Dolly Sods and the adjacent Flat Rock and Roaring Plains sprawl across a rugged plateau at the edge of the Allegheny Front, which drains much of the moisture from passing clouds. The water drains poorly on the plateau, resulting in sphagnum bogs that host a variety of plants and animals uniquely adapted to the cool, acidic environment.
From top: Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), which in combination with blueberry, huckleberry and minniebush forms impenetrable thickets along the edges of the bogs; spoonleaf sundew (Drosera intermedia), also known as spatulate-leaved sundew, one of two species of carnivorous sundew to grow here; small cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), also known as bog cranberry, whose tiny flowers have strongly recurved petals; possumhaw viburnum (Viburnum nudum), also known as wild raisin due to its vibrantly-hued fruits in the fall; canaan fir (Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis), a recognized subspecies of balsam fir known from only a few locations in West Virginia and Virginia; and bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), which grows prolifically in the dappled sunlight along trail edges.
(via thelavenderer)