By Vanessa Voelker

We had another awesome week of wildflower appreciation during KNPS’s 3^rd annual Botany Blitz! The Botany Blitz is a wildflower-focused bioblitz where participants try to document as many plant species as possible during the week before Wildflower Weekend. This year’s Blitz ran from April 8 through April 15. As in previous years, the Botany Blitz was hosted on the iNaturalist platform, which makes it easy for participants to document, share, and identify their observations through iNaturalist’s website and mobile app. We also hosted a series of “First Day Hikes” across the state again this year: on Saturday April 8, several local naturalists and experienced iNaturalist users lead guided hikes in preserves, parks, and other natural areas across the Commonwealth. Many thanks to the hike leaders for helping us kick off the Blitz!

And without further ado, this year’s winners of the Botany Blitz are:

• For the categories of both Most Species and Most Observations, @spenner swept first place with 276 species and 420 observations.
• For the category of Most Identifications, @tgregory74 took the top spot with 733 ID’s.

Congrats to both for excellence in botanizing! A few more Botany Blitz stats as of the writing of this article (these numbers may change over time):

• 66 observers made a total of 3,747 plant observations during the Blitz.
• Those observations were comprised of 650 species, which included 603 vascular plants, 37 mosses, and 10 liverworts.
• 165 identifiers from both Kentucky and other states helped to identify the observations we all made.
• The top five most frequently observed plants during the week were:
  • 1) Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
  • 2) Virginia spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)
  • 3) Blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)
  • 4) Common blue violet (Viola sororia)
  • 5) Dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne)

If you’re not an iNaturalist user or have never participated in a blitz before, here are a few words from folks in the Botany Blitz leaderboards for Observing and Identifying, regarding what they enjoy about the platform and events like the Botany Blitz:

@spenner: “I had the good fortune this year of already having a family hiking trip planned to McCreary County during the Botany Blitz. I definitely tested the patience of my family with my constant stopping to take pictures, but what an incredible place to look for wildflowers! One highlight of many was seeing and learning more about the different violets. My yard, of course, has loads of the Common Blue Violets (Viola sororia), and I see quite a few Cream Violets (V. striata) at a couple of nearby locations. But that’s largely it at my usual haunts. So to see ten species of violets in bloom in two days in McCreary was a delight. I doubt that I can pick a favourite, but I was impressed by how many nooks and crannies on rock walls would have a tiny lovely Sweet White Violet (Viola blanda) growing in them.”

@tgregory74: “Whether I’m ID’ing other people’s observations, or learning how to ID new plants, iNaturalist has been a great outlet for me to botanize even when I’m not able to go out into the field. As someone fairly new to iNaturalist, I thought the KNPS 2023 Botany Blitz was a fun way to work through some genera I’ve had confusion with (looking at you Viola…), and learn about plants I don’t typically see in my area (inner Bluegrass). The Wildflower Weekend hikes were a blast and I saw a lot of cool plants that I had never seen before, but by far my highlight of the week was getting introduced to some populations of Bird’s foot violet (Viola pedata) in the wild and realizing how charismatic and beautiful that species is. My runner up species would probably be the Long-spurred violet (Viola rostrata). I know it’s seemingly everywhere once you get into sandstone-based substrates, but we don’t have that species in the inner Bluegrass so it’s a delight every time I find one.”

@ktuttlewheeler: “Wildflower Week is something I look forward to every year. I’m always on the lookout for cool plants but this is a great opportunity to really devote some time to it. Going to Cumberland Falls let me check out plants in part of the state I haven’t spent much time in, and it was really exciting to see some plants I hadn’t seen before like native azaleas (Rhododendron sp.) in bloom, Eastern teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), and a bunch of different ferns.”

@coleperry: “I live in the OH-KY-IN tri-state, so the Blitz gave me a reason to try some new parks & locations in my home state of KY. I also love the opportunity to review my familiar, local trails: taking stock of everything I can differentiate. I’ll enjoy doing this yearly! I was also pleased to spot Azure bluets (Houstonia caerulea) & Smooth rockcress (Borodinia laevigata) for the 1st time. Plus I worked on several species differentiations that have been tripping me up :)”

@captbillp: “I have derived much pleasure in communicating with experts and citizen scientists on iNaturalist; with the mutual benefit of learning and discovering more about the natural world. As an older member of society I would encourage young people to embrace this beautiful planet, and work hard to maintain the good in it.”

