Field trip to Black Oak Heritage Park, Windsor, Ontario

On September 6th, 2014 I participated in an annual field trip led by the Field Botanists of Ontario.  The trip was well attended and demonstrated some of the unique Black Oak savannah habitat found in the Windsor area.  A couple of rare plants were added to the official EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database such as provincially rare Tall Thoroughwort (Eupatorium altissimum).

Tall Thoroughwort

Photo: Dave Jolly

Special concern Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) was a new tree species for this section of the Park.  This contributes to the 500+ trees recorded for Essex county.  In fact, this oak species is one of the most dominant trees in Essex county within woodlots anywhere on the Clay plain in this region.  All other Shumard Oak reside primarily within Essex and Lambton counties extending eastward to Chatham-Kent.  Of the 10 sites were visited between June 18 and September 2, 2014 only these regional municipalities had Shumard Oak.  Previous Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) reports suggested that the range of this species reaches Niagara region, but these records have are now regarded as suspected hybrids based on visual identification traits; acorns, leaf buds, leaf shape, tomentum (tufts of hairs located on the leaf underside between the mid-rib and veins), etc.  To date, none of the Niagara region trees examined have been confirmed as 100% pure Shumard Oak.  Instead, they are likely hybrids between Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and Swamp Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) since both species were present at the sites investigated.  The resulting hybrid is Q. rubra x Q. palustris if it exhibits more Red Oak traits and Q. palustris x Q. rubra if it exhibits more Swamp Pin Oak traits.  Genetic studies would ultimately clear up any misconceptions about the true distribution of Shumard Oak in Canada.

New to the database was Swamp Lousewort (Pedicularis lanceolata), which was adjacent to a large patch of Colicroot (Aletris farinosa).  With the high biodiversity of  Tallgrass prairie mixed with Black Oak savannah species.  The most exciting discovery was a new record for Essex county of endangered Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) to add to the Ontario Recovery Strategy series.

Spotted Wintergreen

Photo: Dave Jolly

April, 2014 Plant hunt summary

A record cold winter has resulted in a late spring with most flowering plants blooming 2 - 3 weeks behind schedule.  With only 41 species observed in April we matched the last late spring with 43 species recorded in 2007.  That means floristically, southern Ontario hasn't experienced such a cool and late spring in 7 years.  Trilliums (Trillium spp.) are only just beginning to bloom, when in normal years, they would be in full bloom by now - i.e., May 1st.  The only flowering plant observed that didn't seem to be affected by the late spring was the ephimeral Harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa).

Harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa)

Photo: Brian Popelier

Rare plant surveys began with provincially rare Harbinger of spring (ranked S3 in Ontario by the Natural Heritage Information Centre) on April 13th with a total of 116 plants counted in Elgin county.  An age structure analysis revealed 44 two-leaved plants, which are more mature and tend to produce 2 or more flowering stalks.  This population will be revisited later this month to count the total number of flowers that have gone to seed and if any new, younger plants have emerged.  A number of rare plant surveys will be carried out this year within the Grand River watershed on behalf of the Grand River Conservation Authority.

A total of 221 plants were observed in April across 6 counties, Brant, Elgin, Haldimand, Hamilton, Oxford and Norfolk.  All 403 Elgin county records were donated to the Otter Valley Naturalists (OVN) for their Elgin County Natural Heritage Inventory (NAI), which is hosted by Carolinian Canada Coalition.  A master plant species list of all plants observed in Elgin county since the inception of the EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database in 2006 was donated to OVN for the Elgin county NAI.  This amounted to 17,022 records; 127 families, 417 genera, 758 species, or taxa (7 varieties, 7 hybrids); 104 regionally rare (Ecoregion 7E), 102 locally rare (Elgin county), 22 provincially rare, 9 Species at Risk (provincial & federal).  The OVN will use the EARTHQUEST master plant list of Elgin county to build the official list for the NAI.

New records for the county of Oxford in April, 2014 were Cutleaf toothwort (Dentaria concatenata), Giant blue cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) and Plantain leaved sedge (Carex plantaginea).

To view the April, 2014 monthly summary report please go to; http://earthquestcanada.ca/April2014summary.pdf

August, 2013 Plant hunt summary

August, 2013 was a fantastic month with 15 new records for the master EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database between two contributors; Brian Popelier of the Bruce Trail Conservancy and myself.  A total of 2492 records were submitted.  We also broke the old record of 339 species in 2009 with 361 total species observed in August.  The highlights were: the discovery of two small populations of federally special concern & provincially threatened Houghton's goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii) in the upper Bruce peninsula by Brian on August 13th.  I visited these populations on August 27th and submitted my observations to the author of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recovery strategy for Houghton's goldenrod, which is due to be published sometime after late June, 2014.

