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Caesar’s amanita
Amanita caesarea

ruunsneu uy me Georgia Botanical Society

Byliners

Luesther T Mertz
LIBRARY

Authors

Tee Brower, a recently retired botanist,
taught biology at Armstrong Atlantic State
University. She and husband John prowl
the fields and woods of New England and
Canada in summer and the Southeast in the
winter. They have explored more than 150
rivers by canoe.

Shan Cammack, M.S., is a conservation
ecologist working for the GA DNR’s Georgia
Natural Heritage Program. Current projects
include work on rare plants, mussels, fish, and
natural communities in the Coastal Plain,
Piedmont, and Fall Line Sandhills, particu¬
larly along the Flint and Ocmulgee rivers.
Shan’s future work efforts will focus on eco¬
logical stewardship, including prescribed
burning. She is co-editor of Tipularia.

Debra H. Davis is an award-winning
nature photographer from Athens, Georgia.
Her main focus centers on fungi and wild-
flowers of the Southern Appalachians. Her
nature images are featured in the 2000 Nature
Photographer’s Annual , as well as the
September/October 1999 cover for Nature
Photographer Magazine, Atlanta Magazine,
and other publications, including newslet¬
ters and newspapers.

? f

~NEVY YORK
WfC At. GARDEN

W. Larry Davis has enjoyed exploring
the natural environments of North Georgia
and the Southern Appalachians for over forty
years. His interest in exploring natural areas
forms a perfect partnership with his wife’s
nature photography. Recent interests include
studying the history of medicinal plant use
and Native American ethnobotany.

Carol Helton, M.S., is the Conservation
Coordinator for the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Her work deals with conservation of threat¬
ened plant communities through habitat
restoration and species recovery programs.

Michael Wayne Morris, Ph.D., is Associate

Professor of Biology at North Georgia College

& State University. He teaches undergraduate and

graduate courses including general botany, plant

taxonomy, and general biology and has been

named in Who s Who Among America ’s Teachers

in 1998 and 2000. Wayne has led field trips in

north Georgia for the Georgia Botanical Society

and the Dahlonega Wildflower Festival of the

Arts. Research interests include floristics of the

southeastern United States and vascular plant sys-

tematics, especially studies of Orchidaceae. He

has published a number of articles in various

botanical journals including Castanea, Sida,

International Journal of Plant Sciences, and

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.

continued inside back cover

MEMBERSHIP

The Georgia Botanical Society is open to all persons interested in the botany of Georgia. Annual dues: Individual or Family:
$25, Group: $30, Student $ 10. Send address and check payable to Georgia Botanical Society to Teresa Ware (2 Idlewood Ct., NW;
Rome, GA 30165-1210). Members receive Tipularia without extra charge. Persons wishing only to receive the magazine may
become Tipularia associates for $10 a year. Single copies, when available, may be ordered from Sally Emory (7575 Rico Rd.;
Palmetto, GA 30268). Copies of 1991 and before are $5 and copies after 1991 are $10.

EDITORIAL INFORMATION

Tipularia strives to combine the scientific authority of a botanical journal with the readability of a magazine. Some articles
are assigned. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed for consideration. While Tipularia is unable to pay for articles or art, there
is no charge for publication of them.

BOARD OF EDITORS

David L. Emory, Chair
Tee Brower
Gail A. Carr
Mary Elfner
Carol Howel Gomez
William M. Griffin
Thomas S. Patrick
Jerry A. Payne
George A. Rogers
Carol A, Schneier
Richard T. Ware, Sr.

EDITORS

Shan Cammack
Eric Van De Genachte

COPYEDITORS

Shan Cammack
Eric Van De Genachte

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lenz Design and Communications, Inc.

PRINTER

4D Printing

STAFF

Betty Devon
Charles Devon

Tipularia is published once a year by the Georgia
Botanical Society to foster knowledge of and inter¬
est in the state’s native plants and related subjects.

Postage paid at Decatur, Georgia
ISSN 1090-1876

Send address changes to:

Scott Ranger

1963 Ferry Drive NE
Marietta, GA 30066-6250

On the cover:

Caesar’s amanita (Amanita caesarea)

Photo by Debra H. Davis

On the back cover:

Ohio buckeye ( Aesculus glabra)

Photo by Richard Ware

Kentucky ladyslipper ( Cypripedium kentuckiense)

Photo by Shan Cammack
Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

Photo by Carol Nourse

Atlanta Botanical Garden:
Restoration Efforts on Herbaceous
Bogs of the Southeastern U.S.

By Carol Helton

Making a Difference One Site at a Time

Rabun County: Georgia’s Wild
Plant Treasure Trove

By Tee Brower

Where Spring Spends the Summer

The Buckeyes of Georgia

By Richard Ware

Aesculus Demystified

A Kentucky Find:The Georgia
Discovery of the Kentucky
Ladyslipper ( Cypripedium
kentuckiense )

By Tom Patrick and Shan Cammack

Ladyslipper New to Georgia Found in
Laurens County

A Conservation Legacy Lives On:
The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

By W. Larry and Debra H. Davis

There’s More Than Just Plants

Reconnaissance for the Ocmulgee
Skullcap ( Scutellaria ocmulgee )

By Wayne Morris, Eric Van De Genachte,
Tom Patrick, and Shan Cammack

Successful Finds on Three Rivers

Searching for Georgia’s Big Trees

By Doug Riddle

uBig Tree” Enthusiasts Share Secrets

37 Dr. Samuel B. Jones, Jr.:

A Life with Plants

By Carol and Hugh Nourse

A Day and the Life of Sam Jones

Atlanta Botanical Garden:
Restoration Efforts on Herbaceous Bogs
of the Southeastern United States

by Carol Helton

Whitetop pitcherplant
( Sarracenia leucophylla).

Atlanta Botanical Garden

^he Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) has
always considered conservation to be an
integral part of its mission. The ABG and its
Conservation Program have earned an
international reputation as leaders in plant
conservation. Its dedicated staff not only
maintains a refined expertise in horticultural
sciences but assumes an aggressive “hands-
on” approach for each project undertaken.
The Conservation Program constantly seeks
new opportunities to collaborate with other
institutions locally and internationally. In
fact, it is a charter member of the Georgia
Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA), an um¬
brella organization dedicated to harnessing

horticultural advances in the name of con¬
servation. Currently, the ABG is cooperating
with The Nature Conservancy, Georgia
Natural Heritage Program, United States Fish
and Wildlife Service, and other regional
botanical gardens to preserve and restore
threatened plant communities in the
Southeast. The ABG has been instrumental
in developing many of the horticultural tech¬
niques for rare plant propagation and restora¬
tion that have been applied in field settings
by the GPCA.

Conservation

In addition to maintaining one of the
world’s most comprehensive and stunning
collections of carnivorous plants from the
Southeast and around the world, the ABG has
remained active in monitoring, restoring,
and conserving the habitats within which
these remarkable plants thrive. ABG’s
Conservation Program has been especially
active working in the unique and species-rich
bog communities found throughout the
Coastal Plain and Southern Appalachian
Mountains of the Southeastern USA.

In the Southeast, herbaceous bogs are
found in areas where the soils remain wet
nearly year-round, but are rarely ever inun¬
dated. They are frequently dominated by
grasses, sedges, and a variety of forbs. Bogs
are typically classified as one of two types:
seepage bog or open savanna bog. Seepage
bogs are found where groundwater flows
laterally through peaty-sandy soils and where

Tipularia • 2000

the water exudes to the surface. Savanna-type
bogs are formed in areas where water is
perched near the surface by a clay hardpan
located in the subsoil (Clewell 1985). Bogs
ol the Southeast support a wealth of rare and
unique life forms, many of which are found
in no other habitat type.

Unfortunately, many of these plant com¬
munities have been reduced to small, frag¬
mented sites as a result of land conversion,
drainage, fire exclusion, invasive species,
soil erosion, and herbicide use. With little or
no buffer to offset encroaching human ac¬
tivities, the species diversity declines. The
loss of habitat for the carnivorous pitcher-
plants ( Sarracenia ) endemic to the
Southeastern US has been estimated at 97%
(Groves 1993).

ABG’s expertise in these habitats is based
on more than 1 5 years experience in the field
— working with landowners and other con¬
servation organizations that have managed
such sites for over 40 years. While the pri¬
mary goal is to conserve intact habitats and
buffer zones, the ABG has also concentrated
on developing techniques to propagate,
restore, and manage several of the species that
are important to these habitats. The ABG
has successfully restored such communities
and has re-established the critical processes
that maintain species diversity.

Restoration Components

The primary components targeted for
restoring herbaceous bog communities in¬
clude the vegetation composition, regular
disturbance regimes, and hydrology.

Vegetation and Disturbance

Maintaining the herbaceous layer is crucial
to conserving bogs in the Southeast. Invasion
of woody species eventually eliminates pitcher
plants and other herbaceous species by
aggressively competing for sunlight. For the
ABG, the primary method of controlling woody
species is prescribed fire. Burning these

Green pitcherplant habitat
(Sarracenia oreophila).

“over-grown” bogs results in a die-back of the
invading trees and shmbs, exposes bare min¬
eral soil necessary for germination, and allows
sunlight to reach the low herbaceous vegetation.
By maintaining a healthy herbaceous layer, we
are also restoring a fuel layer that will be ben¬
eficial to future prescribed burns.

Depending on the community type, con¬
dition, and species diversity, controlled burn¬
ing can be modified to achieve a particular
goal simply by burning at different seasons
or at different intensities. For example, when
restoring a degraded habitat (e.g. removing
woody species and reducing the fuel layer),
winter burns are very effective. If the objec¬
tive is to maintain the condition of a bog
following initial restoration (e.g. controlling
re-sprouting woody species), then summer
burns are more effective. ABG now uses a
combination of the two fire regimes with
severely degraded habitats.

Historically, winter bums were probably the
result of Native American land management
to improve food plots for game. Winter burns
are in fact still favored by most landowners
today. Burning during the winter can be
effective in controlling the buildup of sedge and
grass species that can choke out other less vig¬
orous herbaceous species. Because many bog
species are adapted for burning, their flower¬
ing buds can even survive fires that occur very
early in the growing season. An added bene¬
fit of winter burning is that the nutrients released

Atlanta Botanical Garden: Restoration Efforts

Prescribed burning improves habitat
for herbaceous bogs.

by scorched plants are able to leach from the
soil before invading plants can capitalize on the
nutrient pulse. Although this might sound con¬
tradictory, some bog species like pitcherplants
thrive in low nutrient soils.

When bogs have become intensely
degraded by invading woody vegetation, it is
necessary to first cut back the shrubs and trees
and to follow through with burning. One effec¬
tive technique is to scorch the re-sprouting
stems with a simple, clean, and highly effec¬
tive propane-fueled flame thrower developed
by a pitcher plant expert from Mississippi.
This technique damages the cambium layer of
the woody vegetation, which affects sap-flow,
and makes the plants susceptible to disease and
decay. It can be especially effective during
summer months when pathogens of woody
plants are abundant.

Unfortunately, the use of prescribed burn¬
ing to restore plant communities has been
compromised by a fear and intolerance of fire
in the general public that has been perpetuated
by symbols like “Smokey Bear.” Furthermore,
despite the fact that thousands of prescribed
bums are conducted successfully each year
without incident, stewardship ecologists will
long have to contend with the memory of the
“Los Alamos” fires in New Mexico that went
terribly awry in Spring 2000. Because the gen¬
eral public knows very little about the fire
ecology of our natural systems, it is important
to develop close community relations and

education programs which demonstrate the
benefits of such restoration and the conse¬
quences for suppressing fire.

Hydrology

The restoration and maintenance of a bog’s
hydrology and soil structure is as important as
maintaining regular burning regimes for
ensuring healthy herbaceous vegetation.
Unfortunately, the hydrology of thousands of
bogs throughout the Southeast has been mod¬
ified by drainage ditches and tiles to promote
agricultural development. A simple but effec¬
tive restoration method is to dam up ditches
using the organic debris accumulated from
clearing the site. Doing so slows water flow into
the bog, reduces erosion and the formation of
shallow ponds, and helps to maintain a higher
water table. The debris also acts as a sieve to
reduce siltation that can eventually smother
those species that are adapted to the hydric soils
of bogs. The hydrology of bogs can be so sen¬
sitive that it can even be altered by restoration
activities like removal of woody species.
Whenever restoration efforts are undertaken,
every effort must be made to minimize the
use of heavy machinery and foot-traffic.
Disturbing the soil’s surface, particularly
during the wet season, can result in the for-

Chinese privet ( Ligustrum sinense)
pulled by Ron Determann.

