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Volume 30, Number 1

css Our 28th Year bo

February 2006

Exciting Plans for the Annual Meeting!

by Mary Priestley

The TNPS annual meeting is scheduled for May 5-7 at beautiful
Montgomery Bell State Park, located approximately 30
miles west of Nashville. The inn, conference center, and
restaurant overlook picturesque Lake Acorn. Every one of
the inn’s 120 rooms has a view of the lake. Amenities include cable
television, year-round indoor pool,
jacuzzi, seasonal outdoor pool, and
an exercise room. There is something
for everyone in this 3,800-acre park,
a site of both natural beauty and
historical interest. (Hint: Don’t show
up without your camera!)

We have been able to work out
a bargain price for the 2-night, 3-
day package. It’s a great deal, but
we have only 30 rooms reserved —
all with balconies overlooking the
lake — so sign up early to get in on
this terrific weekend.

This year marks the 35th
anniversary of the Tennessee Natural
Areas Preservation Act. What
better place to celebrate our state’s
remarkable history of conservation
of its spectacular natural landscape
than at Montgomery Bell State Park,
one of Tennessee’s oldest and most-visited parks?

Montgomery Bell is named for the wealthy industrialist whose
iron works were key to the early economic development of the area.
The hardwood forest was once heavily logged to open up land for
agriculture and to produce charcoal to feed the iron works. It has
returned and now hosts a variety of interesting plant communities,
habitat for myriad plants and the animals that depend on them. The
park’s 19 miles of hiking trails, which vary in length from 0.75 to over
1 1 miles, offer something for everyone.

We are planning a full weekend of activities. Hikes in this
lovely landscape and evening programs Friday and Saturday by
knowledgeable botanists and state park personalities are in the works.
Look for more details in our special newsletter in March, dedicated to

the annual meeting.

You’ll want to do some exploring on your own, as well, over the
weekend. The early nineteenth-century house of Samuel McAdow is
located in the park. In 1810 it was the birthplace of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church when dissident Presbyterian ministers met there

and held the first synod of the new
church. The beautiful Cumberland
Presbyterian Histone Chapel, a
replica of the original Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, is nestled in a
small clearing in the woods.

The remains of Laurel Furnace,
one of the state’s early manufacturing
sites, are also here. Hike just a short
distance into the woods and you can
see the pits from which they dug the
iron ore. The ore pits and furnace
originally belonged to Colonel
Richard Napier, who received the
acreage as part of a Revolutionary
War land grant.

One of the state’s most popular
recreational sites, Montgomery Bell
State Park preserves and promotes
the area’s rich history and sublime
landscape. The park began as a
project of the National Park Service in the 1930s. The Public Works
Administration (PWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the lakes and original
buildings. In 1943, the National Park Service deeded it to the State of
Tennessee.

Directions: Take 1-40 West from Nashville to Exit 182 (Fairview/
Dickson Hwy. 96 Exit). Turn left (West) onto Highway 96. Stay on
Highway 96 until it dead-ends at Highway 70. Turn right (East) on
Highway 70, off-ramp provided. Stay on Highway 70 approximately
3 miles. Park entrance is on the right.

Plan to be a part of this fabulous weekend at one of Tennessee’s
true beauty spots. You will find a reservation form in this newsletter.
Fill it out and mail it in today. See you at Montgomery Bell!

Annual Meeting in May

Tennessee Native Plant Society C?S www.tnps.org

Tennessee Native Plant
Society Newsletter

President's Comments

November 2006
VOLUME 30, Number 1

This newsletter is a publication of the
Tennessee Native Plant Society and is
published four times a year, generally in
February, June, August, and November.

The Tennessee N ative Plant Society (TNPS)
was founded in 1978. Its purposes are to
assist in the exchange of information and
encourage fellowship among Tennessee's
botanists, both amateur and professional; to
promote public education about Tennessee
flora, and wild plants in general; to provide,
through publication of a newsletter or
journal, a formal means of documenting
information on Tennessee flora and of
informing the public about wild plants; and
to promote the protection and enhancement
of Tennessee's wild plant communities.

Dues for each calendar year are
Regular: $20
Student/Senior: $15
Institution: $50
Life: $250

Dues may be sent to

Tennessee Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

TNPS OFFICERS

Karl Heinzman, President
Dennis Horn, Vice-President
Bart Jones, Secretary
Kay Jones, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

Bertha Chrietzburg
Todd Crabtree
Michelle Haynes
Mary Priestley
Susan Sweetser
Rita Venable

Comments? Questions?
Submissions? Send to

TNPS Newsletter Editor
Ashley Crownover
922 Shauna Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
newsletter@tnps.org

printed on
recycled paper

by Karl Heinzman

First things first: Congratulations to TNPS member Todd Crabtree for being appointed
state botanist!

With lack of any real winter, in East Tennessee it almost seems like spring, though
we know it is just a nature trick. However, I’m still thinking outdoors and wildflowers,
which bring me to our book, Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley and the Southern
Appalachians. This will be the first full year with our book — you will remember we were later
into the market last year than we hoped, though we had a very good year. Now that we are in
2006, we continue to have wonderful success with book sales. Dennis Horn, Tavia Cathcart,
and Bart Jones — just to mention a few — are making exciting and informative presentations at
a number of bookstores, major events, etc., throughout the state.

Our new T-shirts have sold extremely well; you will want one! We will be selling them
on many of this year’s field trips as well as at the annual meeting. By the way, with this year’s
annual meeting taking place sooner than usual — May 5-7 — in this issue of the newsletter we
have included a registration form and an excellent write-up by Mary Priestley. May will be
upon us before you can say “*X#% dandelion.” So register early.

We will offer many exciting field trips as we always do, so please join us and bring
friends.

See you on the trail!

Karl

Dues Reminder

Dues for 2006 are now due! The rates are $20 for a regular
■membership, $15 for students and seniors, $50 for an institution,
$250 for a lifetime membership. Send your check to

Tennessee Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

This

Issue

ART CREDIT

Illustrations on Pages 3 and
7 by Mary Priestley. Thanks,
Mary!

Annual Meeting News 1

President’s Comments 2

A Story of Place 3

TNPS Field Trips 2006 4

Tennessee Conservation Voters Update: The Container
Deposit Bill 4

ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION FORM 5

Nature Journaling: The Seven Acres War 7

Trails & Trilliums Event April 22 8

Tennessee Appoints New State Botanist 8

Tennessee Native Plant Society OH www.tnps.oiy

A vStory

(Place

by Bart Jones

Everyone has that first special place, a fond memory where
landscape and personality are forever intermingled. It’s a place
always connected to your soul, where the seed of the person
you become germinates. For most of us we lose contact with our
special place, either through its loss or by displacement. But a few of us can
still retreat there to recharge our batteries and return balance to life.

The story of my special place begins with my paternal grandmother.
Her great-grandfather moved west from the mountains of East Tennessee,
becoming the first doctor in Decatur County. In the early 1 800s a large part of
his practice was basically as an herbalist. This knowledge was passed down
to my grandmother, and though the availability of modern medicine meant
she didn’t practice it, she did love to dig ginseng for eventual sale. Growing
up next door to my grandmother meant every day had the potential to be an
outdoor adventure. Countless times we would walk down the hill to Sulphur
Fork Creek, cane fishing pole in hand and garden trowel in back pocket. On
the not-so-rare occasions when the fish weren’t biting, the trowel would come
out and our adventure that day would become a quest for ginseng.

As we moved across wooded ridges and ravines in search of elusive
three-prongers, my grandmother would explain the different ingredients
used in poultices to treat numerous ailments. She pointed out the various
plants that had medicinal properties: mayapples, goldenseal, woolly mullein,
Solomon's seal, wild potato vine, and of course ginseng. She demonstrated
how bloodroot got its name and that the Indians used the juice to dye cloth.
And if it was spring, on our way back to the house we might pick a mess of
poke salad for supper that night.

Unfortunately I, like most kids, wasn’t as interested in what was in this
or that poultice and what it was used to treat as just spending time with my
grandmother and exploring what was under the next rock. But it did open
up the world that was that neck of woods and that section of creek behind
the house to years of discoveries and a growing appreciation for the plants
and creatures that inhabited it. I began to notice
the different wildflowers in the spring and
started identifying them. But this was my
grandmother’s special place; however,
it did provide the background so I
could truly appreciate what would
become my special place.

When I was twelve, my
Dad bought a 90-acre tract of
woods about five miles north of
our house. My first visit was in
May to help my Dad run the
property line and mark it. As we ran
the line from the ridge down to the small stream that
formed the eastern boundary, I couldn't help but start
exploring along its banks. As I rounded a bend underneath
a low bluff a small flat appeared between the next bluff and
the one I had just gone around. Not far ahead was a sight
that stopped me in my tracks: a huge yellow lady's slipper. I
knew it was an orchid from looking at books when I was trying to

identify other wildflowers, but her# it was, on our land! Nyejidd for my Dad to
come look and he too was impressed, but I think he was mjpre amused at my
excitement than amazed by the flower. However, my enthusiasm was more
than enough for both of us. The flower was so bizarre, almost other-worldly.
The creamy yellow pouch was surrounded by drooping and spiraling purplish-
brown “petals.” I picked the flower to bring home to show my Mom. She also
couldn’t believe something like that was growing on our property. I pressed
it and still have it to this day. Suddenly, this little patch of woods in Decatur
County became almost magical to me, like my own tropical jungle. This was
the beginning of my fascination with orchids.

Over the years I found more and more lady’s slippers as well as other
orchids: showy orchis, cranefly orchid, puttyroot, small woodland orchid, and
autumn coralroot on the property. The wildflowers that grew there were so
different from those that were found behind my grandparents’ house and with
the addition of the orchids, it was almost unbelievable that these two places
were separated by only five miles!

After finishing school, I started growing tropical epiphytic orchids, but still
was intrigued by the natives. One problem that had always nagged at me was
I never seemed able to identify our lady's slipper to my satisfaction. It was
yellow, but when I looked at photos and descriptions of “yellow lady's slipper”
in field guides, it just didn’t look the same. Finally, at a Memphis Orchid
Society meeting where Carson Whitlow was giving a talk about the genus
Cypripedium , I found a match. As he showed a slide of southern lady’s slipper
(i Cypripedium kentuckiense), it was the exact image of the plants I knew from
our land. I learned that this lady’s slipper had just recently been described as
a new species (at a date later than when I first saw them) and was actually
quite uncommon. Researching data from Tennessee, I discovered it was
listed as endangered in the state and only found in two counties much further
to the east. The plants in Decatur County would be the third population in
Tennessee.

I felt our plants needed protecting and documenting. I joined TNPS as a
result of attending an early talk about the wildflower field guide by Dennis Horn
and discussing the lady’s slipper with him afterward. I decided to
lead a hike the next spring to see them (and hopefully learn from
someone about what I needed to do to get them protected). It
worked. After the field trip schedule came out in the newsletter,
Carl Nordman, who was state botanist at the time, contacted me
after seeing my trip description and had Claude Bailey attend it
and document the population. Now our little patch of woods was
officially home to one of Tennessee’s more rare plants.

But what has been so special about those 90
acres and 40-odd lady’s slippers is all the people with
whom I’ve been able to share them, from my Grandma
Jones to the Tennessee state botanist, and how they
were the impetus for my interest in native plants and
eventual involvement in TNPS. So this year I would
like to invite you to join me in retracing the first
field trip I led for TNPS back in 2000. On May
13, visit my special place and see the plant I
hold most dear— the southern lady’s slipper.

Tennessee Native Plant Society C3 www.tnps.org

2006 Field Trips Under Construction

by Todd Crabtree

As you read this we are still finalizing the schedule
of field trips for the year 2006. We will be visiting
all three of the grand divisions of Tennessee.
As always there will be a variety of habitats
represented on this year’s schedule. In West Tennessee we will get
an opportunity to learn the unique characteristics of Spiranthes
magnicampontm. After this trip you may want to revisit any fall
blooming Spiranthes you may have seen before to determine
whether they might be this species. In Middle Tennessee we will
visit a cedar glade area to see some of the rare species within them
including a healthy population of Talinum calcaricum in a pristine
gravelly glade. On the Cumberland Plateau there are poorly
drained areas at the headwaters of many of the small creeks. At

some of these sites there are rare and beautiful orchids growing.
We will take a trip to see some of these interesting orchids of the
genus Platanthera and other flowers of plateau seeps and bogs
in late Summer. On the south end of the plateau we will hike
through a cove to see a wide variety of spring ephemerals. Spring
ephemerals are always a crowd pleaser. In East Tennessee we will
finish up the schedule with our fall trip led by Ed Clebsch. Ed
always shares at least one arcane tidbit of knowledge which will
allow the person who knows it to positively identify a particular
woody plant in the winter. Ed has a wealth of knowledge from all
of his years of botanical and ecological research. You can always
count on learning something new on a trip with Ed. Look for all
the details on these trips and more in the next TNPS newsletter.

