Wonders of Talladega

[jaybird]

What has to be one of the biggest wildflower finds for me occurred today in the Talladega National Forest of Talladega County.  I came across a population of Pink Lady's Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) numbering in the 100's.  What is more amazing is the fact that I've been hiking past them for 20 years and never knew it.  The USDA does not have Talladega County as a location for this plant, although nearby Cleburne County is mapped.

http://plants.usda.gov/ja...efips=01&symbol=CYAC3

http://www.efloras.org/ob...ct_id=8889&flora_id=1

Wonders of Talladega

Wonders of Talladega

Wonders of Talladega

Wonders of Talladega

[PastorLarryT]

Great find and pics!  Thanks for sharing Jay.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm glad you managed to find them. Missing the yellow slippers this weekend was worth it to see such an odd population!

Cyp. acaule must be like Cyp. reginae in that the color of the bloom often darkens with colder nights. These plants, like the ones in other places in Alabama, are much lighter than ones I have seen up north say in Pennsylvania, where it is colder. In cultivation of laboratory-propagated plants, C. reginae grown indoors will be just barely pink despite normal, non-alba, parentage.

I am still surprised that there is a population in that county. About 50 or so miles farther south than I expected to ever hear about them. Then again, that area is colder in winter than much of the surrounding countryside, so a remnant population from colder times shouldn't be a total shock. 

[Uncle Wayne]

Thanks Jaybird.  Very nice.