ATTAWANDARON
NATURE PARK
-Walking
time: 15 min.
This park is characterized by its
mature tree community and thick ground cover of Canadian
Yew,
fern species and wildflowers. It has been fortunate to be
preserved in its mature forest state with little evidence
of logging or disturbance due to residential development.
(1) Sensitive
Fern is a colonial plant which is well represented in moist
woodlands of the Point Clark area. This colony of
Sensitive Fern is bordered by Canada Yew, the most common
ground cover in the park. It is growing amidst a stand
of
Sugar Maple, Hemlock, Yellow Birch and White Ash.
(2)
A recent lightning strike or strong gust of wind was responsible
for this mature hemlock deadfall. Heartrot, a common disease
of older trees, increased the Hemlock's vulnerability to
storm damage. This tree will play an important role in nutrient
recycling as microorganisms, fungi and insects will slowly
bring about its decomposition into organic matter and nutrients
that will be utilized by other plants for growth. In this
way, new plants develop from old as part of a natural process
within the ecosystem.
(3) Mature
woodlands typically possess three layers of vegetation;
1) the canopy, comprised of tall trees that shade lower
layers,
2) the understory made up of saplings, woody vines and tall
shrubs, and 3) the ground cover consisting of low shrubs,
herbaceous plants and seedlings. This site features a canopy
of Yellow Birch, an understory of Mountain Maple and a
ground
cover of Foam Flower and Woodferns.
(4)
This short loop passes by mature specimens of Yellow Birch,
Sugar Maple, White Ash and Hemlock.
(5)
Previous logging has created this opening in the canopy. Shade
tolerant seedlings of American Beech, Sugar Maple and White
Ash are evidence of regeneration in this clearing. If left
undisturbed, these seedlings may eventually contribute to
the canopy cover of the forest.
(6)
Notice the decaying log which is a nutrient rich receptive
seed bed for seedlings, mosses, lichens and herbaceous plants.
In this seed bed, Blue Bead Lily, Goldthread and mosses have
established themselves.
MAP
OF TRAIL |
