Canadian Lousewort, Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis L.)

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A hairy plant with tubular, 2-lipped flowers, all red, all yellow, or yellow and red in a short, dense, terminal cluster.

These low, semi-parasitic plants get some of their nourishment from the roots of other plants. The flower color and the finely cut foliage are distinctive. The genus name, from the Latin pediculus (a louse), and the common name Lousewort, refer to the misconception once held by farmers that cattle and sheep become infested with lice when grazing on the plants. Swamp Lousewort (P. lanceolata), with many opposite leaves on a stem 12-36 (30-90 cm) tall, has light yellow flowers and usually occurs in wet meadows with limestone soil. Furbishs Lousewort (P. furbishiae), is similar, but with finely cut alternate leaves; it is found on the banks of the St. John River in New Brunswick and in northern Maine, where it is classified as an endangered species.

Photographic Location: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Indian Cucumber, Indian Cucumber-Root (Medeola virginiana L.)

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Several nodding, yellowish-green flowers emerge from the center of a whorl of 3 leaves at the top of a slender, woolly, unbranched stem, on stalks that sometimes bend down below the leaves.

The root, 2-3 (5-7.5 cm) long and 1/2-1 (1.3-2.5 cm) wide is white, has a brittle texture, and tastes and smells somewhat like a cucumber. It was used by Indians for food, but digging it for such purposes today is not recommended because the plant is scarce. Birds are attracted to the fruit. At the time the berries turn bluish-purple, the cluster of leaves below them turns red at the lower half.

Photographic Location: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis)

Orchidaceae Family

An erect raceme of 2 to 10 flowers, each ¾ to 1 inch long. Sepals and lateral petals form an arching purple to pink hood. The lower lip is white, broad with ruffled edges. An interesting club-shaped (clavate) spur is behind the flower.

Leaves: There are 2 leaves basal, oval, often nearly orbicular, 3 to 8 inches long and up to 3½ inches wide. Stem and leaves are hairless.

Notes: The leaves resemble those of some members of the Lily family, like Bluebead Lily, but the flowers have no resemblance to any lily. This is one species I would want to come across more.

Photographic Location: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Catawba Rosebay, Purple Rhododendron, Red Laurel, Catawba Rhododendron, Mountain Rosebay (Rhododendron catawbiense Michx.)

I was about a week too early for these beautiful flowers. I did catch one or two blooming, but they grow like weeds in Big South Fork. In another week the woods will be covered in the blooms from this plant and also Mountain Laurel.

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A mound-shaped, broadleaf evergreen shrub, 6-20 ft. tall, with stout, picturesque, ascending branches. The foliage is dense, thick, glossy and dark green, often in winter developing a yellow-green cast. The numerous bell-shaped, rosy-lilac flowers occur in dense, terminal clusters. An evergreen shrub with clusters of large, rose or purple-lilac, funnel-shaped flowers.

Photogrphic Location: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

This attractive flowering shrub with southern affinities forms dense thickets on mountain slopes. Frequently used as an ornamental, it has been hybridized with the less hardy Himalayan species to produce some of our most spectacular showy rhododendrons.

Big South Fork

Judy and I just got back from a great trip to one of our National Parks. This was the first National Park we have been to and it sure was a great start. We have been wanting to go here for some time, but the distance and the elevation (both contribute to gas mileage) was just to great. Turns out it wasn't too bad. About $100 worth of diesel did the trick. Got about 11.5 mpg which isn't too bad considering.



We stayed at Bandy Creek Campground which is very beautiful and so well maintained. There are a lot of bears in the area but the rangers are very strict about food storage so the bears are still afraid of people and do not present a problem. We didn't see any! We camped during the week so we didn't have any neighbors. We had a great wooded site away from the other campers. This is a great area for horseback riding and there were quite a few riders in the campground.



We hiked several of the trails during our stay. The second day we hiked the Grand Gap Loop. We knew it was a little long, but what the hey, we had all day! We made just one little mistake. We saw where the loop was 6.8 miles, but we ignored the part where it was 3.3 miles just to get to the loop! So we did a 10.1 mile hike. We were exhausted when we got back. Boy that shower sure felt good.



It was a great hike. We saw many wildflowers, over 40 varieties, some of which I had never seen. I will be posting some of these over the next few days. This is a beautiful Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) on a Thimbleweed (Anemone Virginiana L.)



The scenery was just gorgeous. Mostly we were on high bluffs overlooking the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. The weather was perfect, nice and cool in the forest with many interesting rock out croppings and formations. Then you would come to the several overlooks where you could see for miles.







Out in the middle of no where, we came across this single grave. At one time this whole area was heavily mined for iron. This was probably one of the miners children.



We only got at see a very small part of this 125,000 acre park that spreads across two states, TN and KY. Thanks to the park rangers that helped us during this trip. Special thanks to Ranger Howard Duncan who really helped put me on some terrific wildflowers.



Happy Trails!

Lyreleaf Sage, Cancer Weed (Salvia lyrata L.)

