Rare Plants in a Secret Prairie

This certainly isn't my first blog post to tell a tale of Adams county's ancient and mystical prairie openings and I can guarantee it won't be the last.  It's hard to stay away from such a diverse and engaging subject of Ohio's natural history and flora, especially when one spends a large amount of time combing its varying landscape.  Autumn is just as good a time as any during the growing season to visit the area's globally rare ecosystems and habitats, as they are still well alive with some of the year's last firework displays of wildflowers and tall warm-season grasses.  Come September I am always excited and anxious to pay a visit to one specific little prairie opening out of the hundreds of others to see one of Ohio's rarest vascular plants.

A particular Adams County limestone prairie with an elusive inhabitant 

At first glance this place doesn't seem to be anything different from the other countless dolomite-limestone barrens the county is widely famous for and you'd be right if you didn't know what to look for.  The rocky patches you see in the photograph above are not chunks of rock resting on the surface but rather exposed bedrock laid down over 400 million years ago during the Silurian age and known to geologists as Peebles-Dolomite.

Patch of exposed Peebles-Dolomite bedrock over 400 million years old

In many places the topsoil is only a few inches deep, making for very rugged conditions for any plant to grow in.  The soil is a type called rendzina, which is derived from weathered limestone bedrock and rich in humus, usually indicating an area that has been occupied by a grassland habitat for an extended period of time.  As time goes by and organic material builds up through decomposing plant matter, the soil becomes richer and comprised of more humus and less rock since the bedrock is slowly being covered and lost to the past.  Deep, rich soil is typical of mature forests that have had centuries, even millennia of leaf and herbaceous  decay but not so in these prairies where the organic soil layer is thin and bedrock still at the surface.  Despite the harsh reality of this environment, life has found a way to eek out an existence and cling to the shallow, rocky soil.  One of those survivors is the feature of this post and one of the most rare members of our flora.

Ear-leaved Foxglove  ~  Agalinis auriculata

Mixed in among the big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) lies the ear-leaved foxglove (Agalinis auriculata), a member of the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae).  A frequently used Latin synonym  for this species is Tomanthera auriculata.  Each September these plants grace this select prairie opening with their stunning pinkish-purple flowers for a couple weeks before slipping back into obscurity.

Ear-leaved Foxglove  ~  Agalinis auriculata

At first glance it's not hard to see the resemblance to other members of the Agalinis genus and its false-foxglove brethren.  The pink colored, five-lobed tube-like corollas appear in the leaf axils along the top of the stem.  Each flower only lasts a few hours before wilting and falling from the plant at the slightest touch or breeze. The buds break early in the morning and by noon are pollinated and have served their purpose for the day.  Each plant will bloom over the course of a week or so with a new set of flowers each morning until the ovary is fully fertilized and begins to mature.

Ear-leaved Foxglove  ~  Agalinis auriculata

Once pollinated the ovary quickly swells into a capsule tucked away inside the calyx and contains numerous small seeds.  The seeds mature quickly and are dispersed in late fall to over-winter and sprout in the spring.  Ear-leaved foxglove is an annual so seed production is a vital component to its continued existence and success; every plant, no matter the size, is the result of one season's growth and must complete its life cycle in that one  growing season.  A helpful trait this species has evolved to utilize is to be semi-parasitic on the roots of other nearby plants, most specifically asters (Symphyotrichum spp.).  The leaves are oppositely arranged and sessile with the upper leaves having two small lobes at the base where each leaf meets the stem.  These small lobes (auricles) or 'ears' are how the plant gets its common name ear-leaved foxglove and scientific epithet auriculata.

Ear-leaved Foxglove  ~  Agalinis auriculata

Due to being an annual, the plants put all their strength and energy into that one and only shot at flowering before giving up its ghost.  This leads to interesting results in the variation of size in flowering plants in a population.  I unfortunately caught these a bit late in the process this year and a large majority of the plants were already done and in seed but a few were still giving it one last go.  Some plants were eclipsing three feet in height and had multiple branching sections with dozens of seed pods on them while others, like this miniscule specimen above, were barely five inches tall with one bloom.

