It’s
been a “mast year” for several oak species at the Center,
and the acorn evidence is scattered on the trails, benches and can be
revealed by pushing aside some of the loose leaves under almost any
mature oak tree. Blackjack Oak is one of those with a prolific
2007 “children of the oak” production.
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Common Name: Blackjack Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus marilandica
Where to look: Throughout the Center but common along
Whitetail Trail, Pioneer Trail and Grapevine Loop. This image was made at the
upper end of Fern Gully.
Photo and text by Bill Stark
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| The yellow-brown leaves of American Beech
persist on stems well into the winter season and this characteristic, together
with the smooth gray bark of mature trees, and the elongate buds found near the
ends of twigs, makes the species one of the more distinctive trees in the
winter landscape.
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Common Name: American Beech
Scientific Name: Fagus
grandifolia
Where to look: Uncommon in the Center but several
occur near the trails along the west end of Grapevine Loop. This image was made
from a specimen off trail in Fern Gully. Photo and text by Bill Stark
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| Winter leaves of Cranefly Orchid appear in
Autumn and persist among the leaf litter and acorn crop through the spring
before disappearing in Summer. The solitary green leaves with purple blotches
and purple underside make this species a distinctive one along the trails. The
plant produces flowers in late Summer but it often goes unnoticed at this time
due to the broomstraw-like stem with obscure flowers and no leaves. |
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Common Name: Cranefly Orchid
Scientific Name: Tipularia
discolor
Where to look : Present at scattered sites along Fern
Gully and Grapevine Loop.
Photo and text by Bill Stark
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| Scrufy gray threads of Spanish Moss embellish
trees at scattered sites in the Clinton area and at a few locations in the
Center. Although the body form belies its relationships, the species is an
epiphytic flowering plant which produces obscure flowers and seeds. |
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Common Name: Spanish Moss
Scientific Name: Tillandsia usneoides
Where to look: Scattered through the Center but most common
along Pioneer Trail. Photo and text by Bill Stark
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| An image of Possumhaw flowers appears in an
earlier On-the-Trail entry, now many of these Holly Family members still bear
bright red remnants of the fall berry (or drupe) crop. Birds continue to
harvest these and many drop to the ground during periods of wind and rain. At
one time in our recent cultural past, families gathered these berries and
strung them to fashion Christmas decorations.
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Common Name: Possumhaw
Scientific Name: Ilex decidua
Where to look: Common on Grapevine Loop, Fern Gully
and Pioneer Trail.
Photo and text by Bill Stark
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