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
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
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