Houghton's goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii)

Photo: Dave Jolly

Other highlights that Brian discovered for the database include; Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterloepis) also in Bruce county, Smooth wild rye (Elymus villosus), Straw coloured flat sedge (Cyperus strigosus) of Niagara region and Swamp valerian (Valeriana uliginosa) in Grey county.  

Brian is also credited with adding the 100,000th official plant record to the database in Niagara region with Pale smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) observed on August 29th.  Congratulations Brian for making that contribution, which will go down in EARTHQUEST history as very significant!  Since his first contribution on June 7, 2009 Brian has provided 7629 total records, which is the most out of over 90 contributors (55 of which were students or staff from EARTHQUEST).  

Of the 12 counties surveyed most of my new records for the database were wetland plants found in sensitive coastal wetlands such as Alpine rush (Juncus alpinoarticulatus), Fringed gentian (Gentiana vigata), Hard stemmed bulrush (Scirpus acutus), Marsh mermaidweed (Proserpinaca palustris), Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia glomerata) and Purple agalinis (Agalinis paupercula).

Fringed gentian (Gentiana vigata)

Photo: Dave Jolly

Additionally, a total of 13 provincially, regionally and locally rare plants were observed in the lower Bruce peninsula on behalf of a great environmental non-profit organization: the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation; 31 records of provincially and federally special concern Tuberous indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum), 5 records of provincially rare plants such as Dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris), 30 records of Stiff yellow flax (Linum medium) and 9 records of Blueleaf willow (Salix myricoides). Tuberous Indian plantain, Dwarf lake iris, Stiff yellow flax and Blueleaf willow are also listed as rare in the Checklist of Vascular Plants for Bruce and Grey Counties, published by the Owen Sound Field Naturalists in 2003. Ten regionally rare (within the Mixed deciduous forest region: Ecoregion 6E – source; EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database) plants were discovered within surveyed Ecological Land Classification polygons; Fringed gentian, Kalm’s St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmii), Marsh St. Johnswort (Triadenum fraseri), Marsh mermaidweed, Greater arrowgrass (Triglochin maritimus), Slender or Lesser arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre), Fen beakrush (Rynchospora capillacea), Low calla mint (Calamintha arkansana), Sticky false tofeldia (Tofeldia glutinosa) and Stiff yellow flax. Additionally, Upland white aster (Solidago asteroides), Fringed gentian, Kalm’s St. Johnswort, Marsh St. Johnswort, Marsh mermaidweed, Greater arrowgrass, Slender or Lesser arrowgrass, Fen beakrush, Low calla mint and Stiff yellow flax are locally rare within Bruce county.

To view the August 2013 month summary please refer to; http://www.earthquestcanada.ca/August2013summary.pdf

  

June, 2013 Plant hunt summary

The month of June catalogued a total of 3053 records for the database, with Ashleigh Cleary as one of our newest contributors.  We are grateful that Ashleigh added new records for Ottawa-Carlton, including a new species for the database - Marsh dandelion (Taraxacum palustre).  Eleven counties and regions were surveyed by 3 contributors; Brian Popelier of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC), Dave Jolly of EARTHQUEST and Ashleigh.  Brian added 272 records for Bruce, Grey, Halton and Hamilton counties, Ashleigh submitted 10 records for Ottawa-Carlton and Dave contributed 2771 records for Brant, Elgin, Halton, Hamilton, Oxford, Norfolk, Middlesex and Waterloo counties.

Ten new records for the database were found by June's contributors; Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), Common flax (Linum usitatissimum), Candle lantern sedge (Carex limosa), Marsh dandelion (Taraxacum palustre), Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbum), Sage leaved willow (Salix candida), Starved sedge (Carex exilis), Sweet pignut hickory (Carya ovalis), Tufted club rush (Scirpus cespitosus), Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana).  Of these, C. ovalis was the rarest, with a provincial rank of S3.  This was a plant Dave was specifically searching for in 2013.  Dave gave the differentiation between C. ovalis and another confusing look-a-like provincially rare S3 ranked tree species called Red or Pignut hickory in the May, 2013 Plant hunt summary.  L. usitatissimum was also observed as a new plant record for Bruce county by Brian on June 10, 2013, but is introduced to Ontario.  Dave observed it along a road in Waterloo county on June 12, 2013 as well as adjacent to a parking lot in Waterloo on June 18 and 21, 2013.

