Ramsey Creek Botanical Inventory

The following is Dr. Gaddy's Spring of 1998 Report, along with a number of other plants that we have found since. We have added to this list over the years with assistance from the South Carolina Association of Naturalists and frequent visitors. All told, we have documented more than 300 species and expect the total number could be closer to 400 than the original "low 200's" we expected years ago. Some of the genus names have changed over the years, and we have tried to eliminate duplications (but if you find one, let us know). To see images of plants in our inventory, go to our Flower Gallery.

Foreward to Dr. Gaddy's 1998 Preliminary Inventory
Memorial Ecosystems' Ramsey Creek property is rich and diverse Piedmont site. A preliminary inventory of the vascular plants of this tract indicates that over 130 plant species, including over 30 tree species, are present here. Two state-listed plants—rough sedge (Carex scabrata) and tripartite violet (Viola tripartita)—and two species uncommon in South Carolina—crested coral root (Hexalectris spicata ) and Biltmore carrion flower (Smilax biltmoreana)—are found on the property. Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) and deer-tongue laurel (Rhododendron minus), both normally found in the mountains of South Carolina , and storax (Styrax grandifolia) and chalk maple (Acer leucoderme), which are uncommon outside of the Brevard Belt, are also found on the tract. The following preliminary list of vascular plants is based on field work conducted on site in the spring of 1998.

Keys
Scientific name is given first, followed by common name in parentheses. The number after the name indicates the plant community habitat in which the plant occurs on the tract.

1. Pine
2. Pine-mixed Hardwoods
3. Mixed Hardwoods
4. Bottomland Woods
5. Bogs/Seepages
6. Meadows/Savannahs

 

• Those species Ramsey Creek staff added since Doctor Gaddy's report, and not yet verified by him will be noted with a ** after the number.
• When we add appropriate introductions in the restoration areas, they will be noted with a "!" sign.
• We do include some plants that we wish were not in the preserve, including Asian honeysuckle and privet, and will indicate such non-native escapes with a @.

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Trees

• Acer floridanum (southern sugar maple) 3!!
• Acer leucoderme (chalk maple) 3
• Acer rubrum (red maple) 2,3
• Albizia julibrissin (mimosa-very invasive)@!!
• Amelanchier laevis (serviceberry) 1,2
• Amelanchier arborea (downy serviceberry) 1,2!!
• Betula nigra (river birch) 4
• Carpinus caroliniana (ironwood) 3,4
• Carya glabra (pignut hickory) 3
• Carya tomentosa (mockernut hickory) 2,3
• Castanea dentata (F1-hybrid American Chestnut with European) 3 ** !
• Castanea dentata (American Chestnut-sprouts)3,4
• Cercis canadensis (redbud) 3
• Chioanathus virginicus (fringe tree) 3**
• Cornus alternifolia (alternate-leaved dogwood) 3
• Cornus florida (dogwood) 2,3
• Diospyros virginiana (persimmon) 2,3,4
• Fagus grandifolia (American beech) 3,4
• Fraxinus americana (white ash) 3
• Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust) 6**!!
• Halesia carolina (silverbell) 3,4
• Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel-large shrub or small tree) 3,4**
• Ilex opaca (Holly) 2,3 **
• Juglans nigra (black walnut) 1
• Juniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar) 1,2

• Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet gum) 3,4
• Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip poplar) 3,4
• Malus angustifolia (wild crab-apple) 2,3@!!
• Magnolia acuminata (cucumber tree) 3
• Magnolia fraseri (Fraser's magnolia) 3
• Morus rubra (red mulberry) 3
• Nyssa sylvatica (black gum) 2,3
• Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood) 2,3
• Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine) 1,2,3,4
• Pinus strobus (white pine) 2 **
• Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) 1
• Pinus virginiana ( Virginia pine) 1,2
• Plantus occidentalis (sycamore) 3,4!!
• Prunus serotina (black cherry) 2,3
• Quercus alba (white oak) 2,3
• Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak) 2,3
• Quercus falcata (southern red oak) 2,3
• Qurecus phellos (willow oak) 2,3!!
• Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak) 2
• Quercus nigra (water oak) 2
• Quercus rubra (red oak) 3
• Quercus stellata (post oak) 2,3
• Quercus velutina (black oak) 3
• Robinia psuedo-acacia (black locust) 2,3 **
• Taxodium distichum (bald cypress) 5 ** !
• Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock)2,3,4**!!

