Botanizing in Clay County

Clay County, North Carolina Gentian

Clay County, NC offers some interesting opportunities for botanizing. Deep in the Nantahala National Forest are treasures worth seeking. 

A surprise awaited us at a roadside stop, Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua).

Chris and I spent an entire afternoon enduring summer heat still lingering in early October [upper 80s] searching for Soapwort Gentian (Gentiana saponaria).

 We had very good directions from a friend, but when you are in a wilderness, coordinates and trail descriptions don't seem so specific! 

 We pushed through tall scrub trees, bushes, and climbing briers. Our goal? The illusive Soapwort Gentian a friend had photographed in abundance near a dry creek bed. 

 

Our efforts were rewarded with the sighting of one tiny plant, not the abundant plants we hoped to see and photograph. As I sat down prepared spend some time getting acquainted with my tiny gentian, the blossom began to twitch and shake. I witnessed a honeybee struggle to free itself from the blossom which imprisoned it. I am accustomed to seeing bumblebees struggling to get free, but I was pleasantly surprised to witness a honeybee free itself! Many of the gentians don't open fully, so pollinators, usually heavy-bodied bees, struggle to enter the bloom and then struggle to escape! Quite a marvel and feat!

This little fellow came out feet first!

 Near a large creek still flowing with a nice amount of water in spite of the drought we've experienced for the past 2 months, we spotted Monkshood (Aconitum uncinatum). The plants were past prime, but I managed to capture flowers and seed capsules. Named for the poisonous substance it contains, aconite, Monkshood is considered highly poisonous. 

 A naturalist acquaintance of ours laughingly stated, "Just brushing against the plant can kill you." I suspect he was exaggerating, but reportedly, Native Americans once applied the sap to the points of their arrows. 

 Canadian Burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis) was a delightful discovery! It is a northern plant common in Canada and northern reaches of the US but rarely found this far south. It's interesting that its name comes from the Latin sanguis, which means blood and sorbere which means to soak up. My understanding is that it was medicinally used to stop bleeding. 

We love exploring new areas and finding interesting plants! many times we go hoping to find what we're seeking, but often the serendipitous discoveries amaze us.  It's worth risking chiggers, brier scratches, encounters with critters and rough terrain to discover wonders in God's glorious creation!