The burning of the Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) tract continues to pay benefits and produce surprises [entry1, entry2]. While taking the quarterly images of the tract near the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, we spied a tiny splotch of color in the tufts of Wiregrass (Aristida stricta). Focusing our attention closer to the ground, we realized that the purple flowers were all about. We had found the Dwarf Iris (Iris verna) that was likely laying dormant until 
conditions were improved by the recent burning.
conditions were improved by the recent burning.Dwarf Iris is a perennial herb rising from a densely scaly rhizome and flowering in late March to 
early April. As you can see from the image with the coin, the stem is less than 6" tall. The plant can be found from Pennsylvania and Ohio south to northwestern Florida and west to Mississippi. In South Carolina, the plant is found mainly in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain in dry pinelands, 
swamp edges, and edges of pocosins.
early April. As you can see from the image with the coin, the stem is less than 6" tall. The plant can be found from Pennsylvania and Ohio south to northwestern Florida and west to Mississippi. In South Carolina, the plant is found mainly in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain in dry pinelands, 
swamp edges, and edges of pocosins.
Images by Mark Musselman
No comments:
Post a Comment