Lowland Forest Species

Jumpseed

Order:Caryophyllales

Family:Polygonaceae

Genus:Persicaria

Species:Persicaria virginiana

Identifying Characteristics:

-Alternate leaves that are oval or lance shaped. Small white flowers with 4 white petals placed along long, spiky stem. Dark spot on leaves which give the plant its nickname which

is "God's Thumbprint"

Special Adaptations:

-Can grow in a variety of light and soil conditions.

Clinton's Wood Fern

Order:Polypodiales

Family:Dryopteridaceae

Genus:Dryopteris

Species: Dryopteris clintoniana

Identifying Characteristics:

-Large, leathery, blueish-green colored fern with ladder-like formation. Longest fronds are in the middles of the plant. Lance shaped fronds, leafs and subleaflets are deeply lobed. Reddish fruit-dots along the back of plant. 3-7 per frond. Found in swampy-like areas.

Special Adaptations:

-Shade Tolerant

Virginia Creeper

Order:Vitales

Family:Vitaceae

Genus:Parthenocissus

Species:Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Identifying Characteristics:

-Leaves are compounded pinnately, composed of 5 leaflets. Leaflets are toothed which makes it easy to distinguish from poison ivy.

Special Adaptations:

-Kills other plants around it by blocking sunlight and limiting photosynthesis.

White-Tailed Deers

Order:Artiodactyla

Family:Cervidae

Genus:Odocoileus

Species:Odocoileus virginianus

Identifying Characteristics:

-White underside to the tail is easiest way to identify the deer. Coat is reddish-brown in spring and summer and turns gray-brown in fall and winter.

Special Adaptations:

-White underside of tail is used as signal of alarm. Can adapt to a variety of habitats.

Rough Speckled Shield Lichen

Order:

Family:

Genus:Punctelia

Species:Punctelia rudecta

Identifying Characteristics:

-Foliose Lichen: leaf like lobes. grey-green color, closely attached to bark or rock with tiny fine projections. White spots on upper surface that are pore-like.

Special Adaptations:

-Tolerant to pollution, will be found in cities and along roadsides where air pollution is high.

Fluffy Dust Lichen

Order:

Family:

Genus:Lepraria

Species:Lepraria lobaficans

Identifying Characteristics:

-Crustose Lichen. Granular looking. Light green in color.

Special Adaptations:

-

Red Belt Mushroom

Order:Polyporales

Family:Fomitopsidaceae

Genus:Fomitopsis

Species:Fomitopsis pinicola

Identifying Characteristics:

-Cap is hoof-shaped or triangular. Brown coloring with reddish band around the bottom of mushroom when young. Undersurface is whiteish with small pores. Easy to write on. Grows

on live and dead trees.

Special Adaptations:

-Inedible due to its woody texture.