Plants of Concern - Trail Distribution Survey

• A few species' distributions can be mapped using remote sensing data from aircraft or other means, but discovering the distributions of most species will involve field work.
• Distributions of some plants, lichens, snails, fish, butterflies can be inferred by projecting known species distributions points to standard habitats mapped over the entire Park.
• The distribution of some other species will need to be mapped using Trail Distribution Surveys.
  
  
• Below are some species which are of interest to park managers or researchers.
• The ATBI needs volunteers to perform Trail Distribution Surveys for these species.
• Most are rare and/or of limited distribution (we think) in the Park.
• For details please contact:
  • Keith Langdon, Keith_Langdon@nps.gov.
  • Janet Rock, Janet_Rock@nps.gov.

Purple-Fringed orchids

• These are beautiful, uncommon mid to high elevation species….they bloom with many flowers on a 1 to 2 foot tall spike from about mid-June to late July.
• They are usually spotted in damp areas and seeps that are sunlit at least a little.
• There are 2 species:
  • Small Purple-fringed (Platanthera psycodes) is just as tall, but its “throat” to its nectar tube is hour glass or dumb-bell shaped.
    • We think it is scattered across the mid to high elevations in the eastern 2/3 of the Park.
  • Large Purple Fringed (P.grandiflora) is currently known only from a single small colony at high elevations.
    • It is easily differentiated by its round or oval opening to the nectary.
• Surveys for these orchids will require relatively quick coverage during or immediately after the blooming season.
• Each plant blooms for at least a couple weeks, and plants at each patch are usually not always in sync, making our identification “window” longer.

White-leaf hydrangea

• We may have 3 species of these large shrubs in the Park.
  • The White-leaved (Hydrangea radiata) is only known from the dry forests west of Cades Cove on the TN side, and the far west end of the NC side – we don't know its exact range.
    • It is easily recognized by the bright white underside of the leaves, and larger individual flowers on the flower stalk.
  • The more common species (H. arborescens) is green underneath the leaves and common in low to mid elevation moist forests, BUT we think it may get replaced by the White-leaved as you go west.
  • There is another species with gray undersides of leaves, but it has not been seen in recent decades…is it still in the Park?
    • Can it be re-discovered?
    • Summer to early fall is the best time to survey for these species.

Hairy Blueberry

• There are only about 3 species of low growing blue berries in the Park.
• All 3 stay under half a meter tall, have green twigs, and when they occur are usually frequent in dry forest types.
  • The hairy blueberry (Vaccinium hirsutum) is believed to be only in the west end of the Park, though it may occur up to 5,000 ft. elevation.
    • Its entire world range is: western NC, southeastern-most TN and extreme northeastern GA.
    • We need a more accurate idea of where this species is in the Park.
    • The berries, flowers, twigs are all hairy.
    • It is easily identified in any season.
  • Another of the low-growing blueberries is only known from steep rocky cliffs on Mt. LeConte, and the third is thought to be common throughout.

Dwarf or Mountain Cane

• This is a type of native cane (or “bamboo”) that has been found in the Southern Appalachians that grows in extensive and sometimes dense stands, is 1 meter or less tall and promptly deciduous.
  • Often it grows extensively right up the mountain slopes.
• The other cane, often called Giant or River cane (Arundinaria gigantea) grows to 4 meters tall (16ft.!), always along alluvial areas, and is evergreen in winter.
  • So far we have only found the Mountain cane on the NC side of the Park from Luftee, west. It is being genetically tested to determine if it is an undescribed species.

Carolina Rhododendron

• This is a high elevation Rhododendron (Rhododendron carolinianum) recently segregated from a similar species which occurs at low elevations (R. minus).
• The entire world range of the Carolina rhododendron is: southwestern NC, southeastern TN, northeastern GA and northwestern SC.
• In the Park we know it from the Mt. LeConte area, and central high elevations.
• It blooms in June with distinctive small lavender flowers, and grows on the most acid rock formations in the Park.
• It is also easily recognized in the dormant season as it is evergreen and has small, rough leaves.

High Elevation St. Johnsworts

• These are shrubby, knee-high plants with beautiful golden flowers each with dozens of stamens exerted.
• The flowers are produced profusely in mid to late summer (and early fall?), the only time they can be surveyed.
• There are several species but 2 (Hypericum graveolens and H. mitchellianum) are Southern Appalachian endemics.
  • They occur, sometimes together along the high ridges of the Park.
  • We will do a customized “key” to the species so that trail volunteers can easily determine what they have found.

Minnie-bush

• Another high elevation shrub that is distinctive, Minnie-bush (Menziesia pilosa) has small apricot colored bell-like flowers, blooming in summer.
• It is rare in the Park, and only at the highest elevations - we think. Mt. LeConte and Clingman's Dome are known places where it can be found, almost always on sunny rock outcrops.
• It superficially resembles a deciduous azalea.

Mountain Fetterbush

• This is another Southern Appalachian endemic shrub (Pieris floribunda) that may be in bloom or bud in any season!
• It is an evergreen with dark green foliage, and is mostly found associated with the Smokies unique heath balds, but also dry rock outcrops at mid elevation in the eastern half of the Park.
• The Park is thought to habitat to very little of this shrub, but who knows.