Alabama Piedmont
MOUNTAIN REGION.
The extreme southern spurs of the Appalachian chains belong, with their western and eastern frontiers, to two distinct members of this mountain system. Their differences in topographical and stratigraphical conditions affect visibly the distribution and localization of species in the sections traversed by them.
RANGES OF HILLS OF THE METAMORPHIC AND OLDER PALEOZOIC STRATA.
Physiographical features and climate. — The spurs which enter the State at its eastern boundary are the continuation of the most easterly of the Alleghenian ranges, and are composed of metamorphic crystalline rocks skirted by the oldest sedimentary strata. They extend from the Coosa River to the Tallapoosa and include the most deviated parts of the State. The valleys reach an extreme elevation of about 1,000 feet above sea level, and the highest summits of the ridges reach an altiitude of from 2,000 to 2,400 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. These ridges rise abruptly from the valleys and above the lower hills; their steep flanks are covered with the sharp-edged fragments of the siliceous rocks which crown their crests with bold cliffs.
From the Plant Life of Alabama by Charles Mohr (1901) p. 58
Vegetation of the southern edge of the Metamorphic hills. — An extensive collection of the vascular plants, made in the vicinity of Auburn, Lee County (860 to 900 feet altitude), near the border line of the Louisianian area, was kindly contributed by the Biological Survey of Alabama. From a district investigated botanically but slightly before, it proved of particular interest, showing the intermingling of Alleghenian types with many trom the Coast plain and a number of local species sparsely scattered through the Carolinian and Louisianian areas, of which the following are remarkable examples:
Dryopteris floridana [Dryopteris ludoviciana, southern woodfern], Coleosanthus (Brickellia) cordifolius [Brickellia cordifolia, Flyr’s brickellia], Ophioglossum crotalophoroides [bulbous adder’s tongue], Eupatorium ageratoides [Ageratina altissima, common white snakeroot], Lycopodium alopecuroides [foxtail bog-clubmoss], Viola villosa [southern wooly violet], Leptorchis liliifolia [Liparis liliifolia, large twayblade], Solidago neglecta [Solidago uliginosa, bog goldenrod], Juncus canadensis [canadian rush], Solidago paliescens [Solidago brachyphlla, Dixie goldenrod[, Lobelia amoena glandulifera [Lobelia georgiana, Georgia lobelia].
Of these Dryopteris floridana [Dryopteris ludoviciana, southern woodfern] had hitherto been known only from peninsular Florida and from Louisiana; Ophioglossum crotalophoroides [bulbous adder’s tongue] and Lycopodium alopecuroides [foxtail bog-clubmoss] are known also from the coast plain of the Southern Atlantic and Eastern Gulf States, and the remainder extend hither from the Alleghenian area and the upper belt of the Carolinian.
The following, decidedly of northern distribution, seem to find on these highlands their southern limit of distribution:
Uvularia perfoliafa [perfoliate bellwort], Uvularia sessilifolia [merrybells], Vagnera racemosa [Maianthemum racemosum, false-solomon’s-seal], Trillium stylosum [Trillium catesbyi, Catesby’s trillium], Polygonatum biflorum [Solomon’s seal], Smiiax ecirrata [upright carrionflower], Achroanthes unifolia [Malaxis unifolia, green adder’s-mouth], Habenaria lacera [Platanthera lacera, fringed green orchid], Habenaria flava [Platanthera flava, southern rein orchid], Darbya umbellulata [Nestronia umbellula, Nestronia], Asarum virginicum [Virginia heartleaf], Asimina triloba [common pawpaw], Hydrangea arborescens [smooth hydrangea], Philadelphus grandiflorus [Philadelphus inodorus, Appalachian Philadelphus], Sanicula marilandica [Maryland sanicle], Sanicula trifoliata [beaked sanicle], Chimaphila maculata [pipsissewa], Azalea viscosa glauca [Rhododendron viscosum, swamp azalea], Xolisma ligustrina (the typical form) [Lyonia ligustrina, he-huckleberry], Vaccinium vacillans [Vaccinium pallidum, hillside blueberry], Koellia pycnanthemoides [Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides], Houstonia tenuifolia [diffuse-branched bluet], Houstonia longifolia [eastern longleaf bluet], Solidago amplexicaulis [Solidago auriculata, eared goldenrod], Brachychaeta spachelata [Solidago sphacelata, limestone goldenrod], Aster shortii [Symphyotrichum shortii, midwestern blue heart-leaved aster], Aster sagittifolius [Symphyotrichum cordifolium, heart-leaved aster], Sericocarpus asteroides [toothed white-topped aster], Silphium compositum [Carolina rosinweed], Hieracium venosum [veiny hawkweed].
The following belong to these hills in common with the Louisianian area, and reach here their northern limit:
Ophioglossumm crotalophoroides [bulbous adder’s-tongue], Danthonia sericea [silky oat-grass], Campulosus aromaticus [Ctenium aromaticum, toothache grass], Eatonia filiformis [Sphenopholis filiformis], Cyperus stenolepis [Cyperus strigosus], Cyperus haspan [sheathed flatsedge], Peltandra sagittifolia [white arrow-arum], Commelina erecta [erect dayflower], Xyris iridifolia [irisleaf yellow-eyed-grass], Tofieldia pubens [Triantha racemosa, southern bog asphodel], Chrosperma muscaetoxicum [Amianthum muscitoxicum, fly-poison], Trillium underwoodii [Underwood’s trillium], Smiiax pumila [Sarsaprilla-vine], Polygala nana [Senega nana, dwarf milkwort], Polygala incarnata [Senega incarnata, pink milkwort], Hypericum drummondii [Drummond’s St. John’s-wort], Phacelia dubia [Appalachian phacelia], Ipomoea barbigera [^Ipomoea hederacea, ivyleaf morning glory ^maybe native], Mohrodendron diptera [Halesia diptera, two-wing silverbell], Pieris nitida [Lyonia lucida, shining fetterbush], Collinsonia anisata [southern horsebalm], Verbesina aristata (V. nudicaulis) [Coastal plain crownbeard], Aster purpureus [Echinacea purpurea, eastern purple coneflower], Aster dumosus subulaefolius [Symphyotrichum dumosum var. subulifolium, needleleaf bushy aster], Eupatorium pinnatifidum [Eupatorium x pinnatifidum, lacyleaf Eupatorium], Gaillardia lanceolata [Gaillardia aestivalis var. aestivalis, sandhill Gaillardia], Solidago petiolaris [downy goldenrod], Solidago brachyphylla [Dixie goldenrod],
From the Plant Life of Alabama by Charles Mohr (1901) pp 65-66
Georgia Piedmont
“Upon the rich rocky hills at the cataracts of Augusta, I first observed the perfumed Rhododendron ferrugineum [likely Rhododendron minus, dwarf laurel], white-robed philadelphus inodorus [Philadelphus inodorus, Appalachian philadelphus], and cerulean Malva; but nothing in vegetable nature was more pleasing than the odoriferous pancratium fluitans [possibly Hymenocallis coronaria, Shoals lily], which almost alone possesses the little rocky islets which just appear above the water.
