Liking Lichens

Take a walk outdoors anywhere in the Northwest and chances are you will see a lichen within five minutes. Of course if you are desperately looking for a Starbucks, you may not see a lichen; but they are there, even in urban areas. You might call lichens, "nature's graffiti."

Lichen covered trees at Rood Bridge Park - November 2013

Lichens are really low on the plant family ladder. They are so low, most can only dream of getting a picture in National Geographic Magazine - yet it has happened! Here in the Northwest, it is hard to find a tree or wooden fence post that does not have any lichen on it! Yet, their lowliness, contributes to their extreme success as an organism. 

Oakmoss Lichen (Evernia prunastri) on fallen oak branch.

Most lichens can grow where no other plants can. They don't need soil or much water because they are a unique combination organism, of fungus and algae. At least that is my simplistic explanation of their relationship. This relationship allows them to thrive just about anywhere on earth. In our area, we see most on mature live trees, exposed rocks, and dead trees. Some of the ground dwellers have the ability to secrete a substance that prohibits other, competing plants from germinating. They also grow very slowly, less than 1/2 in. per year and can live a very long time. The oldest lichens are estimated to be 4000 years old!

Unknown rock lichen in the Columbia River Gorge

There are many good online sources of knowledge on lichens so I won't go into detail here, except to mention one important lichen discovery. Lichens in some areas have become bell weathers of air pollution. Scientists have figured out ways to monitor certain lichens as they succumb to constant air pollution and thereby gauge the severity of the pollution and its possible effects on other life forms.

Lichen stripes and spots along the Gales Creek trail.

Lichen and Moss on a wooden landscape post.

Map Lichen on rocks near USGS benchmark

Believe it or not, lichens have been consumed as food, but usually only in times of famine. I found many lichen recipes on the web, but most stressed the need to cook them. For example, this reference from "Eat the Weeds" was especially telling:

Most lichen are likable, but not exactly consumer friendly. What the lichen all share is acid and as such require proper preparation if they are to be eaten because unprepared and uncooked they will painfully attack your digestive track. Unprepared lichen taste like aspirin. That should motivate you to prepare it correctly. Never eat unprepared and raw lichen unless your life truly depends upon it.  It probably will not kill you but you will wish it had.

From a photographer's point of view, the true value of lichens is in their wonderful colors. The hues are quite varied and can be bright and saturated. 

Ground dwelling lichens and moss near Mt. Hood

Moss and Lichen patterns on a rock

Oakmoss with Methuselah's Beard (Usnea longissima)

References: 

Eat the Weeds - Lichens

Wikipedia - Lichens
Lichens of the Pacific Northwest - Oregon

Cotoneaster

This hardy, colorful shrub with the strange sounding name is not blooming now. However, its small, bright red-orange berries are lighting up the local gardens in parks and homes as we speak! (11/20/2013). Although very colorful, the berries are poisonous to humans, but you may see hungry birds nibbling on them in Winter. Cotoneaster (pronounced "ko-tony-aster") are native to Asia and most species are considered semi-evergreen.

This "Tom Thumb" Cotoneaster in our yard is about 12 years old.

The bright berries are about 1/4 inch in diameter.

There may be as many as 300 species of Cotoneaster (this is the genus name as well) in addition to garden cultivars. In our yard, the Tom Thumb variety (Cotoneaster adpressus) makes a nice addition as a ground cover that can stand up to dogs and deer alike! It has tiny white flowers in the late Spring that attract bees and butterflies; the red berries appear in Fall and can last through Winter. Some of the leaves will turn red as well, before dropping off for the winter.

Some of the leaves turn red and drop.

These plants are members of the Rosaceae (Rose) family and in the past 40 years have been widely planted in gardens, leading to escapes into the natural areas. The escapees are not considered a problem in most areas, but they can compete for moisture and light. The odd common name and genus name, derives from the Latin "resembles quince," a tree that produces a pear-like fruit. It's hard for me to see any resemblance at all in these two genus, but perhaps there is more to the story...

Spring flowering Cotoneaster (File Photo)

Al the Dal surveys a large stand of Cotoneaster at Rood Bridge Park

Fungus Among Us

Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria) near Ramona Falls

As I walk about in local parks and trails this Fall, I am finding almost no wildflowers. Not surprising given the cooler temps and reduced daylight. But I am surprised by the volume of mushrooms that seem to be popping up in almost every shady area we visit! Of course this is the season for mushrooms in western Oregon, but our unusual weather this year has apparently made for bumper crops!