TCV Update: Container Deposit Bill

from Tennessee Conservation Voters,
www. tnconservationvoters . org

For many legislative bills, the period between sessions
of the General Assembly is fairly quiet and uneventful.
That has not been the case, however, with Tennessee’s
proposal to enact container deposit legislation. The
‘Tennessee Deposit Beverage Container Recycling Act’ was
withdrawn in 2005 without coming to a vote, but will again
be introduced with the hope that it will pass in 2006. The bill
is currently being re-written to ensure that all money collected
from deposits will adequately support the administration of
the program. In addition, the new bill will also allocate some
money to reimburse cities and counties for taxes lost in greenbelt
commitments and conservation easements.

In an effort to get this bill passed, supporters are making an
effort to raise awareness and educate the public about the merits
of the bill in the time between sessions.

Container recycling proponents have worked hard to dispel
many of the myths that have, in the past, discouraged lawmakers
and the public from widely supporting this bill. One of the first
steps taken was the joining of the Tennessee Bottle Bill Project
with organizations like Tennessee Conservation Voters and
Scenic Tennessee (among others) to form the Tennessee Coalition
Against Litter. Supporters of this legislation extend beyond the
environmental community, and in September the Tennessee

Federation of Garden Clubs announced ‘Message in a Bottle’ as the
theme of their 52nd annual Conservation Camp. Representative
Russell Johnson has taken it upon himself to educate fellow
legislators, and in October announced that he would host a trip
to Maine for legislators to see first hand the many economic
and environmental merits of a working bottle bill. To many, the
positive implications of container deposit legislation are easy to
see, but many others are unsure or misinformed.

In early November, citizens took part in “X Marks the Spot,”
a statewide roadside cleanup during which public participants
picked up all roadside trash in order to determine what percentage
of Tennessee’s litter consists of bottles and cans. One argument
often used by bottling industries and opponents of container
deposit legislation is that bottles and cans make up an insignificant
percentage of roadside trash, and therefore legislation would
be ineffective in reducing litter. Early reports of the November
litter pickups in Tennessee put the figure between 50 percent
and 60 percent, these figures matching similar studies done in
neighboring states.

For more information or to get involved, visit
www.tnbottlebill.org (not www.tnbottlebill.com, a confusing web
address put up by bottle bill opponents!) or email Marge Davis at
margedavis@comcast.net.

Tennessee Native Plant Society C3 www.tnps.org

CUT HERE — — — — — — — — — — CUT HERE — — — — — — — — — — — CUT HERE

2006 TNPS Annual Meeting Registration

May 5-7, 2006 at Montgomery Bell State Park

LODGING

No. of rooms (single or double occupancy -

two sharing a room may each pay S 60.00) @ $ 120.00 =

Each additional person per room @ 30.00 =

(max. 4 people per room)

Sharing with:

Note: Lodging prices are for 2 nights.

REGISTRATION

Registration fee (per person) @ $ 10.00 =

Use fee (per person, for those not staying
at the park) @ $ 10.00 =

DETACH
THIS PAGE
AND MAIL TO
THE ADDRESS
BELOW 4

Total (check enclosed for) $

Name: _
Address:

Telephone:

E-mail:

Special needs:

Please send form and payment to:

Tennessee Native Plant Society
Annual Meeting
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

NOTE: A credit card must be presented at the inn upon check-in in order to
cover any incidental expenses charged to the room during your stay.

Tennessee Native Plant Society CS www.tnps.org

SEE REVERSE TO REGISTER
for the 2006 TNPS Annual Meeting

May 5-7, 2006 at Montgomery Bell State Park

MAIL FORM AND FEES TO

Tennessee Native Plant Society
Annual Meeting
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

Tennessee Native Plant Society CS www.tnps.org

CUT HERE - -- -- -- -- - CUT HERE - -- -- -- -- -- CUT HERE

Nature JournaCing

<Ihe Jveven

^cres War

I was so pleased to find this piece of writing from TNPS member
Judy’ Walker in my mailbox in late December. She appended
this caveat: “The identification of all plants is subject to
coirection by those more knowledgeable than I, i.e., most
members of TNPS!" Maybe this delightful article will
inspire you to do some nature journaling. If so, please send
me a bit for inclusion in this column. — Mary Priestley,

marypriestley@bellsouth.net A '

by Judy Walker

There’s a war being waged on the Western Highland
Rim in Humphreys County: it’s all about territory. At
the edge of the woods Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus
quinquefolia ), poison ivy ( Toxicodendron radicans),
sawbner (Smilax glauca), and wild blackberries ( Rubus bifrons)
tussle with each other for space. In the woods themselves, oaks
( Quercus varied) declared victory years ago, but occasional
dogwoods (Cornus florida), ashes ( Fraxinus americana), and
beeches ( Fagus grandifolia) continue to take a stand. Nearer
the house and its environs, there are three hickories ( Carya
cordifortnis, C. ovata), a scattering of sumacs ( Rhus copallinum), a
patch of sarvis ( Amelanchier arborea), a tulip poplar ( Liriodendron
tulipifera), some fruit trees I planted.

The meadows, rather than being the lovely landscape the name
implies, are the site of skirmishes by ragamuffins - broomsedge
(called “wild sage” locally), fescue, crabgrass, Johnson grass,
horseweed ( Conyza canadensis). Frankly, 1 wish they would
all choke each other out and in their demise take with them the
chiggers they harbor.

The territory around the house has spots that hint of
domesticity - three tumbling-down sheds; a chicken coop; a
goose house (a plastic greenhouse made from a kit); a goose pond
(a kiddie wading pool); an organic garden; beds of blueberries,
strawberries, raspberries; and patches of customary farm-stead
flowers: daffodils, day lilies, four-o’clocks, snowball bush ...

All the space between these domestic sites arc scenes of
awesome beauty, a succession of wildflowers, both natives and
exotics, all volunteers. Late winter brings clusters of common
blue violets (Viola sororia). As the weather warms battles begin
as other plants shoulder their way onto the territory, trying to
displace earlier arrivals: fire pinks ( Silene virginica), smooth phlox

(Phlox glaberrima), star chickweed (Stellaria pubera ), small
bluets (Houstonia pusilla), low hop clover (Trifolium campestre),
Carolina cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum), common wood
sorrel (Oxalis stricta), violet wood sorrel (O. violacea).

Mayweed (Anthemis cotula), common fleabane (Erigeron
philadelphicus), cutleaf evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata),
Venus’ looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata), smooth vetch (Vicia
dasycarpa), bracted plantain (Planlago aristata), pencil flower
(Stylosanthes biflora), pokeweed (Phytolacca americana),

Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis), narrowleaf sunflower
(Helianthus angustifolius), potato dandelion (Krigia dandelion),
false dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus), false boneset
(Kuhnia eupatorioides), Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum
pensylvanicum), southern prairie aster (Aster paludosus), white
heath aster (A. pilosus ), tall ironweed (Vernonia gigantea),
mistflower (Conoclinium coe/estinum), giant goldenrod (Solidago
gigantea), blue-stemmed goldenrod (S caesia), sicklepod (Senna
obtusifolia). That’s most of the 2005 crop.

2006 will probably be different. It depends on the weather,
what’s blowin’ in the wind, and animal activity. When I bought the
place five years ago, it sported healthy stands of common dandelion
(Taraxacum officinal ), white clover (Trifolium repens), and smooth
creeping bush clover (Lespedeza repens ), but the geese have eaten
them to oblivion. Oh, if only those geese would develop a taste for
crabgrass and fescue!

I suspect that the neighbors, with their bush hogs, riding mow-
ers, and weed whackers, are dismayed at the raggedness of my col-
orful chaos, but it seems to be well-loved by wild turkeys and other
birds, butterflies, bees and other insects, spiders, toads, frogs, liz-
ards, snakes, rabbits, deer, skunks, opossums. Though there’s a war
being waged on the land, it’s a place full of life.

Tennessee Native Plant Society C35 www.tnps.org

Don't Miss Trails and Trilliums April 22!

by Mary Priestley

TfilliWHS

St. “Anifrew’s-Sewance Scfwof

Mark your calendar for the third annual Trails and
Tniliums celebration of native plants at St. Andrews-
Sewanee School. Saturday, April 22, is the date,
and the campus of St. Andrews-Sewanee is the
place. Tennessee State Naturalist

^ | | a Mack Prichard’s keynote address

|| “Every Day is Earth Day in the
I C'umberlands” heads up an array
of talks and workshops on native
plants and wildflower gardening.
(Keynoters in previous years have
been our own Margie Hunter and Dennis Horn!)

The event runs 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. central time. A native
plant sale, including more than 2000 wildflowers, ferns, trees, and
shrubs (all nursery-propagated), will go on all day. The Toadshade
Tent will house a great array of gifts for gardeners and wildflower
enthusiasts, including books (TNPS’s wildflower guide, of course!),
T-shirts, note cards, hiking guides, planters, and more.

Hikes in Shakerag Hollow and the Abbott Cotten Martin
Ravine Garden and workshops on nature journaling, invasive
plants, container gardening, and landscape painting are also on
the docket. Paintings by renowned Chattanooga botanical artist,
the late William Crutchfield, will be exhibited, and prints will be
available for sale.

Lunch on great grilled food, with music provided by local
musicians (including Bazzania Girls Band, many of whom are
TNPS members!). Family activities include hayride hikes, a
petting zoo, “Snakes Alive! & Other Critters” with a licensed

TWRA wildlife rehabilitator, and a self-guided hike with stops for
hands-on nature activities. (Children must be accompanied by an
adult.)

Plan to join the fun and take home some beautiful native plants
for your garden. A $5 registration fee covers admission to all hikes,
workshops, and talks. St. Andrews-Sewanee is located on Hwy.
4 1 -A just east of Sewanee: The University of the South, at exit 1 34
from 1-24. For more information see http://trails.sasweb.org, phone
931-598-5651, or contact Margaret Matens at mmatens@sasweb.
org.

Todd Crabtree
Hired as Tennessee's
Natural Heritage Botanist

As of March 1, TNPS member Todd Crabtree will be
Tennessee’s new state botanist. A member of the TNPS
board, Todd also coordinates the schedule of wildflower
ralks and was instrumental in editing the TNPS field guide
Jays Todd of his new position, “My weekend avocation^
ras become my weekday vocation.” Congratulations! ,

Volume 30, Number 2

cs Our 28th Year ££>

March 2006

Now

See form on page 7

by Mary Priestley

Chester’s love of botany and sense of humor combine to make a most
enjoyable and informative program.

Our annual meeting, scheduled for May 5-7 at beautiful
Montgomery Bell State Park, is going to be fabulous!

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Tennessee
Natural Areas Preservation Act. What better place to celebrate
our state’s remarkable history of conservation of its spectacular natural
landscape than at Montgomery Bell State Park, one of Tennessee’s
oldest and most visited parks?

Todd Crabtree is enlisting the help of Dr. Edward Chester and
others who know this area well to put together a selection of outings for
Saturday. He promises that we will have a variety of walks, including
chances to visit sites of both historical and botanical interest.

We have an exciting lineup of speakers: Friday night, Todd will
fill us in on the critically important Rare Plant Program of Tennessee’s
Di vision ofNatural Heritage.

Its mission is to restore and
protect the plants, animals,
and natural communities
that represent the natural

biological

Tennessee.

Back

demand,

Chester,

diversity of

by popular
Dr. Edward
professor of
botany at Austin Peay State
University, will be speaking
Saturday night on “ Forty
Years in Land Between
the Lakes.” As those of
us who heard him last fall
at Bcersheba know. Dr.

