2016 Catch Up, July and August

 

July 2016 Plants

Over the last 4 years during the month of July I have spent time in central Pennsylvania working on an invasive plant survey within Sproul, Tuscarora, Rothrock and Bald Eagle State forests. When I am conducting the invasive plant survey in central PA, I always try and visit as many natural areas as possible after work. During a visit to a new natural area I visited last year, I was able to finally see buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliate).

Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliate)

Though not a listed plant species here in PA, still a very cool plant to see in the field. Menyanthes is a monotypic genus usually found growing in areas associated with acidic water and sphagnum moss. I came across this very large population of buckbean within a cranberry bog in Sproul State Forest. Buckbean is a very easy plant to identify in the field as one can see by its obvious 3 lobed compound leaf which kind of have a thick and leather-like texture. Only thing that was disappointing about this experience was the lack of flowers.  Buckbean has a very interesting distribution within the US, where it is common in the far northeast, upper great lakes region and northwest, though rare throughout the northern Midwest states.

Another plant that I enjoy seeing during my time in Sproul State Forest is the brownish beaksedge (Rhynchospora capitellata).

Brownish beaksedge (Rhynchospora capitellata)

Though not a rare plant in PA, the brownish beaksedge may be a plant that some of us may not see that often. Belonging to the cyperaceae plant family, brownish beaksedge has very unique dark brownish colored  spikelets that are almost impossible to overlook. When in the field Rhynchospore can be quickly separated from Carex by the presence of bisexual flowers that lack a perigynium enclosing the achene.

I certainly love spending time botanizing in central PA, who can resist the beautiful rolling mountains and deep river valleys.

West Branch of the Susquehanna

Only thing that makes me nervous is the threat of timber rattlesnakes, especially when I spend so much time kneeling on the ground looking at plants.

Brown phase timber rattlesnake

Doesn’t matter if you are walking through upland rocky rights of ways or bogs, in Sproul State forest you can usually find a timber rattlesnake anywhere.

August 2016 Plants

In 2016, I think I have finally come across the coolest looking sedge to date for me. While exploring a bog within Tioga County PA, I came across the unique bog sedge (Carex magellanica subsp. irrigua).

Bog sedge

Can’t beat the excitement a plant geek feels the moment you finally step into an open bog community after trekking through a shaded upland forest for 30 minutes, it’s just such an abrupt from one plant community to another.

Tioga County PA Bog

During the middle of August 2016 I found myself doing wetland and stream work on a famous Pittsburgh island called Brunot Island. The island is within the Ohio River just west of the city.

Northwest Bank of Brunot Island looking upstream on the Ohio River

My understanding is that the Brunot family owned and lived on the island during the 1700 and 1800’s and somehow the Lewis and Clark expedition spent the night on the island in the summer of 1803. Presently the island is home to a large power generating station and very disturbed environmentally. Lots of slag and invasive plants dominate the island.

View inland on Brunot Island

Still, I was able to find some pretty cool plants while walking the island in search of wetlands. Though not rare by any means here in PA, some cool plants observed on Brunot Island were blue-curls (Trichostema dichotomum) and freshwater chordgrass (Spartina pectinata).



blue-curls (Trichostema dichotomum)

freshwater chordgrass (Spartina pectinata)

Late August I was in Guilford County North Carolina conducting stream and wetlands surveys. While in North Carolina I was able to observe 2 plant species I have been anxious to see for quite some time. The first plant I finally got to see in the field was gamma grass (Tripsacum dactyloides).

gamma grass (Tripsacum dactyloides)

Gamma grass is a very large and unique grass closely related to corn. Not the best photo I have taken, but in the picture above you can still make out the male flowers positioned at the top of the spike while the female flowers can be observed below. Currently in PA the state status for gamma grass is undetermined yet proposed endangered. I was observing gamma grass growing in many of the transmission line right of ways while in North Carolina mainly in dry to mesic environments.

