Shortia : a newsletter of the Western Carolina Botanical Club.

SHORTIA

NEWS LETTER OF THE

WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB

SPRING 1989

DOROTHY RATHMANN, Fditor

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

2

Bill Verduin

Let me tell you about the Rosy Periwinkle. Some of you who are
members of the Nature Conservancy may remember reading about it, but
it's a story that bears repeating. No, I'll not tell it after all --
I'll let Larry Morse, Chief Botanist for the Conservancy, tell it:

"For thousands of years, the natives of the island of Madagascar
used it in their folk medicine. But modern physicians simply
laughed it off as yet another example of witchcraft.

If the Rosy Periwinkle had become extinct before 1960, nobody
outside of Madagascar would have missed it very much. But about
25 years ago, scientists discovered that this strange and
beautiful plant did indeed -have magical properties. A drug
called vincristine was extracted from the plant. And this drug
completely revolutionized the treatment of childhood leukemia.

Before the discovery of vincristine, leukemia was almost always
fatal in children. But thanks to the Rosy Periwinkle, kids
attacked by leukemia now have a 95 percent chance of remission!

Actually, the case of the Rosy Periwinkle is not so strange,
after all. Plants and animals long thought to be 'useless' are
constantly acquiring new applications in medicine, science,
agriculture and industry. It's amazing how fast things go from
'useless' to 'priceless.' Look at the useless fungus called
' Penicillium , ' for example."

The Nature Conservancy is not buying beautiful natural areas which
can be preserved and maintained as places for the public to enjoy.
In fact, many of their preserves are closed, or open to only very
limited use. They are buying and protecting areas of biological
diversity containing threatened or endangered species and
eco-systems. Nearly three and a half million acres are now under
Conservancy protection.

Twenty five percent of the pharmaceuticals in use in this country
today contain ingredients originally derived from wild plants. Peter
Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden is quoted in a
recent TIME magazine article as predicting that a hundred species of
plant and animal life will become extinct every dav during the next
three decades! How many Rosy Periwinkles? How many hundred Rosy
Periwinkles?

This business of preserving the snail darter, muhly grass and
beakrush sedges -- the whole gene pool now in existence -- is serious
business — deadly serious! I urge you to join and support
generously the Nature Conservancy. You may be protecting another
Rosy Periwinkle.

Send at least $15 to The Nature Conservancy, Membership Processing
Center, Dept. 79181, Baltimore, MD 21279-0181.

3

OFFICERS FOR 1989

Elton Hansens

PRESIDENT, BILL VERDUIN: WCBC will continue to

leadership with his tremendous knowledge of our area
in all aspects of the natural world, his ready-
manner. He will continue leading us into new and
areas. Don't be surprised if we see a waterfall
They are his particular passion.

enjoy Bill's
, his interest
wit and easy
old botanical
now and then.

VICE PRESIDENT , LOUISE FORESMAN : Louise is always there to help.
Her cheerful manner and helpfulness have stimulated a number of
nicknames. Ask how she came to be known as "super bum." It is
botanical .

SECRETARY, CHARLOTTE CARMAN : With one business meeting each year
and few other duties Charlotte will have time to continue to lead
hikes for several groups and engage in all of her many other
interests.

TREASURER , JOHN SABY : John is a research physicist who, in
retirement, has expanded his interest in gardening and botany. He
is an efficient treasurer and has served WCBC well for the past
year .

RECORDER : GRACE RICE was elected Recorder at our Annual Meeting
but has now resigned for medical reasons. We are sorry this was
necessary .

However, BESSIE SINISH has agreed to serve as Recorder for the
rest of 1989. A committee will be formed to assist her.

Bess claims that she is "a girl without a state" and neither is
she of foreign birth. Figure that one out! She was born in
Washington, DC. She can remember that, at the age of 8, she was
climbing in the White Mountains with her godparents. From that
time, her interest in botany and plant culture has developed
gradually. She attended Wheelock College in Boston and then
became a teacher of pupils with dyslexia. I didn't ask her about
how she caught Dr. Kenneth Sinish, nor about raising her 3 sons.
Bess and Ken moved to Hendersonville in 1979 and since have
participated in the WCBC and a wealth of other activities. Much

more could be written but this gives the picture
confident that she will do a splendid job.

We are

*■*■*•**■*•*•*■*■*•

"Therewith my fate was sealed; for he who has once seen the
intimate beauty of nature cannot tear himself away from it again.
He must become either a poet or a naturalist and, if his eyes are
good and his powers of observation sharp enough, he may well
become both." (KING SOLOMON'S RING by Konrad Z. Lorenz)

BON APPETIT Mack

No doubt about i t -- our recent annual meeting covered all the

important business of the year. And that's as it should be. The
covered-dish luncheon is the social part of the meeting, and I have
been asked to report on that.

Beth Woodlock was the chairman of the luncheon. Beth is a volunteer
tutor in the Job Corps program. In October when she attended a
learning disability seminar in Charlotte, the banquet tables were
decorated with paper flower pots filled with flowers. These had been
made by students in a learning disability kindergarten group. After
the banquet, she asked and was told these would be discarded. So she
appropriated them for our meeting. Good thinking, Beth!

Beth said her committee made her job easier. They were: Bill and
Evelyn Ammann, Aline and Elton Hansens, Marian and John Moor, Bill
and Evelyn Verduin, and Doris and A1 Washburn (Ammann' s neighbors who
just moved here a few months ago).

I can't remember that we ever acknowledged the excellent cooks we
have in our Club. The buffet table groaned with delicious creations
of all kinds. Many of these were generous in size, some serving
16-20. I hope you've noticed that quite a few men contribute to our
covered-dish gatherings. John Brown brought slices from a "pepper
roast" that he had prepared using a special marinade on an eye round
cut of beef. After a period of marinating, this was wrapped in foil
and oven-roasted. Different -- and very tasty! John Kuhn
contributed "Delmonico potatoes", one of the dishes for which he is
noted. Harry Logan is known for his originality when it comes to
cooking. Today it was a casserole of lima beans, cor" and mushrooms
in a mushroom sauce.

Barbara Hallowell contributed a fruit-date-nut gelatin salad, which
was pleasing to the eye as well as the palate. Calla Bell often
brings a she.rried (or curpied) fruit casserole and it is always a
hit. It consists of a combination of 7 or 8 kinds of fruit (varies
with the season of the year) steeped in a delicious sauce. Calla
graciously gave me her recipe, and I will share it on request.

The dessert table was not to be believed -- pies, cakes, and cookies
of all sizes, shapes, and flavors. A1 Washburn likes bread pudding,
and he said no one ever brings that, so he made one which was served
warm. Millie Pearson always brings two chess pies. Millie is a
native of this area, and she uses a recipe that has been passed down
in her family for generations.

Now that I have acknowledged that we have many excellent cooks in our
midst, may I note that it has been rumored that WCBC members are no
slouches when it comes to eating. But who notices? Not me!

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MEMBERS HONORED AT ANNUAL MEETING

Tom Hallowell

At the WCBC Annual Meeting on January 20, the Honors Committee
recognized specially three members:

MILES PEELE was honored with Life Membership for his generosity in
providing a wealth of botanical and general natural history
information to Club members. Thanks to his quiet, professional,
interesting way and gentle manner, we learn happily and easily.

FRANK BELL was honored with Life Membership for his long-time
inspiration to those of all ages in the appreciation and search
for knowledge of the natural world and for his genial sharing of
his woods and hills with the Botanical Club.

LARRY KENYON was awarded a membership in The Second Wind Hall of
Fame for his service to the Schenck Job Corps, The Friends of the
Library, his church, the Botanical Club, and other varied
community services. The Second Wind Hall of Fame recognizes and
emphasizes community activities after retirement using talents
developed before and after retirement.

