June 30, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

In the Stars

Target Species: Starry Campion (Silene stellata)

Starry Campion

Sometimes good things happen when you least expect it. Such was the case when I checked the Starry Campion (Silene stellata) off my 2017 biodiversity list. The botanist for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas informed me of a new population of the Crested Coralroot (Hexalectris spicata) in Houston County. While I had photographed this orchid before, it is so spectacular that I could’t resist checking out this newly discovered population. I received a vague set of directions to the site, but thought that I had it figured out, so I set out to find it.

It turns out that I had gone to the wrong spot. I arrived to where I thought the orchids would be and found nothing. What I did find, however was what I believe is the first vouchered population of Silene stellata in Houston County. I was not expecting to see it here, and a subsequent search of published range maps and herbaria did not turn up any records for Houston County, so I believe this is the first.

Starry Campion

Starry Campion occurs in scattered populations throughout most of the eastern United States. It prefers rich mesic to dry-mesic slopes, where it typically grows in the shade of hardwoods. In Texas it tends to prefer calcareous sites. It is primarily pollinated by moths, and it’s large, fluffy-looking blooms open in the evening and remain open throughout the night. They begin to close the following morning. I found several plants scattered about the lower reaches of a rich mesic slope.

Starry Campion

It was hard to be disappointed about not finding the coralroots when the “wrong” path led me to one of my target species – one that I have never seen in bloom. However, after some clarification on the directions I was able to make it to the Crested Coralroots after all. These are, in my opinion, one of the most striking orchids in the country. They occur in scattered populations in wooded areas throughout much of Texas. It seems that a rich, undisturbed layer of leaf-litter is a prerequisite. They are mycoheterotrophic, obtaining nutrients and energy from fungus living within the soil. I spent the evening photographing them, and left feeling content in having found both the expected and unexpected.

Crested Coralroots

Crested Coralroot

Crested Coralroots. Though they are brightly colored when views up close, they can be very difficult to spot from a distance.

June 28, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

Chasing the Dragon

Target Species: Correll’s False Dragonhead (Physostegia correllii)

To many I’m sure that my relentless, often obsessive pursuit of the natural world seems like an addiction. I can understand why. I truly crave spending time in the natural world, and when I go very long without setting foot in some wild place, I begin to have withdrawals, which affect my mood and well-being. But to me it’s not an addiction, but rather a part of me. It has been with me since I can remember, the itch to explore nature gnawing at me and pulling me to the wilderness.

Last weekend Carolina and I traveled to Kyle to help my brother move. We arrived a day early so we would have some time to explore. First we took the tour at “A Cave Without a Name”. This cave system really is a hidden gem. It is not as well known as many of the other cave tours in central Texas, but it was spectacular and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and the tour informative. Following the cave tour we spent some time swimming in the Guadalupe River nearby. Here we delighted in the various species of damselflies that would land on our heads. We soon realized that we could get them to land on our fingertips if we stuck them above the water like a makeshift perch. Carolina’s sharp eyes also spotted a young Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera guadalupensis) among the rocks in the shallows.

After a couple of hours we ventured to another river system: the Colorado. The Colorado River and a handful of tributaries are one of the last strongholds for a rare and seemingly vanishing plant, the Correll’s False Dragonhead. After several failed searches of stream banks that I thought might harbor this rarity, I finally found it along the mucky banks of the Colorado itself.

Physostegia correllii is an impressive plant. Some of the individuals I observed were taller than I was. This species is a bit of an oddity, as it occurs in a variety of different habitats. The only common denominator seems to be the presence of some kind of channel. They grow along rivers and streams like the Rio Grande in South Texas and northern Mexico to drainage ditches along roadways in Louisiana. It seems strange, then that it has become so rare. Sometimes we might consider a plant to be rare, when in reality it is only easily overlooked. This is not the case with the Correll’s False Dragonhead, however. This plant sticks out like a sore thumb and would immediately capture the attention of anyone passing by it. That begs the question: why is it so rare. I don’t believe it has to do with it’s reproductive biology or proclivity to germinate, as it is easily propagated in captivity. I have been unable to find a good answer to this question, but that certainly doesn’t mean that one doesn’t exist.

