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Introduction
The main stem and tributaries of the East Fork of the Greenbrier mainly flow in valley swaths of Devonian Chemung Group Rocks. However, Hampshire Formation, also of Devonian Age, occupies much of the upper Watershed. The Chemung consists largely of gray and brown siltstone and sandstone, with shale and conglomerate interbeds, and is mainly of marine origin. The Hampshire Formation is non-marine, and consists of shales and fine micaceous sandstone, mostly red to brownish-gray and also includes some siltstone, other sandstone and conglomerate (Cardwell et al. 1968) The inventories reported on here were all conducted in the vicinity of the Island campground of the Monongahela National Forest northeast of Thornwood, West Virginia. The River bed load and coarser flood plain alluvium consist of bouldery cobble, smaller cobble, gravel and sand typical of mountain streams and, given the dominant bedrock lithologies as described above, bespeak an acidic milieu. The elevation here is a little over 3000 feet (915 m). While most aspects here were essentially flat the valley opens to the southwest at this point. The flood plain surface is quite rough, with fragmented terraces and old channel scars.
Source Walk: 5-10-93
The most spectacular view on this day was of the thousands of beautiful, deep purple Wake Robin Trillium (Trillium erectum ), which was initially mistaken for the "Nodding Trillium" (Trillium cernuum), as a consequence of the form it showed on this occasion. Also in bloom was Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum), as well as Cut-leaf Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata), Two-leaf Toothwort ( D. diphylla) and an intimate intergrowth of Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) and Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius). Also noted were Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), an unidentified anemone, Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), common White Hellebore (Veratrum viride), Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens), White Wood Sorrel (Oxalis montana) and the shrubs Hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium ), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis), also in bloom, occurred on bare soil near the stream. Trees noted were Yellow and black Birches (Betula alleghaniensis and B. lenta), Sugar and Red maples (Acer saccharum and A. rubrum ), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), White Ash (Fraxinus americana) and a few Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra).
It is of interest that the beautifully-blooming Wake Robin Trillium occurred in its greatest abundance along forest Road 14 in adjacent Five mile Hollow.
Bird life, especially in the treetops (warblers ?), appeared plentiful, Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) foraged around our table and the first Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) ever was identified by this observer!
Source Walk: 7-31-03
Our inventory began at noon immediately up-valley from the camp ground under cool, cloudy conditions, with a soil temperature determination (T-695) on an essentially flat aspect, on a terrace of the flood plain under mature Sugar Maple and Canada Hemlock Obtained was a soil temperature of T = 17.0 deg C. The associated air temperature was T=19.0 deg C.
A soil sample (#1) was taken at the same location as the soil temperature. An initial pH of 4.3 was obtained, and after 24 hours this remained unchanged.
A determination of the pH of River water was also made, and this was found to be 4.7.
We now began moving up - valley on a dissected terrace several meters above the current River water level. The canopy here was dominated by mature but young Sugar Maple, Canada Hemlock somewhat infested by the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae), abundant Yellow Birch, American Beech, Red Maple and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina). Diameters averaged a foot or less. Also present were scattered mature Black Birch,White Ash, Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Northern Red Oak. Also as determined later, several mature Red Spruce (Picea rubens }of the order of 20 inches (0.5 m) dbh were found on the southwest side of the camp ground. Many of the Beech, especially the smaller, showed evidence of the Beech Scale - Nectria Complex (Cryptococcus fagisuga). Similarly, it appeared to be the smaller Hemlock that were most affected by the Adelgid. (Whether through lack of experience in identification or absence of affected trees, neither infestation had been apparent in 1993). No Red Spruce and little Hemlock reproduction were noted. Additionally, such small Hemlock as were present appeared to be significantly browsed by White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virgininus). Scattered understory species were Muscletree (Carpinus caroliniana) and Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum).
Species progressively noted as we moved up-valley, were White Wood Sorrel, Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina ), Curtis Goldenrod (Solidago curtisii), the sedge Carex laxiflora, ground Pine (Lycopodium flabellifore), Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus), White Ash seedlings, Great Chickweed (Stellaria pubera), Filmy Angelica (Angelica triquinata), common Mountain Oat Grass (Danthonia compressa) and Intermediate Shield Fern (Dryopteris intermedia), then Painted Trillium, common Brachyelytrum erectum grass, Round-leaf Violet (Viola rotundifolia), Downy Wood Violet (Viola sororia), very abundant Partridge berry, Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) and the sedge Carex gracillima. Following were Witch Hazel, New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), Northern Red Oak, Downy serviceberry ( Amelanchier arborea), a gall of the earth (Prenanthes sp), Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides), the wood rush Luzula acuminata, Crooked-stem Aster (Aster prenanthoides), native self-heal (Prunella vulgaris var lanceolata ), Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla), Plume Lily (Smilacina racemosa), Panicled Hawkweed (Hieracium paniculatum), Deer-tongue Grass (Panicum cladestinum) and Mountain Laurel. These were followed by the mosses Leucobryum glaucum in cushions, Thuidium delicatulum, Hypnum pallescens, Atrichum crispum and Mnium hornum, then Canada Mayflower going dormant, a few seedlings of Hemlock, Bluets (Houstonia caerulea), the fungus Amanita rubescens , a mature (8 inch / 20 cm dbh) White Ash, Riparian Wild Rye (Elymus riparius), the liverwort Scapania nemorosa, the mosses Atrichum