Flora Fridays – May 10, 2024

— Written By
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Woodland Botanicals

Welcome to spring in the Uwharrie’s! Most trees have put on their leaves for the season by this point. I am sure many of our readers have been aware of the spring “pollening” occurring – tis the season for dispersal of the yellow dust, covering roads and impacting sinuses across the Piedmont. It is also prime time to pay our forests a visit. Cool spring days limit human interactions with summer challenges such as heat, biting insects, and snake activity. There are many easy-moderate level foot trails in and around the county. In Troy, these are accessible mostly just off NC 24/27 and along NC 109. I have been enjoying the Densons Creek Trail behind the Uwharrie Ranger Station on lunch break walks. The three plant species covered in today’s Flora Friday are of interest now on Montgomery County Trails. 

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Closeup of mountain laurel inflorescence

Fallen mountain laurel flowers covering the Uwharrie Trail

Our first feature is a plant that is quite uncommon in the Piedmont. Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is an evergreen shrub more often found in the mountain coves. It’s white to pink blooms begin opening in our region around April. The numerous flower buds emerge gourd shaped, but pop open into red speckled umbrellas. Indigenous Americans reportedly used the plant for reducing pain, fevers, and inflammation. However, it is not recommended to ingest any part of mountain laurel due to toxic effects in some individuals.

Catesby’s trillium (Trillium catesbaei)

Trailside Catesby’s trillium near the Little River

Catesby’s trillium (Trillium catesbaei) is another woodland plant more commonly found in mountainous regions. However, it can also be found in the valleys and moist hillsides of the Uwharrie region. The pictured specimen was observed in a floodplain of the Little River, which winds its way through Montgomery County from Asheboro to the greater Pee Dee River. The pink flowers nod below or are parallel with the green whorl of three leaves. The entire plant dies back to the roots by June, remaining dormant under the soil until the following spring.

Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum

Green-and-gold flowering near the Uwharrie Ranger Station after a recent controlled burn

The final feature of this edition of Flora Fridays is green-and-gold, Chrysogonum virginianum. Green-and-gold is frequently observed in open hardwood forests of the Piedmont. It is an excellent candidate for home wild-themed gardens, where it will bloom throughout the warm months and over time form a ground cover. The seeds of this plant have an attached food body which attracts ants, which chew off the food body and disperse the seed. Green-and-gold is a native wildflower with a widespread range from Louisiana east to Florida and north to New York.

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Flora Fridays! Please consider leaving feedback in the box below. At Extension, we are here to listen to and address your needs. 

Check out past Flora Fridays.