After the Annual Meeting Larry received notice of the award in the
back seat of his car while on the way to the doctor to have the
case on his broken ankle removed.

Can't you just hear the peelle of the bell in the kenyon?

AN INVITATION FROM FRANK BELL Bill Verduin

There are few, if any, better places from which to see the sunset
than Frank Bell's deck: And few places with more stimulating

conversation than with Frank and Calla. Frank's very kind
invitation will make it pdssible for half a dozen Club members to
spend the night ,of either May 7 or 8 using three bedrooms and the
kitchen facilities on the lower floor of Frank's lovely home. The
Club will be hiking in Frank's woods on May 8. . .

Be one of the fortunate ones to enjoy this opportunity. Call
Larry Kenyon for details and reservations (697-1835).

EXCERPTS FROM RECORDER'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1988 Anne Ulinski

The Botanical Club scheduled 42 hikes this year, five of which were
rained out. A total of 670 members attended the 37 hikes which did
take place, an average of 18 per hike. The rained-out hikes were
Jones Gap, Grandfather Mountain, Frying Pan Gap, the September Buck
Spring Nature Trail and the Baxter Creek-Smokies fall hike. The
best attended outing was the Shut-in Trail with 35 hikers. The
Hardy Souls hike, the 3-day Smokies trip, Chimney Rock-. Park, and
Green Cove each had 32 members attending.

• ■

6

Eleven indoor meetings, including the annual meeting, were
scheduled with an average of 66 attending.

There were three workdays: Holmes Educational State Forest, Millie
Pearson's Woods and the University Botanical Gardens.

Barbara Hallowell gave a fern workship in August and Bill Verduin
and others a workshop on plant relationships in December

Remember the gold stars we'd get in school for special effort?
Well, here are my gold star awards for this past year:

To Bill Verduin and Elton Hansens for the 3-day trip to the
Smokies in April. This well-planned trip was a botanical
highlight for many.

To Elisabeth Feil for her two programs: "Introduction to Chimney
Rock" on February 19 and the tour of Chimney Rock Park on May
13. Elisabeth introduced us to many unusual botanical species in
this cold "micro-climate" area, and she increased our awareness
of the importance of habitat.

To those members who volunteered to be leaders or co-leaders for
the first time this year and thus increased our roster of
available leaders for the future.

To the volunteers who guided at Shinn's Garden during the Spring
Wildflower and Bird Pilgrimage, to those who guided children at
Lake Powhatan, and to Millie Blaha who kept saying, despite
misgivings on the part of some of the guides that yes, they
could do it .

In the three years since I have been recorder, I have seen a change
in the way we approach plant identification. At one time the
emphasis had been on identifying only those plants which were in
bloom. We now include in our observations not only the flowering
plants but trees, ferns, plants still to bloom, and plants in
fruit. One more step in our identification skills would be a
greater emphasis on habitat. Walking the trails we might ask
ourselves: Are we walking on a north slope? Through hardwood
growth? Through a wet area or at an especially high altitude?
What plants can we expect to see in these places?

I'd like to thank all of you who have helped me in the last three
years. It was Louise Foresman who encouraged me to take the job of
recorder, and Millie Blaha who helped me with my lists and showed
me how to check the plant identifications in Radford. Everyone
helped me on the trail, but when I think back on this past year, I
would like to thank especially Dick Smith and Millie Pearson who so
willingly shared their knowledge and enthusiasm with me. My
message to Grace Rice who succeeds me as recorder is, "Enjoy the
challenge . "

-

' ■

A WINTER WALK.

Ivan Kuster

Let's take a winter walk through nearby field and woodland before
snowfall covers the ground. Who does not enjoy shuffling through
the dry leaves? Note the various shapes and colors. The oaks are
stiff and leathery in shades of brown, dull maroon, and tawnv
brown. Maples vary from pale yellow through orange and red as do
the red gums. Beech leaves in their golden brown usually hang on
firmly until pushed off in spring by the new growth. They brighten
the woodland as they glisten in the pale winter sunlight

Peeking through the brown leaf litter are glossy leaves of numerous
small evergreen plants. These hardy plants survive the rigors of
freezing winter cold with thick waxy coats which cut down on
evaporation when water is scarce. They usually have woody stems
and grow close to the ground as a protection from the drying winds.
It is believed that they are not killed by the frost because water
within the cells, which would rupture them if turned to ice
crystals, is channeled to the spaces between cells where freezing
does less damage. Also the sugar content of the cells is
increased, thus lowering the freezing point of the remaining water.

What are these ingenious little plants? Par tridgeberry ( Mitchella
repens ) is one common ground cover with its small round opposite
leaves on trailing stem. Its bright red berries, often eaten by
mice and birds, are formed from paired tubular blossoms in early
summer. They are edible, but rather dry and seedy.

Next we find shiny dark pointed leaves with a white mid-vein in a
whorl with a short upright stem in the center bearing two or three
round seed capsules. This is Spotted Wintergreen or Spotted
Pipsissewa ( Chimaphila maculata ) . Another similar Pipsissewa
without the white stripe is umbellata . Nearby we find small
rosettes of pale gree.n with white veins and an occasional dried
flower stalk about a -foot tall bearing many tiny rounded seed pods
tightly spaced along the upper part of the stem. This is
Rattlesnake Plantain ( Goodyera pubescens ) , one of our small native
orchids . ' ” ~

Along a sloping bank we find numerous rosettes of spatulate shaped
leaves varying from dull green to pale maroon which are seedling
plants of Robin's Plantain ( Erigeron pulchellus ).

Now we come upon a large area carpeted with green cedar-like
foliage with three to five-inch spikes of yellowish candelabrum.
This we call Ground Cedar. It is perhaps our most abundant
clubmoss ( Lycopodium complanatum ) . We may also find, in smaller
more isolated clumps, another more upright shiny, single stemmed
clubmoss called Ground Pine (L^ lucidulum ) . If you were to flick
the fruiting stalks in fall and light a match to the spores as they
fly out they would explode with a bright flash. In the days before
electricity and strobe lights, photographers used "'lycopodium
powder" for their flash exposures. These spores were ^also
gathered commercially for use in fireworks.

'

8

Under Beech trees ( Fagus grandif olia ) we can usually find a
non-evergreen plant looking much like a dried winter weed having no
leaves and about ten inches tall. These are Beechdrops (Epifagus (
virginiana ) . They have no chlorophyll and so must secure their
food in another way -- by becoming parasitic on the roots of the
Beech tree.

Another attractive evergreen creeper, usually found on northerly
slopes under Rhododendrons, is Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens)'.

Its hairy, woody stems and waxv-edged leaves in a rather loose
arrangement are a welcome sight. Like a number of other woodland
denizens, they are very difficult to transplant because of a
rnvcorrhizal association they depend on to make needed nutrients
available .

Often in a similar situation we find the glossy one to three-
round dark green leaves of Galax ( Galax aphylla ) . The winter
often changes the green to a beautiful dark red-maroon co
Since we are on a north facing slope we find such shrubs as Ros
( Rhododendron maximum ) and Carolina Rhododendron (R^ minus )
Mountain Laurel ( Kalmia latif olia ) , all of which like the
moist shady exposure.

In a drier warmer more southerly area we find Sweet-shrub
( Calvcanthus f lor idus ) with its fig-shaped fibrous seed pods
containing many small brown bean-like seeds which are poisonous.
The stems are very spicy-aromatic, and opposite in arrangement.

inch
sun
lor .
ebay
and
cool

Down in a hollow along a brook grows a low arching evergreen shrub
with alternate glossy leaves from dark green to maroon red. This
is called Leucothoe, Fetterbush or, sometimes, Dog Hobble
( Leuco thoe axillaris ) . Up on .the drier slopes we may find an
upright deciduous form of Fetter-bush ( L . recurva ) with its
three-inch long curving racemes of seed capsules.