Physostegia correllii

Physostegia correllii is named for botanist Donovan Stewart Correll. Correll was an influential figure in Texas botany. He was instrumental in developing monumental works like Orchids of North America, North of Mexico; Aquatic and Wetland Plants of the Southwestern United States; and the Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas which is the most comprehensive treatment of our flora.

Finding Correll’s False Dragonhead was particularly special for me, as it was the last species of the genus Physostegia in Texas that I had yet to see. Texas, particularly southeast Texas, is the center of diversity for Physostegia, with 7 of the 12 recognized species occurring here. There are records of P. correllii from Harris, Montgomery, Galveston, and Chambers Counties, but to my knowledge they have not been recently observed here.

I always found members of the genus Physostegia to be extremely photogenic. They have interesting shapes and most have rich colors and intricate patterns on the blooms. I enjoyed photographing several individuals in the group I encountered in the fading evening light.

Growing alongside the dragonheads were several American Water-willows (Justicia americana). A wetland species, J. americana ranges over much of the eastern United States, reaching the southwestern extent of its range in southwestern Texas and northern Mexico. To me, the attractive little blooms are reminiscent of orchids.

With the light quickly fading we traveled further along the Colorado to the Congress Avenue Bridge where we watched in excess of one million Mexican Free-tailed Bats spill out from their daytime roosts into the night sky. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

June 22, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

Suffering for Milkweeds

Target Species: Velvetleaf Milkweed (Asclepias tomentosa)

Velvetleaf Milkweed

Being a naturalist and outdoor enthusiast can be frustrating. I would go so far as to say at times it can be downright miserable. Ask any avid hunter, fisher, backpacker, hiker, etc. etc., and I’m sure they could provide a wealth of stories of unpleasant and unwelcome experiences in the natural world. Whether it be elusive quarry, unfavorable weather conditions, disorientation, illness, or any combination, one has to have a true love for the natural world to return time and time again for this potential abuse.

To me, being a photographer can be even more frustrating. I have passed the point in my photographic pursuit of just taking a photo. Don’t get me wrong, I think that can be an enjoyable and worthy pursuit, but at this stage in my evolution as a photographer, I am interested in capturing unique and hopefully striking images. To achieve this I am at the mercy of the elements, and lighting is key. For wildflower photography I find overcast skies to produce the best light. For most species cloudy days offer the best opportunity to capture their flowers’ true colors, and a lack of harsh shadow allows the capture of maximum detail. While equipment and technology like sun shades and flashes can help, there is no substitute for natural light.

Before I get too far off topic, I’d like to return to my target species. I’ve been interested in looking for Asclepias tomentosa for some time now. It is an interesting milkweed that occurs on a variety of woodlands on deep sands. In eastern Texas it is found primarily in the central and northern portions of the Post Oak Savannah ecoregion, where it occurs in sandy woodlands dominated primarily by scrubby oaks and hickories. The range of this species is fascinating, exhibiting a “double disjunction” with three main populations that are separated by hundreds of miles. The reason for this distribution remains a bit of a mystery. An interesting paper describing this phenomenon can be found here.

County-level distribution of Asclepias tomentosa from http://www.bonap.org

Many naturalists, myself included, take great interest in the genus Asclepias. Milkweeds are an interesting, diverse group of plants. They come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and colors, and can be found in a variety of habitats. Some are common, bordering on invasive, while others are rare. Milkweeds are incredibly important for native pollinators, including bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, and more. They are perhaps most famous for being the larval food source of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), and are responsible for the insect’s toxicity.

Asclepias tomentosa is quite rare in Texas. I had a few leads, but was skeptical as to whether or not I would be able to locate it. Fortunately I found it with relatively little trouble. The forecast on the day I went looking called for overcast skies with a slight chance of rain. Perfect photographic conditions, or so I thought. When I arrived in the central Post Oak Savannah there was nary a cloud in the sky and the mid afternoon sun was beating down on me. The sun was reflecting off exposed sand. It was hot. It was miserable. I found A. tomentosa growing on a slight slope in sandy soils alongside Tetragonotheca ludoviciana in a matrix of small openings within an extensive svannah dominated by Post Oak (Quercus stellata).

