Touch-Me-Not Family Aquatic These plants grow in damp environments. The name "Touch-Me-Not" comes from the way the ripe seed pods pop when touched. I found this flower blooming in Oak Ridge in early August. Annual Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Big South Fork NRRA, Frozen Head SP, Cove Lake SP, Norris Dam SP, Haw Ridge Greenways, Oak Ridge
Pea Family The leaves of this plant are photosensitve, at night they close up. Annual Where seen: Oak Ridge Greenways, Piney Falls SNA, Great Smoky Mountains NP, Warrior's Path SP, widespread {Formerly known as: Cassia fasciculata}
Notice the ants on the small reddish-brown dots on the stem. This plant in the Pea Family has these patches (a.k.a. extra-floral nectaries) to attract the ants as protectors to keep other insects from eating the plant. Vetches and other wildflowers in the pea family have these nectaries.