Among the ferns we find large clumps of . evergreen fronds of
Christmas Fern ( Polystichum acrostichoides ) with its stocking-like
shaped pinnae growing on shady slopes. And here on a large rock is
a patch of Rock Cap Fern ( Polypodium virginianum ) with six-inch
fronds .

There are many more plants, trees and shrubs which beg our
attention as we walk through the woods. And in the meadow are
countless dried stems in a maze of fascinating forms such as
Goldenrods, Black-eyed Susans, Joe Pye weeds, Yarrow, Queen Anne's
Lace, Teasel, Thistles, Peppergrass, Giant Mullein, Milkweeds and
many more. A winter walk can capture our imagination and pique our
curiosity as well as stimulate our minds. So let's go!

■

. .

9

LOOK AGAIN !

Jack-in- the-pulpit ( Arisaema triuh.yllum ) gets a lot of atten-
tion not only because of its unusual flowers but because of the
many variations that occur between individual plants.

These differences can be perplexing.

There may be either a single leaf or a pair,
each with three leaflets, but the lateral
ones might be lobed so as to make it appear
that there are five. The spathe may be pale
green or striped with green or purplish brown,
its tube smooth or fluted, and its hood hori-
zontal or drooping. As might be expected,
there is disagreement among taxonomists, some
of whom consider the aberrants to be varie-
ties (e.g. , atrorubens , pus ilium and steward-
sonii ) of _A^ triphyllum , while others insist
that they should be accorded specific rank.

A question that frequently arises is how to distinguish a male
plant from a female --in other words, a Jill from a Jack. (In
England the related Cuckoo-pint, Arum maculatum , is also called
Lords-and-Ladies ; the first part of that name denotes plants with
purple stripes, the second the plain green ones.) The only sure

way to determine the sex of a Jack-in-the-
pulpit is to look at the base of the spadix
to see whether it has staminate or pistil-
late flowers,, or both. It is interesting
to note that. this is one of a very few
species in which individuals' are capable-
of changing their sex in response to grow-
ing conditions.

Occasionally someone who has heard the
name Green Dragon will mistakenly assume
that it refers to a green- flowered Jack-
in-the-pulpit . It really belongs to
Arisaema dracont ium , a rarer and even more
bizarre plant with more numerous leaflets
and an extremely long spadix that extends
far beyond the spathe.

Vol . XI, No. 1

S H 0 R T I A

Spring 1989

t

\

A quarterly publication of the Western Carolina Botanical Club

Editor: Dorothy Rathmann Distribution: Frances Gadd

Please submit contributions for next issue by May 15, 1989 to:

Dorothy Rathmann, Editor
Carolina Village Box 23
Hendersonville, NC 28739.

7 .

• fttvr yom:

; fcOTAHlCAU

SHORTIA

c/o Frances Gadd
218 Pheasant Run
Hendersonville, NC 28739

FIRST CLASS

SHORTIA

NEWSLETTER OF THE

WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB

SUMMER 1989

DOROTHY RATHMANN, Editor

2

President :

Vice President :
Secretary :

Bill Verduin
Louise Foresman
Charlotte Carman

OFFICERS

Treasurer :
Recorder :

John Saby
Bessie Sinish

(

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Bill Verduin

Are you a beginner, somewhat overwhelmed by all the names -- both common
and Latin — that you hear on every field trip? Well, names are
important -- you don't really know a plant until you can call it by
name. So accept the challenge to learn at least a few common names as a
starter. C'm'on, you'll have lots of fun.

Start by getting a good field guide. Most of us think Newcomb's
Wildf lower Guide is the best for our area. The author is Lawrence
Newcomb. Your only other tool will be a small hand lens, preferably lOx
and convenient to carry.

Spend a little time with the introductory material in Newcomb,
preferably sitting out in a field or beside the road where you can find
examples of what is pictured and discussed. Try using the key starting
on page 1. If it doesn't make much sense try with a different plant,
something simple like cinquefoil or sundrops. Keep trying.

Most important is to attend the field trips and to ask questions . One
of the best features of our Club is- that we have many experienced people
who really enjoy sharing what has given them so much pleasure. Don't
hesitate to ask questions -- even the same question several times.
Sure, a lot of questions may slow down the group but the learning
experience is top priority with the Club and must be allowed to set the
pace. Note to trip leaders: keep in touch with the end of the line
i f there is teaching and learning taking place, do not pressure them to
catch up by getting too far ahead. Share something with those near you,
or just wait patiently.

Make every effort to attend the workshops we will have on Plant
Families. We are planning these to be of special help to beginners and
intermediates. If you can recognize some characteristic common to only
one or two families, you have immediately narrowed the area in which to
search for a name.

It's a lot of fun — and if you work at it just a little, you'll be
surprised at how soon you, too, will be calling your flower" friends by
their first names. ■>>

.

ENCORE

Ruth Mack

Are you familiar with the ditty: "Second verse -- same as the first?"

Last year I gave an abbreviated version of the Cade's Cove overnight,
and it was filled with superlatives. This is where the ditty comes in.
"Second verse -- same as the first." Well ... almost

1988 1989

Area visited: Awesome!

Ditto.

Weather: Perfect

Lucked out again.

Flowers: Spectacular!
Superabundant !

A tad less in number, but a tad
less than super-abundant is
more than sufficent.

Lodging: Spacious

Each with refrigerator

Participants: Enthusiastic!

Leadership/ Organization:
Flawless !

Ditto.

Ditto .

Alas, herein lies the rub. EH lost
his way, not once — but twice!

Last year Elton Hansens led us on a "quiet walk." We were instructed
not to speak but to use our ears as well as our eyes as we walked. This
was repeated this year. We listened to the sounds of the forest -- the
stream -- and especially the birds. It was early in the morning, and
they put on quite a concert. Some of us walked hand-in-hand. It was a
moving experience.

Add to the above the magnificent display of dogwood ('89 was certainly
their year) and two glorious sunsets!

Did we enjoy it? You bet! And those who participated wish to thank
Bill Verduin (and Evelyn) and Elton Hansens (and Aline) for a job well
done again!

ADDITIONS TO 1989 MEMBERSHIP LIST

Hendersonville, NC 28739 unless otherwise indicated

Creely, Beverly Ann, 708 Sylvan Blvd 697-6534

11101 SW 79th Ave., Miami, FL 33156
^Herbert, Thomas G., Jr., & Miriam

107 Church St., Charleston SC 29401

Nelson, Wharton & Wilda, 436 N. Harper Drive _. . .692-2296

Wagner, Louis, 2601 Highway 64 East, Box 118 692-8713

* New members .

4

RECORDER 1 S REPORT Bessie Sinish

Winter is well past. Spring burst out all over and Summer is yet to be.
The winter programs were well attended and gave us a better

understanding of fire management in our national parks; informed us that
when beautiful plants become troublesome to man or beast, they become
weeds. The programs, also, made us aware that the barks of trees as
they mature do change their appearance; and they showed us the beautiful
flowers of the Bruce Peninsula which juts out into Lake Huron, Toronto,
Canada. While anticipating Spring, programs on "Nature's Potpourri",

"What are Birds For?" and a trip to the Orchid Greenhouses of the Owen's
on Route 64 West helped prepare us for the warm seasons of Nature's

great outdoors.

Spring was troublesome — cold and wet. Many trips had tc ~ cancelled.
When seen, the populations of plant colonies were smaller than usual.

Was this due to the drought of the last two years, or was it due to the
season's slow start?

The Smokies in the Spring! Where else to see, to hear, to smell, to
feel the pulse of Nature. Thank you, Bill Verduin, for your enthusiasm,

your planning, sharing your expertise and your love for that great world

to the west and north of us.