Once I found the plants I set about the task of trying to photograph them. Holding a 3-foot X 3-foot shade in one hand and my camera in the other, all with the sun beating down on me. As I sat and knelt in the scorching sand I was immediately impaled by the thorny fruits of Krameria lanceolata and other well-adapted species. The spines are the plants’ answer to the problem of dispersal, but to me they were literal thorns in my side. After a short time I thought something along the lines of “forget this”, though significantly less polite. I decided to explore the area for a while and hope for conditions to improve.

Continuing on I spotted a few particularly robust milkweeds growing in a “blowout”, where an ancient waterway deposited its sediment, resulting in a very deep pocket of pure sand. Closer examination revealed that they were Sand Milkweeds (Asclepias arenaria). I was thrilled, as this species was not even on my radar. Unfortunately, these were even more exposed than the Asclepias tomentosa growing a mile or so away. I tried to get a few photos, and ended this session on an equally flustered note. Asclepias arenaria also has an interesting distribution, occurring primarily in the central and western Great Plains. In Texas it can be found in scattered counties in the western 3/4 of the state, occurring on isolated pockets of deep sand.

County-level distribution of Asclepias arenaria from http://www.bonap.org

I continued to explore for another half hour or so, finding more Asclepias arenaria, and other interesting species. As I decided to call it quits and begin my return, I caught sight of some long black thing to my left. It was an Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum), one of our country’s fastest snakes. I approached to get a better look, fully expecting the wary serpent to bolt at any second. Only it didn’t bolt. Closer still I drew and it stayed put. I decided to make the most of the situation, and despite the harsh light reached for my camera. As I was watching the snake through my viewfinder and clicking away, i noticed that the light meter started shifting slowly to the left, and that the harsh shadow under the snake’s head was fading away. I took a moment to survey my surroundings and realized that a large cloud had appeared to momentarily block out the sun.

Hurriedly I finished with the snake and rushed back to the milkweeds to take advantage of this temporary light, all the while worried I would not make it before the cloud passed. Fortunately I did make it, and was able to capture images of both milkweed species without the harsh sun. For all my previous frustration, I ended up achieving exactly what I had set out to do. In the process I captured images of two species that have seldom been photographed in Texas.

To me, these frustrations are an important part of my love for the natural world. Perhaps they remind me of its raw, unpredictable, unforgiving nature. Perhaps they make the victories all the sweeter. Or perhaps they serve to humble me, and allow me to relinquish control of the untamable. More likely its a combination of these, but whatever it may be, my frustrations and triumphs in the natural world draw me back in time and time again, fueling my life-long passion for wild places.

Velvetleaf Milkweed

Velveatleaf Milkweed in the Post Oak Savannah

Velveatleaf Milkweed

Velvetleaf Milkweed

Sand Milkweed

Eastern Coachwhip as found

June 14, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

Exploring the Upper Texas Coast

Target Species: Saltmarsh False Foxglove (Agalinis maritima)

Saltmarsh False Foxglove

The Upper Texas Coast is a naturalist’s paradise. It is one of the country’s premier birding sites, and harbors an interesting flora and fauna including many species that are limited to coastlines and their associated habitats. This region was historically largely a patchwork of coastal prairie, freshwater marsh, brackish marsh, and saltmarsh. Trees and woody vegetation was primarily limited to larger river drainages. Today the habitat has been heavily modified, however remnants of historic vegetation still remain.

Saltmarsh False Foxglove

I had previously observed the Saltmarsh False Foxglove while passing through bands of saltmarsh leading to the beach. For whatever reason I never stopped to photograph it, despite the fact that it was an interesting species restricted to a thin band of habitat directly adjacent to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of North America. Here it occurs in tidally influenced saltmarsh.

County-level distribution of Agalinis maritima from http://www.bonap.org

This year I made a point to capture some images. Last weekend Carolina and I took a trip to the Upper Texas Coast. The first evening of our trip we passed through saltmarsh where I had seen it in bloom around this time last year. I was disappointed, as I didn’t see any blooms. I thought that I had missed my best shot at checking Agalinis maritima off my list. The next morning, however, while revisiting the beach I saw several in bloom. I came to the conclusion that the blooms open in the morning, and throughout the day as the relentless coastal winds hammer the marsh the blooms quickly fade and fall from the plant. The wind made photography a challenge, but I was able to capture a few images of the Saltmarsh False Foxglove’s beautiful, bizarre-looking flower.