Tipularia • 2000

Ron Determann and Malcom Hodges
restore hydrology to a bog by filling a ditch.

mation of ruts, puddles, and mderal sites where
opportunistic plants (e.g. briars and exotic
species) can take hold. Moreover, damage to
the hard pan that perches water close to the
soil’s surface can be very difficult to restore.

Plant Propagation

Another vital component of restoration is
the reintroduction and recovery of rare and
endangered species. ABG’s role in recovery
projects involves seed collection, propagation,
and growth of indexed individuals to be used
for reintroduction. ABG conducts many proj¬
ects in collaboration with The Nature
Conservancy, other GPCA members, and is
under contract with the US Fish & Wildlife
Service to assist in the recovery of several en¬
dangered plant species. At present, ABG is fo¬
cusing on the recovery of four Federally
Endangered bog species, mountain sweet
pitcher plant (, Sarracenia rubra spp .jonesii) in
North and South Carolina, green pitcher plant

( S . oreophila) in Georgia and Alabama,
Alabama canebrake pitcher plant ( S . alaba-
mensis ) in Alabama, and swamp pink ( Helonias
bullatci ) in Georgia and North Carolina.

Future Work

ABG plans to continue ongoing projects
and to seek yet-undiscovered bog sites that
may need preservation or restoration. Our
goal here at ABG is to fill a niche which
larger organizations generally do not, namely
ensuring the long-term survival of several
small-scale sites across Georgia. We are look¬
ing for small-scale sites within which we
can ensure and prolong the long-term survival
of these rare plant communities. &&

Literature Cited

Clewell, A. F. 1985. Guide to the Vascular
Plants of the Florida Panhandle. University
Press of Florida: Gainesville, FL.

Groves, M. 1993. Sarracenia - A Review
of Trade & Conservation in the Southeastern
USA. Proceedings from Fauna and Flora
International Meeting.

Editor's Note: The 1998 issue ofTipularia con¬
tains an article about the Georgia Plant
Conservation Alliance. The 1987 and 1993
issues ofTipularia contain articles about pitcher-
plants. Look at the 1991 issue of Tipularia for
another article on the Atlanta Botanical Garden
and a spotlight on Director Robert Bowden.

Propogating plants for
restoration and reintroduction.

Atlanta Botanical Garden: Restoration Efforts

Rabun County: Georgia's Wild Plant

Treasure Trove

by Tee Brower

estled in the northeast corner of
Georgia’s mountains is Rabun County,
purported by locals to be the place where
spring spends the summer. While Rabun
County is a treasure trove of spectacular
plants at any season, this writing describes
some of the easy to access haunts of spring
flowers and ferns.

Chattooga River Site

In a moist, shadowy cave on the Georgia
bank of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River
dwells the rare Appalachian filmy or bristle
fern ( Trichomanes boschianum). Fronds of
this small jewel are filmy with greatly dis¬
sected pinnae consisting of a single translu¬
cent cell layer that glistens in the sunflecks.
This fern’s most curious feature is its spore¬
bearing apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped

indusium from which a fertile projection lifts
the sporangia. This rare treasure, which goes
unnoticed by most casual cave probers, is
found at three sites in Rabun County. The
Chattooga cave is the most easily accessible
and here fern enthusiasts can find this spe¬
cial treat just by making a small journey.
Park in the small Forest Service lot on the
Georgia side of the Highway 76 Bridge and
take the Chattooga Trail to the top of the
first rise. Here the trail forks. Take the fork
leading downward toward the river and con¬
tinue north along the riverbank until the small
cave appears on the left. Be careful not to
disturb the cave dwellers!

This short walk passes through a species-
rich area. The abundance allows for easy
trailside photography of many common flow¬
ers such as windflower {Anemone quinqne-
folia ), green-and-gold (Chrysogonum

Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum).

Tipularia • 2000

virginianum ), trilliums ( Trillium spp.), bell-
worts ( Uvularia spp.), numerous species of
blue and yellow violets ( Viola spp.), Indian
physic ( Porteranthus trifoliatus), and possi¬
bly fire pink ( Silene virginica). Big rewards
for little energy.

Estatoah Falls

An often overlooked trove of intriguing
plants is the Estatoah Falls area reached from
Wayfarer Lane off Highlands Highway 246.
The lane leads to a gated picnic site and
pumping station owned by Georgia Power
Company. This area is a privately-owned
family park. Special permission is required.

Spring arrives somewhat earlier than higher
elevations in this piney woods which is criss¬
crossed by little feeder creeks and moist seeps.
Estatoah Falls, which may be seen from
Highway 246, tumbles into Mud Creek which
borders the area. Here several species of tril-
lium can be found in early spring. Toadshade
(T. cuneatum ) debuts with both maroon and yel¬
low-green forms well-represented. Some
individuals are giants of their kind. Early April
brings other species, like Vasey’s ( T. vaseyi),
red ( T. erectum), and Catesby’s ( T. catesbaei).
On the drier hillsides are found many pink
ladyslippers ( Cypripedium acaule), always a
delight to behold. Other Orchid Family
( Orchidaceae ) members common to the var¬
ious micro-habitats of these woods are putty
root ( Aplectrum hyemale ), showy orchis
( Galearis spectabilis), rattlesnake plantain
(Goody era pubescens), and the cranefly orchid
(Tipularia discolor ), our publication’s name¬
sake. These follow blooming at various times
later in the season.

On moist higher slopes are both species of
Arisaema. Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema tri-
phyllum ) among the earliest spring emergents,
presents its several color varieties: green, pur¬
ple, and vividly striped. Green-dragon (A.
dracontium ) has its fling in late April.
Pennywort ( Obolaria virginica) is found in
these woods as well as columbo (Frasera

caroliniensis). These are both members of
the Gentian Family (Gentianaceae).

The Estatoah Falls area is also a haven for
common spring members of the Lily Family
(. Liliaceae ). Abundant are Soloman’s-plume
or false-Solomon’s-seal ( Smilacina race-
mosa ), Indian cucumber-root (Medeola vir-
giniana ), Solomon’s-seal ( Polygonatum
biflorum ), and white Clinton’s lily ( Clintonia
umbellulata).

Other species found here in significant
numbers include wild geranium ( Geranium
maculatum), Carolina cranesbill (G.
carolinianum ), squaw-root ( Conophilis amer-
icana ), shrub-yellowroot ( Xanthorhiza sim-
plicissima ), striped pipsissiwa (Chimaphila
maculata), spotted jewelweed (. Impatiens
capensis ), May-apple ( Podophyllum pelta-
tum), golden Alexanders ( Zizia aurea ),
meadow-parsnip ( Thaspium barbinode ),
yellow stargrass ( Hypoxis hirsuta), spiderwort

Great white trillium
( Trillium grandiflorum )
with bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora).

Rabun County: Georgia’s Wild Plant Treasure Trove

(' Tradescantia sp.), foamflower ( Tiarella
cordifolia), bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canaden¬
sis ■), field madder (, Sherardia arvensis ), wood-
sorrel ( Oxalis sp.), buttercups ( Ranunculus
spp.), and white baneberry ( Actaea pachy-
poda). Even as you emerge from the car, a
mat of Phacelia may catch your eye. It
occurs in a tangle of old vines and numerous
common annuals growing beside the bab¬
bling creek.

Betty's Creek Cove

Rabun County boasts eight species of tril-
lium. Perhaps the most spectacular showcase
for this genus occurs on the Hambidge Center
property which is located just a few minutes
out of Dillard in the beautiful Betty’s Creek
Cove. Turn left and follow Betty’s Creek Road
to Moon Valley Road. Turn left, cross Betty’s
Creek Bridge, and park on the right shoulder.
Here an easy trail wends its way gently upward
through an old homestead, complete with an
old plant-covered springhouse, and into a
virtual sea of pink, white, and maroon trilliums.
This breathtaking spectacle reaches its peak in
early to mid April and there are literally tens
of thousands of blossoms. Represented in this

Vasey’s trillium ( Trillium vaseyi ).

trillium paradise are the great white (T. gran-
diflorum), Vasey’s (T. vaseyi ), and possibly
others.

Beginning in late March and through
early summer, this trail provides an ever-
changing panorama of “spring things.”
Representative genera are: Tradescantia ,
Medeola , Clintonia , Disporum , Polygonatum ,
Erythronium, Uvularia , Hypoxis, Anemone ,
Sisyrinchium, Goody era, Galearis , Asarum,
Xanthorhiza, Cypripedium, Veratrum ,
Thalictrum, Ranunculus , Trautvetteria ,
Hepatica , Stellaria, Diphylleia, Dentaria,
Tiarella , Sanguinaria , Podophyllum ,
Claytonia, Phacelia , and many more. A short
bushwack along the old roadbed that inter¬
sects this trail may reveal the elusive
ladyslipper ( Cypripedium calceolus ), as well
as columbo.

This place is a wildflower wonderland
from which no professional botanist or
amateur plant lover walks away unawed.
Timing, of course, is everything!

Tennessee Rock Trail

Wild plant buffs who are willing to hike
an easy to moderate 2.2 miles will enjoy the
Tennessee Rock Trail at Black Rock
Mountain State Park. Maps and an excellent
interpretive guide are available at park head¬
quarters. The guidebook provides informa¬
tion that defines the varied ecological areas
along the trail, a key to the numbered mark¬
ers, and facts about the geology of the area.

The park harbors eleven fern species and
a club moss, many of which are within easy
viewing range of the trail. Try to spot the
following: running pine ( Diphasiathum dig -
itatum ), rattlesnake fern ( Botrychium
virginianum ), cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cin-
namomea ), Christmas fern ( Polystichum
acrostichoides), rockcap fern (Polypodium
virginianum ), bracken fern (Pteridium aquil-
inum), and Southern lady fern (Athyrium
filix-femina var. asplenoides ). Sharp-eyed
hikers may also find the others.

Tipularia • 2000

Trillium lovers can enjoy seeing four
species: red, Catesby’s, Vasey’s, and toad-
shade. Many pink ladyslippers live in the
pine forest area, and the rare yellow lady-
slipper (C. calceolus) also occurs in the park.
Spotted wintergreen or pipsissewa
( Chimaphila maculata ) is a more common
resident of the piney woods and persists even
though it was often collected for medicinal
purposes and worn by Cherokee maidens as
“love charms” to attract the object of their
affections.

There is much to see trailside depending
upon when you plan this adventure.
Remember that due to the higher altitude of
the mountain, spring lags behind lower ele¬
vations. Forty species of common herbaceous
wildflowers are to be found in the park
including: dwarf iris (Iris cristata ), feather-
bells ( Stenanthium gramineum), yellow man¬
darin ( Disporum lanuginosum), Indian pipes
(Monotropa uniflora), and fly poison
(Amianthium muscaetoxicum). In addition,
a wide array of flowering trees and shrubs will
reward the plant enthusiast.

The locations described in this article are
but a few of the areas of Rabun County that
are rich in species and unique for their ecol¬
ogy. Most are easy to find and have open
access, and all require little energy expendi¬
ture while yielding 'great floral rewards. »

Acknowledgments

Much of the information contained in
this article has been gleaned from the author’s
wanderings about Rabun County. However,
the following were used for assistance and
verification.

List of species found in Black Rock
Mountain State Park produced by the South
Carolina Association of Naturalists (06- IQ-
94). The list was graciously provided by
Anthony Lampros, Park Superintendent of
Black Rock Mountain State Park.

Various articles and works by Marie
Mellinger, including notes on trilliums.

Patrick, T. S. 1996. “The Trilliums of
Eastern North America.” Unpublishd man¬
uscript. 8 pp.

An Interpretive Guide to the Tennessee
Rock Trail by A. Lampros and D. Warner.
Published by the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources.

Georgia Botanical Society. 1984. Atlas of
the Vascular Flora of Georgia. Studio Designs
Printing: Milledgeville, GA.