The second plant I got to observe while in North Carolina was upright primrose willow (Ludwigia decurrens).

upright primrose willow (Ludwigia decurrens)

At first site this plant was easy to recognize that it beloged to the onagraceae family by the 4 yellow petal flowers and simple leaves.

upright primrose willow flower

The most unique feature of this Ludwigia was the presence of the ‘winged’ stem.

Upright primrose willow 'winged' stem, look close

Here in PA upright primrose willow is listed as endangered. I have never come across this plant in PA but observed it growing in many fringe wetlands along perennial streams in North Carolina.

Until Next Time, Keep Botanizing!

2016 Catch Up, May and June

Some May 2016 Plants:

One of the first exciting plant species of 2016 was the purple rocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus). Purple rocket seems to reach its eastern range limit here in western PA.

Purple rocket

Came across this population growing along the foot of a mesic forested slope and wooded floodplain in Washington County. In Pennsylvania, purple rocket is listed as PA state endangered. The first noticeable characteristic of the plant that caught my eye was the large, irregular serrations of the cauline leaves.

Purple rocket irregular leaf serrations

Overall, purple rocket is a very delicate looking plant in my opinion, and  seems to possess so many unique characteristics. For instance, check out the different morphology of the cauline leaves in the photo above and below. The lowest cauline leaves are pinnately lobed, while the upper leaves are not. Even the leaf serrations can vary from regularly to irregularly dentate to serrate.

Purple rocket cauline leaves

There are not many other plants here in south western PA purple rocket can be confused with, especially while in bloom. The only similar plant you may mistake purple rocket for is the non-native Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) or maybe an escaped blooming horseradish plant! Purple rocket has much narrower flower petals than Dame’s rocket.

Purple rocket flowers

I couldn’t resist throwing in a few photos of a cool grass and sedge! The first grass here may not be considered rare or endangered in PA, but very cool none the less. Below is a photo of the inflorescence of eastern mannagrass or floating mannagrass (Glyceria septentrionalis).

Floating mannagrass

Eastern manna grass seems to be restricted to growing in inundated wetlands. The panicle of eastern mannagrass is somewhat distinct from many of the other grasses due to the few lateral branches and narrow spikelets.

Floating mannagrass inflorescence

When compared to the other Glyceria species found here in PA, eastern mannagrass is one of 3 mannagrasses that have spikelets longer than 1 centimeter.

A common sedge found here in southwestern PA is the drooping (Carex prasina) as seen in the photo below.

Drooping sedge

Here in Washington County PA, one can usually find drooping sedge in full bloom during May and early June growing within seeps and along the banks of perennial and intermittent streams that flow though mesic forested areas. I usually find this sedge growing in fairly moist to saturated soils, and it seems to be the only ‘drooping inflorescence type sedge’ blooming this early in the season.  

Speaking of ‘drooping inflorescence type sedges’, below is a photo of perigynia taken from 2 of the most common ‘drooping type sedges’ found growing here in western PA. In the photo below you will see peryigynia from fringed sedge (Carex crinata var. crinata) on the left and nodding sedge (Carex gynandra) on the right.


Carex crinata var. crinata left and Carex gynandra right

When contrasting the perigynia of these species, you will notice that the nodding sedge has more of an elliptical shaped perigynium, while the fringed sedge perigynium is more obovate and appear to have ‘shoulders’, or you can say the perigynium is widest above the middle. I would still caution you to look as many perigynia as you can before deciding on the actual shape of the perigynium.

Some June 2016 Plants:

Living here in rural southwestern PA, I am fortunate enough to have many different habitats to explore close to home. One area I try to botanize at least once a year is a 2 or 3 acre emergent wetland situated within a huge 600 acre wooded parcel just a short walk from my front door. I got to explore this wetland in June last year and to my surprise all I noticed in one section of the wetland was an unknown grass species that I never noticed before. I collected a few flower stems and ran it through the key and to my surprise the unknown grass turned out to be swamp oats (Sphenopholis pensylvanica).

Swamp oats population

Though swamp oats is not a rare grass species here in PA, I believe this occurrence was the first documented in Washington County. I would guess swamp oats in possible just an overlooked species, but who knows. The most distinctive feature of swamp oats is the awned lemma.



