Old Field Ecosystem

Autumn Olive

Order:Rhamnales

Family:Elaegnaceae

Genus:Elaeagnus

Species:E. umbellata

Identifying Characteristics: Alternate leaves that are darker green on top and silvery on top. Fruit is red with small silver polka dots on the fruit.

Special Adaptations: Invasive Species.

Closed Gentian

Order:Gentianales

Family:Gentianaceae

Genus:Gentiana

Species:G. andrewsii

Identifying Characteristics: Rich blue to purple colored, bottle shaped flowers with closed mouths. Flowers are clustered at the top of the plant. Leaves are whirled or opposite.

Special Adaptations: Large regional distribution. Can grow in many different soils as well as shade conditions.

Ebony Spleenwort

Order:Polypodiales

Family:Aspleniaceae

Genus:Asplenium

Species:A. platyneuron

Identifying Characteristics: Small fern, similar to Christmas Fern. Main difference is that the stem is a dark ebony to black color. Leaves are arranges alternately along stem with 15-14 leaflets on each compound leaf.

Special Adaptations: Prefers dappled to partial sunlight, moist to dry conditions, and lo

amy to rocky soil conditions.

Wild Red Raspberry

Order:Rosales

Family:Rosaceae

Genus:Rubus

Species:R. idaeus

Identifying Characteristic: Perennial plants with large pinnate leaves with 3-7 serrated leaflets, green above and nearly white below.

Special Adaptations: Sun and water are essential for growth.

New England Aster

Order:Asterales

Family:Asteraceae

Genus:Symphyotrichum

Species: A. novae angliae

Identifying Characteristics: Alternate, oblong, lance shaped leaves. Purpleish flower with many small, thing, long petals around a yellow center. Leaves are not toothed, which is a way to tell it apart from other asters.

Special Adaptations: Grows in moist soils along lakes, streams, roadsides and railroads.

Lance-leaved goldenrod

Order:Asterales

Family:Asteraceae

Genus:Solidago

Species:S. lancifolia

Identifying Characteristics:2 1/2-3 ft. tall. Alternate lance shaped leaves with smooth edges. Fine white hairs on the stems. Clusters of small yellow flowers at the top of the apex of the plant.

Special Adaptations: Prefers moist soils and full sunlight, but is surprisingly drought

tolerant.

Yarrow/Molfoil

Order:Asterales

Family:Asteraceae

Genus:Achillea

Species: A. millefolium

Identifying Characteristics: Leaves are evenly distributed along the stem. Leaves near middle or bottom are the largest and look similar to small ferns. Leaves are 5-20 cm long, bipinnate or tripinnate and almost feathery and arranged spirally on the stem. There are disks of flowers at the top of the stem that are white to yellow in color.

Special Adaptations: Draught Tolerant.

Tall or Giant Sunflower

Order:Asterales

Family:Asteraceae

Genus: Helianthus

Species:H. Giganteus

Identifying Characteristics:Grows up to 4 meters tall. Leaves are slender and lance shaped. The flower heads are bright yellow and up to 7 cm across.

Special Adaptations: Grows best in moist soils, but can adapt dryer soils.

Bog Ecosystem

Mapledust Lichen

Order:

Family:

Genus:Lecanora

Species:L. thrysanophora

Identifying Characteristics: Green crustose lichen that grows on trees. Usually surrounded by a band of white.

Special Adaptations: Usually grows on maple trees.

Bleeding Fairy Helmet

Order:Agaricales

Family: Mycenaceae

Genus:Mycena

Species:M. haematopus

Identifying Characteristics: Bodies appear in clusters on decaying logs, trunks, and stumps of deciduous trees, preferably beech trees. Reddish cap and stem with white gills. "Bleeds" when they are cut or broken.

Special Adaptations: Grows only on wood that is already decaying, unlike other mush

rooms.

Whitewash Lichen

Order:

Family:

Genus:Phlyctis

Species:P. argena

Identifying Characteristic: Crustose Lichen. Looks like white washing paint on the tree that it grows upon.

Special Adaptations:

Blackdisk Fungi

Order:Lecanorales

Family:Physiceae

Genus:Buellia

Species:B. nigra

Identifying Characteristics: Small black disc-like fungi growing in clumps upon dead and decaying trees. Looks almost like a lichen.

Special Adaptations:

Brown-Eyed Rim Lichen

Order:

Family:

Genus:Lecanora

Species:L. allophana

Identifying Characteristics: Crustose Lichen. Whiteish orangeish colored. Growing on trees.

Special Adaptations:

Orange Fairy Cup

Order:Pezizales

Family:

Genus:Aleuria

Species:A. aurantia

Identifying Characteristics: Medium to large, bright orange to brilliant yellow, thin, brittle cup. Small white hairs seen in hand lens. Grows in clusters.

Special Adaptations: Grows on disturbed or clay soils.

Cricket (field?)

Order:Orthoptera

Family:Gryllidae

Genus:

Species:

Identifying Characteristics: Dark brown or black cricket with loud chirping sound coming from males.

Special Adaptations: House themselves in small cracks in order to keep warm. Lay eggs before it gets cold, uses its chirp in order to attract a female mate.

Swamp Dewberry

Order:Rosales

Family:Resaceae

Genus:Rubus

Species:R. hispidus

Identifying Characteristics: Grows in soils in swamps, wet forests, thickets. Small white flowers with 5 petals. Twig is red and bristled. 3 bright green leaves, somewhat toothed.

Special Adaptations: Can survive in temps. as low as -38 degrees F. Can also live in soils with a Ph between 4.5-7. Needs lots of oxygens, sunlight and moist soils in order to grow.