Radford A. E., H. E. Ahles, and C. R.
Bell. 1981. Manual of the Vascular Flora of
the Carolinas. University of N.C. Press:
Chapel Hill, NC.

Editor's Note: Find an article in the 1999
issue ofTipularia which describes the plant
communities in Rabun County.

Yellow ladyslipper ( Cypripedium calceolus).

Rabun County: Georgia’s Wild Plant Treasure Trove

The Buckeyes of Georgia

by Richard T. Ware

Introduction

uekeyes are in the genus Aesculus , which
/O was named by Linnaeus, the father of
modern botany. Although their fruits are
inedible, and even poisonous, Aesculus is
the ancient name for oak or mast-bearing
tree. They are in the family Hippo-
castcinaceae , commonly known as the buck¬
eye or horse-chestnut family. This is a small
family of trees and shrubs, with 2 genera
and 15 species. It consists of the horse-chest¬
nut genus ( Aesculus )
of North America,

Europe, and Asia (13
species of deciduous
trees or shrubs) and the
genus Billia of Mexico
and South America (2
evergreen species).

This article will de¬
scribe and differenti¬
ate between the 5
species of buckeyes
native to Georgia. The
horse-chestnut tree (A.
hippocastanum) which
is native to Europe will
also be included in the
keys because it has become naturalized in
some areas. Buckeyes are known to hybridize
frequently, with hybrids exhibiting interme¬
diate characteristics of their parents. There are
at least three named hybrids listed for Georgia
that we will briefly discuss. For a more in-
depth study on this subject, read

“Hybridization and Introgression in
Buckeyes” (DePamphilis and Wyatt 1989).

Common Characteristics
of the Buckeyes

The buckeyes of Georgia are deciduous
trees or shrubs, with opposite palmately com¬
pound leaves (all leaflets radiate from one
point like the fingers of your hand) and 5-7
leaflets. The irregular flowers are in large,
showy, upright clusters, with a five-lobed

bell-shaped or tubular
calyx and 4-5 petals
which range from al¬
most equal to very un¬
equal in length. Many
flowers are either
male or female, but
bisexual flowers can
also be found at the
base of the clusters.
There are 5-8 sta¬
mens, which can be
shorter or much
longer than the petals,
and 1 pistil. The fruit
is a smooth to spiny
capsule which splits
into 3 sections to reveal 1-3 (sometimes up
to 6) large smooth shiny dark seeds, with a
large lighter-colored scar. When the fruits
split open, the sleek seeds show through the
slit, resembling the eye of a deer and hence
the common name. Although it is said that the
leaves and fruit of buckeyes are toxic, it has

The two keys
found at the end
of this article will
help you discern
the buckeyes.

Tipularia • 2000

been observed that squirrels will rob the
seeds from the fruit before they fall. It is un¬
known if these squirrels survive this feast, but
it is possible that fruits that are poisonous to
humans and livestock may not be to wild
animals.

Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus
flava)

The species name flava means yellowish.
This tree was formerly known as A. octan-
dra, which means 8 stamens. The yellow
buckeye is by far the largest of the buck¬
eyes native to Georgia. It can be a very large
forest tree, is more commonly found, and
reaches its largest size in the northern cove
hardwood forests of the North Georgia moun¬
tains. Yellow buckeye makes a nice shade and
ornamental tree with its clusters of showy yel¬
low flowers that usually appear from middle
to late April. It grows fast, especially when
young, and matures in 60-80 years, but needs
plenty of moisture for good growth. Some
people still carry a buckeye in their pocket
for good luck or to ward off rheumatism.
Yellow buckeye is primarily a species of
extreme north Georgia, but is also found in
the Piedmont counties of Elbert, Oglethorpe,
and Wilkes. In north Georgia it can be found
in Stephens, Rabun, Towns, Union, White,
Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield, Walker, and
Gordon counties. It has been recently
collected in northern Floyd County. Several
wonderful specimens, and the largest in
Georgia, can be observed at Sosebee Cove
Scenic Area located on Highway 180, west
of Vogel State Park. This large tree (found in
Union County) has a circumference of 15'
11 ", a height of 154', and a crown spread of
60'. The national champion is located on the
Gabes Mt. Trail in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, Tennessee, and
has a circumference of 1 9' 1 ", a height of 1 36',
and crown spread of 53'.

Yellow buckeye {Aesculus flava).

Distinguishing Characteristics

It is the only large ; straight-trunked
buckeye in Georgia. These should not be con¬
fused with the medium-sized Ohio Buckeyes
at Pigeon Mountain in northwest Georgia,
west of Lafayette. Leaves are large with the
terminal leaflet usually 17-25 cm long x 5-
10 cm wide; stalk of leaflets usually less
than 4 mm long; calyx and flower stalk
with glandular trichomes (hairs)-, the 4
Power petals are yellow and very unequal in
length; petal margin villous (with long, soft,
shaggy but unmatted hairs); stamens usu¬
ally 12-17 mm long and are included (shorter
than the side petals which are 19-24 mm);
calyx length 6-8 mm; end buds are large and
light orange or light brown, usually 16 to 18
mm long x 8 mm wide, with bud scales not
keeled. First year twigs are also larger, gen¬
erally greater than 6 mm in diameter, and
light tan in color , fruit husks smooth with a
diameter between 5-8 cm, usually contain¬
ing 1-2 seeds.

Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus
glabra var. glabra)

The species name glabra means smooth.
Ohio Buckeye is a large shrub to medium¬
sized tree and is found in mesic (moist) forests
with circumneutral soils. It is exceedingly rare
in Georgia. For several years the only known
locality for this species was at Pigeon Mountain.
This location is still the only one where it grows

The Buckeyes of Georgia

Ohio buckeye ( Aesculus glabra ).

with any abundance and size and it is occa¬
sionally a medium-sized tree. Here it is found
in the Pocket area on the west side of the moun¬
tain, and it is more abundant and of greater size
on the east side near Waterfall Branch and on
the road to Blue Hole Spring.

More recently it has been found at Poole
Mountain in Gwinnett County, and has been
reported from Paulding and Douglas coun¬
ties (Steve Bowling pers. comm.). As with
yellow buckeye, Ohio buckeye makes a good
landscape choice on a moist site. While it
doesn't grow as large as yellow buckeye, it
has showy clusters of yellow flowers which
also appear in early spring. Currently there
is no listing for a Georgia champion Ohio
buckeye. The national champion has a cir¬
cumference of 12' 7", a height of 148', and a
crown spread of 48', and is in Liberty,
Kentucky. Ohio buckeye is on the Georgia
Natural Heritage Program (2000) “Tracking
List of Special Concern Plants of Georgia.”

Distinguishing Characteristics

Flower petals almost equal; stamens
1 3-23 mm long and exserted (longer than lat¬
eral petals and extending out past longest
petal ); flower color pale yellow; petal mar¬
gins villous; lateral petal 8-13 mm; calyx
length 4-6.5 mm; shrub or medium sized
tree; winter buds usually keeled (bud scales

with a prominent ridge); fruit 2.5-5 cm, husk
usually spiny; twigs with a fetid odor when
crushed; twigs smaller then yellow buckeye,
usually d-5 mm in diameter , and with a ma¬
roon-brown color ; flower stalk pubescent,
but not glandular ; end buds 1.5- 1.7 cm;
stalk of leaflets 4-14 mm long. Note: the
Texas buckeye, Aesculus glabra var. arguta ,
which occurs in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas,
and Texas, differs from our variety by hav¬
ing 7 leaflets instead of 5.

Red Buckeye
(Aesculus pavia )

The species name pavia is the old generic
name in honor of Peter Paaw (Petrus Pavius),
a Dutch Botanist who died in 1617 in Leyden.
Red buckeye is generally smaller than the
preceding two and is usually a shrub or small
understory tree. Its main claim to fame is
the beautiful red to crimson flowers. While
yellow buckeye is found in the north Georgia
mountains, and Ohio buckeye is in only four
counties north and west of Atlanta, red buck¬
eye is found mainly in the Coastal Plain and

Red buckeye {Aesculus pavia).

Tipularia • 2000

adjacent counties. It is also found in Floyd
County and several other counties adjoin¬
ing Alabama in the Ridge and Valley
Province. Red buckeye can begin blooming
when only 2-3' high, and blooms from early
to late April. Buckeyes in general, and par¬
ticularly red buckeye, are among the first
trees to leaf-out in early spring, allowing
identification in late March and early April.
This plant makes a rather interesting looking
shrub in cultivation. It will usually have sev¬
eral trunks or will branch close to the ground
into several arching limbs. These support
the beautiful red clusters of flowers and later
the smooth-capsuled fruits. This is mainly a
lowland tree, requiring lots of moisture for
best growth. Perhaps the most popular cul¬
tivated buckeye is a hybrid between the red
buckeye and the European horse-chestnut
(. Aesculus hippocastanum), called the red
horse-chestnut ( Aesculus X earned). The
state champion red buckeye is found in
Tattnall County and has a circumference of
18", a height of 20', and a crown spread of
16'. There are two national champions. The
first is located in Kalamazoo County,
Michigan, which has a circumference of 7'
7", a height of 64', and a crown spread of 52'.
The second is in Roanoke, Virginia, and has
a circumference of 7' 11 ", a height of 58', and
a spread of 48'.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Usually a multi-stemmed shrub or small
tree; only buckeye with red flower color ;
leaf stalk (petiole) and leaflet mid-rib some¬
times red; scarlet tubular calyx (other
species are bell-shaped); stamens slightly
longer than petals , 24-38 mm long; petal
margin glandular ; lateral petal 20-3 1 mm
long; calyx length 14-18 mm, flower stalk
(pedicel) without glands; fruit 3. 8-5. 8 cm
broad with smooth husk; end buds 6- 1 3 mm
long; twig diameter 4 mm; stalk of leaflets
4-14 mm long.

Painted or Georgia Buckeye
( Aesculus sylvatica )

The specific name sylvatica means wild,
of woods or forests, from sylvan (one that fre¬
quents groves or woods). The painted or
Georgia buckeye also usually blooms from
middle to late April, and is found on river
banks, alluvial woods, and swamp forests. It
is found mainly in the Piedmont, but has been
collected in an area from Burke to Gordon
County and from Meriwether to Rabun County.
This species is usually a shrub, but can some¬
times be considered a small tree. There have
even been documented cases along the Oconee
River where it has reached 60' in height. It also
makes a good landscape plant, but perhaps
not quite as showy as the others because its
flowers are a cream or greenish-yellow color.
In the absence of flowers, it may be difficult
to distinguish this species from red buckeye (A.
pavia). The state champion is found on U.S.
Forest Service land in Putnam County and has
a circumference of 1 8", a height of 34', and a
crown spread of 16'. ( Editor's Note: See the
Riddle article in this issue to discover the nom¬
inator of a former buckeye champion.)

Painted buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica).

The Buckeyes of Georgia

Distinguishing Characteristics

Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree; sta¬
mens shorter than lateral petals (included),
16-25 mm long; flower color yellowish-
green or cream ; lateral petals 20-30 mm
long; petal margin villous, not glandular;
flower stalk without glands ', calyx length 8-
13 mm; fruit 2.2-4. 1 cm broad, without
spines; twig diameter 4. 5-5. 5 mm; end buds
7-9 mm; stalk of leaflet 4-14 mm long.

Bottlebrush Buckeye
( Aesculus parviflora)

The specific name parxlflora means small-
flowered. The bottlebrush buckeye is the rarest
of the five species discussed in this article. It
only occurs in Alabama, Georgia, South
Carolina, and possibly Florida. It is very rare
in all but Alabama. In Georgia, it is found on
mesic bluff and ravine forests in Chattahoochee,
Harris, Stewart, Quitman, and Clay Counties
in southcentral and southwest Georgia. Another
site in Early County has not been verified in the
last 20 years and may be extirpated. The
collections in Georgia were made by James R.
Allison, Fred Galle, Samuel B. Jones, and
Robert F. Thome. Robert Wyatt found a large
population of A. pannflora in Aiken County,
South Carolina (early June of 1983) in a steep
ravine on the east side of the Savannah River
just south of Interstate-20. This population was
evidently discovered earlier (1977) by Steve
Bowling and L. Greathouse, and is thought to
be the same population that John Fraser and
Andre Michaux had discovered in late May and
early June of 1787. All the sites from Alabama,
Georgia, and South Carolina are along major
rivers draining the southern Appalachian
Highlands, such as the Savannah, Chatt¬
ahoochee, Alabama, Coosa, and Black Warrior.
Although it only occurs in the Coastal Plain in
Georgia, the hypothesis about its distribution
is that it was originally an inhabitant of the
hills of north Georgia and Alabama, and has
been able to colonize the major riverways
downstream, by way of the large floating seeds.