Have you noticed that our WCBC field trips take us to various habitats?
Sometimes to wet areas around rivers, streams and springs -- to cold
valleys — under the canopies of evergreen or deciduous forests -- on a
Bald -- and to areas with sandy or rocky bottoms. All show a varied
group of plants — each area having its own particular species. As Anne
Ulinski pointed out in her annual report, "One more step in our
identification skills would be a greater emphasis on habitat."

Now, after a period of ten years and more of recording every flower in
bloom on every trip, the recorder with a committee of four members
Elton Hansens, LaVerne and Bud Pearson, Grace Rice -- have as their
objectives :

• to record the rare or unusual flower (and some ferns, trees,
lichens and mosses) and large masses of flowers seen on a trip

• to learn of the different habitats visited, paying attention to
what grows in each type. For example, an evergreen forest or a bog or
an open field.

• to follow the succession of plants during the different seasons
by returning to a specified area many times

• to study the importance of plants in the ecological system.

A big challenge! Yet, our field trips are for learning and sharing. Do
come, share and learn with us all.

l

/Tv

'

■

5

COVE FOREST HABITAT.......... Elisabeth Feil

I am willing to bet that any one of us wildf lower nuts, when thinking 0 f
"woods," conjures up a picture of the cove forest: a lush carpet of
herbs on the forest floor in spring, cool shade in summer, a riot of
bright colors in fall, and towering trees with mighty trunks in winter.

What is this forest type that stirs our imagination in such a way?

Cove forests occur in the most mesic (moist) valley bottoms and on lower
slopes in the Southern Appalachian mountains where they are protected
from the drying effects of wind and sun. They are considered to be
stable communities, which means they are self-perpetuating. Mature
stands are characterized by the presence of all age groups of the
dominant tree species.

Most of the cove forests have been cut over for timber with a few
notable exceptions that I know of, such as, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
and some remote coves in the Smoky Mountain National Park. But even
these may not be totally "virgin," because the early settlers often let
cattle graze in the woods.

Soils in these forests are rich in organic material and nutrients, and
deep even in rocky areas. One reason is that on lower slopes and in
valleys, nutrients accumulate that have been leached out of the soils on
higher slopes. The richness of the soil is also caused by rapid
nutrient cycling. The freshly fallen leaves are quickly broken down by
decomposers that thrive in the moist warmth of the soil, so that most of
the nutrients are available for use again the next spring.

Deciduous trees are dormant during the winter and do not start their
active nutrient uptake until they sprout new leaves in the spring. This
is the niche that the spring wildf lower s 'have captured for themselves.
These small plants take advantage of the abundance of nutrients in the
soil and the sunlight that reaches the forest floor in early spring.
Some of them, the true spring ephemerals, have fully completed their
yearly life cycle by the time the canopy closes and are then no longer
part of the ever -changing scene on the forest floor.

One of the characteristics of the cove forest is the presence of several
mesic .tree species that share dominance. The most common species • of
canopy trees are American beech ( Fagus grandif olia ) , basswood ( Tilia
heterophylla ) , eastern hemlock ( Tsuga c ana d ensis ) , s ilverbell ( Halesia
caroli'na ), , sweet birch ( Betula lentTaT ", "sweet buckeye ( Aes cuius
octandra ) , white ash ( Fraxinus americana ) , and yellow poplar
T TirTodendron tulipf era ) . Yellow poplar tends to be dominant where the
forest has been cut recently.

The understory is open and may include American holly ( Ilex opaca ) ,
cucumber tree ( Magnolia acuminata ) , dogwood ( Cornus f lorida ), hop
hornbeam ( Os try a Virginia na d ~ maple ( Acer rubrum ) , and others.
There are only a few shrub species growing in the cove forest which
contributes to its open appearance. Spicebush ( Lindera benzoin ) is the

J

'

6

earliest of the shrubs to bloom; alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornus
alternifolia ) , and Viburnum spp., and wild hydrangea (Hydrangea
arborescens ) follow in late spring and summer, and witch hazel
( Hamamelis vir giniana ) late in the fall. Sometimes along streams under
eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) , rosebay ( Rhododen dron maximum),
often along with dog hobble ( Leucothoe axillarum var. editorum) forms
dense thickets that are almost devoid of any herbs.

What makes the cove forest so special for the wildflower enthusiast,
however, is the profusion of spring wildflowers. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria
canadensis ) is the first to create bright spots on the as yet bare
forest floor, soon to be followed by a host of others. Among the spring
ephemerals are Dutchman's breeches ( Pi centra cucullaria ) , spring
beauties ( Claytonia spp.), trout lily ( Erythronium amer icanum ) , and
toothworts ( Dentaria spp.). Some of the species that need longer to
complete their life cycles are blue cohosh ( Caulophyllum thalictroides ) ,
black cohosh ( Cimicif uga racemosa ) , false goat's beard ( Astilbe
bi ternata ) , Canadian violet ( Viola canadensis ) , sweet cicely ( Osmorhi za
spp . ) , "trilliums ( Trillium spp.), waterleaf ( Hydrophyllum spp. 77 yellow
mandarin ( Disporum lanuginosum ) , Solomon's seal ( Polygo'na turn biflorum ) ,
Solomon's plume ( Smilacina racemosa ) , foamflower ( Tiarella cordif olia ) ,
mayapple ( Podophyllum pel tatum ) , Jack-in- the-pulpi t ( Arisae"ma
triphvllum ) , wild ginger ( Asarum~ ~ canadense ) , jewel weed ( Impatiens
spp. ) , enchanter ' s night shadH ( Circea lutetiana ssp. canadensis ) , and
many others too numerous to list.

Many ferns may be found in the cove forest: Maidenhair fern ( Adiantum
pedatum ) , walking fern ( Asplenium rhizophyllum ) , ebony spleenwort
( Asplenium platvneur on ) , maidenhair spleenwort ( Asplenium trichomanes ) ,
southern lady fern ( Athyrium asplenioides ) , glade fern ( Athvrium
pycnocarpon ) , silvery spleenwort ( Athyrium the lypterio ides ) , fragile
fern ( Cys topteris protrusa ) , shield ferns ( Dryopteris spp.), Christmas
fern ( Polys tichum acrostichoides ) , broad beach fern ( Thelvpteris
hexagonoptera ) , New York fern ( Thelypteris noveboreacensis ) , blunt-lobed
woodsia (Woodsia obtusa ) , and more. ' .

If we allow ourselves to make a moral pronouncement about nature, we
might say that cove forests "deserve” our special love since they have
the highest species diversity in our mountains. On the other hand, I am
also perfectly content to walk through a spruce-fir forest to look at a
carpet of wood sorrel or to slosh through a swamp to admire a single
bog-rose .

Ed. Note: This article about the Cove Forest Habitat is the first in a
series planned to be written by various Club members, each writing about
a different habitat which we might encounter on our field trips. Please
give Bill Verduin or me your comments about these articles.

■

.

'

. .

7

At one extreme the Amanitas include the deadliest of all fungi,
and at the other some of the most delectable of edible mushrooms. In
between, there are others capable of causing nausea, serious illness
or hallucination. There are combinations of characters by means of
which, theoretically, we should be able to single out the comestible
species, but the possible consequences of misident if ication should
deter amateurs (as they have many professionals) from considering
any member of this genus as food.

Caesar's Mushroom ( Amanita caesarea ) is
not only reputed to be delicious but is very
beautiful, with a smooth cap gradated from
yellow-orange at the striate margin to red-
orange toward the domed center. The stalk and
its ring, as well as the gills, are a delicate
lemon. All this emerges from a snow-white
volva which looks very much like half of a
broken eggshell.

There is a pretender,
however — rarer than Caesar's
Mushroom and generally re-
stricted to the Northeast
but also found in North Carolina. It is known
as Amanita parcivolvata (at one time it was placed
in the genus Amanito-psis because of the absence
of a ring). Other differences are that the volva
is fragile and evanescent, and the cap often car-
ries remnants of the veil in the form of powdery
yellowish particles.

