Wetland Plants
Wetland Plants
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Plants
Multiflora rose, despite its wonderful scent, is an invasive species, found in both wetlands and uplands, excludes native plants from growing by crowding them out of their natural habitat. The thickets these roses bushes create can become so large and dense they have been planted roadside as a natural crash barrier.
Its cousin, the swamp rose (Rosa palustris) is found in moist soils, but can also thrive in drier soils, is also very fragrant, found with larger, pink flowers. It is an anolomy among roses, which almost as a rule, do not tolerate "wet feet".
Moving further down the trail, I was not able to find any blue flag, (Iris Versicolor), the defacto natural wetland iris found in the Northeast, but I did discover a stand of yellow iris' (Iris pseudacorus) on the north eastern shore of the lake. The yellow iris is the only yellow iris in the US and will grow in upto 1 foot of water. It is also considered invasive for the same reasons as the multiflora rose, it excludes all other plants from the area by growing large stands of plants.
Further Reading:
Invasive Yellow Iris
Swamp Rose
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Plants
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Plants
Pokeweed is a common native plant, generally growing between 4-8 feet tall and is easily identifiable by its dark berries. All parts of the plant are highly toxic to humans, pets and livestock unless boiled multiple times to remove the toxins. The name pokeweed derives from the Native American word for 'blood', referring to the berries dark red juice that can be used as a dye. While not a wetland plant, it can be found around wetland borders or other disturbed habitats.
For many people, in a world awash with distractions, a story like this has the power to captivate, particularly those not particularly interested in plants or botany. It can bring a plants importance and role to life, and will be remembered far longer than any textbook description. Stories like this about wetlands are sorely needed. For people who have little knowledge of wetlands and frankly, not enough time or interest, this type of narrative can pique curiosity and set the reader down the path to learn why wetlands are an important resource to us all. Sometimes. Maybe.
USDA Pokeweed Page
Wetlands in the News
29 March 2024
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Wetlands are disappearing quickly across the United States
A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals wetlands — 95% of which are freshwater — covered less than 6% of the lower 48 states as of 2019. That is half the area they covered...
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Gorgeous 4K Footage of a Winter Starling Murmuration Swooping Over the Yorkshire Wetlands
Robert E Fuller captured gorgeous 4K footage of a winter starling murmuration swooping over the Ripon City Wetlands in Yorkshire, England.
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As feds stand down, states choose between wetlands protections or rollbacks
For 200 miles, the Wabash River forms the border between Illinois and Indiana as it meanders south to the Ohio River. On the Illinois side, lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill that would protect...
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Beaver Creek homeowners mount challenge to developer seeking to build homes on a parcel long thought to be undevelopable wetlands
A long-forgotten parcel at Beaver Creek is being eyed by a developer who seeks to build on land that nearby homeowners have previously understood to be undevelopable wetlands. The 13.8-acre parcel,...
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New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report Finds Continued Decline of Wetlands - More Than Half of Wetlands in the Lower 48 States Are Gone
New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report Finds Continued Decline of Wetlands - More Than Half of Wetlands in the Lower 48 States Are Gone...