@m_whitson: “Between many rainy days and the hectic end of the semester, April can be a frustrating month, because the wildflowers call, but I can’t always get outside. Identifying Kentucky Botany Blitz observations lets me enjoy what’s blooming around the state without having to stray far from my computer. I particularly enjoy seeing observations of Long-spurred violet (Viola rostrata), because it isn’t a common species in my area and the long spurs are adorable. I’d love to see what pollinates it!”

And finally, here are a few photos from the Botany Blitz to admire, thanks to all the participants for making this another great week of botanizing!

Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) photographed by @riparian_paparrazi (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/154852074)

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) also featuring Stella, Henry, and their hiking cat Benson, photographed by @tararoselittlefield (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/154219048)

Fire Pink (Silene virginica) photographed by @dakotaross (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155043091)

Blue Eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) photographed by @spenner (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155089708)

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) photographed by @reupurtbones (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155113211)

Pink Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) @ktuttlewheeler (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155172883)

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) photographed by @sbrockway (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/154720935)

By Vanessa Voelker, Botanist with the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves

While you’re admiring the usual spring flora during the week leading up to Wildflower Weekend, here are a few infrequent to rare native plants to watch for across Kentucky. In past years, iNaturalist observers have helped to document new populations of these seven uncommon to rare native species in the state. With a little luck and a sharp eye, you may be able to help us document even more!

Spotted mandarin (Prosartes maculata, Special Concern)

Blooming period: April

Where to find it: High quality mesic forests in the eastern part of the state. Most iNaturalist observations of Spotted Mandarin in Kentucky come from the Red River Gorge area, however it is known to occur in a number of counties throughout the Cumberland Plateau ecoregion.

What it looks like: This perennial species is in the Lily Family, and like its relatives, its leaves have parallel venation. When in bloom, Spotted Mandarin can be easily distinguished from its more common cousin Yellow Fairybells (Prosartes lanuginosa): both species have similar foliage and nodding flowers, but the blooms of Spotted Mandarin are white with purple speckles, while those of Yellow Fairybells are greenish-yellow.

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of Spotted Mandarin in Kentucky.

Sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata, Threatened)

Blooming period: March-April

Where to find it: Scattered counties of eastern Kentucky. Sweet pinesap is usually found in upland woods with dry, acidic soil under oaks and pines, often in areas where Rhododendron species and Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) also like to grow.

What it looks like: If it seems familiar, you may be noticing its family resemblance to the more common Ghost Pipes (Monotropa uniflora) and Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys). Like its relatives, Sweet Pinesap lacks chlorophyll and is parasitic on underground fungi that associate with tree roots. It is an inconspicuous perennial that stands no more than 4 inches tall, sometimes not even rising above the leaf litter, and its flowers and fleshy stems are violet to rosy, covered by bracts that turn brown. The common name derives from the sweet, delicate fragrance of the flowers, which is described as being similar to cloves, nutmeg, or cinnamon. The lovely, unusual flowers and sweet fragrance make this species a real treat to behold, although you may actually smell Sweet Pinesap before you see it.

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of Sweet Pinesap in Kentucky.

False mermaidweed (Floerkea proserpinacoides)

Blooming period: April

Where to find it: This species is absent in most of Kentucky, and is restricted to the counties of the Cincinnati Metro area. On iNaturalist, it has been spotted at Gunpowder Creek Nature Park in Boone County, as well as St. Mary’s Cemetery and Lincoln Ridge Park in Kenton County. However, it might be found in any suitable habit in that area. Look for it in low woods near springs or small streams, as it prefers higher quality woodland habitats with consistently moist soils.

What it looks like: The first leaves to emerge are distinctively 3-parted. As the stem elongates, later leaves are 5- to 7-parted compound, and its 3-parted flowers are miniscule and greenish. Although it can be locally abundant, this diminutive annual is quite inconspicuous, and can be mistaken for a variety of dainty, similar-looking wildflowers, such as Catchweed Bedstraw (Galium aparine) and Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbosa). Check it out “hiding in plain sight” in front of Sessile Trillium in this observation from Grant County.

