grassy area near a foot path. Two days later I had occasion to walk past again and observed an area of bare soil where a third of one patch of arbutus had already been removed As WCBC members we are aware of our own admonition against destroying wild plants. We know transplanting seldom succeeds. Futhermore, club leaders invariably set a good example in carefully minimizing plant damage when pointing out plant characteristics. Many others need to know and care! Don Bender 6. THE BYRD'S AND THE FLOWERS. Our farm in McDowell County is an old place where we go to camp, play in the creek, do wild flower surveys, etc. Which brings me to the subject of this letter. There is an unusual blue flower which grows abundantly in the meadow in the fall. I tried to identify it with my only resource at that time, Peterson's Field Guide to Wildf lowers, but couldn't seem to fit it into any category. After getting Newcomb's Wildf lower Guide, I was sure I would find it, but again no luck. I also tried Wildflowers of North Carolina, which didn't help, and tried describing it to a couple of botany club members, but my powers of description were not too great, so.... Last fall I was reading the newest issue of Shortia (Autumn '96) when I came to Dick Smith's "Look Again". About halfway through the article a light bulb went off in my head. This sounded like the flower I had been trying to identify for so long. The drawing looked just like it. EUREKA! Now I know that the mystery flower is Elephantopus tomentosus. THANK YOU DICK SMITH AND SHORTIA! Now I have another mystery flower. I would love to have some help. They were seen at Linville Falls campground on August 23, 1996. Lots of them were growing in a damp, shady, woodsy area under tall pine trees. They were green all over, leaves like Clinton's lily, racemes 2 to 3 feet tall, green 6-petaled flowers arranged up the stem like a Cranefly Orchis. The green seed pods above the flowers were triangular and heavy enough to make the plant droop somewhat. Does this ring a bell with anyone?? Long live SHORTIA! I always read it from cover to cover and save all issues for future reference. Margaret Byrd. It's very obvious I'm not a botanist (or a writer), but believe me I am married to a true wildflower enthusiast. A few years back all of those pesky weeds were transformed into beautiful untouchable wildflowers, after we joined the WCBC. This club is very fortunate in having so many talented and knowledgeable people available. I now thoroughly enjoy each outing and never cease to be amazed at all the different "things" to be seen out there ! We never go anywhere without my "driving consultant" spotting things along the roadside that only she can see. We have suddenly stopped on interstate highways, side roads, mountains and foothills - risking life and limb - to look at something interesting. I don't know how anything different a mile away! she does it, but she can spot This is truly a great group of people and I enjoy and appreciate every minute of it. -- Carl Byrd. 7. NOTES FROM WHITE SQUIRREL Charles R. Gunn Flora of North America: The third of 14 volumes has been published --Vol . 1. Introduction, Vol. 2. Pteridophy t es and Gymnosperms, Vol. 3. Magnoliophy ta. In this volume the 'lower' angiosperm families including: Birch, Buttercup, Dutchman's Pipe, Elm, Lotus, Magnolia, Oak, Poppy, Walnut, and Water-lily families. These families (plus others) are keyed, described, mapped, and habitat and ranges summarized. Lets ask the Brevard, Hendersonville, and Arboretum libraries to subscribe to this series from Oxford University Press. Up to May 31, 1997, the first three volumes are $68.00 each plus NC sales tax and a shipping charge of $3.50 for the first book and $1.50 for each book thereafter. Legume Update: One of my specialities with the USDA/ARS was working on the identification of legume seeds and fruits. I am pleased to note that the third volume (the first 2 volumes have been published) on seed and fruit morphology of the subfamily Faboideae is being readied for a USDA/ARS Editor. It will be included in the Technical Bulletin series. My estimate is that it will run 1,250 pages. Deerlake Checklist Update: I am still finding new species in Deerlake. The last two were a naturalized peach and a weeping cherry. I have a list of 227 species, representing 62 families. I am sorry to note that we lost some species due to building and general cleanup of some wild areas. We have formed a garden club, renovated the beds around the club house, and the club house is completed. Times-News EDITORIAL ■ Bouquets — To Anne Ulinski for her long-time interest and activism on the behalf of conservation. She was recently honored by the Environmental and Conservation Organization of Henderson County with its highest honor, the Founder’s Award, for her work. Ulinski not only was the motivating force behind the formation of the Henderson County Natural Heri- tage Inventory in 1994, but she worked closely with