Saltmarsh False Foxglove

There were many other showy plants blooming alongside my target. One of the most striking was the Texas Bluebells (Eustoma exaltatum). This is a wide-ranging species that seems to thrive in the coastal prairies and drier margins of the saltmarsh, though they can be found well inland in open habitats as far north as Wyoming and North Dakota.

Texas Bluebells

The large, bright blooms of the Saltmarsh Morning Glory (Ipomoea sagittata) were also prevalent. The blooms open in the early morning and are mostly closed by early afternoon.

Saltmarsh Morning Glory

Plentiful rains prior to our visit resulted in an abundance of rainlilies (Cooperia spp.). I was excited to discover that a few were the uncommon Traub’s Rainlily (Cooperia traubii), which is limited to a few coastal and near coastal counties in Texas and extreme northeastern Mexico. It can be differentiated from the similar, more widespread Evening Rainlily (Cooperia drummondii) by it’s elongated style, which extends well beyond the anthers. The style of the Evening Rainlily is either shorter than the anthers, even with the anthers, or barely longer.

Traub’s Rainlily

County-level distribution of Cooperia traubii from http://www.bonap.org. Yellow counties indicate that the species is present and rare.

The taxonomy of prickly-pears (Opuntia spp.) is a bit of a mess. Experts offer differing opinions of how the various species and populations should be classified. The prickly-pears of the upper Texas Coast follow this pattern. Two species are especially contentious. Some experts suggest that these cacti are individuals of the more widespread Opuntia lindheimeri and Opuntia stricta, while others suggest that there are two species endemic to the Upper Texas Coast: Opuntia bentonii and Opuntia anahuacensis. If Opuntia bentonii is a valid taxon, the image below is of this species.

Opuntia sp.

Venturing less than a mile from the coast the marsh slowly transitions from salt to brackish to fresh water. At the margins of a handful of freshwater marshes in the Upper Texas Coast a real gem of a plant can be found: the Fewflower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata). The Fewflower Milkweed is a species of the coastal plain that reaches its western limit in Southeast Texas. Here it historically occurred in wetland pine savannahs and wet coastal prairies. Today it exists in only a handful of populations in the Big Thicket and along the Upper Texas Coast.

Fewflower Milkweed

Blooming in profusion within the freshwater marsh were scores of Swamp Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos). The spectacular blooms of this species open fully in the early morning, and close by the afternoon.

Swamp Rosemallow

Every trip to the Upper Texas Coast provides unique, memorable encounters with the natural world. There are several other species on my list that call this region home, and with any luck I’ll return soon to seek them out.

Retreating tides and advancing clouds on the Upper Texas Coast

June 5, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

May Recap

Gulf Crayfish Snake

May saw four more species crossed of my 2017 list of biodiversity goals, including my first animal. While I am lagging behind on my list, I was able to capture images of some interesting species not on my list, as well as some beautiful landscapes. The following are the target species I was able to photograph in May:

Smooth Jewelflower (Streptanthus hyacinthoides)

Centerville Brazos Mint (Brazoria truncata var. pulcherrima)

Purple Bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea)

River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

2017GoalsMay

I explored a variety of habitats in May, however it was largely dominated by forays into a number of xeric sandhills. Both the Smooth Jewelflower and Centerville Brazos Mint make their home in these unique communities, and more information can be found in their blog entries linked above. The following images are of a pair interesting West Gulf Coastal Plain near endemics.

Prairie Milkvine (Matelea cynanchoides)

Scarlet Penstemon (Penstemon murrayanus)

Each year in May I look forward to visiting the wetland pine savannahs and hillside seeps of the Big Thicket. This is the peak bloom time for the spectacular Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus). In East Texas, they typically grow in the company of the carnivorous Pale Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia alata) which captures insects in its tubular leaves. Here they are trapped and slowly digested to provide nutrients to the plant so that it may thrive in otherwise nutrient-poor soil.

