Plant Field Guide

Western Hemlock: Tsuga heterophyll

Figure 1: Western Hemlock sketch

Western Hemlock trees are scattered throughout my site. They are easy to identify because of their drooping tips and branches. The branches grow outward and swoop or hang heavy at the ends. The tip of the tree hans/bends over slightly. If you wanted to personify this tree type one could say it is a laid back tree because its branches hang down casually like a person slouching in a chair. Or one could say this is a sad tree because its head (tip) is hung down. Western Hemlock bark is dark brown, smooth and has small wrinkles. The needles of this tree are dark green with light green tips at  the end of the branches during the growth season. The needles are short and are 1 inch or less in length. Two white lines called "stomata" run along the underside of each needle.

I observed the Western Hemlock in figure 1. It is growing next to two Red Alders. It is about 20ft tall and maybe 30 years old.

Giant Horsetail: Equisetum telmateia

Figure 2: Giant Horsetail sketch

Giant Horsetail is one of my favorite plants! It is such an organized plant that its leaves extend in flat layers from the stem. The stem has an alternating patter of green, light green, and brown. Each leaf/needle is green and light green alternately like the plant releases the color to each needle at the same time throughout the plant. The stem is hollow and the leaves are soft (not pokey or stiff). Horsetail lines the trail and covers a lot of the muddy soil where stunk cabbage is found at my site.

Giant Horsetail

Giant Horsetail side view

Western Bleedingheart: Dicentra formosa

Western Bleedingheart

Western Bleedingheart is a beautiful wildflower that can be see along the trail at my site. Its flowers are a pink/purple color. The top of th stem hangs over and the flower hangs upside down. There are about 3-5 flowers per stem. The leaves are green and lobed and lined the based of the flower stems. The leaves are soft, fluffy, and delicate to the touch. The stem is triangular in shape.

Yellow Skunk Cabbage: Lysichiton americanum

Yellow Skunk Cabbage

Yellow Skunk Cabbage is abundant at my site as it covers about half of the forest floor in one section where the creek water becomes more stagnant and creates sort of a bog habitat. However the scent of yellow skunk cabbage can be identified from anywhere in my site. It smells pungent, like a skunk. The plant's leaves are large cabbage-like ovate green leaves that branch from a center point in the ground. The leaves encircle a large yellow flower.

Ground cover of Yellow Skunk Cabbage

Yellow flower in center (wilting in photo)

Lady Fern: Athyrium filix-femina

Lady Fern can be found at my site at the beginning of the trail. Lady Fern is a lighter green color. Its leaves are tripinnate and are finely serrated. The leaves arch up and outward from the base of the plant.

Lady fern

Salmonberry: Rubus spectabilis

Salmonberry leaves

Salmonberry is abundant at my site as well. Its green leaves are compound and have three leaflets. The berries are edible and are a creamy orange color that then turn dark red later in the season. The stems are spiny and red/brown in color (figure 3).

Figure 3. Salmonberry spinned stem

Salmonberry bloom sketch from week 2

Icicle Moss: Isothecium myosuroides

Icicle moss is a spore plant. It hangs longer than fern moss (stringy) and is a pale green color. It grows on other tree trunks and branches. Depending on the recent rainfall, this moss will either be full, spongy and wet or dry and frail.

Icicle Moss

Big Shaggy Moss: Rhytidadelphus loreus

Big Shaggy Moss is light green in color. Its mats are skinny/narrow and branch out at different lengths. The stems are a red/brown color under the mats of green on top. Depending on the recent rainfall, this moss will either be full, spongy and wet or dry and frail.

Big Shaggy Moss