Swamp oats showing awned lemmas

Probably the second biggest plant find for me during 2016 was smooth rock skullcap (Scutellaria saxatilis).

Smooth rock skullcap

I came across this plant in Allegheny County PA, during a rare plant survey. The area I was searching was within close proximity of a known population of smooth rock skullcap, so my eyes were certainly looking for it. When I first saw smooth rock skullcap in the field, I thought it was heart leaved Meehania (Meehania cordata) until a colleague of mine suggested that it looks more like a skullcap than a mint.

Meehania leaf left and smooth rock skullcap leaf right

The leaves of heart leaved meehania and smooth rock skullcap are very similar, plus both plants have a square stem, irregular flower shape and similar flower color. The habitat of smooth rock skullcap is probably the most unique thing I remember about this experience. To get to the population, you had to scurry down a dense vegetated powerline right of way positioned on a 50 to 60 percent hillslope for about 200 feet. Then once you entered the forested section of the hillslope where the smooth rock skullcap was growing, the area opened up into a heavily shaded young forest with a distinctive cobble layer covering the ground.

Smooth rock skullcap habitat

Very unique habitat to say the least. Smooth rock skullcap seems to be rare over its natural range and is proposed endangered in PA, so this is certainly one plant species I would like to see more of over the years.

Another exciting plant find for me in 2016 was the water bulrush (Schoenoplectus subterminalis). Found this population growing in a large wetland located in Centre County PA, near Philipsburg.

Water bulrush

The population was restricted to a shallow, slow moving stream flowing through the wetland. It was amazing to see the large size of the underwater mats this plant can form from their creeping rhizomes.

Water bulrush inflorescence

When in bloom this plant will catch any curious plant enthusiast by its wiry green culms emerging from the murky stream and curly white styles oozing from the flowers.

Probably one of the most rewarding jobs I was part of in 2016 was one I started in Canaan Valley West Virginia for Hayden’s sedge or cloud sedge (Carex haydenii).

Hayden's sedge habit

Hayden’s sedge closely resembles the tussock sedge (Carex stricta) in habit and habitat, though once you get your eyes on a specimen or two of Hayden’s sedge next to tussock sedge in the field, you begin to see the differences.

Tussock sedge left and Hayden's sedge right

First difference between tussock sedge and Hayden’s sedge is was the wider or more ‘plump’ female spikes of Hayden’s sedge. Taking a closer look at the female spikes you will notice the pistillate scales of Hayden’s sedge are usually much longer that the perigynia beaks, while in tussock sedge the pistillate scales are usually about as long as, to much shorter than the beak. What was so rewarding about this job is that I was part of a transplant project where we removed over 20 Hayden’s sedge individuals from an existing natural gas pipeline right of way and transplanted them to various plots outside the right of way prior to scheduled pipeline repairs.


Transplanting Hayden's sedge tussock

Eventually, some of the Hayden’s sedge individuals we be removed from their plots and transplanted back to various areas along the existing right of way, while others will remain in the plots to be monitored over the next few year.

 

Till Next Time, Keep Botanizing!

2016 Catch Up, March and April

Just didn’t have time to keep up with blog entries in 2016. To catch up on the entries I missed in 2016, I am putting together 4 separate entries that will cover some of the plants and other odds and ends I took photos of during my field work in 2016.

Back in northern West Virginia for field work during early March 2016, and the forested hillslopes were just beginning to green up. Exploring the forested stream valleys in northern West Virginia, one can only notice the plantain leaved sedge or seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea) scattered throughout the mesic slopes.



Carex plantaginea growing along a mesic forested slope

The plantain leaved sedge is a very common sedge here in northern West Virginia, and is fairly easy to identify. It’s one of the first sedges to bloom in early spring and belongs to an ‘informal grouping of sedges’ that have leaf blades usually greater than 20 millimeters wide. When in bloom, one will probably notice the purple tinged bracts of the male spikes first, then looking closer you notice the dark red purple leaf bases.