Slate natural heritage botanist Todd
Crabtree will be the Friday night speaker.

mil

IS!

if imfLiM

Todd Crabtree — Friday Night Speaker

No stranger to TNPS, Todd is Tennessee’s new Natural Heritage
Botanist as of March 1 . Currently serving as TNPS board member and
field trip coordinator, Todd has been responsible for the past couple of
years for organizing our extensive schedule of outings.

Bom in Rome, Georgia, Todd has spent most of his life in
Tennessee. In addition to taking every science course he could get
his hands on in high school, he played in the McGavock High School
(Nashville) award-winning marching band — even got to perform in
the Tournament of Roses Parade. He started his college career in
engineering at Tennessee Tech, and then later transferred to Middle
Tennessee State University where he earned a degree in biology.

"My first memory of identifying a plant was when I was a small
boy playing with my cousin on the banks of the Little Fiery Gizzard
Creek in Tracy City. We were in the middle of a patch of peppermint.
It may have started before then.

“My mother says that when 1 was a baby she could put me in
a playpen under a big tree and 1 would just lie there watching the
leaves. I really began to get seriously interested in botany when I was
working on a trail maintenance crew one summer at Savage Gulf. 1
got curious about all the plants I was cutting down as well the others
along the trail.”

(continued on page 3)

Tennessee Native Plant Society C® www.tnps.org

Tennessee Native Plant
Society Newsletter

March 2006

VOLUME 30, Number 2

This newsletter is a publication of the
Tennessee Native Plant Society and is
published four times a year, generally in
February, June, August, and November.

The Tennessee Native Plant Society (TNPS)
was founded in 1978. Its purposes are to
assist in the exchange of information and
encourage fellowship among Tennessee's
botanists, both amateur and professional; to
promote public education about Tennessee
flora, and wild plants in general ; to provide,
through publication of a newsletter or
journal, a formal means of documenting
information on Tennessee flora and of
informing the public about wild plants; and
to promote the protection and enhancement
of Tennessee's wild plant communities.

Dues for each calendar year are
Regular: $20
Student/Senior: $15
Institution: $50
Life: $250

Dues may be sent to

Tennessee Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

TNPS OFFICERS
Karl Heinzman, President
Dennis Horn, Vice-President
Bart Jones, Secretary
Kay Jones, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

Bertha Chrietzburg
Todd Crabtree
Michelle Flaynes
Mary Priestley
Susan Sweetser
Rita Venable

Comments? Questions?
Submissions? Send to

TNPS Newsletter Editor
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215
newsletter@tnps. org

printed on
recycled paper

Save Savage Gulf

by Mary Priestley

Savage Gulf State Natural
Area is under siege by
developers anxious to sell
bluff land for second and
vacation homes. TNPS member
Thad Adkins is organizing an
event to rally support for the
preservation of this, the largest
wilderness area in the state park
system. The rally is scheduled
for the weekend of July 15 in
Beersheba Springs. Look for more
information on the website of the
Friends of South Cumberland
State Park, www.friendsofscsra.
org, or email Thad at thad_
adkins@hotmail.com or Mary Priestley at marypriestley@bellsouth.net. Spread the
word, and try to be there— it's now or never for some of the most beautiful and
pristine wild lands in Tennessee!

Join the TNPS Email List

If you’d like to be kept posted about TNPS happenings and other
related events, email bjones7777@hotmail.com.

Note to AO L account holders: You’ll need to add that address to
your safe list if you want to receive the emails.

Please send email address changes to bjones7777@hotmail.com.

This

Issue

Save Savage Gulf 2

Join TNPS Email List 2

Field Trip Schedule for 2006 4

TNPS ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION

General Information 1

Friday Night Speaker: State Natural Heritage
Botanist Todd Crabtree 1

Saturday Night Speaker: Dr. Edward R.

Chester 3

Montgomery Bell Park to Host Annual Meeting 3

ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION FORM 7

Tennessee Native Plant Society C3 www.tnps.org

ThJPS A nruiah from page 1)

For the past 15 years, Todd has been working lor the State of
Tennessee in the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Programs.
In his current position as the state's Natural Heritage Botanist, his
avocation has become his vocation. Now he can go tramping after
plants on weekdays, as well as weekends!

How does Todd see his new job? “1 expect 1 will be doing my part
to protect the rare plants of Tennessee while learning more and more
about the diverse flora in our state.”

In addition to his love of botany, Todd is an avid photographer.

Dr. Edward R. Chester to Speak
Saturday Night

“My epitaph at Austin Peay State University should read (should
it be written now): ‘For 41 years he arrived early, brought his lunch,
and spent the day doing what he loved to do.’” We should all be so
lucky!

Dr. Edward R. Chester will be the Saturday night speaker.

Bom in Blooming Grove, Tennessee, as the ninth addition to a
ten-member family, he attended Tennessee public schools, Austin
Peay State University, Peabody College, and the University of
Tennessee, where he earned his PhD. He was part of a family farm
from birth through college and later worked in construction and in
a factory. After college he became a science and math instructor in
a rural Tennessee secondary school, eventually attended graduate
school, and has completed 42 years of instruction-research at Austin
Peay State University.

Dr. Chester’s research interests and subsequent publications
(more than 100) involve the plant life of Kentucky and Tennessee. His
special interests are the flora of Land Between the Lakes, the barrens
of the Pennyroyal Plain in Kentucky and Tennessee, and the woody
plants of Tennessee. Three important books on this writer’s shelf, all
of which he co-authored, are Wildflowers of the Land Between the
Lakes, The Atlas of Tennessee Vascular Plants, and the Guide to the
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Tennessee.

Dr. Chester traces his botanical interests to a Scottish emigrant
grandmother who loved plants and used them in dozens of ways. Yet
he considers himself first and foremost a teacher, and attributes his
love for that labor to ( 1 ) several of his own teachers who knew how

to overlook the textbook and leach about life, compassion, and about
learning, and (2) to parents and grandparents who loved hard work
and reading. Family, faith, friends, and colleagues (including many
present and former students as friends and colleagues) are the most
important things in his life.

His philosophy of education is centered around the worth of every
person, the belief that learning is a vital part of life, that learning
should be enjoyable, and that anyone can learn something from every
experience that life offers us, confronts us with, or that we make on
our own.

Dr. Chester’s life-long hobbies (outside of Tennessee plants) are
reading and playing bluegrass music.

Montgomery Bell State Park

One of the state’s most popular recreational sites, Montgomery
Bell State Park preserves and promotes the area’s rich history and
sublime landscape. The park is named for the wealthy industrialist
whose iron works were key to the early economic development of the
area. The hardwood forest was once heavily logged to open up land
for agriculture and to produce charcoal to feed the iron works. It has
returned and now hosts a variety of interesting plant communities,
habitat for myriad plants and the animals that depend on them. The
park’s 19 miles of hiking trails, which vary in length from 0.75 to over
1 1 miles, offer something for everyone.

The early nineteenth-century house of Samuel McAdow is
located in the park. In 1810 it was the birthplace of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church when dissident Presbyterian ministers met there
and held the first Synod of the new church. The beautiful Cumberland
Presbyterian Historic Chapel, a replica of the original Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, is nestled in a small clearing in the woods.

The remains of Laurel Furnace, one of the state’s early
manufacturing sites, are also here. Hike just a short distance into the
woods and you can see the pits from which they dug the iron ore. The
ore pits and furnace originally belonged to Colonel Richard Napier,
who received the acreage as part of a Revolutionary War land grant.

Directions: Take 1-40 West from Nashville to Exit 182 (Fairview/
Dickson Hwy. 96 Exit). Turn left (west) onto Highway 96. Stay on
Highway 96 until it dead-ends at Highway 70. Turn right (east) on
Highway 70, off-ramp provided. Stay on Highway 70 approximately
3 miles. Park entrance is on the right.

We have been able to work out a bargain price for the 2-night,
3-day package. It’s a great deal, but we have only 30 (non-smoking)
rooms reserved — all with balconies overlooking the lake. To get these
rooms and rates, you must reserve through TNPS, and you must do it
early. We have to have all registrations by April 3. We have been able
to work out a bargain price for the 2-night, 3-day package. So sign up
early to get in on this terrific weekend!

See page 7 for the annual meeting
registration form.

Registration deadline is April 3!

Tennessee Native Plant Society C3 www.tnps.org

PS FIELD 1

RIPS 20

ield trips are designed to promote informed interest in Tennessee’s native plants. They are led by persons familiar with native plants of the
area and are open to nonmembers as well as members. We encourage our more experienced members to share their knowledge with
those who are new to the group. Since conservation is a primary objective of our society, plant collecting is not allowed. The physical nature
of the trip is described to the extent known at publication time. Attendees are responsible for judging whether the trip is suitable for their particular
abilities. All participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver as a condition of attending. Trips are rarely cancelled, but sometimes changes are
unavoidable. Contact the trip leader a day or two before attending to get an updated status and to let them know who is coming.

Keep the schedule and attend as many trips as you can. Check the website (www.tnps.org) for updates to this schedule. — Todd Crabtree

Meeting time
and place

Description

Directions

Leader

April 8

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

Park Headquarters

Big Hill Pond State Park —
Pocahontas

This seldom visited park offers a variety
of habitats and scenic vistas, from lakes
and swamps to low woodlands, all of
which are overlooked by high bluffs. We
expect to see a wide assortment of spring
wildflowers and ferns along numerous
trails. This may also be a good place and
time to search for a rare shnib which has
yet to be found in Tennessee.

From 1-40 or US Hwy. 64, take

US Hwy. 45 south to Hwy. 57.
Turn west. The entrance of the
park is about 10 miles west of the
45/57 intersection.

Walking: Easy to moderate
(some steep climbs up bluffs).
Lunch: Bring

Facilities: At meeting place

Bart Jones
(901)726-6891

bjones7777@

hotmail.com

April 15

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

In front of All Saints
Chapel on the Campus
of the University of
the South, Sewanee,
Tennessee

Abbo’s Alley and Shakerag
Hollow

We will hike through a ravine garden
established by English professor Abbott
Cotlen Martin ( 1899-1974). This garden
is a haven for native and cultivated trees,
shrubs and herbaceous plants in the
center of the University Campus. After
lunch at a local restaurant we will meet
at 1 p.m. in front of All Saints Chapel to
arrange carpools for our hike to Shakerag
Hollow. The trail will take us through a
cove hardwood forest which harbors a
diverse array of flora. Over 60 species of
spring-blooming wildflowers have been
documented at Shakerag Hollow.

All Saints Chapel is on

University Avenue just South
of the intersection with Georgia
Avenue. If exiting Hwy 41 A
from the east (from Monteagle),
the chapel will be on the left.

If exiting Hwy 41 A from the

West (from Cowan), the chapel
will be on the right.

Walking: Abbo's Alley is
an easy walk. Shakerag is a
moderate 2 mile hike with a few
steep sections.

Lunch: In Sewanee

Facilities: At restaurants

Mary Priestley
(931) 598-0157

Todd Crabtree
(615) 223-0279

May 5,6, 7

Annual Meeting
Montgomery Bell State
Park

TNPS ANNUAL MEETING
Montgomery Bell State Park

We will be taking a historical tour on trails within the park. The iron
industry was a large part of the local economy and there are still remains
of this activity in the area. Wildflowers should be abundant at this time
of year. The Narrows of the Harpeth was also a part ot the story ot iron
production and we will see one of the oldest man-made tunnels in the
United Stales. Species of note that we hope to see here are Valeriana
pauci flora and Erythronium albidum. A local native plant nursery is having
their open house this weekend and we may have lime to stop by and tour

their property.

See page 1 of this
newsletter for more
information about the
annual meeting

Tennessee Native Plant Society C2J www.tnps.org

TNPS FIELD TRIPS 2006

Meeting time
and place

Deseription

Directions

Leader

May 13

Saturday
10 a.m. (Central)

Behind Shell Station
south of 1-40 Exit 126

Southern Lady’s Slipper/
Gumdale Glade—

Decatur County

We will visit two sites. The first site is
one of three Tennessee populations of the
state endangered southern lady’s slipper
( Cypripedium kentuckiense ) located
along a small stream. Other species found
here include New York fern ( Dryopteris
novaboracensis), royal fern ( Osmunda
regalis), cinnamon fern ( Osmunda
cmnamomea), Indian cucumber root
( Medeola virginiana), and jack-in-the-pulpit
(Arisaema Iriphylluni). The second location
is a glade with a seasonal seep where we
should catch the last of the spring flowers.
Among the interesting species expected
here is the state listed flat-stemmed spike
rush ( Eleocharis compressed), as well as
slender-flowered beardtongue ( Penstemon
tenuiftbrus), smooth beardtongue (Penstemon
calycosus ), shooting star ( Dodecatheon
meadia ), nettle-leaf sage ( Salvia urlici/olia),
and small skullcap ( Scutellaria parvida).