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Shrubs

• Aeschulus sylvatica (dwarf buckeye) 3
• Alnus serrulata (tag alder,river alder) 4,5
• Aralia spinosa (Devil's walking stick) 3**
• Arundinaria gigantea (cane) 3,4
• Asimina parviflora (small-flowered paw-paw) 3!!
• Asimina triloba (common paw-paw) 2,3**!!
• Callicarpa americana (beautyberry) 2,6**!!
• Calycanthus floridus (sweetshrub) 3
• Calycanthus floridus glaucus (smooth sweet-shrub) 2,3 !!
• Celtis tenuifolia (dwarf hackberry) 2,6 !!
• Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush) 4,5**!!
• Clethra alnifolia (cinnamon clethera) 4, (!-?)
• Corylus americana (American hazelnut) 3
• Crataegus uniflora (one-flower hawthorn) 2,6
• Euonymus americanus (hearts a-bursting) 3,4
• Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn) 2,3,4**!! can be small tree to 20 feet
• Halesia tetraptera (Silverbell) 4 **!!
• Hydrangea sp. (hydrangea) 3
• Hypericum hypericoides (St. Johnswort) 2
• Itea virginica ( virginia willow) 4
• Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) 3
• Leucothoe fontesiana (dog hobble) 4,5
• Ligustrum sinensis (Chinese privet) 4 @
• Lyonia ligustrina (maleberry; he-huckleberry) 2,6
• Nandina domestica (nandina) 2,3 @

• Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw Plum ) 2,6
• Rhododendron minus ( Carolina rhododenron) 3
• Rhododendron nudiflorum (pinkster flower) 3
• Rhododendron calendulaceum (flame azalea) 3 **
• Rosa carolina (Carolina rose) 4,6 (open low meadow) **!!
• Rhus copallina (winged sumac) 6**
• Rhus Glabra (smooth sumac) 6 **
• Rubus sp. (blackberry)
• Sassafras albidum (sassafras) 1,2,3,6 ** grows to tree on property
• Sambucus canadensis (common elderberry) 4,6 !!
• Styrax grandifolia (storax) 3
• Sympocos tinctoria (horse-sugar) 2,3,4**!!
• Vaccinium arboreum (sparkleberry) 1,2
• Vaccinium fuscatum (black high-bush blueberry) 2,6!!
• Vaccinium pallidum (hillside blueberry) 2,6!!
• Vaccinium stamineum (squawberry) 1,2
• Vaccinium vacillans (lowbush blueberry) 2,3
• Viburnum acerifolium (maple-leaved viburnum) 3
• Viburnum prunifolium (Black haw;nannyberry) 2,3 can be small tree
• Viburnum rufidulum  (Southern black haw) 2,3 can be a small tree
• Xanthorhiza simplicissima (yellow-root) 3,4

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Herbs, Grasses, Sedges, Ferns, and Vines

