Proceedings. Field Botany Excursions. Spring Quarter 2009

Transcription

1 DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT: This document was prepared by EWU Biology Department students enrolled in the Spring 2009 Field Botany class and reflects their observations. All copyrights apply. Proceedings Field Botany Excursions Spring Quarter 2009 Sauer Mountain near Leavenworth, Washington Participants (left to right): Crystal Bowlen, Aaron Black, Joseph Dowling, Ben Stewart, Jessica Campbell, Amanda Raymond, Miriam Woodley, Becky Brown (instructor), Cleome Rowe, Jessica Bryant, John Getz (Teaching Assistant), and Joshua Gilbert. Not pictured: Jacob Butcher, Scott Cisney. and Meleah Melting Tallow.

2 Table of Contents April 1 Murphy Pond DNR Land, Cheney, WA Page 3 Recorder: Meleah Melting Tallow April 6 Palisades Park, Spokane County, WA Page 5 Recorders: Jessica Bryant, Scott Cisney April 15 Hog Canyon, Spokane County, WA Page 9 Recorders: Miriam Woodley, Aaron Black April 20 Riverside State Park, Spokane, WA Page 17 Recorders: Joshua Gilbert, Amanda Raymond May 4 Liberty Lake County Park, Liberty Lake, WA Page 22 Recorders: Jessica Campbell, Ben Stewart May 11 Hog Canyon, Spokane County, WA Page 26 Recorder: Jacob Butcher May Leavenworth, WA and vicinity overnight fieldtrip Page 29 May 16 Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area, Peshastin Pinnacles State Park, Sauer Mountain Page 29 Recorders: Cleome Rowe, Joseph Dowling May 17 Fish Lake Bog, Barclay Lake Vicinity, Tumwater Canyon Page 38 Recorder: Crystal Bowlen 2

3 Field Botany Spring 2009 Field Trip # 1 Murphy Pond, Cheney, WA Recorder: Meleah MeltingTallow We went on our first field trip for Field Botany on April 1, Before we left, Dr. Brown gave a lecture which reviewed types of floral inflorescences, fruit types, and an introduction to the Iridaceae and Ranunculaceae families. Armed with this information, we set off towards our cars and met up at the parking lot behind Woodward Field. After receiving directions from Dr. Brown, our caravan proceeded north on Washington Street, east on Betz Road, and then turned left onto Murphy Road. We arrived at 2:40 p.m., and were met with overcast weather with snow showers and a temperature of 0º Celsius. Murphy Pond lies on the right side of Murphy Road, about 2 miles north of Betz Road. Upon arrival, we ducked under a barbed wire fence to find a rolling, uneven terrain. At first glance, the locale seemed to be dominated by Ponderosa pines. Because the tree density is moderate to low, an understory is able to exist at the westernmost edge of the zone. The terrain had been heavily grazed by cattle in the area, which was evident by the low understory height and the numerous piles of cow excrement found on the site. If this wasn't proof enough of the previous cattle inhabitance, a cow skeleton found in the area confirmed the site's prior use to us. Due to the cold temperatures and poor weather we'd been having in this region, very few flowering plants had emerged when we took this field trip. Dr. Brown challenged us that whoever found the first flower would receive a native plants calendar. Jessica C. was the lucky winner after she found a Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus (buttercup) which had opened. As we continued to explore the western portion of the site, we observed many mosses and lichens (both foliose and crustose) growing on trees, rocks, and on the ground. Other species observed in this area included Fragaria virginiana (Virginia strawberry) and Geum trifolium (prairie smoke). The terrain changed visibly as we walked east and neared the pond. We saw a somewhat cleared area with mima mounds, but the rest of the area near the pond had a perimeter of dense Ponderosa pine trees, whose needles choked out any understory in that area. We had entered a soggy wetland, as opposed to the rocky, dry slopes we had first seen near the cars. Closer still to the pond were Populus deltoides (cottonwood), Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape), and invasive Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass). As we started our ascent to the cars, we observed Portulaca oleracea L. (common purslane), Verbascum thapsus L. (mullein), Lewisia rediviva (bitterroot), and finally, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick). We also observed an Iris species which provided us with an example of the capsule fruit type. Once we arrived at the fenceline, we picked up some roadside litter, and then loaded into the cars and headed back to campus. We arrived at 3:15 p.m. Back in the lab, we began to use our Flora books to key out the plant specimens we had taken from the site. Many students had taken buttercups from the area, which we were later able to 3

4 identify as Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus. While keying our specimens, we sipped hot herbal teas in an attempt to warm up from our chilly, snowy excursion. During this time, Cleome announced that when some beer, which was contained in a can collected from the roadside, had spilled onto her Iris specimen, the capsules closed back up, providing evidence that the capsule fruit type of this plant was dehiscent, meaning that it the fruit opens up when dry. This event suggested that dehiscence may be reversible, and more botany experiments involving beer may be in order. Once our plant keying was complete, our first field botany field trip was concluded. PLANTS OBSERVED AT THIS SITE Pinus ponderosa Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus Fragaria virginiana Populus deltoides Geum trifolium Mahonia aquifolium Phalaris arundinacea Portulaca oleracea L. Verbascum thapsus L. Lewisia rediviva Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Ponderosa pine Buttercup Virginia strawberry Cottonwood Prairie Smoke Oregon Grape Reed Canarygrass Common Purslane Mullein Bitterroot Kinnikinnick 4

