Virtual Early Spring Wildflower Walk
Ouabache Trails Park
April 10, 2020
Sunlight illuminates the leaves of Wild Ginger
Each month throughout the year I offer a Second Sunday Nature Exploration Walk in the afternoon, always at Ouabache Trails Park (a 254-acre county park just north of Vincennes, Indiana). I've lost track, but I think I've been doing this for several years now. Each month has a different theme, and the part of the park used also varies.
I switch things around every year, theme-wise, trying new ones, bringing back one from the past, etc. But, one that I do every year is the Early Spring Wildflower Walk, usually in April. It is consistently well-attended - everyone is ready to share the resurgence of life and to see beautiful native wildflowers - which are abundant at this park.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though the park was open, I canceled the walk for safety reasons. It's hard to practice social distancing when everyone needs to look at the same thing! At this point, it's hard to know when I can resume public walks.
But, I decided to not completely cancel the walk. Instead, I went out and did my own "real" walk on April 10 (two days before the scheduled one was to happen) and took photos and notes. I offer this Virtual Early Spring Wildflower Walk, instead, for those who cannot get out, so that you can still enjoy the wildflowers, and as a guide for those who can get out and walk these same trails.
What I show is what was blooming on that particular day, of course. If you go, there may well be other plants blooming, and it could be that some pictured here will be past blooming. I also show some of the plants I found that are just showing up or in bud, and some that are going to fruit or seed. And, I've also inserted some non-flowering plants, fungi, and woody plants, because even though there's always a theme to my walks, we are always aware of everything going on (I currently don't have a camera that can capture animal life or zoom in to a bird in a tree, though).
Also, what I show is what I saw only along Trails 1,2, and 3. You would likely see some other species in other parts of the park, which may be on my list of early spring wildflowers found here. The plants shown from April 10 are all woodland species.
Two days previous, on April 8, a huge storm with 80 mph straight-line winds hit Vincennes and the surrounding area. Storm damage is pictured in this walk.
Every year, the wildflowers we see at a particular time in April varies. In fact, years ago I would consistently do an early spring wildflower walk in early May, but I started to find that so much had gone by. It keeps getting earlier! This was a rather early year.
So, take time to go on this virtual walk with me. Imagine you are there. Imagine the cool breeze, warm sun, and bird songs while we are "walking".
Let's go!
Before taking the trail,
we stop at the Lynn Wiseman Butterfly Garden. Wiseman was a
local expert on native wildflowers. He knew this area before it
became Ouabache Trails Park in 1983, and he kept records and photos
of the plants he found here. He passed away in 1997. In this garden,
maintained by volunteers, you will find many plants native to Knox
County, though some have not been spotted in the park.
Under a tree between the
garden and the office building grows Fernleaf Phaecelia, or Purple
Phaecelia.
Phaecelia bipinnatifida Family Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf family)
This is a good bee plant.
In the butterfly garden:
Virginia Bluebells
Mertansia virginica Family Boraginaceae (Borage family)
This often grows in large
colonies, especially in floodplain forests and other wet places, but
it also does well in gardens.
In the garden: Golden
Ragwort
Senecio aureus Family Asteraceae (Aster family)
This plant has
heart-shaped leaves at its base, which helps distinguish it from
similar wildflowers that bloom at the same time
Like other members of the
very large Aster family, Golden Ragwort has both disk flowers and ray
flowers. Disk flowers are the tight group of tiny, true flowers in
the middle that are visited by pollinators and that produce seed. Ray
flowers, around the edge, help attract pollinators to the disk
flowers.
In the garden: Wild
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
This tall plant is the
only native Columbine found in Eastern North America. The flowers
consist of 5 yellow petals with long red spurs. As the blossoms hang
downward (long stamens and pistil showing below), the spurs look to
be at the top. These are where the nectar is stored, and only
long-tongued pollinators can reach it. It is a favorite of
Hummingbirds, who are also attracted to the red color.
Now let's head straight
into Trail 1.
Dutchman's Breeches
(Britches)
Dicentra cucullaria
Family Fumariaceae (Fumitory family)
The flowers of this plant
dangle from a slender stalk like traditional Dutch pantaloons hanging
out to dry. Like the Columbine, it has spurs pointing upward that
contain the nectar.