•  Actaea pachypoda (doll's eye) 3
• Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern) 3
• Agalinis linfolia (Gerardia)** 2
• Agrimonia pubenscens (hairy agrimony) 4
• Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) 6!!
• Amsonia tabernaemontana (blue star) 3
• Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) 6**
• Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem) 6**
• Andropogon virginicus (broomstraw) 6 **
• Anenome acutiloba (sharp-lobed hepatica) 3!!
• Anenome americana (round-lobed hepatica) 3 (formerly Hepatica americana)
• Anemone quinquefolia (five-leaved wood anemone) 3
• Anemone virginiana (thimbleweed;tall anenome) 4**!!
• Antennaria plantaginifolia (plantain-leaved pussy-toes) 1,2
• Apios americana (common groundnut) 4!!
• Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) 5 **
• Aristolochia serpentaria ( Virginia snakeroot) 3
• Arnoglossum atriplicifolium (Prairie Indian plantain) 4!!**
• Aster cordifolius (heart-leaved aster) 3
• Aster divaricatus (white-topped aster) 2,3
• Aster patens (Piedmont aster) 2
• Asclepias variegata (white milk-weed) 2,3,6 **
• Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)6**
• Athryrium felix-femina (southern lady fern) 3,4,5
• Aureolaria (sp) (false yellow foxglove) 3**
• Baptisia tinctoria (wild indigo)**!! 
• Bidens sp. (beggar-ticks) 6,4!! open habitats
• Bignonia capreolata (cross-vine) 3,4
• Boehmeria cylindrica (false-nettle) 4
• Botrycium virginianum (rattlesnake fern) 3
• Cacalia atriplicifolia (white Indian plantain) 2
• Callicarpa americana (Beauty berry) 1,6**
• Campis radicans (trumpet creeper) 4
• Carex gynandra (mountain fringed sedge) 5
• Carex leptalea (thin sedge) 5
• Carex nigromarginata (black-edged sedge) 1,2
• Carex scabrata (rough sedge) 5
• Carex styloflexa (sedge) 5
• Carex torta (twisted sedge) 4
• Carex umbellata (sedge) 1
• Centrosema virginanum (climbing butterfly-pea)**1,6
• Chamaecrista fasciculata fasciculata (sensitive plant;partridge-pea)2,6!!
• Chasmanthium sessilifolium  (long-leaf wood oats) 4
• Chasmanthium latifolium (river oats) 4,5,6 **!!
• Chelone obliqua (turtlehead) 5
• Chimaphila maculata (pipsissewa) 1,2
• Chrysogonum americanum (green and gold) 3
• Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) 3
• Clematis viorna  (leatherflower)  (2,3,4) **
• Cocculus caroliniana ( Carolina moonseed) 3
• Collinsonia canadensis ( Canada horsebalm) 3
• Commelina communis communis (common dayflower) @ 5,6
• Coreopsis major (whorled-leaf coreopsis) 1,6**
• Cuscuta sp. (dodder) 4**
• Cypripedium acaule (Pink lady's slipper) 2 **
• Dactylis glomerata (orchardgrass) 6**
• Daucus carota (Queen-Anne's-lace) @6
• Decumaria barbara (climbing hydrangea) 3,4!!
• Desmodium  canescens (tick-trefoil) 2,3,6 !!
• Desmodium nudiflorum (naked tick refoil) 2,3,6!!
• Desmodium paniculatum paniculatum (tick trefoil) 2,3,6!!
• Desmodium rotundifolium (dollar plant) 6**
• Diodia teres (poor Joe) 4,6!! in more open areas
• Dioscorea villosa (wild yam) 3
• Dichanthelium bosci (Bose's panic grass) 3,6 (formerly panicum)
• Elephantopus carolinianus (Carolina elephant-foot)1,6**
• Elephantopus tomenotosus ( elephant foot; Devil's grandmother) 6!!
• Elymus virginicus (wild rye) 6!!
• Epifagus virginiana (beech drops) 3 (under beech)
• Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass) 6**
• Erigeron pulchellus (daisy fleabane) 3
• Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master) 2,4
• Erythronium americanum (trout lily) 4**
• Eupatorium capillifolium (common dog fennel) 6!!
• Eupatorium rotundifolium (round-leaved thoroughwort) 2
• Euphorbia corollata (eastern flowering spurge) 2,3,6!!
• Eutrochium fistulosum (Joe-pye-weed) 4,5,6!!** wetter areas and streamside
• Galax urceolata (Galax) 4 **
• Galium circaezans (Piedmont bedstraw) 3
• Gentiana linearis (narrow-leaved gentian) 2,3
• Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) 3
• Geum canadense ( Canada avens) 4
• Gillenia trifoliata (Indian physic) 3,4
• Glyceria sp. (manna grass) 5
• Goodyera pubescens (rattlesnake plantain) 2,3
• Habenaria clavellata (green wood orchid) 5
• Helianthus angustifolius (narrow-leaf sunflower) 6**
• Helianthus decapetalus (forest sunflower) 2,3!!
• Helianthus gigantea (Giant Sunflower) 4**
• Helianthus microcephalus (small-headed sunflower) 3,4 !! sometimes streamside
• Heuchera americana (American alumroot) 4 
• Heterotheca mariana ( Maryland golden aster)
• Hexalectris spicata (crested coral root) 3
• Hexastylis arifolia (wild ginger, heartleaf) 3
• Hieracium venosum (hawk-weed) 2
• Houstonia serpyllifolia (creeping bluets) 4
• Hydrangea arborscens (snowy hydrangia) 3**
• Hypericum hypericoides (St. Andrew's Cross) 2,3,6!!
• Hypericum mutilum (Dwarf St. John's-wort) 5!! 
• Hypoxis hirsuta (yellow-eyed grass) 2
• Impatiens carpensis (spotted touch-me-no) 5 (streamside)!!**
• Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris) 3
• Iris verna (summer iris) 2
• Juncus coriaceus (tough needlerush) 4,5
• Juncus effusus (common needlerush) 4