Distribution map of Agalinis auriculata (courtesy: BONAP)

The relic prairie I was standing in was just one of a handful of populations left of the ear-leaved foxglove in the state of Ohio.  The few others are well-kept secrets and scattered around the nearby area in other similar barren situations.  The original range for this species in Ohio was slim and scattered to begin with with the only records coming from Adams, Butler, Muskingnum, and Ottawa counties.  For decades the species was considered extirpated from the state and feared gone forever until a chance re-discovery in an Adams county prairie in 1985.  It had sat in the seed bank for an unknown amount of time before the right environmental conditions allowed germination.  Despite additional searching in Ottawa county, the species remains only extant in that handful of Adams county populations.  All the currently extant locations seem to be associated in one way or another with recent disturbance to the habitat, which is known to help stimulate the seed bank and allow this plant to spring forth.  Sometimes mankind's activities can have positive effects, even on something so rare as Agalinis auriculata.

Looking at the overall distribution and range of the species above shows a clustering in the 'breadbasket' region of the United States and outlying scatterings throughout the Midwest and south-central states.  Despite a good showing of records in those heartland states, many, actually most, of those counties no longer contain any existing populations of the ear-leaved foxglove.  Its affinity for mesic, rich, black-soiled tall grass prairies spelled its own doom when they were tilled and plowed for agriculture.  Today the ear-leaved foxglove is only found in about half of its original range with a majority of the remaining populations at the center of its distribution in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.  In response to its rarity and disappearing habitat due to succession and development/agriculture, this species is currently under consideration for federal listing.

Ear-leaved Foxglove  ~  Agalinis auriculata

There's something sentimental about being in the presence of something so beautiful and sparse.  It gives you a better appreciation for its existence and place in the natural landscape of these already special and rare ecosystems.  Apart from being the rarest denizen of this particular dolomite prairie, it was certainly not the only uncommon or charming plant to be found.  This next one is not only stimulating to the eyes but to the olfactories as well and can be found if you follow your nose...

Great Plains Ladies-tresses  ~  Spiranthes magnicamporum

I've shared the great plains ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum) on here before and it would seem rude to leave them out here when they are growing just a few feet away from the ear-leaved foxgloves and blooming concurrently.  As mentioned above, the odor emitted from these small crystalline flowers is deliciously sweet and refreshing and well worth a whiff.  It's not uncommon to smell these before you see them on a warm fall afternoon.

Great Plains Ladies-tresses  ~  Spiranthes magnicamporum 

One of the last species of orchid to bloom in the state, these plants are right at home in the xeric and calcareous thin soils of the dolomite prairies.  Spiranthes magnicamporum was once lumped as a variety of the infamously difficult Spiranthes cernua  complex.  In-depth research into its genetics, habitat, and phenology in the mid 1970's allowed the species to be rightfully elevated to full species status.  Its later blooming period, yellow-colored throat, strong fragrance, and dry, limestone habitat preference help separate it from the similar multiple forms of S. cernua.

Great Plains Ladies-tresses  ~  Spiranthes magnicamporum

A closer inspection of the individual inflorescences shows the lateral sepals flared away from the sides and raised just a bit above and seem to imitate the look of a charging bull.  The great plains ladies'-tresses begin to bloom in mid-September and are known to flower through October and into November after even the asters and goldenrods have called it a year.  It's hard to look at one of the last, if not the last, of the orchids to bloom and say goodbye.  For someone as passionately obsessed with that family as your blogger it's a bittersweet moment.

Great Plains Ladies-tresses  ~  Spiranthes magnicamporum

As I picked myself up off the ground from my low and close-up encounter with the great plains ladies'-tresses and dusted myself with crossed fingers the notorious chigger mites hadn't gotten me too bad, I took a look around the rest of the prairie and noticed some of the other interesting flora the habitat had to offer.  One of those quick to catch the eye was one of Ohio's only native succulent plants.