Toxic Scaly Agaricus (Agaricus praeclaresquamosus) at Rood Bridge Park

My grandfather used to talk about the "fungus amongus" when it was bath time for us kids. I think the idea was that lack of hygiene would result in mold growing between our toes or who knows where! In those days it was a small motivational moment to hop in the tub. His catchy words were not far from the truth. Mycologists (those who study fungus) now think there may be as many as 1.5 million species of fungus on earth. To date, only 65,000 have been identified, including lichens and molds.

Birch Trich (Tricholoma fulvum).
We have several dozen of these whoppers in our field, under trees.

As you probably know, mushrooms are the above-ground, spore-bearing part of the main fungus that lives underground. Once this "fruitbody" part emerges, it matures quickly, disperses spores, and then dies back. This can take just a few days in some cases. Or, the fruitbodies are picked by knowledgeable mushroom hunters, for consumption. In my case, I just try to find the interesting looking ones in full bloom, so to speak, for capturing with the camera.

Possible Cort at Silver Falls State Park. Note cap covered with wet spores.

Many of our Northwest fungi are Mycohrrhizal, meaning that they have a close "relationship" with a host tree. Conifers make good hosts as well as birch and oak. The fungus will grow around the tiny roots of these trees and provide water and nutrients to the tree. The fungus benefits from the tree sugars it can capture.

A fine troop of Onion Bagel Pholiota along the Cape Horn trail.
In spite of the name, these are not tasty!

There are legions of mushroom hunters that head out this time of year, in search of edible treasures they can harvest for themselves or for selling to restaurants. In fact, state and federal land managers publish guidelines and rules for mushroom gathering. Some hunters have their secret, favorite spots deep in the woods that only close relatives know about. Some are even armed in case of territorial disputes! Lordy!

Turkey-tail Polypore (Trametes versicolor) on dead deciduous tree branch

As I write this post, lunchtime approaches. Thoughts of a big juicy mushroom burger, or a hardy mushroom stew, or a nice big tossed salad with fresh mushrooms are spinning in my head.

Scaly Vase Chanterelle (Gomphus floccosus) on the Ramona Creek Trail

When you go to the grocery store and buy a package of mushrooms, you are getting the cultivated variety of Agaricus bisporus. Millions of these are grown commercially every year.

But I digress... Now, here's some knowledge I would like to spread regarding our "state mushroom!" From the website, State Symbols (www.statesymbolsusa.org).

The Pacific Golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus) was designated the official mushroom of the state of Oregon in 1999. Unique to the Pacific Northwest, this wild, edible fungi has high culinary value. More than 500,000 pounds of the Pacific golden chanterelles are harvested annually in Oregon.

The Pacific golden chanterelle is recognized as a separate species from the golden chanterelle mushroom. It forms a mycorrhizal association with conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest (western hemlock, Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce), and live oaks in California.

Don't worry, I'm not going to launch into a long discussion of how to identify mushrooms. There are many books and websites that will do that. The Smithsonian Mushroom Handbook is a great pictorial guide for novices like me; and the Oregon Mycological Society website is a good local website for starters. And please note this important warning on their home page:

Edible or Poisonous? There is no quick and easy test that will separate edible from poisonous mushrooms. Identify each and every mushroom you collect, and only eat those whose identification you are absolutely sure of. When in doubt, throw it out. Seek medical assistance immediately if you suspect mushroom poisoning of any kind.

And finally, to see my growing collection of Fungus Among Us, visit my "shroom" room.

Fall Colors

Just for the record, we are having the most memorable October weather here in western Oregon I can remember - and it's not just me saying that - even the weather professionals are saying it as well! So many sunny, dry days in a row I wake up every morning and think I'm in California. Yow! Not only that, but we seem to have had the ideal setup for maximum color on our local deciduous leaves: a cool, wet end to September and then warm sunny weather returns in October.

In addition, it's also a banner year for mushrooms. Those buggers are popping up everywhere now. Will have to do a separate post on those!

Sure, you've all seen those calendar pictures with the amped-up saturated Fall colors of idealistic postcard scenes. Well I don't have any of those to share, but now that I'm RGWC (Retired Guy With Camera), I can catch more fall colors than I would if I was stuck in a cube at work.

So why post these in a wildflower blog? Good question...

