Shortly after arriving, Lee found a mole salamander (Ambystoma) in the laterale-jeffersonianum complex, a group that is notorious for hybridization and that requires genetic analysis to accurately determine the species. This interesting complex of salamanders includes an all female triploid group that requires sperm from a male salamander from a related species in the same genus to initiate reproduction, but the sperm is often then discarded and no genetic material from the male makes its way into the offspring. This asexual form of reproduction is known as gynogenesis. The best that I can do is to say that this is either a Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale), a Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum), or one of the Ambystoma hybrids.
Our focus quickly shifted kingdoms when Lee exclaimed, "Here's a Purple Fringed Orchid!"
When Scott and Lee first told me about this site, the possibility of finding Lesser Purple Fringed Orchid (Platanthera psycodes) amongst the Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) and Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) and beneath the Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra), and Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) immediately registered. Little did I know, however, that we would find the largest population of this attractive orchid that any of the three of us had ever seen. Had I done my research ahead of time, I might have thought that there would be less of a chance of finding Lesser Purple Fringed Orchid on this site, even though the habitat was perfect, as it was not mentioned in the monumental 1920s work by Evermann and Clark on the physical and biological resources around Lake Maxinkuckee. In addition, none of the distribution maps that I've seen show this species in Marshall County, Indiana. This makes our finding of an estimated 50 to 100 Lesser Purple Fringed Orchid plants an even more exciting find, as well as a potential county record.
In addition to Lesser Purple Fringed Orchid, Cinnamon Fern, Royal Fern, Black Ash, and an abundance of Poison Sumac, some of the more uncommon plants that we discovered in this swamp forest included Slender Sedge (Carex leptalea), Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera), Crested Wood Fern (Dryopteris cristata), Pipes (Equisetum fluviatile), Floating Manna Grass (Glyceria septentrionalis), Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Stalked Water Horehound (Lycopus rubellus), Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense var. canadense), Chokeberry (Aronia prunifolia), Dwarf Raspberry (Rubus pubescens), Great Water Dock (Rumex orbiculatus), Rough-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago patula), Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and Smooth White Violet (Viola blanda).
After sludging through mucky soils, swatting at bloodthirsty mosquitoes, losing a gallon of sweat, and brushing up against Poison Sumac plants while trying to squeeze between them, I was convinced that the title of this blog post was going to be "Worth The Rash." Luckily, it appears as though I've escaped with only a small spot of the nasty underneath my left eye. To see 50 to 100 Lesser Purple Fringed Orchids, a single spot of poison sumac is definitely acceptable.
5 comments:
I've battled some of natures worst to get to even one plant I wanted to see. I can't imagine what I'd do to see so many Platanthera psycodes in one spot! Congrats on the find, it must have really been quite the experience!
The orchids are beautiful! Glad it was such a worthwhile trip.
Ken is horribly allergic to poison ivy. I think he just looks at it wrong and gets it. Unfortunately, much of the lush greenness of our front yard is due to the carpet of poison ivy, as well as the thick vines climbing the trees. About the only thing that works for him to clear it up is Ivy Dry. Glad you're on the mend!
Thanks A.L. It was quite an experience!
Thanks Beth. I used some kind of Meijer-brand anti-itch cream, and it worked pretty well. I'm not as allergic as it sounds like Ken is, thank goodness... I'm in it all the time for work.
What is in the poison ivy that is poisonous - do you only have to touch it to be affected?
Interesting that you mention Osmunda regalis which grows in a lush spot along the cliffs here in Sandown Bay (Isle of Wight, UK).
Rob, thanks for visting.
The compound in poison ivy, poison sumac, and other plants (including mangos and cashews) in the family Anacardiaceae that causes dermatitis is urushiol. I've never heard of anyone actually getting poison ivy, poison sumac, or poison oak without touching the plant or being exposed to smoke from the burning plants. I have coworkers who have gotten poison sumac in their throats after injesting smoke while conducting a prescribed fire in a fen.
Osmunda regalis is known from five of the seven continents... it is not native to Australia or Antarctica.
Post a Comment