False Aloe  ~  Manfreda virginica

The fleshy, aloe-like leaves of the appropriately named false aloe (Manfreda virginica) are perfectly adapted to the dry and rough conditions of the drought-like barrens.  The tall flowering stalks waved in the breeze three to four feet above the leaves with their marble-sized seed pods turning black with maturation.  They flowered months ago in the heat and humidity of July and only have their unique leaves to show off come fall.

Rough Blazing Star  ~  Liatris aspera

Normally a well-welcomed and loved late wildflower, the rough blazing star (Liatris aspera) can become a potential downer when it's easily confused with the ear-leaved foxglove as you approach and gaze out into the grasses.  Other than the similar pink color to the flowers there's not much else to confuse the two with once getting closer to the plant.  I love all our native Liatris species but this one may be my favorite of them all.

Prairie Brome  ~  Bromus kalmii

Perhaps not the showiest or most noticeable of the plants there, the prairie brome (Bromus kalmii) deserves a closer look if for anything to see the fascinating wooly pubescence on the fruiting heads (spikelets).  Switching to the macro lens and focusing in on the lemmas and glumes reveals the interesting pattern and made for an artistic shot that turned out pretty well in my opinion.  Prairie brome is an uncommon species in Ohio and is at the southern fringe of its natural range, especially as far south as Adams county.

Prairie Orange Coneflower  ~  Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida

Despite peaking a couple months back in late July and early August, the prairie orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida) was still holding on in pockets throughout the xeric landscape.  The small, deep-orange flower heads really add a spark of color and contrast to the light yellows and greens of the dominating grasses.  I look forward to publishing a post on all of Ohio's native Rudbeckia species in the near future.  They are one of my favorite genera of plants and are still a bit of a taxonomic mess.

Gray Goldenrod  ~  Solidago nemoralis

Probably the most common non-graminoid plant in the barrens was the gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis), a frequent and widespread species throughout the state in all sorts of dry soil situations.  It has the typical and classic goldenrod look but can be told apart relatively easily unlike a number of species.  It's short stature and unbranched,  wand-like appearance combined with a very pubescent grayish-red stem help with an ID.

With fall's climax fast approaching a gradual slip into the dull browns and grays of winter in the inevitable future I'm enjoying every second I can spend out in the field in the midst of the season's last botanical beauties and friends I won't be seeing for quite some time.  It's hard to believe another growing season is coming to an end; I swear I was admiring trillium and Virginia bluebells just the other day...

Ode to Ohio's Prairies: Bluegrass Region (Part I)

Those with a thirst for Ohio's natural history are in for quite the treat!  I've had this project on the blogger shelf for quite some time and am pleased to see it finally come to fruition.  This post is the first of four dedicated to the creation, history and biological composition of Ohio's natural prairies; probably my favorite ecosystem to explore.  To begin let's take a look at how our landscape came to support this fascinating habitat and then examine the first of four regions or types of Ohio's prairies; the Bluegrass Region of Adams county.  This will be followed by the tall-grass prairies of the Darby and Sandusky Plains then Ohio's prairie fen complexes and conclude with the Oak Openings.  I hope these will spark your interest in our state's unique and exciting prairie and fen remnants as well as our natural history!

Close your eyes and picture Ohio's wild and primeval landscape circa 1400.  Most people envision a massive and continuous forest of gargantuan trees where a squirrel could hop from tree to tree across the canopy and never touch the ground for miles and miles.  That's not an inaccurate interpretation of Ohio before settlement but rather bland and homogenous is you ask me.  There was a lot more to the scene than just big trees in a sprawling forest!   Ohio's landscape has changed more times in its eons of existence than you can imagine.  From a lifeless and charred rock to a shallow warm sea to agricultural fields and metros; there's more than enough history under our feet to keep someone like me busy studying for a lifetime.  The way the landscape and current topography looks today is only the most recent chapter of its life...but what an exciting chapter it is!

Ice cover from the Wisconsinan Glaciation (courtesy ISU G.S.)

