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 ,
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rictly
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led
by
leaves, form,
etc .
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ou succeed
in
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and
genus, take
some
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r ela t
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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