May 12th - Field Trip Part 2
The next stop on our field trip was to Index, Washington.
Weather - high 50s, somewhat breezy, mainly spent in shade
The first thing we noticed about this location was the intensity of moss, which was indicative of the high precipitation rates in this location, about twice that of Seattle.
We noticed a fringecup, and a big leaf maple with licorice ferns growing off of it. Trillium ovatum was spotted on the ground along with false Lily of the Valley, woodfern (delicate and lacy), and huckleberry (growing out of a nurse log and being provided nutrients from it). We spent some time identifying diaspora, or Hookers Fairybells, which has two small white flowers underneath the leaf.
We also looked carefully at a stinging nettle, discussing possible cures (more nettle juice, or rubbing fern spores on it). The way a nettle works is by inserting microscopic syringes that feel like small slivers of glass into your skin. We saw Devils Club, more bleeding heart (which has a shelf for pollen collection), wild lettuce, and youth-on-age (plant with small white flowers).
We also spotted some polyporus fungus, a wood decaying fungus that will turn brown when scratched. This artist conk will gain a new layer every year, and can be up to 20-30 years old.
Species List
- Fringecup - Tellima grandiflora
- Big Leaf Maple - Acer macrophyllum
- Pacific Trillium - Trillium ovatum
- False Lily of the Valley - Maianthemum dilatatum
- Spinulose Woodfern - Dryopteris carthusiana
- Red Huckleberry - Vaccinium parvifolium
- Hookers Fairybells - Diasporum hookeri
- Stinging Nettle - Urtica dioica
- Devils Club - Oplopanuc horridus
- Pacific Bleeding Heart - Dicentra formosa
- Wild lettuce - Lactuca virosa
- Youth on age - Tolmiea menziesii
- Artist Conk - Ganoderma applanatum
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