Flora-Quest 2012: Part II

Better late than never but I am back to share the second half of Flora-Quest 2012!  Clearly I wanted to get this post out and published right after the first one but sometimes life has a way of keeping you busy elsewhere and preventing some things from happening on time.  Rest assured I haven't forgotten and am still plenty excited to share the fascinating flora that Sunday bestowed upon my group's hungry eyes.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny with the promise of a great day back on the forest roads of Shawnee state forest to search out some of the gorgeous and intriguing plants blooming throughout.  As mentioned before the early spring caused some interesting changes in the usual look of the flora at this stage in the year but I was still able to secure some wildflowers and spots that were sure to wow everyone.  I'm hard pressed to have such an attentive audience this fired up about plants in my normal day to day life.  It's beer, sports and women with the guys and not that there is anything wrong with those subjects but I can't always keep my love for the botanical world bottled up and unsung.

For Sunday's excursions out into Shawnee you were welcome to join any of the leader's vans and did not necessarily have to stick with your original group from the day before.  I was very happy to see more or less my entire group climb into my van, plus a couple extras who were, like me, pretty hot for the promise of the wild orchids we were likely to see.  I think the following photographs will be quick to show just how awesome a day out in the field we had.

Albino Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule forma albiflora)

Probably my favorite stop and wildflower seen during our outing was the long-awaited and sought after albino pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule forma albiflora).  I have had the pleasure of seeing thousands of pink ladies in my botanical wanderings but the rare and elusive all-white albino form had always eluded me; well until this weekend!  If this particular plant could have known any better it would have felt like a rock star having so many people flock around it with camera shutters clicking and flashes going off left and right.  It was well deserved if you ask me!

Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule)

Scattered throughout the same area as the lone albino pink lady were dozens of others in their traditionally pink garb.  These Cypripediums are also called moccasin flowers by some for their bilateral labellums (pouch) appearing much like that of a moccasin or slipper (hence the other common name for this genus).

Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens)

Just a stone's throw away from the pink ladies flowering under the oaks and pines were a few straggling large yellow lady's slippers (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens) along the gravel road.  Getting to see two of Ohio's lady's slippers almost side by side is one of the many reasons Shawnee is an incredible place during the growing season.  Some sad news does go along with these wondrous plants I'm afraid to say.  What now only numbers a few scattered plants, this specific spot once supported upwards of 40-50 flowering plants of the yellow ladies before meeting their fates not long ago at the hands of a careless road grater.  I understand and appreciate the maintenance needed to keep the roads in drivable conditions in Shawnee but practicing some foresight and carefulness is crucial in keeping some of the state forest's key residents intact.  Decades of careful growth and existence snuffed out in an instant under a ton of welded metal and steel.  With any luck these magnificent plant's underground rhizomes survived and will bounce back in the years to come.

American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis)

For many this next plant amazes and astonishes at first sight by its height and overall size.  Some may even deem it to be an introduced species from the tropics, hardly believing that something so large and unique could even be native to Ohio's soils.  Rest assured the American columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) belongs here and is a proud member of our flora.  While I wanted the photograph above to focus on the enchanting flowers it doesn't go very far in showing the true nature of this beast.  American columbo is a monocarpic species, which means it matures until it flowers once, sets to seed and dies.  This plant can spend up to 30 years (although typically much, much less) maturing as a large rosette of basal leaves on the forest floor before suddenly shooting for the heavens as an elongated stem with up to 100 flowers branched in whorls up the main stem.  This skyscraper of a plant can reach heights over seven feet tall, which you can imagine is quite the sight when in full bloom with its greenish-white perfect flowers.

Fairy Wand ♂ (Chamaelirium luteum)

One of those interesting species not normally seen during Flora-Quest was this unparalleled member of the lily family (Liliaceae), fairy wand (Chamaelirium luteum).  Also known as devil's bit, this species is diecious, meaning it has both separate male and female plants.  The one's pictured above are both male staminate flowers and almost always greatly outnumber the females in any given population.  You aren't likely to find any other Chamaelirium species elsewhere as this is the sole member of its monotypic genus.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

As luck would sometimes have it, we stumbled onto a small population of the stunningly scarlet red flowers of the native trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) vine along a select stretch of Shawnee.  While the invasive and exotic honeysuckle species of Asian decent get all the attention for all the wrong reasons it's nice and rewarding to see our native species still clinging to existence and showing off their beauty.

Early Stoneroot (Collinsonia verticillata)

Of all the flowering plants unusually ahead of schedule during this year's event, this one above was hands down my favorite of all.  The early stoneroot (Collinsonia verticillata) or otherwise known as whorled horsebalm is an endangered species in Ohio with only a few scattered locations in Shawnee state forest and that's it.  If you take the time to take a gander at a distribution map for this curious species it becomes instantly clear it has a strange and scattered range throughout the southern Appalachians, where it's not common or frequent anywhere.  Due to its strange distribution coupled with scattered and rare occurrences it was once under consideration for federal listing as a rare species.

