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the etowah initiative:
fall 2001
Plant List Abundant and/or visually-important plant species along the eight-mile stretch of the Etowah River, as seen from a canoe, September 9, 2001. Native Hardwood Trees: These species were immediately adjacent to the river. Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana)- "Muscular"-looking trunks, many of them arching over water. River birch (Betula nigra)- again, immediately next to the river. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)- large trees with mottled whitish-greenish bark. Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) Red maple (Acer rubrum) White oak (Quercus alba) Silverbell (Halesia spp.) Sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua) Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) Conifers: Usually associated with mountains in Georgia, but are abundant here in the upper Piedmont White pine (Pinus strobes)- fine-textured needles, "layered" branching. Canada hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis)- fine feathery texture, short-needles, small cones. Deciduous Shrub Species: Alder (Alnus serrulata)- Tall shrub, up to 15 to 18 feet tall in large clumps at the water's edge. Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum)- Tall shrub with abundant blue fruits in clusters. Deciduous hollies (Ilex deciduas and Ilex verticillata)- Large shrubs with scarlet fruits in clusters along stems. Deciduous azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)- Large shrubs with clusters of oval-shaped leaves at tips of twigs, and flower buds for next spring's flowering. Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)- This was not abundant, in fact I only saw one, on a tiny rock island in the river just below the falls where we had lunch. It is listed as "rare" in the Southeast by Radford, et al. Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs: These, like the white pine and hemlock, are usually associated with the mountains. Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)- Large glossy evergreen leaves (it had pale pink clusters of flowers in late spring/early summer. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)- Somewhat smaller, semi-glossy evergreen leaves. It too had clusters of pale pink flowers in early summer. Exotic Invasive Shrubs and Vines: Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense)- These were particularly noticeable in the upper part of our eight-mile run, sometimes very large shrubs, with many stems, 20¢ + tall. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)- vining, trailing plant, climbing on shrubs and fences. Native Vines: Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia)- abundant along the river. Emergent Aquatic Vegetation: Sweetflag (Acorus calamus)- bright green linear leaves in small clusters in shallow water at the edge of the river. Arrowhead (Sagittoria latifolia)- Arrow-shaped leaves, again, small colonies in shallow water at the edge. Soft Rush (Juncus effuses)- Fine-textured, needle-like leaves in dense clumps. Cattail (Typha angustifolia)- Only a very small number of these seen at the edges. Native Grasses: River cane (Arundinaria gigantean)- Bamboo-like plant: semi-shade to sun. Plume grass (Erianthus alopecuroides)- semi-sun to shade. Purple top (Tridens flavus)- In open meadows Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)- on open meadows. Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternaries)- In open meadows. Forbs (Wildflowers): Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida)- Abundant clumps with orange flowers, (juice from stems is an antidote for poison ivy). Blue lobelia (Lobelia spicata)- pale blue spikes of flowers along the river edge. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)- Bright red flowers, along the river edge, (often in association with blue lobelia). Joe pyeweed (Eupatorium fistulosum)- Large panicles of dusty-rose colored flowers, six to eight feet tall. Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)- Yellow, daisy-like flowers on plants four to six feet tall, open meadows and semi-shaded areas. Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)- Small, bright magenta flowers on plants four to five feet tall. Meadowsweet (Rhexia mariana)- Small pink flowers on plants one to two feet tall, at the edges of the river. Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)- Very few of these, distinctive flower, two
feet tall, which are the shape of turtleheads. |
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