20,000 years ago a large majority of Ohio was covered by a massive, mile thick sheet of ice known as the Wisconsin glacier.  This enormous extension of the North American Laurentide ice sheet moved south as the climate cooled and drastically changed the shape and appearance of the land as it inched along.  I can't even begin to think what it must have been like for the prehistoric Homo sapien who saw this unfathomable sight firsthand.  The climate then began to gradually warm around 10,000 years ago and slowly but surely the ice sheet shrunk back further to the north, leaving behind a flat and largely barren Ohio for nature to reclaim.  Pre-Wisconsinan glaciated Ohio looked nothing like it does today.  Lake Erie and the Ohio River were merely shadows of their current selves; a river by the name of Teays ruled the scene with countless forgotten tributaries.  Evidence of these primordial rivers are now buried under hundreds of feet of glacial till as ancient valleys, forever lost to the past.  When you stand on a piece of exposed bedrock in flat Miami county today, you could be standing on top of an ancient hill overlooking a valley since filled by the previous glaciers debris.  Those buried extinct river valleys now act as our aquifers as the glacial till comprised of pebbles, rocks and sand is saturated with ground water and naturally filtered.  In due time these forces will come back and re-shape our state once more.  After the glacier receded the immense amounts of melt water began to carve out the new landscape, creating today's rivers, valleys and kettle ponds.  A new Ohio was born.  Deciduous forests began to creep northward again from their refuge in the Appalachian Mountains.  Millennia of isolation allowed numerous plant and animal species to evolve and thrive in this still lush and warm environment.  This is a large reason why the forests and ecosystems of the Appalachians, especially the Smoky Mountains, are so world-renowned for their biodiversity. 

Teays River pre-glacial watershed (courtesy Emporia State University)

As this transition occurred, North America experienced a very warm and dry spell between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago which caused the great tall-grass prairies of the west to invade the mid-western states and stretch into western Ohio.  This xerothermic periond known as the Hypsithermal Interval allowed parts of our state to resist forest communities and instead be ruled by open plains of grass.  As time went by the climate converted back towards that of one supporting and favoring deciduous forest.  The trees moved back in, slowly fragmenting and closing in on Ohio's expansion of the Prairie Peninsula from the west.  By 1700, around the time of the earliest pioneer settlers, Ohio was covered by over 1,000 square miles of prairie, encompassing around 3-5% of the state's vegetation.  What was once a huge, sprawling expanse of unbroken prairie had by this time been split and partitioned into several hundred openings ranging from a few acres in size to several thousand acres by the ever-advancing forest.  Had the Europeans been a few thousand years earlier they would have found a much, much more open and prairie-dominated landscape!

Bur and Post oak grove in a rare patch of virgin Ohio prairie

The first pioneers and surveyors wrote of waving seas of tall grasses and an accompanying mosaic of colorful wildflowers; all integrated with a patchwork of groves of oaks and hickories, especially Bur oaks.  Most of the earliest settlers saw these expanses of grass and forbs as a wet, mosquito-infested wasteland where no good soil was to be found.  Their logic was the lack of trees meant a lack of rich, nutrient earth.  I mean, if a tree wouldn't grow in the soils how ever could their crops?  Too bad this mindset didn't stay the course of time as it wasn't long before the invention of the steel plow allowed them to conquer the final frontier of Ohio's wilderness.  The deep, rich black soils of indigenous Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indian-grass (Sorghastrum nutans) quickly gave way to today's prairies of corn and soybeans.  As I sit here writing this, over 99% of Ohio's historical and indigenous prairie is gone forever.  Lost to mankind's ruthless desire to tame and rule.  Next time you are driving on I-70 between Springfield and Columbus, look out across the never ending sight of agriculture and wonder what it must have been like to see grasses taller than you, dotted with brilliant wildflowers come June and July.

