White Snakeroot; Eupatorium rugosum

Aster Family The leaves of this plant contain a toxin that causes milk sickness in cattle. People who drank milk from these cows have died; Abraham Lincoln's mother died from milk sickness. Perennial Where seen: Oak Ridge, Cherokee National Forest

White Old-field Aster; Aster pilosus

Aster Family Valle Crusis, NC October 10, 2006 This plant was photographed in North Carolina, but it is a common fall wildflower in Tennessee too. Asters are very difficult to identify.

Dog Fennel; Eupatorium capillifolium

Aster Family This plant has very thin leaves, it almost looks like a fern at first glance. The leaves have a strong, somewhat spicy, odor when crushed. It is well named, this plant can grow to 7 feet tall! The flowers are tiny, much like a thoroughwort. I found this plant blooming at Midtown Elementary School in Midtown, TN in late October. A close-up picture of the flowers follows. Perennial Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Midtown

Small White Morning Glory; Ipomoea lacunosa

Morning Glory Family This pretty little white flower is often seen growing on fences and along roadsides. I found this one growing in an empty lot in Oliver Springs in early September. Annual Where seen: Oak Ridge, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Yerba-De-Tajo

close-up Eclipta prostrata* I found this plant blooming in a ditch at the University of Tennessee Arboretum. Annual Where seen: Oak Ridge, University of Tennessee Arboretum, Big Ridge SP, Warriors' Path SP

Late-flowering Thoroughwort; Eupatorium serotinum

Aster Family Oak Ridge, TN September 7, 2008 This is a very common fall roadside flower, it is often seen in unmowed fields.

Axilflower; Mecardonia acuminata

Snapdragon Family I found this plant growing in Oak Ridge in mid-September during one of my forays to get water for my microscope classes. I didn't have my camera and had to return the next day. Perennial Where seen: Oak Ridge

Yerba-De-Tajo; Eclipta prostrata*

Aster Family "Yerba" means plant or weed, but despite asking my Spanish-speaking friends, I do not know what "Tajo" means; maybe it is the name of a place. The species name denotes the prostrate growth habit of the plant. Annual Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Oak Ridge, Big Ridge SP, Warriors' Path SP

White Crownbeard; Frostweed; Verbesina virginica

Aster Family If you find the stalks of this plant on a very cold morning, you may see curls of ice coming out of the ground from the roots (called "iceflowers"). The sap and liquid from the roots expands and is forced upward into interesting curling shapes as it freezes. Perennial Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Oak Ridge Greenways, widespread

Roan Mountain Rattlesnake Root; Prenanthes roanensis

Aster Family Roan Mountain, TN / NC October 9, 2006 rare I didn't realize this is a rare plant when I took this photo. Like many of the other Prenanthes, the flowers are not spectacular, but it is a wildflower so I took the photo --- being a rare plant was just an added bonus! Roan Mountain has many rare and endemic wildflowers. I was excited to find one!

Grass of Parnassus close-up

False Boneset; Kuhnia eupatorioides

Aster Family Height: 1-4 fet September 18, 2005 This plant is not very noticable because the flowers are just made up of disk flowers, there are no ray flowers ("petals"). Perennial, occasional Where seen: Oak Ridge, Haw Ridge Greenway

Dog Fennel; Eupatorium capillifolium

Aster Family

Grass of Parnassus; Parnassia asarifolia

Mt. Leconte - Great Smoky Mountains National Park September 1, 2006 I last saw this flower blooming on Mt. Leconte in August 1997, it was a thrill because I had looked for it for 10 years! These are beautiful flowers that bloom in the highest elevations of the Smokies. I think the flowers are so unique. Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains National Park map...