This article first appeared in my local newspaper’s Master Gardener column in November 2024.
A walk in the woods is a popular activity in our area most of the year. It’s especially nice in fall, whether you’re hiking at Sweetwater Creek State Park or at Clinton Nature Preserve or taking a walking through your own neighborhood.
Walking in the woods is great way to get exercise and fresh air. In these natural areas, we tend to look up at the leaves on the trees as they change color and fall. When you look down to make sure you’re stepping carefully, you may notice some interesting plants and fungi that pop up in our cool, wet weather.
Here are a few I’ve noticed when I walk through the woods in my own yard.
Rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
Downy rattlesnake plantain is an evergreen herbaceous perennial that grows about 6 inches high and 9 inches wide. The plants in my yard are a bit smaller, about 4 inches high and wide. You may be surprised to learn that rattlesnake plantain is a member of the orchid family that blooms in spring.
Rattlesnake plantain gets its name from the white markings on its leaves. According to NC State Extension, rattlesnake plantain is easy to grow in a woodland garden. It likes dappled sunlight, acidic soil, a layer of mulch and consistent moisture.
Running cedar Lycopodium digitatum
It’s sometimes called ground cedar, and known as clubmoss, common running-cedar, fan clubmoss, fan ground-pine and ground pine.
Running cedar grows in shaded woodlands with well-drained acidic soils. It resembles a coniferous plant, but it is a perennial that grows to only five or 10 inches tall. Clubmoss is drought tolerant but grows best with even moisture.
Running cedar was overharvested for Christmas decorations. When you see this plant, do your best to protect it. Leave it alone to grow and thrive.
Stinkhorn fungi
Fungi are not plants. They’re not animals, either. Instead, they’re in their own kingdom. In cool wet weather like we have in November, you’ll find interesting fungi in mulch piles and other places where plant material decays.
I’ve found quite a few stinkhorn mushrooms in my mulch pile this year. They start as hard, egg-shaped lumps buried in damp, decomposing material like shredded wood mulch. The egg ruptures and a stalk usually appears. The stinkhorn fungi in my yard are often red.
After a day, the stinkhorn tops are often slimy and attract flies. The insects then spread the mycelium on to other carriers. Stinkhorn mushrooms are not toxic, but they’re not edible, either. If you find them in your lawn, just leave them be. They’re a beneficial part of the ecosystem.
Tip: Never touch or eat a mushroom that you can’t positively identify as one that is edible. In fact, unless you’re an experienced mycologist or forager, it’s a good idea to avoid mushrooms in the wild.
How to Identify Plants on Your Walk in the Woods
How to identify plants: You can use a field guide. It may seem old-fashioned, but pocket-sized field guides are useful and packed with information. They also work whether or not you have cell service.
If you’re looking to identify plants using your phone, the very first step is to make a clear image. Get as close to the plant as you can. Frame it. (My tip: Choosing “grid” is a good way to line up your shot.)
Next, tap the screen to focus. Move forwards or backwards to get the object in focus. When you’re read to capture the image, hold your breath to keep your hands from shaking.
Tip: if it’s a windy day, wait for the plant to stop moving to take your picture, or block the wind with your body. Your picture will turn out much sharper.
The final step before using a plant identifying app is to edit your photo. This is not always necessary, but if your image is zoomed out, use the cropping feature to tighten the focus on the plants.
There’s a variety of plant identification apps, both paid and free, available to plant nerds. I use Google Lens and the iPhone photo library on my phone to identify plants.
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