Map of Ohio's pre-settlement prairies (courtesy Wild Ohio: The Best of our Natural Heritage)

Referencing the map from above, the dark gray patches represent areas of Ohio's pre-settlment landscape that were dominated by prairie.  The biggest area just west of Columbus was known as the Darby Plains, and the section just to the north as the Sandusky Plains.  Further north into the Toldeo area is the famed Oak Openings versus deep in the southern confines of Adams County you get the oldest and most different of all our native prairies.  While they share many of the same species of flora with the rest of Ohio's indigenous prairie, they have their fair share of unique and rare species that are more reminiscent of the southern Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri Ozark cedar glades and barrens.  Let's take a look at what makes this tiny area so unique.  Cue the photogenic portion of this post (finally)!

Chaparral Prairie in Adams county in late October

Adams county lies in the small but significant bluegrass region of Ohio where a flux of southern plants and ecosystems cross the river from Kentucky and just barely make it into our state.  The name of the game resulting in this sliver of diversity is in the geology.  Ordovician and Silurian-age limestones, dolomites and calcareous shales dominate the region where the soil is thin and rocky but home to a diverse number of rare and interesting plant life.

Typical prairie opening

Prairie 'island' surrounded by mixed oak

The small, but numerous prairie-like openings appear like islands in an otherwise thick sea of mature, second-growth deciduous forest.  These openings are believed to pre-date the Wisconsinan glaciation and could be tens of thousands of years old.  What exactly has caused these 'islands' to exist and persist to this very day is a bit of a mystery but most agree on one important factor, the bedrock.  The extremely shallow and poor soils of the prairie glades, mixed with exposed Peebles dolomite bedrock has preserved the open nature of the prairies while in areas where the acidic shale dominates, Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana) and other large vegetation can take root and actively mark the forest-prairie boundaries.  The trees will only go as far as the soil condition allows them.

Post Oak leaves

Blackjack Oak leaves

Within these large and small prairie pockets are several globally rare ecosystems, most notably Post (Quercus stellata) and Blackjack Oak (Q. marilandica) savannah.  These hardy, drought and fire-resistant trees slowly grow in the xeric soils as if it wasn't a problem at all.  Surviving periods of drought and the frequent early spring or fall prairie fires of old, these two trees evolved to handle the harsh environment and brunt of nature's forces.  Chaparral Prairie nature preserve is one of the largest and best remaining places in Ohio to see this rare ecosystem in its original state.  What excites me the most about these cedar glades or barrens is the plethora of rare and unique plants to be found at almost any time of the year.  The following are a number of species that I think best illustrate and portray the floristic flavor of the time-tested bluegrass prairies of Adams county.

Michaux's Gladecress - Leavenworthia uniflora

First to bloom in the barren soils are the tiny and rare mustards from the Brassicaceae family.  These minute little wonders are annuals that rely solely on each year's seed production to make sure their dainty but charming little white flowers make it to the next season.  I did a blog post a ways back digging deeper into the number of rare mustards to be found in the cedar glades that can be found HERE.

Small White Lady's slipper - Cypripedium candidum

One of Ohio's rarest plants and easily one of the most charming as well is the Small White Lady's slipper (Cypripedium candidum).  Only recently discovered in the area, if you look in the right spots come early May you might just get a glimpse of these intricate beauties.  A few calcareous, wet hillside prairies on the Edge of Appalchia preserve system house small populations of these immensely fascinating orchid wonders.  If you'd like to learn more and see additional pictures please click HERE to read my personal experience with these little ladies!

Spider Milkweed - Asclepias viridis

My personal favorite of Ohio's 13 indigenous Milkweed species, the Spider Milkweed (Asclepias viridis) is rather rare in Ohio and can be most commonly seen blooming in late May through June in some of Adam county's more pristine prairie openings.  It's large and conspicuous umbels of gorgeous yellow-green flowers are perfectly accented with the purple colored stamens.

Scaly Blazing Star - Liatris squarrosa

One of the first true fireworks of the prairies and glades is the potentially threatened Scaly Blazing Star (Liatris squarrosa).  Each individual inflorescence seems to be a pink serpent 'tasting' the air with its tongue-like stamens.  The Blazing Stars are one of my most highly anticipated summer bloomers and decorate the area with their stunning pink-purple blossoms.  A year or so ago I did a more detailed post about a few of Ohio's native species found HERE.