…The summer season now rapidly advancing, the air at mid-day, about this region, is insufferably hot and sultry. We sat off from Augusta, early in the morning, for the Great Buffalo Lick, on the Great Ridge, which separates the waters of the Savanna and Alatamaha, about eighty miles distant from Augusta. At this Lick the surveyors were to separate themselves, and form three companies, to proceed on different routes. On the evening of the second day’s journey, we arrived at a small village on Little River, a branch of Savanna: this village, called Wrightsborough, was founded by Jos. Mattock, esq. of the sect called quakers…The distance from Augusta to this place is about thirty miles; the face of the country is chiefly a plain of high forests savannas, and cane swamps, until we approach Little River, when the landscape varies, presenting to view high hills and rich vales. The soil is a deep, rich, dark mould, on a deep stratum of reddish brown tenacious clay, and that on a foundation of rocks, which often break through both strata, lifting their backs above the surface. The forest trees are chiefly of the deciduous order, as, Quercus tinctoria [Quercus velutina, black oak], Q. lasciniata [likely Quercus falcata, southern red oak], Q. alba [white oak], Q. rubra [northern red oak], Q. prinus [Quercus montana, chestnut oak], with many other species; Celtus, Fagus sylvatica [Fagus grandifolia, American beech], and, on the rocky hills, Fagus castanea [Castanea dentata, American chestnut], Fag. pumila [Castanea pumila, Allegheny chinquapin], Quercus castanea [likely Quercus muehlenbergii, chinquapin oak]; in the rich vales, Juglans nigra [black walnut], Jug. cinerea [butternut], Gleditsia triacanthos [honey locust], Magnolia acuminata [cucumber magnolia], Liriodendron [tulip-poplar], Platanus [American sycamore], Fraxinus excelsior [likely Fraxinius americana, white ash], Cercea [likely Cercis canadensis, redbud], Juglans exaltata [likley Carya ovata, shagbark hickory], Carpinus [hornbeam], Morus rubra [red mulberry], Calycanthus [sweet-shrub], Halesia [silverbell], Æsculus pavia [red buckeye], Æsc. arborea [likely Aesculus sylvatica, painted buckeye].
Leaving the pleasant town of Wrightsborough, we continued eight or nine miles through a fertile plain and high forest, to the north branch of Little River, being the largest of the two, crossing which, we entered an extensive fertile plain, bordering on the river, and shaded by trees of vast growth, which at once spoke its fertility. Continuing some time through these shade groves, the scene opens, and discloses to view the most magnificent forest I had ever seen. We rise gradually a sloping bank of twenty or thirty feet elevation, and immediately entered this sublime forest. The ground is perfectly a level green plain, thinly planted by nature with the most stately forest trees, such as the gigantic Black Oak (Q. tinctoria) [Q. velutina], Liriodendron [tulip-poplar], Juglans nigra [black walnut], Platanus [American sycamore], Juglans exaltata [Carya ovata, shagbark hickory], Fagus sylvatica [Fagus grandifolia, American beech], Ulmus sylvatica [Ulmus americana, American elm], Liquidambar styraciflua [sweetgum], whose mighty trunks, seemingly of an equal height, appeared like superb columns. To keep within the bounds of truth and reality, in describing the magnitude and grandeur of these trees, would, I fear, fail of credibility; yet, I think I can assert, that many of the black oaks measured eight, nine, ten, and eleven feet diameter five feet above the ground, as we measured several that were above thirty feet girt, and from hence they ascend perfectly straight, with a gradual taper, forty or fifty feet to the limbs; but, below five or six feet, these trunks would measure a third more in circumference, on account of the projecting jambs, or supports, which are more or less, according to the number of horizontal roots that they arise from: the Tulip tree, Liquidambar, and Beech, were equally stately.
After about seven miles progress through this forest of gigantic Black Oaks, we enter on territories which exhibit more varied scenes: the land rises almost insensibly by gentle ascents, exhibiting desert plains, high forests, gravelly and stony ridges, ever in sight of rapid rivulets; the soil, as already described. We then passed over large rich savannas or natural meadows, wide-spreading cane swamps, and frequently old Indian settlements, now deserted and overgrown with forest. These are always on or near the banks of rivers, or great swamps, the artificial mounts and terraces elevating them above the surrounding groves. I observed, in the ancient cultivated fields, 1. Diospyros [persimmon], 2. Gleditsia triacanthos [honey locust], 3. Prunus Chicasaw [Prunus angustifolia, Chickasaw plum], 4. Callicarpa [beautyberry], 5. Morus rubra [red mulberry], 6. Juglans exaltata [Carya ovata, shagbark hickory], 7. Juglans nigra [black walnut], which inform us, that these trees were cultivated by the ancients, on account of their fruit, as being wholesome and nourishing food. Though these are natives of the forest, yet they thrive better, and are more fruitful, in cultivated plantations, and the fruit is in great estimation with the present generation of Indians, particularly Juglans exaltata commonly called shell-barked hiccory; the Creeks store up the latter in their towns. I have seen above an hundred bushels of these nuts belonging to one family. They pound them to pieces, and then cast them into boiling water, which, after passing through fine strainers, preserves the most oily part of the liquid: this they call by a name which signifies Hiccory milk; it is as sweet and rich as fresh cream, and is an ingredient in most of their cookery, especially homony and corn cakes.
