Glade Creek/New River Gorge
Source Walks: 9-19-97,9-20-97,9-21-97,9-22-97 and 10-9-97
Introduction
Rocks in the area inventoried are all sedimentary, near horizontal in the attitude of their beds and consist of Mississippian Hinton Formation. While this formation contains carbonate ( limestone and/or dolomite ) members, no example of this rock type was seen in exposed bedrock. However some limestone boulders were found in the River's bedload.
The inventories reported on here were almost entirely confined to the confluence area of the New River and Glade Creek, a minor tributary that enters the deep Gorge near Beckley West Virginia and within the New River Gorge National River. Although the flora within the Gorge is southern Appalachian, higher elevations ( 2500 feet/763 meters and over) along Glade Creek were once covered by one of the largest White Pine forests in the State (Brooks 1910).
Our detailed inventories at the Glade Creek confluence consisted of the following parts: (1) the campground area on a low sloping terrace,(2) a traverse west of the campground along the base and lower part of a colluvial slope and thence to the New River,(3) the wooded edge and strand along the River west of the boat landing, (4) a traverse to the east of camp, crossing the mouth of Glade Creek, through the boulder field along the River, then south across the floodplain east of Glade Creek and (5) a traverse along the west side of Glade Creek.
Spice Bush ( Lindera benzoin ) dominates the shrub layer in the campground and Paw Paw ( Asimina triloba ) is abundant along its edges. Ground cover under trees on the terrace was sparce, but included scattered Plume Lily ( Smilacina racemosa ), Sessile-leaved Bellwort ( Uvularia sessilifolia ), Bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ) and Big-leaf Aster ( Aster macrophyllus ). The alien cress Cardamine impatiens was common along the campground road, while tall, vigorous White Snakeroot ( Eupatorium rugosum ), Wingstem ( Verbesina alternifolia ) and Virginia Knotweed ( Polygonum virginianum ) occupied openings.
Now, at the base of a steep, west-trending slope northeast in aspect,we saw a single Marginal Shield Fern ( Dryopteris marginalis ) plant, then Maidenhair fern ( Adiatum pedatum ), American Strawberry Bush ( Euonymus americanus ), Black Cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa ), Great Chickweed ( Stellaria pubera ), Sweet-scented Bedstraw ( Galium triflorum ) and a species of Hypnum moss. These species occurred on or near a steep colluvial bank composed of rich-appearing reddish soil with a measured surface pH of 5.4.
As we gradually ascended the colluvial slope, we noted an Avens ( Geum sp ), Yellow Buckeye, a large American Elm, White Ash, the first small Beech, a Shagbark Hickory with thick-husked nuts and White Basswood. We also noted that the soil beneath the Beech was light-colored and sandy. On descending the rocky sandstone slope to the River, we encountered our first and only Smooth Azalea ( Rhododendron arborescens ) accompanied by a little Striped Maple ( Acer pensylvanicum ), Red Maple seedlings and finally on the shore, River Birch ( Betula nigra ).
In places close to and merging with the forest edge were large patches of tall grasses such as Big Bluestem ( Andropogon gerardi ), Chasmanthium latifolium, Yellow Indian Grass ( Sorghastrum nutans ), Riparian Wild Rye ( Elymus riparius ), Switch grass ( Panicum virgatum ) and Deer-tongue Grass ( P. clandestinum ). Autumn Bent grass ( Agrostis perennans ) was everywhere common, as to a lesser degree was Spreading Witch Grass ( Panicum dichotomiflorum ), Bush Panic Grass ( P. dichotomum ), Slender-flowered Muhly ( Muhlenbergia tenuiflora ), Wirestem Muhly ( M. frondosa ) and White Grass ( Leersia virginica ).
Near the waters edge, on the strand, many small mat-like plants covered the sand. These included Tooth Cup ( Rotala ramosior ), Fimbristylis autumnalis, Cyperus rivularis, Creeping Lovegrass ( Eragrostis hypnoides ), the spikerush Eleocharis obtusa, Cyperus inflexus, Small-flowered St. Johns-wort ( Hypericum mutilum ), Marsh Purslane ( Ludwigia palustris ) and Mud Plantain ( Hederanthera dubia ) in bloom. The first six of these are annuals.
