Exploring the Plants at Coweeta Hydrologic Lab

Anemone quinquefolia

This is the second of my field trips on the Georgia Botanical Society’s 50^th Spring Pilgrimage. I shared highlights from the first one last week. This trip was just across the state line to the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Otto, NC. Of course, plants recognize no state line so we saw many wonderful plants that are found in Georgia as well.

A brief background on the lab from their website: Occupying nearly 5,400 acres and in existence since 1934, the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory is world-renowned for its research in forest hydrology. In 1918, the Forest Service bought the tract and designated it part of the Nantahala National Forest in 1923. The site was set aside as the Coweeta Experimental Forest in 1934. Measurements of rainfall, streamflow, climate, and forest growth began almost immediately.

We encountered several of their informational signs on their experiments (measure water flow with existing hardwoods, cut all the trees in an area down, measure water flow, plant pines back, measure water flow ….). The real treat was exploring their thousands of untouched acres along streams, in rich coves, and even at the top of the mountain on an outcrop.

Cladonia sp. and others

Diphasiastrum sp.

Our first stop was streamside where we found spring wildflowers like wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), trout lily (Erythronium sp.), violets a plenty, plus thick mosses, running groundcedar (Lycopodium digitatum, perhaps; synonym: Diphasiastrum digitatum), lichens, and ferns.

Trillium erectum duo

Prosartes lanuginosa

Our next stop was in a rich cove, which was populated with even more special wildflowers like red trillium (Trillium erectum), yellow mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa), and showy orchis (Galearis spectabilis). Our trip leader had mentioned that we’d see Carolina vetch (Vicia caroliniana) and perhaps its beautiful butterfly, the Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) – and we were thrilled to find just that! We continued to see it alongside the road on several stops; in addition, some folks saw a mating pair of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails.

Silvery blue on Vicia caroliniana

After lunch, we went to another streamside spot to find a real treasure: a blooming instance of Fraser’s sedge (Carex fraseriana). We had to traverse through poison ivy and a Rhododendron thicket to get to this single specimen, but it was worth it! Near the road was another fine population of the vetch and accompanying Silvery Blues. Someone spotted a mountain bellwort (Uvularia puberula) and, as is our way, the rest of us hustled over to admire this new (to us) species of wildflower.

Carex fraseriana

Mountain bellwort (Uvularia puberula)

From here, we got back in the cars and followed a long and winding road up to a very high point to see another special plant: the rock harlequin (Capnoides sempervirens). Its relationship to the Fumariaceae family is evident; it was once considered to be in the Corydalis genus. One of the native bush honeysuckles (Diervilla sp.) was also there and there was huckleberry (Gaylussacia sp.) all around us and a just-emerging clump of lady slippers (perhaps the pink one: Cypripedium acaule). High up there, a serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) was still in full bloom.

Rock harlequin (Capnoides sempervirens)

Fragaria virginiana

Galearis spectabilis

Our leader wasn’t done with us yet! From this peak, we made our way back down, passing loads of the pretty Robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) and good views along the way (I was careful not to look as the road was narrow and the edge was steep). Our last stop was a wet rock face that was covered up in cliff saxifrage (Micranthes petiolaris). Nearby there was one of the summer-blooming Heuchera that loves wet spots (perhaps Heuchera villosa). We also found some blooming native strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). All in all, it was a great place to see some great native plants.