Early Stoneroot (Collinsonia verticillata)

Taking a closer look at the unusual inflorescence of the early stoneroot it's not too hard to tell it is closely related to the much more common Yellow Horsebalm (C. canadensis).  Despite being quite similar they are easy to tell apart in several key ways.  The whorled horsebalm blooms in the late spring, has light pink to purple colored flowers that bloom along an unbranched stem while the common horsebalm blooms later in the summer and fall, has lemon-yellow flowers and can have a multi-branched inflorescence. 

Whorled Pogonia (Isotria verticillata)

Where these is victory there can also be defeat, which unfortunately is the category one would have to place this crowd-favorite orchid species in.  Normally just coming into bloom and rewarding Flora-Quest attendees with it's unique and charming dragon-mouthed flowers, the whorled pogonias (Isotria verticillata) instead greeted their seekers with maturing seed pods.

Whorled Pogonia (Isotria verticillata)

This is what these very same plants looked like just a few short weeks earlier in full, glorious bloom.  Their long, dark-colored sepals spreading out from the 'mouth', which appears ready to devour any pollinator that dares enter its space.  You can't always see it all, even at special events like Flora-Quest.  Sometimes you have to leave people wanting more and ready to come back the next year to catch what they missed this time around.

Small White Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

I will leave you with this last photograph of the incredibly rare and endangered small white lady's slipper (Cypripedium candidum).  Only a lucky few got the chance to see this striking orchid but those that did walked away seeing what in my eyes is one of Ohio's most incredible plants.  The small white slipper is hardly bigger than the end of your pinkie finger and produces an intoxicating aroma on warm days that is an instant reward to anyone willing to take a whiff.

It was hard to tell the group to board the van and head back to the lodge to conclude another exciting Flora-Quest weekend but all good things must come to an end.  I think I can speak for my entire group that a great time was had by all and I was honored to have shared my experiences, excitement and Shawnee's secrets with each and every one of them.  I'm already looking forward to next year's installment in 2013!  When the dates are set be sure to check it out and sign up for an unforgettable weekend in extreme southern Ohio!

Running Buffalo Clover, Orchids and a Native Honeysuckle, Oh My!

Hamilton county, Ohio is home to some of the rarest and most interesting of all our flora.  Being so far to the south with its rolling, forested hills overlooking the mighty Ohio River, it's not hard to imagine the diversity and beauty on display in late spring.  Personal friend and botanist extraordinaire Dan Boone was kind enough to accompany me on our hike around the county to see what interesting flora we could find!

Lonicera sempervirens

Lonicera sempervirens

First up is one of Ohio's own native species of Lonicera or Honeysuckle.  It's sad that in today's Ohio the genus Lonicera and names like 'Honeysuckle' conjure up feelings of hatred and resentment if even for good reason.  While the non-native and grossly invasive Asian species are clogging our forests and woodlands with their monoculture creating terror, our native species, such as the above pictured Trumpet Honeysuckle (L. sempervirens), are losing habitat and their rightful chance to show off some color.  When not in bloom, these very inconspicuous vines are hard to pick out from the sea of surrounding green but when you catch them at the right time as we did today it's nigh on impossible to not be stopped in your tracks at their stunning beauty.  Some botanists and ecologists will argue that this species is not truly indigenous to Ohio and all populations are simply landscaped cultivation escapees but I strongly disagree with that stance.  Scattered irregularly throughout the state, many instances may in fact be escapees but it's my opinion that we definitely have naturally occurring populations.  This species is known from the depths of Shawnee State Forest in Scioto County, far away from any locations of civilization/cultivation.  Several years ago a severe winter ice storm downed many trees in Shawnee, creating numerous openings and clearings throughout the forest.  Come spring some of these openings exhibited a strongly increased showing of this plant in bloom.  It's clear L. sempervirens had been biding its time in the seed bank until nature created the necessary disturbance for it to make a comeback.  How long these seeds remained viable in their patient gamble for sunlight who knows but it all strongly points to this plant naturally occurring in Shawnee without any human intervention.  Not to mention most of the cultivated varieties I've seen of this plant do not so strongly resemble those of the wild blooming plants.

Corallorhiza wisteriana

Corallorhiza wisteriana

Growing unknown to almost all who walk past it in its cloak of secrecy is the Spring Coral-root orchid (Corallorhiza wisteriana).  Typically Ohio's earliest blooming Corallorhiza orchid, this diminutive saprophytic orchid has no chlorophyll (no 'green' parts to these plants) and thus is unable to produce its food via photosynthesis.  Instead it uses its vital symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizae fungi in the soil to help derive its nourishment from decaying organic material.  Usually less than a foot tall and brown colored, you can imagine the depth of difficulty it can take to find this plant growing out of the leaf litter in well-drained, upland forest communities.  This specific plant was found growing in a fantastic representation of a southwestern Ohio Oak/Hickory forest on its lower, mesic slopes.