Carex plantaginea in flower

Some other 'big leaved sedges' that grow almost within the same  habitat as plantain leaved sedge are Carex albursina, Carex laxiflora, Carex platyphylla and even Cymophyllus fraserianus. The plantain leaved sedge is obviously a 'harbinger of spring' in this area!

Another ‘harbinger of spring’ common in northern West Virginia, and here in southwestern Pennsylvania, is purple cress (Cardamine douglassii). A less common name for this plant is limestone bittercress because it is usually found growing near springs or streams in areas of calcareous substrates.



Cardamine douglassii



One look alike species of purple cress is spring cress (Cardamine bulbosa). One way to distinguish the two is purple cress has a hairy stem and spring cress has a glabrous stem. And if you dig the plant, you may notice that spring cress has a ‘bulbous’ root system and purple cress has a more or less fibrous root system.

In April of 2016 I conducted field work in Washington County Virginia within the Valley and Ridge Province. The geology within this area contains sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomite and shale which provides for some interesting geological features. The photo below was taken in a pasture field, and shows the karst terrain that is formed in areas containing limestone bedrock which has been dissolved over many years from surface water. 

Karst formation

During spring I am always be photo happy. After a long winter of snapping photos of mostly dull brown and gray colored subjects, the new growth of spring always catches my eye and encourages me to take another photo. One example of a plant that caught this past spring by its fresh green color is the annual bluegrass (Poa annua).

Annual Bluegrass

Annual bluegrass is probably one of the best grass species to begin learning the poaceae family characteristics. Though usually a very small plant in stature some individuals found in the spring can be quit larger such as the one in the photo above. For western PA Poa species, once you narrow an unknown plant down to the genus Poa, check for cob webby hairs at the base of the lemma and pubescence along the lemma nerves only. If you got these 2 characteristics of the floret in a smaller sized grass, then you possibly have annual bluegrass. As always though, get a second opinion!

"Until Next Time, Keep Botanizing!"

Starting with the Obvious in 2016

Here in southwestern PA the winter of 2015/2016 was very mild. From 50 to 65 Fahrenheit days in December to only a hand full of below zero days in January 2016. Snow was on the ground for a few weeks in January, yet by the end of February winter seemed it was on its way out.

Field work was slow this past winter, but I did spend some time in West Virginia, Ohio, and even north central PA. Northwestern West Virginia and southeastern Ohio is certainly a  beautiful natural area. With the extensive scenic ridges and steep forested valleys, one can only image the natural forces that formed this area over the past million years. I often wonder what this area looked like during the pre-settlement era around the 1500’s to 1600’s.

Below is a typical scene from Wetzel County West Virginia during January 2016 field work.

Wetzel County West Virginia

Januarys field work in West Virginia and Ohio consisted of re-flagging wetland boundaries that were delineated the past spring. Reflagging is done to ensure a visual identification of the wetland boundaries prior to tree clearing or other construction activities within various work sites. No  experience is better for learning about wetland delineations than visiting the same wetland during multiple seasons.

From my understanding, northern West Virginia has not been botanized enough over the years.  Many botanists tell me, "if you want to find botanical treasures, start looking in the hills of northern West Virginia. " 

Below is a typical scene from Monroe County Ohio. This photo was taken during late January 2016 field work.





Monroe County Ohio



When it comes to plants, nothing too exciting these first 2 months of 2016. I was moving pretty quick during field work so I really never had time to 'go out of the way' and botanize too much. One thing is certain, botanizing in the middle of winter can be challenging. 

Every field botanist has their personal list of favorite reference or identification books and my favorite winter twig identification guide is 'Woody Plants in Winter' by Core and Ammons.  Though not the best, it has been very useful over the past years for woody winter plant identification.

I'm going to share two very common canopy trees one would notice often  in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia during the wither months. Both of these trees have very unique characteristics that make them easy to identify during winter months. The photography equipment I have in the field with me these days is not the best, so please excuse the quality of my photos sometimes.

