|
|
Botany Ramblings:
Mostly from
1 July to 30 Sept., 2001
James P. Goltz
Reprinted from the N.B. Naturalist
After preparing several of these reports, it's becoming clear to me that botanists are much less likely than birders to hurry to report their interesting findings. I encourage botanists to please send me their reports so I can convey them to the readers of the N.B. Naturalist. Many thanks! My contact information is 126 Wilsey Road, Apt. 17, Fredericton, NB E3B 5J1; Phone: (506) 459-8685; E-mail: marph@nbnet.nb.ca
Species New for New Brunswick
Undoubtedly the botanical highlight for the year has been the discovery of Linear-leaved Sundew (Drosera linearis) by Sean Blaney and Dwayne Sabine in a newly discovered small rich calcareous fen near Canterbury in late June. For years, botanists had been searching our known calcareous fens for this species, since it was known to grow in such habitats nearby in Maine and on the Gaspé Peninsula. The species was finally discovered in New Brunswick on one of the hottest days of the summer with the help of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data on soils and forest types, aerial photographs and a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit. Botany is going high tech! Access to these resources and expertise were provided by the Department of Natural Resources and Energy, in a project designed to assess how well these tools help identify calcareous cedar wetland sites where rare plants occur. It worked!
Also new for the province was Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in an old field near Oakland Mountain, Carleton County (JPG). This species had been discovered at the site years ago by Ansel Campbell but had never been reported until he showed it to me and George Peabody during an evening foray on August 22. It is quite likely that this species is not native to the province.
Endangered Species
Updates on the status of Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), Bathurst Salt-marsh Aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum var. obtusifolium), and Parker's Pipewort (Eriocaulon parkeri) in New Brunswick will be reported in the next issue of the N.B. Naturalist, once the results of concerted field work by the Species at Risk section of the Dept. of Natural Resources and Energy have been compiled.
Rare Species
Reports of some of the rare Appalachian hardwood forest species included one plant of Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) at Hyla Park on August 1 (Jane and Eric Hadley, JPG); Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix) at Oakland Mountain on August 22 (previously known from only 4 other sites in the province; AC, GP, JPG); Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya) at Keswick Ridge on June 28 (DS, MS, JPG) and at Oakland Mountain on August 22 (AC, GP, JPG); Fragrant Sanicle (Sanicula odorata) at Keswick Ridge on June 28 (DS, MS, JPG) and Oakland Mountain on August 22 (AC, GP, JPG); and Thin-leaved Sedge (Carex cephaloidea) and Sprengel's Sedge (Carex sprengelii) from the St. John River, Madawaska Co. in mid to late July (SB and others).
Along the upper reaches of the St. John River in Madawaska County, Sean Blaney was also successful in finding the very rare Rock Spike-moss (Selaginella rupestris) at three sites in mid to late July. This species had previously been known only from the St. John River near Mactaquac dam and from Big Bluff, near Sussex. From the same general area on the upper St. John, Sean also reported 4 new stations of the rare Early-leaf Brome (Bromus latiglumis).
Explorations to calcareous cedar wetlands revealed a large stand of Sheathed Sedge (Carex vaginata) near Andersonville on 30 June (DS, SR, MT, JPG), and some newly discovered rich calcareous fens near Pocowogamis Lake on July 22, with Showy Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae), many other species of wild orchids, Kalm's Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii), Swamp Valerian (Valeriana uliginosa) and Northern Bog Aster (Aster borealis) (SC, BB, DS, MT, MB, JPG). While hiking along logging roads en route to the fens near Pocowogamis Lake, we also found several early successional rare plant species, including Terrestrial Water Starwort (Callitriche terrestris, previously known from only one other site in the province), Small-flowered Gratiola (Gratiola neglecta) and Purple Milkwort (Polygala sanguinea) on July 22 (SC, BB, DS, MT, MB, JPG).
A few clumps of the rare Vasey's Rush (Juncus vaseyi) were found on open rocky headlands at Red Head Harbour near Pocologan on August 19 (Laurel Bernard, JPG).
Two very rare plants, Dwarf Birch (Betula glandulosa) and Alpine Blueberry (Vaccininum boreale), were found in abundance at Big Bald Mountain on September 30, where they were already known to occur (SC, James Walde, JPG). Although we were unable to find any Highland Rush (Juncus trifidus) on the top of the mountain at the only site where it has been found in the province, we did find two other rare plants there, notably Appalachian Fir-moss (Huperzia appalachiana) and Beach-heather (Hudsonia tomentosa). Unfortunately this important site for rare plants is being ecologically degraded by trucks and all-terrain vehicles.
Native Orchids
Broad-lipped Twayblade (Listera convallarioides) was found in a small cedar wetland near Andersonville on June 30 (MT, SR, DS, JPG), constituting the first known record of this species for mainland Charlotte County. The first and only known Madawaska County discovery of the rare Shining Ladies=-tresses (Spiranthes lucida) was made in mid July by Sean Blaney on the upper reaches of the St. John River.
Small Purple Fringed-orchid (Platanthera psycodes) was seen in bloom on the Nashwaak River near Taymouth on July 11 (MP) and in a small seepy partially shaded wetland in the woods along the English Settlement Road on July 14 (30+ plants, JS). At least 12 plants of Tall Northern Green Orchid were also found at the latter site (JS).
Hundreds of White Fringed-orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis) were in peak bloom in the Regent Street bog at Fredericton on 20 July (JPG).
Other Noteworthy Finds
On July 11, blooms of Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) along the Nashwaak River near Taymouth were Aspectacular@ (MP). Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), a favourite nectar source for butterflies, was in bloom along the English Settlement Road on July 14 (JS).
On August 9, in bogs at Point Sapin, Nelson Poirier was impressed with the abundance of Swamp Birch (Betula pumila), Bake-apple (Rubus chamaemorus), Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and Dwarf Huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa), and also found a single plant of Horned Bladderwort (Corylus cornuta) in bloom.
Ron Wilson reported the yellow-fruited form of Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) at Fredericton in mid August. In the Fredericton area, the ripe fruits of Choke Cherry are well known to show an incredible range of colours, including yellow, orange, red, dark red-purple and almost black.
While visiting Beaubears Island near Miramichi City on August 28, Nelson Poirier saw Asome of the largest White Pine@ (Pinus strobus) that he Ahad ever seen.
There was an abundance of Nodding Bur-marigold (Bidens cernua) in the reservoir of Irishtown Nature Park on Sept 4 (NP, Pat Poirier).
Late Flowers and Fruits
Wild Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) was found in flower along the road to First Lake on September 15 (le Club d=ornithologie du Madawaska) and Pierrette Mercier enjoyed some exceptionally tasty but unusually late Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginaina) near Edmundston on September 6.
Mushrooms
Substantial rains in late August and early September, after an exceptionally dry summer, were welcomed by mushrooms, inspiring a period of heavy fruiting. During the first few days of September, Nelson Poirier reported from the Moncton area Meadow Mushrooms (Agaricus campestris), Fairy Ring Fungus (Marasmius oreades), Chantarelles (Cantharellus cibarius), Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa), and some species of Boletes. On September 3, Bob Blake found Sweetbread Mushrooms (Clitopilus prunulus) and Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) along the Homestead Road.
Abbreviations:
AC Ansel Campbell, BB Bruce Bagnell, DS Dwayne Sabine, GP George Peabody, JPG James Goltz, JS Julie Singleton, MB Maureen Bourque, MP Margie Pacey, MS Mary Sabine, MT Maureen Toner, NP Nelson Poirier, SB Sean Blaney, SC Stephen Clayden, SR Sara Richard
|