Favoritos de terit

Tree has been present and observed for several years. This is the first observed evidence of this variegated feature. Located along a gravel roadside. In a shaded, mixed pine-oak forest understory. No reason to suspect a chemical cause.

On vertical concrete wall covered with other mosses and lichens. Some pictures were taken after spraying with water. Both dry and wet states can be seen here. Branches curve upward when dry and nearly horizontal when wet. Leaves can be ecostate, short-double costate, or long-single costate. Seta can be immersed or short-exerted.

According to Gilman, the two key features are the broad stipules and the fact that the distal portion of the stem has no (or very few) prickles. Even though iNat shows no observations for this species for Vermont (except for my two), Gilman says the species is common, with specimens from all counties. He writes, "Our most common indigenous rose, readily distinguished by its broad stipules... and often slightly glaucous, unarmed new growth (although the base of the canes is often quite prickly). The teeth of the leaves are usually quite large and rather deeply and sharply serrate" (268). All of these features match the plant in this observation.

Source: New Flora of Vermont by Arthur V. Gilman, New York Botanical Garden Press, 2015.

Study of leaf edge characteristics of Smilax. Each species is shown in the field, followed by micrographs of its leaf. The micrographs are all at 30x so they can be compared. In order, they show (1) upper edge, (2) lower edge, (3) marginal vein dissected away from blade, and (4) on-edge view, with upper surface at top. All observations in the series have the tag “Smilaxedge,” so they can be accessed as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&q=Smilaxedge.
This observation: Opeining in pine flatwoods, climbing vine. At 30x: Top of leaf has slightly less pigmented zone. Margin of leaf perceptibly thicker, 0.4mm thick. Edge very smooth. Vein pulls away from leaf as a string.

Study of leaf edge characteristics of Smilax. Each species is shown in the field, followed by micrographs of its leaf. The micrographs are all at 30x so they can be compared. In order, they show (1) upper edge, (2) lower edge, (3) marginal vein dissected away from blade, and (4) on-edge view, with upper surface at top. All observations in the series have the tag “Smilaxedge,” so they can be accessed as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&q=Smilaxedge.
This observation: Pine flatwoods, low climbing vine. At 30x: Clear unpigmented "cable," dissects easily. Thickness of leaf 0.2mm. Edge very smooth, with marginal prickles.

Study of leaf edge characteristics of Smilax. Each species is shown in the field, followed by micrographs of its leaf. The micrographs are all at 30x so they can be compared. In order, they show (1) upper edge, (2) lower edge, (3) marginal vein dissected away from blade, and (4) on-edge view, with upper surface at top. All observations in the series have the tag “Smilaxedge,” so they can be accessed as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&q=Smilaxedge.
This observation:
Opening in pine flatwoods, climbing vine. At 30x: Top of leaf has unpigmented zone at margin; lower side edge slightly revolute, surface papillate, clear long bands at leaf margin. Thickness of leaf 0.2mm. Edge very smooth, palpable marginal vein. When dissected, a little margin plus the edge comes off.

Study of leaf edge characteristics of Smilax. Each species is shown in the field, followed by micrographs of its leaf. The micrographs are all at 30x so they can be compared. In order, they show (1) upper edge, (2) lower edge, (3) marginal vein dissected away from blade, and (4) on-edge view, with upper surface at top. All observations in the series have the tag “Smilaxedge,” so they can be accessed as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&q=Smilaxedge.
This observation: Pine flatwoods, growing low to ground.. At 30x: Vein possibly buried in leaf edge, not thickened. Thickness of leaf 0.2mm. Edge with woolly hairs.

Mats of this stuff were prominent in sandy areas at Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC (USA) on 4 November 2020. Puzzling through keys and iNaturalist observations from this area, I think it is:
Spiny Spikemoss - Selaginella acanthonota (syn. Bryodesma acanthonota)
Reference:
Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2020), pp. 72-73.

Fungus on Vaccinium sp. on a forested trail.

From Page 44 of “Diseases of Trees and Shrubs - 2nd Edition” by Wayne A. Sinclair and Howard H. Lyon:
This inconsequential disease, which affects species of Gaylusaccia and Vaccinium, is caused by Ophiodothella vaccinii and characterized by distinctive colorful lesions...The pathogen occurs widely in southeastern USA and also in Illinois and California.

This large scarab showed up several times; I'm uploading examples on four different dates. Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae. Shown in Biologia Centrali-Americana Coleoptera 2-2, p. 288, pl. 16, fig. 18 as:
Heterosternus rodriguezi.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/135502#page/306/mode/1up
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/135502#page/481/mode/1up