Devin Floyd Devin Floyd

The May 1 Byrom Park Bioblitz, species noted by Team 10

The Central Virginia Blue Ridge

has a new forest preserve on the way. On May 1, a large group of scientists and naturalists (60+) descended upon the area for a preliminary biological assessment. I was on team 10, and here are some of the things we saw.

-On the eastern flank of the Blue Ridge in Central Virginia

-Lat/long: 38.227902,-78.660403

-Elevation survey range (Trail E) 1270' -1850'

-Survey Team #10

Geology

-Catoctin Formation (Metabasalt)

-Charnockite

At site E-10, in the stream, there were large and beautiful specimens of microcrystaline quartz ranging from bright greens to deep reds. This very well could have been a material source for Native Americans.

Noteable Habitats

Wildflower meadow (E-1).

This spot is unusual in that it is a bit of a flat area on the mountainside. The bedrock is the mafic and mineral rich Catoctin greenstone, probably adding to the diversity at the site. This habitat would be a good wildflower destination, particularly for its thick grove of showy orchis, but also for the dozen or so other wildflowers that are blooming there on May 1.

Mafic Boulder (E-2).

Wildflowers

The woods were full. Most of these were observed at site E-1, at the top of the E trail.

Indian Cucumber Root (not in bloom)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Showy Orchis

False Solomon's Seal (budding)

Early Meadow Rue

Tall Meadow Rue

Perfoliate Bellwort

Wild Geranium

Pink Lady's Slipper (along E trail at elevation 1320 +/-)

Early Saxifrage

Puttyroot Orchid (***past bloom***).

A reader more knowledgable than I pointed out that this plant flowers after the leaves die back! So, this plant was NOT past bloom.

Ferns

Common Polypody (growing on the giant mafic boulder, E-2)

Cut-leafed grape fern

Amphibians

American Toad

Northern Dusky Salamander

Seal Salamander

Southern Two-lined Salamander

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

White spotted Slimy Salamander

Eastern Newt, red eft stage

Mammal tracks

Bear scat

Bobcat urine...territory marker (pee -yhooo!). (At E-8)

Trees

Giant White pine (E-8) circ. 8', 5".

Giant Chestnut Oak (E-9) circ. 10', 6".

Groves of slippery elm, witch hazel, spicebush

A low elevation striped maple

Other

Canadian Owlet moth caterpillar (on the early meadow rue)

Gold Brown Rove Beetle (in the bear scat)

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Flora of the Blue Ridge Devin Floyd Flora of the Blue Ridge Devin Floyd

Spring Wildflowers, Mouth of Wilson, Va.

April 27

As you turn right onto Shady Shack Rd. (in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia), a right across the bridge at the old dam where parson's grist mill used to be... looking up you can see

trillium

, columbine, a white flower not

identified

, jack-in-the-pulpit, coming on

fiddle head

ferns and a host of other plants and flowers on the rocks and on the steep banks along Wilson Creek right before it opens up into the New River.

For all you flower lovers, all along the New River you can locate and identify a large variety of woodland wildflowers and plants. This should continue for at least another month.

-Michael wildflower

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