Wetland Plants

Its spring and both gardens and wetlands are in full bloom. Out around Hempstead Lake Park on Long Island, the scent of roses accompanied me for a portion of the three mile lake loop. Hempstead Lake, the largest lake in Nassau County is largely natural, but by no means pristine; traversed by the Southern State Parkway, and surrounded by suburbia in all directions. Curious as to what created this terrific scent, I detoured onto the shoreline trails choked with poison ivy. Upon arrival, I scowled at the source of the scent, thickets of multiflora rose in bloom with its signature, one inch white flowers.

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.

Yellow Iris Wetland

Blue Flag Iris - Wetland

Multiflora Rose

Swamp Rose

Further Reading:

Invasive Yellow Iris

Swamp Rose

A few photos of a thawing out vernal pool in Huntington State Park, Connecticut on a blustery, early April Day. In comparison to last year, it's taking quite a bit longer to thaw out, and plants are just beginning to emerge - weeks later in comparison to last year.

Huntington State Park, Connecticut Vernal Pool

Huntington State Park, Connecticut Vernal Pool

Huntington State Park, Connecticut Vernal Pool
I found this story about Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) compelling; its informative, but also weaves a story of time and place, pulling the reader into the world of a young girl and her flinty aunt, collecting pokeweed for dye and making "poke sallet", a thrice blanched dish.

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
USDA Pokeweed Photo

Wetlands in the News

29 March 2024