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Our inventory of the ancient forest was conducted from late morning to mid-afternoon
of 5-20-98 under clear skies and pleasant temperatures. It consisted of two loop
traverses up the slope and returns to the Creek road.
The ancient forest canopy is dominated by large white Pine and White Oak with smaller
Northern Red Oak, Canada Hemlock, Red Maple, Beech, Black Gum, Shagbark and Pignut
Hickories and minor Black Oak, Black Cherry and Sugar Maple. Red Maple is common
as seedlings, as is Northern Red Oak and Beech to a lesser degree. Pignut seedlings are
widespread, although sparsely distributed, while Black Oak seems confined to the
upper slope.There are also some American Chestnut (Castanea
dentata ) sprouts and relict down boles. Understory species noted were Downy Serviceberry
(Amelanchie arborea), Hophornbeam, Muscletree in moister areas and hawthorns identfied as Crataegus punctata
and C. flabellata.
Shrubs included Witch Hazel, Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta ), Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin) also in moist areas, Maple-leaf and Black Haw Viburnums (Viburnum acerifolium
and V. prunifolium ), Deer Berry (Vaccinium
stamineum ), Upland Low and Early Low Blueberries (V. pallidum
and V. angustifolium), the misnamed Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina ), Allegheny Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis), Alternate-leaf Dogwood ( Cornus alternifolia), a very little Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), Flame Azalea (Rhododendron
calendulaceum ) and Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda). A single bush of an alien Honeysuckle was seen.
Vines were not common but included Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans ) in moist areas, scattered Common and Hispid Greenbriers (Smilax rotundifolia
and S. hispida) and a little Summer Grape ( Vitis aestivalis ).
Among herbs Partridge Berry and a Gall-of-the-Earth (Prenanthes
sp ) seemed most widespread, being present in upland as well as lower areas. Hay-scented
Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) and New York Fern (Thelypteris
noveboracensis)were abundant and there was scattered Intermediate Shield Fern (Dryopteris
intermedia) , Christmas Fern (Polystichum
acrostichoides ), a little Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum
pedatum ) and a very little Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis).
Herbs generally less widespread were Upright Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), Creeping Five-leaf ( Potentilla
simplex/canadensis ), Hispid Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus ), Wood Anemone ( Anemone quinquefolia), Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod (Soidago rugosa), White Wood Aster (Aster divaricatus) (quite widespread ), Big-leaf Aster ( Aster macrophyllus), Hairy Disporum (Disporum lanuginosum ), Sweet-scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum ), Hairy Bedstraw ( G. pilosum), Wild Liquorice (G. circaezans ), Lance-leaf Wild Liquorice (G. lanceolatum ), Mealy Bellwort (Uvularia perfofoliata ), Sessile-leaved Bellwort (U. sessilifolia ), Mountain Bellwort (U. pudica), Round-leaved Pyrola (Pyrola
rotundifolia ), Blunt-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica
americana), a quite widespread species, Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus ) in bloom, Small's Ragwort ( S. smallii ), a little Wild Comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum ), Canada Brome Grass (Bromus purgans ), Noddng Fescue (Festuca obtusa), Short-leaved Bluegrass (Poa cuspidata ), a little of the forest grass Brachyelytrum erectum
, the northern forest bluegrass Poa alsodes,
Black Cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa ), Downy Wood Violet (Viola sororia), Smooth Yellow Violet (V. pensylvanica), Sweet White Violet (V. blanda ), Indian Turnip (Arisaema triphyllum), Plume Lily (Smilacina racemosa), a single small patch of Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense ) under Hemlock, a little Hairy Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza
claytoni ), Four-leaved Yam (Dioscorea quaternata), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria
canadensis ), Carrion Flower (Smilax herbacea ), Gaywings (Polygala paucifolia ), Cow Wheat (Melampyrum lineare), a little Trout Lily (Erythronium) of unknown species, Indian Pipe (Monotropa
uniflora), possible Showy Orchid ( Orchis spectabilis) based on leaves, Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea quadrisulcata), White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum ), Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia ), Tall Meadowrue ( Thalictrum polygamum), Horse Balm ( Collinsonia
canadensis ), Great Chickweed ( Stellaria pubera ), Hog Peanut (Amphicarpa
bracteata ), Hooked Crowfoot (Ranunculus recurvatus), a Tick-trefoil Desmodium glutinosum
, Wild Lily of the Valley (Convallari montana ), Squaw Root (Conophlis
americana), an agrimony (Agrimonia
sp ), Whorled Loosestrife (Lysimachia
quadrifolia), Wingstem (Verbesina
alternifolia), Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides), Wild Geranium (Geranium
maculatum ), a wood rush Luzula echinata
, a panic grass Panicum boscii
, Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginiana), Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium acaule), Common Many Knees (Polygonatum biflorum), a single plant of May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) and a little Tree Club Moss (Lycopodium obscurum).