1-40 to Exit 126. Shell station is just
south of the exit.

Walking: Mostly easy, some moder-
ate uphill areas.

Lunch: BBQ lunch provided be-
tween site visits.

Facilities: At meeting place and at
lunch

Bart Jones
(901) 726-6891
(on Friday, May 12,
731-847-2585)

bjones7777@

hotmaiI.com

June 24

Saturday
10 a.m. (Eastern)

At the Hardee’s at Exit
155 off of 1-24 on
Hwy 28

Dixon Cove

The Keeners operate a family farm in Dixon
Cove near Sequatchie where they raise
chemical-free beef and produce. On their
property we will see mountain camelia
(Stewartia ovata) in bloom and possibly
some black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa). A
wide variety of pollinators visit the beautiful
flowers of Stewartia so we may get a chance
to see some interesting colorful beetles. This
will also be an opportunity to explore the
cove for more botanical treasures.

Near Jasper, Take Exit 155 from
1-24 onto Hwy 28, Hardee’s is at this
intersection.

Walking: Moderate hiking. Some
stream crossings on and off trails.
Lunch: Bring
Facilities: At meeting place

Miriam Keener
(423)942-9201

Todd Crabtree
(615)223-0279

July 16

Saturday
10 a.m. (Central)

At Cedars of Lebanon
State Park Nature
Center

Vesta Cedar Glade and
Cedars of Lebanon

Cedar glades are home to some species found
only in Tennessee. The plants in them have
adapted to the extreme conditions where
very few species can survive and reproduce.
For those who haven’t been to a cedar glade,
this area is a very good place to start learning
about them. At Vesta we will see Echinacea
tennesseensis and Silphium pinnatifidum as
well as other glade specialties. In Cedars of
Lebanon we will see a hidden gravely glade
with an abundant population of Talinum
calcaricum. We may also find time to visit
a grassy glade with a nice stand of Liatris
spicata.

Turn off of Hwy 23 1 into park
entrance. Go past park headquarters
and bear right past parking lot
adjacent to road. The Nature Center
is just before the baseball field on the
right.

Walking: Be prepared for typical
summertime conditions (water,
sunglasses, hat, etc.). Mostly level
walking.

Lunch: Bring

Facilities: At meeting place

Todd Crabtree
(615) 223-0279

(continued on page 6)

Tennessee Native Plant Society CS www.lnps.org

TNPS FIELD TRIPS 2006

Meeting time
and place

Description

Directions

Leader

July 29
(tentative)

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

At the Citgo station
in Cagle

Plateau Orchids and Wetlands

As we caravan to several stops on the plateau
a variety of orchids ( Platanthera species) will be
seen along with other attractive wildflowers (Liatris,
Silphium, Aster) and grasses that inhabit these areas.

Of particular interest will be a white variety of an
uncommon Platanthera species and the globally rare
Platanthera integrilabla. If we have time we may visit
some other interesting sites off of the plateau. Be
prepared for heat and bugs. This is a joint field trip with
the Georgia Botanical Society.

Citgo station in Cagle on Hwy 111 north of
Dunlap

Walking: Wear boots. Possibility of getting
wet feet, roadside stops, short walks.

Lunch: Bring along with snacks and water.
Facilities: At meeting place

Chuck Wilson
(423) 875-9265

August 12

Saturday

10 a.m.. (Eastern)
Historic Train Station,
Downtown Etowah

Starr Mountain

Mark Pistrang, Cherokee National Forest botanist, will
tell us about the program to protect the orchids in the ex-
tensive Bullet Creek bog. He will show us Monkey Face
Orchids ( Platanthera Integrilabla) which should be in
flower. Along the way we will see other summer flowers,
possibly including the Carolina Lily ( Lllium michauxii).

US 411 Etowah

Walking: Roadside botany plus a short hike
(1 mile roundtrip) into the bog.

Lunch: Bring

Facilities: Only in Etowah

Mark Pistrang
(423) 338-3326

A1 Good
(423) 886-1777

September 16

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

At the Loveless Cafe

Kelley Creek Seeps

These seeps are a unique ecosystem that contains a
wide diversity of plants that favor the moist conditions.

Over 248 species of flowering plants have been
identified from this site and we hope see some of the fall
bloomers including Pamassia grandifolia. Many species
of birds and butterflies have also been seen here.

Loveless Cafe is at 8400 Hwy 100, southwest
of Nashville and adjacent to the northern
terminus of the Natchez Trace.

Walking: Wear boots. Possibility of getting
wet feet. Moderate hiking.

Lunch: At Loveless Cafe

Facilities: At meeting place

Bob Meyer
(615) 665-1692

Bob Brown
(615) 352-7474

Todd Crabtree
(615) 223-0279

September 30

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

Land Between

the Lakes South
Welcome Station

Blazing Stars and Butterflies

We will follow the Trace road toward the north portion
of this splendid national recreation area. There is
lots of blazing star and goldenrod blooming along
the roadside, making it very attractive to migrating
butterflies. Possible species include Cloudless Sulphur,
Little Yellow, Pearl Crescent, Painted Lady, Monarch
and the rare Leonard’s Skipper. Joint field trip with
the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the North American
Butterfly Association.

From Dover: Take Hwy 79, go 3 miles to the
LBL southern entrance (watch for a large
brown sign directing you to turn right for
LBL-careful, it is easy to miss). Turn right;
this road becomes the Trace, which is the
main road through LBL. Turn right on this
road; in about 4-5 miles it turns into the Trace.
You will arrive at the South Welcome Station
on the right.

Walking: Some driving and light walking.
Walking is mostly on the flat but some of the
roadside areas are elevated slightly.

Lunch: Bring

Facilities: At meeting place

Rita Venable
(615) 503-9631

October 21

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

Decatur County
Riverside High
School

Carroll Cabin Barrens— Bath Springs

We will see the recently confirmed population of Great
Plains ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum ),
the first recorded for Tennessee. These orchids are re-
markable for their late bloom season which extends to
late November. At this early part of their flowering, we
should also see barrens silky aster ( Aster pratensis)
and blue sage {Salvia azurea var. grandiflora), both
state listed rare plants, as well as other fall wildflowers
finishing their season.

Exit 126 from 1-40. Go south on Hwy. 69
through Parsons, past the middle school
and the Beech River. High school is just past
caution light on the right.

Walking: Easy

Lunch: Bring

Facilities: At meeting place, if school is
open.

Bart Jones
(901)726-6891

bjones7777@

hotmail.com

Tennessee Native Plant Society 08 www.tnps.org

2006 TNPS Annual Meeting Registration

May 5-7, 2006 at Montgomery Bell State Park

LODGING

No. of rooms (single or double occupancy — two sharing

a room may each pay S60.00) @ $ 1 20.00 =

Each additional person per room @ 30.00 = _____

(max. 4 people per room)

Sharing with:

Note: Lodging prices are for 2 nights.

REGISTRATION

Registration fee (per person) @ S 10.00 =

Use fee (per person, for those not staying
at the park) @ S 10.00 =

Total (check enclosed for) $

Name: _
Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Special needs:

Please send form and payment to:

Tennessee Native Plant Society
Annual [Meeting
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

NOTE: A credit card must be presented at the inn upon check-in in order to
cover any incidental expensey£harged to the room during your stay.

Tennessee Nativf Plant Society C3 www.tnps.org

for the 2006 TNPS Annual Meeting

M ay 5-7, 2006 at MarWgryrnery V>ett States Parh

(General Information: Page 1 • Registration Form: Page 7)

Nashville Plant Identification Workshop: May 20-21, 2006

Co-sponsors: Tennessee Native Plant Society and Warner Park Nature Center

by Margie Hunter

A plant identification workshop will be offered on Saturday,
May 20, and Sunday, May 21, 2006. The workshop includes
a short lecture at Warner Park Nature Center on identification
techniques and plant families and field work in Leipers Fork and
Flat Rock Cedar Glades as well as Barrens State Natural Area in
Murfreesboro. Participants will see a wide selection of native and
introduced species representing both rare and common plants and
most of the plant community types that occur within a 50-mile radius
of Nashville.

The course will be taught by Dwayne Estes, PhD student, UT
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Chris Fleming
botanist. Participants should be prepared foi weather and hiking
moderate terrain (2 miles) and are strongly encouraged to bring a
1 OX hand lens and Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the

TENNESSEE NATIVE
PLANT SOCIETY
PO Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

Southern Appalachians, a field guide written by the Tennessee Native
Plant Society (2005, $22.95, less at Amazon.com). Please bring lunch
and water.

The workshop is limited to 24 participants, based on order of
registration. The fee could not be confirmed before the TN PS newsletter
deadline but is expected to be $55* per person. A small additional
charge ($1.00+) may be requested on the first day for photocopying
expense. By the time you read this, all registration information will
be finalized. Please contact Margie Hunter (mhunter55@comcast.
net 615-383-8100, 2709 Woodlawn Dr., Nashville, TN 37212) for
payment instructions and to get your name on the list.

* This fee wilt be refu< ided ij due workshop is cancelled for any reason. The fee
is not refundable if a participant cancels and there is no waiting list replacement. If
the workshop reaches full enrollment (24), $5.00 of this fee will be refunded to each
participant the first day of the workshop.

3 ' 3 a a + 4 a i

CUT HERE — “ — ______ CUT HERE

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Tennessee Native
(pfant Society

News fetter

Volume 30, Number 3

os Our 28th Year so

August 2006

There's a New Ladu

by Bart Jones

Lia Town

know you have all heard them before, those conversations
about odd plants we’ve seen or species from neighboring
states that don’t quite make it into Tennessee. Most of these
musings take place over lunch or
at the end of a field trip, and I’m
sure many of you have wondered
if anything productive ever comes of them,
or are these the botanical equivalents of
fish tales. This is the story of one such
conversation that I had with Dennis Horn
and its rewarding outcome.

Last October, Dennis and I ventured
over to Georgia for a BotSoc field trip to
the Coosa Prairies led by Richard Ware.

These prairies are famous as being the site
of the rediscovery of the whorled sunflower
(Helianlhus verticil I atus) after 100 years
of being lost to science. While looking at
the sunflowers, Dennis and Richard began
to discuss another oddity that occurs in the
prairies, the Great Plains ladies’ tresses
(Spiranthes magnicamporum). Richard
asked if we’d like to see the hill barren
where they grew and of course we said yes.

Unfortunately, it was too early in the season
and none were to be found, but it started a
discussion that continued through lunch.

Spiranthes magnicamporum has long
been a thorn in the side of Tennessee
botanists. Numerous times plants were
found in the glades and barrens of Middle Tennessee that were
thought to be S. magnicamporum, but when examined by the experts,
were determined to be a form of the more common nodding ladies’
tresses ( Spiranthes cernua). The basis of this confusion is that S.
cernita is highly variable and forms hybrids with other Spiranthes
species quite readily. Even though the Central Basin plants keyed

out to 5. magnicamporum, genetically they fell into the collection of
plants forming the S. cernua complex. As Dennis was relaying this
information to Richard, I thought of the odd Spiranthes I had seen in

the Western Valley barrens and couldn't
quite place. Actually, Dennis and 1 had
discussed all this a few years before, but
it just didn’t click that what ! had seen
in Decatur County might be something
other than nodding ladies' tresses.

On a weekend trip home to visit
my parents later in October, I decided
to make a detour to some of the barrens
and look for those “different” 5 cernua
I had encountered before. In the second
barren I visited, there they were! I had
done my research this time and knew the
key characteristics needed to separate
the two species. Every feature matched
Great Plains ladies’ tresses: leaves absent
at flowering, lip yellowish, lateral sepals
spreading and arching over the dorsal
sepal, very fragrant, and bloom time at
the end of October. Could this be the
REAL Spiranthes magnicamporum ? I
took photos and a couple of specimens
which were sent to the University of
Tennessee herbarium. 1 also emailed
several people for their opinion of the
photos. Everyone was unanimous, it
looked like S. magnicamporum.