5 April 6, 2009: Palisades Park Jessica Bryant 5/11/09 Palisades Park is home to many different habitats and offers a variety of vegetation. However, on this sunny, 60 F day, there wasn t much blooming to pick. Dr. Schwab warned us before we left school saying, If it s blooming it s either Ranunculus or Lomatium. We still enjoyed the park since it was the first time some students had seen Indian Canyon. To get to Palisades Park from Cheney, we headed north on HWY 904 and then took I-90 East toward Spokane. We took the Geiger Field Exit 276 and then turned left on S Grove Rd. Then we took a left onto Sunset HWY and an immediate right onto Basalt Rd. This road ends at the parking lot for Palisades Park. The first habitat we observed was on the rimrock edge. There were Ranunculus glaberrimus (Ranunculaceae) and Lomatium gormanii (Apiaceae) growing in shallow soils (0.5 inch deep). There was also Eriogonum spp. but the soil was too shallow for any tall woody species. The Apiaceae family requires fruits in order to easily key it in Hitchcock, and so these were not quite collectable. We walked west to an area of standing ephemeral water. Frogs and songbirds could be heard, but they were not visible. Directly next to the water the soil was about 21 inches deep. On the basalt rock found in the inter-pool area, moss and lichens were growing. Bordering the moist habitat was a relatively dry habitat where Amelanchier alnifolia (Rosaceae) woody shrubs and Pinus ponderosa (Pinaceae) trees were growing. The soil in the dry habitat was 2 inches deep. Dappling the open area were mima mounds. These mounds are approximately 90cm deep and surrounded by areas of shallow soil and ephemeral standing water. Covering the mounds are knapweed (Centaurea spp.: Asteraceae), bunchgrasses, prairie smoke (Erythrocoma triflora: Rosaceae), currant (Ribes spp.: Grossulariaceae), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus: Caprifoliaceae), and phlox (Phlox spp.: Polemoniaceae). The rocky outcrops surrounding the mounds had drought-tolerant vegetation that poorly competes with shrubs and trees. This included widow s grass (Sisyrinchium inflatum: Iridaceae) and Draba verna (Brassicaceae). We descended over the edge of the cliff down a mildly-beaten trail. Evidence of wildlife was found, like a coyote vertebrae, manure, and prints. The soil depth at the base of the cliff was variable ranging between 10cm and 50cm. Here we found ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceus: Rosaceae) and more snowberry. The microclimate here was noticeably different; it was much cooler and more shaded. Moisture was seeping from under the cliff to create runoff. Further away from the base of the cliff, we trekked through a Ponderosa and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii: Pinaceae) forest with 30-80cm deep soil. The ground was densely covered in leaf litter from the coniferous trees. Butterflies flew overhead. Douglas fir trees indicated that water was nearby and that our slope was not over 50. The soil became more moist the closer we got to the water and we began finding Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium: Berberidaceae) and elderberry (Sambucus spp.: Adoxaceae). Very near the creek s edge, we waded through dense shrubbery and the soil was about 25cm deep. There was oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor: Rosaceae), alder (Alnus 5

6 spp.: Betulaceae), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea: Cornaceae), and stinging nettles (Urtica dioica: Urticaceae). We crossed Indian Canyon and walked along the north facing slope. Interestingly, ponderosa was rarely found and the slope was dominated by Douglas fir. We were able to see the waterfall of Indian creek. There were ferns down near the waterfall but were not clearly visible to us. At the top of Indian Creek the soil was 80cm deep. A relatively large quantity of water rushed down the falls due to the spring melt. The usual trail was covered in water and so we adventurously chose an established coyote trail. Needless to say, we made it safely back to the big red rock-eater - the 70s Suburban. Photos by: palisadesnw.blogspot.com 6

7 Palisades Park Plant List Jessica Bryant Common Scientific Soil Depth Buttercup Ranunculus glaberrimus 1.25cm Lomatium Lomatium gormanii 1.25cm Buckwheat Eriogonum spp. 1.25cm Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 5cm Ponderosa Pinus ponderosa 5cm; 30-80cm Knapweed Centaurea spp. 90cm Prairie Smoke Erythrocoma triflora 90cm Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium 30-80cm Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor 25cm Dogwood Cornus spp. 25cm Currant Ribes spp. 90cm Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 90cm; 10-50Cm Phlox Phlox spp. 90cm Widow s grass Sisyrinchium inflatum 1.25cm Whitlow grass Draba verna 1.25cm Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius 10-50cm Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii 30-80cm Elderberry Sambucus spp cm Alder Alnus spp. 25cm Stinging Nettles Urtica dioica 25cm 7

8 Field Report Palisades County Park City of Spokane, Spokane County, Washington State April 5, 2009, Scott Cisney Palisades County Park is located just west of the City of Spokane. Just above the Spokane River this site was greatly impacted by the Missoula Floods. At the beginning of the walk is the upland scabland with shallow soil depths and exposure to heat. The plants located here are drought/fire tolerant such as Pinaceae/Rosaceae. Continuing the hike downslope one finds themselves in the riparian/toeslope zones. The plant diversity found with in these areas is much greater due to greater soil depths, run off water, and shady slopes. Palisades County Park demonstrates the geographic range of diverse habitat and plant communities. Plant Species Present in Ponderosa/Shrub Parkland & Ponderosa/Shrub Woodland Pinaceae, Amelanchier alnifolia, Rosa woodsii, Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosaceae, Cornus sp.,, Caprifoliaceae, Berberis aquifolium,, Phlox longifolia, Asteraceae, Sisyrinchium inflatum,, Ranunculus glaberrimus Plant Species Present in Riparian Zone Psuedotsuga menziesii, Prunus virginiana car. melanocarpa, Alnus rubra, Holodiscus sp., Rorippa sp.,, Berberis aquifolium, Urtica sp., Field Report Conducted and Produced Spring Quarter 2009 Dr. Brown, Field Botany, EWU 8

9 Hog Canyon, Spokane County N W Elevation: 2250 ft. 15 April 2009 Miriam Woodley, recorder Driving directions from Eastern Washington University: South on Washington road to Highway 904 West on Highway 904 (Tyler-Cheney Highway) to Interstate 90 West on Interstate 90 to Fishtrap exit (Sprague Highway) South on Sprague Highway to Lake Valley Loop Road East on Lake Valley Loop Road Continue on Lake Valley Loop Road, crossing Jack Brown Road, to the parking lot at above coordinates We left EWU at approximately 1:30 p.m. on a lovely, sunny April afternoon and reached the parking lot at Hog Canyon at around 2:10 p.m. From there we headed in a more or less northeasterly direction, passing through a mostly flat, open area interspersed with some ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa). This area was the site of a fairly recent controlled burn of the understory. Bunchgrass, buttercups, buckwheat, and yellowbells* are thriving at this site. Continuing on, we came to a temporary wetland zone, easily identifiable by its riparian vegetation such as snowberry, currants, aspen, red osier dogwood, and bulrushes, which are quite handy plants known by Native Americans as tules and who used them to weave mats and baskets. In most riparian areas, these types of plants are arranged more or less concentrically around the pond, according to their water needs. The snowberry and currants more or less mark the outer boundaries of the riparian zone, while bulrushes are found right at the pond s edges and in the water. These bulrushes have very specific hydrologic needs, i.e., they require not only a certain amount of water/precipitation, but it also must occur at a particular time of year and for a specific period. We continued northeasterly down the road, encountering mullein (a nonnative species) and lots of Columbia Basin wild rye, which is native and is used extensively in crop conservation and remediation programs in this region. Because the BLM allows cattle on this land, much of this area has been heavily grazed. In areas regions such as this with thin, flat, dry soils, the top layer of ground forms what is known as a cryptobiotic crust (also known as a microbial crust). This crust is composed of countless microbes, including Cyanobacteria, mosses, lichens, bacteria, fungi, and green algae. These organisms, especially the Cyanobacteria, help hold the soil together and prevent erosion by creating nets of tiny filaments. In addition, Cyanobacteria are often the main organisms fixing nitrogen in the soil, and this delicate cryptobiotic ecosystem serves many other purposes as well (NPS 2006). Such activity is important for the survival of other plants, such as Apiaceae, which live in these shallow, 9