A. CASSARjE'A

A. mr-SCAR/A

Our only other mushroom approaching these in appearance is the
common Fly Agaric ( Amanita muscaria ) . Here the cap may vary in
color from straw yellow to cherry red, and bears numerous white
velar warts or patches. The other parts also are white, and the
only vestiges of the torn volva are several concentric circles of
fluffy scales above the bulbous base of the stalk.

2%

Vol . XI, No. 2

S H 0 R T I A

Summer 1989

A quarterly publication of the Western Carolina Botanical Club

Editor: Dorothy Rathmann Distribution: Frances Gadd

Please submit contributions for next issue by August 15, 1989 to:

Dorothy Rathmann, Editor
Carolina Village Box 23
Hendersonville, NC 28739

SHORTIA

c/o Frances Gadd
218 Pheasant Run
Hendersonville, NC 28739

FIRST CLASS

SHORTIA

NEWSLETTER OF THE

WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB

AUTUMN 1989

DOROTHY RATHMANN, Editor

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

2

Bill Verduin

Before the snow flies we will have our fall meeting of the Program
Committee. The meeting will plan programs for February through June.
These meetings are well • at tended , usually ten or more members, and last
three or four hours. This is, no doubt, the most important work your
officers and leaders do -- and it's not as easy as one might think. We
take pains to balance far trips and close in ones, easy walking and more
difficult, low elevation areas and high mountains, woodland and more
open fields and edges. We must be concerned with ownership and
permissions, with adequate parking area, with safety on the roadside and
trail. Indoor meetings must be balanced between workshops, educational
presentations and entertaining slide shows. We try to balance the
interests of the more serious botanists among us and members who just
enjoy "smelling the daisies" no matter what they are called. Do we have
a job? You bet we do ! !

You know what would help us most, don't you? Ideas, reactions,
evaluations, preferences, comments, complaints -- just anything at all
that would be of some value to us as we try to do our balancing act. We
want to plan programs that the most members will enjoy the most. At the
same time, we want some programs that will stimulate interest in things
botanical at a deeper level than just a name. We want to challenge
members to develop a better understanding of such things as plant family
relationships, species associations in different habitats, and other
such things that will increase your enjoyment whenever and wherever you
linger to "smell the daisies."

So speak up! Make your wants and wishes known. We look forward to a
lot of input from all of you good members. Program Committee:

Millie Blaha
Charlotte Carman
Louise Foresman
Barbara Hallowell
Elton & Aline Hansens

Ivan Kuster

Harry Logan

Bud & LaVerne Pearson

Lowell Orbison

Don Prentice

Bessie & Ken Sinish
Dick & Jeanne Smith
Ben Tuller

Bill Verduin, Chairman

ADDITIONS TO 1989 MEMBERSHIP LIST

Hendersonville, NC 28739 unless otherwise indicated

*Herrman, Donald & Katherine, Rte. 4, Box 229b 877-3532

*Keenan, Mary E. , 24 Euclid Pkwy, Asheville, NC 28804 253-5277

Kent, Anne, 3236 Heritage Circle 697-6052

*McVay, Betty Lou, 3241 Heritage Circle 697-1415

Pearson, Leonard & Ruth, 2231 Old Kanuga Road 693-7706

Rieber, Jesse & Agnes, Indian Springs Park, Lot 32, R69, Box 435....

410 SW Natura Ave . , Deerfield Beech, FL 34441

Taylor, Fred, 48 Woodward, Asheville, NC 28804

Wright , Chester & Helen, 125 Rockwood Dr., Greenville, SC 29605

803-277-4232

*New Member

'

3

RECORDER'S REPORT Bessie Sinish

Every Botanical Club field trip is an Adventure -- especially this

summer for both rain and/or cold weather have helped to either increase
the blooms of many shrubs and plants or slowed down the last stages of
the flowering plants which, thus, caused fewer blooms or none at all.
Meanwhile ferns, lichens, mushrooms flourished under these conditions.

Our field trips took us to many varied environments. Four I would like
to emphasize. First: On the Daniel Creek Trail which led us into a
cove, a narrow gap running north and south between steep slopes with a
stream at the bottom, we came upon a beautiful stand of Maiden Hair fern
( Adiantum capillus-veneris ) covering an area of approximately 20 by 40
feet. The delicate, freshly washed green of its leaves against the dark
wet earth was breathtaking. Yes, this was a rainy trip!

Second: On the trip to Black Camp Gap, a disturbed and open area where
there were quantities of flowers, colorful and varied against a blue,
blue sky, we found agrimony (both Agr imonia gryposepala and A.
parvi flora ) , Monarda didyma and purple and white M^ f istulosa , yellow
fringed orchis ( Habenaria ciliaris ) , the tall bellflower ( Campanula
americana ) and, rare today but considered a weed yesteryear,
but ter-and-eggs ( Linar ia vulgaris ) as well as sunflowers, Queen Anne's
lace, lilies and many, many more varieties. Pinks, blues, white,
yellows, oranges and lavender -- all colors of the rainbow on this a
glorious summer day in the Smokies.

Third: For me, one of the greatest adventures was right here in our own
backyard -- Jackson Park. We entered Jackson Park through a climax
forest of oaks and hickories. Silverbell, fringe trees, dogwoods,
blueberry bushes were among those deciduous plants found in the
community below the hardwoods. In the third community there were many
species of ferns and leaves of flowering plants telling of a Spring
past. Down the hill through a pine forest, we came to an open area with
black-eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia hirta ) , thistles, etc. Further on in the
wet meadows, willows, sycamores, fox grapevines and arrowhead
( Saggi tar ia latif olia var. pubescens ) dominated the landscape. Found in
and around the pond was the beautiful plant water shield ( Brasenia
schreberi ) and the swamp rose ( Rosa palus tr is ) . In the Fall the
Botanical Club is planning to return to this area. Do come and see this
small and unique spot in our own backyard.

Fourth: Close by, high on Pinnacle Mountain above Holmes State Forest is
another unique habitat. Here is a dry ridge with rock outcrops giving
us some unusual plants, such as, pencil flower ( Stvlosanthes biflora ) ,
fame flower ( Talinum teretifolium ) , fern-leaved false foxglove
( Aureolar ia pedicularia ) and others.

Everywhere we go -- for new members and for all of us -- there are new
adventures in seeing, in listening, in appreciating and feeling the joy
in closeness to the out-of-doors. A beautiful experience for ms all.

’

WETLAND HABITATS

4

- • Anne U linski

Habenana

laesra

V

Wet land or waste land? In this country in the mid-1800's, the
government decided that wetlands were synonymous with waste lands.

The Swamp Wetlands Act gave 15 states 65 million acres of wetland
for ''reclamation" which meant draining the wetlands so that they
would be used "more constructively". Of the 215 million acres of
wetlands that existed in colonial days, only 99 million acres now
remain. In areas of N. C., 66 to 80 percent of wetlands have been
destroyed. Now that the attitude toward wetlands is changing,
some farmers in the midwest have stopped draining potholes and are
allowing them to revert to their original state. Wetland inven-
tories are being taken and legislation passed to protect the wet-
lands which still exist.

What are wetlands? The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service which is
currently conducting a nationwide inventory of these areas, defines
wetlands as areas where water is the primary factor controlling the
environment and the associated plant and animal life. ~~~

The need for oxygen . Plants in all environments must compete for
light, nutrients, water and oxygen. For plants which grow in wet
areas, oxygen poses a special problem because oxygen diffuses about
4 times more slowly in water than in air. Upland plants have ample
oxygen between the soil particles around their roots but plants with
wet feet, whether growing in saturated soil or with roots actually
submerged in water, have had to adapt their structures to obtain
enough oxygen to survive. Plants growing in fast running water
have more oxygen available but they have to develop ways of anchoring
themselves so they will not be washed downstream. Luckily for us,
many plants have adapted to these special conditions.

