Bluebead lily, Clintonia borealis, Forbes State Forest near Spruce Flats Bog, 29 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

30 May 2026

This week I went birding with friends in the Laurel Highlands at Bear Run and in the Forbes State Forest near Spruce Flats Bog. Even on a bright sunny day the tree canopy was so dense that the ground was mostly in shadow. This made it challenging to take good photographs.

At top, bluebead lily or yellow clintonia (Clintonia borealis) is always in the shade. Below, the whorled leaves of wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) are eye-catching. This whorl does not have flowers but even if it did the flowers are inconspicuous compared to this striking set of leaves.

Wild yam leaves at Bear Run Nature Reserve, 28 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Indian cucumber (Medeola virginiana) starts off as a whorl of 5-12 leaves.

Whorled leaves of Indian cucumber, Bear Run Nature Reserve, 28 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

When it flowers it grows a second tier of leaves that hides the flower beneath them. I didn’t see the spiderweb until I examined the photo.

Indian cucumber flower, Bear Run Nature Reserve, 28 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) is in bloom.

Canada mayflower, Bear Run Nature Preserve, 28 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

And so is wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis).

Wild sarsaparilla, Forbes State Forest near Spruce Flats Bog, 29 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) has basal leaves on a separate stem that are tall enough to shade the flowers but the one we found (above) stood alone.

Wild sarsaparilla botanical specimen (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

This plant is in the same genus as American spikenard and devil’s walking stick. Interestingly they have different arrangements for their leaves.

• Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis): leaves grow separately from the flowers
• American spikenard (Aralia racemosa): flowers grow in the leaf axils.
• Devil’s walking stick (Aralia spinosa): flowers grow at the top of the “stick”