The list of other plants growing on the strand is extensive. Identified were:
Leersia oryzoides ( Rice Cutgrass )
Bidens frondosa ( a Beggar Tick )
Scirpus americanus ( American Bulrush ), in a large beautiful patch
Lobelia inflata ( Indian Tobacco )
Panicum agrostoides ( Red-top Panic Grass )
Mimulus alatus ( winged Monkeyflower )
Erogrostis pectinacea -
Lindernia dubia ( False Pimpernel )
Trautvetteria caroliniensis ( Tasselrue )
Aster simplex ( Panicled Aster )
Arthraxon hispidus ( an alien grass )
Microstegium vimineum ( an alien grass )
Polygonum cespitosum ( Asiatic Waterpepper )
P. punctatum ( Water Smartweed )
P. pensylvanicum ( Pennsylvania Smartweed )
Houstonia caerulia ( Spring Bluets )
Smilax glauca ( Saw Brier )
Veronica serpyllifolia ( alien Thyme-leaved Speedwell )
Climacium americanum ( Tree Moss ), a patch
Prunella vulgaris ( Selfheal )
Gratiola neglecta ( Clammy Hedge-hyssop )
Lycopus americanus ( Water horehound )
Rorippa sp ( a cress )
Saponaria officinalis ( alien Soapwort )
Ludwigia alternifolia ( Seedbox )
Helianthus strumosus ( Pale-leaved Sunflower )
Acalypha rhomboidea ( Common Three-seeded Mercury )
Xanthium strumarium ( Hairybody Cocklebur )
Epilobium coloratum ( Purple-leaved Willowherb )
Solanum americanum ( Black Nightshade )
Echinochloa crusgali ( Barnyard Grass )
Eleusine indica ( alien Goose Grass )
Commelina communis ( Asiatic Dayflower )
Chenopodium ambrosioides (Mexican Tea )
Ranunculus hispidus ( Hispid Buttercup )
Thalictrum sp ( a Meadowrue )
Saururus cernus ( Lizards Tail )
Scutellaria lateriflora ( Mad-dog Skullcap )
Onoclea sensibilis ( Sensitive Fern )
Eupatorium perfoliatum ( Boneset )
Hypnum sp ( moss under tall sedges )
Lysimachia ciliata ( fringed Loosestrife )
Cardamine sp ( very sharp-tasting species )
Helenium autumnale ( Yellow Sneezeweed )
Apios americana ( Ground Nut )
Coreopsis tripteris ( Tall Coreopsis )
Solidago gigantea ( Late Goldenrod )
S. canadensis ( Canada Goldenrod )
S. rugosa ( Wrinkled-leaf Goldenrod )
Senecio aureus ( Golden Ragwort )
Rudbeckia laciniata ( Tall coneflower ) and
Boehmeria cylindrica ( False Nettle )
Aquatic species in the River itself were Large Water Starwort ( Callitriche heterophylla ), Water Willow ( Justicia americana ), Canada Waterweed ( Elodea canadensis ), the alien Curly Pondweed ( Potamogeton crispus ) and Eel Grass ( Vallisneria americana ) in part pulled up by Muskrats ( Ondatra zibethica ). Mud Plantain occurred here as well.
Where the sandy strand is pinched out by the rocky slope, mosses and leafy liverworts hold sway on rocks and tree trunks. In particular, a species of the liverwort Porella ascends in thick encrustations up tree trunks to the height of frequent flooding, perhaps six feet ( 2 m ) above the strand. Also it, as well as Anomodon and Mnium mosses cover nearby rocks.
Many small fish, some apparently shiner minnows, were visible in the River, and a fisherman exhibited two large ( 20 inch/0.5 m ) Channel Catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ). Rafts of whirligig beetles ( Gyrinidae ) swirrled on the water surface, four inch ( 10 cm ) long, dark brown Hellgramites ( Corydalis sp ) concealed themselves under rocks and Belted Kingfishers ( Megaceryle alcyon ) chattered from the far shore. The abundant and diverse aquatic life, which also included signs of Mink ( Mustela vison ), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus ), Canada Geese ( Branta canadensis ) and various ducks seemed to argue for near circumneutral water. However a measurement taken just downstream from Glade Creek yielded a pH of 6.0, a value that, if correct, may have been influenced by the contribution from this tributary.