angustatum and Hypnum curvifolium, an unidentified sneezeweed (Helenium sp), Black Birch, the rush Juncus effusus, Fowl Mannagrass (Glyceria striata), Tree Clubmoss (Lycopodium obscurum), the fungi Boletus subvelutipes and Cantharellus cibarius, Large Round-leaved Orchid (Habenaria orbiculata) and an unidentified lily (Lilium sp ). Next noted were Downy Many Knees (Polygonatum pubescens), a scale infected Beech, Shining Clubmoss (Lycopodium lucidulum), Carrion Flower ( Smilax herbacea), Sweet White Violet (Viola blanda) and the sedge Carex debilis. Then on a White Ash the moss Anomodon attenuatus and the liverwort Porella platyphylla were identified. Continuing, we noted Upright Yellow Wood Sorrel ( Oxalis stricta) and, on a down bole, the characteristic liverwort for this habitat, Nowellia curvifolia. Now at an old channel scar there were the manna grass Glyceria melicaria, the bulrush Scirpus atrovirens and Carex gynandra. Adjacent to this were the fungi Laccaria laccata and Clitocybe clavipes, also a few small Indian Turnips ( Ariaema triphyllum), then farther on, the fungi: Amanita flavoconia and Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceus (the latter, according to Phillips (1991), "abundant in wet years"). Next seen were Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora), the moss Ulota crispa on Red Maple, the fungi Xerula furfuracea and Boletus affinus (the latter, according to Phillips, "abundant at times under deciduous trees, especially Beech"), the forest "bluegrass" Poa alsodes, the fungus Collybia confluens, then (Rough - leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) on the stream bank. Next were Turtlehead (Chelone glabra). generally abundant Stiff Clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) and Common Clubmoss (L. clavatum), Indian Cucumberroot (Medeola virginiana), Mountain Laurel, Wood Anemone, Hay-scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana). the fungi Russula xerampelina and Gyroporus castaneus and a 15 inch (0.38 m) dbh Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata). These were followed by the spectacular ring-forming fungus Gomphus floccosus, the acidiphile sedge Carex intumescens, an unidentified fungus of the genus Leccinum, Common Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) and a 10 inch ( 0.25 m) dbh Black Locust. Our traverse ended with the identification of the fungi: Amanita brunnescens,, Russula redolens and Russula ochroleucoides.
Additional fungi identified later by R. Hunsucker were Boletus chrysenteron (edible) and Lactarius chrysorrheus (poisonous).
Source Walk: 8-25-03
Our inventory this day was initiated at near noon by a soil temperature determination (T-706) at the same location as that of 7-31-03. A value of T= 16 deg C was obtained. Weather conditions were cool and pleasant.
An inventory was then conducted of a small abandoned channel wetland which formed an opening. Noted were Virginia knotweed (Polygonum virginianum) in fruit, Turtlehead, Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and Crooked-stem Aster, both in bloom, Revolute Meadowrue ( Thalictrum revolutum), Purple-stem Aster (Aster puniceus), Mad-dog Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Rice Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), Water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica ), Twisted Sedge (Carex torta ), Northern Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis), Autumn Bent Grass (Agrostis perennans), the alien Velvet Grass (Holcus lanatus), the manna grass Glyceria melicaria, Clayton's Bedstraw (Galium tinctorium), Water Horehound (Lycopus americanus ) with long stolons, Cut-leaved Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) in full bloom, the bulrush Scirpus atrovirens, Deer - tongue Grass, Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and Larger Water Starwort (Callitriche heterophylla ).
Additional upland species seen were Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens ) and Filmy Angelica in seed.
Summary
It is informative to compare the flora here with our inventoried areas of Tea Creek and the Laurel Fork Wilderness Areas (see our sections on these areas). These areas are also valley flats in part, but have access to a greater source of nutrients, either from underlying rocks (Tea Creek ), or from up-stream (Laurel Fork Wilderness Areas). Both of these areas, like the East Fork of the Greenbrier, are rich in northern species, but appear to have far richer floras in general. This is particularly true of Tea Creek, where such demanding trees as Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus octandra) and American Basswood (Tilia americana) are common and even the warm climate Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) occurs in small numbers. These trees are accompanied by such rich-soil indicators as Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis ), Mountain Bugbane (Cimicifuga americana), Fraser's Sedge (Cymophyllus fraseri) and the mint Meehania cordata. While the upland forests in the Laurel Fork Wilderness occur on Hampshire Formation bedrock, much as those of the East Fork of the Greenbrier, and as a consequence are relatively depauperate, the vegetation of the flood plain is rich and varied as a consequence of Greenbrier limestone in the upper watershed.
An additional factor that should be considered is the unprecedented wet period that preceded our inventories. These conditions may be reflected in soil and water acidities and temperatures, and in the abundance and character of fungi and pathogens. Gillies et al (1998) did an extensive study of the chemistry and water quality of the Greenbrier River. They found uniformly high values of pH and alkalinity, and none of their pH values fell below 7. However only two of their sample stations were located in the reach of our study. Nonetheless, the difference in pH between the data of Gillies et al (1998) and of this study seems too great to attribute to differences in meteorological conditions and can only be resolved by further studies.
Acknowledgements
As always, the reporter is pleased to acknowledge the many contributions of R. Hunsucker and D. Simkins to these inventories, as well as their pleasant companionship in the field.
References
Cardwell Dudley H., Robert B. Erwin, Herbert P. Woodward and Charles W. Lotz (1968) Geologic Map of West Virginia, slightly revised 1986. West Virginia Geologic and economic Survey. Morgantown, west Va.
Gillies, W. Neil, David A. Malakoff, Nancy Ailes and George Constantz (1998) Greenbrier, A Scientific Portrait of a West Virginia River. Cacapon Institute, High View, West Virginia.
Phillips, Roger (1991) Mushrooms of North America. Little, Brown & Co., Boston.