#sullivantia sullivantii

[cedar-glade]

Sullivants cool wort, a globally rare species considered an indicator of consistantly cool and humid microclimates and associated with glacial refugium. I didnt know this population exsisted in jefferson co. / clifty falls state park. The wall may be the only location in the gorge that contains the species; rather, the only easily accessible spot. Beleive it or not I was looking for stiff gentian, specifically more of the small wet rock in partial shade stiff gentian. Unfortunately I checked on both of the old populations and there may end up being a local extripation.

Gentiana quinquefolia and open limestone sill habitat in part shade. Other cool species:

Aristolochia serpentaria

#aristolochiaceae #aristolochia serpentaria #indiana #botany #ecology #wildflowers #plants #plantblr #gentiana #gentiana quinquefolia #sullivantia sullivantii #sullivantia #botanical #green

[cedar-glade]

Sullivantia sullivantii 

Sullivant's Coolwort

We see this plant only in dolostone glacial outwash cut gorge along refugial lines away from browse lines. It is considered to be  a product of symptomatic relictualism only preserved due to cold microclimates.in these locations. This species is a a true calcicole,( also known as calciphyte or calciphile) that requires high ph mineral soil as well. They are more overall chasmophytes, growing in cracks and choss pockets in mineral dust, vs direct rock aka lithophytic sensu-lato. They are very close to being true saxafrage and were even put into the genera Saxafraga at one point with many others like Micranthes ect. before a split. Either way, a true classic of dolostone gorge habitat and one that is very unique. 

Highland Co. Gorge, Ohio. 

#ohio #botany #plantblr #ecology #geology #plants #wildflowers #sullivantia #sullivantia sullivantii

[cedar-glade]

The strangest thing to me is the lack of Mitella diphylla at Clifty Falls state park. 

Heuchera spp. are everywhere and even the occasional swamp saxifrage can be found if you look hard enough. here are some of the more small members of the saxifrage family that can be found at Clifty Falls State Park.

Top: I have no clue, feel free to let me know what you think it is.Originally I thought it was a Heuchera parviflora from a far but the leaves were too small.

Bottom Left  Micranthes virginiensis, early saxifrage is a species more closely associated with high altitude exposed granite than dolomite but does just fine on it. That's why in some areas its called alpine saxifrage instead of early saxifrage. 

Bottom right  Sullivantia sullivantii

a species I have only seen in one other place in Ohio, which was the cedar glades. 

The species that are probably there; but I haven’t found yet are miners lettuce and copper saxifrage.  either or, the exposed rock and cool valley effect of the gorge there is something to fall in love with. 

#saxifragaceae #indiana #plantblr #botany #wildflowers