Micro-climates and micro-habitats. In western North Carolina, we have no natural
lakes, no estuaries, no wide expanses of swamps and marshes. As we focus on habi-
tats this year in our botanical studies, we need to look for "micro-climates" and
"micro-habitats" which fit the wetland definition. Our wet micro-habitats or micro-
wetlands can be wet rock faces and the tiny bog areas around the base of these rock
faces. They can be the ground bordering rivers, streams and waterfalls. There is
a small hanging bog near Graveyard Fields and a seepage bog at Pink Beds. In
Henderson County there are ponds and a wet meadow at Jackson Park. Millie Pearson
is monitoring a wet habitat on her property in Saluda. Pearson's Falls Glen, the
wild life preserve also in Saluda, is dominated by the flow of
Colt Creek on its way to the Pacolet River. The constant seepage
of cold water over the northern exposure of the massive rock cliffs
at Chimney Rock provides a home for plants of the Arctic tundra.

Some plants of wet places

which may be found in

our area are listed

on the next page.

-

WETLAND HABITATS

5

( continued)

In the orchid family (Orchidaceae) :

Green adder's mouth
Green fringed-orchid *

Large rosebud orchid *

Small green wood-orchid

In the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae) :

Grass of parnassus *

Golden saxifrage, water mat *
Michaux's saxifrage
Lettuce saxifrage

Malaxis unifolia
Habenaria lacera
Cleistes divaricata
Habenaria clavellata

Parnassia asarifolia
Chrysosplenium americanum
Saxifraga michauxii
Saxifraga micranthidifolia

At the ponds and wet meadow at Jackson Park in Henderson County:

Bladderwort
Duck potato
Cardinal flower
Meadow sweet
Pickerelweed
Swamp loosestrife
Swamp rose
Water shield

Utricularia gibba
Sagittaria latifolia
Lobelia cardinalis
Spirea alba
Pontederia cordata
Lysimachia terrestris
Rosa palustris
Brasenia schreberi

Other plants we see in wet areas:

Black willow
Canada burnet *

Common or tag alder
Jewelweed
Marsh violet
Round-leaf sundew *
Umbrella leaf
Water hemlock

Salix nigra
Sanguisorba canadensis
Alnus serrulata
Impatiens capensis
Viola cucullata
Drosera rotundifolia
Diphylleia cymosa
Cicuta maculata

f\N v

SWAMP ROSE

* Listed as rare in "Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas" by
Radford, Ahles and Bell

NOTES ON THE FRANKLIN TREE, FRANKLINIA ALATAMAHA

Miles Peelle

Floral tree display in late summer and early fall is seldom spectacular
— in fact, few species bloom that late. The Franklin tree is the
exception and well worth attention for its aesthetic and botanical
interest. In many gardens this is the main attraction, just before the
splendor of leaf color.

The Franklin tree is a curious survivor of habitat loss -- rescued
without plan from total extinction. Its range in the Southeastern
Georgia lowlands was probably very restricted long before the Bartams
discovered it in 1765. The description recorded at that time is as a
"curious shrub." Later in 1780 and 1790 William Bar tram saw it again in
a small area on the northeast side of the Alatamaha River, near the
coast of Georgia. Later searches were made, but it has never been found
in the wild since then. It is thought that William Bartram planted
seeds in the Bartram garden in Philadelphia; trees from the garden were
available soon thereafter to spread the trees to many locations.

Strange at it may appear, the tree cannot survive in plantings near its
original early Georgia habitat. Perhaps the development since the late
1700' s of cotton root rot is the inhibitor of the Franklin tree there.
Plantings as far north as Southern Michigan and Massachusetts survive
with protection; in the midsouth it does well.

The Franklin tree is a member of the Tea family and is closely related
to the redbay ( Gordonia lasianthus ) . Often Franklin trees are called
the "Lost Gordonias . " In winter the large silky buds protect it during
moderate cold snaps. If leaves appear too early in spring, buds
elsewhere are in reserve and take over after the basic buds are lost.
In fall, leaves are orange to red in contrast to the large white
camellia-like flowers. It grows well only in full sun. If you have
never seen the lovely flowers in late September or early October, an
excursion to Charles Moore's garden in Brevard would be rewarding --
white flowers as large as tea cups, filled with golden stamens!

Recently the Bar trail Association sold 10-14 inch potted seedlings at
its annual meeting in Brevard. College Walk residents obtained some
specimens, two of which are growing well this season. Perhaps these
trees in the future will add to the beauty of the grounds with late
summer bloom. [Data from Claire Sawyer "The Franklin Tree" in
HORTICULTURE page 64 (July 1989), and W. & M. Duncan TREES OF THE
SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES (Univ. Ga . Press, pages 195, 309 (1988)].

As we were completing this issue of SHORTIA Dick Smith told us he has
received the first copies of his book, WILD PLANTS OF AMERICA -- A
Select Guide for the Naturalist and Traveler. We'll have a review in
the next issue. Congratulations, Dick!

7

A number of years ago the conservation department of an east-
ern State issued a list of plants which it had decided should be
accorded statutory protection. Predictably, it included Arethusa,
Golden-seal and Green Dragon, but to the surprise of many it also
named Celastrus orbiculatus , or Bittersweet. The intent, as they
were quick to explain, was to list Celastrus scandens , which is
the native vine known as Climbing or American Bittersweet, or Wax-
wort. Instead, they had inadvertently placed under the protection
of law a rampant, destructive escape called Oriental Bittersweet
by those anxious to avoid such confusion. To be fair, though, the
error is one that is frequently made, and examples are easy to find
in the literature.

C . orbiculatus was imported
in comparatively recent times and culti-
vated for its colorful fruits, which
persist into the winter and are eminent-
ly useful in decorative floral arrange-
ments. (Exploitation of the less resil-
ient C_. scandens for this purpose was
responsible for its disappearance from
many localities.) In both species the
smooth, yellow, globular capsules de-
velop in early fall from the pistillate
flowers, which are greenish and quite
inconspicuous. When they mature--and
you can induce this by bringing them into a warm house--they split
open along three sutures and the segments become reflexed, reveal-
ing a shiny, brilliant red aril.

The arrangement of these fruits is diagnostic: In G .
orbiculatus they occur in axillary cymes of no more than three,
whereas in scandens they form a terminal panicle containing many
more. Also, the leaves of-the introduced species are relatively
broader, becoming nearly round (hence the specific name).

Bittersweet vines climb by twining around small trees
and holding on in a relentless death-grip. Many a hiker's walking
stick is marked by deep spiralling grooves that attest to the
struggle between a sapling and a Bittersweet.

.

*" y - ( T,

Vol . XI, No. 3

Autumn 1989

S H 0 R T I A

A quarterly publication of the Western Carolina Botanical Club

Editor: Dorothy Rathmann Distribution: Frances Gadd

Please submit contributions for next issue by November 15, 1989 to:

Dorothy Rathmann, Editor
Carolina Village Box 23
Hendersonville, NC 28792

j u&kfcft*

• psvt y^
: jjorr

l

SHORTIA

c/o Frances Gadd
218 Pheasant Run
Hendersonville, NC 28739

FIRST CLASS

SHORTIA

NEWSLETTER OF THE

WESTERN CAROLINA BOTANICAL CLUB

WINTER 1989 -90

DOROTHY RATHMANN, Editor

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Bill Verduin

Remember the Buck Springs Nature Trail we have been hearing about for so"
long? Beginning to wonder if it would ever get off the ground — no, I
mean on the ground? Well, I’m happy to report a giant step toward
completion.