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of False Mermaidweed in Kentucky.

Forkleaf toothwort (Cardamine dissecta)

Blooming period: March-April

Where to find it: Forkleaf Toothwort prefers oak-hickory forests and rocky calcareous woods. In Kentucky, this species is found in the lower center of the state, with several populations having been observed on iNaturalist in the Mammoth Cave area. It is one of the less frequently encountered Toothworts, and there are currently only 14 observations of this species in Kentucky on iNaturalist!

What it looks like: Flowering stems have two highly dissected leaves, with lobe segments that are very slender and untoothed. The whole plant is hairless, and like related Toothworts, the flowers are white to pinkish with four petals. Forkleaf Toothwort may be most likely to be mistaken for the very common Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), which has three whorled stem leaves that are moderately dissected with coarsely toothed lobes.

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of Forked Toothwort in Kentucky.

Glade Violet (Viola egglestonii, Special Concern)

Blooming period: March-April

Where to find it: As the common name suggests, this species is at home in the dry rocky soils of limestone glades and barrens. In Jefferson County, this species has been spotted in open glade areas along hiking trails at McNeely Lake Park.

What it looks like: Glade Violet is a “stemless” blue violet: the lobed leaves and flower stalks arise from the base of the plant at ground level, rather than branching off of a stem. The flowers are blue-purple with a striped white throat. This species might resemble other lobed-leaf violets like Early Wood Violet (Viola palmata) or even Arrowleaf Violet (Viola sagittata), but its strict preference for dry, open glade habitats can help to distinguish it from similar violets that prefer shadier, woodland settings.

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of Glade Violet in Kentucky.

Carolina Silverbell (Halesia tetraptera, Endangered)

Blooming period: April-May

Where to find it: Moist soils in wooded floodplains, forested streambanks and ravines, in the westernmost corner of the state. On iNaturalist in Kentucky, this species has been spotted in Land Between the Lakes, and on loess bluffs along the Mississippi River including at Metropolis Lake State Nature Preserve, just west of Paducah.

What it looks like: Carolina Silverbell is a large shrub or small understory tree. The simple, ovate leaves may not necessarily draw the eye, but while in flower this species is quite noticeable: the clusters of 2-5 white, bell-shaped flowers drooping from its branches are highly ornamental. This species is endangered in Kentucky, and any new observations of it would be a very exciting find during the BotanyBlitz.

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of Carolina Silverbell in Kentucky.

Nodding Rattlesnakeroot (Nabalus crepidineus, Special Concern)

Blooming period: August-September

Where to find it: Low woods near forested streams, uncommon in the state but scattered throughout. On iNaturalist, populations of this species have been discovered in Louisville area public parks such as Cherokee Park and Harrod’s Creek Park. In the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area, it has been spotted at St. Anne Woods and Wetlands in Melbourne and Devou Park in Covington.

What it looks like: Ironically, although Nodding Rattlesnakeroot blooms in late summer, it is far more likely to be observed in the spring. This species forms large, densely vegetative colonies, but plants without sufficient sun exposure don’t often don’t flower, and all or most of the plants in those colonies typically senesce by June. A cousin to Lactuca (lettuces), a lush colony of Nodding Rattlesnakeroot in April can look like a forest floor covered in salad greens. Although there are a few similar-looking Rattlesnakeroot species in the state, a key differentiating feature of Nodding Rattlesnakeroot’s spring foliage are its broadly “winged” petioles (leaf stalks). Because it is most visible during a narrow window of time early in the year, this species is somewhat overlooked throughout its range, so keep an eye out – you may be the next botanizer to make a new county record!

Click here to view all iNaturalist observations of Nodding Rattlesnakeroot in Kentucky.

Vanessa Voelker is a botanist with the Plant Conservation Section at the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. Originally from central Illinois, Vanessa worked as a lab tech for the USDA before fleeing the lab for the woods and honing her skills as a botany technician in Missouri and Indiana before coming to Kentucky in 2020. When she isn’t in the field, Vanessa is active on iNaturalist (@vvoelker) and is always happy to help with plant identification and offer pro-tips for differentiating between tricky species.