• Liatris squarrosa (blazing star) 1,2,6 **
• Liatris graminifolia ( blazing star) 1,2,6**
• Liatris microcepphala (small-headed blazing star)6!!
• Liatris spicata (dense blazing star) 6**
• Ligusticum candense (wild boar hog root, American lovage) 3
• Lilium michauxii (Michaux's lily) 3,4
• Ludwigia alternifolia (alternate-leaf seed box) 4,5!!
• Ludwigia decurrens (wingstem water-primrose) 5!!
• Ludwigia palustris (common water-purselane) 5!! in shallow water
• Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower) 5
• Lobelia inflata (rabbit tobacco) 1,6 **
• Lobelia sp.
• Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) 3,4
• Lonicera sempervirens (coral honeysuckle) 2
• Lycopodium flabelliforme (Running pine) 1,2 **
• Lycopus virginicus (Virginia bugleweed) 5!!
• Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife)**
• Manfreda viginica (false aloe; tuberose) 3,6** prefers open areas for blooming
• Matalea carolinesis (Carolina spinypod) 4
• Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root) 3,5
• Melia mutica (melic grass) 3
• Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stilt grass) @ !!
• Mimosa microphylla (sensitive briar) 4 **
• Mimulus ringens ringens (Allegheny monkey flower) 5!!
• Mitchella repens (partridge berry) 2,3
• Monarda clinopodia (white bergamot) 3 **
• Monotropa hypopithysis (pine sap) 1,2 **
• Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipes) 2,3 **
• Onoclea sensibilis sensibilis (sensitive fern) !!
• Oenothera perennis (sundrops)6**
• Onosmodium virginanum (Virginia marbleseed) 1**
• Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern) 5
• Orchis spectabilis (showy orchis) 3
• Oxalis violacea (violet oxalis) 3
• Oxypolis rigidior (rigid cowbane) 5
• Panax quinquefolius (ginseng) 3 !
• Panicum anceps (beaked panic grass) 6!!
• Parthenium sp. (quinine weed) 2
• Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) 2,3
• Passiflora incarnata (may-pops) 6
• Passiflora lutea (yellow passion-vine) 3
• Pedicularis canadensis (common lousewort) 4
• Persicaria sagittata (Arrowleaf tearthumb) 4 (formerly Polygonum sagittatum)
• Persicaria setacea (swamp smartweed) 5!!
• Phlox carolina ( Carolina phlox) 4
• Phlox stolonifera (creeping phlox) 3
• Pityopsis aspera adenolepis (grass leaved golden aster) 6 !!
• Pityopsis graminifolia latifolia (grass-leaved golden aster) 6 (formerly heterotheca)
• Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) 4**
• Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon's seal) 3
• Polymnia uvedalia (bear-paw) 4
• Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) 3
• Potentilla canadensis (five-fingers) 2
• Prenanthes trifoliata (gall-of-the-earth) 2,3,4
• Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) 1,2
• Pycanthemum incanum (white mountain mint) 2,3!!**