The leaves are finely
dissected. Dutchman's Breeches are very common and numerous, much
more so than a similar species, Squirrel Corn (D. canadensis) that is
found in a different part of the park.
On April 10, Dutchman's
Breeches was nearing its bloom time.
Virginia Spring Beauty
Claytonia virginica Family Portulacaceae (Purslane family)
One of the earliest
bloomers in our area, this plant is common and widespread, even
beyond woodlands. You may have seen the pale blooms carpeting
sections of Gregg Park in Vincennes. The long, narrow leaves in this
photo belong to Virginia Spring Beauty.
Virginia Spring Beauty, up
close.
Here we can see that the
flower has 5 petals with pink stamens in the center. Colors of Spring
Beauty petals vary, from very pale to having deep pink or lavender
striping. The stripe serve as “nectar guides” for pollinators.
This plant has an edible
corm on its root, and the flowers are common wildlife food, as well
as a nectar source for many different pollinators.
(the frilly leaves belong to Fragile Fern)
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum Family Liliaceae (Lily family)
These individuals are
unfurling now, sometimes in large groups. Later in spring they will
have have very small, greenish-white flowers hanging in clusters all
along a slender stem.
The plant looks similar to
False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina recemosa), which we'll meet later on
the walk.
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense Family Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family)
The large, fuzzy,
heart-shaped leaves of Wild Ginger appear in colonies, sometimes
functioning as a native ground cover. This is not the true ginger,
which is an unrelated, tropical plant. But, the swollen root, or
rhizome, tastes remarkably like real ginger and has been
traditionally used for flavoring. What is hard to see in this
grouping is that each Wild Ginger plant has two leaves whose stems
are joined just above the soil, and that's where the flower is.
Here is the Wild Ginger
flower. Sometimes you have to move away forest floor debris to get to
it. When open, it has three deep maroon petals that are pointed. Some
flowers are long-pointed, others more blunt. As it is on the ground,
it is pollinated by crawling insects.
Downy Yellow Violet/Yellow
Woodland Violet
Viola pubescens Family Violaceae (Violet family)
One of the three common
Viola species in our local woodlands, this plant has heart-shaped, toothed
leaves. Flowers emerge at the top of a stem, above the rest of the
plant, and exhibit typical Violet family characteristics: 5 petals,
consisting of 2 above, 2 “wings”, and one petal on the bottom,
with a short spur. The petals have darker nectar guides at their
bases, most obvious on the bottom petal.
Also, like other members
of the genus Viola, it has some self-pollinating flowers on short
stalks, at the bottom of the plant, that never open. These ensure
some kind of propagation, should pollination of the regular flowers
fail.
The leaves and flowers of
Violets are edible and high in vitamin C.
Dwarf Larkspur
Delphinium tricorne
Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
Dwarf Larkspur explodes on
the scene in the spring woodland, adding spots of intense purple
color, sometimes in masses. The leaves can be seen at the bottom of
this photo (left and right), with their distinctive deep lobes.
Dwarf Larkspur blooms
The flower consists of 5
petal-like sepals with a long spur, which contains the nectar. Only
long-tongued animals can access the nectar, so it is visited by
Bumblebees, as well as some early-season butterflies and moths.
The flowers also produce a
blue dye.
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum Family Berberidaceae (Barberry family)
This easily recognized
plant, with its large, umbrella-like leaves, grows in colonies.
Mayapples produce their
single flower and fruit where the stems of its two leaves meet. Here,
we see a Mayapple flower bud. The flower will be about 2” wide,
with 6-9 white petals and white sepals behind, and yellow stamens in
the center. This will become an oval green fruit. When ripe, the
fruit is yellow and edible. But, beware – unripe fruit and other
parts of the plant are toxic to us humans.
Wild Blue Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Family Polemoniaceae (Phlox family)
Like others in this
family, Blue Phlox is a tubular flower that opens out flatly into 5
notched or rounded lobes. Anthers (tops of stamens) are inside the
tube and not visible. Flowers occur in a branched cluster at the top
of the stem and have a sweet aroma. Colors are variable, from very
pale pink or lavender to brighter pink, blue, or bluish-lavender.
The leaves, growing
opposite each other down the stem, are lance-shaped.
Fragile Fern Cystopteris fragilis
Ferns are not flowering
plants. Instead of producing fruit and seed, they reproduce via
spores. Fragile Fern is the first fern to pop up fresh in our woodlands.
