Plant Identifications

Species Found at the South Trail Bluff:
1. Sword Fern (Polysticum munitum) Thick, long fronds with dark leaflets.Leaves taper towards the ends. Finely toothed leaflets with a sword hilt shape towards base. Slightly glossy with brown spores on the underside of the leaves. The young shoots form curly shapes where leaves curve inward.
2. Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) Broad, dark, thick, oblong green glossy leaves. Orange-red bark with smooth texture, dark brown bark peeling in some areas. Tiny white flowers form in clusters.
3. Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) Big fallen leaves surround trees. Opposite leaf structure. Leaves are thin, green with five lobes. Dark brown furrowed bark. Tree is found in a variety of sizes and maturities at this location.
4. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) Scale-like leaves in opposite pairs. Bark is striped, papery, and redish brown.
5. Dull Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa) Pinnately compound leaves that are strongly opposite. Dull, waxy leaves with spikey edges. Young berries are starting to form.
6. Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) Small tree with alternating simple leaves, soft to the touch. When the leaves pull apart they are held together with small fibers and when crushed small like cucumber. Leaves are oval with smooth edges,
7. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Compound leaves of 3 with serrated edges. Bright pink flowers. Stems are spiny, brown or green.
8. Western Bleedingheart (Dicentra formosa) pink/purple drooping heartshaped flowers. Tips of the flowers have little green seedpod structures. Fern-like leaves with pinnately compound structure and fine leaflets.
9. False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina racemosa) Clusters of fragrant white, fuzzy flowers from a single stem with many branches. Leaves meet the stem with an opposite formation.Ellipical leaves with long parellel veins extending the length of the leaves. Leaves feel thin and rubbery.