May 7, 1996
Dear SCAN members,
Our President’s Special on April 13th combined botany and history in a delightful trip to Stanley, NC (Gaston County, west of Charlotte). Charlie Williams planned a route that followed, as nearly as could be ascertained, the route that French botanist Andre Michaux took on April 3, 1796, just 200 years ago. On that trip, Michaux observed many specimens of Magnolia macrophylla, over 3000 of which he dug up and transplanted to his botanical garden in Charleston or shipped to France. This tree is noteworthy in having the largest entire leaves of any native tree in the U.S. and flowers up to 18 inches in diameter. Charlie showed us the largest M. macrophylla in North Carolina as well as many smaller ones ranging from one to 50 feet tall. None of the leaves or flowers were out, but each thick branch was terminated with a silky gray-green bud about 3 inches long. Also, we found an 8-inch slimy salamander under a log and a great diversity of blooming wild flowers and other plants. A few lucky SCANners ended the day in a fine fish restaurant south of Charlotte. Thanks, Charlie, for an interesting and enjoyable day.
The annual spring overnight on April 26-27 treated us to two spectacular sites. Saturday’s trip to the Horsepasture River (Transylvania County, NC) included magnificent waterfalls, migrating warblers, and several species of early flowers including lots of Trillium catesbaei. We camped overnight at the Presbyterians’ Camp BUC just south of the Horsepasture River, where the light sleepers heard both Barred and Great Horned owls and Turkey. On Sunday we followed Charlie Williams’ lead to a section of Nantahala National Forest, the Panthertown Valley area of Jackson County, where an elderly neighbor has cut trails (unmarked) that Charlie has been mapping.
We followed one trail first to Schoolhouse Falls where we could walk under the falls to see the unusual Asplenium ferns and the rare Lycopodium porophilum. Other rare plants sighted were Painted Trillium (T. undulatum), Rhododendron catawbiense, and possibly a new form or species of Amelanchier. We ate lunch on top of Little Green Mountain with fine views of Black Rock and Big Green mountains. We thank Western Regional Director Cathe Jones, who finally broke her string of bad-weather luck by leading these trips on two absolutely gorgeous days. Way to go, Cathe!
Sincerely,
Jan Ciegler, President
SECRETARY’S NOTE: It would be difficult to imagine more exciting trips for botanists than the April trips. But the May trip just might come close. The fauna will also be fascinating. For background information ahead of time, look for a copy of Henry Savage’s book The Mysterious Carolina Bays in your local friendly library.
LOTS OF BAYS; MAY 25, 1996GRAND STRAND SEWER AND WATER BAY plus LEWIS OCEAN BAY HERITAGE PRESERVE: Horry County; 10:30 a.m., 25 May DON’T BE LATE. WE WILL LEAVE ON TIME!
The Grand Strand Bay is used for tertiary sewage treatment and we will see get to see the effect of that on a bay. Then, after lunch, on to the Lewis complex. There are over 20 bays in this preserve scattered over 6400 acres. These bays are unique in being filled with peat under-lain by a sand layer which has become cemented. The latter layer prevents the downward percolation of water. Tannic acid leached from the peat causes the bays to be acidic, hence selecting for acid-tolerant plants especially members of the Ericaceae (blueberry, fetterbush, zenobia). This area is also very rich in insectivorous plants and harbors an interesting bird population.
For planning purposes you can expect to eat lunch at the cars. But come prepared for sun, bugs and mud. Bring lots of liquids. It gets hot out there. AND DON’T BE LATE….WE WILL LEAVE ON TIME. There is quite a maze of muddy roads so don’t count on finding us.
Directions: See map. From Columbia: Take U.S. 378; Go around Sumter and Lake City to Conway. In Conway, at Main St., turn right, go over the bridge and drive 1.3 miles; turn left on SC 90.
Alternatively, from Columbia, take I-20 to Florence, then U.S. 76 to near Marion, then southeast on U.S. 501 to Conway. Approaching Conway, take the right fork, Business 501, which becomes Main Street. Cross the bridge, travel 1.3 miles then left on SC 90.
After turning left on SC 90, go 4.8 miles to Convenience Corner (a gaudy blue store). Meet here.
Bigleaf Magnolia Site Gaston County, NC
April 13, 1996
Crustose Lichen
Graphis scripta
Fruticose Lichen
Cladonia chlorophaea
Crustose Lichen
Pertusaria ostiolata
Foliose Lichen
Candelaria concolor
Parmotrema hypotropum
Parmotrema perforatum
Flavoparmelia baltimorensis
Flavoparmelia caperata
Canoparmelia caroliniana
Fruticose Lichen
Usnea strigosa
Foliose Lichen
Heterodermia albicans
Phaeophyscia ciliata
Crustose Lichen
Pyrenula cruenta
Trypethelium mastoideum
FLORA
Shining Clubmoss
Lycopodium lucidulum
Running-Pine
Lycopodium flabelliforme
Rattlesnake Fern
Botrychium virginianum
Southern Grapefern
Botrychium biternatum
Southern Lady Fern
Athyrium asplenioides
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Broad Beech-Fern
Thelypteris hexagonoptera
Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
White Pine
Pinus strobus
Short-leaf Pine
Pinus echinata
Scrub Pine
Pinus virginiana
Eastern Red-cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Cane; Switch Cane
Arundinaria gigantea
Rush
Juncus sp.
Woodrush
Luzula acuminata carolinae
Woodrush
Luzula echinata
Woodrush
Luzula sp.
Greenbrier
Smilax glauca
Trillium sp.
