
Red Bud (Cercis
canadensis): One of the first
trees to bloom in the region. Grows as understory in the
wild. These were seen along the C&O Canal along the border
with Green Ridge State Forest, MD.

Virginia Rose
(Rosa virginiana): Might have
different names in different states. Blooms in summer. These
were on the Mill Mountain Trail, GWNF, VA on the approach to
Big Schloss.

Daisey
Fleabane (Erigeron annuus). Comes in white and
pink. Found in sunny areas. Blooms June through October. The
dried flowers were thought to prevent fleas in homes, hence
the common name. Location: Mountainside Tr, Canaan Mt, MNF,
WV.

Gaywings or Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia):
2-3 inches tall. Blooms in May-June. Grows in the shade of
trees in moist forests. Location: AFT, PA.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia): Pink
or white. These can be found almost anywhere in the
region. These are on Mill Mountain Trail, GWNF, VA on
the way to Big Schloss. Bloom in June.

Bouncing Bet or Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis):
Tall plant with clusters of white to light pink
Phlox-like flower clusters. The petals are bent back
upon the flower. Found in sunny waste places, fields and
roadsides. Location: Pocosin Hollow Trailhead on Rt664,
SNP, VA.


Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium): Gets its name
from its ability to quickly colonize recently burned
areas. Reproduces via underground runners forming huge
thickets. The deep fuchsia petals with deeper colored,
thinner petals in between, the red stems and often red
tinge in the leaves only add to the name. The red tinge
is not always present. Location: Cranberry Overlook on
Highland Scenic Highway, MNF, WV.
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Wild Pink or Catchfly
:
There are several varieties. Silene caroliniana shown here
is pink. S. virginiaca is red. Its sticky stem gives rise to
the name Catchfly.

Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica): Almost the first flower of spring. Found in
shady trail-side areas. These were encountered on Jeremy's
Run Trail on the last weekend of March.

Pink Lady Slippers (Cypripedium
acaule): This odd orchid is found in dry
forests, usually in colonies. Blooms April-July.
Location: Stack Rock Trail on the Great North Mt., GWNF,
VA/WV.

Goat's
Rue or Devil's Shoestrings (Tephrosia virginiana).
The roots used to be feed to goats to increase milk
production until it was found to contain rotenone, an
insecticide and fish poison. Location: Green Ridge State
Forest, MD.

Common
Milweed (Asclepias syriaca): Disturbed, moist,
sunny areas. Butterflies love them! Location: Lake Sherwood
Dam, MNF, WV.

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium):
Shrub-like relative of the Milkweeds. Fragrant clusters of
nodding pink bells. Long seed pods. This specimen appears to
be in its second bloom. Location: AT - Reeds Gap, GWNF, VA.

Maryland
Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) - Found in sandy
swamps from Massachusetts south to Fla. Location: Cape
Henlopen, DE. Photo by Ken Clark.

Ragged
Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi): In the Pink family.
Flowers atop tall, sticky stems. Five petals each divided
into 4 thin lobes making the flower appear "ragged".
Opposite, lanceolate leaves. Found in moist fields and
medows. Blooms May - July. Photo by Anita Mueller.
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Mountain Wood Sorrel -
Oxalis montana:
Grows in moist, shady forests, usually at higher elevations.
Location: Rohrbaugh Plains Trail, Dolly Sods, MNF, WV.

Rose-pink/Bitterbloom
(Sabatia angularis) : Moist fields and roadsides.
Location: Long Pond Trail, GRSF, MD. Photo by Ken Clark.

Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra eximia): Found along many
trails in the MNF. These were along the forest road in Dolly
Sods. Bloom late spring, early summer but earlier at lower
elevations.

Japanese Spirea (Spirea japonica):
Considered invasive. These were found growing along the Gun
Powder River. MD above Pretty Boy Reservoir. They were at
their peak in June.

Pinxter Flower/ Wild Azalea (Rhododendron nudiflorum):
Blooms May-June. Latin name refers to the fact that it often
blooms before setting leaves. Location: AT/James River Face.

