RARE PLANT FOUND

A rare plant was recently discovered in the Blackwater River State Forest. Craig Iversen, forest ecology supervisor for Blackwater, says a new population of American chaffseed has been found. Chaffseed is a federally listed endangered species and once was found throughout 15 Southeastern and Eastern states but now is limited to five states. This new population area makes the second known chaffseed site in the forest. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, says Chaffseed is found in open habitats, moist pine flatwoods, and fire-maintained savannas. Most of the surviving populations, and all the most vigorous populations, are in areas that are still subject to frequent fires.