Late Purple Aster - Close up of flower Note how the disk flowers bloom from the outside to the inside.

Southern Aster; Aster paludosus ssp. hemisphericus

Aster Family Perennial Where seen: Oak Ridge

Pale Gentian; Gentiana villosa

Oak Ridge, TN Sept. 15, 2007 I photographed this flower while leading a fall wildflower hike at the University of Tennessee Arboretum. I was really surprised to see it, the only places I've seen large gentians has been in the high elevations of the Smokies and Blue Ridge mountains.

Tall Bellflower; Campanula americana

Bluebell Family The flowers are a lovely blue with a very long pistil. Note the difference between the pistils and stamens of the two flowers. I found these blooming in the Smokies in mid-July. {Formerly known as Campanulastrum americanum Winter Annual / Biennial Where seen:Great Smoky Mountains NP, Big Ridge SP, Cherokee NF, Warriors' Path SP

Late Purple Aster; Aster patens

Aster Family Asters can be a real pain to identify! This is a very common aster that blooms in September and October. The flowers are on long, thin stems. I found this one blooming at the University of Tennessee Arboretum. Perennial Where seen: Oak Ridge Greenways, University of Tennessee Arboretum, Great Smoky Mountains NP, Warriors' Path SP

Willow Aster; Aster praealtus

Aster Family Rare - Endangered in TN There are many species of asters that bloom in east Tennessee in the fall. This picture was taken in the Smokies in early September. Perennial Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP

Great Blue lobelia

close-up

Autumn Coralroot; Corallorizha odontorhiza

Orchid Family This is one of those little plants that you really have to look for very closely, it is easy to miss! I was excited to find it at a time when I had my macro lens on my camera. It is one of those orchids that doesn't have leaves. At first glance, it looks like a plant that is wilting and ready to die! The plant is a saprophyte, meaning it gets its nutrients from decaying leaves and twigs. I found this plant at Frozen Head State Park in early September. Perennial Where seen: Frozen Head SP, Warriors' Path SP

Note the nearly-clasping leaves of the Late Purple Aster, this is a good identifying factor.

Dittany; Cunila origanoides

Mint Family I found these pretty little mint-family flowers blooming at Big Ridge State Park in early September. The leaves have a strong minty odor when crushed. Like other mints, Dittany has opposite leaves. The stems are very thin and woody. Perennial Where seen: Big Ridge SP, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Great Blue Lobelia; Lobelia siphilitica

Bluebell Family Aquatic When Europeans brought syphilis to this country and spread it to the Native Americans, this plant was used as a futile attempt to cure the disease, thus the species name. The genus names of many plants come from famous botanists. Lobelia was named for Matthias de l'Obel, an early Flemish botanist. This blue flower is related to the bright red Cardinal Flower. I found this plant blooming at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge in early September. Perennial Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Frozen Head SP, Warrior's Path SP, University of Tennessee Arboretum

Smooth Aster; Aster laevis

Aster Family I "cheated" on this one, I found it in the garden at the UT Arboretum. It does bloom in the woods though! Perennial Where seen: University of Tennessee Arboretum

Stiff Gentian; Gentianella quinquefolia

Gentian Family I was delighted to find this plant blooming at Haw Ridge! The flower petals do open at the top. Annual Where seen: Haw Ridge Greenway, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Morning Glory; Ipomoea purpurea*

Morning Glory Family These pretty blue flowers are often seen blooming on fencerows or along roadsides. The flowers can be a sky-blue (like these), purple, white, or pink. This species has heart-shaped leaves. Annual Where seen: Oak Ridge, widespread