After four days moderate and pleasant travelling, we arrived in the evening at the Buffalo Lick. This extraordinary place occupies several acres of ground, at the foot of the S. E. promontory of the Great Ridge, which, as before observed, divides the rivers Savanna and Alatamaha. A large cane swamp and meadows, forming an immense plain, lies S. E. from it; in this swamp I believe the head branches of the great Ogeeche river take their rise. The place called the Lick contains three or four acres, is nearly level, and lies between the head of the cane swamp and the ascent of the Ridge. The earth, from the superficies to an unknown depth, is an almost white or cinereous coloured tenacious fattish clay, which all kinds of cattle lick into great caves, pursuing the delicious vein. It is the common opinion of the inhabitants, that this clay is impregnated with saline vapours, arising from fossile salts deep in the earth; but I could discover nothing saline in its taste, but I imagined an insipid sweetness. Horned cattle, horses, and deer, are immoderately fond of it, insomuch, that their excrement, which almost totally covers the earth to some distance round this place, appears to be perfect clay; which, when dried by the sun and air, is almost as hard as brick.
…The Great Ridge consists of a continued high forest; the soil fertile, and broken into moderately elevated hills, by the many rivulets which have their sources in it. The heights and precipices abound in rock and stone. The forest trees and other vegetable productions are the same as already mentioned about Little River: I observed Halesia [silverbell], Styrax [snowbell], Æsculus pavia [red buckeye], Æsc. sylvatica [painted buckeye], Robinia hispida [bristly locust], Magnolia acuminata [cucumber magnolia], Mag. tripetala [umbrella magnolia], and some very curious new shrubs and plants, particularly the Physic-nut, orIndian Olive [Nestronia umbellula]. The stems arise many from a root, two or three feet high; the leaves sit opposite, on very short petioles; they are broad, lanceolate, entire, and undulated, having smooth surfaces of a deep green colour. From the bosom of each leaf is produced a single oval drupe, standing erect, on long slender stems; it has a large kernel, and thin pulp. The fruit is yellow when ripe; and about the size of an olive. The Indians, when they go in pursuit of deer, carry this fruit with them, supposing that it has the power of charming or drawing that creature to them; from whence, with the traders, it has obtained the name of the Physic-nut, which means, with them, charming, conjuring, or fascinating. Malva scandens, Felix scandens, perhaps species of Trichomanes [possibly Lygodium palmatum, American climbing fern]; the leaves are palmated, or radiated; it climbs and roves about, on shrubs, in moist ground. A very singular and elegant plant, of an unknown family, called Indian lettuce [likely Frasera carolinensis, American columbo], made its first appearance in these rich vales; it is a biennial; the primary or radical leaves are somewhat spatuled, or broad, lanceolate, and obtuse pointed, of a pale yellowish green, smooth surface, and of a delicate frame, or texture; these leaves, spread equally on every side, almost reclining on the ground; from their centre arises a straight upright stem, five, six, or seven feet high, smooth and polished; the ground of a dark purple colour, which is elegantly powdered with greenish yellow specks; the stem, three fourths of its length, is embellished with narrow leaves, nearly of the same form of the radical ones, placed at regular distances, in verticillate order. The superior one-fourth division of this stem is formed into a pyramidal spike of flowers, rather diffuse; these flowers are of the hexandria, large, and expanded; of a dark purple colour, delicately powdered with green, yellow, and red, and divided into six parts, or petals; these are succeeded by triquetrous dry pericarpi, when ripe.
This great ridge is a vast extended projection of the Cherokee or Alegany mountains, gradually increasing in height and extent, from its extremity at the Lick, to its union with the high ridge of mountains anciently called the Apalachian mountains; it every where approaches much nearer the waters of the Alatamaha than those of the Savanna. At one particular place, where we encamped, on the Great Ridge, during our repose there part of a day, our hunters going out, understanding that their route was to the low lands on the Ocone, I accompanied them: we had not rode above three miles before we came to the banks of that beautiful river. The cane swamps, of immense extent, and the oak forests, on the level lands, are incredibly fertile; which appears from the tall reeds of the one, and the heavy timber of the other.
Before we left the waters of Broad River, having encamped in the evening on one of its considerable branches, and left my companions, to retire, as usual, on botanical researches, on ascending a steep rocky hill, I accidentally discovered a new species of Caryophyllata (Geum odoratissimum) [Geum radiatum, cliff avens]; on reaching to a shrub, my foot slipped, and, in recovering myself, I tore up some of the plants, whose roots filled the air with animating scents of cloves and spicy perfumes.
…The gold-fish is about the size of the anchovy, nearly four inches long, of a neat slender form; the head is covered with a salade of an ultramarine blue, the back of a reddish brown, the sides and belly of a flame, or of the colour of a fine red lead; a narrow dusky line runs along each side, from the gills to the tail; the eyes are large, with the iris like burnished gold. This branch of Broad River is about twelve yards wide, and has two, three, and four feet depth of water, and winds through a fertile vale, almost overshadowed on one side by a ridge of high hills, well timbered with Oak [Quercus], Hiccory [Carya], Liriodendron [tulip-poplar], Magnolia acuminata [cucumber magnolia], Pavia sylvatica [Aesculus sylvatica, painted buckeye], and on their rocky summits, Fagus castanea [Castanea dentata, American chestnut], Rhododendron ferrugineum [Rhododendron minus, dwarf laurel], Kalmia latifolia [mountain laurel], Cornus Florida [flowering dogwood], &c.
One of our Indian young men, this evening, caught a very large salmon trout [possibly a striped bass], weighing about fifteen pounds, which he presented to the colonel, who ordered it to be served up for supper. The Indian struck this fish, with a reed harpoon, pointed very sharp, barbed, and hardened by the fire. The fish lay close under the steep bank, which the Indian discovered and struck with his reed; instantly the fish darted off with it, whilst the Indian pursued, without extracting the harpoon, and with repeated thrusts drowned it, and then dragged it to shore.
…We at length happily accomplished our line, arriving at the little river, where our hunters bringing in plenty of venison and turkeys, we had a plentiful feast at supper. Next morning we marked the corner tree, at the confluence of Little River and the Savanna; and, soon after, the Indians amicably took leave of us, returning home to their towns.
…The rocks and fossils, which constitute the hills of this middle region, are of various species, as, Quartsum, Ferrum, Cos, Silex, Glarea, Arena, Ochra, Stalactites, Saxum, Mica, &c. I saw no signs of Marble, Plaster, or Lime-stone; yet there is, near Augusta, in the forests, great piles of a porous friable white rock, in large and nearly horizontal masses, which seems to be an heterogeneous concrete, consisting of pulverized sea-shells, with a small proportion of sand; it is soft, and easily wrought into any form, yet of sufficient consistence for constructing any building.