Sedges included Carex laxiculmis, C. prasina,
C. amphibola, C. willdenowii, C. purpurea, C. laxiflora
and C. platyphylla. The first three species occur in low woods near the road and may have been influenced
by nutrients from that source, whereas the others are more characteristic of and
were found within the upland forest.
Sizes of some of the largest trees in dbh were as follows:
White Oak: 4 feet (1.2 m ), 57 inches (1.4 m), 3 feet (0.92 m), 40 inches (1 m)
White Pine: 3 feet (0.92 m), 40 inches (i m), 42 inches (1.1 m )
These trees are of good form and the White Pine in particular is tall, although heights
were not determined since these were deemed less significant than diameters.
Bryophytes, and especially mosses, were, with lichens, diverse and abundant on soil
and tree bases, lower trunks and on dead wood on the forest floor. Large old down
boles were characteristically moss-covered in the general absence of rocks. In what
follows liverworts and lichens are explicitly indicated while mosses constitute the rest.
The following numbered collection was made beginning at the road and extending up-slope
and was identified by R. Hunsucker:
No 1: moss at edge of woods on soil and humus with Partridge Berry and Creeping Five-leaf:
No 2: base and lower (within arm's reach ) portion of a rather large Hemlock:
Brotherella recurvans
No 3: dead wood on ground:
No 4: on base of White Oak, Northern Red Oak and fallen trees:
No 5: Bases to 8 feet (2.4 m ) height on large Northern Red and White Oaks:
The following are additional unnumbered observations, also by R. Hunsucker:
On branches of a fallen White Oak the following:
A community associated with the 40 inch dbh White Pine included a dense patch of Mountain
Fetterbush with Early Low Blueberry, Deer Berry, numerous seedlings and saplings
of White Pine, a few Hemlock seedlings and Flame Azalea in bloom.
Quite generally, seedlings of the dominant canopy White Pine and White Oak were abundant,
as were those of Northern Red Oak and Red Maple. Scattered Sugar Maple seedlings
were also common.
Contrasting with the generally low diversity of the upland forest ground cover, was
a community in a small ravine or temporary stream course. A traverse up this ravine
yielded in succession the following: Crataegus flabellata,
Carex platyphylla
confined to the top of a moss-covered down bole, Carex laxiflora
on the adjacent soil, Small's Ragwort, White Snakeroot, Brachyelytrum
erectum,
Barren Strawberry, Enchanter's Nightshade, Wreath Goldenrod, Tall Meadowrue, Horse
Balm, Great Chickweed, Hog Peanut, Hooked Crowfoot, Sweet-scented Bedstraw, Creeping
Five-leaf, Desmodium glutinosum
, Wild Lily of the Valley on an adjacent bank, Squaw Root, Sugar Maple saplings, Sweet
White Violet, Spice Bush, Black Cohosh, an agrimony, Blunt-lobed Hepatica, Christmas
Fern, Maidenhair Fern, New York Fern, Wingstem and Shagbark Hickory. Our traverse
terminated at a steep bank that revealed deep soil with few rocks. It should be mentioned
that, although this ravine community reflects richer soils than those of the upland
forest, it is far from being characteristic of the richest soils and we observed
no eutrophic indicator species.