Rattlesnake Master - Eryngium yuccifolium

This native member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) is arguably one of Ohio's most unique and unforgettable wildflowers.  The Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is a potentially threatened species in Ohio and exists in its highest numbers in the bluegrass region.  The dried heads were once used as rattles by the Native Americans while the roots were believed to be an effective antidote to rattlesnake venom.  Obviously this turned out to be untrue.

American Bluehearts - Buchnera americana

If any of the bluegrass rarities steal my heart it's the American Bluehearts (Buchnera americana).  A true indigenous species to this region of Ohio, these delicate little flowers are listed as threatened in the state.  Each plant begins to flower in June and continues unfurling its five-petaled perfections through July.  I caught these just after a summer shower with the corolla's filled with raindrops.

Spiked Blazing Star - Liatris spicata

Not necessarily a representative solely of the region, the Spiked Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) is just too stunning a wildflower to omit from this slideshow.  The tall wands spend the first half of summer maturing and biding their time in bud stage before revealing their feathered beauty to the world.  Something different about the Liatris' is the fact they bloom from the top down, rather than from bottom up like most wildflowers.  For the best show in the state head to Chaparral Prairie in mid to late July for an unforgettable sea of purple!

American Aloe - Manfreda virginica

Perhaps the strangest of all the plants to call the dolomite barrens home is the American Aloe (Manfreda virginica).  Each spring a rosette of fleshy, succulent leaves sprout from the ground and by mid-July a tall stalk of buds is ready to burst.  Like the American Bluehearts above, this is a true bluegrass endemic within Ohio.  It just barely sneaks across the river and has more than likely always been an Ohio rarity.  Each flower only lasts a day or so before its anthers drop and the ovary quickly sets to seed.  If you are lucky to see one of these in bloom be sure to treat your olfactories to its insatiable aroma.  Smells like jasmine to me!

Crested Coralroot - Hexalectris spicata

It just wouldn't be a normal post if I didn't include more orchids!  This is probably my favorite Ohio orchid, the Crested Coralroot (Hexalectris spicata).  A careful and lucky walk around the Ohio bluegrass region's open mixed Oak and cedar barrens come late July and early August just might reward you with one of these gorgeous plants.  The fleshy, large flowers almost seem as if someone molded them from clay and painted each lip with the most royal shade of purple to be found in the natural world.  This is a very fickle plant that only send its flowers up in optimal years, otherwise remaining underground in hibernation.  For a fun in detail post on this plant click HERE!

Western Sunflower - Helianthus occidentalis

My favorite of Ohio's many sunflowers is the Western Sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis).  Perhaps it should go by its other common name of the Few-leaf Sunflower, as there is really nothing too western about this species, predominately growing in the great lake states.  It's mostly basal leaves and relatively naked, short stem easily separate it from the tricky Helianthus spp..  Come August and September it's not too hard to find this species keeping the late summer prairies fresh with color.

Great Plains Ladies' Tresses - Spiranthes magnicamporum

If the Michaux's Gladecress is the first to bloom in the bluegrass prairie openings of Adams county it's only fitting and appropriate I end this photo shoot with the last species to bloom, the Great Plains Ladies' Tresses  (Spiranthes magnicamporum) orchid.  A rarity within Ohio, this species loves the calcareous and xeric soils of the cedar glades.  By mid-October almost everything, even the asters and goldenrods are beginning to call it a year but not these guys, they are just getting going!  It's not uncommon to see these in bloom even into November!  This is another plant that deserves your noses attention as the perfume these emit is intoxicating.  I posted on these wonders last fall which can be found HERE.