Blazing Star
Chamaelirium luteum
Fly-Poison
Amianthium muscaetoxicum
Bellwort
Uvularia sessilifolia
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
Crane-fly Orchid
Tipularia discolor
Bitternut Hickory
Carya cordiformis
Mockernut Hickory
Carya tomentosa
Tag Alder
Alnus serrulata
Hazel-nut
Corylus americana
River Birch
Betula nigra
American Hornbeam; Ironwood
Carpinus caroliniana
Beech
Fagus grandifolia
White Oak
Quercus alba
Post Oak
Quercus stellata
Rock Chestnut Oak
Quercus prinus
Red Oak
Quercus rubra rubra
Black Oak
Quercus velutina
Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata falcata
Water Oak
Quercus nigra
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
Birthwort
Aristolochia serpentaria
Wild Ginger
Hexastylis minor
Jumpseed
Tovara virginiana
Pokeweed; Pokeberry
Phytolacca americana
Chickweed
Stellaria media
Giant Chickweed
Stellaria pubera
Yellow Root
Xanthorhiza simplicissima
Windflower
Thalictrum thalictroides
Small-flowered Crowfoot
Ranunculus abortivus
Buttercup
Ranunculus sp.
Liverleaf
Hepatica americana
Windflower
Anemone lancifolia
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Umbrella Tree
Magnolia macrophylla
PawPaw
Asimina triloba
PawPaw; Papaw
Asimina sp.
Sweet-shrub; Carolina Allspice
Calycanthus floridus
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Turnip or Rape
Brassica napus
Bitter Cress
Cardamine hirsuta
Bitter Cress
Cardamine pensylvanica
Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia collina
Sweet-Gum
Liquidambar styraciflua
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
Indian strawberry
Duchesnea indica
Five-fingers
Potentilla canadensis
Cocklebur
Agrimonia sp.
Rosa multiflora
Rose
Rosa sp.
Hog Plum
Prunus umbellata
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Cherry
Prunus sp.
Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Poison Ivy
Rhus radicans
Poison Oak
Rhus toxicodendron
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
Box Elder
Acer negundo
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Painted Buckeye
Aesculus sylvatica
Spotted Touch-me-not
Impatiens capensis
Muscadine
Vitis rotundifolia
Grape
Vitis sp.
Common Blue Violet
Viola papilionacea
Violet
Viola palmata
Halberd-leaved Violet
Viola hastata
Violet
Viola rafinesquii
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Indian Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
Wild Azalea
Rhododendron nudiflorum
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Fetter-Bush
Leucothoe axillaris
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Silverbell
Halesia carolina
American Ash; White Ash
Fraxinus americana americana
Fringe-tree
Chionanthus virginicus
Privet; Ligustrum
Ligustrum japonicum
Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense
Pennywort
Obolaria virginica
Beauty-berry
Callicarpa americana
Glecoma hederacea
Henbit
Lamium sp.
Veronica
Veronica hederaefolia*
Cross-Vine
Anisostichus capreolata
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Partridge Berry
Mitchella repens
Bluet
Houstonia caerulea
Bluet
Houstonia pusilla
Sherardia arvensis
Bedstraw
Galium sp.
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
Black Haw; Nanny-berry
Viburnum prunifolium
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Corn Salad
Valerianella locusta*
Corn Salad
Valerianella radiata
Wild Lettuce
Lactuca sp.
Pussy Toes
Antennaria plantaginifolia
Robin’s Plantain
Erigeron pulchellus
Green-and-gold
Chrysogonum virginianum australe
Coneflower
Rudbeckia laciniata
Yellow Morel
Morchella esculenta
Black Knot
Apiosporina morbosa
Black Jelly Roll
Exidia glandulosa
Turkey-tail
Trametes versicolor
Ceramic Parchment
Xylobolus frustulatus
Elm Oyster
Hypsizygus tessulatus
Oyster Mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus
Arched Earthstar
Geastrum fornicatum
Rounded Earthstar
Geastrum saccatum
FAUNA
White-lipped Forest Snail
Triodopsis albolabris
Black Carpenter Ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Bald-faced Hornet
Vespula maculata
Green Tiger Beetle
Cicindela sexguttata
Minute Ground Beetle
Tachyta nana inornata
Minute Ground Beetle
Mioptachys flavicauda
Woodland Ground Beetle
Agonum ferreus
Notch-mouthed Ground Beetle
Dicaelus ambiguus
Notch-mouthed Ground Beetle
Dicaelus dilitatus
Obscure Rove Beetle
Atheta sp.
Hister Beetle
Platysoma carolinus
Passalus; Bess-beetle
Popilius disjunctus
Click Beetle
Melanotus sp.*
Soldier Beetle
Cantharis bilineatus
Firefly
Ellychnia sp.
Darkling Beetle
Uloma imberbis
Sap Beetle
Meligethes sp.*
Sap Beetle
Glischrochilus quadriguttatus*
Pleasing Fungus Beetle
Triplax thoracica
Alder Leaf Beetle
Chrysomela interrupta
Flea Beetle
Crepidodera nana*
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Falcate Orangetip
Anthocharis midea
Spring Azure
Celastrina ladon
Duskywing Skipper
Erynnis sp.
Slimy Salamander
Plethodon glutinosus
Five-lined/SE Five-lined Skink
Eumeces sp.
Ground Skink
Scincella lateralis
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Belted Kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Tufted Titmouse
Parus bicolor
Carolina Chickadee
Parus carolinensis
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dendroica coronata
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Raccoon (tracks)
Procyon lotor
White-tailed Deer (tracks)
Odocoileus virginianus
NOTE: The flora/fauna list is produced by the South CArolina Association of Naturalists, and is subject to revision as needed. Above list produced 05-07-96.
*first time recorded