10 dry soils. Continuing on down the trail, we encountered numerous small shrubs at the base of a small cliff /large rocky outcrop. Though they were just barely beginning to leaf out, they were likely either serviceberry or chokecherry (both of the family Rosaceae). Finally we reached Hog Lake itself. The area was lush with greenery, set in front of a breathtaking backdrop of three cascading waterfalls loud enough to be heard from some distance away. Flanking a small stream in the foreground which was also feeding the lake were many woody species, including the aforementioned red osier dogwood and chokecherry along with some elderberry. Unfortunately, intermixed in all of this vegetation were stalks of invasive teasel, tall weeds topped by a distinctive spiny burr surrounded by upward-pointing involucral bracts. Among the nonwoody plants right at the water s edge were camas, dock, wild irises and onions, and various mosses. The wild rose also favors areas such as this that are a bit wetter. Some of the more daring members of the class crossed over the small stream and headed across the scree slope towards the waterfall, where there had been evidence of a very recent and very large flood from the spring runoff. Meanwhile, the rest of the class, consisting mostly of those taking entomology, lingered at the swampy edge of the stream to gather various insects for their collections. Once everyone was together again, we headed in a southerly direction back up the hillside. At the top was a perched wetlands, an open area which was wet this day but would dry out during the summer. It covered with camas which had not yet quite begun to bloom. Farther south, up another slight incline, we came to a dry area covered with sagebrush, grasses, buckwheat, and mesquite, all xerophytic species, yet each with its own preferred soil characteristics. Mesquite is found most often in swales, while grasses and invasive species prefer to inhabit mima mounds. Lomatium and sage usually occupy shallower soils. We ended our journey back to the parking lot at about 3:50 p.m. and, after an uneventful return trip, we reached EWU at around 4:20 p.m. All in all, it was quite an educational, interesting, successful, and fun day in the sun. 10

11 * Due to inclement weather late into this spring, a number of plants were immature and thus unable to be identified prior to this trip. Therefore, those plants are only listed by family and common names. Plant List: Common name Family Genus & specific epithet Aspen Salicaceae Populus spp. Bitterroot Portulacaceae Lewesia spp. Buckwheat Polygonaceae Fagopyrum spp. Bulrush Cyperaceae Bunchgrass Poaceae Buttercup Ranunculaceae Ranunuculus glaberrimus Camas Liliaceae Camassia spp. Columbia basin wild rye Poaceae Elymus spp. Currant Grossulariaceae Ribes spp. Dock Polygonaceae Rumex spp. Elderberry Caprifoliaceae Sambucus spp. Iris Iridaceae Iris spp. Lomatium Apiaceae Lomatium spp. Mesquite Fabaceae Prosopis spp. Moss Various Mullein Scrophulariaceae Verbascum spp. Red osier dogwood Cornaceae Cornus sericea Reed canary grass Poaceae Phalaris arundinacea Sagebrush Asteraceae Artemesia spp. Serviceberry or Chokecherry Rosaceae Snowberry Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos spp. Stinging nettle Urticaceae Urtica dioica Teasel Dipsacaceae Dipsacus spp. Wild onion Liliaceae Allium spp. Wild rose Rosaceae Rosa spp. Yellowbells Liliaceae Fritillaria pudica 11

12 View of the falls at Hog Canyon.. Closer view of the falls at Hog Canyon! 12

13 Still more water -- Hog Lake. Wait a minute, those are some strange-looking plants you re collecting.. References: NPS (National Park Service), U.S. Department of the Interior Biological soil crust. Accessed online 2 May 2009 at 13

14 Field Trip 3 Hog Canyon Aaron Black Biol The destination of this field botany trip is Hog Canyon, BLM land, Sections 19, 20. Township 22N. Range 40E. WM. Driving directions are as follows; Starting in Cheney turn Rt. On W. 1 st, turns into SR904 W. Stay on 904 through Tyler, take I90 W. past Tyler. From I90 W. take exit 254 Fishtrap. Take first left on the off ramp, then take left on Lake Valley Loop, follow the gravel road onto the BLM land. Follow the road to first large parking area with post and pole fence on left side of gravel road. Walk to the NE to enter Hog Canyon. The trip started at the parking lot behind the Track field, we loaded into 3 vehicles and rolled out, destination Hog Canyon. The trip was smooth for the most part; there was a quick stop while Dr. Brown checked on her baby, who was protesting the trip from what I gathered. Upon arriving at the parking area in Hog Canyon, we began our trek into the mixed woodland of the BLM land. There were not as many plants in bloom as we all hoped, this no doubt was due to the remarkably late winter we experienced this year. The habitat of the area varied as we made our way from the woodland, down into the canyon. The habitat where we started the hike was a woodland in the scablands, we encountered multiple wetland habitats along the way as well, the first being a perennial marsh. It was interesting to observe the very defined transition zone from this first marsh into the upland. Dominant plant species in the wetland were; Red osier dogwood, Aspen, and bulrush, the transition zone along the wetland broke very abruptly into snow berry. The habitat in Hog canyon showed signs of moderate to heavy cattle grazing throughout. In the upland numerous plants were observed. The class left the upland meadows and began a decent into the canyon toward Hog Lake. On the way down the slope, we observed seasonal streams running down the canyon at a very high flow stage, most likely the peak stage of runoff. Along these seasonal wetlands, many moisture dependant plants were observed. The class moved down into Hog canyon, at the North end of Hog Lake, we were met by a beautiful scene of a raging waterfall feeding into the lake. This time of year is great to experience the power of surface hydrology. Some of the class members crossed the small stream leading into the lake in order to get a closer look at the waterfall. Now mind you this was a good little ankle breaker of a walk through a field of flood deposited cobbles and boulders. Many found the waterfall to be worth the walk, camera phones were out in force and poses struck in front of the falls. Two turkey hunters passed through, camouflaged and ready for the hunt they drew a few stares from the less exposed of the group. After the photo opp we headed back for the lake edge, we crossed the stream once more and it was at this time that Joe put on a little show for us. While most of the class took the easy way around the stream via a short detour over some rocks, Joe decided that it would be a bit quicker to simply jump over the stream. A few of us who had completed the crossing looked on as Joe prepared himself for the leap, there was a mutual feeling among the spectators that this was going to be good. Joe took a few running paces and hurled himself through the air. You know that look a person gets just at that moment when they realize they ve made a mistake, that s right the oh S#@! look. Well that was exactly the look Joe had on his face as he left the ground in his defiance of gravity. He came down about 3 feet short of the bank in a nice muddy splash; unfortunately upon touchdown Joe still had quite a lot of forward momentum. There was a flailing of arms as Joe fought to remain afoot, he crashed into some shrubs hat in the air before coming to a stop. I have to hand it to Joe for remaining afoot through the whole ordeal, and aside from sopping wet feet, coming out unscathed. We finished our walk back along the rim rock of Hog Lake. In sites where the soil was deeper there were clumps of sage brush, the sage was only present in the Southernly exposed rim rock area where moisture was scarce. Moving away from the rim 14

