Lake Erie North Shore Inventory – 2011 (Part 2)

Mid August found the group checking the beach at Silver Bay east to the Bearss Drain. Many examples of Seaside Spurge, Winged Pigweed (Cycloloma atriplicifolium) and Purple Sand Grass (Triplasis purpurea) were noted. While behind the dunes close to the Bearss Drain fine examples of Hop trees were observed.

Toward the end of August Nickel Beach in Port Colborne was visited. Once again remnant plants American Beach Grass, Seaside Spurge and Sea Rocket were found along with Hop Trees. Graminoids of note were Canada Wild Rye, Switch Grass,Three Square Rush and Sand Dropseed( Sporobulus cryptandrus) while two species of Equisetum were seen. Two other vascular plants seen here Field Sagewort and Bugseed sp. (Corispermum sp.).

In the dunes behind the beach Butternut (Juglans cinerea) was found along with an interesting fern Rattlesnake Fern (Botrychium virginianum) plus another example of the rarer Carrion-flower ( Smilax lasioneura)

During this same week Joanne Schlegel while checking in the Jaeger Rocks area near Old Fort Erie found a rarity–Hair-like Beak Rush (Rhyncospora capillacea).

The first week in September found the group exploring the shore from Reeb's Bay to Rathfon Point.

This beach was basically limestone pavement and to the west near Rathfon Point there was a four to five foot cliff making for a difference in elevation.

Botanically there was much of interest here. Two types of Goldenrod, Canada (Solidago altissima) and Lance-leaved (S. graminifolia) were evident. We also had the good fortune to find Brook Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii).

The dominant species were Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) and Three Square Sedge (Schonoplectus pungens) but we did observe fine examples of Variegated Scouring Rush(Equisetum variegatum).

Other plants of note were Pale Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia) and Pennsylvania Smartweed (P. pensylvanica) plus Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum) also known as Hairy Aster and Bittersweet ( Celastrus scandens) in fruit. Finally at Rathfon Point examples of Low Calamint were found.

During the second week of September we visited a beach area west of Grabell Point. Here there was some sandy parts but much of it was stepped pavement thus causing many fissures. At one part on higher pavement there was a large colony of Big Blue Stem Grass. Because of the fissures and stepping the diversity of plant life was numerous. While on the sand beach Beach Clotbur ( Xanthium echinatum) was abundant as was Giant Ragweed(Ambrosia trifida)

Vascular plants of note were Nodding Bur Marigold (Bidens cernua), Kalm's Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii), Water Purslane (Ludwigia palustris), Rugel's Plantain (Plantago rugelii), Northern Willowherb (Epilobium glandulosum), Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus palustris) and a profusion of Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum).

The pavement was populated with many different species of graminoids such as Three Square, Switch Grass, Canada Wild Rye plus Soft Stemmed Bulrush (Scirpus validus), Rice Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), and Fall Panic Grass (Panicum dichotomiflorum). We also two species of Cyperus one was Brown Flatsedge (Cyperus fuscus) while the other was either Coarse or Fragrant Sedge ( Cyperus odoratus).

One the second last Sunday in September Albert led an outing to Windmill Point for a group of local naturalists.

West of the point the beach was sand while toward the point it was pavement.

On the sandy area we found three remnant plants namely American Beach Grass, Sea Rocket and Seaside Spurge. To explain remnant plants. These plants are found on the Atlantic shore of North America. The reason they are on the lakes is because at one time the lakes were joined to the ocean by what is known as the Champlain Sea

The pavement however produced a number of plants of interest especially Kalm's St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmianum) which is quite rare. Three of the vascular plants of interest were Low Calamint, Brook Lobelia and False Dragonhead( Physotegia virginiana). Both types of Frost Aster were also noted a hairy specimen and a smooth specimen. A fine example of Starry False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina stellata)was also seen.

Once again we found Hop tree in the dune area along with Ninebark.

Graminoids of note were Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Spike Rush (Eleocharis acicularis) and Prairie Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata).

See Part 3 for remainder of year

Rick Young