The tulip popular (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a very common tree here in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia and found in most, if not all states east of the Mississippi. During winter field season the most obvious characters one will notice about the tulip popular is the unique bark and the fruit.

When you think of winter woody plant identification you have to think of 3 things: BARK, BUDS, and FRUIT! I am by not an expert in identifying trees by their bark, but the tulip tree is one that can easily be recognized by its deeply furrowed bark and powdery-white ‘valleys’ as seen in the photo below.

Furrows and powdery-white 'valleys' observed on a Liriodendron tulipifera trunk



If you look high up in the crown of a tulip popular in winter you will notice the dried fruit, which consists of a spirally arranged cluster of samaras. In the photo below you can see the very last remnants of the aggregate fruit with the elongated receptacle poking out the top.

Remnants of the Liriodendron tulipifera fruit

The terminal bud of the tulip popular is also very unique. You will notice the terminal bud of tulip popular consists of 2 elongated clasping (not overlapping), scales which is termed ‘valvate’. The terminal bud of the tulip popular reminds me of a duck bill.

Liriodendron tulipifera terminal bud



The next common canopy tree is probably one of the first trees you may have learned when starting winter twig identification. Below is a photo of the terminal bud of bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis). 






Carya cordiformis terminal bud

Bitternut hickory has one of the most uniquely colored buds of any native canopy tree you will observe here in western Pennsylvania. The sulfur-yellow colored terminal bud of bitternut hickory is also valvate as the tulip popular. Here in western Pennsylvania, bitternut hickory is the only hickory to have a yellow, valvate terminal bud. When considering the remaining hickories found here in western PA, if you find a hickory with a terminal bud less than 1 centimeter long and glabrous twigs (could be scaly) you may be looking at Carya glabra. If your hickory has a terminal bud greater than 1 centimeter long, with pubescent twigs and lacks ‘shaggy’ or exfoliating bark, you may be looking at Carya tomentosa.

The last 2 hickory species found here in western Pennsylvania that has a terminal bud longer than 1 centimeter, with pubescent twigs and has ‘shaggy’, exfoliating bark are Carya ovata and Carya laciniosa. Can’t say I know a way to tell the C. ovata and C. lacinosa apart 100 percent of the time during the winter. Some will focus on the degree of pubescence of the twigs but don't see C. lacinosa enough to comment. Most of the time though C. lacinosa will be found growing in bottomlands and floodplains and C. ovata on more dry habitats. BUT REMEMEBER, PLANTS ALWAYS BREAK THE RULES. Sure we all have all seen C. ovata growing on floodplains also!

Two common ‘woody’ vines I was seeing during the winter months here in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia is greenbrier (Smilax spp.) The most common greenbrier is probably Smilax rotundifolia, hence the vernacular name ‘common greenbrier’.  In the photo below you will notice some winter field characteristics of Smilax rotundifolia. 

Smilax rotundifolia

First of all, the common greenbrier is one of 3 ‘woody’ greenbrier species found growing here in western Pennsylvania. Smilax glauca, Smilax hispidula and Smilax rotundifolia all produce woody stems which means the above ground stem produces secondary growth and remains alive after the growing season.

As you can see in the above photo, common greenbrier produces a green, somewhat angled woody stem that develops broad stout prickles. The prickles of common greenbrier are the largest of the 3 woody greenbriers, usually reaching 10 to 12 millimeters. During the winter months, the common greenbrier usually loses all its’ leaves, though every now and then you will notice the dark bluish-black glaucous berries. If you are able to observe the leaves of the common greenbrier in winter you will notice they are green on both the upper and lower leaf surface.

Another smilax species I came observed a lot this winter is cat-greenbrier (Smilax glauca). This is a very easy greenbrier to identify when the leaves are still visible due to the silver to grayish (glaucous) leaf underside (abaxial) as you can see in the photo below.

 

Abaxial leaf surface of Smilax glauca

Though not visible in the photo above, cat-greenbrier also produces a green, woody stem with prickles. Cat-greenbrier has more of a rounded stem and thinner to smaller prickles (usually less than 7 millimeters) than common greenbrier.