Bottlebrush buckeye ( Aesculus parviflora).

This is a beautiful shrub, with its striking white
flowers in a narrow inflorescence 20-30 cm
long. It makes an excellent landscape plant and
should be cultivated much more frequently.
There is no state champion bottlebrush buck¬
eye. The national champion has a circumference
of 2' 10", a height of 14', a crown spread of 20',
and is located at Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Graceful shrub growing in colonies, with
small white flowers in a long slender showy
panicle, 20-30 cm or more long, resembling
a bottle brush (hence the common name);
mature buds only 6-7 mm long with 4
exposed scales and exude a chalky sub¬
stance; stalk of leaflets of larger leaves 14-
31 mm long; calyx 5-7 mm; petals 16-20
mm; stamens long exserted, 3-4 times the
length of the petals; fruit 2.5-3 cm, with

Tipularia • 2000

smooth husk, borne on long drooping stalks;
at least some peduncles persist into the 2nd
year blooming time; blooms from May to
July , which is later than the other species.

Hybridization of Buckeyes
in Georgia

The latest thinking on this subject seems
to indicate that there is a broad hybridization
zone of at least 125 miles. This may represent
the overlap of two hybrid zones, one between
A. pavia and A. sylvatica and the other between
A. flava and A. sylvatica. A study, however,
of the hybrid populations between A. pavia and
A. sylvatica revealed that these populations
lacked one or more of the supposed parental
species. Some scientists theorize that the
explanation for the hybrid zone lies with the
migration pattern of the ruby-throated hum¬
mingbird (Archilochus colubris). Their early
spring migration (south to north) coincides
closely with the flowering dates of the Aesculus
species. The pollen being transported on the
bird is viable over a distance of many miles
and allows for the wide hybrid zone in Georgia
among A. pavia , A. sylvatica , and A. flava.

There are three named hybrids recog¬
nized in Georgia: Aesculus X mutabilis,
Aesculus X neglecta , and Aesculus X worl-
itzensis. The table below shows the putative
parents of these hybrids. ^

A. pavia X A. sylvatica = A. X mutabilis

A. flava X A. sylvatica = A.X neglecta

A. flava X = A.X worlitzensis

(A. pavia X A. sylvatica)

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the assis¬
tance of Teresa Ware, Tom Patrick, Steve
Bowling, Patrick Sweeney, Robert Wyatt,
and Wilbur Duncan (for the use of his un¬
published keys to the shrubby buckeyes) in
the preparation of this treatise. I accept re¬
sponsibility for any errors in deduction, and
the opinions expressed, if any, are my own.

Selected References

American Forests. 1999. 1998-1999
National Register of Big Trees.

Brown, Claud L. and L. Katherine
Kirkman. 1990. Trees of Georgia and
Adjacent States. Timber Press: Portland, OR.

DePamphilis, Claude W. and Robert
Wyatt. 1989. “Hybridization and
Introgression in Buckeyes (Aesculus:
Hippocastanaceae): A Review of the
Evidence and a Hypothesis to Explain Long-
Distance Gene Flow.” Systematic Botany.
Vol. 14: 4.

Duncan, Wilbur H. and Marion B.
Duncan. 1988. Trees of the Southeastern
United States. University of Georgia Press:
Athens, GA.

Elias, Thomas S. 1980. The Complete
Trees of North America, Field Guide and
Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.:
New York, NY.

Georgia Forestry Commission. 2000.
Georgia’s Champion Trees.

Georgia Natural Heritage Program. May
3 1 , 2000. “Tracking List of Special Concern
Plants of Georgia.” Georgia Department of
Natural Resources: Social Circle, GA.

Jones, Samuel B. Jr. and Nancy Craft
Coile. 1988. The Distribution of the Vascular
Flora of Georgia. UGA Press: Athens, GA.

Wyatt, Robert. 1985. “Aesculus parvi-
flora in South Carolina: Phytogeographical
implications.” Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical
Club. Vol. 112:2.

The Buckeyes of Georgia

GROWING SEASON KEY TO SPECIES OF AESCULUS IN GEORGIA WINTER KEY TO SPECIES OF AESCULUS IN GEORGIA

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Tipularia • 2000

A Kentucky Find: The Georgia Discovery of

the Kentucky Ladyslipper

( Cypripedium kentuckiense)

by Shan Cammack and Tom Patrick

Kentucky ladyslipper ( Cypripedium
kentuckiense ) recently discovered in Georgia.

The Discovery

ne of the biggest surprises during the 1999
surveys for the Ocmulgee skullcap
(. Scutellaria ocmulgee ) was the discovery of
a ladyslipper in south-central Georgia. Shan
and coworker Eric had spent the day on the
Oconee River ferreting out populations of the
Ocmulgee skullcap. Our river guide, DNR
Law Enforcement Ranger Richard Burnette,
had shared stories of fishing spots and local
landowners, memories of growing up in the
mountains, and a curious tale of finding a
ladyslipper during hunting season one year.
Our interest was piqued of course, since
Laurens County was so far from a ladyslip-
per’s usual haunt. Although we both were a

A<$ we emerged from the- recovering
m i ted ft no-hardwood forest and brohe
free- from the tangle^ of oatbriar^
wo stepped into the moro mature
remnant beech-maple-mi/ed oafe.
forest and an ! mage wo i were all
dreaming of appeared before ug. the
large Soft oreamuj pouch of the
Kentucky ladujdipper (C-ypri podium
faontuohionSo). We gbood in awe ah
the beautiful orchid and fathomed
what this new dtcoVer^ to (d\eor^ua
really means...

bit skeptical, we mustered our energy at the
end of the day and set off to find Richard’s
mysterious ladyslipper.

We drove through pine plantations and
agricultural fields and trudged through a scruffy
secondary woods. Soon we found ourselves on
a seepy hillside in a fairly lush deciduous for¬
est. More diligent searching revealed the leaves
of a ladyslipper! Surprised and amazed, we
inspected the plant closely. We guessed that it
probably was the yellow ladyslipper that
Richard had seen in the mountains as a child.
It was not until the following spring (during
flowering) that we were able to get a positive
identification. With its large ivory flowers, it
could be none other than the Kentucky
ladyslipper ( Cypripedium kentuckiense).

Georgia Discovery of the Kentucky Ladyslipper

History and Taxonomy

The Kentucky ladyslipper is a long-lived ter¬
restrial orchid which flowers from mid-April
to early May and fruits from July into August
in Georgia. This species had never before been
recorded from Georgia, but had been the sub¬
ject of numerous searches in parts of the
Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee by Tom and
others in the Tennessee Native Plant Society
during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. This
species is relatively recently described and is
surely one of the more elusive and lesser pub¬
licized of all the North American orchids.

Taxonomic difficulties among the North
American yellow ladyslippers have been lin¬
gering for close to two hundred years. Exactly
when the Kentucky ladyslipper was first
noted is in dispute, although a few names may
apply that were used by the early botanist
Constantine Rafinesque (1783-1840). Since
none of Rafinesque’s orchid specimens are
extant and his descriptions are so brief, most
taxonomists would agree that his names
dating from the 1830’s are too ambiguous to
be of any use as correct names for the
Kentucky ladyslipper. Rafinesque was quite
observant and worked for a time in Kentucky
at Transylvania University near where the
orchid grows. Although it is feasible that he
saw this plant, the obvious features needed
for positive identification are not found in his
brief descriptions.

Perhaps the first to clearly note what is
today considered the Kentucky ladyslipper
was the American orchidologist Donovan
Correll (1908-1983). In his classic volume
entitled Native Orchids of North America ,
Correll (1950) discussed the complex cir-
cumboreal nature of yellow ladyslippers, their
intriguing transcontinental distribution across
North America, and the tremendous variation
in flower size, color, fragrance, and shape. In
an earlier illustrated article (Correll 1940), he
wisely concluded that “southern plants, par¬
ticularly those of Kentucky and Louisiana,
often have large lips which are occasionally
more than 6 cm long.” No taxonomic

recognition was given to this particular varia¬
tion by Correll. Two more recent papers pro¬
vided descriptions of the orchid and proposed
names at the species level: Cypripedium
daultonii by Soukup (1977) and C. kentuck-
iense by Reed (1981). Soukup’s publication
failed to include the required Latin diagnosis,
making his name invalid. Reed’s description
provided both the Latin diagnosis and a type
locality. Refer to (Brown 1 995) for a compre¬
hensive overview of the nomenclatural
history of the species, as well as an annotated
bibliography.

Other kinds of Cypripedium found in
Georgia include the pink ladyslipper (C.
acaule), small-flowered yellow ladyslipper
(C. calceolus var. parviflorum), and large-
flowered yellow ladyslipper (C. calceolus var.
pubescens). The Kentucky ladyslipper is
readily distinguishable by observing these four
characters: 1) lighter color of the slipper or
pouch (creamy white to pale yellow), 2) larger
lip or labellum (lip length up to 6.5 cm), 3)
different shaped toe of slipper (see

Close-up of the Kentucky ladyslipper flower
{Cypripedium kentuckiense ).

Tipularia • 2000

Comparative morphology
of the slippers.

C. calceolus var. pubescens

One of the key differences between the Kentucky ladyslipper and the large-flowered yellow la-
dyslipper is slipper geometry, as seen in the illustration (Patrick and Horn 1982). The slipper of the
Kentucky ladyslipper is characterized by a relatively taller profile (h to I ratio) and a steeper angle
(«0 forward of the slipper opening. This opening is proportionately larger and extends closer to
the"moccasin toe" (distance t is shorter relative to I). Point D or the distal end of the slipper is below
the horizontal centerline (which is defined as the midpoint of height h).

illustration below), and 4) larger width of dor¬
sal (or topmost) sepal that overhangs the pouch
opening (width is 3.5-5.0 cm versus 1.5-3.0 cm
for other yellow lady slippers).

Habitat

Typically, the Kentucky ladyslipper is found
in shaded alluvial habitats subject to occasional
flooding. This includes forested springhead
seeps in sandy soils and mature floodplain
forests. The Georgia population (about two
dozen plants) was found on the edges of seepy
rivulets and terraces in a remnant beech-maple-
mixed oak forest. The soils at this site are of the
Orangeburg-Faceville Soil Series and are
strongly acidic and well-drained and have low
fertility (Smith 1991). These soils are often
galled or gullied, with excess water draining into
a series of intermittent and perennial streams.

There were some fairly mature trees scat¬
tered on the seepy slopes. Dominant canopy

species included beech ( Fagus grandifolia),
white oak ( Quercus alba), and pignut hick¬
ory ( Carya glabra). The understory was
dominated by spicebush (Linder a benzoin),
flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), rho¬
dodendron ( Rhodendron viscosum), silverbell
(Halesia diptera ), and Florida maple (Acer
floridanum). Cane (Arundinaria gigantea)
was also abundant. The herbaceous diversity
was reflective of mesic hardwoods and
included wild geranium (Geranium
maculatum), fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia
ciliata), wild ginger (Hexastylis arifolia),
and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).
There were abundant ferns, including netted
chainfem (Woodwardia areolata), royal fern
(Osmunda regalis), cinnamon fern (O.
cinnamomea), and Southern ladyfern
(Athyrium filix-femina var. aspleniodes).

Georgia Discovery of the Kentucky Ladyslipper

Range and Status

The ladyslipper is found in ten states (see
county distribution map). It is distributed on
the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and
northern Tennessee; the Eastern Highland
Rim of south-central Tennessee; the Interior
Highlands of Arkansas and Oklahoma; the
Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas, Louisiana,
Alabama, and Mississippi; and the Atlantic
Coastal Plain of Georgia and eastern Virginia.

Distribution data was obtained from state
heritage programs. There are a total of 184
records across the range of the species. These
occurrence records are based on herbarium
vouchers, site visits, and literature reports.
Consequently, they represent a combination
of extant and historic sites. Population num¬
bers are probably underestimated due to lim¬
ited searching and difficulties in verifying
juveniles. In Arkansas, for example, surveys
on Forest Service land and surveys targeting
the species have bolstered the confirmed
number of populations in the last decade.

