Spring Botanizing in Morrow Mountains

Ah, the joy of finding a blooming Painted Buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
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By NCNPS Chapters

One of the rewards of membership in the NC Native Plant Society is our annual Spring Hikes event. We botanized in North America’s oldest mountain range, Morrow Mountain State Park in the Uwharrie Mountains near Albemarle, NC. Organized by the Spring Hike Committee of Paula LaPoint, Diane Laslie, and Barbara Tuset, the hikes were led by professional botanists and scientists from North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, and The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina.

A botanizing break with hike leader Chris Liloia, curator, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, at Hattaway Mountain Trail, Morrow Mountain State Park. Left to right (standing) are Dave Ringenburg, Phyllis Tarrant, Sara Fennell, Jackie Trickle, and (seated) Colleen McDaniel and Margot Ringenburg. Photo by Chris Liloia
Flowers of a Coral Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera sempervirens) on Hattaway Mountain Trail led by Chris Liloia. Photo by Margot Ringenburg
Flowers of a Carolina Silverbell tree (Halesia tetraptera), Hattaway Mountain Trail, Morrow Mountain State Park. Photo by Margot Ringenburg
Different stages of a flowering Mountain Laurel shrub (Kalmia latifolia), Hattaway Mountain Trail. Photo by Margot Ringenburg
Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis michauxiana), with hike leader Katherine Culatta, botanist/permit coordinator, North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, on Fall Mountain Trail with NCNPS spring hikers. Photo by Margot Ringenburg
After a controlled burn, regeneration begins, Morrow Mountain Trail. Photo by Andrea Thunem
Observing a whitelip ground snail (genus Neohelix) with hike leader Jeff Marcus, Morrow Mountain Trail. Photo by Andrea Thunem
Observing an uncommon species of cane, (Arundinaria appalachiana) in the Uwharries. Morrow Mountain Trail. Photo by Cabot Thunem
NCNPS hikers observe the role of fire in piedmont forests, Morrow Mountain Trail. Photo by Andrea Thunem
Mosses are in abundance in some areas of Morrow Mountain Trail. Photo by Andrea Thunem
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Photo by Cabot Thunem
Blackseed Speargrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
Close-up of Blackseed Speargrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
A field of Common Atamasco Lily (Zephyranthes atamasco), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
Close-up of Atamasco Lily (Zephyranthes atamasco), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
Lilies nestle against a rock. Atamasco Lily (Zephyranthes atamasco), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Jenny Deans
Observing Glorious Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) with Brenda Wichmann, state botanist, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program on Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
On the trail, Short Loop Trail. Photo by Jenny Deans
Short Loop hike leader Brenda Wichmann on NCNPS spring hike, Morrow Mountain State Park. Photo by Alison Northup
Some of us use special cameras on hikes, Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana), Short Loop Trail Photo by Alison Northup
Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
Southern Wild Comfrey (Andersonglossum virginianum), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup
This is what we do on hikes, Short Loop Trail, Morrow Mountain State Park. Photo by Jenny Deans
We spied a horse on the Short Loop Trail in the Uwharrie Mountains, Morrow Mountain State Park. Photo by Jenny Deans
Common Stargrass (Hypoxis hirsuta), Short Loop Trail. Photo by Alison Northup

By NCNPS Chapters
Native Plant News – Summer 2023

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