Cove Hardwood Understory: Early Spring Ephemerals
Just as descendants of the Arcto-Tertiary forest are
well-represented in the canopy of the cove hardwood
forest, they are widespread on the forest floor as well. Wood
Anemone and Sharp-lobed Hepatica are two examples of plants with close
relatives found both here and in Asia, but nowhere in between --- signs
of an Arcto-Tertiary ancestor. In fact, the majority of the herbs
on the floor of the cove hardwood forest show one of two related
patterns, both of which are shared by herbs in China and (scientists
believe) in the ancient Arcto-Tertiary forest.
One pattern
consists of perennial plants like trilliums and Jack-in-the-Pulpit that
send up a bloom and leaves in the spring, then linger in the shade of
the forest canopy for the rest of the year, putting out no new
growth. Instead, these plants are sucking up what little light
comes their way and turning it into energy to store in their roots and
feed next year’s blooms and leaves.
The other
pattern is even more distinctive, enough so that this category of
plants has been given its own name. The early spring ephemerals 
bloom even earlier
in the spring than the trilliums, some in late March when the days are
still cold and only flies are out and about to act as
pollinators. Most --- like the toothworts, Rue Anemone, and
Spring-Beauty --- have white or pale pink flowers to attract these
generalist pollinators.
After blooming,
the ephemerals quickly unfurl leaves and soak up late winter sun before
the trees above them wake up. Then the ephemerals' leaves fade
away just as quickly. By May, most of the early spring ephemerals
are long gone, except for the roots nestled in the leaf litter that
have stored enough energy to repeat the cycle next year. Their
tiny seeds have been carried away by ants to germinate a few feet from
the parent --- small wonder that these species take so long to
recolonize a forest after it has been clearcut. Although once
widespread in cove hardwood forests, the masses of early spring
ephemerals found at Sugar Hill are now becoming the exception rather
than the rule.
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Some Other Early Spring Ephemerals (Not
Pictured)
Rue-Anemone
Scientific
Name: Anemonella thalictroides
Family:
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Habitat:
Woods
Blooms:
April to May
Wood
Anemone
Scientific
Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Family:
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Habitat:
Moist woods
Blooms:
April to June
Carolina
Spring-Beauty
Scientific
Name: Claytonia caroliniana
Family:
Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)
Habitat:
Cove hardwood forests
Blooms:
March to May
Appalachian
Toothwort
Scientific
Name: Dentaria heterophylla
Family:
Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Habitat:
Moist woods
Blooms:
April to May
Five-parted
Toothwort
Scientific
Name: Dentaria laciniata
Family:
Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Habitat:
Woods
Blooms:
April to May
Bloodroot
Scientific
Name: Sanguinaria canadensis
Family:
Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
Habitat:
Moist woods
Blooms:
April to June
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