The answer circles back to RGWC. And the cold hard truth that there just aren't that many wildflowers blooming around here now - go figure! So my apologies to followers who only want to hear about wildflowers. I'll try to get in a few trips before Spring to add some flowers... maybe Brookings?!

Meanwhile, here's a few non-calendar photos to commemorate this wonderful October...

Poplars in Cornelius on TV Highway.

Non-native maples at Hillsboro airport.

Native Oregon Ash at Champoeg State Park.

Beautiful old maple on SW 229th, Hillsboro

Gingko at Tuality Healthcare parking

Tall red maples at the Reserve golf course.

Pinot Noir grapevines in Laurel.

Red maple on River Road, Hillsboro.

Toxic Bittersweet Nightshade berries.

Native Big Leaf Maple in Laurel.

Wild Geraniums

There are more than 400 species of wild geraniums (genus: Geranium), growing in temperate regions of the world. These are not to be confused with the bedding plants at your local garden shop. Those are in the genus Pelargonium, which has another 200 species. However, both are in the Geraniaceae family. 

Back in June, we added a post on the Wild Oregon Geranium, which is native to Oregon and somewhat rare. http://clarksoregonwildflowers.blogspot.com/2013/06/wild-oregon-geranium.html

All wild geraniums have the distinctive palmately-lobed leaves and single flower stems bearing a variety of colored and shaped blossoms, although all have five petals. The common name cranesbill, as well as the genus name, from the Greek "geranos" (a crane), relate to the bill-like seed capsule on some of the species. A number of species are naturalized from Europe. All the species I have seen, have flowers that are about 1.5 inches wide, when fully open. See photo below with bee for reference.

Over the summer and more recently, I found a couple of other wild geraniums in local parks. I believe these were probably planted, since they both appear in dedicated "wildflower" gardens. Nonetheless, the attractive flowers make for good photo ops! 

With all the subtle variations in the geranium flowers, it is difficult to identify the exact species.

At Dairy Creek Park, October 2013. Possibly, Geranium pratense.

Note the palmately lobed leaves.

Even the honeybees are hard at work this October!

At Jenkins Estate in June 2013. Possibly, Geranium Platypetalum.

Mexican Water Fern

As I was researching this odd plant, two obvious facts emerged: this is not a wildflower because it is a fern and ferns don't have flowers; and it is an aquatic fern, which I did not know existed. However, because the Mexican Water Fern (Azolla mexicana) is a common wetland plant in our area, but unique, I thought it deserves a post in the blog!

You may have seen area wetlands or large ponds covered with tiny green floating plants. These ferns are a darker green than algae and is top side only, unlike algae which can grow underwater as well. The tiny green leaves turn to a brownish red this time of year (10/17/2013), making more of a contrast in the water. Several of the ponds at Jackson Bottom are awash in this fern, where they seem to thrive.

Because they are ferns, reproduction is by spores. There are no flowers, fruits, or seeds. Blue-green algae in the leaves can absorb (fix) nitrogen from the air, something plants cannot do. This provides nutrients for the plant, while the plant provides shelter and minerals for the blue-green algae. Water-fern is used as green fertilizer in rice paddies because of its nitrogen fixing ability. It also provides food for waterfowl and cover for small invertebrates. Water-fern is considered a threatened species in British Columbia.

It can become a nuisance and choke out other aquatic plants in some environments. On the other hand, it is also cultivated and harvested in some areas for fertilizer, hence the nickname "green manure."

From a distance, this water looks brackish.
(Jackson Bottom Wetlands)

The wind blows these ferns to the edge of the water.

This clump is starting to go from green to brown.

The tiny leaves are just 3 - 5 mm wide.

In this detail, you can see the scale-like leaf parts.

American Speedwell

To me, this plant's common name sounds like the model name for a bike made in the 1950's. Actually, there was a ship by the name of Speedwell, built in 1577. It was later paired with the famous Mayflower to transport pilgrims to the new land. However, the Speedwell began leaking, so it returned to Plymouth in August 1620. The Mayflower took some of Speedwell's passengers and went on to cross the Atlantic, as we all know. Then in 1656 a ship named Speedwell did actually make it to Boston!

But wait, this blog is about wildflowers, not ships! Well there is a small tie-in here; both ships are flower names, the Mayflower being the state flower of Massachusetts and the Speedwell being the namesake for our little blue flower, as well as about ten other related species in Oregon.