As the slope steepened we ascended the wall of the now narrow ravine. Here again we
saw Mountain Fetterbush and a little Wild Hydrangea, followed just above by Chestnut
Oak. Also seen here was a single plant of Downy Rattlesnake Plantain ( Goodyera
pubescens), Early Low Blueberry, a large Pignut identified as Carya
glabra
and Black Oak. Scarlet Tanagers (Piranga olivacea) were heard and spiny woodland spiders seen.
In general a fair contingent of birds was noted by us in this forest, although many
calls of warblers were doubtless too high-pitched for our ears. Red-eyed Vireos (
Vireo olivaceus ) were heard almost constantly and Scarlet Tanager and Ovenbird (Sieurus aurocapillus) calls were frequent except for an early afternoon intermission. A Solitary Vireo
(Vireo solitarius ) was both heard and seen. Woodpeckers of various species, including Pileated (Dryacopus
pileatus), were heard drumming and calling, particularily in the morning, when White-breasted
Nuhatches (Sita carolinensis ) were also active. A Whip-poor- Will (Caprimulgus vociferus ), in a rare appearance, was heard by one of our party who spent the night in the
vicinity. Other fauna noted in the ancient forest were common large yellow and black
millipedes with a strong burnt almond odor and a single Peeper Tree Frog (Hyla crucifer) hopping among leaves on the forest floor of the upper slope.
Not many fungi were seen during our May traverses and only the polypores Trichaptum biforme
and Vavolis alveolaris
were recorded on dead wood. However, a traverse made on 6-28-98 by R. Hunsucker
in the ancient forest yielded the following:
Inocybe sp
Beginning at 10:00 A M of 5-2-98 we conducted an inventory of the bed, first bottom,
bank and low terrace of the North Fork of Anthony Creek adjacent to the ancient forest.
The sky was almost clear and conditions pleasant. Tall, though not old, White Pine dominated the canopy. Other trees along the terrace bank were Red and Sugar Maples,
White Ash, Black Birch, Black Walnut and Tuliptree. River Birch (Betula nigra ) and American Elm (Ulmus
americana) occupied the stream bed/ first bottom. Associated shrubs along the terrace bank
were Spice Bush, Black Haw Viburnum and Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ), Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata)
, Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) and Silky Willow (Salix sericea ) occupied the bed/ first bottom as well as the terrace bank. A few alien Autumn Olive
(Elaeagnus umbellata) were also seen. Vines noted were Poison Ivy, Hispid Greenbrier and Virgin's Bower
(Clematis virginiana).
As was true of the woody plants, many herbs found along the Creek were not previously
encountered in the upland forest. With few exceptions, both common and scientific
names are provided for these.
Most prominent in the stream channel was the resiliant Carex torta
. Other species within and around the channel were Common Joe-pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum), Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus), Golden Ragwort in bloom, Grass-leaved Goldenrod ( Euthamia graminifolia ), a species of the mint Stachys
, Tall Meadowrue, Deer Tongue Grass (Panicum clandestinum), Riparian Wild Rye ( Elymus riparius ), Virginia Knotweed (Polygonum virginianum ), Cleavers (Galium aperine), Carex gracillima
, Downy Wood Violet, the forest bluegrass Poa alsodes,
Northern Bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus ), White Grass (Leersia virginica ), Hog Peanut, Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis ), Yellow Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), Crooked-stem Aster (Aster
prenanthoides ), White Snakeroot, Wingstem, Enchanter's Nightshade, Indian Turnip, a Jewelweed (Impatiens sp ), Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum ), Mad-dog Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora ), Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), Carex blanda, Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis ), Tall Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata ), Creeping Five-leaf, Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), Sweet-scented bedstraw, Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria striata ), Turtlehead (Chelone glabra), Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), a plantain (Plantago
sp ), Carex digitalis, Sensitive Fern and Dotted St Johns Wort ( Hypericum punctatum). Concentrated on the terrace bank were Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata), Carex laxiflora, One-flowered Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora) and an unidentified gentian (Gentiana
sp ). Much of the east-facing bank was under trees, moss-covered and acidic, with
abundant Partridge Berry, and in places, the normally high-elevation White Wood Sorrel
(Oxalis montana). Mosses identified were species of Brachythecium, Mnium
and Bryoandersonia illicebra, with its distinctive leaves. Accompanying these was the liverwort Conocephalum connicum.
