Underbrush Study

By Chelsey K. and Julie W.

Deciduous forest

The Deciduous forest is on the west side of the reservoir and can be found at site ­ on the map. This side of the reservoir varies from the Hemlock side in that the plant growth is much more abundant, and lavish. You will find many of the same plants in the Deciduous and Hemlock forest, but the ones on the Deciduous side tend to be healthier looking. We hypothesize this because the soil in this are is more neutral. These are some of the plants that we found only on the deciduous side with some exceptions:

Canadian Mayflower: This flower is also called Wild Lily-of-the-valley. It grows in the hemlock forest as well, but seems most prolific in the deciduous forest. It's small, close to the ground and grows in the shade. It's flowers are white, and the berries are green or red.

Enchanter's Nightshade: This plant is found most in the area near the old homestead in the deciduous forest. It has a spike of white flowers and grows about 6 inches tall in the decayed leaves.

Wild Sarsaparilla: This plant looks a lot like young ash trees. It has a set of 3 compound leaves on a smooth 18" stalk. It's flowers are also grouped in sets of three, and it's berries look a lot like blueberries. It's root has a pungent odor, and was once used as a soda flavor. It grows best in the deciduous forest, but also grows in the hemlock forest.

Smooth Gooseberry: This plant was very common in the area around the homestead. It has edible purple or black berries (make sure it's a gooseberry before you eat it!) and it grows in vines that look somewhat like raspberry bushes. It has thorns.

Hemlock Forest

The Hemlock forest is on the west side of the reservoir, and can be found on the map, under site --. In this area there are a few plants that are very prominent; however, there may appear to be very little underbrush. This is because Hemlocks grow in very acidic soil, which makes it hard for a variety of plants to survive. When traveling along Indian Brook reservoir we hope you will be able to find some of these plants:

Purple-flowering Raspberry: This is a beautiful plant that has maple-like leaves, rose-like flowers and has vines like a raspberry. It has fuzzy stalks and grows a fuzzy, triangular berry that doesn't taste very good. It grows in the sun along ditches.

Jewelweed: This can be used as a remedy for poison ivy, and often grows in the same places as poison ivy. (There is poison ivy in these woods). It has pretty orange flowers that look cups. It has succulent stems and leaves. It grows best in ditches in the hemlock forest, and grows thickly by the side of the wetland. It's seed pods are really fun to pop. When they're ripe, touch them lightly and they pop open.

Christmas Fern: This cute little fern stays green all winter. It has boot shaped leaves on its stalk, and it a dark evergreen color. It grows in the shade. It gets its name from the shape of it's leaves. The leaves are associated with Christmas stockings.

False Solomon's seal: This plant looks a little like a fern. It has oval leaves and grows like a solitary frond. It gets about 6 inches high It has a white spike of flowers at the top, or a spike of berries. Real Solomon's seal has it's flowers, not at the top, but down between the leaves on the stalk.

Partridgeberry: This grows in ivy-like vines across patches of moss. It has white flowers and edible red berries. It has evergreen leaves.

Wetland

The wetland is half way around the reservoir and can be found at site --- on the map. The wetland is an enclosed body of water which provides life for many plants. The plants in this area are distinctly different from others you will find along the reservoir. These plants are able to grow in damp to wet soil, with little oxygen in the soil and for the most part survive in full sun. Below are just some of the most outstanding plants we found:

St John's Wort: This is a tall plant (24 inches) that grows in sunny places and has a yellow flower. It is used for medicinal purposes.

Bittersweet Nightshade: This has small dark purple flowers with a yellow center. It grows among the grass, and bears a poisonous red fruit. It's related to tomatoes.

Branching Bur Reed: Grows along shore with bright green succulent parts all the same shade of green.

Common Elder: It's flower looks a lot like those of Queen Anne's lace, a disc-like bunch of white flowers. The berries are purplish-black and are used for jelly. Its leaves are like ash tree leaves, with 5 to 11 sharply toothed leaflets.

Blue-joint grass: It grows about 2.5' tall and has a feathery seed head. It is a grass typical of wetlands like this one.