A visit to wetlands by Brian revealed a number of new wetland plant species for the Bruce peninsula; S. candida and S. cespitosus in Grey county C. exilis, C. limosa and A. glaucophylla in Bruce county. These records will be compiled with all others collected by Brian and 56 contributors of the master EARTHQUEST plant database to develop a master plant species list for the Bruce Trail and BTC properties.  Additionally, we hope to use them in an upcoming publication on all vascular plants of the Bruce Trail.  We look forward to working with the BTC on this project.

Only 369 species of vascular plants were found in June.  The all time record of 433 species for the month of June was set in 2011, possibly due to the early spring experienced in April and May, 2011.  

Twelve provincially and federally listed Species at Risk (Endangered, threatened, vulnerable, special concern) and provincially rare (S1 - S3 ranked) plants were observed in June; American chesnut (Castanea dentata); END/S3, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius); END/END/S2, Butternut (Juglans cinerea); END/END/S3?, Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum); S2, Green milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora); S3, Hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens); S3, Honey locust (Gleditsia tricanthos); S2, Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus); THR/THR/S2, Red or Pignut hickory (Carya glabra); S3, Round leaved ragwort (Senecio obovatus); S3, Sweet pignut hickory (Carya ovalis); S3 and Wild or Sundial lupine (Lupulinus perennis); S3

A visit to a Conservation Area in Waterloo county between June 11 and 18, 2013 revealed 43 records for the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), including 34 records of provincially rare - S2 ranked G. tricanthos found along a fence line.  These records likely represented planted individuals used to form a wind break between the adjacent road and the Conservation Area.

The database now contains 95 402 records.  It is anticipated that the land mark record of 100 000 records will be reached once we complete data entry for the next two months; July and August.  

Dave's BTC fund raising goal of finding a total of 850 species of plants for the 2013 field season is becoming a reality.  As of June, he now has 592 species compiled.  If you wish to sponsor him - with all proceeds donated to the BTC for conservation efforts please contact him at; earthquestcanada@yahoo.com by December 15th, 2013.

To view the month of June monthly summary please go to the following link;

http://earthquestcanada.ca/June2013summary.pdf

October, 2013 Plant hunt summary

October was another record breaking month, breaking the all time record with a total of 193 species observed, surpassing the old record of 188 set in October, 2010.  A big thanks to Kim Palonen, who ventured to Misery Bay on Manitoulin Island at the end of the month to help attain the land mark record.

Three observers added 4 new records for the database; a trip to Ottawa by Dave Jolly contributed a new hybrid goldenrod Canada x Tall goldenrod (Solidago canadensis x gigantea) and Macouni's everlasting (Gnalphalium macounii), Kim discovered Creeping wood sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) in Halton region, and Brian Popelier of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) found Naked miterwort (Mitella nuda) in Halton region.

A total of 22 counties were surveyed by all surveyors; Brant, Bruce, Elgin, Durham, Frontenac, Grey, Halton, Hamilton, Hastings, Leeds and Renfrew, Lennox and Addington, Manitoulin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northumberland, Ottawa-Carlton, Oxford, Peel, Peterborough, Waterloo, Wellington, and York.  The most new records were found in Ottawa-Carlton (47), largely due to a lack of survey effort, or people available to investigate that region.  Additionally, Dave Jolly observed Azure aster (Aster oolentangiensis) which is likely a new record, but yet to be confirmed, for the Ottawa region according to the 2005 master plant list compiled by the prominent and respected Botanist Dan Brunton.

The flowering date for Witch hazel (Hammelis virginiana) was finally obtained in Durham region, where this shrub is locally rare.  Witch hazel was first observed at a site in Durham region in the spring of 2011.  A search for provincially rare Yellow bartonia (Bartonica virginica); S2 in Norfolk county revealed an exciting discovery on October 12, 2013.  Kim and Dave uncovered a substantial natural population of provincially rare Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus var. hispidus); S3, with over 20 plants observed.  A site visit in May, 2014 will make this a new flowering date record for Norfolk county.

Dave is currently at 401 total species for the 2013 field season - raising funds and awareness for conservation projects on behalf of the BTC, so I am almost half way to my goal of reaching a total of 850 species.  A special thanks to Tanya Forde, who participated in an EARTHQUEST Bruce Trail expedition in 2000 to collect data for the Bruce Trail flora and fauna book published in 2004, for donating funds to our cause!  There is still time for the rest of you to donate.  We'll be accepting donations until December 15th, 2013 - so why not make it a generous gift for Christmas.