Fish of undetermined species up to six inches (15 cm ) in length were present in
the stream.
A second stream-side inventory was done in the early afternoon immediately upstream
from the junction of the One Mile Run Road. On approaching the stream-side forest
from the road we noted Striped Violet (Viola striata), the tick-trefoil Desmodium paniculatum and the calls of Scarlet Tanagers and Ovenbirds.
The forest canopy here consisted of large (2 ft/0.6 m dbh ) White Pine with smaller
Hemlock. Perhaps as a consequence of heavy needle duff and shade, little ground cover was present under the trees. Present however were Partridge Berry, Round-leaf
Violet (Viola
rotundifolia), and in one place there was a single plant of Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphilla maculata), in the only example of this species seen in the entire area.
Although the stream in this area has a low gradient, it has a flaggy bed. The contrast
in the upland and stream-side floras appear to be largely a consequense of moisture
differences, since few markedly eutrophic species occur in either. Exceptions are
such species as Striped Violet and Northern Swamp Buttercup, which may however have
been influnced by road-related nutrients.
Old Growth/Anthony Creek
Source Walks: 5-20-98, 5-21-98 and 6-28-98
The tract of old growth or ancient forest near Neola, West Virginia occupies an east-facing
slope just west of the North Fork of Anthony Creek. It is probably the same tract
that was depicted by Lucy Braun (1950 ) in her Deciduous Forests
of Eastern North America
. Elevations range from 2040 feet (622 m ) along the Creek, to a little above 2200
ft (671) asl on the slope. Country rock here is Devonian Braillier Formation, which
is dominated by shale with subordinate siltstone and sandstone. Consequently there
are few rock outcrops and topography is subdued. No evidence of carbonate rocks was seen
and upland soils appeared rather infertile. The regime of the upland forest, including
the old growth is prevailingly xeric and acidic but differs in some respects from
typical oak-chestnut type of the Valley and Ridge, especially in the widespread occurrence
of Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens).
Dicranum scoparium
Climacium americanum
Thuidium delicatulum
Pleurozium
schreberi
Mnium
affine var ciliare
Mnium affine var ciliare
Dicranum montanum
Frullania asagrayana
- a liverwort
Ulota crispa
Dicranum
sp
Anomodon rostratus
Clasmatodon parvulus
- a southern moss
Metsgeria conjugata
- a liverwort
Cololejeunea biddlecomiea
- a liverwort
Porella platyphylla
- a liverwort
Radula complanata
- a liverwort
Stricta weigelii
- a lichen
Anomodon rostratus
- on base of trees
A. attenuatus-
on base of trees
Mnium affine
var ciliare
- on base of trees
Bryum
sp- on base of trees
Fissidens
sp- On base of trees
Hypnum curvifolium
- on fallen rotting oaks
Porella platyphylla
-a liverwort
Pseudevernia consocians
- a lichen on branches of fallen White
Pine
Anomodon rostratus
-on Northern Red and White Oaks
A. attenuatus
- on Northern Red and White Oaks
Brachythecium oxycladon
- on Northern Red Oak
Fissidens
sp-on White Oak
Campylium chrysophyllum
- on White Oak
Entodon brevisetus
- on White Oak
Dicranum viride
- base of N. Red Oak
Thuidium delicatulum-
base of N. Red Oak
Forsstroemia trichomitria
- base of N. Red Oak
Mnium cuspidatum
-base of N. Red Oak
Radula coplanata
- a liverwort on N. Red Oak
Porella platyphylla
- a liverwort on N, Red Oak
Frullania asagrayana