The map highlights the disjunct nature of
both the Virginia and Georgia populations.
The closest population to Georgia’s is
approximately 200 miles, while the closest
population to Virginia’s is approximately 365
miles! One can speculate on the likelihood
that additional populations are awaiting dis¬
covery, especially on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Arkansas boasts the largest number of pop¬
ulations with 80. Data from 1 996 shows that
although a given population may number from
as few as ten to over 1 20, more than half of the
populations have less than 21 individuals
(Weldy et al. 1 996). Georgia and Virginia have
the fewest number of populations, with one
each. Georgia’s population, however, contains
about two dozen plants while Virginia’s pop¬
ulation reaches 120 individuals. Case (1998)
analyzed the genetics of different ladyslipper
populations and discovered that the Virginia
population had unique genetic variation. It
would be interesting to similarly investigate the
genetics of the Georgia population.

This species is in decline. It is estimated that

fifty percent of the known populations in
Oklahoma are now extirpated (Biosurvey 2000).
Most states designate a state rank of “S 1 ” for this
species which means that it is critically imperiled
in the state. Its global rank of “G3” indicates that
it is rare and only locally distributed throughout
its range. The threats to the Kentucky ladyslipper
are similar to those of other rare species, with
habitat destruction being primary. Threats across
this species’ range include human disturbances like
conversion of natural forests into pine planta¬
tions, logging, and hydrological alterations. Over¬
collecting for personal or commercial use repre¬
sents another threat. Biological factors may also
play a role in the species decline. Weldy et al.
(1996) suggest that life history traits of ladyslip¬
per orchids in general (like difficulty of seedling
establishment in the wild and many years re¬
quired from seedling to flowering plant) in com¬
bination with small population size affect the
growth rates of Kentucky ladyslipper popula¬
tions. Other biological threats include herbivory
and disturbance of substrate by animals, particu¬
larly feral hogs and deer (personal observation).

Conservation

Since the Georgia population of the
Kentucky ladyslipper is fairly disjunct from
other populations, this newest discovery may
provide new insights into species genetics,
ecological tolerances, and morphology. This
discovery also establishes a range extension for
the species, suggesting that additional popu¬
lations may be located elsewhere within the
newly defined range. This discovery also pro¬
vides an impetus for Georgia-based agencies
and institutions to invest in exploration and con¬
servation efforts for the species. Such invest¬
ments may include the attention of state-funded
biologists, non-profit organizations, and plant
enthusiasts. This (of course) is in addition to
the keen eyes of BotSoccers who will hopefully
make it their mission to discover new popula¬
tions throughout the state.

Current conservation efforts in Georgia
include securing protection for the fragile

Tipularia • 2000

Cypripedium kentuckiense

Distribution is based on data from the Natural
Heritage Network. Each dot consolidates records
for one county. Map produced by the Georgia
Natural Heritage Program (October 2000).

Georgia Discovery of the Kentucky Ladyslipper

220 miles

site where the population grows as well as
germinating seeds from the population. In
spring 2000, Ron Determann and Carol
Helton from the Atlanta Botanical Garden
provided expertise
on cross pollinating
the three flowers.

During a mid-sum¬
mer survey, three
fruits (almost fully
grown) were ob¬
served. The fruit is a
capsule (about 5.5 to
6.5 cm long and 1 .3
to 1.5 cm wide) and
contains potentially
thousands of tiny
seeds. Two fruits
were collected and
seeds were placed on
appropriate growth
substrate in a tissue
culture lab. It is
hoped that this mi¬
cropropagation tech¬
nique will generate
at least a hundred
seedlings which can be grown for future out-
plantings in selected sites. Perhaps one day,
thanks to this collaboration of plant biologists
and field personnel, the Kentucky ladyslip-
per will be protected in more than just one
small population in Georgia. »

References

Biosurvey. 2000. University of Oklahoma
website on Oklahoma’s endangered species.
Accessed on April 21, 2000 (www.biosur-
vey.ou.edu/cypkent.htm).

Brown, P. M. 1995. “ Cypripedium kentuck-
iense : A Retrospective of the Literature.” North
American Native Orchid Journal. 1 : 255-266.

Case, M. A., H. T. Mlodozeniec, L. E.
Wallace, and T. W. Weldy. 1998.
“Conservation Genetics and Taxonomic
Status of the Rare Kentucky’s Lady’s Slipper:

Cypripedium kentuckiense ( Orchidaceae)."
American Journal of Botany. 85(12): 1779-
1786.

Correll, D. S. 1940. “Some Southern

Orchids.” American
Orchid Society Bulletin
9: 78-83.

Correll, D. S.
1950. Reprinted in
1978. Native Orchids
of North America.
Stanford University
Press: Stanford, CA.

Patrick, T. S. and
D. Horn. 1982.
“Physiographic Dis¬
tribution of Tenn¬
essee Orchids with
Notes on Certain
Rare Species.” Un¬
published manu¬
script. 14 pp.

Reed, C. F. 1981.
“ Cypripedium ken¬
tuckiense Reed, a
New Species of
Orchid in Kentucky.”
Phytologia. 48(5): 426-428.

Smith, E. H. 1991. Soil Survey of Johnson
and Laurens County, Georgia. USDA Soil
Conservation Service: Washington, DC.

Soukup, V. 1977. Cypripedium daultoni,
Soukup: sp. nov. A New Lady’s-slipper from
Northeastern Kentucky. The Mid-American:
Newsletter of the Mid-America Orchid
Congress. 56: 9-14.

Weldy, T. W., H. T. Mlodozeniec, L. E.
Wallace, and M. A. Case. 1996. “The Current
Status of Cypripedium kentuckiense
( Orchidaceae ) Including a Morphological
Analysis of a Newly Discovered Population
in Eastern Virginia.” Sida. 17(2):423-435.

Editor’s Note: In the 1994 issue of
Tipularia, David Emory describes orchids
of Georgia.

—

Tipularia • 2000

A Conservation Legacy Lives On:
The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

by W. Larry and Debra H. Davis

History

he Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (near

Mansfield, Georgia) encompasses 6,400
acres and includes Clybel WMA and Marben
PFA. It is located on Georgia Highway 11,
twelve miles south of Interstate 20 (approx¬
imately one hour from Atlanta). Purchased
in 1993 by the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources and managed by the Wildlife
Resources Division, the Center offers an
extensive wildlife education program, envi¬
ronmental education outreach programs, and
a variety of hunting, fishing, and outdoor
recreational opportunities. There are over
four miles of hiking trails (with more
planned), a primitive campground, picnic
areas, and several sites for wildlife viewing.
More than 1 50 species of birds have been ob¬
served in the area.

On January 23, 1995, the Center was

dedicated in honor of Charles Newton Elliott,
the first director of Georgia’s Game and Fish
Commission (now known as the Wildlife
Resources Division). Mr. Elliott was a
well-known conservationist and writer and
served as the southern field editor for Outdoor
Life Magazine. He promoted the concept of
conservation through education for more
than 50 years. His 1994 autobiography, “An
Outdoor Life,” provides a fascinating look
into the background of one of Georgia’s most
dedicated conservationists. Charlie Elliot
died on May 1, 2000, but his conservation ef¬
forts live on at the Center.

Visitor's Center

Upon arrival at the Visitor’s Center, guests
will enter a watershed wildlife habitat exhibit, a
number of informative and educational displays,
and a bird viewing area. Inside is a precise replica

of Charlie Elliott’s den. The
den includes books, furni¬
ture, hunting trophies, and
memorabilia donated by Mr.
Elliott. The area around the
outside of the Visitors Center
is home to a recently created
bog garden, a humming¬
bird/butterfly garden, and an
aquatic exhibit.

Outside, the bog garden
includes a number of rare
and endangered plant
species. Several pitcher
plants native to Georgia can

The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

be found here, including golden trumpets
(Sarracenia flava), whitetop pitcherplants (S.
leucophylla), hooded pitcherplant (S. minor),
green pitcherplant (S. oreophila), parrot pitcher-
plant ( S . psittacina ), purple pitcherplant ( S .
purpurea), and sweet pitcherplant ( S . rubra).
Stokes aster ( Stokesia laevis), swamp pink
(. Helonias bullata), Coosa Barbara buttons
(. Marshallia mohrii), and sundew ( Drosera
intermedia) can also be found in the bog as well
as a variety of other plants.

Visitors do not want to miss seeing the
butterflies and hummingbirds attracted by
various species of plants in the beautiful
hummingbird/butterfly garden. Plants such as
mountain skullcap ( Scutellaria montana),
narrowleaf obedient plant ( Physostegia lep-
tophylla), cardinal flower ( Lobelia cardi-
nalis), purple cone flower ( Echinacea
purpurea), and bee balm ( Mondarda didyma)
are among the many found in the garden.

The Aquatic Exhibit, situated behind the
Visitors Center, can be viewed from an ob¬
servation deck or walkway. Surrounded by
a beautiful recovering hardwood forest, the
exhibit houses two small pools. Plants in the
upper pool include pickerel weed ( Pontederia
cordata), sensitive fern ( Onoclea sensibilis),
bracken fern ( Pteridium aquilinum) and var¬
ious species of violets ( Violacea ). The lower
pool contains yellow root (. Xanthorhiza sim-
plicissima), arrowhead ( Sagittaria sp.), and
foamflower ( Tiarella cordifolia), along with
other moisture-loving plants. One of the pret¬
tiest displays of resurrection fem ( Polypodium
polypodioides) can be observed on a log
adjacent to the lower pool.

Natural Habitats

The Environment

The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is
located in the Piedmont and is part of the
Altamaha River drainage system. The prop¬
erty contains over 20 lakes and ponds

Granite outcrop habitat and its
diversity of plant life.

totaling approximately 300 acres, one major
stream (Murder Creek), and several smaller
creeks. Land elevation ranges from 600 to
800 feet. Much of the land is in successional
transition, with 2,500 acres making up old
fields that are slowly reverting to woodlands
and open or cut fields that are used for hunt¬
ing and other recreational purposes.
Approximately 3,900 acres are covered in
forests. Pine and mixed pine/hardwood
forests cover 2,400 acres and hardwoods
cover 1,500 acres. A five acre rock outcrop
is located on a hill above the floodplain of
Murder Creek and groups of large boulders
may be found in several areas on the prop¬
erty, including the primitive campground.

The Plants

An area of particular botanical interest is
the rock outcrop trail (a 1.1 mile loop). The
trail takes visitors up a hardwood-covered
hillside and down through a pine woodland.
It crosses Murder Creek and ascends another
pine/hardwood forest to the outcrop. After
leaving the outcrop, the trail again crosses
Murder Creek and passes an area where hun¬
dreds of Jack-in-the-pulpit ( Arisaema tri-
phyllum) have been observed. Other note¬
worthy plants contributing their share of
beauty include Piedmont azalea
(. Rhododendron canescens), climbing
hydrangea (. Decumaria barbara), strawberry

Tipularia • 2000

Crown-tipped coral ( Clavicorona pyxidata) and shaggy stalked bolete ( Boletellus betiila )

are found on the grounds of the center.

bush ( Euononymus americanus), beauty-
berry ( Calllicarpa americana), and sweet
shrub (Calycanthus floridus).

A variety of plant life can be found on the
granite outcrop. Spring visitors can observe
hawthorn ( Crataegus uniflora) at the edge of
the outcrop. Lichens and mosses cover much
of the outcrop with diamorpha ( Sedum smallii )
and sandwort ( Arenaria uniflora ) appearing
where solution pits have collected grit and
thin soil. The pinkish-white flowers of
diamorpha and the white flowers of sandwort
usually begin to appear in late March or early
April. Other plants which can be observed at
the outcrop include false garlic ( Allium
bivalve), hairy lipfem ( Cheilanthes lanosa), yel¬
low jasmine ( Gelsemium sempervirens), pine-
weed ( Hypericum gentianoides), dwarf dan¬
delion ( Krigia virginica), hairy spiderwort
( Tradescantia hirsuticaulis), bear grass ( Yucca
fdamentosa), toadflax ( Linaria canadensis),
sundrops (Oenothera fruiticosa), prickly pear
( Opuntia compressa), and rock portulaca
(Talinum teretifolium). These beautiful plants
grace the outcrop with a myriad of colors. In
the fall, Confederate daisy ( Helianthus ported).

having survived the harsh summer conditions
on the outcrop, rewards visitors with a golden
display.