Special mention should be made of a plant characteristic of the the forest edge east of the boat landing, where the sandy beech also pinches out and is replaced by a boulder strand that extends eastward across the mouth of Glade Creek and beyond. This plant is False Indigo ( Baptisia australis ), which formed tall, conspicuous, dark green clumps and, at this season, bore mature fruit pods. Other plants in the vicinity, but usually a little farther from the water, were Pasture Rose ( Rosa Carolina ), Coralberry ( Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ), the dewberry Rubus enslenii, Virginia Bushclover ( Lespedeza virginica ), the alien Bushclover l. cuneata, Crooked-stem Aster ( Aster prenanthoides ), Common Evening Primrose ( Oenothera biennis ), the Beggar Tick Bidens cernua and New York ironweed ( Vernonia noveboracensis ). A dead American Elm bore the fungus Poronidulus conchifer and nearby grew Winter Mushroom ( Flammulina velutipes ).
Then entering the rocky woods, we successively encountered Red Maple, the first and only White Oak of our trip, Black gum, Muscletree, Persimmon, Cucumbertree, a small patch of Spring Bluets, the alien Common Mugwort ( Artemesia vulgaris ), Northern Red Oak and the medicinal Split-gill Mushroom ( Schizophyllum commune ). Moving upstream, we saw Prostrate Spurge ( Euphorbia supina ), followed by several colonies of Shrub Yellowroot ( Xanthorhiza simplicissima ). Associated with this interesting medicinal plant were Persimmon, Muscletree, Winterberry Holly, Golden Ragwort, Autumn Bent grass and the moss Climacium americanum. Farther on we noted the fungus Crepidotus applanatus, a species of Dicranum on a rock and an Atrichum on soil. Beaver sign was very common, as it was also along the River.
We had been moving along the terrace edge, which had rock face exposures. Both Tuliptree and Muscletree were abundant here and were accompanied by Spice Bush, Brachyelytrum grass, Christmas Fern and Carex plantaginea, indicating quite rich soil. Continuing onward along the base of the terrace and rock faces, we saw the wood rush Luzula acuminata, the mosses Hedwigia ciliata, Aulacomnium heterostichum and Apple Moss(Bartramia pomiformis ),which with Red Maple, were all compatible with acid soils. This acid trend was continued in an adjacent community of Black Gum, Sassafras, Red Maple, Beech, Striped Maple, the first and only Great Rhododendron(Rhododendron maximum ) seen on our visit, Maple-leaf Viburnum ( Viburnum acerifolium ), Paw Paw, Partridge Berry ( Mitchella repens ), also in its lone appearance, Smooth Rockcress ( Arabis laevigata ) and Downy Solomons Seal or "Many Knees" ( Polygonatum pubescens )- all of which, excluding Paw Paw, are characteristic of acid soils.
Only a little farther along the terrace base there was a community that contrasted markedly with the above, it consisted of Yellow Buckeye, Sycamore, Hackberry, Black Locust, saplings of Sugar Maple, Spice Bush, Paw Paw, Virginia Waterleaf ( Hydrophyllum virginianum ), Christmas Fern, Cut-leaf Grape Fern ( Botrychium dissectum ), the mint Meehania cordata and the western species, Twin Grass (Diarrhena americana). Only a matter of 50 feet (15 m ) or so upstream we added Lady Fern ( Athyrium filix- femina ), Foam Flower and Marginal Shield Fern to our tally here.
Meehania is, with Carex plantaginea, regarded as generally indicative of the richest ( eutrophic ) forest soils based on many inventories ( Rawinski, 1992 ). Twin Grass is rare in these mountains, but was found previously by us at the Three Forks of the Williams River in the Cranberry wilderness.
