May 27 2013
Eastern Sweetshrub or Sweet Betsy [Calycanthus floridus] found on the Big Glassy Mountain trail at Carl Sandburg Home on Memorial Day, 27 May 2013. It’s a member of the Strawberry-shrub (Calycanthaceae) family. Wild Flowers of North Carolina [1st Ed.], page 72, says “the flowers are an inch or more broad and have a spicy fragrance; …
May 26 2013
These examples of Golden Alexanders or Golden Zizia [Zizia aurea] were found on the Blue Ridge Parkway Shut-In Trail on 25 May and on 26 May 2013 at The Botanical Gardens at Asheville. It’s a member of the Carrot (Apiaceae) family and listed on pages 226-227 of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. USDA Plants Listing: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ZIAU
May 26 2013
Small’s Beardtongue [Penstemon smallii], a member of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family, found on the grounds of The Botanical Gardens at Asheville on 26 May 2013. It was the first visit there by the Vining family and it was a lovely day out. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 102-103, says Beardtongues’ flowers are long, trumpet shaped, in …
May 25 2013
Common Yarrow or Milfoil [Achillea millefolium] found on the Blue Ridge Parkway Shut-In Trail on 25 May 2013. The USDA Plants website shows that it grows all over the United States and Canada, and it’s a member of the Aster (Asteraceae) family. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 220-221, says that it can be found in fields …
May 25 2013
Lyre-Leaved or Lyreleaf Sage [Salvia lyrata] was quite prevalent along our hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway Shut-In trail on 25 May 2013. It’s a member of the Mint (Lamiaceae) and, yes, it’s stem is square. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 94-95, says it can be found in dry open woods in Spring and Early Summer. …
May 25 2013
Venus’ Pride or Large Houstonia [Houstonia purpurea], a member of the Madder (Rubiaceae) family, found on the Blue Ridge Parkway Shut-In Trail on 25 May 2013. The USDA website lists a North Carolina variety of this flower, Mountain Bluet, as endangered. An entry can be found in Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 158-159, for the Large …
May 19 2013
This photo of Cow or Bird Vetch [Vicia cracca] was taken on Singletree Road on 19 May 2013. It’s a member of the Bean or Pea (Fabaceae) family, and Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 112-113, says it can be identified by “dense, one-sided racemes” of flowers. USDA Plants Listing: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=VICR
May 17 2013
This photo of Birdeye Speedwell [Veronica persica], a member of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family, was taken near the NC Agricultural Research Station, in Fletcher, on 17 May 2013. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 96-97, also refers to it as Persian Speedwell. USDA Plant Listing: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=VEPE3
May 16 2013
Many photos were taken of this flower, Canada Toadflax [Nuttallanthus canadensis or Linaria canadensis], with trouble getting clear shots due the small size of the petals. It was found behind the plant on 16 May 2013, and other earlier dates in the month. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 50-51, says it can be found in sandy …
May 16 2013
These photos of Field Clover [Trifolium campestre], a member of the Bean or Pea (Fabaceae) family, were taken near the Fletcher plant on 16 May 2013. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 58-59, lists the older Latin name,Trifolium procumbens, and names it as a Low Hop Clover. USDA Plants Listing: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=TRCA5