The areas around the many lakes, ponds,
and streams, as well as ravines and deeply
shaded hillsides, provide excellent habitats for
many species of ferns, including the Southern
lady fern (Athyrium fdix-femina var. asple-
nioides), ebony spleenwort ( Asplenium
platyneuron ), Christmas fern ( Polystichum
acrostichoides), ressurection fern ( Polypodium
polypodioides), and the netted chain fern
(Lo rinse ria areolata). A special treat is the
Southern adder’s tongue fern ( Ophioglossum
vulgatum var. pycnostichum) which can be
observed along the rock outcrop trail.

The Mushrooms

The southeastern United States is home
to several thousand species of mushrooms.
Mushrooms lack chlorophyll and belong to
the Fungi Kingdom. Mushrooms and other
fungi are often overlooked or ignored. They do,
however, interact with their environment in
many ways. Some form symbiotic relationships

The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

with vascular plants while others may be par¬
asitic and may eventually destroy their hosts.
Others are found gracing a fallen log or adding
rich color to the forest floor. Fungi, along with
bacteria, break down dead organic matter and
help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

The diverse habitats of the Center support
a wonderful array of fungi that are well worth
noting. With sufficient rainfall, it is possible to
find oysters ( Pleurotus ostreatus) on trees, lob¬
ster tails ( Hypomyces lactifluorum ) on the
ground, witch’s butter ( Tremella mesenterica )
on the pines, and black tulips ( U mulct cra-
terium ), milk caps (. Lactarius spp .) and little
scarlet cups ( Sarcoscypha occidentalis ) in your
path. One can encounter an old man of the
woods (Strobilomyces floccopus), dead man’s
fingers ( Xylaria polymorpha ) and destroying
angels (. Amanita viros a) too. The elegant
Caesar’s mushroom ( Amanita caesarea), bird’s
nests, ( Cyathus striatus), honeys ( Armillaria
melleo), the “aromatic” stinkhoms (. Mutinus
elegans ), crown tipped coral, ( Clavicoma pyx-
idato), golden spindles ( Clavulinopsis
fusiformis ), and shaggy manes ( Coprinus
comatus ) also grace the woods. The bright reds
and oranges of the mssulas, chanterelles, and
boletes can be seen for quite some distance.

Conclusion

The Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center has much
to offer its visitors. Whether you go to enjoy the
flora of the outcrop and forest, the beauty of the
old fields covered in thistles and goldenrod, the
stateliness of the oaks, or the enchanting beauty
of a sunrise or sunset on one of the ponds, you
will experience a sense of renewal so familiar
to those who love the outdoors. ^

Additional Reading

Aurora, David. 1986. Mushrooms
Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the
Fleshy Fungi. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA.

Bessette, Alan C, William C. Roody, and
Arleen R. Bessette. 2000. North American Boletes:
A Color Guide to the Fleshy Pored Mushrooms.
Syracuse University Press: Syracuse, NY.

Wharton, Charles H. 1978. The Natural
Environments of Georgia. Department of
Natural Resources, Environmental Protection
Division, Georgia Geologic Survey.

Author's Note : Special appreciation is
extended to the staff of the Charlie Elliott
Wildlife Center for the historical information
provided for this article.

Witch’s butter ( Tremella mesenterica) fruiting on pine.

Tipularia • 2000

Reconnaissance for the Ocmulgee Skullcap

(Scutellaria ocmulgee)

by Wayne Morris, Eric Van De Genachte, Tom Patrick, and Shan Cammack

History of the Ocmulgee
Skullcap in Georgia

^he plant now known as Ocmulgee skullcap
/(, Scutellaria ocmulgee ) was first described by
John K. Small, who collected it near Macon in
the 1890’s. According to Collins (1976), Dr.
Small had preprinted all the labels to his col¬
lections for that particular trip. When published.
Small gave the habitat as river bluffs above
Macon, but all the labels with the actual

Ocmulgee skullcap (. Scutellaria ocmulgee )
and habitat.

specimens described the habitat as the river
swamp below Macon. During limited field
research for his dissertation, Collins was unable
to pinpoint any Ocmulgee skullcap localities. It
was not until the late 1970’s that Steve Bowling
rediscovered Ocmulgee skullcap (most likely
near the original locality) while exploring nat¬
ural areas along the Ocmulgee River. Steve cul¬
tivated the plants and for a long time was the only
botanist aware of the existence of the Ocmulgee
skullcap. He did not realize the importance of
his discovery until he saw actual photographs
of Small’s specimens while visiting the
Smithsonian Institution many years later. Steve
also found the same plant growing along bluffs
of the Savannah River north of Augusta during
a birthday expedition on August 25, 1980. This
was one of the first Bowling discoveries
investigated by botanists and friends of the
Georgia Natural Heritage Program (GNHP).

With two precise sites located, the stage
was set for searching with renewed rigor. In
1995, the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources added Scutellaria ocmulgee to its
official list of protected plants. In 1999,
GNHP commissioned several field botanists
and ecologists to survey the state for popu¬
lations. Frankie Snow covered the bluffs and
riverbanks along the lower Ocmulgee and
Altamaha rivers. Wayne Moms conducted
surveys along the Savannah River. Shan
Cammack, Eric Van De Genachte, and Tom
Patrick explored the upper Ocmulgee and
Oconee rivers.

Reconnaissance for the Ocmulgee Skullcap

Overview of Study

With a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, GNF1P conducted reconnaissance for
the Ocmulgee skullcap. Focus areas were bluff
habitats along the four previously mentioned
river systems. Based on the locations of known
populations, biologists sought bluff habitats that
had exposures to the north or northeast. In
order to locate bluffs with these exposures,
GNHP staff used GIS software along with
digital copies of USGS topographic maps to
plot potential sites. Over 200 potential survey
sites were identified in the four river basins
using this methodology and maps were gen¬
erated to aid in field surveys.

Despite several obstacles during the sur¬
vey, it is believed that 17 new populations
were discovered. Closer inspection of the
other sites may reveal more. These discov¬
eries increased the number of known popu¬
lations in Georgia to 31 sites. Outside
Georgia, the only other confirmed site in the
world is in Aiken County, South Carolina.
Five new populations were found along the
Oconee River, two along the Altamaha River,
and 10 along the Savannah River. Biologists
were successful in not only finding new pop¬
ulations of the rare Ocmulgee skullcap, but
other rare species as well (see Table 1).

Some of the obstacles biologists faced
during the survey included identification
challenges, drought (a seasonally compressed
survey window), and limited access to sites.
Distinguishing between the 18 Scutellaria
species found in Georgia can be difficult. In

some cases, vegetative characteristics are
unreliable for segregating taxa. In other cases,
diagnostic features are only well-expressed
when the plant is large and in flower. Because
the summer of 1 999 was a second consecu¬
tive drought year, identification challenges
were exacerbated because the Ocmulgee
skullcap does not always display the typical
patterns of growth and phenology during
times of stress.

Plant Description

This is a perennial herb with 4-sided
stems which reaches 40 to 80 cm tall. The
upper stem has two types of trichomes (hairs):
straight, spreading knob-tipped hairs (glan¬
dular) and shorter, upwardly curved, slender-
tipped hairs (eglandular). Leaves are highly
variable in shape, opposite, covered beneath
with velvety hairs, and have rounded, shal¬
low teeth on the margin. Generally, lower
stem leaves are cordate, mid-stem leaves are
longer (5 to 8 cm) and are oblong-ovate with
truncate bases, and upper stem leaves are
smallest, gradually becoming bract-like in the
inflorescence. The flowers are in racemes
or panicles that are 1 5 to 20 cm long, are ter¬
minal and axillary from the upper leaf axils,
and emit a faint, rather sweet fragrance. The
calyx is bilabiate (2-lipped) and is covered
with short, curled hairs. The corollas can
range in color from dull blue to violet-blue
with white splotches and a conspicuous lon¬
gitudinal white stripe down the middle. The

Table 1. Additional species of conservation interest located during the Ocmulgee skullcap survey.

Common Name

Scientific Name

Common Name

Scientific Name

Cutleaf agrimonia

Agrimonia incisa

Broadleaf bunchflower

Melanthium latifolium

Sedge

Car ex venusta

Indian olive

Nestronia umbellula

Kentucky ladyslipper

Cypripedium kentuckiense

Oconee azalea

Rhododendron flammeum

Glade larkspur

Delphinium carolinianum

Yellow coneflower

Rudbeckia nitida

Greenfly orchid

Epidendrum conopseum

Yellow flytrap

Sarracenia flava

Swamp privet

Foresteria acuminata

Carolina pink

Silene caroliniana

Gopher tortoise

Gopherus polyphemus

Ovate catchfly

Silene ovata

Standing cypress

Ipomopsis rubra

Trepocarpus

Trepocarpus aethusae

Pineland barbara buttons

Marshallia ramosa

Relict trillium

Trillium reliquum

Tipularia • 2000

Close-up of the Ocmulgee skullcap’s flower.

tube and lip together are 1 8 to 23 mm long.
The fruit consists of four nutlets enclosed
within the firm, persistent calyx, which has
a noticeable protuberance (the “skullcap”) on
the upper lip. The best time to search for the
plant is during flowering which occurs
between June and July and sporadically later.
Fruiting occurs between August and
November (Patrick et al. 1995).

Species of skullcaps are difficult to dis¬
tinguish. Flower size, leaf shape, and types
of hairs are needed for accurate identification.
One of the more reliable diagnostic charac¬
teristics is the presence of two types of hairs
on the upper stem of S. ocmulgee. This char¬
acter is particularly evident at a point along
the stem about two internodes below the
base of the inflorescence. In order to docu¬
ment this character, staff took microscopy
photographs. In the field, hairs need to be
verified by a hand lens.

Super close-up shot of the diagnostic hairs on
the Ocmulgee skullcap’s stem.

Habitats and Plant
Associates

Understanding the specific ecological as¬
pects of a plant’s habitat (soils, aspect, and
associated plant species) can be a very use¬
ful way to locate new populations for rare
species. In general, we know that the
Ocmulgee skullcap occurs in mesic Southern
mixed hardwood forests and bluff forests
with northern or northeastern exposures. This
section takes a closer look at the specific
components of the skullcap’s habitat along
the Savannah River. A list of the species that
were commonly associated with the
Ocmulgee skullcap along the Savannah River
can be found in Table 2. Many of these sites
are often underlain by calcareous material of
the McBean and Dry Branch Formations of
the late Eocene age, especially in Burke
County (Paulk 1986). The geological for¬
mations are characterized by green fossilif-
erous sands and marls with a mixture of clay,
chert, and limestone, including embedded
oyster shells. The presence of oyster shell is
clear evidence that the Fall Line (from
Augusta to Columbus) represents an ancient
coastline. The fine sands of the Troup-Lucy
soil series seem to be the preferred soil type
of S. ocmulgee along the Savannah River.
Considering these ecological factors in con¬
cert can help guide researchers in finding
new populations more efficiently.

Threats and Conservation
Opportunities

The Ocmulgee skullcap is jeopardized by
three major threats: competition, herbivory,
and habitat loss. Although competition from

Reconnaissance for the Ocmulgee Skullcap

Herbs I Understory Trees, Shrubs, and Vines I Canopy Species

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Tipularia • 2000

native species (via community succession)
certainly impacts skullcap populations, the
most acute threat is waged by exotic species
like Chinese privet ( Ligustrum sinense ),
Chinaberry ( Melia adzedarach), Japanese
honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica), and Russian
olive ( Elaeagnus umbellata), to name a few.

These aggressive plants can displace the nat¬
ural understory shrubs and vines and the
herbaceous layer in the forest. Herbivory,
particularly by feral hogs ( Sus scrofa ) and deer
(i Odocoileus virginianus), can have profound
impacts on small, isolated populations. Feral
hogs can be remarkably (and unexpectedly)

COUNTY DISTRIBUTION OF THE OCMULGEE SKULLCAP
IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA

Shaded counties contain populations of the
Ocmulgee skullcap. Map produced by the
Georgia Natural Heritage Program
(October 2000).