15 rock there were a series of depressions which had a greater moisture reserve than the surrounding rocky soil. These depressions gave life to many small emergent plants, including camas, and onion. We made our way up to a gravel road leading back to the awaiting cars, the class loaded up and we headed back to Cheney. Thus we concluded a beautiful sunny afternoon at Hog Canyon. Species list: Ranunculus glabberimus, Balsomorhiza sagittata, Draba verna, Fritillaria pudica, Sisyrinchum inflatum. Ribes aureum, Pinus ponderosa, Sambucus nigra sp. Abutilon theophrasti, Leymus cinereus, Eriogonum compositum, Linaria maroccana, Amelanchier alnifolia, Rosa sp., Lewisia rediviva, Camassia sp. Allium sp. Artemisia tridentate, Salicifolius sp. Phalaris arundinaceae, Crataegus laevigata, Urtica dioica, and Lomatium gormanii. Water fall at North end of Hog Lake 15

16 The class crossing the cobble field Above Hog Lake 16

17 Joshua Gilbert Field Report: Riverside State Park, Spokane, Washington Field Botany 311, April Riverside State Park (The Bowl and Pitcher) is located along both sides of the Spokane River near the city of Spokane. The Bowl and Pitcher parking lot is about a mile north of Spokane Falls Community, just past the sewage treatment plant. This park s elevation is around 2000 feet above sea level and contains many different floral zones. Since gathering plants in the park is not allowed we concentrated on understanding how different environmental factors influence the vegetation and how to conduct a vegetation survey. The adventure started by walking through Ponderosa pine down across a footbridge over the river. This area was very scenic with lots of giant rock in and around the spring flooded river. The rest of the hike then took place on the western side of the river. The trail went through a mixed forest of Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine sometimes overlooking the river. The river s riparian zone was underwater with only small willows showing. On the slope between the trees and the river were also three more vegetative zones. The one closest to the river was predominately Eriogonum spp. and then the middle zone of Berberis aquifolium. The vegetative zone closest to the trees was mostly Festuca spp. and Balsamorhiza sagittata. It was here starting from the riparian area to the trees that we practiced how to take a vegetative survey. It was more than a little chaotic with everyone learning how to survey vegetation. We learned what tools where needed, how to use them correctly, then how to organize the data in columns so it could be understood with ease. We then finished our trip by walking a loop along the trail. Salix spp. 0-8M 0-.15M Berberis aquifolium M M Eriogonum spp M M Festuca spp. And Balsamorhiza sagittata M M Pinus ponerosa 21.3M 5.0M 17

18 Survey Vegetation Horizontal Distance Vertical Distance Above water Plant list Family Genus Species Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii Rosaceae Fragaria Spp. Rosaceae Physocarpus malvaceus Rosaceae Amelanchier alnifolia Iridaceae Sisyrinchium inflatum Polemoniaceae Phlox caespitosa Asteraceae Balsamorhiza sagittata Liliaceae Maianthemum racemosa Portulacaceae Montia perfoliata Ranunculaceae Ranunculus glaberrimus 18

19 Field Report *April 20 th 2009 *Riverside State Park* Spokane, WA N W By Amanda Raymond Dr. Brown s Field Botany Class was feeling lucky today. It was 70 degrees out and sunny and we just happen to head outside for a transit vegetation survey. John Getz, our TA was taking us out because we were without our Professor. On the trail everyone is loaded down with equipment that we used for the survey. I am packing my GPS to take a reading on where exactly we do the survey. The trail to the site was underneath a thick Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas fur (Pseudotsuga menziesii) ( mix canopy. Since the whole hike was near the water the vegetation was diverse. We see ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor), red osier (Cornus sericea), as well as prairie star (Lithophra bulbifera) and shooting star (Dodecatheon pulchellum). We arrived on the site after only a mile on the trail. While staking out the terrain we differentiated four different ecotones starting out at the water with the shoreline, which had some willow (Salix sp.) shrubs. The next zone was wild onion (Allium sp.) and oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium), the third zone had buckwheat (Erogonum sp.) and the fourth zone balsam root (Balsamorhiza sagitata) and bunch grass (Poaceae). We learned how to use the stadia rod and clinometer to and measure the elevation from the boarder of each zone to the shoreline. Professor Broan arrived as we were doing our ecotone measurements, and helped us to obtain the correct measurements. Vertical Distance Above the River of 4 Vegetation Zones Zone 1 0 to 0.15 meters Zone to 2.05 meters Zone to 3.1 metes Zone to 5 meters Horizontal Distance Between each Vegetation Zones Zone m Zone m Zone m Zone m 19

20 Plants Found: Scropulariaceae Collinsia parviflora common name: Blue eyed Mary Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa common name: Ponderosa Pine Beridaceae Berberis aquifolium (??) common name: Oregon grape Asteraceae Balsamorhiza sagittata common name: Arrowleaf Balsomeroot Salicaceae sp. common name: Willow Liliaceae Allium sp. common name: Wild onion Polygonaceae Eriogonum sp. common name: Buckwheat Rosaceae Holodiscus discolor Common name: Ocean Spray Cornaceae Cornus sericea Common name: Red Osier Saxifragaceae Lithophra bulbifera Common name: Prairie Star Primulaceae Dodecatheon pulchellum Common name: Shooting Star Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii Common name: Douglas Fir Cool raft floating on the river. 20

21 Taking our measurements Group Photo 21

22 Jessica Campbell Liberty Lake County Park Field Trip report Directions: Hwy 904, then enter I-90 going East, take the 296 exit to the Liberty lake, at the Safeway take a right onto Liberty Lake Road, take a right on Sprague, then enter Liberty Lake County Park Location: Liberty lake County Park Weather: Sunny with a light breeze and a few clouds about 62 degrees. Hike: Our hike consisted of a few different habitats including the Northern eco-region, and Rocky mountain eco-region. There was a slight elevation gradient upstream and there was an evident change in plant species. We started in the Liberty lake delta and moved up the mountain valley into a region with a higher annual rainfall. We were all hoping to spot checker lily (Frittilaria affinis) as we walked along the delta region; instead we found a lot of skunk cabbage (Lysichitum americanu) and altered hydrology that was the handy work of busy beavers! As we walked upstream our search for checker lilies continued, until finally someone spotted one. The checker lily indicates a slightly wetter region than we see in Cheney, and the further we walked up the valley the more we found. As we ascended from the delta region we found more Grand Firs (Abies grandis), and Dr. Brown pointed out that the Grand Fir smells a lot like grapefruit! The end of our hike landed us in a grove of large cedar trees(juniperus virginiana )with little ground cover but plenty of shade. 22