Grass Pink Orchids and Pale Pitcher Plants

While I was photographing the orchids, Carolina found this blooming Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) at the margins of a baygall nearby. The sweet aroma of these large flowers fills the air for much of May.

Sweetbay Magnolia blooms at the margin of a baygall.

While exploring a wetland near my house I found a large patch of blooming Lizard’s Tail (Saururus cernuus). Though I didn’t have my camera with me at the time, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to photograph this scene, and returned later. Lizard’s Tail grows in a variety of shallow wetlands.

Lizard’s Tail blooms in a forested wetland.

We spent our fair share of time among the Longleaf Pines as well. My friend James spotted this Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus). The common name glass lizard comes from this genus’s propensity for caudal autonomy. This is the familiar action of a lizard dropping its tail in response to a predator threat. In the glass lizard, however, the tail makes up over half of its body, and contains several fracture points. This can result in an individual seeming to break into pieces when being captured by a potential predator. Though they may seem fragile, careful, gentle handling helps ensure that they remain in tact. Though they are typically associated with sandy habitats, they are not proficient burrowers, but rather “swim” through dense grasses.

Slender Glass Lizard

While on a gem/mineral hunting expedition Carolina and I spotted this Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) nectaring on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Spicebush Swallowtail nectaring on Butterfly Weed

The impressive blooms of the Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima) can sit atop stalks that might reach 8 feet tall. R. maxima is endemic to the West Gulf Coastal Plain. In East Texas it occurs in scattered populations in open woodlands and prairie pockets.

Giant Coneflower

Carolina spotted this Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) while we were photographing Giant Coneflowers along the roadside. To me this is one of our most beautiful larval insects.

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Pointed Phlox (Phlox cuspidata) is primarily a species of Central Texas, however it enters Deep East Texas in the understory of Longleaf Pine Savannahs, where it is much less common.

Pointed Phlox

Fire is an integral part of maintaining Longleaf Pine Savannahs. In the image below Butterfly Weed can be seen blooming following a prescribed burn.

Butterfly Weed blooms following a prescribed burn

I found this flowering Groundnut (Apios americana) in a park near my house.

Grountnut

Growing near the Groundnut was this Anglepod (Gonolobus superosus). This member of the milkweed family (Asclepiaceae) forms vines in open woods and forest edges.

Anglepod

Our close friends James and Erin recently built a cabin on their 200+ acres in Angelina County. The property contains pasture, fallow fields, mixed pine-hardwood forest, a forested stream, and several ponds. It makes for excellent herping opportunities. During our visit we went out to see what we might turn up.

Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)

I caught this large, attractive Yellow-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster) at one of the ponds at night. For those who have never caught a water snake, they are notoriously foul-tempered and have an extremely offensive musk, which they promptly rub all over their captor. It makes handling them an unpleasant experience, but I’m glad we hung on to this one for photos the next day.

Yellow-bellied Water Snake

After catching we continued to walk along the pond. It wasn’t long before Carolina called out that she had seen another snake. I rushed to her spot and saw the head of a Gulf Crayfish Snake (Regina rigida sinicola) poking through the aquatic vegetation. I quickly grabbed it. We held onto it as well, and the next day we had a photo session with both snakes nearby. When we were done, we released the snakes where we caught them.

Gulf Crayfish Snake

May provided several excellent opportunities for nature observation and photography. I look forward to what June will bring.

June 1, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

An Ode to Longleaf

Longleaf Pine Savannah

Before I post a May recap, I wanted to pay tribute to one of our countries most unique and biodiverse communities, the Longleaf Pine savannah. Over the past few years I have been slowly working on a manuscript for a book about East Texas. This post contains an excerpt of that manuscript and some photos that I intend to include in the book.

Perhaps no tree better represents the Pineywoods than the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), both in its historic influence over the landscape and its eventual plight. It most often made its presence known in extensive savannahs, where widely scattered individuals might have lived to be 500 years old, reaching diameters pushing four feet, and stretching well over a hundred feet toward the sky. Once ranging across the southeast, from Virginia to East Texas, the king of the southern pines has been reduced to less than 5% of its native range, and has disappeared across the vast majority of its range in Texas.