To complete this January-February blog I thought I would share a very often overlooked plant, or at least the remnants of a plant. Below is a photo of the stem and fruits of possibly common dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) on wingstem (Verbesina alternofolia).

Cuscuta spp. on Wingstem

Cuscuta spp. are annual, parasitic plants that are non-photosynthetic and sometimes called  'spaghetti plant' due to the golden-yellow color of the stem-mass that is sometimes found covering vegetation during the summer months.

Not sure of the specific field characteristics used to identify dodder during winter, all I notice are the brown to tan colored senesced stems and cluster of rounded capsules found twined around host plant species. I honestly do not know any specific vegetative or reproductive features that Cuscuta spp. retain on their senesced parts through the winter that would aid in specific identification. Possible habitat would help narrow species down but any additional information would be appreciated!

There you are, just a quick overview of a few common plants that I frequently came across this January and February 2016. There were a hundred more species that I wanted to share here but there is only so much time in the day.

"Until Next Time, Keep Botanizing!"

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“Bringing in all the rest”

Since it was impossible to keep up with submitting a new blog entry every month, I am force to cram the remaining plants of 2015 in this one. So here is a scaled down list and information of interesting plants I came across during field work from July to September in 2015.

Sometimes I get lucky and I am assigned a survey that is close to my home. It's welcomed since I don’t have to be away from the family too long. In July I had an opportunity to conduct a plant survey that was about 5 miles from the home. Though I was looking forward to the reduced time on the road, I wasn’t too excited about the possibility of finding new plant species I haven’t already come across in the past.

Well, of course I did come across an unfamiliar sedge species fairly quick, the hairy-fruited sedge (Carex trichocarpa). This sedge was a dominant species within a large, 2-acre wetland which was probably once a pasture many years ago. Kind of exciting when I find a new sedge species to add to my personal list, especially since I found it so close to my neck of the woods. When I ran the sedge through Gleason and Cronquist later that afternoon it was a very easy sedge to key, another bonus.

Hairy-fruited sedge with habitat in background

The first field characteristic I noticed about the hairy-fruited sedge was its growth habit. This was a large population and it was obvious immediately  this sedge doesn’t form 'clumps' (cespitose) but spreads by long creeping rhizomes which produces far more vegetative shoots than fertile shoots. The next field characteristic I noticed was the large vegetative shoots that are reach about 3’ high, and have a cluster of 2’ long arching leaves near the shot apex. 

Vegetative shoot of hairy-fruited sedge left
and fertile shoot on right.

Taking a look at the reproductive shoot of hairy-fruited sedge you will first notice the dark red to purplish color band at the sheath apex. Next you will notice separate male and female spikes. The female flower spikes are long (4 cm to 7 cm) and narrow (1 cm to 1.5 cm), and separated along the stem, while 3 to 6 male spikes are clustered at the tip. The perigynia are hairy and posses a 2 mm to 4 mm double toothed beak which are mostly straight.

Female spikes of Hairy-fruited sedge

Another area I surveyed near my home was a large wetland mitigation area that contained a huge detention pond. Within 5 minutes of walking through this area, I spotted another new plant species I never identified in the field before. There, growing within the outflow area of the detention pond was river bulrush (Schoenoplectus fluviatilis).

Inflorescence of river bulrush (Shoenoplectus flaviatilis)

The river bulrush stood out like a sore thumb among the broad-leaved cattails and rice-cutgrass within the area. Seems the most common bulrush species I see 95 percent of the time here in southwestern PA is great bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani), and three-square bulrush (Schoenoplectus pungens) the other 5 percent of the time. River bulrush is kind of unique due to the presence of leaves along the entire stem and inflorescence bracts that are similar to the stem leaves. All other species of schoenoplectus species found in PA have an inflorescence bract that appear as a continuation of the stem and lack stem leaves. In PA, river bulrush is considered rare though it is considered fairly secure across its north central range here in the US.

