Kasey Hartz Natural Area

Post 11:     Have you noticed a change in the temperature and humidity as you walk in the wetland area and approach Four Mile Creek? You should also be aware of distinct changes in the vegetation. Some of the surrounding plants may be also found in dry areas, but many are only obligate wetland species. Near the path are blackberries (Rubus spp.) and horsetail (Equisetum).  Do you see the miniature “Christmas trees” about 10 centimeters tall to the right of the trail? These are not pine trees at all, but Lycopodium – common name is clubmoss, but it is not a moss either! These are simple plants more closely related to ferns than flowering plants. Do not pick these plants even though they have been used for decorative purposes; they are now protected in Michigan. Maturing in about 25 years, a clubmoss plant may only become eight inches tall!   Another plant in this area is Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Its red berry-like fruit form under the hood of its leaf during the summer.   Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) grows along the trail here as a small shrub. Look for the small dots on its bark and its early spring yellow flowers. Try rubbing and smelling a small piece of its bark; most people find the smell very pleasant and spicy. 

Post 12:     Four Mile Creek begins near Sheridan Road, is about three miles long with its watershed as mostly residential land use with some industry. The immediate habitat supports many wetland plants such as skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea).  The creek at this place is quite clear and shallow. There is, however, evidence of disturbance (fresh sand load on the bottom of the creek) due to scouring and erosion. 

In the spring, skunk cabbage is one of the first flowers to appear, sometimes even before the snow is gone. If you smell the flower or its large leaves, you will soon know how the plant received its common name. The cinnamon fern is an interesting fern since it bears separate sterile and fertile fronds. The central portion or heart of all Osmunda spp.  is tender, crisp and edible, tasting much like raw cabbage. It is easily obtained by pulling up a clump of half developed fronds. Do NOT try this delicacy since pulling up the clump of fronds will destroy the whole plant and there are other similar looking ferns that may cause gastric illnesses. 

Do another soil probe digging to observe the wetland soils. How does its smell, texture, and color compare to the upland soil?  Two types of wetland soil types exist in this floodplain area:   Saranac loam and Tawas/Carlisle mucks.  Both of these soil types are very deep and poorly drained organic soils. 

In early May, this area is also covered with large patches of mayapple or mandrake (Podophyllum peltatum).   The mayapple bears an unpleasant smelling white flower in the fork between the pair of large umbrella shaped leaves. The mature edible fruit of this plant is a fleshy, yellowish, egg-shaped, many seeded “apple” about two inches long. Some people find it a pleasant food item but beware it may give intestinal illness if it is not ripe.   The root has been used medicinally for many years, but may also cause gastric illnesses. Other small plants are Canada mayflower or false lily of the valley (Maianthemum canadense) and goldthread (Coptis trifolia) giving the appearance of a miniature forest. Goldthread gets its name from its orange-colored roots and is a small evergreen plant with three-lobed leaves. Its tiny star-shaped flower appears in early spring. 

As you cross the bridge, pause to look into the water. You may see frogs, tadpoles, fish, or water striders. Do you see little twigs moving on the bottom of the creek? These are probably the larva of caddis flies which build homes of twigs, sand and other available materials in which they live until they mature. Water striders are insects that skim over the surface of the water. You may see a few small fish in the pools. Growing on the logs near the stream are mosses and liverworts which are very simple plants with no true roots or stems. 

Post 13:     Do you see the two small plants that form red berries in the autumn? Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is larger than the creeping partridgeberry (Mitchella repens).  Wintergreen is a low creeping evergreen shrub and makes up much of the ground cover in this area. It is usually abundant in rich coniferous woods and is a good indicator of the fact that soil conditions at the present time are not much different than when white pine was the dominant tree in the area. Partridgeberry is also a low trailing plant with paired fragrant flowers developing into small red fruits if they are not eaten by animals.