Piper peltatum / Piperaceae Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011
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
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
