Plants & Fungi


Plants:

UBNA is both grassland and  wetland. Because of these two ecosystems, there is a wide variety of plants. While most of my plant observations are recorded on iNaturalist, I thought I'd organize the plants that can be found in UBNA on this blog.

I've organized the plants into three sections: shrubs, trees, and invasive species. I'll first provide the common name, then the latin name. I'll include which zone i found the plant in and some general observations about it. Finally I'll include a picture.



Nootka Rose, Rosa Nutkana. Zone 4. There's a large patch of Nootka's in Z4, just to the west of the trail. They are very easy to identify with there pink flowers. This year (2013) they bloomed around May 20th. 








Snowberry, Symphoricarpos. Zone 4. Snowberries are named for the large white berries that they produce. However, I never saw any of these berries on the Snowberries at UBNA. Another identifiable characteristic of Snowberries are the shape of their leaves, which resemble small mittens.






Honeysuckle, Lonicera. Zone 4. The flowers of the Honeysuckle are probably the most distinctive feature of this vine like shrub. The long yellow flowers were already in bloom by mid-April. The leafs are also long and opposite of one another.







ServiceberryAmelanchier alnifolia. Zone 4. On the southern edge of Z4. The serviceberry has delicate white flowers and produces edible berries, hence it was of service to the natives. Shrubs like to grow near the sea level. 






Yellow Flag Iris, Iris pseudacorus. Zone 7. These beautiful flowers grow along the water line, but I saw many in Z7. Before they were in bloom, there stalks, which look like thick sturdy blades of grass, were all you could use to identify them. They came into bloom around May 20th.








Queen Anna's Lace, Daucus carota. Zone 7. QA Lace is supposed to flower between June and August. Even without them being in bloom, the distinctive shape of their flower made them recognizable outside of their season. 






Giant Horse Tail, Equisetum. Zone 1. The horsetail can be found in many zones around UBNA. They're spread their spores to multiply in new fertile areas. They resemble cattails because they look top heavy. Apparently they've been around for most of the Cenozoic Era.



Broad Leafed Cattail, Typha. Zone 1. Cattail grow along the waterline, so they're in many zones beside #1. Being very tall, they make a good habitat for Marsh Wrens, because they can nest with security from predators. Apparently they disperse their seeds via wind.




Thimbleberry, Rubus Parviflorus. Zone 4. I call the Thimbleberry the plant of 5. There are 5 leafs at the end of each stem, and when the flowers bloom in late May, they have five pedals. The leafs are soft with many ridges.







Arroyo Lupine, Lupinus succulentus. Between Zone 4 and 5. There are not many Lupine's in UBNA. you can identify them even before they bloom from their unique leaf pattern. Once in bloom in late May, they're even better because their stem are covered with little purple pedals. They're known to colonize disturbed areas. 






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Cottonwood, Populus balsamifi. Zone 2. Just as you're entering UBNA there are a patch of Cottonwood's to the right. There are also a large number in Z8. The leafs are ovate and there are sever at the end of each branch. The buds smell like honey. Spread their seeds with cottony structures that can travel great distances in the wind. 






Red Alder, Alnus rubra. Zone 4. Alder's are great nitrogen fixers and often the first to return to areas that have been destroyed by one means or another. There are several in UBNA, which makes since given it's history. Leafs are crenated. 






Gary Oak, Quercus garryana. Zone 4. The one Garry I saw in UBNA wasn't looking too healthy. Apparently they do better in open grasslands, but this one was surrounded by over plants. I imagine someone planted it because they thought it'd do well, but nature had other ideas. 







Thorn Hawthorn, Crataegus ambigua. Zone 3. I didn't recognize this at first because I didn't see any of thorns. We used to have 4 of these in my yard as a kid, and one time I stepped on one of the thorns, Ouch! Incised leafs and small yellow-reddish berries. 







Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides. Zone 4. Quaking Aspen is known for its distinctive leaf shape, they're like small entire reniform leafs. In the wind, they rustle together to create the quaking sound for which the tree is known. 






Oregon Ash, Fraxinus latifolia. Zone 4. Oregon ash's compound leafs are pinnate. They grow out of the branch in bunches. This tree prefers damp, moist soils, which is why is does well in UBNA. 









Apple Tree, Malus domestica. Zone 4. There's an Apple in the southeast corner of Z4. When I saw it in April, the flowers were in bloom. Since then the pedals have fallen and it's looking very green. I haven't noticed any fruit on it yet.





Cascara, Rhamnus purshiana. Zone 4. Cascara is easily identifiable dew to its large, elliptical, entire leafs. The leafs seem to stipulate from the end of the branch in bunches. Can be seen with small red berries. Was traditionally used as a laxative. 








Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus sericea. Leafs are opposite and entire. They have this intricate stem and the end of the branches where berries grow. The leafs can go from being green to having a reddish hue.







Pacific Willow, Salix scouleriana. Zone 7. Found along the water. Has lighter, yellowish branches. Small, elliptical, entire leafs. They are good for soil restoration because they cover so much soil for a small plant. 







Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata. Zone 4. This is the only cedar I've noticed in UBNA. It seems rather out of place, so I imagine it was planted there. Red cedars have a long history in the Pacific Northwest. Tribes used to use them to make canoes, and their fiber like bark can be used for weaving.






Lodgepole Pine, Pinus controta. Zone 2. This tree is at the west entrance of the park. Needles are in fascicles of two and grow between 3-7cm. 









Sitka Spruce, Picea stichensis. Zone 6. Although it's one of the largest spruces, this one was rather small. The small needles grow out of all sides of the branch. You can see where the pine cones are developing at the end of the branches. 







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Red Deadnettle, Lamium perpereum. Zone 10. In many zones. Has light purple flowers with small leafs that are greenish-purple with fine hairs. This weed is actually edible. 








Himalayan Blackberry, Rubus armeniacus. Zone 1. Blackberries grow in many zones. It's rather a troublesome invasive plants because it's hard to remove with so many thorns. The bush grows outwards like a vine and can reestablish roots in the ground. The berries are edible. 







English Ivy, Hedera helix. Zone 9. Ivy is one of the most invasive plants in the US. It's so common because it's very good at covering surfaces. The vines can grow up the side of trees, blocking the sunlight they get and eventually killing the tree. 








Fungi:

In my time at UBNA, I only noticed three mushrooms. There are many species of lihen growing on trees though. Most of my fungi was found in Zone 6 with several exceptions. I don't doubt there's many more species out in UBNA, this is just a sample of what can be seen.

Artists Bracket, Ganoderma applanatum. Zone 6. This fungus caught my eye, though I had to go out of my way to find it. It was growing on the bottom of some fallen logs just north of the trail in Z6. There appear to be four different growths but it's hard to distinguish because it blends with the logs so well. The bottom half is distinctively white.

Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor. Zone 4. Barely noticed this small growth of Turkey Tail just north of the trail in Z4. It's a rather common polypore mushroom throughout the world, but this one didn't have much color. Sort of a wrinkled fan shaped growth for which it's named.
Oakmoss Lichen, Evernia prunastri. Zone 6. Small growths of this can be spotted on the trees by the Bracket. Identifiable by its soft pale and yellowish branches. It grows on tree branches and shrubs and doesn't usually exceed 5".

Bull's-Eye Lichen, Placopsis gelida. Zone 4. Can be found on some of the deciduous trees in UBNA. This lichen is pretty normal and easy to identify by it's round shape. Often grayish-green. Typically found on rocks.
Lettuce Lichen, Lobaria oregana. Zone 6. Small growths of this can be found on some of the fallen logs in the area. Often a palish green color. The edges are frilly and it easily sheds lobelets. 

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