Big Tuni Creek along the Chunky Gal Trail Nantahala National Forest, Clay Co. |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2018) |
1 - September 2018 Today I made a few short explorations at several neighboring areas. This was a scouting expedition for Turtleheads along Big Tuni Creek. |
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Appalachian Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) |
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A few more examples growing in and along the creek: |
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Chelone lyonii |
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Chelone lyonii |
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Mountain Wood Aster (Eurybia chlorolepis) |
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One of many small cascades on Big Tuni Creek. |
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2 - Early October 2018 I made a combined trail exploration and botanizing trek further up the Chunky Gal Trail as it follows Big Tuni Creek. I wasn't expecting to find much exciting blooming at that elevation in the deep woods at this time of year, and didn't, except for fungi. |
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Old concrete creek crossing for an abandoned forest road |
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Green Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia furcata) This was considerably greener than the usual reindeer lichen/moss that I see. |
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Cascades on Big Tuni Creek |
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Fuzzy white fungi growing on the end of a log... |
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Close-up Possibly Powderpuff Bracket (Ptychogaster albus) |
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Green mushroom (Russula sp.) |
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Puffball (Lycoperdon sp?) |
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Lion's Mane Fungi (Hericium erinaceus) |
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A large polypore, maybe Ischnoderma resinosum (?) |
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Asters of some type. |
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Another nice cascade on Big Tuni |
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Smoky-eye Boulder Lichen (Porpidia albocaerulescens) |
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For the follow-on climb along this trail to the summit of Tusquitee Bald, click here. |