The May 1 Byrom Park Bioblitz, species noted by Team 10
The Central Virginia Blue Ridge
has a new forest preserve on the way. On May 1, a large group of scientists and naturalists (60+) descended upon the area for a preliminary biological assessment. I was on team 10, and here are some of the things we saw.
-On the eastern flank of the Blue Ridge in Central Virginia
-Lat/long: 38.227902,-78.660403
-Elevation survey range (Trail E) 1270' -1850'
-Survey Team #10
Geology
-Catoctin Formation (Metabasalt)
-Charnockite
At site E-10, in the stream, there were large and beautiful specimens of microcrystaline quartz ranging from bright greens to deep reds. This very well could have been a material source for Native Americans.
Noteable Habitats
Wildflower meadow (E-1).
This spot is unusual in that it is a bit of a flat area on the mountainside. The bedrock is the mafic and mineral rich Catoctin greenstone, probably adding to the diversity at the site. This habitat would be a good wildflower destination, particularly for its thick grove of showy orchis, but also for the dozen or so other wildflowers that are blooming there on May 1.
Mafic Boulder (E-2).
Wildflowers
The woods were full. Most of these were observed at site E-1, at the top of the E trail.
Indian Cucumber Root (not in bloom)
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Showy Orchis
False Solomon's Seal (budding)
Early Meadow Rue
Tall Meadow Rue
Perfoliate Bellwort
Wild Geranium
Pink Lady's Slipper (along E trail at elevation 1320 +/-)
Early Saxifrage
Puttyroot Orchid (***past bloom***).
A reader more knowledgable than I pointed out that this plant flowers after the leaves die back! So, this plant was NOT past bloom.
Ferns
Common Polypody (growing on the giant mafic boulder, E-2)
Cut-leafed grape fern
Amphibians
American Toad
Northern Dusky Salamander
Seal Salamander
Southern Two-lined Salamander
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
White spotted Slimy Salamander
Eastern Newt, red eft stage
Mammal tracks
Bear scat
Bobcat urine...territory marker (pee -yhooo!). (At E-8)
Trees
Giant White pine (E-8) circ. 8', 5".
Giant Chestnut Oak (E-9) circ. 10', 6".
Groves of slippery elm, witch hazel, spicebush
A low elevation striped maple
Other
Canadian Owlet moth caterpillar (on the early meadow rue)
Gold Brown Rove Beetle (in the bear scat)
Spring Wildflowers, Mouth of Wilson, Va.
April 27
As you turn right onto Shady Shack Rd. (in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia), a right across the bridge at the old dam where parson's grist mill used to be... looking up you can see
trillium
, columbine, a white flower not
identified
, jack-in-the-pulpit, coming on
fiddle head
ferns and a host of other plants and flowers on the rocks and on the steep banks along Wilson Creek right before it opens up into the New River.
For all you flower lovers, all along the New River you can locate and identify a large variety of woodland wildflowers and plants. This should continue for at least another month.
-Michael wildflower