Preregistration is required; limit: 15 participants; preference given to BotSoc members. Please email Malcolm Hodges at:
Field Trip Leaders: Sean Beeching & Malcolm Hodges
Description: We will explore this interesting plant community, a rocky, mixed pine and oak heath forest, including some of the northeasternmost longleaf pine in Georgia. We will see a lichen recently discovered here that leaders think may be new to science.
We will touch on lichen basics and ecology, the substrates on which lichens grow, and the growth forms they assume. You will learn some of the common species in these habitats, and how best to identify them. We will test rocks for alkalinity (using muriatic acid) and test lichens for reactions to bleach and lye as an identification tool. We will also discuss and demonstrate use of a black light on lichens.
Location & Directions: Note that this is not the Pine Mt. associated with FDR State Park. We will meet at the trailhead parking lot just outside the Komatsu plant gate. Here are directions:
- From Atlanta, take I-75 north to Cartersville Main St. exit 288; take the exit.
- Turn right off the exit ramp onto Main St., and in about 200 yards turn right at the T-intersection with Komatsu Dr.
- Watch for the gravel entrance to the trailhead parking lot on the left.
Meet At: The trailhead kiosk.
Bathroom Facilities: None; there are Circle K and RaceTrac stations not far away on Main St. just across the interstate.
Walking Difficulty: This hike will slowly climb rocky trails that can be steep, with some tripping hazards.
Bring: Lunch, snacks, & water. Remember to dress for the weather and wear comfortable hiking shoes. Dress in layers so that you can adjust to changes in the temperature and your activity level. It is important to bring a hand lens if you have one (we will have a few to share); notebook and camera may also be of use.