Piedmont Granite Outcrops
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Piedmont Granitic Outcrops are expanses of granitoid rock (granite, granitic gneiss, migmatite) that are interspersed with islands of vegetation and temporary (vernal) pools. The pools fill with water in winter and spring, and are dry in summer and fall. The outcrops may be steep-sided domes or "flatrocks." The outcrops are sometimes called "biological deserts" because of the extreme heat and dryness they experience in summer.
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What's special: these outcrops are among the crown jewels of Georgia's natural communities because they are spectacularly beautiful in spring and fall, and they host rare, endemic plants found nowhere else. Georgia has more of these outcrops than any other state.
Related to: Similar to Glades and Barrens, which lack the well-developed dish gardens, dome shape, and temporary pools.
Learn MORE HERE about plant adaptations to rocky places.
Learn MORE HERE about Piedmont rock types and their affect on plants.
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Plants Click on a plant name to see images. Plant lists in order by scientific name. Trees Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea Dwarf hackberry Celtis tenuifolia Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana Black cherry Prunus serotina Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata Loblolly pine Pinus taeda Georgia oak Quercus georgiana Blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Rock chestnut oak Quercus montana Post oak Quercus stellata Winged elm Ulmus alata Shrubs Fringe-tree Chionanthus virginicus Wafer ash Ptelea trifoliata Winged sumac Rhus copallinum Sparkleberry Vaccinium arboreum Curlyleaf yucca Yucca filamentosa Vines Carolina jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens Coral honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Greenbrier (whiteleaf/sawbrier) Smilax glauca Muscadine Vitis rotundifolia Trumpet vine Campsis radicans Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Ground Layer Wildflowers Slender gerardia Agalinis tenuifolia Flatrock onion Allium speculae Erect dayflower Commelina erecta Large-flowered coreopsis Coreopsis grandiflora Glade rushfoil Croton wildenowii Poorjoe Diodia teres Diamorpha/Elf-orpine Diamorpha cymosa Snorklewort/Pool sprite Gratiola amphiantha Confederate daisy Helianthus porteri Pineweed Hypericum gentianoides Dwarf dandelion Krigia virginica Small-head blazing star Liatris microchephala Early saxifrage Micranthes virginiensis Sandwort Minuartia uniflora False garlic Nothoscordum bivalve Toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis Sundrops Oenothera fruticosa Eastern prickly pear Opuntia humifusa Woolly ragwort/Rabbit ears Packera tomentosa Flatrock phacelia Phacelia maculata Appalachian rockpink Phemeranthus teretifolius Sunnybells Schoenolirion croceum Hairy spiderwort Tradescantia hirsuticaulis Smooth spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis Grasses and Sedges Bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana (drawing only) Old-field broomstraw Andropogon virginicus Downy oat grass Danthonia sericea Poverty oat grass Danthonia spicata Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Bryophytes Reindeer lichens Cladonia/Cladina spp. Rockmoss Grimmia laevigata Crustose lichens Parmelia spp. Haircap moss Polytrichum commune Xanthos(Xanthoparmelias spp. |
Representative trees in order by scientific name
Representative shrubs in order by scientific name.
Representative ground layer plants in order of scientific name.
Bryophytes
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