This light green, delicate fern is very common and numerous,
sometimes behaving as a ground cover.
Cleavers/Stickwilly
Galium aparine
Family Rubiaceae (Madder family)
Cleaves has just finished
blooming here, and is going to fruit (then to seed). The flowers are
very tiny, 4-lobed, and grow in clusters of long stalks at the nodes
of the stem. Eventually this plant will grow very long across the
ground – where there are many, they can create a mat. The groups of
narrow leaves grow in whorls along the stem. The plant has
downward-curved bristles that make it effectively attach to animal
fur and our clothing, which helps it disperse its seeds farther. The little round, brown seeds often show up on pet fur.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum Family Araceae (Arum family)
The species word
“triphyllum” refers to the three leaves of this plant, which can
be seen in this photo. The plant starts emerging from the ground like
a pointed spear, then the leaves begin to open out and the rest of
the plant to rise. The stalk arises with a large spathe, which is a
modified part of a leaf called a bract. This specialized part (the
“pulpit”) attracts pollinators to the spadix (“Jack”) inside,
which will develop true flowers not very noticeable to us. This
botanical set-up is a feature of the Arum plants, though the
modifications between species are varied and sometimes
exotic-looking.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit –
spathe pulled back to reveal spadix.
The spathe of individuals
vary in color, from pale green to very deep maroon. The spadix will
develop male flowers near the top and female below. If successfully
pollinated, this will become, in autumn, a tight cluster of bright
crimson fruit (the leaves and spathe will have disappeared).
The root can be used as a
food, but only if dried or cooked. This is a plant of many names,
indicating it as a plant of many uses throughout history.
An area to the right of
Trail 1, covered in native plants and wildflowers. Also seen are
broken trees from the huge storm two nights previous.
Toadshade/Sessile Trillium
Trillium sessile
Family Liliaceae (Lily family)
As the “tri”
indicates, all parts of Trillium are in 3's or multiples of 3. At the
top of the stalk are three leaves. In the center is a flower with 3
petals and 6 stamens. Below the flower are 3 sepals.
In Toadshade Trillium, the
leaves are flush with the stem, attached directly without small
stalks. They are variably mottled, but less so than Trillium
recurvatum (which we'll see later on the walk) and also tend to be
broader than than T. recurvatum. Petals are deep maroon in both
species. In Trillium sessile, sepals remain on top of the leaves.
The maroon color and
strong carrion odor attract flies and beetles, which pollinate it.
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Family Papaveraceae (Poppy family)
Blood root rises in the
early spring woods as a single stem with a single leaf wrapped around
it. Arising from the tip of the stem is a bud that opens to reveal a
single flower of 8-12 white petals and a yellow center.
A truly ephemeral plant,
the flowers don't last long, and the petals are easily knocked off by
wind or rain, so keep checking the woods in early spring to catch
sight of these exquisite blooms. As the flower fades, the single leaf
opens up to reveal its unique shape. This photos shows a group of
such leaves.
Bloodroot – this shows
the fruit developing at the top of the stem after the flower has
faded and the leaf has opened (there's a Wild Ginger leaf in the foreground).
Bloodroot gets its name
from a unique characteristic – the rhizome root, when broken,
“bleeds” a bright orange sap that makes a great dye. The whole
plant contains sanguinarine, an anti-microbial substance, so
it has traditionally been used as medicine.
Prairie/Purple
Trillium/Bloody Butcher
Trillium recurvatum Family Liliaceae (Lily family)
A little earlier, we met
up with Toadshade Trillium – T. sessile – and I made some
comparisons to T. recurvatum so that we can easily tell the
difference between these two very similar and closely related plants.
The leaves of Prairie
Trillium tend to not be as broad as Toadshade, and they tend to be
more deeply mottled. Also the three leaves are attached to the one
stem with short stalks.
Prairie Trillium – T.
recurvatum – side view.
From this view, we can see
another distinction, compared to Toadshade. Whereas the 3 sepals of
Toadshade remain on top of the leaves, the sepals of Prairie turn
down below the leaves (the space created by stalked leaves allows
this).
Prairie Trillium is also
more common and numerous, sometimes in masses.