state staff to perform the actual inventory. She and her associate Millie Blaha have inventoried a number of sites in the county, includ- ing the wetlands along the Jackson Park Nature Trail and the Mud Creek Nature Trail, which resulted in both areas being put on the N.C. Registry of Natural Areas. She and Blaha have also completed an inventory of the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site and are creating an herbarium there. More re- cently she played a key role in transforming the former Natu- ral Heritage Trust of Henderson County into the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and in its acquisition of a 590- acre plot in the Gerton community. The Founder’s Award is presented in recognition for outstanding contributions to pre- serving and conserving Henderson County’s natural heritage. Obviously, Ulinski deserves the recognition. 8. LOOK AGAIN ! The Madder Family (Rubiaceae) is a largely tropical group of plants which include those that gave us quinine and coffee, as well as many ornamentals such as Gardenia and Bouvardia. Among our wildf lowers it is represented chiefly by the Bluets ( Houstonia ) , Bedstraws (Galium) and Partridge Berry ( Mitchella ) , all of which are familiar to most of us and are amply treated in the literature. There are, however, several species that are just as attract- ive but apparently are considered too insignificant to be included in most field guides. Two are so widespread as to be almost impossible to overlook. They are Diodia teres and D_^ virginiana , commonly called Buttonweeds; both are low herbs with narrow, op- posite leaves and 4-lobed flowers in the axils. In teres the corollas are funnelform, long and pink, subtended by 4 short sepals. virginiana has white salverform flowers and 2 more elongate sepals. D. VfRSINIANA D. TERES Field Madder, Sherardia arvensis , is a sprawling weed of European origin with a more sparse distribution in our region. Its flowers resemble those of Bedstraw but are pink or lavender, have a slender tube 1/8" long, and are crowded into heads. Its leaves are linear, mostly in whorls of 6. 9. S H 0 R T I A VOL. XIX, No. 2. SUMMER 1997 A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB. Editors : Elton J and Aline Hansens Distribution: Ruth Hoerich Please submit articles^ "Members Comments" notes . etc. for the next issue by July 20 to Aline Hansens, 125 Far Horizons Lane., Asheville, NC 28803 c/o Ruth Hoerich 215 Newport Road Hendersonville, NC 28739 FIRST CLASS SHORTIA NEWSLETTER OF THE WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB AUTUMN 1997 LIBRARY AUG ?. 5 1997 NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN ELTON and ALINE HANSENS Editors WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB President : Vice-President : Secretary : Don Herrman Elaine Montgomery Laverne Pearson Treasurer: Rachel Conway Recorder: Erika Parmi Historian: Louise Foresraan FROM THE PRESIDENT DON HERRMAN I am sitting here on the front porch overlooking the valley and up toward Mt. Pisgah. A blue haze still obscures Pisgah as it did when we were on top. However, it was great hike, .up and down. Despite previous storms we did find a great variety of flowers in bloom. A club like WCBC can always find something of interest and in bloom. This was true at the picnic at Ramblewood. Millie left me with a plant list larger than I know. This led to some good botanizing for those who rambled. Again weather cooperated, so it was a good day for walking and eating outside. Even though some ’'unknown" 130 lb. heavyweight collapsed one of the rotten benches, no one missed a lick. It has been repaired with 2 x 4's. Can’t wait 'til next time. The kitchen crew did a fabulous job. This place hasn’t been this clean in a long time. As I returned from showing everyone out, they were still washing the dishes and even running the vacuum. That's what I like about this club. It is the cooperation of the membership. If only the meadow would do as well. The spring beauties have finally made their appearance but only on the outer fringes of the meadow. Now the mosses are really taking over. I know a lot of people love mosses, but they are crowding everything else out. This makes the dogs very happy--they love to roll in the luxury of the moss. The cats don't care. So be it!!! Keep your eyes on the schedule--more is on the way. A meeting of the Scheduling Committee is coming soon. If you have any suggestions please contact your club officers; we would like to hear from you. New ideas and suggestions are always welcome. JOHN KUHN -- A TRIBUTE JOHN KUHN, a long time member of UCBC passed away early this year. He and his wife Margaret joined the club in 1975 and became active, interested members. John knew his plants and willingly shared his knowledge. He led many hikes and presented slide programs of native flowers each spring and fall for many years. In 1987 John and Margaret were made Honorary Members, an honor well bestowed. In 1986, after moving to Carolina Village, failing health took its toll, preventing active participation in the club. To those who knew John, he will always be remembered for the flower he loved to call "the poor man's orchid", Prunella vulgaris . 