(1) On the strand between the River and floodplain:
Lysimachia sp ( L. terrestris?, L. tonsa ? )
Elymus virginicus ( virginia Wild Rye )
Panicum capillare ( Old Witch Grass )
Sambucus canadensis ( Black Elderberry )
Viola sororia ( Downy Wood Violet )
Ipomea purpurea ( alien Morning Glory )
Physialis subglaberata (Smooth Ground Cherry )
Verbascum thapsus ( alien Great Mullein )
Solanum caroliniense ( Horse Nettle )
Setaria faberii ( alien Foxtail )
Digitaria sanguinalis ( alien Crabgrass )
Perilla frutescens ( alien Beefsteak Plant )
Eupatorium coelestinum ( Mist Flower )
Tucrium canadensis ( American Germander)
Bromus latiglumis (Broad-glumed Brome )
Cyperus esculentus(Edible Nutgrass)
Lobelia siphilitica ( Great Blue Lobelia )
L. cardinalis ( Cardinal Flower )
L. inflata ( Indian Tobacco )
Asclepias syriaca ( Common Milkweed )
Alliaria officinalis ( alien Garlic Mustard )
Carex frankii ( a sedge )
Justicia americana ( Water Willow )
Rumex obtusifolius (alien Broadleaf Dock )
R. crispus ( alien curly dock )
Polygonum coccineum ( Water Smartweed )
Mollugo verticillata ( Carpet Weed )
Phytolacca americana ( Poke )
Stellaria media ( Common Chickweed )
S. aquatica ( alien )
Elephantopus carolinianus ( Elephant's Foot )
Ambrosia artemisifolia ( Common Ragweed )
(2) Aquatic-from the River, attached to rocks or rooted on bottom:
Podostemum ceratophyllum ( Riverweed )
Justicia americana ( Water Willow )
(3) Floodplain Forest:
Acer saccharinum ( Silver Maple )
A. negundo ( Boxelder )
Platanus occidentalis ( Sycamore )
Ulmus americana ( American Elm )
Eupatorium rugosum ( White Snakeroot )- dominant herb
Elsholtzia ciliata (a mint )
Elymus virginicus ( Virginia Wild Rye )
E. riparius ( Riparian wild Rye )
Elaeagnus umbellatus ( alien Autumn Olive )
Dryopteris goldiana ( Goldie's Fern )
Osmorhiza longistylis ( Smooth Sweet Cicely )
Cystopteris fragilis ( Brittle Fern )
Vernonia altissima ( Tall Ironweed )-a west of the mountains species
Perilla frutescens ( alien Beefsteak Plant )
Triosteum perfoliatum ( Tinker's Weed )-rare
Impatiens capensis ( Spotted Jewelweed)
I. pallida ( Pallid Jewelweed )
Verbesina occidentalis ( Small Yellow Crownbeard )
Equisetum hyemale ( Scouring rush )
Hypericum punctatum ( Dotted St. Johns-wort )
Cardamine clematitis ( a cress )
(4) Forest on the First Terrace:
Aesulus octandra ( Yellow buckeye )
Ulmus americana ( American Elm )
Platanus occidentalis ( Sycamore )
Ailanthus altissima ( alien Tree of Heaven )
Acer negundo ( Boxelder )
Asimina triloba ( Paw Paw )
Aristolochia macrophylla ( Dutchman's Pipe )
Aster cordifolius ( Blue Wood Aster )
Impatiens pallida ( Pallid Jewelweed )
Hydrangea arborescens ( Wild Hydrangea )
Asarum canadense ( Wild Ginger )
Athyrium pycnocarpon ( Glade Fern )
Dryopteris carthusiana ( deciduous Spinulose Shield Fern )
D. goldiana ( Goldie's Fern )
Cystopteris fragilis ( Brittle Fern )
(5) Fungi from the Forest:
Mycena luteopallens-fruit endocarp on Black Walnut
M. sp
Entoloma abortivum-on soil/humus
Polyporus squamosus-on stem of down dead hardwood
Gymnopilus spectabilis-on American elm snag
Hiercium erinaeus-on standing dead Silver Maple
Daedaliopsis ambigua
Flammulina velutipes
Phellinus sp
Ganoderma applanatum
Crepidotus applanatus
Armillariella mellea
Cortinarius sp
Russula sp
Streum ostrea
S. striatum
Trichaptum biformis
Inocybe sp
On 10-9-97 a rapid reconnaissance was made by R. Hunsucker for an estimated six miles ( 15 km ) up Glade Creek from the campground. Vascular plants seen on the way include Trumpet Creeper, Broad Beech Fern ( Thelypteris hexagonoptera ), Riddel's Hedge Nettle (Stachys riddelii ), Twin Grass, White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda ), Silvery Athyrium ( Athyrium thelypterioides ), Rattlesnake Fern ( Botrychium virginianum ), Thin-leaved Sunflower ( Helianthus decapetalus ), Fraser Magnolia ( Magnolia fraseri ), Mountain Holly ( Ilex montana ), Black and Yellow Birches, Sourwood ( Oxydendrum arboreum ), Lance-leaved Wild Liquorice ( Galium lanceolatum ) and tall White Lettuce ( Prenanthes altissima ). The following fungi were also identified: Lycoperdon perlatum, L. pyriforme, Scleroderma citrina, Scutellaria scutellata, Bisporella citrina, Polyporus badius and Phellenus giluus.