As for the animal productions, they are the same which originally inhabited this part of North America, except such as have been affrighted away since the invasion of the Europeans. The buffalo (Urus) once so very numerous, is not at this day to be seen in this part of the country; there are but few elks, and those only in the Apalachian mountains. The dreaded and formidable rattle-snake is yet too common, and a variety of other serpents abound, particularly that admirable creature the glass-snake: I saw a very large and beautiful one, a little distance from our camp. The alligator, a species of crocodile, abounds in the rivers and swamps, near the sea coast, but is not to be seen above Augusta. Bears, tygers [mountain lions]1, wolves, and wild cats (Felis cauda truncata) [bobcat] are numerous enough; and there is a very great variety of Papilio and Phalena, many of which are admirably beautiful, as well as other insects of infinite variety.”
1“This creature is called, in Pennsylvania and the northern States, Panther; but in Carolina and the southern States, is called Tyger; they are very strong, much larger than any dog, of a yellowish brown, or clay colour, having a very long tail; they are a mischievous animal, and prey on calves, young colts, &c.”
From Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida by William Bartram (1773) Chapter IV
“During part of three years spent at the University of Georgia, which is located in Athens, I had opportunity to make a somewhat extensive study of the interesting flora of that vicinity; and in the following notes I have brought together briefly some of the results of my observations on this flora. Although there have been other local botanists in Athens for many years, apparently no observations made since Elliott’s time on this immediate region have been mentioned in botanical literature. In Elliott’s Botany of South Carolina and Georgia (1816-1821) many plants, some of them types, are mentioned as having been collected in or near Athens by a Mr. Green, and I have been enabled to verify a number of Mr. Green’s stations which had been overlooked by later authors after a lapse of nearly eighty years.
Athens, the county-seat of Clarke County, is situated in that section of the state known as Middle Georgia, a region well defined geologically from the two newer sections, north and south Georgia. Middle Georgia occupies about one third of the area of the state, and is distinguished by its geological formation being wholly Archaean or metamorphic. My botanical explorations of this region, in the spring and fall of 1895 and 1896, and the spring of 1897, were confined mainly to the western half of Clarke County, and portions of the neighboring counties of Jackson, Oconee, Walton and Morgan. This territory which I explored lies in the lower foothills of the Blue Ridge, being entirely south of latitude 34°N., and east of longitude 83 31 W., and ranging from 500 to 800 feet above sea-level.
Taking Clarke County as typical of the surrounding region, its characteristic features of soil, topography, etc., may be briefly described. The predominating soil consists largely of red clay, derived from the disintegration of the granitic rocks which underlie the surface everywhere in this region and outcrop in many places, especially in the valleys. With the clay are mixed sand, organic matter, and numerous other constituents in proportions varying according to the local conditions.
Topographically, the country is quite hilly. The two branches of the Oconee River, known respectively as the Oconee and Middle Oconee, which traverse Clarke County from north to south, are joined by countless smaller creeks and “branches,” and all these streams flow in rather deep and narrow valleys between broad rounded ridges.
The average annual temperature of Athens, which corresponds very closely with the average for middle Georgia, is about 63 °F., with the following averages for the four seasons : spring, 62 ° ; summer, 8o° ; autumn, 64 ° ; winter, 46 . The average annual rainfall is about 55 inches, distributed among the seasons as folfows : spring, 14 inches; summer, 13 inches; autumn, 10 inches ; winter, 18 inches.
It has been estimated that about one-half the area of Clarke County is covered with forest, of which one-fifth is original and four-fifths second growth. The adjoining counties, which are not so thickly populated, would no doubt show a larger proportion of forest. The original forest is now mostly confined to the steep sides of the valleys, while the second-growth is found on the more level land along the ridge-tops.
The flora of this region is quite similar in general character to that of the whole belt of country lying at the same elevation along the eastern slope of the Appalachian range from New England to Alabama. A comparison of the flora of Middle Georgia with that of southern New England shows that at least half of the species of each region are common to both. There is less similarity between the flora of Middle Georgia and that of South Georgia, which, although much nearer, belongs to an entirely different floral province.
In the cool shady primeval forests on the northern slopes of the ridges in Clarke and adjoining counties are found many species which are supposed to be strictly Alleghanian in distribution, some of which are mentioned below. On the other hand, the number of species which reach their northern limits in this region is very small. Of the species which I have collected in Middle Georgia, about 95% are known from the region of the northern manuals, and the remaining 5% are mostly either recently described or recently introduced, or species of very restricted range.
A little study of the plants of the region under consideration shows that they maybe divided according to habitat into seven or eight well-marked principal groups. These groups overlap each other somewhat, but not as much as might be expected. In the following lists of plants I have prefixed an asterisk to those species which are mentioned in more than one list, to give some idea of the extent of overlapping.