2. WCBC FORUM DOING YOUR PART? DEAN CRAWFORD All of us are surely aware of the truism that a club made up of volunteers, such as ours, is only as strong as the active support the members give. There are also the corollaries that every member (recent or longterm) who is physically able should feel obligated as part of membership to take on some jobs from time to time; and that hardly ever does any one member want to feel compelled to repeat a job over and over. There should be a continual influx of new workers. As chair of the current Nominating Committee, I've become more aware of (1) the many jobs there are to be done in and for the club (some elective, some appointive) and (2) how little time and effort is truly necessary for most of the tasks; almost any of us can handle almost any of the jobs. Among the elective offices we have a President (presides over one annual meeting and two schedule-planning meetings, plus makes appointments); a Vice President who assists the President and fills in if needed; a Treasurer who collects dues, pays bills and keeps financial records; a Secretary who takes and reports minutes of our one annual meeting; a Recorder who keeps plant lists of most of our field trips and recruits trip recorders; and an Historian who keeps the archives of past publications, etc. Some of these take more time than others, to be sure, but none are jobs that you couldn't handle if you live in the region and are physically mobile. Some would be particularly useful experience for those truly interested in learning more about wildflower identification or club operations. There are also many tasks done by people who are appointed. This includes those in charge of, with others assisting, editing, printing and mailing our twice-yearly Program Schedules and quarterly newsletter Shortia ; field trip leaders and co-leaders who can be people who are not necessarily accomplished botanists but will be conscientious about locating the assigned trail and scouting it in advance to identify what's there; people to help with planning, setup and food supplies for potluck events such as picnics, cookiefest and annual meeting; coordinators for overnight journeys; and others. We admire and honor those who started the Club and those who've kept it going all these years. Isn't this a good time for YOU to step forward? It's so easy, and also rewarding. All you need do is make your willingness known to the President or any other elected officer (names are listed in each Shortia ) and they will surely see that your message is relayed to the proper persons. Don't feel that you somehow must be an expert at anything; all you must be is willing to try! 3. A SMOKIES JEWEL ERIKA S. PARMI In my explorations of the Great Smoky Mts. Nat. Park trails for the UCBC overnight, I finally hiked the Kanati Fork Trail which I had always wanted to do, since it is always listed in the spring issue of "The Smokies Guide" as a good place for flowers. In my opinion it rates the top of the list along with the Cove Hardwoods Trail at the Chimneys Picnic area. Apparently WCBC passed it over because of a presided difficult 2000 foot elevations gain. I hiked it twice on April 9 and 16. This trail is on Rt. 441 (the Newfound Gap Rd.) on the NC side about 8 miles north of Oconaluftee Visitor Center. There is a large parking area on the right and the trail enters the woods on the other side of the highway. The trail does climb continuously, but by way of switchbacks at a moderate incline. The trail is smooth underfoot with very few roots or stones. Flowers are along the entire distance of three miles to the junction with the Thomas Divide Trail, so if some of the lower elevation flowers have gone by, you may see them at a higher elevation. On April 9 at the very beginning of the trail a large patch of huge trout lilies and a couple of painted trilliums were noted. On April 16 the trout lilies were gone but the painted trilliums had increased to a half dozen or so. Numerous violets (purple, white, and yellow), yellow mandarin, purple meadow parsnip, blue cohosh, star chickweed, and Solomon's plume (in bud) bordered the trail. Showy orchids, large-flowered bellwort, wild oats, yellow and red trillium, dwarf ginseng, squirrel com, dutchman's breeches, and trailing arbutus also were along the trailside, but all of these were overshadowed by the numerous slopes covered with large white Trillium grandif lorum. On April 16 some of the lower slopes of trillium were beginning to turn pink, but the upper slopes were at or near their peak. Kanati Fork, a branch of the Little River, is visible below the first part of the trail and as you go up through a lush forest you cross small branches of Kanati Fork. Each of these stream crossings