Corallorhiza wisteriana

While the Corallorhiza genus of orchids may not hold a candle to the previously showcased Cypripedium's for most people, I think they are stunning and beautiful in their own right.  Take a close look at those snow white lips adorned with a peppering of brilliant magenta spots.  This plants chasmogamous flowers may only be a few millimeters wide in size but they more than make up for their tiny size in their splendid display of color.

Ray (front) and Dan (back) admiring the T. stoloniferum in the forest opening

I was certainly impressed and overjoyed at getting these two rare and beautiful specimens on my species list for 2011 as well as on the camera's memory card but it was time to make for a small opening/path in the woods that provided the suitable habitat for one of Ohio's and the United States rarest species of vascular plants, the Running Buffalo Clover (Trofolium stoloniferum).  Currently listed as endangered on Ohio's rare plants list as well as Federally endangered, this plant has an incredible story to go along with its visually stunning floral displays (at least I think so!).

Initially described to the scientific world and community back in the early 1800's, this plant quickly waned in numbers as the century closed out and by the middle of the 20th century it was considered extinct.  A sad end to such an incredible species tied to our part of the country's natural history.  Then, out of nowhere in 1985 two populations were found in West Virginia, igniting a fire under the behinds of botanists throughout the Midwest in a race to find more extant populations in the Running Buffalo Clover's original range.  Since that initial rediscovery in 1985, five of the eight states formally known to harbor this species can proudly claim naturally occurring populations.  West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri are the lucky five, while Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas are still searching for their lucky break.

Trifolium stoloniferum

Trifolium stoloniferum

The clovers habitat requirements of moist, fertile soils in regularly disturbed deciduous forests with partial filtering sunlight give the impression that this species would exist in much higher numbers since this habitat exists with reasonable occurrences throughout southwestern Ohio today.  Unlike many other rare and endangered plants that need undisturbed, mature habitat, Trifolium stoloniferum relies on long-term disturbance of moderate proportions such as mowing, grazing and foot traffic.  Oddly enough this species preferred habitat was not nearly as frequent and common in the primeval Midwest environment and relied on the time periods mega-fauna,  most notably the North American Bison as well as the Native Americans to artificially create its grassy woodland openings.  In pre-settlement times this species was probably found most commonly along the natural Bison and Indian trails as well as along the margins of woodlands and prairies.  Once the Bison were hunted to near extinction this species vital relationship with the massive quadrupeds ceased to exist and followed its necessary counterpart down the road of oblivion.  Due to T. stoloniferum's seasonal need for disturbance, proper landscape and habitat management is critical in keeping this plant around for years to come.  Without management, its forested gaps and openings would quickly fill in.  Unable to survive the dense shade of the forest, the Running Buffalo Clover would quickly meet its unfortunate fate.

Trifolium stoloniferum

Trifolium stoloniferum

For most people a clover, is a clover, is a clover and how to tell them apart is wasted words on their ears.  Fortunately, Trifolium stoloniferum is one of the easiest of the clovers to I.D. and has a couple key distinguishing characteristics.  The flower head (which is made up of many, small pea-like inflorescences) sits atop vertical, unbranching stalks that are adorned with a pair of three-parted leaflets oppositely arranged on the stalk an inch or two down from the flower head.  No other Ohio clover, native or introduced, has this 'platform' of leaves sitting directly below the flowers.  This plant is also notoriously stoloniferous, meaning it has stolons or long 'runners' that spread out and extend from the base of the plants stems.  These runners are able to take root and help continue the propagation and growth of a small population.  The leaflets also lack the common Trifolium arrow-shaped 'watermark'.  Taking a look at the individual flowers reveals the delicate beauty of the all-white inflorescence tinged with purple.  Just your average, yard clogging clover?  Hardly!

Trifolium stoloniferum leaves

Imagine finding a four-leaved clover leaf to this Federal endangered rarity.  Now that is what I would call good luck if there ever was some!  I can't thank Dan enough for sharing the location of this spectacular little patch of Running Buffalo Clover nestled in a random woodland opening.  I've had this species high on my 'life list' for a while and to finally mark it off brought one heckuva smile to my face!  Now to search out Ohio's only other native species of Trifolium, simply called the Buffalo Clover (Trifolium reflexum) that is likewise endangered in our state.  Call me crazy, call me a weirdo but who would have thought a species of Clover would get me this excited.  I found it very fitting that today was National Endangered Species day (the third Friday in May) and I celebrated the most proper way imaginable with a visit to one of Ohio's and the United States endangered species!