23 Plants Found Blue-eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora Bonneville shooting star Dodecatheon conjugens Checker Lily Fritillaria affinis Choke Cherry Prunus virginiana Cotton Wood Populus Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Horsetail Equisetum arvense Lupine Lupinus Mountain alder Alnus incana Ocean Spray Sericotheca discolor Pacific Yew Taxus brevifolia Pioneer violet Viola glabella Ponderosa Pine Pinus ponderosa Prairie star Litophragma parviflora Reed Canary grass Phalaris arundinacea Service berry Amelanchier alnifolia Skunk cabbage Lysichitum americanum Snow berry Symphoricarpos oreophilus St. Johns Wort Hypericum Tars weed Amsinckia lycopsoides Trillium Trillium petiolatum Vine maple Acer circinatum Western Trillium Trillium ovatum Western White pine Pinus monticola Indicators that we are in a wetland environment would include: Trillium Trillium petiolatum Horsetail Equisetum arvense Skunk cabbage Lysichitum americanum Checker Lily Fritillaria affinis Mountainous Zone: More moisture, dense forest, less understory, lusher, more elevation, and cooler Plants Found: Grand Fir Abies grandis Larch, deciduous trees Larix occidentalis Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata Wild ginger Asarum Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana 23

24 11 th May 2009 Liberty Lake Ben Stewart The Liberty Lake field trip was an opportunity to collect in a habitat which differed from those we had visited previously. The rendezvous point was a trail head at the south end of the lake. After the class had assembled we set out, only to stop feet from the entrance where we encountered a diverse range of wetland plants including species of Equisetum, sedges, cottonwoods, and crowd favorite: Skunk Cabbage. Dens about the lake and felled trees about the trail are sign of beaver. Who are inadvertently creating a wetland habitat which floods a large area of pines and snowberries. Pausing to make note of the change in elevation, we spot the first chocolate lily. Sk k At roughly one mile from the trailhead we find conditions typical of a Northern Rocky Mountain Ecoregion. Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir give way to Larch and Hemlock, then, a quarter mile later, Cedar. Often these trees are above a thick understory of vine maple. Trillium, clematis and lilies are numerous here. At two miles into the trail we come upon a cedar grove, and after all are accounted for, the class makes the return hike. 24

25 PLANT LIST: Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) Skunk Cabbage (Lysichitum americanum) Horsetail (Equisetum palustre) Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) Alder (Alnus) Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum) Snowberry (Symphoricarpos) Serviceberry (Amelacheir alnifolia) Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Shooting Star (Dodecatheon) Clematis (Clematis) Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) Trillium (Trillium ovatum) Ginger (Asarum caudatum) Larch (Larix occidentalis) Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) 25

26 Jacob Butcher Biology 311 Wednesday, June 3 rd, 2009 Dr. Brown Hog Canyon Trip Report On May 4 th, 2009, select members of the class (including myself) departed to Hog Canyon for the second time this quarter. This trip was to be more fruitful than the first, as the season had pulled more plants out of hiding. We boarded the old Biology Vehicle, and with John behind the wheel, set out to find adventure. [See Photo 1] We pulled into the area, and parked next to a rather amusing piece of artwork which had been made from the site s decrepit bathroom. [See Photo 2] When we got out of the vehicle, the first thing we noticed was the abundance of hungry mosquitoes who were intent on ruining our trip (in my case, they were mostly successful). I hoped we would lose the mosquitoes if we headed to a higher elevation, and we headed up a hill, stopping along the way for John to point out the newly blooming plant-life. [See Photo 3] Apart from the two or three new collectible plants, much of the landscape was dominated by last year s dead plants, and this year s immature sprouts. Still, we made the best of our situation. [See Photo 4] We headed back to the vehicle, which was parked near a stream flowing over a cement waterway. [See Photo 5] There were some substantial pools of standing water nearby: obviously the source of our mosquito troubles. We boarded the vehicle and headed back to class, checking for ticks along the way. We arrived with some mosquito bites, and when I sat down in class a tick fell out of my hair. And that was Hog Canyon. Plant List Grossulariaceae Ribes cereum Ranunculaceae Ranunculus parviflora Grossulariaceae Ribes aureum Asteraceae Balsimorhiza sagittata Saxifragaceae Lithophragma bulbifera Salicaceae Populus tremuloides Scrophulariaceae Besseya rubra Boraginaceae Mertensia longiflora Apiaceae Lomatium ambiguum Apiaceae Lomatium triternatum 26

27 Supplementary Photographs 27

28 28

29 Field Botany Weekend Fieldtrip Quincy to Leavenworth May 16, 2009 by Cleome Rowe We left Cheney right on schedule at 7:30 on a bright Saturday morning. We were all squeezed into one 11-passenger van as a few of the people were driving their own cars and Dr. Brown husband Chris was following with baby Nathan who could not be away from his mother for more than a few hours. It was against John Getz s better judgment to pack everyone into one rig, but being environmentally conscience budding botanists and ecologists, we managed to outvote the sensible fellow. Our first stop was a dash out of the van to try to rescue a mini daschund that was running in the road in front of the Cheney Funeral Home. Aaron took it to the house right behind the facility and a woman seemed grateful that we didn t run over her dog. Next we stopped in Ritzville and made a quick trip to McDonalds for fortification and caffeine, but it was done quickly and we were on our way to the Quincy Wildlife Refuge in Grant County. We took one wrong turn along the way, but Dr. Brown recognized it early and we only lost about 10 minutes driving time. We arrived at the parking area sans the proper parking permit, but we thought that the EWU logo and an explanation from our fearless leader might keep us out of trouble. [Driving directions: From I-90, exit northbound at exit 151 then turn right onto Highway 281 and proceed for just over 5 miles to Road 5 NW and turn left. Follow Road 5 NW for 3 miles and turn left sharply on an unmarked gravel road. The trailhead is found another 1/3 of a mile down the hill at a gate. From the parking area, follow the gated road right at the first junction, then follow a path right across the stream in a marshy area and left along a path afterward. Soon the trail reaches the top of Upper Ancient Lake Falls.] The day was sunny and dry but the spring has been wet enough to bring up many of the flowers and grasses. This area has been carved by the Missoula Floods and there is fairly deep soil between columnar basalt outcroppings to grow a multitude of plants in this shrub/steppe habitat. But it wasn t a plant that first caught our attention, but a half grown calico kitten that was evidently dropped off and left. It followed us along the trail as we admired the flora. The path started off between columnar basalt outcroppings and there were a lot of bunch grasses, rabbit brush, cheat grass, sagebrush, asters, and others too numerous to mention (see the table below for scientific names). Cheat grass has changed the fire frequency in the shrub/steppe habitats as this area did not burn before being colonized by this invasive grass. The sagebrush and bunchgrasses were too far apart to carry a fire until cheat in filled and allowed the area to burn frequently and hotly. The annual rainfall is only 5.5 inches and almost all of that falls in the winter so summers are extremely dry. We came to a wetter area with clematis, chokecherry and willow. Willows are dioecious and we found both the male and female plants. Our friend the kitten was still trotting along when the lead group heard a rattlesnake in some bushes just off the trail. We quickly got out of the way and had everyone 29