If you've made it this far and are still reading this I sincerely thank you and hope you enjoyed it!  I know it was a marathon of a post but it has already launched itself into my top ten I've ever done.  There is just something about the prairies of the Adams county region that calls me back time and time again.  In fact, I should probably get to bed as I'm headed down for a day trip in the morning!  Keep checking back in for the soon to follow part two, three and four to complete this series on Ohio's fantastic prairie ecosystems!  I'll leave you with a gorgeous shot of an Adams county sunset looking across a plowed field of planted crops.  Perhaps this was once one of the many prairie openings, full of incredible plants...such is life.

Adams county summer sunset across the rolling hills

A Weekend on the Edge

If you ask me there is no better way to spend a Fall weekend in Ohio than exploring the more than 13,000 acres of the states largest and most diverse (both botanically and geologically) nature preserve, The Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County.  From the large, unbroken tracts of forest to its remnant prairie islands and stunning vista views, "The Edge" is in my opinion Ohio's most precious natural treasure.  I had the unique pleasure and honor of completing my college internship with the Edge this past summer which turned out to be one of the most educational, fascinating and rewarding experiences of my life.  The amount of knowledge, research and depth of understanding exhibited by the hardworking staff stationed at the Eulett Center on the preserve is something all other organizations should strive to duplicate.  The photograph below is a panoramic view from Buzzards Roost Rock, one of a few unbeatable views of the Ohio Brush Creek valley the Edge is widely known for.  Hailing from west central Ohio, this scene makes me forget I'm still in a state that is more known by people for its cornfields and flat landscapes.

View of the Ohio Brush Creek valley from Buzzard's Roost Rock

I awoke early Friday morning to rainy, dreary conditions threatening to damper my drive from Athens to the Edge but by the time I pulled into the Eulett Center a couple hours later the gray mist had given way to sunny, sapphire skies just in time for my hike with preserve manager and friend, Chris Bedel.  Any time spent out in the field with Chris, tapping into his seemingly bottomless well of knowledge is worth its weight in gold.  Our focus on this excursion was a couple of small prairie openings that had one of the season’s last, rare orchids in peak blooming condition.

Spiranthes magnicamporum

Tall-grass prairie opening

Nestled between clumps of Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) hides the Great Plains Ladies' Tresses orchid (Spiranthes magnicamporum).  A potentially threatened species, this late bloomer persists in its greatest numbers in the state on the Edge.  Within the prairie opening pictured above I counted over 30 stalks of S. magnicamporum in bloom in an area less than an acre in size.  Known to be tolerant of soil disturbances, almost all the plants I found were growing along the path or in areas where the hillside had slipped down to create small depressions.  Great Plains Ladies' Tresses is primarily found in grassy fields and dry prairies comprised of calcareous soils which the preserve has in spades.  In many areas of the preserve the primary bedrock is dolomite (a variety of limestone rich in magnesium) which gives the soil a sweeter, more calcareous make up and accounts for many of the unique plant communities.  A fun fact about S. magnicamporum is it's one of the few orchids that has the added pleasure of being fragrant.  It's worth the strain and time to get down on ones hands and knees to treat your olfactories to the pleasing aroma that reminds me of fresh linens.  

Spiranthes magnicamporum

Spiranthes magnicamporum

 



Spiranthes magnicamporum is easy to identify in the field by its striking yellow throat and the unusual arrangement of its lateral petals.  Most Spiranthes' lateral petals are either flared out or appressed to the side of the inflorescence.  However the Great Plains Ladies' Tresses are curved upwards giving off what I personally think looks like the horns of a charging bull.  Finding so many in bloom was a pleasant surprise and certainly put a smile on Chris and I's faces, but what came next made our hike one of the most memorable in recent memory.

Chris mentioned he had not explored this particular area in quite some time and decided to take a look around while I was busy photographing.  About half an hour later as we were walking up the slope to make our way back, Chris pointed out a suspicious and different looking species of Goldenrod (Solidago) that had caught his eye.  I agreed it looked different than the other members of the genus I was familiar with so we collected a specimen to analyze and go over once we got back.  A couple hours later back at the office we went through several references and keys and came up with a name for our new friends face, Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), a species NEW to the preserve!  One of the most heavily botanized and studied areas not only in Ohio but the Midwest, it's not every day you get to be a part of a discovery as exciting as this!  The thought to photograph this new plant escaped my mind during the excitement of the discovery, but if interested you can see pictures and find out more about this species here.

