May, 2013 Plant hunt summary

A total of 2530 records recorded between 10 counties surveyed added 13 new records to the database among 4 contributors.  A small patch of 5 provincially rare Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata); S3 was located within a Conservation Area in Brant county and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) was alerted.

Provincially rare Sweet pignut hickory (Carya ovalis) was also located in Norfolk county.  Superficially, there is almost no distinguishing difference between provincially rare Red or Pignut hickory (Carya glabra); S3 and C. ovalis with flowers, bark, leaves and fruits almost identical.  The most noteable difference seems to be in the average number of leaflets; 5 - 7 per leaf for C. ovalis, opposed to 7 - 9 for C. glabra.  The terminal bud of most C. ovalis also seem to lack 3 carpel bracts, which are present in C. glabra, but not as large and distinctive as Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata).

Photo: Dave Jolly

Terminal bud of C. ovalis

Unfortunately, we did not brake the all time record of 420 species for the month of May set in 2012 with only 321 species recorded, but a late spring is the most likely contributing factor to this low number.

Thanks are extended to Brian Popelier of the Bruce Trail Conservancy for discovering 2 exciting new additions to the database - Early coralroot (Coralorrhiza trifida) and Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum).

Download May 2013 summary