Reconnaissance for the Ocmulgee Skullcap

agile, even on relatively steep bluffs. Lastly, the
omnipresent threat of human encroachment
and habitat conversion is a very serious detri¬
ment to the recovery of this species. Although
many of the bluffs upon which the species can
be found are too steep for commercial silvi¬
cultural operations, small-scale timbering in the
area does occur. The clearing of forest in the
uplands and on the crest of the bluff for con¬
version to pine
plantations or res¬
idential develop¬
ment degrades ad¬
jacent habitats with
erosion. A possi¬
ble secondary re¬
sult of habitat
modi-
fication is an
increase in

hybridization .

Conversion of
habitats from the
cool, dim, mesic
conditions of
mature forests of
north- exposed
ravines to the hotter, drier, bright conditions of
a clear-cut ravine may promote the establish¬
ment of other Scutellaria species which are
adapted to such conditions. Bringing various
Scutellaria species together may facilitate hy¬
bridization with the Ocmulgee skullcap, ef¬
fectively polluting and diluting its specific
genepool (introgression).

There are several inexpensive conserva¬
tion efforts that could be employed to facil¬
itate the protection and recovery of the
Ocmulgee skullcap. First, more information
is needed. The taxonomic challenges can be
daunting. Establishing an ex situ garden of the
sympatric Scutellaria species would help in
confirming the identity of ambiguous popu¬
lations and in training biologists to segregate
the species when they are in their vegetative
states. Additional surveys should also be for¬
mally conducted along these rivers and be¬
yond the bluff systems. Second, landowners

that have the rare plant should be contacted.
For those interested, management recom¬
mendations should be offered. It would also
be useful to link landowners with incentive
programs for restoration activities (soil
stabilization, forest restoration, natural areas
protection, etc.).

Finally, keen botanists with an eye to the
ground can provide essential information.

The map depicts
the most current
information on the
range of this
species by high¬
lighting the coun¬
ties where it has
been documented.
Certainly, if any¬
one happens to
find the Ocmulgee
skullcap in their
travels, please
contact the
Georgia Natural
Heritage Program
(770-918-6411)
and help us better
understand this rare species. »

References

Collins, J. L. 1976. A revision of the
Annulate Scutellaria ( Labiatae ). Unpublished
Ph.D. dissertation, Vanderbilt University,
Nashville, TN.

Paulk, H.L. 1986. Soil Survey of Burke
County, Georgia. US DA in Cooperation with
the University of Georgia. College of
Agriculture: Agricultural Experiment
Stations. 130 pp.

Patrick, T. S., J. A. Allison, and G. A.
Krakow. 1995. Protected Plants of Georgia.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
Georgia Natural Heritage Program.

The Ocmulgee skullcap,
like other treasured
wildf lowers, is being
impacted by habitat loss,
herbivory, and
competition by
exotic species.

Tipularia • 2000

Searching for Georgia's Big Trees

by Doug Riddle

ike many of you, my son Jess and I enjoy
the out-of-doors. There is grandeur, beauty,
and serenity in Nature that make it special for
each of us. What Jess and I primarily seek out
are “Big Trees” across the state. Secondarily,
we look at trees anywhere we happen to travel.
In Georgia, as in many other states, a Big Tree
Register is maintained, documenting the largest
example of each tree species. There is also a
National Register of Big Trees that is main¬

tained by American Forests in Washington,
D.C. These registers contain both native and
non-native species. Anyone is welcome to
submit an entry tree. The tree can be found in
forests or front yards, from the Okefenokee
Swamp to mountain tops and from arbore-
tums to the side of the road.

The submittal process is a one page form
that contains the tree’s dimensions, location,
condition, and owner contact information.
Tree dimensions for state and national recog¬
nition are measured in the same way. There
is a point system which is the sum of three
parts of the tree: 1) cir¬
cumference at breast
height (cbh) which is
measured 4'6" from the
ground, 2) the height of

the tree, and 3) one fourth of the average
branch span. This third part is found by meas¬
uring the widest and narrowest branch spans
of the tree and averaging the two numbers —
then multiplying by lA.

That is the pure math — figuring it in the field
gets a little challenging! Trees in the mountains
rarely are on level ground, so we measure from
the mid-slope on one side of the tree. Tree
crowns are not always symmetrical or have a sin¬
gle stem, so we try to measure
a tree from more than one side
to find the highest reading and
to find a consistent height
measurement. While we enjoy
being at the base of a big tree,
sometimes that is not possi¬
ble. When a tree is on the
opposite side of a creek, we can still get a height
reading using a little geometry, a Bushnell 400
laser to measure distance, and a Suunto cli¬
nometer to measures angles. We have even
measured trees from a canoe as we paddled in
the Okefenokee Swamp and along Ebenezer
Creek. Enough of the math though, now for the
fun part: finding the trees.

Searching for big trees is something that
has been a family activity for over 10 years.
When Jess was 6 years old, I identified the
species of trees in our yard. This was an intro¬
duction to the world of leaf shapes, diversity of

Total points=cbh + height + 1/4 average branch span
The cbh is measured in inches while the height and
branch span are measured in feet.

Georgia's Champion Trees can be found at:
www.gfc.state.ga.us/Management/

Find out more on the National Register of Big Trees at:
www.americanforests.org/bigtree/bigtree.html

Searching for Georgia’s Big Trees

acoms and nuts, patterns of bark, structures of
tree crowns, and importance of habitat. The first
item, the leaves, is the part I identified for Jess.
We have learned the importance of the other fea¬
tures together, over the years. After mastering our
own yard, Jess and I started looking for big trees
fu st where we live, in Roswell, GA. Interestingly,
we have found both state and national champion
trees in north fulton county.

Recently, Jess found a big leaf magnolia
(. Magnolia macrophylla ) on the north slope
of the property at Bulloch Hall. This tree is
not only a state champion, but is also being
submitted as the National Champion of the
species by Willard Fell, the Georgia registered
forester who maintains Georgia’s Champion
Trees. Big leaf magnolias are not common in
Georgia. They generally occur in pockets, and
two of the locations are at Bulloch Hall and
Vickery Creek Park (part of the
Chattahoochee River Park System). This
species can be easily recognized by its leaves,
which are up to 26" long! The blossoms are
also huge and can be seen in the springtime
if you drive down Oxbo Drive in Roswell

Another former champion tree in north
Fulton County is the Georgia or painted

buckeye ( Aesculus sylvatica). It is located
along a stream that feeds into the lake at
Mountain Park. Now for many, the terms
“champion tree” or “big tree” conjure up an
image of a spreading oak with limbs that
could shade an entire house. That is not
always the case for trees listed in a Big Tree
Register. In fact, our Georgia buckeye may
appear diminutive to some with only 12"
cbh, 28' ht and 16' branch span for a total of
44 points — and yet it was the Georgia
Champion Tree in early 1999. (It has been
superceded by two larger trees.)

Trees are like flowers, birds, or any other
grouping. While different species come in a
variety of sizes and shapes, each is unique and
deserves appreciation on its own merits. The
largest tree we have measured is a bald
cypress ( Taxodium distichum ) along Ebenezer
Creek in Effingham County. It has the
following stats: 324 1" cbh, 78' ht, and 53'
branch span, for a total of 486 points. Contrast
that with the smallest number of points, 30,
which has occurred on several species. One
example is a swamp dogwood (Comas
stricta ) measuring 7" cbh, 20' ht, and 13'
branch span. Trees run the gamut between

Jess and Doug Riddle by the champion eastern cottonwood ( Populus deltoides ) in Fulton County.

Tipularia • 2000

Yellowwood ( Cladrcistis kentuckea )
and Jess Riddle.

these two extremes. Other big tree hunters
have found even larger trees and that is part
of the fun, just hiking and looking for trees.
Will we find a champion today? The only way
is to get out and look. Keep in mind that the
tree may be one you pass by regularly: going
to work, traveling to visit a friend, or while
shopping on a Saturday.

One downside to searching for big trees (and
especially old growth trees) is that the more you
travel, the more you see evidence of Georgia
being heavily logged. From the magnificent
cypress in the Okefenokee Swamp, to the beau¬
tiful hardwoods in the mountains, to the pines
and live oaks of the Piedmont and Coastal
Plain, most old growth trees are essentially
gone. Jess reads about locations of remnant
old growth or selectively cut areas and then we
go and look. We once paddled for six days in
the Okefenokee Swamp. We have traveled by

canoe down streams and have hiked many
mountain miles (up mostly). We have con¬
firmed that the old growth stands of Georgia are
all but gone. A few old growth trees remain here
and there. We still hold onto the hope of find¬
ing a nice stand of mountain old growth trees.

Enough of the negative. The Okefenokee
Swamp is still a great place to canoe, where
you can see owls and alligators, and experi¬
ence a true 400,000-acre wetland! Georgia
is looking green, and each day Jess and I
spend outdoors is a day well spent. Nature
will regenerate herself if mankind gives her
time and doesn’t assault her further. So we
hike and look. Some of the places we have
enjoyed hiking and finding trees are as
follows.

1. Stroud Creek in the Swallow Creek
WMA off Hwy 76 (Towns County)

There are buckeye ( Aesculus ), silverbell
( Halesio ), black birch ( Betula lento), cucum¬
ber magnolia ( M . acuminata), and yellow-
wood ( Cladrastis kentuckea) that stand on
either side of a nice clear Stroud Creek. This
is a north facing cove, so the undergrowth is
minimal and makes for easy walking.

2. Ebenezer Creek near Stillwell (Effingham
County)

There are old growth cypress (I distichum),
water tupelo ( Nyssa aquatica), water locust
( Gleditisia aquatica), and green ash ( Fraxinus
pennsylvanica) located along this slow mov¬
ing blackwater creek that flows into the
Savannah River.

3. A Cohutta Cove about 300 yards north¬
east of Potato Patch (Gilmer/Murray
County)

This cove has a nice stand of silverbell
( Halesia ) and buckeye ( Aesculus ) trees.
When the white silverbell flowers come out
in April, the canopy looks “snowy.”

4. Laurel Creek near Pine Mountain on
Hwy 28 (Rabun County)

This is the place to see the tallest trees in
Georgia, the eastern white pines ( Pinus
strobus). Along Laurel Creek is a 178.6'
white pine. Other white pines along Laurel,

Searching for Georgia’s Big Trees

Reed, and Hidden creeks reach heights
between 150' and the low 160’s. These are
TALL trees! They are second growth, so
there’s no telling how tall they may eventu¬
ally reach. White pines once exceeded 200'
in height. We would love to find one in
Georgia at this height!

5. Reinhardt College in Waleska (Cherokee
County)

In the 1940’s, the college President planted
many trees (native and non-native species)
and documented the location and date
planted. It is a nice place to visit. Many of
these 40 to 50 year old trees are good size
because of their open growing conditions.

6. Sosebee’s Cove off Hwy 180
(Union County)

This north facing cove has an abundance of
wildflowers in the spring and has the Georgia
champion yellow buckeye (A. flava), sev¬
eral large tulip trees ( Liriodendron tulip-
ifera), and one large black cherry (Primus
serotina ). The yellow buckeye is probably old
growth. If you hike above the road up the
boulder field, you will see two hard to find
trees, the mountain maple ( Acer spicatum)
and yellow wood (C. kentuckea).

Hiking and looking for big trees has taken
Jess and me to many parts of Georgia. We
have gained an education in geography. We
have met a lot of nice and often curious peo¬
ple. The most frequently asked question is
“How old do you think the tree is?” This ques¬
tion does not have an easy answer. For an
accurate age, you have to take a core of the tree
and count rings. This is not always possible,
however, if the tree is hollow or has a rotted
interior. If the tree is beside a house or bam,
or on the site of a former building, then the date
the building was built can be a good approxi¬
mation of the birth date of the tree. Open
grown trees are often larger and have a different
canopy structure than trees of the same species
which are growing in the forest. Sometimes
open grown trees are mistakenly thought to be
old growth because of their large circum¬
ference. Trees like this that have been cut

Doug Riddle along Ebeneezer Creek.

down have been found to be much younger
than expected, so size alone is not necessarily
an indication of age. Some of the oldest trees
native to Georgia are the bald cypress (T.
distichum ), black birch ( Betula nigra), hemlock
(Tsuga canadensis), and the white oaks
(Quercus spp.). The bald cypress along
Ebenezer Creek have been found to be over
1000 years old. Black birch in the Smoky
Mountains have been ring-dated at over 500
years. The oaks on mountain tops are short and
stunted and have circumferences of about 8 feet
for a “big tree.” And yet these oaks are quite
old. Highlands Nature Center in North Carolina
has a 30 inch cross section of a white oak from
a mountain top that has a ring count of over 400.
The same Nature Center has a second cross
section from a hemlock tree that was cut down
in the 1920’s. This tree was living when
Columbus arrived in the Americas. Imagine the
stories it could tell.