Taking up the various floral areas in the order of their humidity, the swamps, bogs, meadows and marshes may be considered first. In the region about Athens these are of very small extent, owing chiefly to the narrowness and steepness of the valleys, and the number of hydrophytic species is correspondingly small. The following have been observed mostly in the meadows along Tanyard Branch in Athens and in the Sandy Creek marsh just north of the city:
*Selaginella apus [Selaginella apoda, meadow spikemoss], Typha latifolia [common cattail], Sparganium androcladum, Potamogeton diversifolius [southern snailseed], Alisma plantago-aquatica [Alisma subcordatum, southern water-plantain], Sagittaria latifolia [common arrowhead], Paspalum laeve, Homalocenchrus oryzoides [Leersia oryzoides, rice cutgrass], Eragrostis hypnoides [creeping lovegrass], Cyperus flavescens [yellow flatsedge], Cyperus strigosus [straw flatsedge], Kyllingia pumila [Cyperus hortensis, annual greenhead sedge], Eleocharis obtusa [blunt spikerush], Eleocharis tenuis [slender spikerush], Eleocharis acicularis [needle spikerush], Scirpus lacustris [Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, softstem bullrush], Carex lurida [sallow sedge], Carex vulpinoidea [fox sedge], *Peltandra virginica [green arrow-arum], Juncus effusus [common rush], Juncus dichotomus [forked rush], Juncus acuminatus [sharp-fruited rush]
Polygonum sagittatum [Persicaria sagittata, arrowleaf tearthumb], Nymphaea advena [broadleaf pondlily], Ranunculus pusillus [low spearwort], Agrimonia parviflora [southern agrimony], Callitriche palustris [vernal water-starwort], Viola cucullata [blue marsh-violet], Ludwigia alternifolia [alternate-leaved seedbox], Isnardia palustris [Ludwigia palustriss, common water-purslane], Lysimachia nummularia [*creeping jenny *non-native], Hydrolea quadrivalvis [waterpod], Lycopus virginicus [northern bugleweed], Mimulus ringens [Allegheny monkeyflower], Gratiola sphaerocarpa [Gratiola virginiana, Virginia hedge-hyssop], *Ilysanthes refracta [Lindernia monticola, Piedmont pimpernel], Veronica serpyllifolia [*thymeleaf speedwell, non-native], Galium trifidum [Hydrogalium claytonii, three-lobed bedstraw], Vernonia noveboracensis [New York ironweed], *Mikania scandens [climbing hempweed], Eclipta alba [Eclipta prostrata, pieweed], Adopogon dandelion [Krigia dandelion, potato-dandelion]
Eleocharis acicularis [needle spikerush] and Scirpus lacustris [Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, softstem bullrush] do not seem to have been reported from Georgia, at least within recent years, and they are probably rather rare in the state. I collected both in a small bog near the Middle Oconee River in Clarke County on May 28, 1897. The latter is mentioned in Dr. Feay’s “Catalogue of Phaenogamous Plants growing spontaneously within thirty miles of Savannah, Ga.” (Atlanta Med. Jour., 3: 167-217. i860), but might have been collected in South Carolina.
Certain species, particularly trees and shrubs, seem to flourish best on river banks, and are rarely or never found in other situations. The following is a partial list of such species:
*Uniola latifolia [Chasmanthium latifolium, river oats], *Danthonia sericea [silky oat-grass], Arundinaria tecta [switch cane], *Uvularia sessilifolia [merrybells], Allium mutabile [Allium mobilense, Mobile onion], *Smilax rotundifolia [common greenbriar], Salix nigra [black willow], Carpinus caroliniana [American hornbeam], Ostrya virginiana [American hop-hornbeam], Betula nigra [river birch], *Alnus rugosa [Alnus serrulata, tag-alder], Fagus americana [American beech], Quercus nigra (Q. aquatica) [water oak], Ulmus americana [American elm], Morus rubra [red mulberry], *Liriodendron tulipifera [tulip poplar], *Ranunculus recurvatus [hooked buttercup], Thalictrum polygamum [Thalictrum pubescens, common tall meadowrue], Podophyllum peltatum [mayapple], Calycanthus floridus [sweet-shrub], Arabis canadensis [Borodinia canadensis, Canada rockcress], Platanus occidentalis [American sycamore], Philadelplius grandiflorus [Philadelphus inodorus, Appalachian mock-orange], Porteranthus trifoliatus [Gillenia trifoliata, mountain Indian-physic]
Pyrus angustifolia [Malus angustifolia, wild crab-apple], Amelanchier canadensis [eastern serviceberry], Asimina triloba [pawpaw], Ptelea trifoliata [common wafer-ash], *Acer rubrum [red maple], Acer negundo [box-elder maple], Tilia pubescens [Tilia americana var. caroliniana, southern basswood], Cornus amonum [silky dogwood], *Azalea nudiflora [Rhododendron periclymenoides, wild azalea], Kalmia latifolia [mountain laurel], Leucothoe catesbei [Leucothoe fontenasiana, mountain doghobble], Vaccinium arboreum [sparkleberry], Symplocos tinctoria [horse-sugar], Mohrodendron carolinum [Halesia carolina, little silverbell], Styrax americana [Styrax americanus, American snowbell], Fraxinus americana [white ash], Chionanthus virginica [fringe-tree], Ipomoea lacunosa [small white morning-glory], *Bignonia capreolata [cross-vine], Catalpa bignonioides [southern catalpa], Cephalanthus occidentalis [button-bush], Lonicera sempervirens [coral honeysuckle], Actinomeris altemifolia [Verbesina alternifolia, common wingstem]
I have found the Arundinaria in fruit but once, on May 4, 1 897, at Tallasee Shoals on the Middle Oconee River.
In the wet woods, which have some species in common with the river banks on one hand and the rich woods on the other, I have collected the following plants of interest:
Botrychium obliquum [Sceptridium dissectum, cut-leaf grape fern], Woodwardia areolata [Lorinseria areolata, netted chain fern], Asplenium filix-foemina [Athyrium filix-foemina, common ladyfern], Onoclea sensibilis [sensitive fern], Osmunda regalis [royal fern], Osmunda cinnamomea [cinnamon fern], *Selaginella apus [Selaginella apoda, meadow spikemoss], Carex intumescens [Fernald’s bladder sedge], Carex crinita [long-fringed sedge], Carex leptalea [bristly-stalked sedge], Carex sterilis [sterile sedge], *Peltandra virginica [green arrow-arum], Arisaema triphyllum [common jack-in-the-pulpit], Adicea pumila [Pilea pumila, richweed], Boehmeria cylindrica [swamp nettle], Habenaria flava [Platanthera flava, southern rein orchid], *Alnus rugosa [Alnus serrulata, tag alder], *Liriodendron tulipifera [tulip-poplar], *Xanthorrhiza apiifolia [Xanthorhiza simplicissima, yellowroot], *Ranunculus recurvatus [hooked buttercup], *Trautvetteria carolinensis [false bugbane]