Although I had received tentative positive identification from
UT, 1 knew from my research and conversations with Dennis about
his experiences in Middle Tennessee, a chromosome count or seed
morphology would be the only means of confirming the true identity.

(continued on page 6)

spiro iAthes

AU30 l/UCC! i/vowum

Tennessee Native Plant Society OS www.tnps.org

Tennessee Native Plant
Society Newsletter

August 2006
VOLUME 30, Number 3

This newsletter is a publication of the
Tennessee Native Plant Society and is
published four times a year, generally in
February; June, August, and November.

The Tennessee Native Plant Society (TNPS )
was founded in 1978. Its purposes are to
assist in the exchange of information and
encourage fellowship among Tennessee's
botanists, both amateur and professional; to
promote public education about Tennessee
flora, and wild plants in general: to provide,
through publication of a newsletter or
journal, a formal means of documenting
information on Tennessee flora and of
informing the public about w ild plants: and
to promote the protection and enhancement
of Tennessee's wild plant communities.

Dues for each calendar year are
Regular: $20
Student/Senior: $15
Institution: $50
Life: $250

Dues may be sent to

Tennessee Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

TNPS OFFICERS
Karl Heinzman, President
Dennis Mom, Vice-President
Bart Jones, Secretary
Kay Jones, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

Bertha Chrietzburg
Todd Crabtree
Michelle Haynes
Mary Priestley
Susan Swcctscr
Rita Venable

Comments? Questions?
Submissions? Send to

TNPS Newsletter Editor
P.O. Box 1 59274
Nashville. TN 37215
newslettertytnps. org

printed on
recycled paper

President's Corner

It’s summer in the South with the normal weather: hot hot hot! This past May we had an enjoyable
annual meeting at Montgomery Bell State Park. Good weather, fun walks, and excellent speakers.
Our thanks to Todd Crabtree and Dr. Edward Chester for their informative and entertaining talks.
We put forward our slate of officers and directors for the coming year (complete list in this
newsletter). I am most pleased that Mary Priestley of Sewanee has agreed to be president. Mary has
fought and continues to fight to protect our native environment and has great knowledge of plants and
habitat.

We have exciting plans for 2007. I’ll give you a hint: a spring get-together and a fall annual meeting.
As we grow we need to meet to see each other more often. Details will be in the next newsletter.

Grace Foster, one of our earliest members, passed away this July. Grace was a wonderful friend to
this old earth and will be missed.

Special thanks to Ashley Crownover, our retiring newsletter editor, for the outstanding work she has
done to make these newsletters some of our very best.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support of TNPS.

See you on the trail !

Karl

Nominating Committee Report

The nominating committee
submitted the following slate
of officers and directors to the
general membership at the annual
meeting at Montgomery Bell State
Park. The nominees were approved by
unanimous proclamation. The nominees
are as follows:

President - Mary Priestley
Vice-President - Todd Crabtree
Secretary - Bart Jones
Treasurer - Kay Jones

Directors serving the second
year of the two-year term:

Bertha Chrietzberg
Susan Sweetser
Michelle Haynes

Directors serving the first year
of the two-year term:

Dennis Horn
Rita Venable
Joey Shaw

If anyone has an objection or
would like to submit other names for
consideration for any position, please
contact Karl Heinzman at 865-494-
8100 If no additions or objections are
voiced, the slate of nominees will be
considered elected as of Jan. 1 , 2007.

This

Issue

Illustrations by
Mary Priestley

There’s a New Lady in Town 1

President’s Corner 2

Nominating Committee Report 2

Andre Michaux Historical Marker 3

Field Trip Reports 4

Remaining Field Trips 2006 6

Tennessee Conservation Voters Update 7

Landscaping With Native Plants Workshop 7

TNPS Editor News 8

Tennessee Native Plant Society C& www.tnps.org

TNPS Helps Get Historical Marker

Honoring Botanist

by Charlie Williams

Chairman, The Andre Michaux International Society

When George Washington was in his first term as
president of the United States, Andre Michaux, a
scientifically trained European botanist, began his
travels through the lands that are now the states
of Tennessee and Kentucky. The prospect of exploring this region,
then known as the “Territory
South of the Ohio,” lured the
botanist with the promise of
discovery of a wealth of new
plants unknown to science.

Michaux prudently

abbreviated his initial journey
in 1789 because of Cherokee
hostilities, but returned in
1793, 1795 and 1796. In all,
this intrepid botanist would
spend about one hundred days
exploring Tennessee from
Elizabethton to Clarksville. He
traveled in canoes, on horseback
or by foot. Sometimes he traveled
alone, sometimes with small
groups. Once, when crossing the
wilderness between the Clinch
and the Cumberland, he joined a
large group accompanied by an
armed escort.

During these journeys
Michaux’s efforts were rewarded
with the discovery of many
plants not then known to
science. Some of the plants were
spectacular. In 1796, during the
first year of Tennessee statehood,
he discovered the lovely yellowwood tree near Fort Blount on
the Cumberland. The botanist immediately carried the news
ot his discovery to Governor Blount in Knoxville. Through the
efforts of the Jackson County Historical Society in Gainesboro,
the yellowwood became recognized as Tennessee’s bicentennial
tree, and in 2005 the Society followed with a Tennessee Historical
Marker as a memorial to Michaux's discovery of the yellowwood.

Less than a week after leaving Governor Blount, Michaux
arrived once again at the home of Colonel John Tipton on Sinking
Creek (modern Johnson City). Colonel Tipton had met Michaux

before on the botanist’s journey west in 1795. Both men were
acquaintances of Thomas Jefferson, but Michaux was known to
be more interested in talking about plants than people. Perhaps we
find an echo of their conversation in Michaux’s journal notes about
the abundance of flowers and trees that he found blooming in the

area around Colonel Tipton’s.
Michaux singled out the displays
of bloodroot ( Sanguinaria ),
spring beauty ( Claytonia ), and
trout lilies ( Erythronium ) that
he had been so pleased to find,
saying that the “mountains were
covered” with these flowers.

Today Colonel Tipton’s home
stands as the centerpiece of the
Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in
Johnson City. Moreover, Andre
Michaux’s visits with Coionel
Tipton are remembered in style.
The last week in March along
the site’s nature trail, named
appropriately enough the “Andre
Michaux Trail.” thousands of
trout lilies join a modest number
of spring beauties, bloodroots and
other flowers in a magnificent
floral display. This natural wonder
is one of the highlights of Tipton-
Haynes' annual “Andre Michaux
Day” which also features
birding, a native plant sale and a
re-enactment of Michaux’s visit
with Colonel Tipton.

In the future, Andre Michaux’s
visits with Colonel Tipton and his notes on the display of spring
flowers he found in bloom will be remembered with a new Tennessee
Historical Marker recently approved by the Tennessee Historical
Commission. The Tennessee Native Plant Society has joined
with the Biology Department of East Tennessee State University,
Tipton descendants and the Andre Michaux International Society
to sponsor this marker honoring the botanist-explorer.

See http://www.michaux.org/ for more information about
Andre Michaux, and stay tuned for information about the
installation and dedication of the marker in upcoming issues!

Bigleaf magnolia ( Magnolia macrophylla Mich.x) was
discovered by Michaux on the Cumberland Plateau.

Tennessee Native Plant Society 05 www.tnps.org

TNPS FIELD TRIPS 2006

Field drip (Report

Big Hill Pond • April 8, 2006

fter a week of witnessing the violent side of nature, it

Am was a welcome opportunity to leave the images of
^ tornado destruction behind and experience the beauty of
spring again, even with a chill in the air. A small group of intrepid
explorers met at the visitors’ center of Big Hill Pond State Park in
McNairy County. After a few minutes of introductions we headed
to the dam of Travis McNatt Lake.

As we walked the road from the top of the bluff down to the dam
we encountered several wildflowers: plantain-leaved pussytoes
( Antennaria plantaginifolia), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), and
an unusual striped form of wood violet ( Viola palmata). At the
dam were species commonly found in pastures such as beaked
com salad ( Valerianella racliata), small bluet ( Houstonia pusilld),
field pansy ( Viola bicolor), Carolina cranesbill ( Geranium
carolinianum), common yellow wood sorrel ( Oxalis stricta), and
hairy buttercup ( Ranunculus sardous).

Big Hill Pond State Park is an excellent example of the general
landscape of this part of Tennessee: dry, sandy ridge tops capped
with rough-grained sandstone pocked with acidic seeps along
their flanks and descending to flat swampy woods. There is little
herbaceous undergrowth, but numerous woody shrubs along the
sand hills. Standing out among the shrubs were the gorgeous
wiid azalea (Rhododendron canescens) and high bush blueberry
( Vacciniutn corymbosum). Looking across the lake, you could see
numerous azaleas punctuating the shoreline with blotches of pink
interspersed with clouds of white provided by flowering dogwood
(Cornus floridd).

The trail led from the dam to the base of the bluff which
overlooks Dismal Swamp, a large forested wetland encompassing
an area between the bluff and the Tuscumbia River. At this time
of the year the swamp was dominated by sedges and rushes, each
contributing its own unique texture and hue of green. Some of the
interesting plants we saw here were shrub yellowroot (Xanthorhiza
simplicissima), roundfruit hedge hyssop ( Gratiolci virginiana),
swamp haw ( Viburnum nudum), and several ferns including netted
chain fern ( Woodwardia areolata), New York fern ( Thelypteris
noveboracensis), lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), cinnamon fern
( Osmunda cinnamomea), royal fern ( Osmunda regal is), and cut-
leaf grape fern ( Botrychium dissectum). We also noticed many
of the large trees had equally large vines of climbing hydrangea
( Decumaria barbara) winding their way up the trunks.

After our trek across the boardwalk through the swamp, we
followed the trail up the bluff where conditions soon became much
drier. Along the trail were many familiar wildflowers: mayapple
( Podophyllum peltatum), fire pink ( Si/cne virginica), violet wood

sorrel (Oxalis violacea), robin’s plantain ( Erigeron pulchellus), and
common blue violet (Viola sororia). In addition, two more ferns
were seen here — Christmas fern ( Polystichum acrostichoides) and
bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) — and several large plants of
oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia) just beginning to leaf
out.

A short car ride to the Tuscumbia River added two more
species to our list of plants seen. All along the banks were drifts of
marsh violet ( Viola cucullata) and in a wet depression was our last
fern, sensitive fern ( Onoclea sensibilis).

As we left the park, one final stop gave us a chance to see a
bank covered with birdfoot violet ( Viola pedata) in a mix of both
the solid lavender and bicolored forms. These truly are the most
beautiful of our violets and it was a wonderful way to end our visit
to Big Hill Pond State Park.

Rield Frip Report

Southern Lady’s Slipper/
Gumdale Glade • May 13, 2006

large group of 38 met in Decatur County on a beautiful

/ 1 late spring day to see the state endangered southern
^ lady’s slipper (Cypripedium kenluckiense) and to visit
one of the many Silurian limestone barrens and glades found in the
southeastern portion of the county. We left the meeting place and
headed to the property my family owns where the lady’s slippers
are located. We made a stop on the side of the road to look at a
very nice colony of hairy phlox (Phlox amoena) with their deep
pinkish-purple flowers. After a few comments detailing differences
between this phlox and the similar downy phlox ( Phlox pilosa), we
departed for the farm.

