Plants that flower early in the year (late December or early January to late March or early April) are known as Spring Ephemerals.
The dimpled trout lily is a typical spring ephemeral and is the signature plant at the Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve due to the large colony found on the north-facing slope of the preserve. Other spring ephemerals that occur at the preserve include spotted trillium, southern twayblade, spring coralroot, and bloodroot.
Specific descriptions are listed for some of the most common spring ephemerals blooming during trout lily bloom.
Spring Coralroot (Corallorhiza wisteriana)
These non-green plants lack chlorophyll and are mycotrophic. They obtain food through mycorhizza fungi. Coral root orchids are hard to see as they blend in with the leaf litter. The plants bloom From February to early spring.
Southern Twayblade Orchid (Listera australis)
The twayblade orchid is a perennial wildflower with two opposite leaves. The reddish-purple flowers occur along a terminal raceme. This early flowering (Feb-March) orchid occurs in mesic woods or moist low-lying areas. This orchid is small and inconspicuous and is often missed.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
A perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to Eastern North America. Also known as bloodwort, redroot, red puccoon and sometimes pauson. Flowers are produced from March to May, with 8-12 delicate white petals and yellow reproductive parts.
Spring ephemerals emerge early in the year, complete their life cycle, and are dormant by late spring. In a predominantly deciduous forest, this growth occurs before the trees leaf out and while more sunlight reaches the understory. The leaves of these plants die back after the bloom and survive the summer underground and dormant. Ants are thought to disperse the seeds of some spring ephemerals.
The DNR Wildlife Viewing Grants Program emphasizes species and habitats that are conservation priorities in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. The plan is a comprehensive strategy to conserve native species and the habitats they need before these animals, plants and places become more rare and costly to conserve or restore.
The dimpled trout lily is a typical spring ephemeral and is the signature plant at the Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve due to the large colony found on the north-facing slope of the preserve. Other spring ephemerals that occur at the preserve include spotted trillium, southern twayblade, spring coralroot, and bloodroot.
Specific descriptions are listed for some of the most common spring ephemerals blooming during trout lily bloom.
Spring Coralroot (Corallorhiza wisteriana)
These non-green plants lack chlorophyll and are mycotrophic. They obtain food through mycorhizza fungi. Coral root orchids are hard to see as they blend in with the leaf litter. The plants bloom From February to early spring.
Southern Twayblade Orchid (Listera australis)
The twayblade orchid is a perennial wildflower with two opposite leaves. The reddish-purple flowers occur along a terminal raceme. This early flowering (Feb-March) orchid occurs in mesic woods or moist low-lying areas. This orchid is small and inconspicuous and is often missed.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
A perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to Eastern North America. Also known as bloodwort, redroot, red puccoon and sometimes pauson. Flowers are produced from March to May, with 8-12 delicate white petals and yellow reproductive parts.
Spring ephemerals emerge early in the year, complete their life cycle, and are dormant by late spring. In a predominantly deciduous forest, this growth occurs before the trees leaf out and while more sunlight reaches the understory. The leaves of these plants die back after the bloom and survive the summer underground and dormant. Ants are thought to disperse the seeds of some spring ephemerals.
The DNR Wildlife Viewing Grants Program emphasizes species and habitats that are conservation priorities in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. The plan is a comprehensive strategy to conserve native species and the habitats they need before these animals, plants and places become more rare and costly to conserve or restore.