was covered in lettuce saxifrage. Because of the elevation gain and the abundance of flowers this trail provides the wild flower enthusiast with outstanding displays for all of April and the first part of May. Turk's cap lilies and black cohosh were coming up and were abundant, so it should be good in summer, too. Give it a try! ! ERIKA S. PARMI SNOWBIRD TRIP My guest was impressed, not only with the variety of spring flowers, but with the hospitality and friendliness of the Botanical Club members. The many birds at the new feeders at the Lodge almost made as colorful a display as the flowers. A REMINDER TO ALL LEADERS AND RECORDERS If you are unable to fulfill your obligation it is your responsibility to find a substitute and to inform the remaining leader of this subs titutiion . Also, the first-named leader should include the co-leader and the recorder on his/her scouting trip, if at all possible. Erika Parmi 4. ALINE HANSENS FDREIT TREES The American Sycamore, Platanus occidental is, commonly known as the buttonball or more correctly, plane tree, belongs to the family Platanaceae, and is the most important of the 6 or 7 species native to the U.S., Mexico, and Central America and one, Platanus orientalis, native to southwestern Asia. Once world- wide in range, the plane tree family can be traced through geologic evidence to remote times. Platanus is the classical genus name of the Asiatic plane tree while P. occidentalis , meaning western, records the sycamore as belonging to the western world and distinctly American. Found throughout most of the eastern half of the U.S., the sycamore commonly grows along streams and in rich bottom lands where its smooth variegated bark is a familiar sight. This tree may reach a height of 75* to 140' where conditions are favorable and attains the most massive proportions of any American hardwood in the east. Most easily recognized are the young to moderately old trees in which large thin plates of bark peel off the trunk exposing whitish to yellowish inner bark. This is probably due to the inability of the bark to stretch as the trunk expands. The alternate, broadly ovate leaves are fastened by long petioles with a hollow base which fit snugly over next years bud. (see figure A) . Inconspicuous male and female flowers are borne on the same tree and appear with the leaves in early May. The dark red male flowers arise in the leaf axils while the light green pistillate or female flowers occur at the tips of the twigs and form closely packed ball-like heads. By October these become dense balls that dangle through the winter on long slender stems and eventually break up into many hairy, one-seeded nutlets. The seeds are abundant but germinate only in favorable moist conditions. Bob Gunn asks in this SHORTIA if anyone noticed the ragged looking sycamores this spring. I am told this could be frost damage or, more likely, is sycamore anthracnose, a fungus disease that occurs only as the new leaves appear, causing them to blacken and drop. However, the tree puts out another crop of leaves and usually is unharmed. AMERICAN SYCAMORE 5. bill verduin thoughts upon meeting a "strange" plant I recently happened on a strange plant the likes of which I had not seen before. An herb, about a foot high, with two pairs of opposite, simple, entire leaves and o.ne terminal flower well past bloom. MUCH to my surprise, it was a clematis, Clema tatis ochroleuca or curly heads. How inconsis tant ! The familiar members of this genus, viorna (leather flower), C. virginiana, (virgin's bower) and the cultivated clematis in our gardens, are all vines with compound leaves and axillary flowers. I know,- I know, it's the flower that counts. All classification is based solely on the characteristics of the flower, but common sense--no, common ignorance -- leads one to expect at least some measure of similarity in the vegetative forms of plants as closely related as the same genus. Mulling over this gross misfit prompted me to take a close look at the family to which it belongs Ranunculaceae . Buttercups belong and so do anemones and hepaticas. But what about meadow rue ( Thalictrum) and tassel rue (Trautvetteria ) ? Strange bedfellows with buttercups! These two genera, however, illustrate clearly one of the elements that is shared by most members of the family, numerous stamens and pistils. Look closely at the next meadow rue that you meet. Now with that clue to relationship in mind, look closely at three very different flowers vaguely similar to each other but totally different from buttercups. Columbine ( Aquilegia ) , larkspur ( Delphinium ) , and monkshood (Aconi turn ) display much more complicated architecture but you find numerous stamens. And when you look at black snakeroot ( Cimicif uga ) you are looking at nothing but stamens! What a show they make. Not every family, of course flower with numerous stamens is in the buttercup every member of the family have member with which we are familiar which has five to ten stamens. nor does numerous stamens. The "odd" is yellowroot (Xanthorrhiza ) herbs . So what unknown astray family with sc close surprises , t 00 , that thi s is a shrub, -- all the others are ' s the moral of the s tory? If you want to identify an pi ant , work sti rictly with the flower. Don ' t be led by leaves, form, etc . After y ou succeed in naming the and genus, take some time to enjoy gett ing acquain ted me of the close r ela t ives and even some o f the not so sr 3 o w Si Z M Q » £ s 3 5 (A T5 ■o O u S) 3 tt * 1 s 5 0 1 I (A JO ct © 2, 2 a> ? 