Cornus canadensis
Bunchberry
Labrador : "Crackerberries"
Birch Brook locations : In semi-shaded areas along the side of the woods on all trails
Bunchberries often form dense foliage mats along the edges of forest clearings and are especially attractive in bloom and when berries ripen. Pointed parallel-veined leaves form a whorl of 6. A white 4-petalled 'flower' appears on a short stalk above the leaves in late spring or early summer. The 'flower' consists of 4 white bracts around clusters of insignificant greenish flowers from which tight clusters of edible red berries mature in late summer. Height is usually less than 20cm.
Cornus stolonifera
Red-Osier Dogwood
Birch Brook locations : Several sites in wet clearings on Scott's Run and Chaulk's Run
Red-Osier Dogwood is an erect shrub with red stems. It is said to adapt well to garden cultivation. Opposite, oval-shaped, parallel-veined leaves grow on bright red branches. Terminal clusters of 4-petalled flowers appear in late June or July and inedible white drupes ripen in late summer. The plant can grow up to 2 m.
Empetrum nigrum
Black Crowberry
Labrador : "Blackberry"
Birch Brook locations : Several boggy sites on McLean Lake trail and Games Trail
Crowberry is an evergreen mat- forming shrub. Its fruit is delicious fresh or cooked. Short needle like leaves are alternate and crowded on the stem. Tiny purplish solitary flowers bloom in upper leaf axils in early spring. Juicy black berries ripen in late summer and may remain on the bush through fall and winter.
Epilobium angustifolium
Fireweed
Labrador : "Cotton Plant"
Birch Brook locations : Clearings and burnovers on Games Trail and McLean Lake Trail.
Fireweed is an attractive, vigorous colonizer of disturbed areas. The young shoots and leaves are edible. Mature leaves can be dried and used to make tea. Alternate leaves are willow-like and are darker on the upper surface than underneath. Cone-shaped spikes of pink 4-petalled flowers bloom in late summer. The plant may grow to 1.5 m.
Equisetum sylvaticum
Horsetail
Labrador : "Frog Grass"
Birch Brook locations : Rich wet forest edges on Rabbit Run and Brook Trail
Horsetails are sometimes called 'scouring rushes' because of their appearance and their abrasiveness due to silica content which explains their once common use for scrubbing pots and pans. This ancient plant is well represented in the fossil record and appears to have changed little since the Paleozoic Era. Highly branched shoots grow from the upper part of the stem in horizontal whorls. The plant may reach 30 cm. Reproduction is by spores.
Galium triflorum
Bedstraw
Birch Brook locations : Wet areas on Scott's Run, Chaulk's Run and Mclean Lake Trails
This inconspicuous, weak-stemmed plant reclines on surrounding vegetation. Long, narrow upper leaves are opposite and lower leaves grow in whorls of 4 to 6 at nodes on the square stems. Terminal clusters of small white 4-petalled flowers appear in late summer.
Gaultheria hispidula
Creeping Snowberry
Labrador : "Mintberry"
Birch Brook locations : Forest edges and clearings, mossy woods and logs on all trails
Fresh leaves of Snowberry make excellent tea. Wintergreen-flavored berries are fine fresh or preserved, Ground hugging Creeping Snowberry has dark green oval leaves. Small greenish white bell-shaped flowers grow hidden beneath leaves in late spring. White egg-shaped berries mature in late summer.
Kalmia angustifolia
Sheep Laurel
Birch Brook locations : All trails
This common shrub adds brilliant mid-summer color to barren areas. Opposite evergreen leaves in whorls of 3 are pale on the underside and darker on the upper surface. The plant grows to 1 m. Pink saucer-shaped flowers grow in leave axils below the stem top in early August.
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Kalmia polifolia
Bog Laurel
Birch Brook location : A few wet sites on all trails
This showy plant adds early summer color to boggy areas. Opposite dark shiny leaves are long and narrow, whitish beneath and curved under along the margins. The plant grows to 60cm. In early summer, pink saucer-shaped flowers grow in terminal clusters of few flowers on separate long stalks above the leaves.
Larix laricina
Larch
Labrador : "Juniper", "Tamarack"
Birch Brook location : Open wet boggy area along Rabbit run
Larch is particularly attractive in the fall when it turns golden yellow. Tender new shoots and inner bark are said to be nutritious. Light green feathery foliage is softly needle-like but is deciduous and drops in the fall.
Ledum groenlandicum
Labrador Tea
Birch Brook locations : Common along all trails
Dried leaves of this widespread , low-growing northern shrub can be steeped and used for tea. Leathery dark green leaves with rolled in margins are rusty-colored and hairy underneath. Creamy white terminal clusters of 5-petalled flowers bloom in early summer.