Thank you to all contributors for making October a fantastic month.

To download the monthly summary please go to;

http://earthquestcanada.ca/October2013summary.pdf

September, 2013 Plant hunt summary

The month of September was a record breaking one, with nearly 3000 records added to the database, pushing it over the 90 000 total record mark!  More significantly, we broke the all time record for the month of September with a total of 308 species observed, breaking the old record of 283 set in 2011.

Four new records were added to the database; 1. Apple of Peru (Nicandra physalodes), 2. Ground cedar (Lycopodium tristachym), 3. Stiff haired sunflower (Helianthus hirsutus) and 4. Smooth hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris) discovered by our newest contributor to the Plants of Ontario database - Kim Palonen - a contractor with Environment Canada.  Kim took the Level 1 FBT, Level 2 FBT terrestrial plant and Level 3 Asters and Goldenrods of Ontario certification courses and is shown here among a patch of endangered Spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculatum).

Field work at Oliphant on behalf of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation resulted in the addition of a number of wetland plants for Bruce county as well as over 75 records for provincially rare Blue leaf willow (Salix myricoides), Dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris), Stiff yellow flax (Linum medium) and Special concern Tuberous indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum).

Hiking the Bruce Trail on behalf of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) continued this month along the Georgian Bay shoreline near Sydney Bay north of Wiarton.  A search along a side trail to the Bruce Trail called Boundary Bluffs side trail lead to the discovery of several new records for Bruce county, including Special concern Hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium).  We would like to thank Yves Scholten - an Ecologist with Beacon Environmental for his information about locating this rare Ontario fern species for the database.

If you are keeping track of our 2013 plant hunt challenge of obtaining at least 850 species of plants to raise funds and awareness for BTC conservation projects in honour of my wife - Jan I am currently at 353 species for the 2013 field season.  A special thanks to Jan Graves of the BTC for donating a copy of the most recent Bruce Trail Reference guide to me so I could find my way around the white and blue blazed trails.

To download a copy of this month's summary please go to;

http://earthquestcanada.ca/September2013summary.pdf

Raising funds for the Bruce Trail Conservancy

Today my wife - Jan was admitted into a 6 week rehabilitation program at Hamilton General Hospital with the goal of helping her to get onto the lung transplant list.  Jan was diagnosed with non-interstitial pneumatitis in November, 2011, but this terminology only implies that they really don't know what it is.  In March, 2013 her diagnosis was changed to some type of pulmonary fibrosis because she wasn't responding to the medications she was prescribed.  Long story short; they still don't know what she has, but they're treating it like pulmonary fibrosis.

Jan and I used to hike the Bruce Trail and spend a considerable amount of time in the Bruce peninsula camping at Mountain Trout Camp with family.  In the late 1990s, I started hiking the trail with teams of volunteers, students and staff collecting flora and fauna records for a book.  In May, 2005, with the help of Ann Bard and her husband Don, of the Cape Chin Connection Inn, near Dyer's Bay,  we launched our book on the flora and fauna of the Bruce Trail.  Ann passed away in February, 2012

In honour of my wife and in the memory of Ann I am going to hike the entire length of the Bruce Trail - 800 km from end to end to make a book on plants.  Data collection will begin this year with the trail being tackled in small spurts.  For example, this month I'd like to hike around Hamilton and Dundas close to the hospital where Jan is admitted.  The book will supplement the Bruce Trail hiker's guide and will be donated to the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC).

A secondary goal this year, and to mark the beginning of my wife's successful rehabilitation back to health, is to observe as many vascular plants as possible to raise funds for the BTC's conservation efforts.  My goal is to find 850 species by mid November.  To date I have accumulated 302 species.  Data from these fund raising efforts will be used by the BTC and EARTHQUEST (Canada) to track and monitor the status and distribution of plants on BTC property as well as along the trail system.  EARTHQUEST uses this data to determine the rarity of plants within forest regions, counties and watersheds.

Please help me raise funds in honour of my wife and in Ann's memory by donating to the Bruce Trail Conservancy today!  You may pledge your support by donating any amount as a lump sum, or per plant (eg. $0.50 per plant species).  Updates to my forays along the Bruce and finding as many plant species as possible will be added to this blog site montly.  To request sponsorship forms please contact me at EARTHQUEST.  All donations greater than $10 will be given a charitable receipt from the BTC.

Thank you for your support
Dave Jolly,
EARTHQUEST