The Enchanted Floodplain Forest
This forest along Buffalo Creek in Washington County contains tree species indicative of a Box-elder-Sycamore floodplain forest community (box-elder, sycamore, and often American elm), as well as other species such as yellow buckeye, sugar maple, and hickories. During the late spring, the forest floor is blanketed with Canadian waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense) as shown above. Some waterleaf species have whitish mottling that looks like water stains, for which the plants are named. There are four Hydrophyllum species in Pennsylvania.
In today's photo, Community Ecologist Ephraim Zimmerman and Watershed Specialist Christy Meredith are using a Geographic Positioning System (GPS) unit to document the location of this community as part of WPC's watershed conservation planning project for Buffalo Creek, which will help local communities and watershedl residents understand and protect the area. Inset is Virginia waterleaf (H. virginiana) by Robert H. Mohlenbrock, USDA NRCS.
Our Website has a new look. Check it out at www.paconserve.org.
Play Know Your Western Pennsylvania Birds?
E-mail Today's WPC Daily to a Friend!
| 