Longleaf Pine Savannah with Little Bluestem

Remnants of the fire-loving conifer and the habitats it defines can still be found, however. In the northern part of its range in Texas, which includes Sabine, San Augustine, Angelina, and northern Jasper and Newton Counties, it primarily occurs in rolling uplands. In areas that are managed with regular prescribed fires, one catch a glimpse of the great longleaf pine savannahs of the past. These were perhaps the most biodiverse communities in the southeast; a unique area where prairie and forest mingled.

Occurring on sands of moderate depth, these sprawling forests are kept free of woody understory encroachment by regular fires. The fire-tolerant longleaf pine thrives in the face of the flames, while most other species die out. However, on occasion hardwoods such as blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), Southern red oak (Quercus falcata), Post oak (Quercus stellata), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), farkleberry (Vaccineum arboreum), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). In the absence of fire American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) may become invasive.

An ancient Post Oak has survived decades of regular fires in this Longleaf Pine Savannah.

The real show, however occurs on the savannah floor, where hundreds of species of grasses and forbs complete these spectacular ecosystems. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is an important component in East Texas, and often occurs in the company of other grasses such as Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), Pineywoods dropssed (Sprobolus junceus), and wiregrass (Aristida palustris). Brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum) often carpets the ground and xeric (drought loving) species like Louisiana yucca (Yucca louisianensis) and Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) take advantage of the droughty conditions created by pockets of deeper sand. Forbs typical of this community include goat’s rue (Tephrosia virginiana and Tephrosia onobrynchoides), Carolina false vervain (Verbena carnea), Pickering’s dawnflower (Stylisma pickeringii), Carolina Larkspur (Delphinium caroliniana), Sanguine’s purple coneflower (Echinacea sanguinea), soft green eyes (Berlandiera pumila), racemed milkwort (Polygala polygama), propeller flower (Alophia drummondii), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), pineland milkweed (Asclepias obovata), birdfoot violet (Viola pedata), and false dragonhead (Physostegia digitalis). A number of species that are rare and declining in East Texas occur here as well, including leadplant (Amorpha canescens) and incised groovebar. The range-restricted scarlet catchfly (Silene subciliata) is endemic to the Pineywoods of eastern Texas and western Louisiana.

Scarlet Catchfly blooming in a Longleaf Pine Savannah

These savannahs also harbor a unique, and declining fauna. In fact, some species are so closely tied to this community that they are unable to adapt in its absence. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and Louisiana Pine Snake are in such peril that they have been afforded protection under the Endangered Species Act. Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginiana) favor the dense, rich herbaceous layer beneath the longleafs, where bunch grasses provide ideal cover and high species diversity of grasses and forbs results in a bounty of insects. Both species have become rare in East Texas, however efforts to reintroduce the wild turkey have been met with some success.

Other species such as the Bachman’s Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis), Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), Northern Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea), and Southern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) are on the decline. Species such as the Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) and Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) remain common, perhaps due to their adaptability. The Tan Racer (Coluber constrictor etheridgei) is a race of racer that is also confined primarily to this community. Surprisingly, even amphibians can eek out a living in these sandy environments. Explosive breeders like the Hurter’s Spadefoot (Scaphiopus hurteri) and Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) live the majority of their live deep underground, emerging during significant rains to breed in areas that can hold water long enough for their larvae to develop.

Northern Scarlet Snake

The downfall of the longleaf pine savannah began with the arrival of European settlers to the region. Longleaf lumber was of a superior quality. Rot resistant, and straight as an arrow, it was utilized heavily for the masts of ships. As it began to rapidly disappear, those tending to the forest’s regeneration noted that due to its unique ecology longleaf took a very long time to grow to a size suitable for harvest. So instead of replanting them, they opted for species like loblolly (Pinus taeda) and the non-native slash pine (Pinus elliottii), that, though the quality of their wood was inferior, grew much faster and could yield a marketable stand in less time. At the same time a culture of fire suppression was arising. The Europeans did not see fire as a useful tool, as did the Native Americans before them, but rather as a threat to their livelihood. As a result they took steps to eliminate fire from the landscape, and in doing so woody shrubs eventually filled in the open grass-dominated savannahs.