We visited a very special area not far from Franklin with Matt Bushman as our guide. Matt is the Botanist for the Nantahala region of the Forest Service and his job is to survey and try to protect the endangered and rare plants in our forests, and manage the invasive species. Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens has several plants that are found no where else in North Carolina. The rocks are of serpentinized dunite and olivine adding minerals that support some interesting plants. We found many of those plants including the rare (in our area) Fringed Gentian and it was in bloom!
Thanks to David Fann for the following images:
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| Matt with American Burnett |
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| Karen taking photo of Grass of Parnassus |
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| Lewis getting photos |
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| Matt |
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| taking photos of Fringed Gentians |
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| Fringed Gentian |
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| Fringed Gentian |
And Karen Lawrence provided these images from our day:
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| Buck Creek Ragwort, Packera serpenticola |
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| Curtiss' Milkweed |
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| Fringed Gentian |
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| Fringed Gentian up close |
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Grass of Parnassus, Parnassia grandifolia
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| Ladies Tresses |
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| Fringed Gentian |
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| Male-berry |
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| Maple leaves |
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| Add caption |
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| Matt |
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| Matt teaching |
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| Rhianna's Aster, Symphyotrichum rhiannon |
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| Rosinweed |
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| Serpentine |