American Speedwell (Veronica americana) was unknown to me until today (10/11/2013). Al-the-Dal, our family dog, was walking me around Rood Bridge Park to take in the fall colors. We did see some good colors on the maples and alders in the park; also saw a few wild cyclamens (see my post on them). It was not until Al got thirsty and pulled me over to a small man-made creek that runs through the park that I noticed these mint-like leaves with tiny blue flowers. By tiny, I mean about the size of the nail on your little finger!

This species is one of nearly 500 Veronicas, that are members of the Plantain family. It is native to Asia and North America and grows in every state in the lower 48, except in the southeast. 

American Speedwell is edible and nutritious and is reported to have a flavor similar to watercress. Native Americans used Veronica species as an expectorant tea to alleviate bronchial congestion associated with asthma and allergies. Historically, the broader family of Speedwells were known as healing aids, hence the common name. 

The tiny blue flowers emerge on opposite stems.

The leaves resemble mints in size and color.

Hip-Hop

Well, I could not resist borrowing a pop culture term for this post. But I should actually call it "Hips-Hops" since that is what this post is about! And, no, we are not talking music here!

Basic summary: these two plants are used in popular drinks!

First the "hips," or more precisely rose hips. Rose hips are the fruit of the wild rose plant and when ripe, turn a bright red, usually in the Fall. Rose hips begin to form after successful pollination of flowers in spring or early summer, and ripen in late summer through autumn. As you probably know, rose hips are used in jams, jellies, syrup, soup, beverages like teas, pies, bread, and wine. They can also be eaten raw, like a berry, if care is used to avoid the hairs inside the fruit. Rose hips are particularly high in vitamin C content, hence are used in many natural food remedies. They are also quite ornamental, kind of a bonus treat after the rose flowers bloom. For more on rose hips, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hips

Rose Hips at Rood Bridge Park, 10/06/2013

 

Rose Hips at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in July

And for the "hops," I am of course talking about the flower of the common hop Humulus lupulus. It is native to Europe, western Asia and North America. It is a perennial,  climbing plant which sends up new shoots in early spring and dies back to a cold-hardy rhizome in autumn. The fragrant flower cones (hops) impart bitterness and flavor, and also have preservative qualities. Hops, as you know, are one of the main ingredients in beer (mostly in ales). The hops provide that bitterness that some love and some hate. When you pick ripe hops, the bloom has a strong, hardy hops smell and the flower must be preserved in short order to capture that quality for beer making.

The extract is antimicrobial, which makes it useful for making natural deodorant. Hops seem to grow best near the North 48th parallel, so many variants are grown here in Oregon, and I have used several of them for my home brews! A few unfortunate people are allergic to hops and it can cause skin irritation when touched or headaches when consumed. For more on hops see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops

Hops growing in our back yard, September 2013

Note the intertwined vines

So whatever your brew of choice, next time your take a sip, think hip-hop!

Wild Hardy Cyclamen

Sure we love to recycle things here in Oregon, but this post has nothing to do with that! Cyclamen is a genus of flowering plants in the Primulaceae (Primrose) family that bloom in the Fall. Here in western Oregon you are likely to see the odd looking, dainty, purple blooms of the Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) in shady moist areas right now (9/25/2013). They tend to form vast colonies of spreading tubers, and can carpet the forest floor with their purple and white blooms.

There are about two dozen Cyclamen species. Most can be grown outdoors. You may be familiar with the Florist Cyclamen (C.persicum) that is often given as a gift and must be grown indoors as it is not hardy.

Cyclamens are native to the Mediteraniun basin area of Europe. In some areas the wild species have been excessively removed by locals to use in flower shops, to the point of near extinction.

While researching Cyclamens, I discovered many poems have been written in reference to them. Most seem to be on the morbid side for some odd reason. Here's an example verse by Arlo Bates:

Over the plains where Persian hosts
Laid down their lives for glory
Flutter the cyclamens, like ghosts
That witness to their story.
Oh, fair! Oh, white! Oh, pure as snow!
On countless graves how sweet they grow!    (Complete poem here)

On a lighter note, there are quite a few blooming right now at Jenkins Estate, under the cover of large firs. They push up through the piles of needles on the ground. Each leaf has its own stalk as does each flower. The flowers sit about six inches off the ground and are about 3/4 tall. I observed very few leaves, although a few were coming up.

Purple Flowers

White Flowers

Typical Clump Under the Trees

An Advanced Cyclamen Colony