Date Photo Taken: Sept. 16, 2010 and Sept. 8, 2011
Location: Cooper's Creek WMA, North GA
Posted By: mmfellows
Notes:
Sept. 16, 2010 we went to the Cooper’s Creek Wildlife Management Area in North GA where I found this plant I had never seen before in full bloom next to the river. When I came home and looked in my wildflower book it looked exactly like the photo (and matched the description) of Grass-of-Parnassus, but my book says that doesn’t grow in GA. It does say there are similar species that do grow in GA, but gave no pictures.
We went back to the same area on Sept. 8, 2011 and I found what I believe is the same plant, this time with only buds – not yet open – but the leaf and form are exactly the same.
Is this Grass-of-Parnassus or one of the “similar species”? Has anyone seen it in another location?
Bobby Says:
What a neat find! The usda site shows the Kidney leaf Parnassus as a species that includes Georgia among its areas of distribution. Parnassia asarifolia Vent. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PAAS2&photoID=paas2_001_avd.tif
September 17th, 2011 at 10:48 amBobby Says:
The USDA site includes this link to the University Of Tenn. It has some pictures of the kidney leaf species. http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/vascular/database/vascular-database.asp?CategoryID=Dicots&FamilyID=Saxifragaceae&GenusID=Parnassia&SpeciesID=asarifolia
September 17th, 2011 at 10:54 ammmfellows Says:
Bobby, thank you so much for your research. I have checked out both links. The species that does grow in GA seems so very similar “my” plant is most likely the Parnassia asarifolia Vent. I do see one small but notable difference between that photo and my plant, so I may never be absolutely certain. Half the fun is in the looking and comparing. Thanks again.
September 19th, 2011 at 4:44 pmCindy Says:
I found this plant in Blue Ridge GA, growing in a small creek. I looked them up and the book says they don’t grow in GA. But I have seen several in that area.
September 27th, 2011 at 2:50 pmmmfellows Says:
Thanks, Cindy. Maybe they DO grow in the very northern parts of GA. We were at Cooper’s Creek again last week and I saw the same plant growing in a different part of that area, right beside the stream.
October 1st, 2011 at 6:37 pm