I have found that
Whitetail Deer like Trillium. On their path through my home woods,
they pass through large patches of Prairie Trillium, and later I find
whole patches chopped off.
Small-Flowered/Littleleaf/Kidney-leaf
Buttercup
Ranunculus abortivus Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup
family)
This long, straggly plant
has basal leaves that are rounded or kidney-shaped with rounded teeth
around the edges. Upper leaves, along the stem, are narrow and deeply
3-lobed.
The flower is tiny, with 5
tiny yellow petals.
This plant is found in
many places besides woodlands – you may have seen it around in
yards and other disturbed places. It may not seem very noticeable, so
next time you come across one, look closely!
Common Blue Violet
Viola sororia Family Violaceae (Violet family)
A classic, very common
Violet! It is numerous in the woodland, its bright purplish-blue
flowers adding dots of color to the woodland floor. But in gardens,
lawns, parks, and other places, it can be even more numerous, and
create more flowers per plant.
Unlike the Downy Yellow
Violet we saw earlier, Common Blue's blossoms are lower, closer to
the plant. Its heart-shaped leaves are a little broader than the
Downy Yellow. Of course, it has the classic irregular 5-petal flower
structure of Violets mentioned earlier, with nectar guides at the
base of each petal. It also has the self-pollinating, never-opened
flowers (called cleistogamous) at the base, or even underground.
The lateral petals
(“wings”) are bearded on Common Blue.
Like other Violets, all
the parts are edible. Flowers are especially nice for making
lavender, blue, or pink-colored syrup or jelly, and flowers are
sometimes candied for cake decorations.
The Common Blue is an
important food for the larvae of Fritillary butterflies.
Appendaged Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum
appendiculatum Family Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf
family)
“Waterleaf” refers to
the water-marked look of many leaves, though some leaves don't
exhibit this, and may be paler green, as those in this photo. Leaves
are all 5-lobed and variable – mature leaves are more deeply lobed.
The plant is densely hairy.
Right now, they are in
bud, as this photo shows. Flowers arise from the center of the plant
on a stalk, branched at the top. Flowers vary in color – pale
purple, pinkish-lavender, even white. Look for them in May.
Wood Nettle
Laportea canadensis Family Urticaceae (Nettle family)
Like the related Stinging
Nettle (Urtica dioica), this plant is covered with stinging
hairs. Brushing against them, the tiny hypodermic needle-like hairs
inject a combination of acids into your skin (one of them being
formic acid, the same injected via an ant bite) that leave an
unmistakable burning sting (which eventually goes away), Despite this
irritating trait, this plant is edible and is also valuable medicine.
It is best harvested when young (like the one shown here). In late
summer and fall, when the plant becomes dry, the fibers of the stem
can be processed into twine. During summer, Wood Nettle will be much
taller and broader (be careful along the Nettle-lined trail
sections!) and will bloom. Flowers are not showy, but filmy,
cream-colored clusters projecting from the stem between leaves.
Purple Cress/Limestone
Bittercress
Cardamine douglassii Family Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
Purple Cress is another of
the earliest bloomers in our woodland, sometimes even arising from
the paths. The lower leaves are rounded and stalked. Upper leaves are
lance-shaped, with wavy margins, or slightly toothed, attached to the
stem directly, without stalks.
Its pale pinkish-purple or
white blossoms, like all plants in this family, are 4-petaled, like a
cross (the family name used to be Cruciferae).
As is evident in this
photo, blossom period is fading now for this species, and seed pods
are developing. This long, skinny type of seed pod is called a
silique.
Like most mustard family
members, Purple Cress has a peppery, biting flavor and is edible.
Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Family Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)
This is a young specimen
of a softly woody shrub that can become very tall. Elderberry is a
queen among medicinal plants, both for its flowers and berries. A
large, flat-topped cluster of berries will become a cluster of
almost-black fruits.
A distinctive
characteristic of the Elderberry plant is an abundance of lenticels
(long-oval pore-like structures) on its light-colored and otherwise
smooth trunk and larger branches.
A little further on Trail
1, we come to a Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum, Family
Lauraceae – Laurel family) that had been snapped off during the
recent storm. Most of the very tall tree was lying down the trail,
with limbs and branches shattered all over.
This Sassafras tree was in
full bloom when this happened, and branches full of pale yellow
flower clusters were all over. These appear to be male flowers - male and female flowers on on separate Sassafras trees. I was sad that this tree would not
continue to provide food and shelter to the many kinds of wildlife
that use it, including the larvae of Spicebush butterflies.
