Lake Erie North Shore Inventory – 2011 (Part 1)

Albert Garofalo began conducting inventories early this year. Basic funding etc., was similar to last year, however, in addition the Niagara Community Foundation also provided assistance. Once again he was ably assisted by members of the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society while many members of the three area Nature Clubs also took part in the weekly outings in this most interesting and unique environment.

Basically the protocol was similar to last year covering namely the shoreline, pavement or sand, adjacent sand dunes and the immediate swampy areas behind the dunes.

As opposed to last year observations were started in May. Sites visited in this time period include Erie Beach, Crystal Beach, Pleasant Beach, Thunder Bay, Lorraine Bay and Nickel Beach.

At Crystal Beach the forested dunes near the old amusement park yielded mature Red Oaks and Sugar Maples with an understory carpet of Dutchman's Breeches plus both Red and White Trillium.

The cool spring made for late blooming of spring ephemerals but unfortunately an exceedingly warm day burnt off many of these spectacular plants.

Some of the early flowers noted were Virginia and Broad-leaved Waterleaf, Wooly Blue Violet, Starry False Solomon's Seal and Wild Leek. Among the more uncommon specimens seen were Squirrel-corn (Dicentra canadensis), Bishop's Cap (Mitella diphylla), Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) and Purple Cress (Cardamine douglassii). During this period a very interesting sedge–Carex plataginea (Plantain-leaved Sedge) was observed in the dunes.

Throughout June and early July most visits were to sites west of Pt. Abino. The beaches from Holloway Bay Road to Point Abino, Silver Bay, Cedar Bay and from Pinecrest Point west to Miller Road plus the beach along Lorraine Bay were visited as well as Morgan's Point and part of Reeb's Bay.

Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus) in flower, Field Sagewort (Artemisia campestris), Sea Rocket (Cakile edentula), Trailing Wild Bean (Strophostyles hevola) and Seaside Surge (Chamaesyce polygonofolia) were noted at quite a few locations.

There were also some notable observations such as Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis) near Pt. Abino. The stretch from Holloway Bay Rd. to Pt. Abino also produced a few other interesting specimens such as Kalm's St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmianum) and Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila)

Some interesting sporidiferous plants seen in the Pt. Abino area were Clinton's Fern (Dryopteris clintoniana), Crested Wood Fern (Dryopteris cristata), Goldie's Wood Fern (Dryopteris goldiana) and Narrow-leaved Glade Fern (Athyrium pycnocarpon).

At Morgan's Pt. examples of Drummond's Rock Cress (Arabis drummondii) and Serviceberry (Amelanchier cf. sanguinea ) were found. An example of Bastard Toadflax (Comandra umbellata) was also found here plus what we feel is Meadow Sedge (Carex granularis).

The writer however feels the most exciting observation for him thus far was Shining Ladies Tresses (Spirathes lucida) an orchid at Reeb's Bay along with a specimen of Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus palustris). It should also be noted that many specimens (100) of Spiranthes lucida were found on the pavement near Windmil Point and Buffalo Rd. by the folks from the Buffalo Frontier Botanical Society.

Another exceptional find was a Chinquapin Oak ( Quercus muehlenbergii) a meter in diameter at breast height growing on the edge of a forested sand dune west of Pinecrest Point.

It should also be noted that on visits to Cedar Bay a resident Red Headed Woodpecker was seen on three occasions at Centennial Park (Humberstone). It is good to see an example of a threatened avifauna species. Another threatened species Fowler's Toad was found at a couple of locations.

In mid July the eastern part of Lorraine bay was visited. Here we found a Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata) the first seen since Pleasant Beach. Many young Eastern Cottonwood were found along this stretch of beach. Two other notables here were Common Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) and Cut-leaved Horehound (Lycopus americanus).

A two week sojourn was taken at the end of July for vacation and because of very hot weather.

At the beginning of August the group visited Pleasant Beach and the dune area behind the beach. A number of Hop Trees (Ptelea trifoliata) were found on the dunes immediately off the shore plus Field Sagewort , Drummond's Rock Cress and Trailing Wild Bean.

On the far side of the dunes some interesting ferns were found such as Clinton's Wood Fern, Goldie's Wood Fern and Crested Wood Fern, these ferns appear to do well in sandy soil.

Some other interesting plants in this area were Wood Nettle ( Laportea canadensis), Canada Moonseed (Merispermum canadense), Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) and Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). One plant of special note was Smilax lasioneura a relatively rare type of Carrion Flower differentiated by the hairs on the underside of the leaves.

Into the second week of August inventory was taken in the area of Cassaday Point. Here there was a large forested dune populated mainly by Red Oak (Quercus rubra) plus examples of Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) were noted. The beach in front of the forest was pristine with fine examples of American Beach Grass, Seaside Spurge and Trailing Wild Bean. Some other interesting plants were Three square (Schoenoplectus pungens), Elliptic Spike Rush (Eleocharis elliptica), Bur Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus), Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium) and Wood Germander (Teucrium canadense). Once again a plant of special note Smilax lasioneura was found.

Another good find was a stand of Hop Trees at the eastern end of Nickel Beach one of which was about a one hundred and fifty millimetres in diameter at breast height.

See Part 2 for the period from mid August to mid October

Rick Young