Dick Smith and Elton Hansens had long ago picked 24 "stations" in which
to put a numbered post which would relate to text in a guidebook. The
Park Service had made the six-by-six posts and they were ready to go into
the ground.

Then came the "week that was." On Monday I tagged along with Dick and
Elton to a meeting with Park people to iron out last minute details.
Tuesday we three plus Tom Hallowell , armed with a probe, searched each
general location for a specific spot .between the very generous supply of
rocks where we could get the post two feet into the ground. Wednesday
with the additional assistance of Rudy Henkel, Dean Crawford, Chuck Snow,
and Alan Jackson we set the first six posts.

Saturday most all of the above, plus Lowell Orbison, reported for duty
bright and early. We were joined by five eager young members of the
Brevard College Environmental Awareness group who had volunteered their
services. By noon -- would you believe it? -- we had all the posts
firmly planted! Dick will now give the text one last once-over and then
turn it over to the Park Service for printing.

As far as I know, this is one of the largest community service projects
the Club has ever undertaken. And it's a good one. This is a heavily
used trail and our contributions will greatly increase the pleasure of
the hike for many people. From the minutes of the founding meeting in
1973, one of the purposes of WCBC is "For the education of interested
persons in the enjoyment ' and appreciation of wildf lower s and other
plants." In this project we are certainly fulfilling one of our
purposes.

On behalf of the Club, let me express our thanks to the Brevard young
people who provided muscle — which is in short supply among our
membership. And hearty thanks to all the Club members who pitched in
when willing hands were needed. But a special word of appreciation to
Dick Smith and Elton Hansens who spent many, many more hours on this
project than all of the rest of us combined -- and without whom this
project would never have been undertaken. Thanks from all of us!

NEW MEMBERS — ADDITIONS TO 1989 MEMBERSHIP LIST

Hendersonville, NC 28739 unless otherwise indicated

Lewis, Barbara, 901B Rutledge Annex
McCurdy, Dale, 129 Bel Mar Lane....

697-1454

- .

NEW BOOK REVIEW

3

Barbara Hallovell

WILD PLANTS OF AMERICA: A SELECT GUIDE FOR THE NATURALIST AND TRAVELER
-- Richard M. Smith; John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1989 (Available from WCBC
member Richard M. Smith, $12.95 paperback, $22.95 cloth, or at
bookstores . )

If you've been hunting that one handy book which can lead to botanizing
hot spots in this wonderful land, STOP! Dick Smith has created it for us
with WILD PLANTS OF AMERICA. What good fortune!

Even before reading the book, one is struck by the stunning cactus
blossom on its cover ar i the numerous illustrations scattered throughou"
its clear-printed pages. Dick, the artist, treats us with drawings not
only simple and accurate but artistic. Some even include a little friend
who shares habitat with the pictured plant, enriching the effect, even
adding a touch of humor (_e.jg. pp. 43, 100, 128).

The Contents, with chapter subjects titled by geographic region, stirs an
active traveler's yen to hop into the car and head for the nearest site.
It boosts an armchair traveler's urge to flop into an easy chair with
WILD PLANTS OF AMERICA in hand.

Most readers I talked with turned first to familiar places, Chapters 5-9
the Smokies, Pisgah National Forest, mountain balds, and trails
familiar to WCBC members, then to other places they'd already been.

When you start reading, you find Dick the skilled writer, botanist,
psychologist. With concise, beautifully chosen words, he sets you in
place in each geological region and creates its mood. You find it
irresis table . Then he guides you, giving specific directions, to
locations of special botanic interest in that region, telling what to
look for. As you journey from cover to cover, you experience a coast to
coast botanical trip. You want to return to places you've been to see
more. And happily, Dick understands his reader -- he gives enough to
inform and entice but not enough to bore.

I asked several readers for comments and heard:

I like the format; a really workable reference book.

It's so readable! Carries you right along. You want more.

I like it as a diary of recollected pleasures.

The answer to people's questions on where to go and what to see.

The choice of words is polished, the phrasing beautifully balanced.

It has not only botany but bits of geology and history.

The drawings are as beautifully and economically executed as the
prose .

Readers are sure to carry this indispensable guidebook on trips. Other
pluses: Contents of Illustrations, complete index, and listing of

Botanic Gardens and Arboretums. Missing: a bibliography.

Dick, congratulations on a beautiful, useful book -- but you've set a
precedent! Now Jean and you must travel even more and come up with
indispensable Guidebook Vol. II -- even more places for readers to go!

• •

4

ROCK OUTCROP COMMUNITIES

Elisabeth Feil

The very words bring back memories:

of the steep cliffs in southern Ontario with a few pines, deep crunchy cushions of
reindeer lichen ( Cladonia spp.), and beautiful pink lady's slippers (Cvpripedium
acaule ) , or the small island with wispy pink corydalis (Corvdalis sempervirens )
and low blueberry bushes ( Vaccinium spp.) with more berries than leaves.

of Heller's blazing star ( Liatris helleri ) , goldenrod (Solidago spithmanea),
mountain bluets (Houstonia purpurea var. montana ) , and lyre-leaved rock cress
(Arabis lvrata) on the "Profile" of Grandfather Mountain.

of the leaves of the silverling ( Paronychia argyrocoma ) on Big Yellow shimmering
golden in the setting sui.

of Carey's saxifrage ( Saxifrage carevana ) on a big rook in the woods below the
Chimney Rock cliffs, a thousand pearls glittering in the sun after a shower.

of lobed spleenwort ( Asplenium pinn~ ~ ifidum ) in dry cracks on the cliffs across
the valley from the "Chimney."

Not two of them are alike. How can I possibly come up with a concise, general essay
about rock outcrop corrmunities? So, I guess I just have to stop dreaming and start
telling you something about the only cliffs I do know a little about — Chimney Rock
Park.

There is life on the seemingly bare vertical rocks. The black stripes are wet, slick
layers of algae. On the light colored areas, many species of lichens exist in a very-
harsh environment that is dominated by alternating deluges and extreme dryness, great
temperature extremes, and high winds. And yes, near the edge of a dry piney forest
there is an area covered with reindeer lichen and pink lady's slippers. In another
small spot pink corydalis may be found waving in the breeze.

On the more gently sloping, smooth rock faces, thick mats of twisted-hair spikemoss
( Selaginella tortipila ) are a common sight. The spikemoss got started in succession to
mosses and lichens. It has' no roots to anchor these mats, and many of them are washed
down over the rocks by intense rainstorms. In years with favorable spring weather,
some of the spikemoss mats host annuals, such as slender gerardia ( Agalinis
tenuifolia ) , ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia ) , and orange grass or pineweed ( Hypericum
gentianoides ) . Others support grasses , ferns like rock cap fern ( Polypodium
virginianum ) and marginal shield fern ( Drvopteris marginal is ) , and more showy flowerinv
plants, like goldenrod ( Solidago sp.), beard tongue ( Penstemon canescens ) and Solomon
seal ( Polvgonatum bif lorum ) . Occasionally, even shrubs or a stunted tree will take
hold in one of the mats. Their survival depends on the presence of cracks for
anchorage and nutrient uptake.

Due to the geologic forces that put a folded mica schist on top of the massive gneiss
cliffs, there is ample seepage on the rocks. This is the reason for the presence of
some unusual plant species.

One of them is Biltmore sedge ( Carex biltmoreana ) , a species that just a few years ago
was thought to be possibly extirpated. On the steep east side of the mountain, it is
an integral part of the herb cover in an area of about 1500 x 300 feet. It also grows
on the cold north-facing cliffs in scattered locations. On some of the dripping ledges

• '

- 5 -

and in wet vertical cracks it forms a separate community with ninebark (Phvsocarpus
opulifolius ) .