The fallen Sassafras did
provide a closer look at a common native vine that was climbing on it – Virginia Creeper
(Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Family Vitaceae – Grape
family). The leaves of this one are just developing. Looking closely,
we see that each is made of 5 leaflets that emanate from a center
spot (at the end of the stem). This is one of the characteristics that
distinguish it from Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, Family
Anacardiaceae – Cashew family), an unrelated plant with which it is
often confused. Very few people are affected negatively by Virginia
Creeper. It is also a good native ground cover, provides shelter and
nesting material, and its berries are good wildlife food. Much the
same can be said for the native Poison Ivy, too, except for the
toxicity of the Poison Ivy.
A last look back at the
fallen Sassafras tree.
An invasive plants control
area. The Knox County Cooperative Invasive Weed Management Area (part of the Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District) has
been doing work in this area, and others, to control Winter
Creeper, Burning Bush, and other invasive plants that have been
competing with our native flora.
Off of Trail 1, there is a
side trail that enters the grounds of the Fort Knox II site, part of
the Vincennes State Historic Sites. Step into the grounds and explore
the wildflowers, vines and trees along the edges.
But, we will continue
along on Trail 1.
We come to the first Trail
1 bridge. Watch out for holes at the start of the bridge, caused by
erosion.
The bases of mature trees
often have lovely, photogenic clusters of native plants. Here we see
Wild Ginger, Dwarf Larkspur, Spring Beauty, Trilliums, ferns, and
more.
Of to the right along
Trail 1, mushrooms catch the eye, pale against an old log. These are
Dryad's Saddle, a.k.a. Pheasant Back. They are edible, though I have
yet to try them. They are always huge like this.
As we move farther along
Trail 1, gullies get deeper and ridges are steeper as the streams start becoming enough to erode deeper into the landscape.
Trout Lily leaf with
unfurling Fragile Ferns.
The leaf belongs to either
Yellow Trout Lily/Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium americanum) or
White Trout Lily/Fawn-Lily (E. albidum) – Family Liliaceae
(Lily family).
Both can be found at
Ouabache Trails Park, usually not mixed. The blooms are past now, but
they were elegant things, dipped forward and down, long yellow or
white petals curled back, stamens and pistil forward. Leaves are
often speckled like a trout's back. We'll see more later.
We get to the first side
trail that goes back to the upper loop road. This is where Trail 1 becomes Trail
2, so we continue forward, not on the side trail.
We are about to enter
Trail 2, a spot that is sunnier than more densely wooded parts of the
trails. Large trees had gone down in a storm years ago, opening up
the area, which began to fill with tree saplings (such as Sassafras
and Tuliptree), other woody plants (such as Elderberry), and various
wildflowers. This is more evident later, when trees are completely
leafed-out and the canopy filled, but not so much in this spot.
Drooping Trillium/Nodding
Wakerobin
Trillium flexipes
Family Liliaceae (Lily family)
We met two other members
of the genus Trillium before – T. sessile and T.
recurvatum – which both had deep maroon flowers.
Here's something
different, but still a Trillium. The 3 leaves are broader and
diamond-shaped, and light green, not mottled. The elegant 3-petaled
white flower droops down on its long stalk to below the leaves,
petals curved gracefully backward, cream-colored anthers forward.
There is a photo just inside the park office of Lynn Wiseman sitting on a log, surrounded by these
plants in bloom. This is the spot.
There is one other place
in the park with these, and they are much more abundant there, though
the sparseness in this spot is a more common occurrence for this
species.
We come to the next side
trail that goes to the upper loop road, but we will continue forward
on Trail 2.
Early spring scenery along
Trail 2.
We approach the first
Trail 2 bridge.
Scenery from the bridge.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Family Geraniaceae (Geranium family)
This beautiful native
wildflower is a cousin to the cultivated Geranium.
Its 5 petals vary in color
through pinks and lavenders, and it has deeply lobed leaves.
When mature, the seeds
will resemble a cranes bill (thus the name of a related wild plant,
Cranesbill).
On Trail 2, just over the previous bridge, we come to
what I call “Wild Geranium Hill”. This will be strikingly covered
with blooming Wild Geraniums before long. But, they also bloom on the
other side of the trail (where I took the previous photo) and across
the gully.
