Community Scientists continue to review 4-5 students' research of invasive and native species at the Fore River Campus. Our learners are looking carefully at the health of the marsh habitat and are basing their conclusions on the diversity of plant life they observe. Review earlier posts to see more comments from researchers.
I will try to get the recipe for you. But checking in with that other group sounds like it could also be a good plan. I hope it isn't too late to collect berries.
~sniffly
Hi Pandion Sumac,
Did you see this observation? http://vitalsignsme.org/specie
These students made sumac tea! Cool! You could check in with them and see what recipe they followed.
-Christine
I also found this recipe online http://www.writerbynature.com/
gary.fish@maine.gov:
Hi Branta Phrag,
Good balancing of evidence. I appreciate how you looked at multiple characteristics to help decide whether the plant you found was Phragmites.
CBEP - wetland botanist
Hi Branta Purple,
Great job! The plant you have is a goldenrod (Solidago sp.). Not sure which species from the photos. Keep up the good work!
by SarahTreanorBois
Hi Ardea Sumac,
You did find it! The plant may be too young to produce fruit or the soil may not be that good in that area. Also could be that the early summer flowers did not get pollinated by bees or other insects. What do the fuzzy stems resemble? The leaves may not be red yet in your area, wait a couple more weeks. It all depends on the "microclimate" where it is growing. Plants on the ocean edge often turn later than others.
gary.fish@maine.gov:
Hi Ardea Jewelweed,
That second photo looks like Japanese barberry. Your other evidence looks good to me.
~sniffly
Hi Pandion Jewelweed,
Have you asked yourself why it's called JEWELweed? What do you think?
Quillhill
Hi Branta Mites,
Sure looks like cord grass....Yes, the plant you've highlighted in your photos is cord grass. It's probably "salt marsh cord grass", or Spartina alterniflora (although there is another closely related possibility....).
I appreciate that you noted that the stem of this plant is hollow, like Phragmites, but did not let that confuse you. Many grasses have hollow stems, including the one you found.
Professionals almost always look at multiple characteristics to figure out what a particular plant may be. It's pretty rare that one characteristic is enough to be sure. It's always helpful to look at multiple lines of evidence before you come to a conclusion.
CBEP wetland botanist
Hi Ardea Multiflora,
Yes, this is multiflora rose. You have done a good job of identifying this plant ... it is multiflora rose.
BUT ...
When you go out to identify plants, try to follow these steps:
1-If you're looking for a specific plant, like multiflora rose, READ about it and know the characteristics that you're looking for.
2-Keep an OPEN MIND when looking at plants. Sometimes, you can talk yourself into thinking that you see something you're expecting, but that really isn't there.
3-Take MULTIPLE PHOTOS and write LOTS OF NOTES. If you only take one photo and it turns out to not clearly show what you want it to show, then you don't have very strong evidence.
It's that #3 that I think you'll want to work on next time you go to hunt for plants. Your leaf photos do show toothed compound leaves ... but all roses have those. It's the "tiny hairs" that you mention, and that are very fuzzy in your photo, that tell me this is multiflora rose. They're not really on the stem next to the thorns. Rather, they're on the base of the leaf. That's where the multiple photos come in! If you take more than one image, you can pick and choose the best one to display with your text.
Happy hunting!
LoisStack
Hi Pandion Sumac,
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you! I got the recipe from this book - http://books.google.com/books/I will try to get the recipe for you. But checking in with that other group sounds like it could also be a good plan. I hope it isn't too late to collect berries.
~sniffly
Hi Pandion Sumac,
Did you see this observation? http://vitalsignsme.org/specie
These students made sumac tea! Cool! You could check in with them and see what recipe they followed.
-Christine
Hi Pandion Sumac,
I just checked out the book at the Maine State Library. I think you could do that too and get it fairly quickly.I also found this recipe online http://www.writerbynature.com/
gary.fish@maine.gov:
Hi Branta Phrag,
Good balancing of evidence. I appreciate how you looked at multiple characteristics to help decide whether the plant you found was Phragmites.
CBEP - wetland botanist
Hi Branta Purple,
Great job! The plant you have is a goldenrod (Solidago sp.). Not sure which species from the photos. Keep up the good work!
by SarahTreanorBois
Hi Ardea Sumac,
You did find it! The plant may be too young to produce fruit or the soil may not be that good in that area. Also could be that the early summer flowers did not get pollinated by bees or other insects. What do the fuzzy stems resemble? The leaves may not be red yet in your area, wait a couple more weeks. It all depends on the "microclimate" where it is growing. Plants on the ocean edge often turn later than others.
gary.fish@maine.gov:
Hi Ardea Jewelweed,
That second photo looks like Japanese barberry. Your other evidence looks good to me.
~sniffly
Hi Pandion Jewelweed,
Have you asked yourself why it's called JEWELweed? What do you think?
Quillhill
Hi Branta Mites,
Sure looks like cord grass....Yes, the plant you've highlighted in your photos is cord grass. It's probably "salt marsh cord grass", or Spartina alterniflora (although there is another closely related possibility....).
I appreciate that you noted that the stem of this plant is hollow, like Phragmites, but did not let that confuse you. Many grasses have hollow stems, including the one you found.
Professionals almost always look at multiple characteristics to figure out what a particular plant may be. It's pretty rare that one characteristic is enough to be sure. It's always helpful to look at multiple lines of evidence before you come to a conclusion.
CBEP wetland botanist
Hi Ardea Multiflora,
Yes, this is multiflora rose. You have done a good job of identifying this plant ... it is multiflora rose.
BUT ...
When you go out to identify plants, try to follow these steps:
1-If you're looking for a specific plant, like multiflora rose, READ about it and know the characteristics that you're looking for.
2-Keep an OPEN MIND when looking at plants. Sometimes, you can talk yourself into thinking that you see something you're expecting, but that really isn't there.
3-Take MULTIPLE PHOTOS and write LOTS OF NOTES. If you only take one photo and it turns out to not clearly show what you want it to show, then you don't have very strong evidence.
It's that #3 that I think you'll want to work on next time you go to hunt for plants. Your leaf photos do show toothed compound leaves ... but all roses have those. It's the "tiny hairs" that you mention, and that are very fuzzy in your photo, that tell me this is multiflora rose. They're not really on the stem next to the thorns. Rather, they're on the base of the leaf. That's where the multiple photos come in! If you take more than one image, you can pick and choose the best one to display with your text.
Happy hunting!
LoisStack
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