Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Bluffing in Glen Morris

A couple of weeks ago Alyssa and I biked the Cambridge-to-Paris rail trail to visit the Glen Morris bluff prairie.  This site is a botanical hotspot, most notably for the population of American columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) S2, an endangered species which prefers well-drained oak-hickory woodland and occasionally tallgrass prairie.  At this time of year the 2m+ flowering stalks are pretty easy to spot.  I've done counts for the last few years and 2014 was a great year for flowers with about 100 stalks present at this spot. 

Another cool plant, which I had never seen at this site before, ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron).   


Just prior to heading out I spotted a fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) growing among an area of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and indian grass (Sorghatrum nutans).  Fall is a good time to spot gentians as their foliage turns bright red/purple.

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