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Lyreleaf sage is a strictly upright, hairy perennial, 1-2 ft. tall with a rosette of leaves at the base. The leaves are deeply 3-lobed, with a few simple leaves higher up on the stem. Large basal leaves are purple-tinged in the winter. This species has the typical square stem and 2-lipped blossom of the mints. Its pale-blue to violet, tubular flowers are arranged in whorls around the stem forming an interrupted, terminal spike. Each blossom is about 1 inch long. The 2-lobed lower lip is much longer than the upper, which has 3 lobes, the middle one forming a sort of hood. The sepals are purplish-brown.

Photographic Location: Sycamore Ridge Ranch in Middle TN.

Lyreleaf sage makes a great evergreen groundcover, with somewhat ajuga-like foliage and showy blue flowers in spring. It will reseed easily in loose, sandy soils and can form a solid cover with regular watering. It even takes mowing and can be walked on. The exposed lower lip of this and other salvias provides an excellent landing platform for bees. When a bee lands, the two stamens are tipped, and the insect is doused with pollen.esembles in appearance its native counterpart, Rumex hastulatus (Wild Sorrel).

It derives its common name, Cancer Weed, because of its medicinal properties. It was made into a slave that was considered a cure for warts and cancer. The leaves and seeds were ingredients in an ointment that was used to cure wounds and sores.

Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Knotweed family (Polygonaceae)

Description: This adventive perennial plant consists of a rosette of basal leaves, from which occasional flowering stalks are produced. The rosette of basal leaves typically spans about 4-6" across, while the flowering stalks are about ¾–1½' tall and more or less erect. A full-sized basal leaf is about 3" long and 1" across (including the petiole, which is about as long as the leaf blade). It is hastate in shape (i.e., arrowhead-shaped, but with spreading basal lobes), hairless, and smooth along the margins. The leaf is usually broadest above the middle, while the small basal lobes are often rounded, rather than pointed. The slender flowering stalks are angular or ridged, terminating in a panicle with spike-like racemes of tiny flowers. The few leaves that occur on these stalks are alternate, lanceolate or linear, sessile, and greatly reduced in size. 

Because Sheep Sorrel is a dioecious species, the flowers of a plant are either all-male or all-female. Each flower is about 1/12" across and consists of 6 sepals and no petals. A male flower has 6 stamens, while a female flower has a pistil with a white tripartite style. Each division of the style is itself divided into long narrow lobes and has a frilly appearance. The sepals are initially green, but become red or reddish brown while the flowers are in bloom and the achenes ripen. The 3 inner sepals do not develop membranous wings as they mature, unlike other Sorrel species. The achene of a female flower is reddish to yellowish brown and 3-angled, tapering to a point at both ends. Its surface is more granular than shiny. The surrounding sepals are about the same length as the achene, but they do not fully enclosed it. The root system consists of a taproot that is shallow and slender, and long rhizomes that snake out in all directions. This plant often forms vegetative colonies.

Cultivation: Sheep Sorrel is usually found in full or partial sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, and a poor acid soil that is either sandy or gravelly (although not limestone). It can also flourish in rich loam or clay-loam soil at highly disturbed sites. This plant is quite aggressive and difficult to eradicate.

Range & Habitat: Sheep Sorrel is a common plant that occurs throughout TN. Habitats include sand prairies, chert and granite glades, abandoned fields, areas along railroads, gardens and lawns, gravel beds along buildings and around shrubs, and dry sunny waste areas. This species has the capacity to invade disturbed areas of some natural habitats. It is adventive from Europe.

Faunal Associations: The flowers are wind-pollinated and attract few insect visitors. The leaves are a preferred source of food for the caterpillars of Lycaena phlaeas americana (American Copper), which has been interpreted as an indication that this butterfly is an introduction from Europe. Upland gamebirds eat both the seeds and foliage, while many songbirds, especially sparrows, eat the seeds (see Bird Table). Various small mammals occasionally eat the seeds or foliage, including the Cottontail Rabbit, Prairie Vole, and White-Footed Mouse.

Photographic Location: Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area in Middle TN. Other wildflowers seen there were; Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea), Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia), and Early Buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis).

Comments: Other common names for this species are Red Sorrel, Field Sorrel, and Common Sorrel. Sometimes the leaves are added in small amounts to salads and other culinary dishes to provide a sour taste. However, they contain significant amounts of oxalic acid, which can be toxic to the kidneys if a sufficiently large quantity of leaves is eaten. Sheep Sorrel closely resembles in appearance its native counterpart, Rumex hastulatus (Wild Sorrel).

Early Saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis Michx.)

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A hairy floral stalk, rising from a rosette of basal leaves, has branched clusters of fragrant white flowers.

This early spring wildflower can be planted shaded rock gardens. Many members of this genus occur and they can be found in both wet and dry habitats. Mountain Saxifrage (S. michauxii), a southern species that grows up to 18 inches (45 cm) tall, has coarse leaves, and white petals of slightly different sizes, spotted with yellow.