Pack Forest, March 31 2012
On a class trip to UW experimental forest 'Pack Forest' near Mt. Rainier small groups were led throughout trails in the areas immediately surrounding the facilities provided by UW.
Weather was overcast, mid 50's
The lowland forested area canopy consisted mostly of Douglas fir and Western hemlock, while the understory often consisted of plants such as Salmonberry, Huckleberry, Flowering Red Currant, as well as western sword fern, dull oregon grape, english ivy, pacific trailing blackberry and Salal.
there was an abrupt change in under story plants as the soil changed from wet to dry moving up slope, changing from mostly dense sword fern, and salal to a more shrub dominated environment in drier soil, where more salmon-berry, and Flowering Rec Currant could be seen. The canopy also shifted as we moved up slope, changing to more deciduous trees, such as Red alder and Big Leaf Maple.
many different types of epiphytes grow on the trees here, and unlike in the city, they can grow to be quite large, many of the ones seen are posted on iNaturalist.
my species list includes those attached to this journal as well as;
Schtchbroom
Lodgepole Pine
Cat Tail
Xanthoria (orange lichen)
Hymenoptera-ant hills
Hypogymnia
Winter Wren
American Robin
Pillated Woodpecker-holes observed
Usnea
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Cutleaf Blackberry (Rubus laciniatus)Observer
jjensenDescription
Blackberry plant observed growing mid slope, leaves facing southwest, towards open grass field. Coniferous trees located up slope of the blackberry stem, while unknown deciduous trees flank the stem several meters to each side on the slope. Ground below slope was wet, muddy, and difficult to travel over.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cascade Oregon-Grape (Berberis nervosa)Observer
jjensenDescription
Observed mid day at Pack Forest along hiking trail, mid 40's (F) with full cloud cover after previous light rain Oregon-grape growing as understory along with western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) underneath Douglas Fir and unknown deciduous trees (presumably Big leaf Maple according to leaf litter).
Photos / Sounds
What
Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza)Observer
jjensenDescription
Licorice fern growing on side of douglas fir, in wet understory of Pack Forest along a trail. sparse leaf cover due to annual of foliage, letting greater amounts of light access to the fern.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red Alder (Alnus rubra)Observer
jjensenDescription
Red Alder catkins observed on low lying branches on the edge of a clearing. the clearing is a manicured lawn of the Pack Forest facility and the red alder branches overhang a 2 meter tall cliff by 3-4 meters horizontally. Many branches are broken and scattered on the ground.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var. palmatus)Observer
jjensenDescription
Growing in several meter radius patch along an apparent vehicle path. Leaves numerous, with sparse flowering structures; all growing in a very wet, muddy substrate, with open sky above, surrounded by several deciduous trees, as well as some douglas fir, none of which grow within several meters of the patch of coltsfoot, isolated by the road, as well as a drainage ditche paralleling the road adjacent to the patch of coltsfoot.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)Observer
jjensenDescription
many, many Douglas-fir trees were seen at pack forest, and along with some big leaf maple, and some red alder, make up a large part of the canopy at pack forest, especially at wetter, lower elevations. mosses and lichens are common on all trees, and can bee seen here growing on the branches and stem of several Douglas-fir trees.
Photos / Sounds
What
Order PezizalesObserver
jjensenDescription
approx. 7 cm stem to tip, complex but shallow ridges, with thick solid stem. Mushroom was growing among leaf litter on walking/previous driving path in extremely wet soil near drainage ditch. abundance of fruiting bodies was low, and relatively spread out along the trail.
this particular specimen was trampled, but allows a view of the stem underneath the indented outer structure.
Photos / Sounds
What
Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis)Observer
jjensenDescription
Growing in the under-story of Douglas fir, in swampy soil. Osoberry is a common shrub easily distinguised by its bright green foliage, and small, hanging, white flowers.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oakmoss (Evernia prunastri)Observer
jjensenDescription
Flattened, folios lichen, found on downed branch of alder, this specimen is surrounded by several other lichens.
Photos / Sounds
What
Shield Lichens, Rim Lichens, and Allies (Order Lecanorales)Observer
jjensenDescription
hollow tube lichen, light blue-green on one side, black on the other. located with many other lichens on downed red alder tree branch.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western White Pine (Pinus monticola)Observer
jjensenDescription
Western White Pine, few specimens found in an an area near the Pack Forest facilities. Five-needle bunches and as well as general characteristics show that it is a Western White Pine.
Photos / Sounds
What
Trailing Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)Observer
jjensenDescription
Trailing blackberry was seen in Pack Forest as a common ground cover plant in the understory of the forest. several instances of this blackberry were observed alongside each trail traveled while within Pack Forest.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)Observer
jjensenDescription
Many deciduous trees were found along trails in Pack Forest. Nearly every deciduous tree was missing foliage, but Big Leaf Maple was confirmed via analysis of leaf litter underneath several trees.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lawson's Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)Observer
jjensenDescription
Port Orford cedar found on the Pack Forest grounds, near the dining area. Diagnostic early male cones present, but underdeveloped.
Photos / Sounds
What
Order PeltigeralesObserver
jjensenDescription
This foliose lichen was found growing on the mossy surface of a downed tree. It was difficult to even guess at an identity without a guidebook but the closest I could guess at might be "Nephroma."
Photos / Sounds
What
Order PeltigeralesObserver
jjensenDescription
This foliose lichen was found growing on the mossy surface of a downed tree. It was difficult to even guess at an identity without a guidebook but the closest I could guess at might be "Nephroma."
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