Lindera benzoin [spicebush], Penthorum sedoides [American Penthorum], Tiarella cordifolia [foamflower], Pamassia asarifolia [Appalachian parnassia], Decumaria barbara [climbing hydrangea], Itea virginica [sweetspire], *Acer rubrum [red maple], Falcata comosa [Amphicarpea bracteata, hog-peanut], Phyllanthus carolinensis [carolina leaf-flower], Impatiens biflora [Impatiens capensis, orange jewelweed], Viola obliqua [Viola cucullata, blue marsh violet], Viola primulaefolia [Viola primuliifolia, primrose-leaf violet], Oxypolis rigidus [Oxypolis rigidior, cowbane], *Azalea nudiflora [Rhododendron periclymenoides, wild azalea], Xolisma ligustrina [Lyonia ligustrina, he-huckleberry], Steironema ciliatum [fringed loosestrife], Gentiana elliottii [Gentiana catesbaei, coastal plain gentian], Chelone glabra [white turtlehead], *Mitchella repens [partridge-berry], Sambucus canadensis [common elderberry], Mikania scandens [climbing hempweed], Pluchea petiolata [Pluchea camphorata, camphorweed]
Of greatest interest perhaps are those species which inhabit the rich shady primeval forests on the north sides of hills. Among these may be mentioned the following:
Botrychium virginianum [Botrypus virginianus, rattlesnake fern], Adiantum pedatum [northern maidenhair], Asplenium platyneuron [ebony spleenwort], Polystichum acrostichoides [Christmas fern], Poa brevifolia [Poa cuspidata, bluegrass], Carex laxiflora [broad loose-flowered sedge], Tradescantia montana [Tradescantia subaspera, zigzag spiderwort], Juncoides campestre [Luzula echinata, spreading wood-rush], Juncoides pilosum [Luzula acuminata var. carolinae, carolina wood-rush], Chamaelirium luteum [fairy-wand], Uvularia perfoliata [perfoliate bellwort], Uvularia puberula [Carolina bellwort], Vagnera racemosa [Maianthemum racemosum, false-solomon’s-seal], Polygonatum biflorum [Solomon’s seal], Medeola virginiana [Indian cucumber-root], Trillium stylosum [Trillium catesbyi, Catesby’s trillium], Smilax ecirrhata [Smilax ecirrata, upright carrionflower], Dioscorea villosa [wild yam], Tipularia unifolia [Tipularia discolor, cranefly orchid], Corylus rostrata [Corylus corunuta, beaked hazel]
Castanea dentata [American chestnut], Waldsteinia parviflora [Waldsteinia doniana, southern barren strawberry], Quercus rubra [red oak], Geranium maculatum [wild geranium], Pyrularia pubera [buffalo-nut], Acer leucoderme [chalk maple], Silene stellata [starry campion], Rhamnus caroliniana [Frangula caroliniana, carolina buckthorn], Alsine pubera [star chickweed], Viola palmata [southern three-lobed violet], *Viola obliqua [Viola cucullata, blue marsh violet], Viola hastata [halberd-leaf violet], Viola tripartita [three-parted yellow violet], *Liriodendron tulipifera [tulip-poplar], Cimicifuga racemosa [common black-cohosh], *Xanthorrhiza apiifolia [Xanthorhiza simplicissima, yellowroot], Anemone quinquefolia [wood anemone], Panax quinquefolium [American ginseng], Hepatica triloba [H. acutiloba or H. americana], Oxydendrum arboreum [sourwood], Syndesmon thalictroides [Thalictrum thalictroides, rue-anemone], Pedicularis canadensis [wood-betony], Thalesia uniflora [Aphyllon uniflorum, ghostpipe], Sauguinaria canadensis [bloodroot], *Mitchella repens [partridge-berry], Dentaria laciniata [Cardamine concatenata, cutleaf toothwort], Viburnum acerifolium [maple-leaf viburnum], Heuchera americana [American alumroot], Eupatorium aromaticum [Ageratina aromatica, small-leaved white snakeroot], Hydrangea arborescens [smooth hydrangea], Solidago caesia [Axillary goldenrod], *Hamamelis virginiana [witch-hazel], Nabalus altissimus [tall rattlesnake-root]
Several of the above species reach the southern limit of their ranges in this region. Juncoides pilosum [Luzula acuminata var. carolinae, carolina wood-rush], Corylus rostrata [Corylus corunuta, beaked hazel], Pyrularia pubera [buffalo-nut], Silene stellata [starry campion], Anemone quinquefolia [wood anemone], Hydrangea arborescens [smooth hydrangea], Viola hastata [halberd-leaf violet], and Solidago caesia [Axillary goldenrod] have been collected by Dr. J. K. Small in the vicinity of Stone Mountain, a few miles farther south but at a higher altitude than my stations for the same species. A few others extend down along the foothills to about the same altitude in eastern Alabama. Some of those which seem to have never been collected farther south than I have found them will be mentioned more in detail at the end of this paper.
In the drier and more open woods, including those on the south sides of hills and the second-growth oak woods which are frequent on the broad summits of the ridges, the flora is quite different from that of the rich shady original woods, although it is in some places difficult to draw a sharp line between them, and a few species are common to both. The following are some of the characteristic species of dry woods:
Panicum commutatum [Dichanthelium commutatum, variable witchgrass], Carex pennsylvanica [Pennsylvania sedge], Stipa avenacea [Piptochaetium avenaceum, eastern needlegrass], Tradescantia reflexa [Tradescantia ohiensis, Ohio spiderwort], Melica mutica [two-flower melic], Juncus tenuis [slender rush], Uniola latifolia [Chasmanthium latifolium, river oats], *Smilax rotundifolia [common greenbriar], Danthonia sericea [silky oatgrass], Smilax herbacea [smooth carrionflower]
Hypoxis erecta [common stargrass], Sisyrinchium carolinianum [Sisyrinchium angustifolium, common blue-eyed grass], Juglans nigra [black walnut], Carya tomentosa [shagbark hickory], Carya glabra [pignut hickory], Castanea pumila [Allegheny chinquapin], Quercus digitata [Quercus falcata, southern red oak], Quercus coccinea [scarlet oak], Quercus marylandica [Quercus marilandica, blackjack oak], Quercus alba [white oak], Quercus minor [Quercus stellata, post oak], Quercus prinus [Quercus michauxii, chestnut oak], Silene virginica [fire pink], Asimina parviflora [small-flowered pawpaw], *Anemone virginiana [thimbleweed], Ranunculus fascicularis [thick-root buttercup], Crataegus spathulata [littlehip hawthorn], Crataegus boyntoni [Crataegus intricata var. boyntonii, Boynton’s hawthorn], Prunus serotina [eastern wild black cherry], Prunus umbellata [hog plum], Cercis canadensis [eastern redbud], Baptisia bracteata [creamy wild indigo], *Trifolium refiexum [buffalo clover], Psoralea pedunculata [Orbexilum pedunculatum, western sampson’s-snakeroot], Stylosanthes riparia [Stylosanthes biflora, pencil-flower], Lespedeza hirta [hairy lespedeza], Vicia hugeri [Vicia caroliniana, Carolina vetch], Linum virginianum [Virginia yellow flax], Jatropha stimulosa [Cnidoscolus stimulosus, spurge-nettle], Rhus glabra [smooth sumac], Euonymus americanus [heart’s-a-bustin], Aesculus octandra [Aesculus flava, yellow buckeye], Ceanothus americanus [New Jersey tea], Vitis aestivalis [summer grape], Vitis cordifolia [Vitis vulpina, winter grape], Vitis rotundifolia [muscadine], Parthenocissus quinquefolia [Virginia creeper], Viola pedata [bird’s foot violet], Viola villosa [southern wooly violet], Viola multicaulis [?]
