Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park: 10-21-16

Near Cordell, Georgia

American Beautyberry

This is an important food source for up to 40 species of songbirds.  The protein content of its leaves ranges from 18% in the spring to 8% in the fall.

Cypress Swamp near the Blackshear Lake

Cypress Knees

These are growths bulging upward from the root system of cypress trees.  There are currently two theories for the function of these knees that surround the base of the trees: they provide support on the unstable swamp floor or they allow the tree to breathe when the swamps are flooded.  Of note is that the cypress knees do NOT grow into trees.


Gulf Fritillary Butterfly