Observations by reekar08

These are a few pictures of Quercus garryana that are part of the local trees in SE Thurston County. There is Mahonia nervosa, Gaultheria shallon and Polystichum munitum as the underbrush. The 2 common names are Garry Oak and Oregon White Oak.

These Douglas fir trees were the result of natural pollination and germination. The surrounding trees, on this property are Tsuga heterophylla and Quercus garryana. There is a wide variety of mosses and liverworts in the area. The characteristic of the Douglas firs' cones is the prominently 3 forked bracts. The needles are flat, yellowish-green, 2-3 cm long, with pointed tips. 1 groove on upper surface and 2 white bands of stomata on lower surface.

This tree is on the Reed property and it hangs over the Woodard Bay road in NW Olympia. It is surrounded by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Thuja plicata. These photos show the size of this Madrona and the bark is peeling off showing the soothness. This is occurring on the upper portion of the tree, and the lower bark is not peeling. The color of young bark is chartreuse and the older bark is dark brownish-red. They can grow to 30 m tall.

This moss was found in a reforested land that was logged in the early 1980's and there is also Leucolepis acanthoneuron. There is Pseudotsuga menziesii, Alnus rubra, Acer macrophyllum, Gaultheria shallon, and many more plants. The plant characteristics are glossy and dingy green leaves vary to whitish-green to pale brownish-green. The stems form long, narrowly tapered strands hanging from branches or form creeping, irregular branches mats.

Out on the horse trail called Lost Dog I found this fern on a fall day and has a view from in the saddle. There is Pseudotsuga menziessi and Alnus rubra within a few yards from this fern. Fern fronds large solitary, erect, deciduous, and 3-5m tall. Blades triangular, 2-3 times pinnate, and hairy. Sori marginal, continuous, covered by rolled leaf margin. Indusium not evident.

After an hour ride, I found this fern and I chose it because of the old covered stump in the background. In the area there is reforested fir trees and Isothecium stoloniferum and Leucolepis acanthoneuron. Some of the characteristics are up to 1.5m tall, evergreen, with erect leaves forming a crown from a stout, woody, scaley rhizome. Blade lance-shaped, erect to arching, once-pinnate leaves. Leaflets alternate, pointed, sharp toothed.

On wooded horse trail next to JBLM southern border. This stump was an Alnus rubra that broke during on ice storm and to clear the trail it was cut smooth. There is salal, Oregon grape, alder, maple and fir present on either side of the trail. It is common in lowland rainforests along the coast. It forms mats on logs, humus and tree bases. Stems 6-30 cm long, creeping to arched, once-pinnate, with branches evenly and closely spaced. Sporophytes are frequent and growing from the side of the stem. Stalks are black with small papillae. Capsules inclined, smooth, curved, and each with a long beak.