June 21, 2013

McCoy Fen

Joined the NEON group at 9AM at McCoy Fen (Southern Ashtabula county). Jim Bissell led about 10 of us (students, stewards (Stanley and Charlie), a high school teacher (Marlene?) through this very rich fen. Immediately on descending the wooded hill we emerged into a open area of perhaps 50x80m (they cleared 10' brush out in the recent past Jim said), which was almost wall to wall knee high sedges of various kinds (stricta, flava, interior, others). Lots of poison sumac bushes and seedlings. Soil was mucky but occasionally had a lot of bounce. No obvious sphagnum, not very many bryophytes. Tall meadow rue was the main flowering species, along with glossy buckthorn (we snapped off flowering and fruiting branches whenever the opportunity arose). Jim had the usual amazing assortment of detailed records, distribution, and plant history. As usual, most of these plants are incredibly rare. Lots of discussion about typha - several of the students are helping with a project on that and Jim has heard some recent reports on them. Jim says that growth form is a key element of id - if they make a monoculture, they are probably nonnative. Delightful day, wonderful information, and a lot of fun.

Posted on June 21, 2013 01:58 AM by rjm2 rjm2 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

April 19, 2013

Panzner E April 16 2013

8:45-9:15, field e west side. Only real flowering seen was Peach-Leaf willow. Took samples and pictures to check ids in lab. Tentative list:
Larix laricinia (thought this was european before, but the cones are small and not hairy... i am surprised to find it here - must have come from the seed bank? i need to talk with steve and jerry about this).
Populus deltoides (although buds aren't sticky, the leaves match).
Ludwigia alternifolia (fruits from last year's seedbox).
Scared up a turkey hen hiding in the brush. no evidence of a nest

Posted on April 19, 2013 01:24 PM by rjm2 rjm2 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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