• Pycanthemum pycnanthemoides (Southern mountain mint)2,3,4!!
• Rhynchospora glomerata glomerata (clusered beaksedge) 5!!
• Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan's) 1,6**
• Rudbeckia laciniata (lace-leaved coneflower) 4
• Ruellia carolineinsis (Carolina petunia) 1 ** 
• Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) 3
• Sanicula sp. (snakeroot) 3,4
• Schizachyrium scoparium  (little bluestem) 6 (formerly andropogon)
• Scleria triglomerata (nut-rush) 2
• Silene stellata (starry campion) 3
• Silphium astericus latifolium 2,6 !!
• Silphium compositifolium (rosinweed) 2 
• Smilacina racemosa (false Solomon's seal) 3
• Smilax biltmoreana (Biltmore carrion-flower) 3
• Smilax bona-nox (cat-briar) 4
• Smilax glauca (glaborous greenbriar) 3
• Smilax herbacea (herbaceous greenbriar) 3
• Solidago curtissii (Curtis's Goldenrod) 3
• Solidago odora (fragrant goldenrod) 2,3
• Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass) 6**
• Sparganium americanum (American bur-reed) 5!!
• Spigelia marilandica (Indian pink) 3
• Spiranthes grayi (Little ladies' tresses) 6
• Sorghastrum elliotii (Indian grass) 1,6 **
• Strophostyles umbellata (perinneal sand bean) 4!!
• Tetragonatheca helianthoides (square-head) 2**
• Tephrosia virginiana (Goat's Rue)2,6
• Thalictrum thalictroides (rue anemone) 3
• Thaspium sp. (meadow parsnip) 3,4
• Thelypteris hexagonoptera (broad beech fern) 3
• Thelypteris palustris (marsh fern) 5
• Tiarella cordifolia (foamflower) 3
• Tipularia discolor (Crane-fly orchid) 2,3,4
• Toxicodendron pubenscens (poison oak) 2,3,4,6!!** (formerly rhus genus)
• Toxicodendron radicans radicans (poison ivy) 2,3,4,6!!** (formerly rhus)
• Tridens flavus (purpletop grass) 6**
• Trillium catesbaei (Piedmont trillium) 3
• Trillium discolor (pale yellow trillium) 4
• Trillium rugelii (Southern nodding trillium) 4
• Uniola latifolia (river oats) 4
• Uvularia perfoliata (perfoliate bellwort) 3
• Uvularia sessilifolia (sessile-leaved bellwort) 3
• Veratrum parviflorum (false hellebore) 3
• Vernonia noveboracensis (Ironweed)2,4,6 !!** especially damp areas
• Vicia caroliniana ( Carolina vetch) 3
• Viola palmata (palmate-leaved violet) 3
• Viola pedata (bird's-foot violet) 1,2
• Viola sororia (common violet) 3,4
• Viola tripartita (tripartite violet) 3
• Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine) 4
• Vitais (sp) (fox grape vs possum grape) 3,4
• Yucca filamentosa (hairy yucca) 1,2

“Fear no more the heat o’ th’ sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages,
Thou thy wordly task hast done,
Home art gone and ta’en thy wages.
Golden lads and girls all must,
​As chimney sweepers, come to dust.”                                                   
​                                               —Cymbelin