Houghton's goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii)
Photo: Dave Jolly
Other highlights that Brian discovered for the database include; Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterloepis) also in Bruce county, Smooth wild rye (Elymus villosus), Straw coloured flat sedge (Cyperus strigosus) of Niagara region and Swamp valerian (Valeriana uliginosa) in Grey county.
Brian is also credited with adding the 100,000th official plant record to the database in Niagara region with Pale smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) observed on August 29th. Congratulations Brian for making that contribution, which will go down in EARTHQUEST history as very significant! Since his first contribution on June 7, 2009 Brian has provided 7629 total records, which is the most out of over 90 contributors (55 of which were students or staff from EARTHQUEST).
Of the 12 counties surveyed most of my new records for the database were wetland plants found in sensitive coastal wetlands such as Alpine rush (Juncus alpinoarticulatus), Fringed gentian (Gentiana vigata), Hard stemmed bulrush (Scirpus acutus), Marsh mermaidweed (Proserpinaca palustris), Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia glomerata) and Purple agalinis (Agalinis paupercula).
Fringed gentian (Gentiana vigata)
Photo: Dave Jolly
Additionally, a total of 13 provincially, regionally and locally rare plants were observed in the lower Bruce peninsula on behalf of a great environmental non-profit organization: the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation; 31 records of provincially and federally special concern Tuberous indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum), 5 records of provincially rare plants such as Dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris), 30 records of Stiff yellow flax (Linum medium) and 9 records of Blueleaf willow (Salix myricoides). Tuberous Indian plantain, Dwarf lake iris, Stiff yellow flax and Blueleaf willow are also listed as rare in the Checklist of Vascular Plants for Bruce and Grey Counties, published by the Owen Sound Field Naturalists in 2003. Ten regionally rare (within the Mixed deciduous forest region: Ecoregion 6E – source; EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database) plants were discovered within surveyed Ecological Land Classification polygons; Fringed gentian, Kalm’s St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmii), Marsh St. Johnswort (Triadenum fraseri), Marsh mermaidweed, Greater arrowgrass (Triglochin maritimus), Slender or Lesser arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre), Fen beakrush (Rynchospora capillacea), Low calla mint (Calamintha arkansana), Sticky false tofeldia (Tofeldia glutinosa) and Stiff yellow flax. Additionally, Upland white aster (Solidago asteroides), Fringed gentian, Kalm’s St. Johnswort, Marsh St. Johnswort, Marsh mermaidweed, Greater arrowgrass, Slender or Lesser arrowgrass, Fen beakrush, Low calla mint and Stiff yellow flax are locally rare within Bruce county.
To view the August 2013 month summary please refer to; http://www.earthquestcanada.ca/August2013summary.pdf