Ligusticum canadense [American lovage], Sanicula canadensis [black snakeroot], Sanicula marylandica [Sanicula marilandica, Maryland sanicle], Zizia cordata [Zizia aptera, heartleaf golden-alexanders], Cornus florida [flowering dogwood], Chimaphila maculata [pipsissewa], Vaccinium stamineum [deerberry], Vaccinium corymbosum [highbush blueberry], Gelsemium sempervirens [Carolina jessamine], Gentiana villosa [striped gentian], Amsonia tabernaemontana [wide-leaf bluestar], Asclepias variegata [redring milkweed], Vincetoxicum hirsutum [Odontostephana carolinensis, Carolina spinypod], Convolvulus repens [Convolvulus binghamiae, coastal plain bindweed], Phlox amoena [hairy phlox], Onosmodium virginianum [Lithospermum virginianum, Virginia marbleseed], Hedeoma pulegioides [American pennyroyal], Calamintha caroliniana [Clinopodium georgianum, Georgia calamint], Salvia urticaefolia [Salvia urticifolia, nettle-leaf sage], Blephilia ciliata [downy woodmint], Scutellaria integrifolia [narrowleaf skullcap], Scutellaria pilosa [Scutellaria ovata var. ovata, heartleaf skullcap], Trichostema dichotomum [common bluecurls], Trichostema lineare [Trichostema setaceum, narrowleaf bluecurls], Dasystoma virginica [Aureolaria virginica, downy oak-leech], Gerardia tenuifolia [Agalinis tenuifolia, slenderleaf agalinis], Bignonia capreolata [cross-vine], Ruellia ciliosa [sandhill wild petunia], Ruellia strepens [limestone wild-petunia], Houstonia purpurea [summer bluet], Viburnum rufotomentosum [Viburnum rufidulum, rusty blackhaw], Elephantopus carolinianus [leafy elephant’s-foot], Solidago brachyphylla [Dixie goldenrod], Solidago petiolaris [downy goldenrod], Solidago erecta [slender goldenrod], Sericocarpus asteroides [Sericocarpus caespitosus], Aster patens [Symphyotrichium patens, clasping aster], Erigeron pulchellus [Robin’s plantain], Erigeron annuus [annual fleabane], Antennaria plantaginea [Antennaria plantaginifolia, plantain pussytoes]
Chrysogonum virginianum [green-and-gold], Coreopsis major [Anacis major, woodland coreopsis], Heliopsis helianthoides [eastern oxeye], Mesadenia atriplicifolia [Arnoglossum atriplicifolium, pale indian-plantain], Verbesina virginica [common frostweed], Carduus altissimus [Cirsium altissimum, tall thistle], Carduus occidentalis [Cirsium occidentale, cobweb thistle], Hieracium venosum [veiny hawkweed]
Another interesting area in middle Georgia may be called the dry fields, or the unforested portions of what are known as the gray gravelly and sandy lands (the latter designation including also those dry woods which have a soil of similar character). The soil of these dry fields consists mostly of gneissoid granite in all stages of disintegration, from large fragments to fine sand and clay. The flora of these fields, while somewhat poor in individuals, is quite rich in species, as may be seen from the following list:
Andropogon scoparius [Schizochyrium scoparium, little bluestem], Rhus copallina [Rhus copallinum, eastern winged sumac], Commelina virginica [Virginia dayflower], Hypericum maculatum [large spotted St.-John’s-wort], Tradescantia hirsuticaulis [hairy spiderwort], Passiflora incarnata [purple passionflower], Yucca filamentosa [curlyleaf yucca], Kneiffia fruticosa [Oenothera fruticosa, sundrops], Smilax glauca [wild sarsaparilla], Daucus pusillus [American carrot], Silene antirrhina [sleepy catchfly], Diospyros virginiana [persimmon], Anemone virginiana [thimbleweed], Apocynum cannabinum [hemp-dogbane], Delphinium carolinianum [Carolina larkspur], Asclepias tuberosa [butterfly’s-delight], Cebatha carolina [Nephroia carolina, Carolina moonseed], Asclepias obtusifolia [Asclepias amplexicaulis, clasping milkweed], Sassafras officinale [Sassafras albidum, sassafras], Acerates viridiflora [Asclepias viridiflora, green milkweed], Ipomoea pandurata [wild man-of-the-earth], Crataegus unifiora [oneflower hawthorn], Gilia rubra [Ipomopsis rubra, standing-cypress], Rubus trivialis [southern dewberry], Phacelia hirsuta [Ozark phacelia], Fragaria virginiana [Virginia wild strawberry], Verbena canadensis [Glandularia canadensis, rose verbena], Potentilla canadensis [dwarf potentilla], Salvia lyrata [lyre-leaved sage], Prunus angustifolia [Chickasaw plum], Scutellaria multiglandulosa [Small’s skullcap], Morongia angustata [Mimosa microphylla, eastern sensitive-briar], Physalis heterophylla [clammy ground-cherry], Physalis nyctaginea [Physalis heterophylla], Crotalaria rotundifolia [low rattlebox], Cracca virginiana [Tephrosia virginiana, Virginia goat’s-rue], Trifolium reflexum [buffalo clover], Linaria canadensis [common toadflax], Cracca spicata [Tephrosia spicata, spiked hoarypea], Pentstemon hirsutus [northeastern beardtongue], Plantago virginica [Virginia plantain], Clitoria mariana [butterfly pea], Houstonia longifolia [eastern longleaf bluet], Rhynchosia tomentosa [erect snoutbean], Eupatorium compositifolium [coastal dog-fennel], Oxalis recurva [Oxalis grandis, great yellow wood-sorrel], Acalypha virginica [Virginia copperleaf], Kuhnia eupatorioides [Brickellia eupatorioides, eastern Brickellia], Tragia urticaefolia [Tragia urticifolia, nettleleaf noseburn], Aster ericoides [Symphyotrichium ericoides, heath aster], Euphorbia corollata [eastern flowering spurge], Gnaphalium obtusifolium [Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, eastern rabbit-tobacco], Silphium asteriscus, Adopogon carolinianum [Krigia virginica, Virginia dwarf-dandelion], Coreopsis grandiflora [large-flowered coreopsis], Senecio smallii [Packera anonyma, Appalachian ragwort]
Many of the above species are more common southward and westward, and do not range much farther northeast than Athens.
