Little Brown Jug © William Britten use with permission only

Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia) is a member of the Birthwort family.  Look for its rubbery, arrow-shaped leaves, which are evergreen. Peek beneath them, and there are the jugs, lying on the ground or covered with leaves.  These jugs are actually the flowers, or calyx, which is a flower without petals. These unusual characteristics make this a fun wildflower to hunt and find.  On Porters Creek Trail, there is a bridge on the lower section of the trail, large enough for a car to cross the creek. Just over this bridge, to the left, there is a clump of Little Brown Jugs.

The William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg is where you’ll find the complete display of my Smoky Mtn photos. Please stop in and see if we have a special memory for you to take home. And if you are a wildflower enthusiast, please join my Facebook page for the Smoky Mountains Wildflower Community, where we share photos and trade location tips and help with wildflower identification.