Madder Family Height: 8" - 24" April 27, 2005 The Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens never lets me down for interesting or different flowers! This not-too-common wildflower was blooming amid the gravel along the paths. The leaves of this plant are very thin, the stems are a reddish brown. These "Bluets" are white, not blue like its other relatives. It is in the Madder Family and related to coffee. Perennial Where seen:Jefferson Middle School Cedar Barrens {Formerly known as: Houstonia nigricans}
Diapensia Family Height: 8" - 32" The leaves of Galax are thick, leathery, and evergreen. Mountain folk once gathered the leaves to make Christmas wreaths. A town in Virginia is named for this plant. This is commonly found in the Smokies in May. I found this one on the Cumberland Trail (near Cove Lake State Park) on the way to The Devil's Racetrack. Perennial Where seen:Great Smoky Mountains NP, Frozen Head SP, Cove Lake section of the Cumberland Trail, Stinging Fork Falls SNA, Warriors' Path SP {Also known as: Galax urceolata}
Buttercup Family Height: 16" - 32" April 10, 2005 This plant is also named "Doll's Eyes," (See Fruits and Seeds Gallery) which comes from the poisonous white fruits that ripen in the fall. The poison in this plant is protoanemonin. Baneberry is in the Buttercup Family. I found this one blooming along the Piney River Trail in early April. Perennial Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Pickett SP, Piney River Pocket Wilderness, Ijams Nature Center Formerly known as: Actaea alba