30 give it wide berth as it was obviously angry. We had walked for about a mile when we came to the Upper Ancient Lake Falls, the smaller of the two falls in the area. Below it, roses bloomed and there were many cattails and rushes in the pond above. We thought our cat problems were solved when we saw a family with young children that wanted her, but their mother said that they did not have room for a pet so it started back up the trail with us. The kitten was getting tired so several of us took turns carrying it back to the parking lot. We decided that we couldn t just leave it there and we would look for a shelter that was open. Crystal said that she might be able to care for it if we could find no other option. On the way back our leader took us through a cottonwood grove with so much covering the ground that it looked like snow. This wetter area supported bulbiferous grasses and plants that were difficult to distinguish under the snow. Dr. Brown wanted us to linger and enjoy the different environment, even though the trees were probably introduced, but those with allergies did not want to linger and enjoy the experience. The group managed to find its way back to the vans with our bounty in tow and with a kitten that needed a home. Crystal, Amanda, and our TA John Getz heading back to the van after visiting Ancient Lake Falls. 30

31 Plant List for Quincy Wildlife Refuge Achillea millifolium Asteraceae Amelanchier alnifolia Rosaceae Amsinckia sp. Boraginaceae Artimesia sp. Asteraceae Balsamorhiza caryana Asteraceae Balsamorhiza sagittata Asteraceae Chrysothamnus nauseosus Asteraceae Chrysothanmus viscidiflorus Asteraceae Clematis sp. Ranunculaceae Draba verna Brassicaceae Erigonum thymoides Polygonaceae Lithophragma spp. Saxifragacea Lomatium spp. Apiaceae Populus spp. Salicaceae Prunus virginiana Rosaceae Prunus spp. Rosaceae Ribes aureum Grossulariaceae Salix spp. Salicaceae Typha latifolia Typhaceae Urtica dioica Urticaceae Chris and Nathan Lambiotte in the cottonwood grove. After Dr. Brown took care of little Nathan we headed out again. We did not make it far as we stopped at a roadside fruit stand and the woman running the place took one look at our kitten and exclaimed how much she wanted a cat like that. Little did she know that it we would leave it with her. She seemed thrilled with the new kitten and we were relieved that it appeared to have found a loving home. We continued down Highway 28 toward Wenatchee, looking out for interesting plants, a form of road hunting called road botanizing, when the lead van dashed across traffic and came to a quick stop along the road across from Rock Island Dam. Before we could even get stopped, Dr. Brown was gesturing wildly and pointing at the hillside yelling, Salvia dorii! Look! Salvia dorii! Of course we all bailed out and the more prudent members waited for a large lapse in the traffic before crossing the highway. Up on the hill were several large plants in bloom and the fragrance was wonderful. We all grabbed some samples and were on our way again. Nobody wanted to linger as our next stop was for lunch. We turned off of highway 28 and took Highway 97 to Preshastin Pinnacles State Park. We did not stay long and most of what we noticed was the invasive dalmatian toadflax (Linearia dalmatica) growing along the roadway. Next we went to Sauer Mountain by taking the Preshastin exit and going across the river and west through town. We turned right on Anderson Road and went to the end where the trailhead begins. This area gets about inches of rain annually and has noticeably different vegetation on the north and south slopes. The trail begins on private property and then enters the Wenatchee National Forest. The 31

32 hills were carpeted with a cacophony of color, more flowers than I have ever seen in one place. It looked like the cover of some thick, glossy magazine with everything vying for attention. The dryer, south-facing part of the hill had vetch, lupine, Brown s peony, spaceship lomatium, sweet pea, antelope brush, balsam biscuitroot, hellebore, thick-leafed snowbrush, aspen, maple, false Solomon seal, angelica, phlox, wild onion, penstemon, Indian paintbrush, buckwheat, trillium, forgetme-nots, mock orange, pines, Oregon grape, chokecherry, current, and too many others to catch at once (see the table below for scientific names). The slope was steep in places and there was evidence of swallows nesting in the cliffs. It was difficult to take it all in at once. Josh among the lush spring flowers on Sauer Indian paintbrush (Castilleja parviflora) left; right, Browns peony (Paeonia brownii) 32

33 In the cooler zone on the north side of the mountain, there were more fir trees, sedges, Indian paintbrush in different colors, snowbush, spirea, and ferns of many types. Farther up, on a rocky ridge, we saw an unusual lomatium that had purple umbels instead of the usual yellow or white. We later learned that it was probably Lomatium dissectum var. dissectum. We walked as far as the Glacier Peak view point, where we had our picture taken. We had dinner in Leavenworth and spent the night at Nason Creek Campground where the petrology group from EWU was also staying. I think the Botany class got a bit more sleep and did a bit less partying that did the fossil and rock people, but who s to say what really went on. I was too tired to stay up and find out. Dr. Brown with Nathan. He was quite a trooper, but it helped that both mom and dad Chris came along. 33

34 Sauer Mountain Plant List Aibes grandis Pinaceae Acer glabrum Aceraceae Acer macrophyllum Aceraceae Allium sp. Liliaceae Alnus sp. Betulaceae Amelanchier alnifolia Rosaceae Balsamorhiza pp. Asteraceae Berberis sp. Berberidaceae Bromus tectorum Poaceae Carex sp. Cyperaceae Castilleja parviflora Scrophulariaceae Ceanothus velutinus Rhamnaceae Delphinium nuttallianum Ranunculaceae Fragaria virginiana Rosaceae Gallium aparine Rubiaceae Lomatium dissictum Apiaceae Lupinus sp. Fabaceae Lycopodium sp. Lycopodiaceae Mertensia sp. Boraginaceae Mianthemum racemosa Liliaceae Paeonia brownii Paeoniceae Penstemon sp. Scrophulareaceae Philadelphus lewisii Hydrangeaceae Phlox sp. Polemoniaceae Pinus contorta Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa Pinaceae Poa sp. Poaceaeae Polysodium glycyrrhiza Dryopteridaceae Polystichum mumitum Dryopteridaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii Pinaceae Ranunculus sp. Ranunculaceae Ribes aureum Grossulariaceae Rosa sp. Rosaceae Rubus discolor Rosaceae Rubus parviflorus Rosaceae Rubus Spectabolis Rosaceae Spiraea sp. Rosaceae Trillium ovatum Liliaceae Trillium petiolatum Liliaceae Tsuga sp. Pinaceae Vaccinium sp. Ericaceae Vicia americana Fabaceae Veratrum viride Liliaceae Zigadenus venenosus Liliaceae 34

