Rose Family These trees are very common in east Tennessee. In April they are easy to spot while hiking in the woods or driving along the roads because of the large silvery tent caterpillar nests in the branches. (See caterpillars and nests in the Butterfly, Moth, and Caterpillars gallery) Perennial - Tree Where seen: Oak Ridge Greenways, Great Smoky Mountains NP
Rose Family April 15, 2006 I found this plant blooming at the Lilly Bluff Overlook at the Obed Wild and Scenic River. It had dried berries still attached to the plant. Perennial - shrub Where seen: Obed Wild and Scenic River
Rose Family The twigs of these trees contain cyanide, if you scrape a bit of the bark from one and sniff the twig you'll smell the distinctive "bitter almond" odor from the cyanide (Cyanogenic glycoside). Needless to say, they are poisonous! Wilted twigs and leaves of this tree have killed livestock that have eaten them. It is poisonous to sheep, cattle, horses, swine, goats and moose. The leaves and seeds contain the poisons amygdalin and prunasin.
