Lake Erie North Shore Inventory of Vascular Plants

During August of 2010 the Bert Miller Nature Club of Fort Erie in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources-Vineland, the Peninsula Field Naturalists, the Niagara Falls Nature Club and the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society of Buffalo, New York with support from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk Stewardship Fund began taking an inventory of the vascular plants along the north shore of Lake Erie. The rocky shoreline, adjacent sand dunes and immediate swampy hinterland were the areas subjected to this inventory. Much of this rocky shoreline is outcropping of the Onondaga Escarpment. Albert Garofalo a local ecologist ably led the inventory.

A start was made on the shore opposite Old Fort Erie in the town of Fort Erie. From here the areas of study were toward the west.

During the first two weeks the shoreline from Old Fort Erie through Jaeger Rocks to Erie Beach and the forest area behind the Erie Beach shore were examined.

On the shore specimens of Biennial Gaura (Gaura biennis) and Sea Rocket (Cakile edentula) were found along with False Dragonhead (Physostegia virginiana) and Clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra). Examples of sedges and rushes such as Three Square Rush (Scirpus pungens) and Green Sedge (Carex viridula) were also found. In one area there was an extensive patch of Big Bluestem Grass (Andropogon gerardii).

In the forested area of Erie Beach park many examples of older growth trees such as Black Walnut, Eastern Cottonwood, Sugar Maple, White Oak and Red Oak were found all with diameters of between one and two meters. Two fine Hop Tree specimens were also found here. Regrettably Norway Maple that is considered a noxious weed dominated the secondary growth here although fine examples of Hop Hornbeam and Black Cherry were noted.

Behind the dunes a dry slough provided many examples of graminoids, Spike Rush (Eleocharis sp.), Fringed Sedge (Carex crinita) and Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum). Among the woody plants were Swamp White Oak, Green Ash and Freeman?s Maple.

There were as expected many invasive species throughout Erie Beach but one stood out. It was a blackberry known as Cutleaf Blackberry (Rubus laciniatus). It has never been recorded in the Niagara Region so this is a first.

The slough hinterland that produced many fine specimens is unfortunately scheduled for development. Another area lost forever.

The third week saw the group visiting Windmill Point, Waverly Beach and the area to the west and the beach at the south end of Stonemill Road plus a Green Ash swamp near Rosehill Road.

All the beaches proved most interesting with a great variety of plants. Two plants in particular, American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) and Sea Rocket were found on the dunes behind the beaches. These plants also grow along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. They are remnant plants from a time when the Great Lakes were part of the Champlain Sea. These plants are rare and only found along Great Lakes shores in Ontario.

Week four saw the group exploring Crescent Beach and the beach area west of Buffalo Road. Along Crescent Beach there were a number of old growth Eastern Cottonwoods plus a plethora of Hop Trees (Ptelea trifoliata). West of Buffalo Road we again found Biennial Gaura. Once again good examples of graminoids were observed, Fall Panic Grass (Panicum dichotomiflorum), Green Sedge and Joint Leaf Rush (Juncus articulatus). At the headland west of Buffalo Road there were many plants of interest notably the uncommon Kalm?s Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii) but also Small Flowered Gerardia (Agalinis paupercula) and Seaside Spurge (Euphorbia polygonifolia). The latter plant is also found along the Atlantic Ocean shore and in Ontario is strictly restricted to the Great Lakes shoreline.

During the fifth week the group visited the beach area at the south end of Rosehill Road in Fort Erie and Sugarloaf Hill and Sugarloaf Point beach area in Port Colborne. The highlight at the Rosehill Road area was a few Hop Trees, Schreber?s Aster (Aster schreberi) plus the relatively rare Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus). Once again Sea Rocket was observed. At Sugarloaf Hill many fine examples of Red Oak were observed. We also found Giant Yellow Hyssop (Agastache nepetoides) at the summit while at the base we found Swamp Smartweed (Polygonum amphibium) in abundance. Along the beach we found examples of the rare Beach Pea plus an uncommon Sedge (Carex viridula) and Bugseed (Corispermum sp.). Many Fossils were seen here on the rock pavement although not all were identified.