Linnaea borealis
Twinflower
Birch Brook locations : Wooded areas on all trails
Twinflower is a low creeping, mat-forming plant with delicate twin bell flowers. Small rounded leaves are opposite along the trailing stem. Two pink bell-like flowers arise from the stem on a 8-15cm stalk around midsummer.
Lycopodium annotinum
Stiff Clubmoss
Birch Brook locations : A few sites in moist shaded areas along all trails
Evergreen clubmosses become particularly noticeable on the forest floor in the autumn when surrounded by the vibrant hues of deciduous vegetation. Single or branched stems are marked with indentations from the start of annual growth. The evergreen bristly leaves are narrow and grow in semi-whorls around the stem. Reproduction is by spores. The yellowish strobilus is slim and pointed and is on a short stalk terminating the stem. Height is about 15cm.
Lycopodium complanatum
Running Pine
Birch Brook location : One site only has been found - just off the alternate Games Trail
route near the Chaulk's Run intersection.
This creeping clubmoss grows in untidy, tangled masses. Leaves are tiny and grown together to create a smooth surface along irregularly branched flattened branches. The lower surfaces of branches are slightly concave. Horizontal stems creep along or slightly below the ground surface. Reproduction is by spores. The strobilus consists of 1 to 4 cones in a candelabrum growth form.
Lycopodium obscurum
Tree Clubmoss / Ground Pine
Birch Brook locations : Found along all trails
This plant looks like a miniature, thickly branched pine tree. Individual plants up to 30cm high sprout every 10cm or so from an underground horizontal stem. Narrow lance-shaped leaves are shiny and evergreen. Reproduction is by spores. Several strobili may form on tips of upper branches. Each strobilus is cylindrical, yellow and stemless.
Maianthemum canadense
Canada Mayflower
Birch Brook locations : Can be found in a few areas on all trails
Canada Mayflower is a delicate forest floor flower. Two or three heart-shaped parallel-veined leaves clasp the stem. On the same stem as the leaves, white terminal clusters of small four-petalled flowers bloom in late June. Clusters of red speckled berries can be found in the fall. The plant may reach 15cm.
Picea mariana
Black Spruce
Birch Brook locations : Widespread along all trails
Black Spruce is one of the dominant boreal forest plants in our area. Shiny, four-sided, pointed, needle-like leaves are spirally arranged on the twigs of branches. Ovate cones are compact, 2-3cm long, purplish at first but turning reddish-brown when mature. They hang down from the branches.
Polypodium virginianum
Polypody fern
Birch Brook location : The flat rock surfaces off Birches Run is the only site recorded.
This small evergreen fern grows luxuriantly over flat rocks and in cracks on cliff faces. Oblong leathery leaves are cut into narrow, blunt-tipped leaflets. The fruitdots (sori) are round and prominent. This fern is usually less than 20cm.
Populus tremuloides
Trembling Aspen
Labrador : "Apse"
Birch Brook locations : Clearings and burnovers on McLean Lake Trail, Games Trail and
Chaulk's Run
Trembling Aspen is well named as the foliage, attached by flattened leaf stalks, quakes in the slightest breeze. A tall smooth trunk with light green to gray bark terminates with a rounded crown of branches. Alternate leaves are ovate or circular, have a pointed tip and are round at the base. They are dark green but paler underneath and are finely toothed. Trembling Aspen may reach heights up to 25m.
Prunus pensylvanica
Pin Cherry
Birch Brook locations : Burnovers on McLean Lake Trail, Games Trail and Chaulk's Run
Pin Cherry is an determined colonizer of disturbed areas. It is quite beautiful in full bloom. Finely toothed alternate leaves are ovate and elongated with a pointed tip. The bark on the trunk is reddish to dark brown with distinctive horizontal pinkish markings. White five-petalled flowers on long stalks open in early June followed by edible red 'berries' later in the summer. Location and consequent size determines the classification of tree or shrub. Cherries may grow to 8m.
Pyrola secunda
One-Sided Pyrola
Birch Brook location : Brook Trail / Games Trail intersection in a shady damp area
Pyrola is not a common plant at Birch Brook. As with other members of the Wintergreen Family , it is possibly dependent on mycorrhizal fungi associated with conifers. Ovate, toothed leaves form a basal rosette which is often partially obscured by other ground cover plants. In late summer white waxy flowers with five petals, ten stamens and prominent green pistils droop from one side of the flowering stem which grows from the basal leaves. The plant is usually not more than 10cm.
Ribes glandulosum
Skunk Currant
Birch Brook locations : Damp slopes and clearings along parts of Rabbit Run, Scott's
Run, McLean Lake Trail and Birches Run
The name and appearance of Skunk Currant are not too appealing, but the taste is superb in jellies. The leaves are shaped like maple leaves and also turn bright red in the fall. They give off a musky odor when bruised. Erect clusters of 5-petalled white flowers with hairy stalks bloom in late spring. At the end of summer, translucent red bristly fruit ripen in drooping clusters.