At this point the downside of having to keep track of a
large group came into play as we lost the last car in the caravan.
Fortunately, one of the people in the car was new TNPS member
and Decatur County resident Louise Gregory, who was able to go
to my parents’ house and get directions to the farm. Even though
they didn’t catch up with the rest of us until lunch, they did find
several plants of the Cypripedium on their own. Meanwhile, the
rest of us headed down to the creek, where we soon found our first
lady’s slippers. Cypripedium kenluckiense grows along the small
alluvial fiats beside wooded creeks. The flowers are very large,
some up to 7 inches in vertical spread, with a creamy yellow pouch
the size of a hen’s egg. The sepals and petals are variously shaded
in purplish brown, with the dorsal sepal arching over the lip and the
long, spiraling petals dangling on either side, giving the flower the
impression of being slightly drooping. Unfortunately, the area had
been hit by a hail storm earlier in the week and many of the plants

Tennessee Native Plant Society C& www.tnps.org

TNPS FIELD TRIPS 2006

had been damaged, but a few were in good shape and made nice
photographic subjects. Of course, the lady’s slippers weren’t the
only things to be seen. We also saw jack-in-the-pulpit ( Arisaema
triphyllum ) and green dragon ( Arisaema dracontium ) both in bloom
as well as pennywort ( Obolaria
virginica ), hearts-a-bustin’

( Euonymus americanus), and
blue-eyed grass ( Sisyrinchium
angustifolium). A couple of
non-blooming plants caught our
eye; showy orchis ( Galearis
spectabilis) had just finished
blooming and the strap-
shaped leaves of spider lily
( Hym e nocall is carol in iana )

were gathering energy for its
late summer show of white
daffodil-like blossoms.

Numerous ferns share
the limelight with the lady’s
slippers along the creek and in
seeps. Species identified were
rattlesnake fern ( Botrychium
virginianum ), Christmas fern
(Polystichum acrostichoides),-
royal fern ( Osmnnda re gal is),
cinnamon fern ( Osmnnda
cinnamomea ), New York fern
( Thelypteris noveboracensis ),
sensitive fem ( Onoclea
sensibilis ), netted chain fern
( IVoodwardia areolata), lady
fem ( Athyrium filix-femina), and
broad beech fern ( Phegopteris
hexagonoptera).

A barbecue lunch with all
the trimmings was next on the
agenda. A big thanks go to my
parents, Bob and Mary Jones, for providing a meal for a hungry
mob. I think a few in the group might tell you their favorite plant
on the trip were the strawberries in the pie we had for dessert!

Our second destination took us to the opposite end of the
county to Gumdale Glade. This glade is part of a complex of
glades and barrens that can be found along the western portion
of the Tennessee River and are associated with exposures of
Silurian Age limestone, the largest unglaciated areas of this
rock found in the United States. The dominant vegetation is a
duniperus/Schizachyrium/Silphium community where sagebrush
(■ Schizachyrium scoparium) and other species of prairie grasses
are interspersed with prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum )

and whorled rosinweed (Silphium trifoliatum). The major woody
species are Eastern red cedar ( Juniperus virgjniana) and native
pines ( Pi nus virginiana and echinata).

Gumdale Glade is unique among these glades and barrens

because it contains a seasonal
seep which supports a
lush springtime bloom of
wildfiowers. Among these are
a couple of early-blooming
winter annuals that are listed
as rare in Tennessee, wedge-
leaf Whitlow grass ( Draba
cuneifolia) and Tennessee

gladecress ( Leavenworthia
exigua var. exigua). Although
these two species were finished
blooming, we did catch the end
of several spring-flowering
species: hoary puccoon

(Lithospermum canescens),
shooting star (Dodecalheon
meadia ), pale blue-eyed grass
(i Sisyrinchium albidum), v:nus’
pride ( Houstonia purpurea
var. calycosus), and yellow
meadow parsnip ( Thaspium

trifoliatum var. flctvum). Just
past peak bloom was fiat-
stem spikerush ( Eleocharis
compressa ), a state-listed rare
species only found in Decatur
and Rutherford counties.
Many early summer species
were in prime condition:

long-sepal beardtongue

( Pens lemon calycosus), slender
beardtongue (Penstemon
tenuiflorus ), downy wood mint
( Blephilia ciliata ), star tickseed ( Coreopsis pubescens), nettle-leaf
sage ( Salvia urticifolia), small skullcap ( Scutellaria parvula), and
bastard toadflax ( Comandra umbellata). Although not blooming, a
few conspicuous plants caught the attention of several in the group.
The silvery rosettes of rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium),
the fleshy leaves of American aloe ( Manfreda virginica ), the spine-
covered pads of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa), and the
spinach-like leaves of American col umbo (Frasera caroliniensis)
were as showy as any flower.

A good crowd, beautiful weather, gorgeous flowers, and good
food — the definition of a successful TNPS field trip.

Cypripedium kentuckiense

Tennessee Native Plant Society 05 www.tnps.org

IPS FIELD T

RIPS 201

W"* ield trips are designed to promote informed interest in Tennessee's native plants. They are led by persons familiar with native plants of the
■■■ area and are open to nonmembers as well as members. We encourage our more experienced members to share their knowledge with
those who are new to the group. Since conservation is a primary objective of our society, plant collecting is not allowed. The physical nature
of the trip is described to the extent known at publication time. Attendees are responsible forjudging whether the trip is suitable for their particular
abilities. All participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver as a condition of attending. Trips are rarely cancelled, but sometimes changes are
unavoidable. Contact the trip leader a day or two before attending to get an updated status and to let them know who is coming.

Keep the schedule and attend as many trips as you can. Check the website (www.tnps.org) for updates to this schedule. — Todd Crabtree

Meeting time
and place

Description

Directions

Leader

September 16

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

At the Loveless Cafe

Kelley Creek Seeps

These seeps are a unique ecosystem that contains a
wide diversity of plants that favor the moist conditions.

Over 248 species of flowering plants have been
identified from this site and we hope see some of the fall
bloomers including Parnassia grandifolia. Many species
of birds and butterflies have also been seen here.

Loveless Cafe is at 8400 Hwy 100, southwest
of Nashville and adjacent to the northern
terminus of the Natchez Trace.

Walking: Wear boots. Possibility of getting
wet feet. Moderate hiking.

Lunch: At Loveless Cafe

Facilities: At meeting place

Bob Meyer
(615)665-1692

Bob Brown
(615) 352-7474

Todd Crabtree
(615)223-0279

September 30

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

Land Between
the Lakes South
Welcome Station

Blazing Stars and Butterflies

We will follow the Trace road toward the north portion
of this splendid national recreation area. There is
lots of blazing star and goldenrod blooming along
the roadside, making it very attractive to migrating
butterflies. Possible species include Cloudless Sulphur,
Little Yellow, Pearl Crescent, Painted Lady, Monarch
and the rare Leonard's Skipper. Joint field trip with
the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the North American
Butterfly Association.

Walking: Some driving and light walking.
Walking is mostly on the flat but some of the
roadside areas are elevated slightly.

Lunch: Bring

Facilities: At meeting place

Rita Venable
(615) 503-9631

October 21

Saturday

10 a.m. (Central)

Decatur County
Riverside High
School

Carroll Cabin Barrens — Bath Springs

We will see the recently confirmed population of Great
Plains ladies' tresses ( Spiranthes magnicamporum ),
the first recorded for Tennessee. These orchids are re-
markable for their late bloom season which extends to
late November. At this early part of their flowering, we
should also see barrens silky aster (Aster pratensis)
and blue sage (Salvia azurea var. grandiflora), both
state listed rare plants, as well as other fall wildflowers
finishing their season.

Exit 126 from 140. Go south on Hwy. 69
through Parsons, past the middle school
and the Beech River. High school is just past
caution light on the right.

Walking: Easy

Lunch: Bring

Facilities: At meeting place, if school is
open.

Bart Jones
(901) 726-6891

bjones7777@

hotmail.com

A New La dy iw tovvia, (continued from page 1)

So Dennis and Chad Harden from Natural Heritage met me in
Decatur County to survey as many of the barrens as we could to get
an idea of the population size and to collect specimens to send to Dr.
Charles Sheviak at the State Museum of New York for the definitive
identification we needed. Dr. Sheviak separated S. magnicamporum
from the S. cernita complex in 1973 based on it having a consistent 2n
= 30 chromosome count and all of the seed containing just one embryo.
Although its key field characteristics hold up reasonably well, these

two traits are absolute in establishing its identity. A few days after
sending him the specimens, Dr. Sheviak was happy to inform me that
the plants in Decatur County were indeed S. magnicamporum.

Finally, no more questioning, “Is it or isn’t it here?” The gap in the
southeastern portion of its range known as Tennessee can officially now
be filled. So join me in welcoming the new lady in town, Spiranthes
magnicamporum, the Great Plains ladies' tresses.

Tennessee Native Plant Society OS www.lnps.org

Tennessee Conservation Voters
Environmental Legislative Wrap-Up for 2006

The 2006 legislative session was largely successful from
an environmental advocacy standpoint. Unanimously ap-
proved by the House and Senate was a resolution hon-
oring TNPS member Mack Prichard on his career as a
conservationist with Tennessee State Parks: “Mr. Prichard has
distinguished himself as the conservation conscience of Tennes-
see, having traveled more than two million miles in presenting to
Tennesseans the natural and cultural history of their homeland and
fostering outstanding conservation by others.” An important bill
passed was the long-sought stop work order bill, for mining ac-
tivities polluting water (PC 594). Sadly, the TN Deposit Beverage
Container Recycling Act of 2006 was not passed this year. Other
bills included TDOT's feasibility of alternative fuel study (PC 636)
and TDEC protection of watersheds study (PC 513). Probably just
as important is the fact that no negative bills passed.

This year's bills also included adding (PC 618) Rugby and
Stillhouse Hollow Falls to recreational and natural-scientific areas,
along with adding Campbell Bend Barrens, Crowder Cemetery
Barrens, Pogue Creek, and Walls of Jericho to natural-scientific
areas and revises acreage of Sequatchie Cave and Manus Road
Cedar Glade natural-scientific areas. Governor Bredesen asked
the General assembly to increase the state’s land-buying power
with $10 million in funding for the Tennessee Heritage Trust Fund,
the public-private foundation Bredesen established in September
2005. “Some of God's most beautiful spaces are located right here
in Tennessee, and this new money will help our state become a
» faster, stronger competitor for these lands,” Bredesen said “If we
J afie diligent, our children and grandchildren will have hundreds of
ft * - -1 - t* * •,

thousands of acres of protected land for their use and enjoyment
with their own families.”

In addition, on July 1, Governor Bredesen put an end to state
park access fees. ’’From the time 1 took office, I knew making ba-
sic access to our state parks free again was something 1 wanted to
do,” Bredesen said. “Now we have the financial stability within the
state budget to do it, and I’m thrilled to help celebrate the end of
park access fees and see all our parks back on even footing.”

For detailed descriptions of these and other environmental
bills, look for TCV’s scorecard, which is in process of produc-
tion. This scorecard reports on the votes and sponsorships — good
and bad — of each legislator. We anticipate it will be available in
August. We will let our member organizations know and will ex-
plain how to obtain copies through our website and through media
publicity.

Please check out the Tennessee Conservation Voters website
at www.tnconservationvoters.org for more detailed descriptions of
environmental legislative issues and past score cards, and the Ten-
nessee Department of Conservation and Environment at http://ten-
nessee.gov/environment/nh/.

Thank you all for letting me represent TNPS on Tennessee
Conservation Voters.

— Michelle Haynes
TNPS representative
TCV 2006 chairperson
TDEC conservation commissioner

±OtV\ Afvi/uaoI LH

With Native Plaints Workshop

Saturday, September 23, 2006
at the Warner Park Nature Center
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Lectures

‘"Claire Grace’ + ‘Little Joe’ = Native Plant Partners"

"Naturalistic Design"

“More Bang for the Buck: Excellent Native Ornamentals"

Hands-On Programs

“Making Native Plant Babies”

‘‘Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens"

‘‘Backyard Composting"

Registration is $35. Optional lunch is $8. To register or for more information, call 615-352-6299 or email wpnc@nashville.gov.
Sponsored by Metro Parks (Nashville), Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, and Friends of Warner Parks.

Tennessee Native Plant Society CS mvwtnps.org

TNPS Editor News

by Mary Priestley

he TNPS membership can take pride in our
beautiful and informative newsletter! Every
quarter, just like clockwork, it arrives in our
mailboxes, full of news of Society activities,
schedules of events, trip reports, and more. It
is the organ that holds us together.

For as long as 1 have been a member, We have been blessed with
talented and creative newsletter editors, tt is my duty today to announce
the changing of the guard. Ashley Crownover has done a magnificent
job for us as editor and designer for the past three years, during which
time she also been instrumental in launching our fledgling website.
She's cutting back so she can devote more time to husband Gary and
daughters Venus ( 14) and Meade (12).

