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Meadow Sweet (Spirea latifolia): A wild Spirea. Bees Love it. Location: Along the boardwalk at the terminus of Black Bird Knob Trail, Dolly Sods, MNF, WV.
Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia): Prefers sandy soil. Grows up to ten feet. Location: Downs Park, MD. 07/09.
Fringe Tree (AKA Old Man's Beard), Chionanthus virginicus: Very fragrant small tree that blooms in June. Location: Along Little Passage Creek on Mudhole Gap Tr, Massanutten Mt, VA.
Miterwort or Bishop'e Cap(Mitilla diphylla): Elongated cluster of 1/6 inch flowers. Petals seem to form a snowflake pattern. Blooms April - June. Fruit pod looks like a bishop's miter. Close-up Photo by Patrick Roberts. Location: Allegheny Trail (North section), WV. Plant display photo by Dimitri Tundra.
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana): As kids we used to call them Inkberry and smear the juice of the berries on our face and shirt as we played our war games. Young sprouts can be eaten if cooked properly (Poke Salad). The early colonists used the use of the berries as a dye. The seeds in the berries are poisonous to mammals. Birds cannot digest them. Photo by Dave bennick. |
White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia): Similar to Blue or Swamp Vervain. Lancelet basal leaves. Thickets, wood edges. Blooms June - September. Location: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship.
Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain (Goodyera pubescens). Found in deep woods under brush. In the orchid family. Location Saint Mary's Wilderness, VA.
Virginia Knotweed (Tovara Virginiana): A smartweed. The bush can get quite tall. Grows in moist areas. Location: Along the New River, WV.
European Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis): An introduced ornamental. Very fragrant. Blooms in late spring, sooner if the winter is mild. Photo by Dimitri Tundra. |
Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua): In the orchid family. 6 to 24 inches. Likes damp areas. Flowers arranged in a tight spiral. Long, lancelet basal leaves. Blooms August to November. Location: Raven Ridge Trail, Dolly Sods North, WV.
Colicroot (Aletris farinosa): Similar in appearance to Ladies Tresses. Rosette of narrow basal leaves. Photo by Dimitri Tundra.
Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia): Very small flowers on 6 inch stems with basal Maple leaves. Forms mats. This clump was growing over the top of a large stump with assorted mosses. Location: Lake Sherwood Trail, MNF, WV.
False Solomon's Seal, Smilacina racemosa: In the Lily family. Cluster of small white flowers atop a single stem w/alternating lanecolet leaves. Stalk of delicate white flowers give rise to these green berries which will become speckled with red before turning translucent ruby red. Location: Wild Oak National Recreation Tr. |
American Chestnut (Castanea dentata): It has been said that before the Chestnut Blight occurred that one out of every four trees on the Appalachian Mountains was an American Chestnut. They used to reach 100 feet in height. Now all that is left is an occasional "shrub" that might reach a height of 20 feet. Location: Rockytop Trail, SNP, VA.
Wood Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum): Grows in rocky areas in the shade. Location: North Fork Mt. Trail, MNF, WV.
Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus ): Groups of long, creamy white "tassles" atop stems with large toothed leaves. Blooms from May to July. Found in rich forests. Location: Bluff Trail, SNP, VA.
Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica): A winter green. Dry or moist woods preferred. Location: Hammersley W.A., PA. 07/09.
Fraser's Sedge (Cymophyllus fraserianus): Pom-pom like flower clusters atop a single stem. Long, evergreen cluster of basal leaves. Endangered in some parts of this region. Photo by Dimitri Tundra. |
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): Also called Bugbane. Leaves divided into three parts. Can grow to 8 feet. Location: Tea Creek, WV.
Fly Poison, Amianthium muscaetoxicum: A lily. Grows well in the shade. Native Americans and mountain folks mixed sugar with the ground roots to serve as fly poison. Location: Tuscarora Trail between Mill Mt. Trail and Stony Run Trail, GWNF, VA. Photo by Ken Clark.
Bettleweed (Galax rotundifolia): Small flowers in a spike-like cluster atop a leafless flower stem w/heart shaped evergreen basal leaves. Blooms May - July. Mountains of VA and WV south. Location: Cornelius Creek Trail, Jefferson National Forest, VA.
Silver-rod (Solidago bicolor): The only "white" Goldenrod. Photo by Dimitri Tundra.
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