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W *T3 £ i „ cc £ Jg 0 CO -c a. £ 8 8* 43 S „Q 0 G ^ M w ro cp !i II ~ 43 £ > 1_ to 43 X £ v> o £ ■S si IS 0 Q. SW m ^ f Ql f.'t E ^ | g. xj CP TS 5 *g ° .fe cs a? ° £ 43 o C X 45 c CL © E c j= "© 43 C © c 3^1 ■o -5 » O 2 .8 O Q» $ T3 (<0 s m co £ 0 JZ '3 03 ■S5 ©3 c f 2 43 o S ° I ft' g « ' ■§-s, C CO ■ e o o X3 cs .a < o *• 0 . Cl c/3 > £ CO 0 Along the right-hand edge of the trail are a number of non-flowering plants (which reproduce by 19. Dwarf Enchanter’s Nightshade (Circaea alpina) means of spores rather than seeds). Mosses are represented by die flat, aptly-named Fem Moss ( Tbuidsutn j and the upright "bottle-brush" stems of Haircap Moss (Polytrichum). Lichens— which Opposite this marker is a patch of dwarf enchanter's niqhtshade The specific name indicates this tn NOTES FROM WHITE SQUIRREL CHARLES R. GUNN Neither Betty nor I knew John Kuhn, but we do know his favorite plant: His "poor man's orchid", Prunella vulgaris (see below for a discussion of the scientific name ) , is a member of the mint family. Heal-all or self-heal is one of many European herbs brought to America because of healing powers. It has become abundant from coast to coast; the American plants have deep-purple flowers. In Europe the flowers vary in color from light purple to white. Some 400 years ago John Gerard wrote that heal-all flowers around Heningham Castle in Essex, England were all white. Our heal-all flowers are beautiful shades of purple, especially the deep purple at the top of the flower's hood. Thoreau admired the flower color, which he recorded deepens in color towards night. The flowers, which are seen from June to fall, are in cylindrical heads. After flowering, the rusty brown, boxy calyxes remain in whorls on the stem, colorful in their own right. Later, the four seeds (really a four-parted fruit) are shed as the wind bends the heads to and fro. We have five heal-all colonies growing along our stone steps. Alas, now that I am writing this, Betty suggests that I control the size and number of colonies. They are easily transplanted; three of them will be moved. The survival of this perennial also is aided by the plant's basal offshoots that spread it quickly. While it grows anywhere, it probably does best in shady damp areas. Like most weeds, heal-all has a number of common names: Slough-heal, heart of the earth, blue curls, Hercules woundwort, panay (a corruption of Panax, Latin for "all-healing"), brownwort, prunella, brunella, sicklewort, and thimbleweed (probably from the shape of the flowerless head). Vulgaris may be translated into English as "common", while Prunella has its origin in an old affliction of soldiers. Cole in his book Adam in Eden published in 1657 recorded that the German word Brunella is derived from Brunellen, and this is the word given to the plant that cured inflammations of the mouth. We now know the disease as quinsy. The cure was to wrap the neck in heal-all leaves. While I doubt the value of this medicinal application, its juice has been used for centuries, externally for wounds and internally for mouth and throat ulcers, internal bleeding, piles, and diarrhea. Culpepper wrote that when added to the oil of rose, the blended juice rubbed on the temples would remove a headache. In the United States; Chippewas, Delaware and Mohegens used heal-all as a body wash, tea, and a treatment for dysentery in babies. While there are doubts about the medicinal value of the heal-all my colleague Jim Duke noted that the plant has antibiotic qualities and contains ursolic acid, an anti- tumor compound. Margaret, we have enjoyed heal-all for years. In fact, heal-all was the first seed I collected for my fledgling seed collection. By the time I deposited my collection with the Maryland Turf and Seed Laboratory it contained over 15,000 accessions. At times like this I miss the collection. 9. S H 0 R T I A Vol . XIX, No. 4 WINTER 1997 A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB Editors : Elton J and Aline Hansens Distribution : Ruth Hoerich Please submit contributions (articles Letters to the Editors, notes, etc. for the next issue by January 20, 1998 to Aline Hansens, 125 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803. SHORTIA c/o Ruth Hoerich 215 Newport Road Hendersonville, NC 28739 FIRST CLASS William Back New York Botanical Garden 3065 Sedgwick Ave. #6B Bronx NY NL0468