False Rue-Anemone/Isopyrum
Enemion biternatum
(was Isopyrum biternatum) Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercups)
False Rue-Anemone starts
blooming pretty early and graces us with its blooms for a long time
after. Its small 5-petaled white flowers dot a leafy mass of small,
smooth, deeply cleft leaves.
A mass of False
Rue-Anemone in bloom. This plant grows in colonies, and parts of
Trail 2 have them in abundance.
Another broken tree, from
the recent storm. I consider it unsafe to walk in the woods the day
after a big storm. This is two days after, and I am extra careful and
watchful.
Strong winds blow down
tree flowers and twigs of young leaves before their time, but afford
us a closer look.
Here is a cluster of male
flowers from an Oak tree, I'm guessing Red Oak (Quercus rubra),
which are common in this woodland. When I picked up the cluster from
the paper, it left a pile of pollen!
Cranefly Orchid leaves
Tipularia discolor Family Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Yes, we have native
Orchids! Indiana has many, and you can learn about them in a book by
Michael Homoya called Orchids of Indiana. Cranefly is one of the
three native Orchid species known to be in Ouabache Trails Park. The
underside of these leaves, which appeared last autumn, is deep,
bright purple. By mid-summer the leaves will have withered away and a
stalk will appear, bearing tiny Cranefly Orchid blossoms all along
it. Though tiny and not brightly colored, a look at one with a
magnifier will reveal a flower rather exotic looking. Later the stalk
will be bearing seed pods with dust-like seeds, and new leaves will
emerge in the autumn.
Ahead on Trail 2 – the
double-bridge and the big drainage project done earlier, from the
road above to this bridge. An abundance of native plants are growing down the slopes, right to the edge of this disturbance.
A look from the other side
of the double bridge – one of the bike trails winding away.
Further on Trail 2 – the
next bridge ahead, after a sharp right turn. Plenty of wildflowers along the way!
After leaving the bridge
and turning sharply left on the trail: on the right side is the site
of The Giant, as I called it. Many years ago a huge Maple tree stood
here (you can see the remnants of the stump, still), then it fell
onto this gradual slope. Over the years I watched it decay,
supporting various kinds of fungi, plants, and animal life. Then it
completely turned to soil and became covered by plants that inhabit
the rest of the forest floor. There is no more evidence of the mighty
tree, but it has enriched the forest.
False Solomon's
Seal/Solomon's Plume
Smilacina racemosa Family Liliaceae (Lily family)
We met the Smooth
Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) much earlier, and this plant
looks so similar. There is a difference in the leaves, though –
False Solomon's Seal leaves are generally more deeply veined, and the
leaves a little broader than in Smooth.
The main difference,
though, will be evident later in the spring, when they bloom. Smooth
Solomon's Seal has bell-like flowers hanging below and along a long
stalk. False Solomon's Seals bears its cluster of white, star-shaped
blossoms at the end of the stalk. Come back later to see them!
False Solomon's Seal tends
to grow in colonies, as it does in this part of the trail, on both
sides. It is quite a sight to behold when they are in bloom!
We come to the next side
trail from Trail 2 to the upper loop road, but we continue on Trail
2.
We come to a fork in the
road, and in a large corner to the right is a mass of Sensitive Ferns
(Onoclea sensibilis), just unfurling. They will be much taller
and broader later, and will fill up the whole corner.
The fork in the road. We
will take the main trail, on the left. I've never taken the one on
the right all the way to see where it goes. I don't think it has a number, either.
Puttyroot Orchid leaf
Aplectrum hyemale Family Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Here's another of the
native Orchids we find at Ouabache Trails Park. Like Cranefly Orchid,
the leaves came up last autumn, will wither away, and new leaves will
be up this autumn. Unlike Cranefly, the flower stalk will come up in
May, instead of waiting for deep summer. Like Cranefly, they will be
tiny (but exotic looking, when you look closely) flowers up and down
the stalk. The leaves are finely pin-striped green and white.
Historically, the swollen root was used, pulverized, as a putty to
repair pottery.
