Field Note

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Have you noticed the bizarrely-twisted trunks of so many of the Black Cherry trees on the Island? Their distorted shape is a result of natural pruning caused by a fungus, Apiosporina morbosa, known, quite descriptively, as Black knot. Black Cherry tree with Black knot disease taken along Treasure Pond

Horsetails (Equisetum sp.) Species in the genus Equisetum are living members of a group of plants, the sphenophytes, that dominated the landscape during the age of dinosaurs. Some grew up to 100 feet tall but today's plants of the Equisetum family are much smaller, even though some species in South America may reach 15

These century-old beech trees are dying. (But there is hope for a remedy.) Beech leaf disease (BLD) was first recognized in Ohio in 2012. American and European beech trees in the areas around New York City, western Connecticut, and Long Island, including Suffolk County, were showing the symptoms of BLD as early as 2019.

Beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana) As described by its scientific name, Epifagus lives exclusively on the roots of beech trees, specifically American beeches. Beechdrops found on the eastern leg of Island Pond Trail. Photo by Jack Schneider Beechdrops are an annual plant that lacks leaves and chlorophyll, relying on energy derived

Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) The wood anemone, is an early-spring flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Wood Anemone. Photo by Jack Schneider Anemonoides nemorosa is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant less than 30 centimetres (12 in) in height. The compound basal leaves are palmate or ternate (divided

Look for the Canada mayflower, Maianthemum (May blossom) canadense, which is a "spring ephemeral". Maianthemum canadense photo courtesy of Halpaugh at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Spring Ephemerals Spring ephemerals are native woodland plants that flower briefly during the spring. Look for their blooms in deciduous woods

FIELD NOTE: Epigaea repens (Trailing Arbutus) For this native wildflower with an exquisite fragrance, one must search among the fallen leaves in early spring. Sometimes referred to as "Plymouth Mayflower" in reference to the fact that it was the first flower to cheer the hearts of the Pilgrim Fathers after the rigors of their