Catawba Rhododendron or Mountain Rosebay (Rhododendron
catawbiense): Evergreen Shrub with large oval leaves
and Rose to deep purple funnel -shaped flowers. Blooms in
May. Northern limits is the southern SNP. Location: Belfast
Tr, James River Face, Glenwood RD, JNF, VA.

Dense
Blazing-Star (Liatris spicata): Dense wand of
Thistle-like blossoms w/grasslike leaves. Location: AT on
Three Ridges, GWNF, VA.

Common
(purple) Foxglove (Digitalis purpuraea): A biennial
introduced from Europe and Asia. The extract is used to make
cardiac medicines. The entire plant is extremely toxic. A
rosette of broad lancelet leaves form the first year
followed by the flower stalk the next year. Blooms late
spring to early summer. Location: Sugarloaf Mt, MD.
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Spotted Joe Pye Weed
(Eupatorium maculatum):
Deep pink clusters of flowers supported on dark red stems.
Note the whorls of 5 leaves. Location: All along Tea Creek
and its Right Fork, MNF, WV.

Wild Sweet
William or Meadow Phlox (Phlox maculata): Found along
the banks of Fifteen Mile Creek, GRSF, MD. Photo by Ken
Clark.

Pale
Corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens): Irregular
pink flowers with yellow tips. Very dissected, irregular
leaves. Location: Old Rag, SNP, VA. Photo by Ken Clark.

Poke Milkweed (Asclepias
exaltata)
: Grows over 4 feet in height. Grows in wet but
sunny areas. Location: Old Rag Fire Road, SNP, VA.

Smooth
Phlox (Phlox
glaberrima): Similar to Garden Phlox but blooms in
May. Location: Allegheny Tr, WV. Photo by Pat Roberts.


Hairy
Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutis) Pink to violet/blue
flowers atop woolly stems. Note the white lips. Gray
Beardtongue will have blue veins here. Blooms June to July
on dry, rocky ground. Photos by Ken Clark. Location: Great
Falls National Park, MD, Billy Goat Trail.

Motherwort
(Leonurus cardiaca): An alien in the mint family.
Large, heavily veined, 3-pointed leaves with small pink
flower whorls around the leaf axils. Grows to 3-4 feet along
roadsides and spoiled areas. Used as a stimulant (name means
"of the heart") and to treat menstrual disorders. Blooms
June - August. Location: Flat Top Mountain, SNP, VA.
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Deptford Pink (Dianthus armaria): Very small. Clusters along the C&O
Canal, Great Falls National Park, MD. Photo by Ken Clark.

Herb
Robert (Geranium robertianum)
- Small, paired, delightful flower with darker lines on the
petals. Blooms May to October. Location: Jeremy's Run Tr,
SNP, VA.

Pink
(Lyon's) Turtlehead (Chelone lyons): In the
Snapdragon family. Grows in high elevations along edges in
Spruce/Fir forests. Location" Hidden Passage, MNF, WV.

Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum), in the
Lily family. Grows in open woods. Pink to purple,
occasionally white. Blooms August - September. Location:
Shenandoah Mt Trail, Ramsey's Draft Wilderness, GWNF, VA.


Naked-Flowered Tick Trefoil (Desmodium
nudiflorum)
:
Grows in rich woods. Blooms in July. This plant has a leaf
stalk and a seperate flower stalk. The two are joined
together underground giving the appearance of a flower with
no leaves. Close-up by Ken Clark. Location: Nicholson Hollow
Trail, SNP, VA.

Bristly
Locust (Robinia hispida): Also cultivated. Flowers
similar to Everlasting Pea. Tree/shrub growing upright to 9
feet. Stiff hairs on trunk and stems. Photo by Anita
Mueller. I've seen thousands of these on Gunter Ridge in the
James Rive Face Wilderness Area on VA. They seemed to be
taking over a large burned area. |