At many points in the gray gravelly and sandy lands the underlying rock is hard enough to resist disintegration and becomes exposed on the surface. On these granite outcrops, and particularly around their edges, where there is apt to be more or less moisture, are found some rather interesting plants, among them being the following:
Cheilanthes lanosa [Myriopteris lanosa, hairy lipfern], Arabis virginica [Planodes virginicum, Virginia-cress], Woodsia obtusa [blunt-lobed cliff fern], Diamorpha pusilla [Sedum pusillum, Puck’s orpine], Fimbristylis autumnalis [slender fembry], Saxifraga virginiensis [Micranthes virginiensis, early saxifrage], Trifolium carolinianum [Carolina clover], Carex cephalophora, Oxalis violacea [violet wood-sorrel], Juncus marginatus [grass-leaved rush], Crotonopsis linearis [Croton michauxii, Michaux’s croton], Nothoscordum bivalve [crow poison], Sarothra gentianoides [Hypericum gentianoides, pineweed], *Opuntia vulgaris [Opuntia ficus-indica, mission prickly-pear or possibly Opuntia humifusa], Agave virginica [Manfreda virginica, false-aloe], Myosotis verna [early forget-me-not], Talinum teretifolium [Phemeranthus teretifolius, Appalachian rock-pink], *Ilysanthes refracta [Lindernia monticola, Piedmont pimpernel], Cerastium braehypodum, Plantago elongata [prairie plantain], Valerianella radiata, Arenaria brevifolia [Arenaria leptoclados, slender sandwort]
Still another peculiar flora is found in deposits of dry sand along the rivers at a few points. The species frequenting this sand are quite few, on account of the very small relative extent of these deposits. I have noticed the following psammophilous species along the two rivers in Clarke Co.:
Pteris aquilina [Pteridium aquilinium, bracken fern], Breweria humistrata [Stylisma humistrata, southern dawnflower], Yucca filamentosa [curlyleaf yucca], Lupinus perennis [southern sundial lupine], Monarda punctata [eastern horsemint], Ascyrum hypericoides [Hypericum hypericoides, St.-Andrew’s-cross], Chrysopsis graminifolia [Pityopsis graminifolia], *Opuntia vulgaris [Opuntia ficus-indica, mission prickly-pear or possibly Opuntia humifusa], Vaccinium arboreum [sparkleberry]
I have found all of these, with the exception of Lupinus, much more abundant in south Georgia, where the soil is nearly all sand.
Lastly may be considered the plants of fields, roadsides and pastures, including the native and introduced weeds. The following is a partial list of such species:
Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex acetosella, Polygonum convolvulus, Amarantus spinosus, Amarantus retroflexus, Phytolacca decandra, Boerhaavia erecta, Mollugo verticillata, Portulaca oleracea, Agrostemma githago, Alsine media, Cerastium viscosum, Anychia dichotoma, Ranunculus parviflorus, Ranunculus abortivus, Lepidium virginicum, Coronopus didymus, Sisymbrium officinale, Cardamine hirsuta, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Draba verna, Stenophragma thaliana, Rubus nigrobaccus, Duchesnia indica, Alchemilla arvensis, Rosa rubiginosa, Rossa bracteata, Medicago arabica, Melilotus alba, Trifolium procumbens, Trifolium arvense, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia hirsuta, Vicia sativa, Geranium carolinianum, Oxalis stricta, Melia azederach, Acalypha ostryaefolia
Euphorbia maculata, Euphorbia preslii, Modiola caroliniana, Oenothera laciniata, Hartmannia speciosa, Daucus carota, Chaerophyllum tainturieri, Anagallis arvensis, Heliotropium indicum, Lithospermum arvense, Verbena bracteosa, Lamium amplexicaule, Solanum nigrum, Solanum carolinense, Datura tatula, Verbascum thapsus, Verbascum blattaria, Veronica peregrina, Veronica arvensis, Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago aristata, Plantago heterophylla, Houstonia coerulea, Legouzia perfoliata, Solidago canadensis, Erigeron canadensis, Filago nivea, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, Artemisia trifida, Xanthium strumarium, Bidens frondosa, Bidens bipinnata, Helenium tenuifolium, Achillea millefolium, Anthemis cotula, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Arctium lappa, Carduus lanceolatus, Taraxacum officinale
I have not attempted to make all the above lists complete, and have purposely omitted from them several species which are rare or not characteristic of any of these areas. As my observations in this region have not extended over the summer months, I have doubtless omitted many species which are characteristic of the several areas, especially in the first group, that of hydrophytic plants.
In this connection it might be of interest to note what plants do not occur in middle Georgia. The genera Lycopodium and Polygala, for instance, which are represented by several species both in south Georgia and in the Northern States, seem to be wanting in middle Georgia. Some species of these two genera inhabit the northern forests, while others are found mostly near the coast, and the northern species do not seem to extend quite so far south, or the coast species so far inland, as middle Georgia. Also the genera Xyris, Eriocaulon, Lilium, Iris, Limodorum, Castalia, Sarracenia, Drosera, Triadenum, Proserpinaca, Myriophyllum, Bartonia, Limnanthemum and Utricidaria, which are represented north and south, seem to be rare or absent in middle Georgia. The same might be said also of many species of several other genera, such as Rhynchospora, Ludwigia and Sabbatia. The Orchidaceae, Hypericaceae and Asclepiadaceae are represented by fewer species in middle Georgia than in other parts of the country.
From the Notes on the Flora of Middle Goergia by Roland M. Harper (1901) pp 320-330