Sourwood

Sugar Maple

 

Saturday dawned clear and cool and promised another beautiful and exciting Autumn day.  Unfortunately the prolonged drought we suffered this summer and fall directly affected the foliage show usually in full swing this time of year.  The above pictures are from last years splendid display of color.  From the deep scarlet of the Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) to the pristine yellows and oranges of the Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) the leaves this year mostly turned brown, crinkled up and fell to the ground.  Nonetheless some of the trees were putting on their usual show and didn't disappoint.  I decided to start my day with a stroll through Lynx Prairie on the preserve, one of my absolute favorite spots.  Many rare and gorgeous species of wildflowers and plants I have and will discuss on this blog come from the diverse and unique patches of prairie openings of Lynx.  As I pulled into the parking lot an older couple was just arriving as well and after introducing myself and a few minutes of conversation I was asked to lead them on a hike through Lynx, which I graciously accepted.  Members of the Audubon Society, they had driven from their home in Oxford, Ohio to hike the three trails (Lynx Prairie, Buzzards Roost and the Wilderness) open to the public on the Edge.  I had a great time being able to delve into my nerdy world of botany and natural history of the Adams County prairies with them and found that I absolutely love taking interested people out on hikes.  A couple hours later they left with many of their questions and curiosities answered and thanked me for an amazing experience.  They certainly seemed to have a great time but I think I walked away having just as much, if not more fun than them!  It's my wish I get these kinds of opportunities more often.  The more I can share and pass along the better off our natural world is and the greater the chance of survival for our future generations.

Shale Barren Aster

Involucre of the Shale Barren Aster

Two of my favorite fall blooming plants are still in peak bloom this time of the year and neither are in short supply on the preserve grounds.  First up is the state threatened species the Shale Barren Aster (Aster oblongifolius).  It is also known as Aromatic Aster for the balsam-like odor emitted from its crushed or bruised foliage.  With 19 species of Aster being found throughout the Edge this is one of the easiest to identify.  The oblong, sessile and entire leaves (along with the aroma), unique involucre with dark green bracts that stick out perpendicular to the stem and the particular shade of blue/purple all add up to be the best means of identification.  While only found in three southern Ohio counties this species is pretty common on the preserve and can be found growing in dry, open and often rocky situations where limestone soils are present.  In the near future I plan get into the I.D. and individual beauty of more of our native Asters.

Stiff Gentian

Closeup of Stiff Gentian

Found many times growing right alongside Aster oblongifolius in their shared habitat, Stiff Gentian (Gentianella quinquefolia) adds another striking shade of purple to Mother Nature's palette.  It's nearly impossible to go anywhere on the preserve this time of year and not find this beauty gracing the landscape at some point.  Prairie and woodland openings, cedar glades and moist streambanks are the desired habitat for this species.  While most members of this genus have flowers that remain closed almost all the time, G. quinquefolia will unfold its petals wide and beckon a nearby pollinator to pay it a worthwhile visit.  Taking a closer look at the inflorescence shows the dark purple, vertical lines that act as a nectar guide for pollinating insects, just like the Gentians I talked about in a previous post for you devotees.  

The last great discovery I made before getting back into the truck for the drive back to the apartment and civilization was something that contradicts an earlier post regarding the Lesser Ladies' Tresses orchid (Spiranthes ovalis).  In a moist cedar glade opening where I was photographing the Stiff Gentian's I came across SEVEN spikes of S. ovalis all within a a few feet of each other.  They were past bloom and I only noticed them when I sat down to change lenses on the camera (awesome the way things work out sometimes!) but to find that many all so close to each other was amazing.  They are usually pretty spread out and you only find one or two in an area, but seven all huddled together within a 2 square meter area was a fitting way to cap off an unforgettable weekend down on the Edge.