More scenery from Trail 2
– in the area to the left, White Baneberry/Doll's Eyes (Actaea
pachypoda), will appear later with its white flower clusters
Cutleaf Toothwort
Cardamine concatenate
(was Dentaria lacinata) Family Brassicaceae (Mustard
family)
Dentaria was for the
tooth-like corm on the root, lacinata was for the dissected leaves.
Another of our earlier
blooms, it has 4-petaled white blossoms that are sometimes pinkish,
clustered at the top of the plant. These are common, peppering the
woodland floor, along with the Spring Beauties. They also have a
peppery flavor, as most members of the Mustard family do. The flowers
recently faded, and are now replaced with siliques – the long, thin
seed pods that will contain tiny, round black seeds.
Toward the highest part of
Trail 2, we see large emerald green patches ahead – colonies of
Mayapples. There is also a colony of Sassafras trees, mostly to the left.
A colony of Mayapples
blown to one direction by recent winds. I also saw a number of broken
or torn Mayapple plants along the way.
We come to another
decision spot, but the real trail only goes one way. Ahead is a path
that should not be a trail, but has been trampled by people wanting
to see the overlook or take a very steep “shortcut” down to the
big creek.
To the left is Trail 2,
which goes down old wooden steps at this point.
Between them is an area I
call “Green Violet Hill”, which is full of Green Violets,
Puttyroot, False Rue-Anemone, Wild Ginger, and much more. What are
Green Violets? Well, that's next!
Green Violet
Hybanthus concolor
Family Violaceae (Violet family)
Yes, there are green
violets! Well, they are not in the genus Viola, as the other Violets
we've seen so far, but, if you look very closely, they have the same
basic flower structure. Here is a whole Green Violet plant (which
doesn't look like a Violet plant, either).
Green Violet is in bud
right now, but will bloom soon, so be sure to come back and take a
look – but be sure to bring a magnifying glass!
In this photo you can see
that the flowers are very tiny, and they occur along the stem, close
to the leaf bases. When they are open, you'll see that both the
sepals and petals are greenish-white.
Overlooking the lower area
where the big creek runs through. We will be getting to part of that,
but not by going straight down the non-trail. I've always thought this should be blocked off, as it is hazardous, and also creates more erosion. The storm seems to have blocked it off with fallen limbs part of the way down, though.
Virginia Knotweed/Jumpseed
Polygonum virginianum Family Polygoneaceae (Buckwheat family)
This is the early plant,
with the maroon spots on the leaves.
As the plant grows and
matures, the dark spots vanish. A long, slender stalk grows, with
tiny white flowers all along it.
We turn left, to continue
on Trail 2, down the old wooden steps.
At the base of a large
tree, partway down the steps: Christmas Fern fronds unfurling above
Fragile Ferns and leaves of Dutchman's Breeches. Christmas Fern is evergreen, but these are new fronds.
Christmas Fern:
Polysticham acrostichoides
Harbinger-of-Spring/Salt-and-Pepper
Erigenia
bulbosa Family Apiaceae (Parsley
family)
As the
first name implies, this is the earliest blooming plant in the
woodlands here. By now they have already gone to seed, and all we see
are the leaves here. The latter name describes the flowers, which
come up in small clusters from the winter woods floor before the
leaves are evident. They have tiny white petals with purplish-brown
stamens. As early spring moves on, the leaves become more evident,
the flower stalks taller.
Apiaceae
is a large family with many familiar wild plants, garden plants, and
herbs. Flowers grow in tight clusters called umbels, and the plants
often have an anise-like scent and flavor.
Going
up the steps on the other side. To the right are some tall Bladdernut shrubs growing leaves, and there will be many more ahead.
After
turning sharply right at the top of the steps, we are on the last leg
of Trail 2, before it meets up with the junctions of Trails 3 and 4.
We are also about to be walking parallel with and above the big
creek. There are many different wildflowers along this stretch,
including both White and Yellow Trout Lilies (done blooming now). If you walk this stretch of trail, see
how many plants you remember from what we've seen so far!
We
find one of those dark maroon Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants.
Looking
further up the last leg of Trail 2.
Looking forward and to the right – the big creek (though, can't really see the water from this angle). Remember when we first started
seeing deeper gullies along Trail 1? Things got deeper and wider
along the way, and it all ended up here in this valley. This water
eventually ends up in the Wabash River (at the end of Trail 8, the
River Fishing Trail).