Inclement windy weather limited observations at the beginning of the sixth week. However when checking on locations not visible from the beach and on private property examples of Hop Trees were noted. All in the neighbourhood of Prospect Point. This bodes well for the species.

Later this week the beach along Thunder Bay east of Crystal Beach was investigated plus the dunes behind the beach and also the swamp north of the dunes. Fine examples of Hop Trees were observed again however the highlight was the abundance of Lizard?s Tail (Saururus cernuus) found in the swamp. Among the ferns of note were Crested Wood Fern (Dryopteris cristata) and Clinton?s Wood Fern (D. clintoniana).

It should be pointed out that the swamp and dunes were on private land so thanks are due to Rick Stockton for his kind permission in allowing us to access this interesting environment.

Early in week seven the weather was not conducive to making observations along the lakeshore. Later in the week fine weather returned allowing the group to inventory the beaches and dunes at Crystal Beach and westward for approximately two and a half kilometres.

The dunes at the south end of Ridgeway Road although built upon had a good number of Hop Trees plus Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) and Eastern Cottonwood along with American Beachgrass. On the beach Sea Rocket, Seaside Spurge, Winged Pigweed (Cycloloma atriplicifolium) and Bugseed were all noted. A specimen of the reasonably rare Amer. Germander (Teucrium canadense) was also seen here.

Further west vegetation was sparse with only a few small vegetative clumps with the prevalent plants being Trailing Wild Bean (Strophostyles helvula), Bugseed, Seaside Spurge, Sea Rocket and Winged Pigweed. There was one small area however where examples of Baltic Rush (Juncus balticus) and Three Square Sedge were noted. Unfortunately the beach in this area is raked and a seawall is built along the base of the dunes both of which inhibit growth of beach plants. This beach is probably the most desolate beach seen to date. Another plant observed most weeks was Bur Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus).

At the beginning of week eight the swamp behind the beach stretching from Pt. Abino Road east toward the Crystal Beach urban area was explored. Here Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) a relatively rare plant was found. It was also noted that the under story of this Swamp Maple swamp was dominated by Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis). Fortunately the Nature Conservancy of Canada owns a large part of the swamp which augers well for its survival.

Week nine began with pleasant weather cool but sunny although windy. This late in the year some plants are more difficult to identify nevertheless just east of Prospect Point some fine examples of Sea Rocket were found in full bloom plus Seaside Spurge. Throughout this area Hop trees were once again observed in good numbers. At Prospect Point itself plants such as Small Flowered Gerardia, Prairie Loosestrife, Green Sedge and Joint Leaf Rush were noted. The aforementioned plants are typically found in the cracks on beach pavement.

Later during week nine the area near Kraft Road behind the dunes was visited where Lizard?s Tail was found along the creek that doubles as the Kraft Drain. This is the second time Lizard?s Tail was observed, this is significant as the plant is relatively rare. The final location visited this week was Nickel Beach in Port Colborne. Here on the beach plants such as Joint Leaf Rush, Three Square Rush and Baltic Rush and once again Sea Rocket were observed plus a fine example of Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pringlei). In the dunes a good number of Hop Trees were observed.

The high number of Hop Trees seen while doing the inventory was a pleasant surprise.

The final inventory outing of the year took place at Morgan?s Point Conservation Area west of Port Colborne. Both the beach and dunes have a rich diversity of plants. One rare plant in particular Limestone Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum) was observed while two fine examples of Butternut and two large specimens of Hop Hornbeam both of which were almost 400 millimeters in diameter were noted.

By late October it was becoming difficult to identify many plants so it was decided to finish for the year. The writer feels it was a most worthwhile exercise and appreciates the help from Albert Garofalo in compiling this brief outline.

Rick Young