Doll's Eyes (wildflower, buttercup family) - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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One of the perks of searching for wildlife to photograph is all the different wildflowers and fungi that I come across at various times of the year. Finding the uncommon and rare ones is really cool.
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White Baneberry, aka Doll's Eyes. Poisonous, especially the berries (see below info). A wildflower that can be found in eastern deciduous woodlands during the spring. Doll's Eyes has attractive foliage and striking white berries, which become mature during the late summer or early fall. These berries resemble the eyes of old-fashioned china dolls, hence the common name. Persisting for four to six weeks in late summer to early fall, the berries extend from the stem on thick, reddish stalks.
White Baneberry is toxic to humans. The berries are highly poisonous, but the entire plant is considered poisonous to humans. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins which can have an immediate sedative effect on human cardiac muscle tissue, and are the most poisonous part of the plant. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death. The berries are harmless to birds, the plant's primary seed dispersers.
Please help to ensure that wildflowers will be around for generations by leaving them unharmed. A flower that is picked can miss a chance to spread thousands of seeds. A plant that is dug up is gone forever, and the loss affects all things connected to it.
THANKS FOR VIEWING!
Tags: White Baneberry Doll's Eyes Actaea pachypoda wildflower Shenandoah National Park Virginia
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Red Trillium (wild) - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
White Trillium (Trillium Grandiflorum) is the main Spring wildflower of Shenandoah National Park. It is widely used in their marketing materials. It is very abundant and grows just about everywhere, can withstand cold temps and it thrives in rocky areas. As it ages, it turns various shades of pink, so you will see whites and pinks all over the park on the forest floor.
But I never thought I'd ever see a Red Trillium at Shenandoah, it's just not the norm. In fact, it is so uncommon that it is considered a rarity in the park. There was a group of them, about 9 or so, at various stages of age. The one displayed above was the freshest and the sun was hitting it so nicely.
A big thanks goes out to a couple of new acquaintances, Jim and Carol Lawson, who tipped me off to the location of these gems. I of course returned the favor, giving them the location of rare Purple Clematis' - it's nice to meet folks who share the same genuine enthusiasm for the natural treasures of Shenandoah.
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Red trillium is a Spring perennial plant and is a member of the Lily family. It has one nodding flower, with an unpleasant odor, rising on a stalk above the leaves. The flower is about 2.5 inches, with three maroon or reddish brown petals. Its leaves can be up to 7 inches, and are net veined, rather than parallel veined which are more typical of the Lily family.
Also known as Wake-robin or Stinking Benjamin (the flowers can smell like rotting meat, as they are pollinated by flies).
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Picking a trillium seriously injures the plant by preventing the leaf-like bracts from producing food for the next year. A plant takes many years to recover. Please help to ensure that wildflowers will be around for generations by leaving them unharmed. A flower that is picked can miss a chance to spread thousands of seeds. A plant that is dug up is gone forever, and the loss affects all things connected to it. Plus it is illegal to remove anything from national park land.
THANKS FOR VIEWING!
Tags: red trillium wake-robin purple trillium Beth root Stinking Benjamin shenandoah national park virginia
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EXPLORED April 24th, 2012
Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Wild Orchid), Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Lady Slipper's are characterized by the slipper-shaped pouches of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower. They usually bloom in May-June but this Spring's above average temps brought them out much earlier. Found most often in moderate moisture hardwoods.
Common names include slipper orchid, mocassin flower, camel's foot, squirrel foot, steeple cap, Venus' shoes, whippoorwill shoe and lady slipper.
There are two varieties of this orchid: Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (2 inch blooms) and Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (1 inch blooms). This photo is of the large variety, which is more uncommon in the mountains.
When you find this orchid, do not disturb it or attempt to transplant it - it will likely not survive. Plus it is illegal to remove anything from national park land.
Please help to ensure that wildflowers will be around for generations by leaving them unharmed. A flower that is picked can miss a chance to spread thousands of seeds. A plant that is dug up is gone forever, and the loss affects all things connected to it.
THANKS FOR VIEWING!
Tags: Yellow Lady's Slipper slipper orchid lady's slipper mocassin flower camel's foot squirrel foot steeple cap Venus' shoes whippoorwill shoe lady slipper
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