Of special interest is deerhair bulrush (Solans cespitosus var callosus) , a plant
that I have seen in Alaska on permafrost "meadows." In the Park it occupies the most
inhospitable exposed cracks on the vertical cliffs where no other species can compete.

brJfSS? Ears

asphodeloides ) , a xenc species?

Tn another interesting spot on the steep cliffs a wet plant community has developed,
i" ( Drosera rotundifolia) is common here at the edge of a mat of

Round leaved sunae — ; — “ f rape ( Saxifraga michauxii). With increasing depth

Sphagnum spp. a™l Mic occur 8 such as sundrops ( Oenothera tetragona ), cowbane

rush (Ehvnchospora sp.), meadow spikemoss ( Selaginel la
F7eases (Soiranthes cemuum) , lady rue ( Thalictrum c lava t urn ) , tassel
ft^^Tyantvptrpr-Qi ^carolinensirsT i slender~~yellow~eyed grass (Xvris “Stlreen wood
orchii ( Habenariaclavellata ) , and others .

.And then there are flourishing clumps of small-flowered alumroot (Heuchera parviflora)
under an overhang without any apparent water supply.

teliere^thalfw^'^^^never^e^ai^l^to^f^lKxn all* the intricacies of life - no matter
how smart we may become.

CRAGGIES, THE ENDANGERED GARDEN.

.Park Ranger Sue Jennings
Blue Ridge Parkway

The great Craggy Mountains is home to ******** ^ichTrf

Recognized for it unique plant ' 4 nic area has been designated by the State
endangered plant species, Craggy Gardens scenic locally known as the
of North Carolina as a Natural '^TmoSn peaks rising to 6.000'
Craggies, thicklts adorning the hillsides valleys
m height, soft grassy balds wiui luu nd a wide assortment of wildf lowers.

Jus t^as " variable ^"eShe" ° Cold, d^p billowing fog - ^ rSi
—^ 8 m^ S , 3 W&S -tL^slaf^ld a layer of ice more than
10" thick on trees and crowns.

The Craggies are indeed a specif place, Craggy pinnacle
Parkway Superintendent Gary Everhardt, a and en dangered plants. Nestled m
provide the necessary habitat for a n , j. which may be relics from the last
the crevices and ledges of the roc s, ® ? ar( L ada pted to the extremes of wet and
glacial period, struggle to survive. , trampling footsteps of visitors,
dry, hot and cold, they have no defense against the ^ corTmunity is

Like fibers in a worn carpet, the i inte §^^ ' ai J h rocks ^nd ledges of Craggy, pinnacle.

plant populations from trampling.

- 6 -

Part of the problem is that the rare plants do not call attention to themselves. They
do not have colorful flowers; they are small in size; and several are mistaken for
common grasses. Thus, visitors are not cognizant of the damage they are causing as
they leap from one rocky ledge to another. The primary difficulty is associated with a
number of unofficial trails that traverse the pinnacle on the south facing slope (just
beyond the visitor center). Through the years, a network of these routes has been
created by visitors, unaware of the official trail location. Many of the bushwacked
trails pass through the rare plant communities . During peak season, 518 people per
weekend day were observed using the rock outcrops for climbing, viewing, and seating.
The most tempting places to put one's foot happen to be the last refuge for these
plants, whose ancestors were present in the days of the mountains' infancy.

Clearly, a new management concern presents itself at Craggy pinnacle. The National
Park Service has a dual mandate to provide access for public use and enjoyment, while
preserving the natural environment. It is in the spirit of this charge that
Superintendent Everhardt has authorized funds for a stone-walled overlook for the
pinnacle based on quantitative and qualitative research of visitor use at Craggy
pinnacle. The- overlook will feature a central area with four alcoves leading out from
the center. Visitors will subtly be led into the alcoves by the views and privacy,
while being prevented from accessing the fragile rock outcrops. To further attract
visitors, a display identifying the mountain peaks will be set in each alcove. The
rock wall is designed to blend in with the natural environment. Utilizing native
stone, each alcove mimics the dominant lines of the nearby outcrops, following the
natural contours of the site. This will provide a natural harmonious feeling in the
overlook, while physically discouraging access to the rock.

On site interpretation will also serve as an effective tool for protecting the rare
plant habitat . A park ranger will be roving the area to alert visitors to the fragile
habitat, interpret the site, and insure that the visitors remain on the official
trails . The ranger will also be available to field questions regarding the Parkway in
general. Trail signs directing visitors to the official trails and informing them of
the fragility of the area will be installed at various points to promote visitor
understanding and compliance. The bushwacked trails will be closed off to discourage
their use and the attendant problems of soil erosion on the southern slope of the
pinnacle. The trail signs and additional staff should reduce confusion as to where the
pinnacle trail begins, as well as enhance the visitor's experience by providing direct
contact with a park naturalist.

The National. Park Service is dedicated to visitor enjoyment through education,
conservation, and preservation. We are proud to offer the unique features of Craggy
Gardens natural area to the public. The conflict of intensive use in a fragile
environment is a challenging management problem. his integrated strategy of research,
design, and interpretation provides for continued public use without sacrificing
habitat and its rare tenants. The ultimate responsibility, however, lies with
individual compliance.

TRAIL CHANGES: In order to protect the rare plants, access to the pinnacle from the
south side (visitor center side) will be prohibited and all unofficial trails to the
peak will be closed off. The official trail head to the peak begins at the Dome View
parking area 1/8 mile north of the visitor center. From the picnic grounds, the Carter
Creek Trail will join the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail heading north to reconnect with
the existing Carter Falls Trail at a location well beyond the pinnacle" and endangered
plant habitat. "

.

7

There are a lot fewer trees with leaves that grow opposite
each other rather than alternately. In fact, there is a little
mnemonic to help us keep track of the four major ones: MAD BUCK,
which is an acronym of Maple, Ash and Dogwood plus an abbreviation
of Buckeye. (In regions where Horse Chestnuts outnumber Buckeyes,
MAD HORSE serves just as well.)

There would seem to be no chance of con-
fusing these four genera. Dogwoods and Maples
both have simple leaves, but in one they are
ovate and in the other they are conspicuously
lobed. The rest are compound, those of Ash
being pinnate in the arrangement of their
leaflets, while Buckeye and Horse Chestnut
leaves are palmate.

This would work if it were not for the acfr ne-gondo

non-conformist Acer negundo , a tree that bear.

the appropriate though unimaginative common name of Ash-leaved
Maple as well as one which could hardly be more incongruous, Box
Elder. Here we have a Maple with opposite, pinnately-compound

leaves that suggest White Ash ( Fraxinus
americana ) , which is the principal represent-
ative of its genus in our area--except for
some convenient differences. White Ash
leaves usually have seven leaflets instead of
only three or five, and they are entire or
nearly so, whereas those of Acer negundo have
coarse, irregular teeth and sometimes even
shallow lobes. In addition, mature specimens
can attain twice the height of Ash-leaved

FR.AX.IHUS AMER/CA/VA Maple S.

Maples and Ashes are easy to distinguish when in blossom, but
the flowering season is very brief, while the seed vessels, or
samaras, can be observed over a much longer period. Those of Acer

negundo are typical of the Maples, and consist of twin divergent
"wings" each containing a large seed. In the case of Fraxinus
americana , they are single and much narrower, shaped somewhat like
canoe paddles.

— -

Vol . XI, No. 4

Winter 1989-90

S H 0 R T I A

A quarterly publication of the Western Carolina Botanical Club

Editor: Dorothy Rathmann Distribution: Frances Gadd

Please submit contributions for next issue by February 15, 1990 to:

Dorothy Rathmann, Editor
Carolina Village Box 23
Hendersonville, NC 28792

mew

GAUDCS

SHORTIA

c/o Frances Gadd
218 Pheasant Run
Hendersonville, NC 28739

FIRST CLASS