Clinton Community Nature Center

March 2007 on the Trails

One of two fawns recently spotted along the trails of the CCNC. A small herd of deer make the nature center home for vaious periods of time as they wander about the urban landscape that surrounds the Center.
Common Name: Whitetail deer, White-tailed deer, or Virginia deer
Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianus
Where to look: Whitetail deer and deer signs (tracks and feces) are found throughtout the center.
Credit: Photo by Prentiss Cox; Text by Clinton Bailey

Common Name: Mayapple
Scientific Name: Podophyllum peltatum
Where to look: Fern Gully or east end of Grapevine Loop.
Credit: Photo and text by Bill Stark

Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, is one of the most distinctive woodland plants of the area. Flowering individuals bear white blossums in the stem fork found beneath the leaves and this is later replaced by a lime sized fruit.

Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata, a part of the early spring flora, is found along trails throughout the Center, and is one of three Phlox species common to the area.

Common Name: Blue Phlox
Scientific Name: Phlox divaricata
Where to look: Fern Gully or at boardwalk on west end of Indian Trail.
Credit: Photo and text by Bill Stark

Spring Cress, Cardamine bulbosa, also known as Bitter Cress, is found primarily in low moist woodland sites in the Center.

Common Name: Spring Cress
Scientific Name: Cardamine bulbosa
Where to look: Fern Gully or Raccoon Bridge on Pioneer Trail.
Credit: Photo and text by Bill Stark

Common Name: Redbud
Scientific Name: Cercis canadensis
Where to look: Entrance near flagpole.
Credit: Photo and text by Bill Stark

Redbud, Cercis canadensis, bears conspicuous magenta flowers for a short time prior to leaf emergence. The seeds are enclosed in bean-like pods which persist on the tree through much of the winter.

Common Name: Trillium
Scientific Name: Trillium cuneatum
Where to look: Fern Gully at junction with Grapevine Loop.
Credit: Photo and text by Bill Stark

Most specimens of Wake Robin, Trillium cuneatum, found in the Center have purple tinted petals, but this individual is one of the rarer forms with green or yellow petals regarded as a variety, T. cuneatum var. luteum.

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On the Trails

	Clinton Community Nature Center 617 Dunton Road Clinton, Mississippi 39056 601.926.1104 ccnaturecenter@gmail.com