- a liverwort on White Oak
F. eboracensis
- a liverwort on White Oak
Anaptychia palmatula
- a lichen on N. Red Oak (characteristic of
mature forest )
Menegazzia terebrata
- a lichen on White Oak (relatively rare )
Heterodermia casarettiana
- a lichen on White Oak
Parmotrema reticulata
- a lichen on White Oak
P. arnoldi
- a lichen on White Oak (rare in eastern N. America )
Parmelia squarosa
- a lichen on White Oak
P. sulcata
- a lichen on White Oak
Steeocaulon
sp- a lichen on soil and humus
Rhynchostegium
serrulatum
- on rotting wood at base of
Hophornbeam
Dicranum scoparium
-on soil, humus
Nowellia curvifolia - a liverwort on rotting White Pine bole on ground
Dicranum viride - on rotting tree trunk
Chiloscyphus
profundus
- a liverwort on rotting wood
Hypnum curvifolium
- on bark at base of tree and on rotting
down boles
Pogonatum pensilvanicum
- a pioneer moss of bare soil that forms dense, green mats of protonema- in this case on soil of a large uprooted White Oak
Dicranella heteromalla
- another pioneer species with the
above
At the base of a large White Pine, the following:
Campilium chrysophyllum
Anomodon rostratus
Dicranum montanum
Peltigera canina - a lichen (very widespread )
On a fallen large White Pine, the following:
Nowellia curvifolia
- a liverwort on the moist trunk
Platismatia tuckermanii
- a lichen on branches (common on
conifers )
Ulota crispa
Parmotrema stuppeum
- a lichen (usually found at high
elevations in the Appalachians )
Parmelia rudecta
- a lichen (most common species )
Under White Pine-largely, the following:
Hylocomium splendens
- on humus
Thuidium delicatulum
- on wood
Leucodon brachypus-
on bark at base of White Oak
Polytrichum ohioense
- on soil
Brachythecium oxycladon
- on well-rotted oak wood
Pylaisiella selwynii
- on bark at base of White Oak and on
rotting oak down boles
Amblystegium trichopdium
- on decaying wood
Cantherellus cibarius
C. xanthopus
Amanita muscaria
A. fulva
A. flavoconia
A. pantherina
A. rubescens
Suillus granulatus
S. pictus
Austroboletus gracilis
Bulgaria inquinans
Cystoderma
amianthinum var rugosoreticulatum
Xerula radicata
Collybia dryophila
Clitocybe clavipes
C. gibba
C. subclavipes
Xeromphalina tenuipes
Panellus stipticus
Sphathularia velutipes
Bjerkandera adusta
Russula virescens
Lactarius subpurpureus
L. chrysorheus
L. theiogalus
In openings and semi-openings and in association with deciduous floodplain trees (except River Birch , which was not seen here ) we saw Wild Hydrangea, White Wood
Aster, Black Cohosh, Christmas Fern, White Avens (Geum canadense), Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), Two-leaved Toothwort (Dentaria diphylla ) and the only Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides ) seen in the area. In small intervening wetlands we saw Carex gynandra, Pennsylvania Bittercress (Caramine pensylvanica), Mermaid Weed (Proserpinaca palustris), a burreed (Sparganium
sp) and the quillwort Isoetes englemanni
In one place egg masses of a salamander were intergrown with green algae. Also seen
along the road in this area, and perhaps under its chemical influence, were Purple-stem
Aster (Aster puniceus ), Yellow Sneezeweed, Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca ), False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), Lady Fern (Athrium filix-femina), Northern Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus
septentrionalis ), American Germander ( Teucrium canadense), Carex laxiflora
and C. amphibola.