Hit 500 native plant species on my list last spring, and now I think the number is overrated

I spent 3 years chasing rare orchids and ferns to hit that 500 mark in the Smokies, but the boring roadside weeds tell me more about the ecosystem. Anyone else feel like the rare stuff gets too much attention while the common plants do all the work?

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the_jesse5d agoTop Commenter

Man, I felt this in my bones. Hit my own 500 mark a few years back and it took a while to realize the list was kinda lying to me. The common stuff like plantain and foxtail grass are the ones holding the soil together and feeding the bugs, while the rare orchids are just pretty faces that barely show up. I started doing these quick roadside surveys instead, just counting what's actually thriving in the ditches and abandoned lots, and honestly it's way more useful for understanding the land. Plus you can ID a hundred common plants in an afternoon without the whole hiking expedition thing.