“1 was born at Vanderbilt and I'll die there, I like to say. I think
it's amusing to say that, but no one else seems to!” she quips. Ashley
is trained in French and Polish. She and Gary met in the Army at Ft.
Flood, Texas, where they worked as interrogator/linguists.

Fler college major, however, was in English and creative writing,
and she has made a niche for herself in the editing world in Nashville.
Currently she edits grant proposals, journal articles, and related
documents for Vanderbilt’s Learning Sciences Institute (LSI). Among
other things, she produces their newsletter (Eye on the LSI) and creates
content for and oversees the website (www.vanderbilt.edu/lsi).

In addition, Ashley has edited newsletters for the Nashville
Peact,,and Justice Center and First Unitarian Universalist Church of
Naslf* ie Also — Nashvillians, take note —she is a radio show host at
the Vanderbilt station (WRVU 91.1 FM).

Although she’s retiring from her TNPS editorship, Ashley should
know that she can never really say good-bye. Latham Davis, who is
coming on board in the fall, can speak to that. This will be Latham’s
second round at the helm of our newsletter.

Currently a book and literary' magazine designer, Latham has
years of newspaper experience. He got interested in TNPS in the 1 980s
at a Cullowhee native plant workshop. He edited this newsletter for
several years in the early 1990s. When I first joined TNPS, Latham’s
beautifully designed newsletter was one thing that drew me strongly
to the organization. It was obvious that TNPS cared about the quality
and appearance of their publication.

Latham is an avid advocate of the preservation of native plants and
their use. “I’m interested in ecology, and once you start introducing
non-native or hybridized species, you're disrupting the ecology. If
we continue to do that on the earth, we’re increasingly degrading the
environment. We ought to let the natural processes govern how the
environment changes, rather than impose human activity, which has
historically been a destsuctive force.”

Given Latham’s orientation, I will not be surprised if we begin
to see articles on native plant gardening in the newsletter, certainly a
timely topic! He is interested in getting as many members as possible
involved ip contributing to the newsletter. He should be pleased to
know that our president Karl Heinzman has instituted an editori.pl board
to assist the editor jn finding appropriate material tor the newsletter
and proofreading the itfJcf before it goes out,to the r

Ashley, wc tip our hats to you in g.atitude for the wonderful job
that you have done and the gracious spirit in whicli you have done it.

-?~i fc / o, \

NEWSLETTER OF THE

TENNESSEE NATIVE
PLANT SOCIETY

Volume 30, Number 4

December 2006

Folk Remedy Yields Mosquito-
Thwarting Compound

Lands Newly
Under State
Protection

Regional wisdom once imparted by a Mississippi grandfather has led
Agricultural Research Service scientists to isolate a natural compound
that in laboratory tests was effective in warding off mosquito bites.
The efficacy of the isolated compound— called “callicarpenal”— was
affirmed through tests simulating human skin. But these results may not
have been a surprise in northeastern Mississippi as long as a century ago,
once the source of
callicarpenal was revealed.

Seems that it was
known there that fresh,
crushed leaves of
American beautyberry,

Callicarpa americana, in the
family Verbenaceae,
helped keep biting insects
away from animals such as
horses and mules. Placing
crushed beautyberry leaves under the animals’ harnesses, residents knew,
would mash out a repellent oil. Eventually, some folks there took to
mashing leaves and rubbing the residue on their own skins.

Privy to this knowledge was young Charles T. Bryson, who was told ■
about it by his granddad, John Rives Crumpton. Today, Bryson is a botanist
in ARS’s Southern Weed Science Research Unit at Stoneville, Mississippi.
And he’s told researchers in ARS’s Natural Products Utilization Unit at
Oxford, Mississippi, about beautyberry’s powers.

This led Oxford chemist Charles Cantrell— with entomologist Jerome
Klun of ARS’s Chemicals Affecting Insect Behavior Research Laboratory in
Beltsville, Maryland, and Oxford plant physiologist Stephen Duke— to
isolate from American beautyberry and a Japanese counterpart, C.japonica,
five insect-repelling compounds.

Among them was callicarpenal, which may represent ARS’s next
important contribution against mosquitoes. ARS developed — and USDA
patented in 2003 — SS220, a repellent that’s just as effective as DEET. (See
“ARS Partners with Defense Department to Protect Troops from Insect
Vectors,” Agricultural Research, September 2005, p. 12.)

— Continued on page 7

Tennessee Natural Heritage
Botanist Todd Crabtree
reports that several impor-
tant tracts of land have been
recently acquired by the State for
protection. Lands at Campbell
Bend Barrens, Crowder Cemetery,
Rugby, Stillhouse Hollow Falls,
Pogue Creek, and the Walls of Jeri-
cho are all new and some of the
Bowater pocket wildernesses like
Virgin Falls are now State-owned
Natural Areas.

The Morrison property where
TNPS has botanized several times
has cleared almost all hurdles. It
will eventually come down to
whether or not the owner likes the
offer that he gets. More properties
are being evaluated and prioritized,
and by this time next year we will
have more Natural Areas. The for-
mer Bowater lands are still a target
for acquisition. The company that
bought those lands is cooperative
and we are hoping to get some
more plateau sites protected.

TNPS Newsletter

Report from the President

December 2006 Vol. 30, No. 4

This newsletter is a publication of the
Tennessee Native Plant Society and is
published four times a year, generally in
February, June, August, and November.

The Tennessee Native Plant Society
(TNPS) was founded in 1978. Its
purposes are to assist in the exchange of
information and encourage fellowship
among Tennessee’s botanists, both
amateur and professional; to promote
public education about Tennessee flora
and wild plants in general; to provide,
through publication of a newsletter or
journal, a formal means of documenting
information on Tennessee flora and of
informing the public about wild plants;
and to promote the protection and
enhancement of Tennessee’s wild plant
communities.

Dues for each calendar year are
Regular: $20
Student/Senior: $15
Institution: $50
Life: $250

Dues may be sent to
Tennessee Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN 37215

Officers

Karl Heinzman, President
Dennis Horn, Vice-President
Bart Jones, Secretary
Kay Jones, Treasurer

Direcors

Bertha Chrietzburg
Todd Crabtree
Michelle Haynes
Mary Priestley
Susan Sweetser
Rita Venable

Latham Davis, Editor
Please send comments or material for
the newsletter to TNPS Newsletter, P.O.
Box 816, Sewanee, TN 37375 or
lathamdavis@bellsouth.net

Serving as president of TNPS these past four years has been very special to me.
Thanks to each of you for supporting TNPS, and I know that will continue. In
any given year you have accomplishment in which to take pride. However, for
me, our book Wildflowers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians
certainly comes out on top. We have seen new additions to the board of some
excellent folks willing to give their time to TNPS. Mary Priestley, our incoming
president, is a highly qualified and dedicated person, and I am so pleased she
is willing to serve in this capacity.

That said, we have a wonderful book, money in the bank, a growing
membership and a strong and dedicated board. Thanks again.

See you on the trail!

Karl Heinzman

And from the Presidcnt'dcct

During his tenure as president, Karl Heinzman has done more for TNPS than
any president-elect can aspire to. As he reports, we have produced a top-notch
wildflower guide that has garnered rave reviews, are on firm ground
financially, and have an active and engaged board of directors. For his final
meeting as president, Karl gathered the board for a brain-storming, visioning
session to help us articulate our goals— immediate and long-term — for TNPS.

You will hear more about those goals as we move into the new year. For one
thing, we see growing potential for our organization's role in the
environmental conservation realm. Just as Dr. Seuss's Lorax speaks for the
trees, TNPS can be a strong voice in speaking for the native plants of our state
and their habitats. Here on the Cumberland Plateau, assaults on our natural
landscape are mounting, and I am sure you see a similar situation in your area.
This year, as we get out and enjoy the wildflowers, we will also work toward
continuing to define the role that TNPS takes in preserving our cherished
landscapes, the haunts of our native plants. (

See you on the trail!

Mary Priestley

* ri

Some Dates to Remember

OUUj

' dr

FEBRUARY g —Nature Votes fundraiser (see page 6).

MARCH 16-18 —Celebration of the Oconee bell, Shortia galacifolia, and its
discoverer Andre Michaux, in Clemson, South Carolina, lhe keynote speaker
will be Clemson’s Patrick McMillan with other speakers making presentations
on the history, science, and garden value of Shortia. Go to www.michaux.org.

MARCH 31 —Dedication of the Tennessee Flistorical Marker honoring
botanist-explorer Andre Michaux at the Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in
Johnson City. TNPS co-sponsored the marker. Go to www.tipton-haynes.org.

APRIL 21-22 —Trails and Trilliums at St. Andrews-Sewanee School. TNPS’s
own Tom Patrick will be the keynote speaker. Go to www.trails.sasweb.org.

SEPTEMBER 14-16 —TNPS Annual Meeting, Beersheba Springs. See
www.tnps.org

October 21, 2006 Field Trip

Carroll Cabin Barrens

Barrens silky aster Aster pratensis

A beautiful fall day greeted the 21 folks who gathered in Decatur County
to visit one of the state’s newer natural areas, Carroll Cabin Barrens,
and to see the recently confirmed state record population of Great
Plains ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum).

On the way to the natural area we stopped to see an emerging pest plant
species, groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia). Although a native to the coastal
plain area along the Gulf
Coast, it has spread
northward in recent
years at an accelerating
rate. These medium to
large shrubs are in fact
members of the Aster
family, with the plants
being either male or
female. The female
plants have a
conspicuous pappus
(hairs or projections on
the seed) that looks like
white flowers, and when
found en masse, can be very attractive.

Carroll Cabin Barrens is a wonderful example of the Western Valley
limestone hill barrens, a globally threatened plant community, that is at its
best development in Decatur and Perry counties. This community differs from
the glades and barrens of the Central Basin in its lack of endemism and the
underlying limestone being from the Silurian Age instead of Ordovician. Many
of the plants found in these barrens are disjunct from their main ranges
located in the Ozarks or upper Midwest and are rare in Tennessee.

As we entered the first barren, several people commented on the contorted
cedar trees (Juniperus virgimanus). These are typical of the open barrens. Not too
far into the barren we came upon the first ladies’ tresses. As our eyes became
accustomed to their appearance, it was easy to see numerous spikes emerging
from the grass ahead of us. A quick count in just this one corner of the barren
came up with a tally of 47 individuals. Spiranthes magnicamporum is the last of our
ladies’ tresses to bloom, from mid-October to mid-November. The double-
ranked spirals of white flowers emit a wonderful, strong fragrance of coumarin
or almonds. Although similar to nodding ladies’ tresses (S. cernua ), it is
normally distinguished by its lack of leaves at flowering, spreading lateral
sepals that often arch over the dorsal sepal, a distinctly yellowish throat
(particularly when viewed from beneath), and the strong fragrance. S.
magnicamporum is found in drier habitats, similar to the prairies of its core
range of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

After everyone got their fill and photographs of the ladies’ tresses, we
continued through the barren. Some of the taller grasses garnered attention,
including big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans),
and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). We were fortunate enough to
catch many species at the end of the flowering period, including three plants

Continued on pagej

Field Trips 2007,
Put On Your
Thinking Caps!

Todd Crabtree, our field trip
coordinator, is gathering
ideas for fun and interesting
trips for 2007— and the names of
people to lead those trips. He
wants suggestions from all of us as
to great places to visit. What about
some of these newly-preserved
tracts of land? A favorite wildflower
haunt? Or a wonderful native plant
garden that you’d like to share with
other TNPS members? If you have
an idea — even if it’s just the germ of
one — please contact Todd at
Todd.Crabtree@state.tn.us between
now and February 1.

Plant Rescue
Alert System

The TNPS email alert system
is our primary means of
quickly communicating
information and news in which the
membership would be interested.
This includes news of plant res-
cues. There were some problems
with email editors sending unread-
able messages this year, but hope-
fully this has been eliminated.

If you would like to include your
email address in the system or
would like to alert the membership
of an upcoming plant rescue or
other important conservation activ-
ity, please send the information to
me, Bart Jones, at bjones7777@hot-
mail.com.

The next TNPS Newsletter
copy deadline is
February 21.