A question that came to mind when I first found the river bulrush was how did it get here? The detention pond had to of been constructed within the last 20 years or so. I say this because I used to hunt deer and squirrels in this exact spot growing up in the 1980’s and the area looked completely different. What I remember seeing where the detention pond now sits was a large forested valley with a perennial stream running through with various hillside wetland seeps. So possible this river bulrush is a transient plant that may have traveled here via soil brought in during construction of the detention pond or transported by water fowl.

Another new plant species for me this year was mud-hyssop (Gratiola neglecta). I came across this plant on a gravelly, sandy shore along a perennial stream in McKean County PA. As soon as I caught site of this plant I knew I was unfamiliar with it.

Mud-hyssop (Gratiola neglecta) 

Though the mud-hyssop isn’t a rare plant species in PA it is a new one for me and I was glad to add it to my personal species list. I always tell myself there are only about 3000 vascular plant species growing here in PA, so chances are pretty good I will come across a few I don’t know every now and then!

Probably my favorite plant genus is Spriranthes. I had a chance this year to survey for Case’s ladies-tresses (Spiranthes casei) in northern PA and what a challenge. One of the biggest challenges was to gather enough specific identification information to help distinguish Case’s ladies-tresses from similar Spiranthes species in the field.

Case’s ladies-tresses growing out of old railroad tie

The field characteristics I used to separate Case’s ladies’-tresses from look-alike plants such as nodding ladies-tresses (Spiranthes cernua) and yellow nodding ladies-tresses (Spiranthes ochroleuca) were the upper sepal length of 7.5 mm or less, single loose spiral flower arrangement, and creamy colored flowers with a distinctive yellow throat.

Case’s ladies-tresses inflorescence, 'lose' spiral of flowers



Nodding ladies-tresses inflorescence, 'tight' spiral of flowers

One of the highlights of 2015 was the chance to take part in the field monitoring of the federally endangered northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus). I was able to visit 4 environmentally different sites in south central PA that contained populations of northeastern bulrush.

 

The sites ranged from sparsely vegetated depressions (vernal pools) to completely vegetated emergent wetlands, to inundated emergent wetlands. One thing that stood out after visiting all 4 sites was northeastern bulrush seemed to prefer growing in those specific areas within each site that experienced seasonal fluctuations in water level. This is no surprise for the experts of northeastern bulrush but it is an import habitat characteristic when trying to determine suitable habitat for the species.

 

The most obvious visual characteristic for northeastern bulrush is the drooping orientation of the mature inflorescence. People will describe the overall look of the inflorescence as ‘exploding fireworks’, where the arching rays appear as 'trails' and the tight cluster of spikelets the main area of 'explosion'. That’s how I ‘see’ it?

 

Mature inflorescence of northeastern bulrush: Exploding fireworks

Careful though since many of the northeastern bulrush individuals I saw flowering within the sites didn’t have the obvious ‘exploding fireworks’ inflorescence.

 

A very interesting characteristic of the northeastern bulrush is their ability to form bulblets within the leaf axils and even within the inflorescence. I am not familiar with the complete reproduction behavior of northeastern bulrush but my hunch is this species can dominate the vernal pool habitats fairly quick if enough individuals begin to produce these axillary bulblets.

'Bulblets' developing within the inflorescence
of northeastern bulrush

'Bulblets' developing along  the stem
of northeastern bulrush

One of the associate plants growing within a particular northeast bulrush site was golden-club (Orontium aquaticum). Golden-club is very distinctive in the field when in bloom and even when not in bloom. As you can see by the photo below, golden-club has large, elliptic to oblong shaped, dark green, petiolate leaves. When you squeeze the leaves of golden-club you will notice the sponge-like texture which comes from the many air sacs inside the leaf.

Golden-club (Orontium aquaticum) 

This plant can be found growing in shallow water along the littoral zone of lakes and pond and even streams and wetlands in muddy to peaty substrates. Unfortunately golden-club blooms in the spring and I observed the plant in the late summer. The flowers of golden-club are borne along the apex of a spadix and possess a bright yellow perianth during anthesis.

 

 

"Until Next Time, Keep Botanizing!"