There are also many American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) and American Sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis) trees around this low area. On the right is an American Beech that has suffered what too many suffer - carvings into its normally smooth, gray trunk.
The
trail ahead, to the first bridge on the first stretch of Trail 4. We
will be turning left, up Trail 3, before that point.
Looking
up Trail 3, at the beginning. At the end, we'll be back at the upper
loop road.
A
broken seed pod of Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus).
There is a colony of these trees, from seedlings to mature trees, in
the area at the junction of Trails 2 and 3. This tree is in Family
Fabaceae, the Bean family. Yes, it's a legume!
Inside the pod is a gooey substance and some very hard, brown seeds. The name "coffeetree" comes from the fact that people (evidently very desperate people) would use this as a coffee substitute, and a very poor one, at that. It has to go through processing, though, and be roasted - otherwise it is toxic.
Looking
ahead on Trail 3.
Clusters
of a large Sedge grow here (sorry, I have not learned the Sedges
yet! A good goal for this year.)
Scenery along Trail 3. If you walk this trail, keep looking for plants we've learned about so far, and anything different!
We
encounter another species of fungus, Turkey Tail, at the base of a
tree.
A view
from Trail 3 - a deer trail going down the other side of this slope to meet up with Trail 2 below. In the distance are the wooden steps we took on Trail 2.
The Top of the Hill, The
End of the Trail, near the upper loop road. Have a rest at the table and take in the scenery,
the bird songs, the fresh air.
Edge
of the upper loop road – a Dandelion (Taraxacum – Family
Asteridaceae, Aster family). Dandelion is not a native plant, but it
was brought to North America by European settlers very early in our
history, and easily naturalized. It tends to appear in disturbed
areas, rather than being a tough competitor with native plants. Every
part of the Dandelion is edible, and medicinal, which explains why
people brought it with them across the ocean. Each of those yellow
strands represents a single flower.
Right next to it is a native Virginia Spring Beauty. At the top and right are the leaves of a truly invasive plant, which we could see in some other photos - Winter Creeper.
Along
the upper loop road, we are headed back toward the parking lot in
front of the office building, near where we started our walk. Ahead,
we see a Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) in bloom, at its
peak. This tree is in the Family Fabaceae (Bean family), like
Kentucky Coffeetree. Another legume. The flowers of Redbud are
edible.
Back
at the parking lot, we are near a wooded area next to the office
building. Even if you don't go on a walk, explore this little area
for awhile – it's a great way to find lots of different spring
wildflowers. I hope you are all keeping well. Enjoy Nature as much as
you can – it's one of the most helpful things to do.
I hope you enjoyed this walk and that it brightened your day during this odd time we are in. I hope this finds all of you doing well.
Thank you for coming on my walk.
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If you would like to see a Ouabache Trails Park trail map, check the Knox County parks department web site at: www.knoxcountyparks.com .
You can also find one in a park brochure, available both inside and outside the park office.
Also, there are some large "You Are Here" types of trail maps signs in the park.
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To find out about future Second Sunday Nature Exploration walks, check the Facebook page called The Nature of Knox County, Indiana, as well as other local event sources. If you would like to be on my list to be notified by email, send a message to me at: leapingfrog55@yahoo.com .
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And, here is a list of field guides and other sources for learning about and identifying native plants, particularly wildflowers. Enjoy!!
Field
Guides and Other Sources: Wildflowers
Field Guides:
Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers:
Kay Yatskievych
Indiana University Press 2000
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide
Lawrence Newcomb
Little, Brown and Company
Wildflowers and Ferns of Indiana
Forests
Michael A. Homoya
Indiana University Press 2012
(note: also includes woody plants,
ferns, and non-native wild plants)
Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio
Valley and the Southern Appalachians
Compiled by Dennis Horn and Tavia
Cathcart
Lone Pine Publishing 2005
For background and a good
understanding of plant families:
Botony in a Day: The Patterns Method of
Plant Identification: An Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families of
North America
Thomas J. Elpel
HOPS Press, LLC; Pony, Montana 2012
Web Sites:
Illinois Wildflowers
illinoiswildflowers.info
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
wildflower.org/plants
Missouri Plants
USDA/NRCS PLANTS database
plants.usda.gov
Wildflowers of the United States
uswildflowers.com
Explore the web site of the Indiana
Native Plant Society, and consider joining!
Indiananativeplants.org
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