35 Joseph Dowling, Botany 311 Write up- Lake Wenatchee overnight trip day 0ne, May 16, 2009 On Saturday May 16, 2009 we left the football parking lot to go to Lake Wenatchee. We headed west and got to Ritzville where we stopped at McDonalds and Starbucks for a pick me up. After this we all piled back into our Dodge van and headed for our first stop which was Quincy Wildlife Area. On our drive to Quincy we passed though different phases of land vegetation manmade and natural; from the dry pine forest and grass lands of Cheney to the Sagebrush of Sprague Lake onto the Ritzville flat agricultural dry land. The phase of change before the first spot was the irrigated agriculture of the Quincy area with all of the wheel lines and irrigation cannels that make up the lively hood of people in the basin. The areas that have not been converted to agriculture are in a grass/sage brush vegetation cover. There was basalt lava out crop valleys that vegetation has only been disturbed a little. Throughout the day we had very nice weather and it was very sunny. Our first advancer was pulling a dog off the side of the road. It was only at the Cheney funeral home. Day One Quincy Wildlife Refuge We took the Quincy exit and started driving to the refuge, but made a side trip on to another graveled road. I got a brief look at want I think was Cree Lake, but we got corrected and headed for Quincy Wildlife Area. We got to Quincy Wildlife Area (refuge) and met up with Dr. Brown s family. Quincy Wildlife Area is located outside of Quincy to the southwest off highway 281. On the way out I found out the Cleona and John were from here. John growing up around here. Quincy Wildlife Area is a sagebrush step. Ancient Lake is a part of the wildlife area and it gets around five inches of rain a year. The area can be described as having cliffs, potholes, rock out crops and other features that were a cause of glacial flooding. When we pulled in we had a cat join our party; it followed us all the way down to the falls. Crystal took a real liking to it, everyone did I guess. Walking down to the falls we saw lots of sagebrush and small herbs and a grove of Cottonwoods. As we rounded the bend away from some of the outcroppings and walked across the gorge/valley we ran in to a stand of willows that were shrub size. Becky pointed this out because they had both female and male plants in close proximity to each other. We kept walking with the cat in tow and saw many more herbs and grass. We came up on our first pothole and an interesting rock outcrop and a small cave as we walked we passed through a small stand of stinging nettle. When we broke though we were standing on basalt on our way to the falls. We passed a rattlesnake in the shrubs and some of the group jump while others just moved out of the way. As we finally got to the falls and valley going towards the river we ran into a few people. The view was very nice of the descent towards the Columbia River. The cotton wood grove was nice and it looked like snow was falling because of all the fuzz falling from the trees. The following is a list of plants that I saw on the walk to the falls and back. Plant List for Quincy Wildlife Refuge Balsamroot (Asteraceae Balsamorhiza careyana) Blue bunch Wheatgrass (Poaceae Pseudoroegneria spicata) Buckwheat (Polygonaceae Eriogonum douglasii) Bunchgrass (native species) Canadian thistle (Asteraceae Cirsium arverse) Cattails (Typhacea Typha L.) Cheat grass (Poaceae Bromus tectorum) Cottonwood (Salicaceae Populus balsamifera) Mint (Lamiaceae Mentha spp.) Nightshade (Solanaceae Solanum spp.) Mustered (Jim hill/tumble) (Brassicaceae Sisymbrium altissimum) Poison Ivy (Anacardiaceae Toxicodendron rydbergii) Purple Aster (Asteraceae Erigeron annuus) Rabbit Brush (Asteraceae Chrysothamnus nauseosus) Rumex (Polygonaceae Rumex crispus) Russian thistle (Chenopodiaceae Salsola tragus) Sagebrush (Asteraceae Artemisia tridentata Artemisia rigida) Stinging Nettle (Urticaceae Urtica dioica) Willows (Salicaceae Saxlix spp.) Yarrow (Asteraceae Achillea millefolium) 35

36 Quincy Wildlife Area at the falls. Quincy over looking the fall and surrounding area Day one Peshastin Pinnacles State Park. After leaving Quincy Wildlife area Crystal found a place to drop the kitten off before lunch so she was happy that it got a home, it was a small orchard stand outside of Quincy. We stopped at Peshastin Pinnacles State Park for lunch and to stretch our legs. Peshastin Pinnacles is a State Park off highway 2 outside of Cashmere. The Wenatchee River runs just below it and it is sets within the river valley. It is surrounded by orchards on the cliffs of the Wenatchee River with small trees and shrubs. With a rainfall of around ten to fifteen inches a year. Peshastin Pinnacles State Park has sandstone rock faces that people climb up and over to look at the Wenatchee River. We didn t really look for plant life here. There were a lot of dalmation toadflax and dogwood trees in the park. On the way to our next spot we had to pull over along the highway and look at some Salria dorrii in the road cut. We got the scenic view of East Wenatchee and some of Wenatchee River before our next hike. Dalmatian Toadflax (Scrophulariaceae Limaria dalmatica) & Dogwood (Cornaceae Cornus spp.) 36

37 Day One Last stop Sauer Mountain Sauer Mountain was full of vegetation of different habitats. It gets 19 inches of rain a year. We took a 2 ½ mile walk up the mountain and crossed three different environments. We walked all the way up to Glacier Peak view point and took a class picture. On the way up we saw two lizards sunbathing very interesting. It was hot with no breezes what so ever. We passed a few couples on the mtn. and Becky showed us the goat trail they went up last time they came here, Thank heavens we did not go up that way. We did walk though mesic areas of the mountain that were not facing the sun where it was cool and damp and had other species that I had not seen previously. The view was very nice. The following list is of plants on Sauer Mountain. Sauer s Mountain is located a few miles outside of Leavenworth and is off Highway 2. Its elevation is around 3,116 ft and the climb is around 1,800 ft. By the time we got to the bottom we were all ready to eat so we went to Leavenworth and had a meal before going to our camp site on Lake Wenatchee the south end. We also found fellow EWU students there from the Geology field trip, had s mores, fixed camp, and told stories. Sauer Mountain View March up Never Ending Mtn. (Sauer mtn.) Plant list for Sauer s Mtn. Aspen(Salicaceae Populus spp.) Antelope Brush (Rosaceae Purshia tridentata) Balsamroot (Asteraceae Balsamorhiza careyana) Blue bunch Wheatgrass (Poaceae Pseudoroegneria spicata) Buckwheat (Polygonaceae Eriogonum douglasii) Bedstraw (Rubiaceae Galium spp.) Bulbous Bluegrass (Poaceae Poa bulbosa) Cheat grass (Poaceae Bromus tectorum) Choke Cherry (Rosaceae Prunus virginiana) Cottonwood (Salicaceae Populus balsamifera) Curly dock (Polygonaceae Rumex crispus) Death camas (Melanthithiaceae Zigadenus spp.) Dogbane (Apocynaceae Apocynum androsaemilfolium) Douglas fir (Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii) False Solomon's seal (Rugcaceae Maianthemum racemosum) Flax-tall (Linaceae Linum usitatissimum) Indian pant-brush (Orobanchaceae Castilleja spp.or Scrophulariaceae Castilleja spp.) Iris (Inidaceae Iris spp.) Légume (Fabaceae) Lupin (Fabaceae Lupinus spp.) Maple (Aceraceae Acer spp.) Milkweed (Apocynaceae Asclepias spp.) Ocean-Spray (Rosaceae Holodiscus discolor) Oregon Grape (Berberidaceae Berberis aquifolium) Purple Aster (Asteraceae Erigeron annuus) Ponderosa Pine (Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa) Columbia Basin Wild Rye (Poaceae Secale montanum) Servicie Berry (Rosaceae Amelanchier alnifolia) Snow Barry (Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos albus) Spotted Knapweed (Asteraceae Centaurea biebersteinii) Syrniga (Hydrangeaceae Philadelphus lewisii) Wild onion (Alliaceae Allium spp.) Wild Rosa (Rosaceae Rosa virginiana) Yarrow (Asteraceae Achillea millefolium) Yellow bell(lililaceae Frittilara prdica) 37