Blazing Stars
and Butterflies

July 29, 2006 Field Trip

Plateau Orchids and Wetlands

Saturday, September 30, eleven
adventurers from both TNPS
and the North American
Butterfly Association (NABA)
rendezvoused at the South
Welcome Station northwest of
Dover, Tennessee, at Land Between
The Lakes (LBL) National
Recreational Area to travel on a
botany/butterfly safari. Given the
beautiful fall weather, the
camaraderie of the participants and
good sightings of both plants and
butterflies, the trip was a success.
The “stars of the show” were five
species of asters, Leonard’s
Skipper, Southern Dogface, and
migrating Monarchs nectaring on
blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa).

First of all, a warm welcome to
our newcomers — Bettina Ault,
Louise Gregory, and Sarah Johnson
(first-timer). We are happy to have
you join us in the field! We hope
you will come again.

The plan was to travel north on
the Trace, a road which runs
through the middle of LBL (60
miles) toward Grand Rivers,
Kentucky. It was Public Lands Day
(free admission to everything), so
there were lots of other people
about, some curious as to what we
were doing scouring the fields
along the roadsides. After the
umpteenth stranger asked Bob
Meyer this question, he replied,
“Looking for hubcaps.”

Our first stop was Bards Lake,
east of The Trace. We parked, we
scattered, and we walked the levee
there. The butterflies were scarce at
first, but appeared as the morning
warmed. One of my favorite
sightings was a Sleepy Orange
nectaring on a small red morning
glory (Ipomoea coccinea).

Near mile marker number 4,

Continued on next page

Trip leader Chuck Wilson organized this joint field trip with the Georgia
Botanical Society in hopes of seeing several species of Platanthera
including the federally threatened monkey-face orchid ( Platanthera
integrilabia) . (See photo.) As we arrived at the meeting place, a steady rain
dampened a bit of the enthusiasm, but a good crowd and the prospect of
better weather in the afternoon got us more excited. After some comments

from Chuck describing all the sites
we planned to visit, I soon realized
this trip was probably going to
cover more miles than any trip I
had previously attended. This was
going to be a veritable I our de
Platanthera.

Our first stop was a small bog
just off the highway outside Cagle.
Our first orchid encounter was
with yellow fringed orchid (P.
ciliaris), which is somewhat
misnamed as its color is mainly
orange. This is a striking orchid
with a lip surrounded by long,
hair-like appendages. As people
gathered to examine the yellow
fringed orchids, someone in the
group spotted our second species,
little clubspur orchid ( P . clavellata).
This very small orchid with its
greenish-white flowers has
recently been moved, along with P.
nivea and P. integra, to a separate
genus, Gymnadeniopsis, by some taxonomists. We were surprised to find a
couple of yellow crested orchids (P. cristata ) just beginning to bloom. These
plants are very similar to P. ciliaris, but are smaller, the flowers are usually more
yellowish, and the fringed lip is rounder in shape.

Back to the cars and on to our next stop, a damp pasture where we hoped to
find the very rare alba form of the purple fringeless orchid ( Platanthera
peramoena). A few white-flowered plants were discovered here last year, but
unfortunately for us, the owners decided to bush hog a few feet further this
year and got the alba plants. A few of the typically colored plants were found.
This orchid is spectacular with its tall spikes of rich red-purple inch-wide
flowers. The P. peramoena were found in a stand of wild sweet William ( Phlox
maculata ) which was beautiful with its panicles of pink flowers. In the mowed
area were the small white spirals of spring ladies’ tresses ( Spiranthcs vernalis ).

On to our next site; a power line cut. Power lines always provide interesting
habitats and often harbor a varied assemblage of plants. Near the road, the
area was very dry and the spotlight belonged to two species of Liatris, dense
blazing star (L. spicata ) and scaly blazing star (L. squarrosa). Further down in a
lower spot was a boggy area that held our first specimens of the rare monkey-

face orchid ( Platanthcra integrilabia), with just a couple of plants with a few
flowers open. This spot formerly was home to several plants of yellow
fringeless orchid (P. integra ), but they died out when the area became a bit
overgrown with woody vegetation. Chuck has cleared out the overgrowth in
the past few years in hopes the P. integra will return.

Next we went to Rifle Range Road bog, a fantastic wetland with a large
population of P. integrilabia. Most of the plants were still in bud, but several had
a few flowers open. By now the sun was beginning to break through the clouds
and the flowers were starting to emit their delicious vanilla scent. Good
numbers of P. ciliaris and P. cristata could be found at near peak flowering. Large
patches of kidney-leaf grass-of-Parnassus (P amassia asarifolia ) with numerous
buds were bountiful throughout the bog. With some diligent searching, a
couple of open flowers were found. This is at least a month early for this
species to flower. Could we be seeing signs of global warming? Sprinkled
throughout the bog were the pink blossoms of Virginia meadow-beauty (R hexia
virginica).

Onward we went to Morrison and its damp grassland. Here, there were
more yellow fringed orchids and several robust specimens of spring ladies’
tresses. This meadow has a rich variety of plants, several of which are rare.
Some of the more showy species in bloom were ashy sunflower ( Helianthus
mollis), hardhack spiraea ( Spiraea tomentosa), tall ironweed (Vemonia gigantea),
slender marsh pink (Sabatia campanulata), and swamp milkweed ( Asclepias
incarnata).

Finally, on to our last stop at the famous May Prairie. This prairie relic is
home to numerous rare Coastal Plain species found nowhere else in Tennessee.
One of these rare plants was the last of our orchids for the day, the diminutive
beauty known as snowy orchid (Platanthera nivea). Only found here and at
Arnold Engineering (both in Coffee County), this species is normally found
near the coast on the Coastal Plain. This Platanthera is the only one where the
lip is at the top of the flower or nonresupinate. Each blossom is pure white
and part of a dense spike. Another Coastal Plain plant found at May Prairie is
coastal false asphodel (Toefieldia racemosa ), which from a distance closely mimics
snowy orchid. However, when viewed up close, it is clear these flowers are not
orchids and have the six tepals of a lily relative.

As the day came to a close we could all take stock as to just how unique this
trip was. We traveled to four
counties (Sequatchie, Van
Buren, Warren, and Coffee)
to see six species of
Platanthera ( ciliaris , clavellata,
cristata, integrilabia, nivea, and
peramoena), and seven orchids
in all with the addition of
Spiranthesvernalis. Nowhere
else in the world would you
be able to see six species of
Platanthera on one day in one
area. Now that’s special!

Bart Jones

Blazing Stars

—continued

there is a wet meadow on the right
where 1 hoped to find the Ocola
Skipper that I had just seen there a
couple of days before. We all got
out and looked, but alas no Ocolas.
We did, however, find wetland
plants.

We ate lunch in the picnic area
at The Homeplace where Glenda
Hood shared her tasty trail mix. As
we got back into our cars and
traveled north again, the patches of
blazing star began to appear.

We stopped near the sign to
Redd Hollow (our final stop) where
we got out and saw that the
Monarchs were nectaring on almost
every blazing star. The rare
Leonard’s Skipper was also seen
and was a lifer for most. The
Southern Dogface in its striking fall
form was present. (See photo
below.) In my haste to find this wet
spot, we passed right by some blue
sage ( Salvia azurea ), a state-listed
plant, growing along the roadside.
Some of us went back to see and
photograph this rare plant after the
field trip.

A final note: we identified five
species of aster, bushy aster ( Aster
dumosus), bottomland aster (A.
ontarionus), late purple aster (A.

patens), white heath
aster (A. pilosus ) and
small white aster (A.
vimineus).

Rita Venable

A Southern Dogface nectars
on blazing star along the
roadside of the Trace at
Land Between the Lakes.
The dog’s head is visible
through the wing. In the
fall, the Southern Dogface
is suffused with pink along
the edges and veins.

Conservation Voters

Nature Votes
Fundraiser Feb* 9

Mark your calendar for the
festive TCV’s annual
Nature Votes fundraiser
that will be held Friday, February 9
at Flistoric Travelers Rest, off
Franklin Road. Tickets wall be $60
each and $100 per couple. The event
will honor our legislative friends
and give you a chance to visit with
your environmental community,
TDEC officials and elected officials.
Plus you will enjoy great food,
drink, live and silent auctions and
music. If you or your business is
interested in a sponsorship, levels
begin at $200. Please contact us as
soon as possible. Without YOU the
Tennessee environmental legislative
agenda could be unnoticed. Thank
you, everyone, for your generous
support.

Another year has rolled around
and the Tennessee legislature will
soon be in session. TCV will be
gearing up to tackle environmental
legislative issues such as Tennessee
strip mining, container deposit,
and Comprehensive Energy Plan-
ning. Please check the TCV website
for more detailed description of
environmental legislation and sign
up for weekly legislative updates
during this year’s session. By Janu-
ary TCV will have a talented full-
time executive director in place.

Thank you for letting me repre-
sent TNPS on Tennessee Conserva-
tion Voters.

Michelle Haynes

Michelle Haynes, chairman
Tennessee Conservation Voters
2021 21st Ave South
Nashville, TN 37212
615-269-9090

www.tnconservationvoters.org

tcved@bellsouth.net.

August i2, 2006 Field Trip

Starr Mountain near Etowah

We met with leader Mark Pistrang, Cherokee National Forest botanist,
at the Etowah train station. Including Mark, we had eighteen folks,
most of whom had attended few or no TNPS trips before. Light rain
at the parking lot progressed to a shower on the drive out to the mountain.

Starr Mountain is sandstone-capped as if a piece of the Cumberland Plateau
had strayed across the valley. The vegetation is reminiscent of the plateau but
some species clearly belong to the adjacent Blue Ridge. Forest Road 297 climbs
the north end of the mountain topping out at near 2,000 feet. Effects of the dry
weather were evident here, but more flowers were seen as we moved into the
Bullet Creek basin. The forest had a cut-over brushy aspect because pine bark
beetles had destroyed the native short-leaf pine (Pinus echinata) .

Lesser Prairie Dock ( Silphium composition) was the prominent flower along the
higher drier part of FR297. As we moved lower, Hollow-Stemmed Joe Pye
Weed ( Eupatoriumfistulosum ) and Flowering Spurge ( Euphorbia corollata ) were the
floral display. Our first orchids were Rattlesnake Plantain ( Goodyera pubescens)
and Cranefly Orchid (Tip ularia discolor). The Goldenrods ( Solidago spp.) and
Asters (Aster spp.) were mostly still in bud.

The alien Russian Olive (E leagnus angustifolia) which had been planted for
wildlife was around, but did not seem to be overwhelming the native species.
Mark pointed out a Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) which, though a native
species, was probably introduced with seed from the midwest. The roadside
Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) might also have been introduced, but the
smaller flowered Wild Sensitive Plant (C. nictitans) was probably local. Mark
made the point that the Forest Service is working toward use of local native
species for wildlife food plantings.

The Blue Ridge connection was illustrated by the very similar Appalachian
and Ozark Sunflowers (Helianthus atrorubens and silphioides) . Most of these plants
seemed to be Appalachian. Across the valley the Ozark would predominate.
We found a few Carolina Lilies (Lilium michauxii) which is clearly a Blue Ridge
species. These were technically in McMinn County where the Tennessee Atlas
shows none. Mark pointed out a Blueberry (Vaccinium hirsutum) recorded from
only the most southeastern counties of the state.

Before we entered the Bullet Creek bog, Mark discussed the Forest Service
problem of managing for the competing interests of timber production,
recreation, and special sites such as this bog. The bog has been given a buffer
up to FR297 in which logging was prohibited. Further steps to protect orchids
are fencing wild hogs and following a system of annual counting.

While wading through New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) beside a
branch leading to the bog, Mark pointed to areas where transition from dry
upland to bog was very abrupt. Even with the recent shower, the bog had no
standing water. Except where hogs had rooted, the ground was covered with
Sedges (Carex gigantea, C.joori, and C. intumescens) and some Royal Fern (Osmunda
regalis). Cinnamon Fern (O. cinnamomea) and Netted Chain Fern (Woodwardia
areolata) mixed in. The Monkey Face Orchids (Platanthera integrilabia) must have
been near peak flowering. In this display a few Yellow Crested Orchids
(Platanthera cristata) and Small Green Woodland Orchids (Platanthera
clavellata) are almost overlooked.

Everyone expressed thanks to Mark and to Cherokee National Forest.

A! Good

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