Week 4 Journal Entry

4/29/14

Sunny

68 degrees F

Week 4 Ravenna Park Observations

Here is my weekly photo. As you can see Springtime has arrived with a bang with almost every plant growing at great speed.

Everything is coming to life with incredible haste now that the temperatures are becoming warmer and the sun is out far more than before. There are also far more birds out now than in the previous weeks and often times you can see their nests. Most of the berry bushes such as the salmon and thimbleberries are beginning to flower and should be yielding some delicious fruit soon. 

Below I will be identifying some of the different plant species around my observation spot:

Giant horsetail

(Equisetum Telmateia)

Very common in large groups, a dominant species in wooded areas, needs sun.

Tips for identification: Horizontally shooting bristles up stem

Segmented stem/ very wet inside

More bristles along stem than the common horsetail

Indian Plum

(Oamleria Ceraciformis)

Fairly large compared to other shrubs, found in understory of area.

Tips for identification: Long, ovular leaves.

Thin, bendable stems.

Western Sword Fern

(Polystichum Munitum)

Found mostly on hillsides, grows in large patches together.

Tips for identification: Leaves attach to stem at a node.

Serrated edges of leaves resemble a blade or sword.

Glossy, rigid leaves

Salal

(Gaultheria Shallon)

Prefers shady understory

Tips for identification: Thick, deep green, waxy leaves.

Serrated edges on leaves.

Tiny sharp point at tip of leaf.

Thimbleberry

(Rubus Parviflorus)

Found in prominent sunlight

Tips for identification: Leaves are extremely soft

5 points per leaf

White flowers

Fragile red berry produced when ripe

Brachen

(Pteridium Aquilidum)

Very common in large groups, a dominant species in wooded areas.

Tips for identification: Fronds shaped like triangles

Each frond usually has 3 leaflets

Thick, root-like stems

Oregon Grape

(Mahonia Aquifolium)

Prefers partial shade and moist soils

Tips for identification: Sharp serrated edges on leaves

Leaves are shiny and rigid

Red stems

Small, blue berries when ripe

Snowberry

(Symphoricarpos)

Grows in partial shade in understory

Tips for identification: Small, very soft, ovular leaves.

Some leaves are lobed, some may not be.

Variance of green shade in leaf color on same plant.

Forget-me-not

(Myosotis)

Found in sparsely vegetated spots with little shade

Tips for identification: Tiny yellow ring around middle of blue flower

Small leaves with large serrations

Found often times on hillsides