08. Plants of the Forest

Cove forests provide an environment in which many different types of plant organisms can thrive; these include trees, herbs, and shrubs. Click on the links below to see some of the various types of flora that make their home here.

Within this Series

Basswood | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Tilia americana) A medium to large tree that frequently occurs in the understory but may also reach the canopy. The large heart-shaped leaves are finely toothed and have an asymmetrical base. The...

Beech | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Fagus grandifolia) The smooth gray bark, sharp-pointed buds, and papery toothed leaves make beech one of the easiest trees to identify. Because it can tolerate deep shade, individuals occur both in...

Bloodroot | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Sanguinaria Canadensis) Bloodroot is one of the first plants to bloom in spring. Only one flower and one leaf is produced per plant. The large white flower opens in the day and closes at night. The...

Canada Hemlock | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Almost all trees in cove forests are deciduous - that is, they drop their leaves in the fall and produce new ones in spring. The Canada hemlock, in contrast, is an evergreen - it retains its needle...

Canada Violet | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Viola canadensis) This relatively tall violet with heart-shaped leaves is frequently encountered in cove forests. It produces many white flowers that fade to purple with age. Often found in clumps...

Carolina Silverbell | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Halesia tetraptera) This small to medium-sized understory tree has distinctive white-yellow vertical streaks on its young stems. In early spring it produces white bell-shaped flowers that develop...

Christmas Fern | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Polystichum acrostichoides) This evergreen fern commonly occurs in moist sites including ravines and rocky slopes. Only the leaves emerge above ground - the stem is underground. Like all ferns, it...

Doghobble| | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This evergreen shrubs forms dense thickets in ravines and along streams. The leaves are thick and leathery and the urn-shaped fragrant flowers bloom in early spring.

Dutchman's Pipe | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Although it might sometimes look like a tangled shrub, the woody wine has large heart-shaped leaves and small flowers that look like an old-time smoking pipe, hence the common name. Toxins in the...

Flowering Dogwood | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Cornus florida) This small understory tree of forests is also widely planted in residential areas. In spring, clusters of small greenish flowers surrounded by four large white petal-like bracts are...

Fraser's Magnolia | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Magnolia fraseri) This fast-growing tree with multiple stems, large deciduous leaves, and sweet-scented flowers, occurs in moist slopes and along streams. It is only found in the southern Appalachian...

Ironwood | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Carpinus caroliniana) This slow-growing understory tree occurs along streams and in moist bottomland forests. Its wood is extremely hard and was used in the past for golf club heads, mallets and tool...

Jack in the Pulpit | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This unusual plant produces one or two leaves, each of which is divided into three leaflets. A cluster of tiny flowers is produced at the base of the striped tubular structure (called a spathe) that...

Large-Flowered Heartleaf | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This low-growing plant has evergreen heart-shaped leaves. The large jug-shaped flowers occur on the soil surface, often under decomposing leaves. This species, like many woodland herbs, has ant...

Large-Flowered Trillium | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Trilliums are easily recognized by having a single whorl of three leaves and one conspicuous flower. The large white flowers of this species are initially white but change to pink as the flower ages...

Maple Leaf Viburnum | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Viburnum acerifolium) This small clump-forming shrub that has three-lobed leaves that resemble maple leaves, hence the common name. Maple-leaf viburnum has showy clusters of white flowers that give...

Mayapple | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Podophyllum peltatum) This widespread herb forms dense carpets on the forest floor in early spring. Single large white flowers with yellow centers hang down beneath the large umbrella-like leaves...

Oconee Bells | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Shortia galacifolia) A small evergreen species related to galax with white flowers produced in March. It was discovered ty the French botanist Andre Michaux in 1787 growing at the confluence of the...

Red Oak | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Quercus rubra) Several species of oak can be found growing in the cove forest, and Red Oak is perhaps most frequently encountered. This tree has leaves with sharp lobes and bristles at the tips and...

Rosebay | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Rhododendron maxiumum) This evergreen shrub or small tree forms dense thickets in cool, moist, partially shaded sites such as stream banks, ravines and mountain slopes. It has thick leathery leaves...

Snowy Hydrangea | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Hydrangea radiata) This deciduous shrub with peeling bark on its stems occurs in open woods as well as along streams and in moist roadside areas. The flowers form dense clusters with showy white...

Spice Bush | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(Lindera benzoin) This upright deciduous shrub occurs along streams and in rich moist woods. It produces dense clusters of small yellow flowers in early spring and bright red berry-like fruits in the...

Sweet Shrub | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The common name of this deciduous shrub refers to its fragrant leaves, twigs, and flowers. It has distinctive maroon or brownish flowers that develop into large brown pods. White-footed mice often...

Trout Lily | The Cove Forest

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Trout lily has a very short growing season. Plants emerge in late winter-early spring as soil temperatures rise. A few weeks later, when the canopy trees leaf out, and the florest floor is in deep...