38 Crystal Bowlen Field Info, Leavenworth, Washington Overnight Trip Date: May 17, 2009 First Stop Location: Fish Lake Bog Natural Research Area Directions: From Route 2 turn north at Coles Corner. Continue on and at the fork keep right. Keep an eye open and turn left at the Cove Resort Sign. Continue on to the bog. Habitat: Boggy habitat, rich high and low elevation plant mix, low nitrogen content, very wet, moss up to a few feet deep making the ground spongy. Dominated by mostly by Sphagnum moss, as well as willow species, and various berries with cattails in the deeper portions. Rainfall: 24 inches Plant List: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Holodiscus discolor Genus Vaccinium Paxistima myrsinites Acer circinatum Pinus ponderosa Spiraea Ericaceae Cyperaceae Ceanothus velutinus Trillium ovatum Abies grandis Family Orchidaceae Maianthemum stellatum Family Salicaceae Crataegus douglassii Vaccinium macrocarpon Drosera rotundifolia Pinus contorta (debatable) Typha angustifolia Sphagnum Iridaceae Kalmia microphylla White flower with hairs on the petals Equisetum Pyrola Field Notes: After eating a quick breakfast, packing up, and playing pass-the-baby, we were off to the Fish Lake Bog. The morning was cool which was good for cutting down on bug density, perfect for exploring a bog. But first, we had to get to the bog. Our first attempt at a trail lead to a very wet end so we blazed our own trail in hopes of finding one on higher ground. Thankfully we found one without losing anyone in the dense vegetation composed of many tall coniferous trees and lots of bushes and other smaller plants. The bog was still always just out of reach if we wanted to keep out feet dry though 38

39 so we sucked it up, and after a bit of grumbling and fumbling we managed to cross a thick rim of bushes and walk out onto the more open bog. No dry feet here, and for Crystal and Miriam, no dry pants either! Watch your step! If the carnivorous sundew doesn t eat you, a water filled hole might! Thankfully, the same plants that were blocking the way also provided a little help for staying above the muck. Once we all managed to get onto the spongy bog, the plants we found were quite interesting. There was even the added treat of some edible cranberries. Mostly plants out on and around the bog were fairly short and included some willow species, the carnivorous sundew, and a thick carpet of sphagnum moss. Walking close to each other was a bit like walking on a trampoline. Off in the distance we had the added pleasantry of snow covered mountains. They were much easier to see without the vegetation around the trails blocking the view. Getting a chance to see this area and explore the unique species was a real treat since this type of habitat is getting harder and harder to find as humans move in. Many of the species are becoming rare because they cannot grow anywhere else. Hopefully most of us felt that the wet feet were well worth the experience. Stop Two Location: Barclay Lake Trail Directions: Taking highway 2, turn north near milepost 41 onto road 6024 (across from the Baring store). Cross the railroad tracks and pass a few houses while keeping left at the junction (about.3 miles in) and follow the logging road around the western base of Mount Baring. The trailhead starts at 2200 feet. Habatat: High moutanous area, with reminents of the old growth temprate rain forest. Conifers dominate the upper canopy and ferns are disperesed along much of the understory. Rainfall roughly 106 inches in this area though it got a bit drier and warmer going down the road. Plant List: Petasites frigidus Conifers Tsuga heterophylla Pseudotsuga menziesii Marchantiophyta Tolmiea menziesii Blechnum spicant Dicentra spectabilis Rubus spectabilis Other Ferns (including endusia) Vaccinium parvifolium Sambucus Small white mustard Tellima grandiflora Geranium robertianum Castilleja Weedy Legume Aralia Field Notes: Unfortunately this particular hike was canceled due to snow (left over from the winter). Wet feet and cold snow don t mix. We did get a chance to see some interesting plants on the road going up to the 39

40 trail. John s masterful turnaround at the top was very impressive. Good thing too, because it s a very long way down (just don t tell anyone about the scratch from the broken tree!). Starting from the trailhead, we stopped three times on the way back down the mountain. The trees on either side were so tall it was a bit hard to see past them, but once in awhile we got a glimpse of the beautiful mountains around us. I imagine it would have been much more impressive (but harder to see) if we d been there before 1966 when much of the old growth on the trail was cut down. Some reminders of logging in the area can still be seen by the occasional stump (especially near the bottom).this trip was a great chance to collect some ferns. While much of what we normally see around Cheney is small, here we had very large sword ferns (Polystichum munitum) as well as some other interesting smaller ferns. On our second stop, bleeding hearts decorated the ground along with some more piggy back plants (Tolmia menziesii) that we first saw further up the mountain. Salmon berry bushes (Rubus spectabilis) were also found here; too early for berries, but I hear they can be tasty! The last stop also proved to be useful for collecting. There were at least 3 types of ferns as well as more Indian Paint Brush (Castilleja). All in all, this trip was probably one of the most productive for collecting Sunday, despite missing out on the actual trail. Careful though, with all the twists and turns parking could be risky. Stop Two and a Half Lunch at Money Creek Stop Three: Location: Tumwater Canyon Directions: Starting at Leavenworth, head West on Highway 2. At the corner of Icicle Road and Highway 2 start your odometer and continue on for 1.7 miles at which point there will be a nondescript parking area next to the river (on the left). Habitat: North facing area along the river. Dominating plants include maples and firs. Rainfall in Leavanworth, 19 inches Plant List: Artemisia Sambucus Castilleja Mahonia aquifolium Phacelia hastata Amelanchier alnifolia Boraginaceae Athyrium filix-femina Apiaceae Holodiscus discolor Cyperaceae Lewisia tweedii Saxifragaceae Acer macrophyllum Abies grandis Acer circinatum Paxistima myrsinites Malus domestica 40