Editor’s Note : Doug and Jess have
over 40 listings in Georgia’s Champion
Trees !

Tipularia • 2000

Dr. Samuel B. Jones, Jr.:
A Life with Plants

by Carol and Hugh Nourse

Sam and Carleen Jones at Picadilly Farm.

n a sunny January afternoon, Sam Jones
meets us at the entrance to Piccadilly Farm,
where we have come to talk with him about
his career in botany and horticulture. “If
you’ve got time, squeeze into this golf cart
with me and I’ll show you the parts of this
place that most visitors don’t get to see,” he
says. So we’re off on a grand tour, past the
shade houses where dormant hostas, hardy
ferns, and conifer cuttings spend the winter,
through the hellebore production area, beside
the “old” dwarf conifer garden and over to
the “new” dwarf conifer garden. Along the
way, Sam provides a rapid commentary on
the operation of the nursery and on any un¬
usual, spectacular, or interesting plants we
pass, such as the beautiful blooming winter-
sweet (Chimonanthus praecox). We quickly

realize that Sam’s abiding interest is with
plants of all kinds.

Sam’s interest in plants developed natu¬
rally through his family. “Mother’s Dad grew
dahlias, so my Dad started it as a hobby in
the early ‘30’s, and one thing led to another,”
Sam recounts. Before long the family had a
florist business and greenhouses in Roswell.
In 1948, while still in high school, Sam started
his own small woody plant nursery. “I bought
my first automobile with the money from
that nursery,” he says. He kept the nursery
throughout his college years until 1955, when
he received his B.S. ( cum laude ) in orna¬
mental horticulture from Auburn University.
In a speech class at Auburn he met his future
wife, Carleen Arrington. “We had a teacher
from New Jersey who spent the whole
semester making fun of everyone who had a
southern accent,” recalls Carleen with a grin,
“but, for us, some good came of it.” They
were married in June of 1955, shortly after
Sam’s graduation. Having been in Army
ROTC at Auburn, Sam next served two years
with the 510 Tank Battalion in Germany,
and returned to Auburn University to earn a
Master’s degree in 1961 . He received a Ph.D.
in botany from the University of Georgia in
1 964. When asked if he ever seriously con¬
sidered pursuing a career outside botany and
horticulture, Sam responded that the Army
was the only other career he considered.

From 1964 to 1967, Sam was a faculty
member at the University of Southern
Mississippi. He then accepted a position at
the University of Georgia (UGA), where he

Dr. Samuel B. Jones, Jr.: A Life With Plants

was professor of Botany until his retirement
in 1991 . Part of his academic research focused
on the taxonomy of Vernonia in the
Composite Family ( Compositae ). Why, we
asked, did he concentrate on vernonias? “It
appeared to be a group of plants where I
could use the techniques that were used in
those days, biosystematics, where people
grew living plants, made F1, F2, and back-
crossed hybrids, and looked at the results.
There were taxonomic problems, because
there were a lot of natural hybrids due to
changing land use patterns and so forth. At
the time I started, I had no idea whether 1
could even grow the plants, or where the
research would go. It is a large group, maybe
a thousand species in
the genus. At one
time I was growing
all the vernonias of
the eastern U.S. and
Mexico.” Because the
tribe Vernoniae is
largely tropical, Sam
traveled to Mexico,

Peru, and Brazil to
collect vernonias. In
the tropics, many
species are woody
and tall: one in
Southeast Asia grows
to 30 meters in
height. South of the tropics, in Argentina, the
vernonias are smaller herbaceous plants like
those in the United States.

Vernonias were not Sam’s only research
interests. He conducted floristic surveys of
Clarke County, Georgia, and in several other
areas throughout the state including the
Okeefenokee swamp, northwest Georgia,
and the Cohutta mountains. He also con¬
ducted surveys in southern Mississippi, where
the land was less disturbed than in Georgia
during the 1960’s. In fact, Sam made so
many trips to Mississippi in his four years of
field work that “somebody in the (Georgia)
state legislature investigated me for all the

travel expenses,” he recalls.

From 1 979 to 1991, Sam was Director of
the Herbarium at UGA, succeeding Wilbur
Duncan in that position. Growing out of his
work at the Herbarium was the book,
Distribution of the Vascular Plants of
Georgia , which he co-authored with Nancy
Coile. In addition to his duties at the
Herbarium, Sam was teaching basic and
advanced courses in taxonomy. Preparing
and organizing the material for the taxonomy
courses led to another book, Plant
Systemcitics. He also co-authored, with
Leonard Foote, Native Shrubs and Woody
Vines of the Southeast, and then Gardening
with Native Wildflowers. “Len Foote and I

had so much fun on the
woody plant book, that
I said ‘Let’s do some¬
thing on gardening.’
That’s how the wild-
flower book came
about. He’d occasion¬
ally come over, I’d slip
off from the University,
and we’d work on the
manuscript. Then we
would do some botaniz¬
ing in northwest
Georgia for the day. Len
was also a good geolo¬
gist. He knew where
there were limestone areas that might be
loaded with shooting stars ( Dodecatheon
meadia ). He knew those little places.”

During his academic career, Sam also
authored or co-authored over 130 scientific
journal papers, articles, and book chapters,
and has written numerous articles in gar¬
dening publications. He was awarded the
Silver Seal Award from the National Council
of State Garden Clubs for his lifetime con¬
tributions to the study of plants.

From 1981 to 1984, Sam served as
Director of the UGA Botanical Garden (now
the State Botanical Garden) in addition to his
duties as researcher, teacher, and Director

Hellebores in 4-inch pots
being packed into flats.

Tipularia • 2000

of the Herbarium. Although the Director’s po¬
sition at the Botanical Garden was only half¬
time, having so many different responsibil¬
ities made Sam’s job difficult. “But it got me
back to doing some horticulture, away from
botany. Got me started toward what we’re
doing right now.”

In 1982, he and Carleen opened a nurs¬
ery in Oconee County. It started as a part-time
effort, but by 1987, it was a full-time oper¬
ation. Carleen retired from teaching biology
at Oconee County High School to devote
more time to the nursery and in 1991 Sam
retired from UGA. They decided to
specialize in hostas and hellebores after a
conversation with Fred Galle, the horticul¬
turist at Callaway Gardens. “When I talked
with Fred about the nursery, he told me to
grow hostas and hellebores — they were going
to be popular, so we did.” Piccadilly Farm is
now the largest wholesale shipper of helle¬
bores in the U.S., producing 30,000 gallon¬
sized and 160,000 4-inch-pot-sized plants
last year. “ Helleborus is the plant that pays
the bills, that supports our gardening hobby,”
declares Sam. The annual Hellebore Day at

the Farm drew so many people (over 1,800
in 1 999) that it had to be expanded to a two-
day event in 2000. In the 4.5 acre production
area, there are dozens of hellebore seed beds
and thousands of plants in four-inch and
gallon-sized pots. It takes two years from
seedling to potting-up size, and another two
years until blooming. Before the plant
blooms, it is impossible to tell what color the
flowers will be. What used to be considered
a single species, Helleborus orientalis, is
now known to contain at least five separate
genetic lines, so they are now properly called
Helleborus x hybridus.

A newer specialty for Sam and Carleen
is the production of dwarf conifers. “I like
conifers,” says Sam. “They really need to be
used more in the garden because they provide
year-round interest.” Piccadilly Farm offers
so many cultivars that the original conifer dis¬
play area became too small. Now, a large
new conifer display garden shows them off
handsomely.

As the nursery has grown, a division of
labor has developed. For example, Sam does
most of the bookkeeping and takes cuttings

Dwarf conifer display area.

Dr. Samuel B. Jones, Jr.: A Life With Plants

of the conifers. Carleen propagates unusual
hellebores and does much of the gardening
in the 2.5 acre display areas. One of her fa¬
vorite spots is the winter garden because it
is at its best when she has more time to gar¬
den. Because of the growth of the nursery,
they now employ two year-round assistants
and additional temporary help during the
busy seasons. “I try to stay out of the ship¬
ping now,” says Carleen, “because the em¬
ployees can do that as well as I can.” Having
reliable employees allows Sam and Carleen
to travel more frequently. Sam accepts fewer
speaking engagements than he used to so
that they can schedule three or four trips a
year. However, Sam still particularly enjoys
giving a series of Saturday morning lectures
at the nursery each spring. “Out of doors,
walking required,” states the Piccadilly Farm
brochure. Topics include “Wild Flower
Gardening,” “Dwarf Conifers,” and “Shrubs
for your Garden.”

According to Sam, the purpose of the
nursery is twofold: to have a profitable nurs¬
ery, but also to have an enjoyable one. He
remembers when “. . . the nursery industry
used to be made up of small family nurseries
run by people who really liked plants. They
sometimes grew plants they couldn’t even
sell, just because they liked them.” That is not
often the case anymore with the large cor¬
porate nurseries being prevalent today. But
there is no doubt that Sam and Carleen enjoy
their plants. “I’d be terribly unhappy if I did¬
n’t have this. Carleen too. We need something
to do, both mentally and physically. You can
never know all there is to know about plants.
You’re constantly learning, and that’s just a
real joy,” Sam declares.

Sam has been doubly fortunate. He has
spent much of his life working with plants and
has found in Carleen a life partner who shares
that joy. »

Conifer cuttings in the shade house.

Tipularia • 2000

Authors CONTINUED

New York Botanical Garden Librarv

3 5185 00269 4766

Carol Nourse, M.S. and Hugh Nourse,
Ph.D., are plant writers/photographers. They
have authored/photographed a book,
Wildflowers of Georgia (Athens: UGA Press,
2000). Another project has been to photo¬
graph protected plants of Georgia for which
the Georgia Natural Heritage Program does
not have slides. They are also volunteer pho¬
tographers for the State Botanical Garden
of Georgia. Hugh is President of the Georgia
Botanical Society.

Tom Patrick is the state botanist for the
Georgia Natural Heritage Program. While he
works statewide, Tom is partial to pitcher pi ant
bogs and to the mountains which harbor
Trillium. He conducts rare species surveys,
conducts the permit program for protected
plants, and participates in management ac¬
tivities at several conservation sites.

Doug and Jess Riddle

Doug is an electrical engineer who com¬
pliments his design time with weekend hikes
with his son Jess somewhere in GA, SC, NC,
or TN. They are out searching for champion
trees. Doug is a member of GA Forest Watch
and Appalachian Trail Conference. Jess has
been hiking and identifying trees for over 10
years. He is a senior at Roswell High School.

Richard Ware has served as Field Trip
Chair, Vice-President, and President of the
Georgia Botanical Society. He has studied
trees for nearly 30 years and wildflowers for
15. Richard has discovered several rare
plants new to the state of Georgia and has au¬
thored articles for the BotSoc News and
Tipularia. He really enjoys looking for rare
plants and being on field trips with other
BotSoccers.

Eric Van De Genachte, M.S., is a con¬
servation ecologist working for the GA
DNR’s Georgia Natural Heritage Program.
Current projects include survey work for
rare plants and animals, field assessments
and protection efforts on Carolina bays, gran¬
ite outcrops, and writing a 50-year manage¬
ment plan for Montezuma Bluffs Natural
Area. Eric will be focusing more on land pro¬
tection and conservation planning efforts in
the future. He is co-editor of Tipularia.

Photo by Richard T. Ware, Sr.

Pf!

Top: Ohio Buckeye
(Aesculus glabra)

Middle: Kentucky ladyslipper
(Cypripedium kentuckiense)

Bottom: Large-flowered Trillium
(Trillium grandiflorum)

Photo by Shan Cammack

Photo by Carol Nourse

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