This powerline right-of-way, just north of the Washington Monument, has created a special environment for plants, both in the right-of-way itself, and on the margins on either side. Most of these plants you won't see on the trail except at these rights-of-way.

This is a closeup of flowers of Goldenrod (Solidago). Goldenrod is a Genus of plants that includes many species, and I don't know which one this is. I do know, however, that in spite of its reputation, it does NOT cause allergies, because it is insect fertilized instead of wind fertilized. Indeed, the goldenrod is edible, and is regarded as a health stimulant by some.

This is a Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina), which is past its flowering, but now has rose hips showing.

Here are two pictures of the Mile a Minute Vine (Persicaria perfoliata). Like kudzu, it grows in sunny open areas and covers over structures and other plants, especially at the margins of woods. The picture on the left shows the typical triangular leaves, and the picture of the right is a closeup of its colorful berries.

There are many species of Russula Mushrooms (Genus Russula), and many are typified by a colorful appearance, like this specimen, but not always. I don't know what species this one is. I found it in the woods near the margin.

This is an unusual fern. Most ferns have spores growing on the underside of the leaves. The Leathery Grape Fern (Sceptridium multifidum) on the other hand is different. It has two different kinds of leaves: sterile ones without spores and fertile ones with spores, and the fertile leaves hardly look like leaves at all. The picture on the left shows the whole plant, with the sterile leaves near the ground, and the fertile leaves on a stalk. The picture on the right shows a closeup of the fertile part of the fern. This fern was not located in the right-of-way, but rather just inside the margin of the woods.