From Steve Messier: Over 100 plants were sighted on the - TopicsExpress

From Steve Messier: Over 100 plants were sighted on the adventurous Jones Mountain Preserve, New Hartford, Ct. Field Trip, July 6, 2013 Seven CBS members gathered on a sultry July day at the Jones Mountain Preserve in New Hartford. Fortunately, the entire hike was under the unfragmented canopy of a mature forest, and on the north side of the mountain. The 158-acre parcel of land was purchased from the Jones family, who had owned the property for hundreds of years. In the early 20th century a system of carriage roads had been constructed that affords easy access to the 980-foot summit of the mountain. In addition, other trails wind through the tract of land that traverses mossy streams and ravines. At the parking lot we identified a patch of lady ferns as the narrow lady fern (Athyrium angustum) due to the dark scales on the rachis. We headed up the mountain under a mixed canopy of maples, white oak, yellow birch, white pine, and hemlock. The herbaceous flora included starflower (Trientalis borealis), wild lily of the valley (Mainanthemum canadense), false Soloman’s seal (Smilacina racemosa), wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), and the other expected common acid woodland species. Numerous evergreen ferns, like the intermediate wood fern (Dryopteris intermedia), marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), and rock polypody (Polypodium virginianum); accompanied silvery spleenwort (Deparia acrostichoides), New York fern (Parathelypteris nova-boracensis), and the abundant hay scented fern (Dennstaedia punctilobula). Clearly, ferns dominate the herb layer of this forest. Three familiar Lycopodiaceae; prince’s pine (Dendrolycopodium obscurum), southern ground cedar (Diphasiastrum digitatum), and shining clubmoss (Huperzia lucidulum) occurred frequently. The dominant shrubs included mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and low bush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). Ghostly white indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora) frequently were seen emerging through the thin detritus layer in the darkest patches of forest. This plant is parasitic on the fungi that comprise the mycorrhizal association in the forest soil. While most plants have a mutualistic “give and take” relationship with the fungus, the non-chlorophyllous indian pipe “tricks” the fungus into forming a relationship that is all one sided. The plant takes the sugar passed along from the forest trees via the fungus, and gives nothing in return. Perhaps the botanical highlight of the walk was a patch of twenty or more budding rattlesnake plantains (Goodyera pubescens). This orchid also benefits from the underground mycorrhizal fungal association. It produces seeds so tiny that they do not contain any food supply for the growing embryo. In order for a seed to develop, the fungal hyphae must envelop it and provide it with sugar, water and minerals. The plant continues to participate in the relationship throughout its life, giving back a small amount of sugar once it grows green leaves. This relationship with the fungi in the soil is what makes orchids so difficult to transplant. At the summit of Jones Mountain the carriage path affords a glimpse of Rt. 44 far below. The canopy is a bit thinner and a few grasses (Poa pratensis and alsodes, Deschampsia flexuosa, and Danthonia compressa) occupy the sunny spots. A patch of trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens), bush-honeysuckle (Diervila lonicera), goldenrods (Solidago spp.) and numerous flowering cow wheat (Melampyrum virginianum), and Canada hawkweeds (Hieracium Kalmii) line the edges of the path. On the descent an irritated male black-throated blue warbler gave us a spirited display of hopping from branch to branch only a few feet in front of us. Near the end of the walk the carriage road passes through a small wet opening. It was here that the greatest abundance of plants in flower was seen. Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis), fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), swamp buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis), red-stemmed plantain (Plantago rugelli), spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum), enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea quadrisulcata), white avens (Geum canadense), doll’s eyes (Actaea pachypoda), graminoids, and numerous other herbs contributed to a colorful and interesting meadow. Although no rarities were encountered on the walk, well over 100 species of plants were logged. Unlike many woodlands visited these days, the Jones Forest Preserve has little evidence of invasive plants competing with the native species. And lastly, deep woods don’t offer a wide variety of flowering plants in the middle of summer, but at least the shade provides for a much cooler walking experience. PLANT LIST - JONES MOUNTAIN CBS TRIP 7/6/13 leader/recorder Steve Messier By parking lot Parathelypteris nova-boracensis Onoclea sensibilis Osmunda claytoniana Betula alleghaniensis Carex gracilescens Parthenocissus quinquefolia Smilacina racemosa Acer pensylvanicum Amphicarpa bracteata Rhus toxicodendron Polystichum acrostichoides Acer rubrum Lindera benzoin Athyrium angustum Quercus alba Epipactis helleborine Trillium erectum Tsuga canadensis Hamamelis virginiana Acer saccharum White, Yellow trail to summit Trientalis borealis Arisaema triphyllum Nabalus albus (Prenanthes alba) Fagus grandifolia Aralia nudicaulis Monotropa uniflora Oclemena acuminata (Aster acuminatus) Polygonatum biflorum Betula lenta Uvularia sessilifolia Gaultheria procumbens Quercus rubra Pinus strobus Vaccinium angustifolium Dennstaedia punctilobula Dendrolycopodium obscurum Mitchella repens Castanea dentata Maianthemum canadense Dryopteris intermedia Dryopteris marginalis Fraxinus americana Viburnum acerifolium Chimaphila maculata Diphasiastrum digitatum Quercus montana (Q. prinus) Rubus hispidus Prunus virginiana Medeola virginiana Gaultheria procumbens Huperzia lucidula (Lycopodium lucidulum) Goodyera pubescens Gaylussacia baccata Carex swanii Carriage Road Melampyrum lineare Cypripedium acaule Lysimachia quadrifolia Hieracium Kalmii (H. canadense) Amelanchier sp. Diervilla lonicera Polypodium virginianum Epigaea repens Poa compressa Deschampsia flexuosa Danthonia compressa Poa pratensis Poa alsodes Solidago sp. Carex projecta Houstonia sp. Viola pubescens Nabalus trifoliolatus (Prenanthes trifoliata) Rubus occidentalis Sorbus sp. Veratrum viride Actaea pachypoda Euonymus sp. Liriodendron tulipifera Populus grandidentata Corylus cornuta In the meadow Prunella vulgaris Geranium maculatum Eupatorium rugosum Lysimachia ciliata Cryptotaenia canadensis Betula papyrifera Ranunculus septentrionalis Plantago rugelii Trifolium agrarium Achillea millefolium Hypericum punctatum Galium circaezans Equisetum arvense Impatiens capensis Galium triflorum Asclepias syriaca Circaea quadrisulcata Erigeron annuus Sisyrinchium montanum Fragaria virginiana Panicum clandestinum Robinia pseudoacacia Geum canadense Deparia acrostichoides Collinsonia canadensis Hydrocotyle americana Pyrola elliptica Veronica serpyllifolia Scirpus validus Smilax herbacea Berberis sp. Vitis aestivalis Carya ovata