Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Forty Acre Rock is set in the upper part of the Piedmont region of South Carolina. Forty Acre Rock is actually in the transition zone of the Piedmont and Sandhills. The Piedmont region has been heavily built upon in the past few years and signs of deforestation are evident. This wonderful park, however, remains untouched in its pristine beauty. A well-known group, the Flat Creek Heritage Preserve is the caretaker of this wonderful South Carolina treasure. 

Title:
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 1
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim visit Forty Acre Rock, which is in Flat Creek Heritage Preserve, in Lancaster, S.C. Pine Forest - The forest, once dominated by hardwood trees, is now populated with mostly pine trees...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 2
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 2

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the same stop, Rudy and Jim come across a few common species of insects which populate the area: a male Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, a Sunflier dragonfly, and a cluster of Fall Webworm silk is...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 3
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Damage from Hurricane Hugo, seen with some of the pine trees knocked over by high force winds, still remain. Yellow Jessamine and Japanese Honeysuckle plants can be seen growing over the damage left...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2 4
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Foothills- “flat rock communities” can be found here: outcroppings of rock with standing water. Endemic flowers are a species of flower only found in these communities, such as Cottony Groundsel...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2 5
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The significant amount of warm rain water greatly benefits the plant and animal life here. In one of these pools of water found in the rock outcroppings, Spotted Salamander egg masses can be seen...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 3 6
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Vernal Pools - Red Cedar trees commonly populate these rock outcropping areas. Lichens break down the rock surface, creating the dirt in which plants can grow. Black Rock Moss Haircap Moss...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 4 7
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

After the rock gets broken down into soil, the first species of plant life to grow in these areas are mainly Stonecrops, along with Rock Sandwort.
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 5 8
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim discuss the process of exfoliation, which commonly takes place on rock outcroppings such as this one. Here, on this island of soil, we see more yellow jessamine, moss, red cedar trees...
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 6 9
Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Large masses of granite such as this one, are sometimes called “Plutons,” named after the Roman god of the underworld. This is due the hot liquid granite coming up from the ground and cooling...
Yellow Jasmine | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Yellow Jasmine | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Gelsemium rankinii • Sometimes called "Jasamer" in SC • Other common names include Woodbine, Carolina, Evening Trumpet Flower • State flower of South Carolina • Native plant • Woody climbing vine...
Tadpole | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Tadpole | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Order Anura • Hatches from eggs laid in water • Some eggs laid in moist land areas or dropped into water or swept into water by rains or carried to water by parent • Developmental stage between egg...
Stonecrop | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Stonecrop | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Sedum smallii • Sedum Family (Crassulaceae) • 35 genera and 1,500 species • Succulent herb or small shrub • Leaves simple, alternate or opposite, fleshy • Sepals 4 or 5; petals 4 or 5, free or...
Spotted Salamander | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Spotted Salamander | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Ambystoma maculatum • Widespread in the United States • Stoutly built, 15.2 - 24.8 cm (6 - 9.75 inches) • Black, blue-black, dark gray or dark brown above • Two irregular rows of round, yellow or...
Sassafras | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Sassafras | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Sassafras albidum • Medium to large size tree • Flowers appear before leaves • Leaves not toothed, lobed or not, in three patterns • Patterns have "thumb and mitten" outline, 3 fingers or smooth egg...
Pool Sprite | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Pool Sprite | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Amphianthus pusillus • Rarest plant in South Carolina Piedmont • Annual plant • Snapdragon family • Fibrous roots • 5 - 10 cm tall (2 - 4 inches) • Grows in vernal pools • Submerged and floating...
Persimmon | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Persimmon | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Diospyros virginiana • Native to Eastern United States • Distinctive dark thick bark • Leaves somewhat thickened • Leaves egg shaped and not toothed • Yellow flowers • Grows up to 50 feet tall •...
Haircap Moss | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Haircap Moss | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Genus Polytrichum Stems are rigid Long, pointy leaves arranged spirally around stem Name means "many hairs" Hairy cap covers the capsule before it is fully mature Grows in woods, wetlands in acidic...
Green Anole | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Green Anole | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Anolis carolinensis • Often referred to as a Chameleon, but not a true one • Slight in build with narrow head • Slender with long thin tail • Pink dewlap under throat in male hangs down • Ability to...
Five Finger | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Five Finger | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Genus Potentilla • Low spreading plant with silvery-downy stems • Yellow flowers • Five leaflets up to 6.3 cm (2.5 inches) in length • First flowers arise from axil of second leaf • Also called...
Fall Webworm | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Fall Webworm | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• Hyphantria cunea • Silk web made by caterpillar • Native to North America and Mexico • Larvae often seriously damage trees and shrubs • Larvae spin silk over foliage, skeletonizing leaves as they...
Eastern Red Cedar | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)
Eastern Red Cedar | Forty Acre Rock (S.C.)

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Juniperus virginiana Medium-size tree Needle-like leaves Leaves 1 mm - 2 cm (1/16 - 0.75 inches) Leaves entirely green, in pairs along four-sided twigs and branchlets Dominant on rock outcrops...