National Public Lands Day

Day 344: It was far from being the wettest National Public Lands Day in my experience as a crew leader, but it was certainly a bit on the soggy side. Most of my debris team was under age 10, drawn from two Cub Scout troops. The youngest member was four, and a very diligent worker. He was even disappointed when we announced quitting time! Roughly 50 volunteers joined Park personnel in a variety of projects including revegetation, trail work and campground maintenance. Given the weather, this was a great turnout. That said, the weather prevented us from taking down the platform tents as originally planned, so that project has been shifted to the next run of drier days.

Unenviable First Record

Day 246: Here you see the first recorded instance of a species within the confines of Mount Rainier National Park, and I am NOT happy about finding it. This is common Teasel (Dipsacum fullonum), a nasty invasive. Immediately after I took the photo, I wrapped my hand around its scrawny neck and pulled it up by the root. It was one of two specimens of invasives I left on Arnie's desk Monday afternoon, although at the time I didn't know it would be a new record. Given its location, it will be easy for me to monitor the site during my lunch break. I'd have preferred finding Corallorhiza striata or a new lichen as my claim to fame in 2018, not something which inspired instantaneous vegicidal instincts. Still, the season is young. There's hope yet.

Make No Suppositions

Day 24: There are two phrases you'll hear repeated among mushroomers. The first is that "there are old mushroom hunters and bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old, bold mushroom hunters." The second makes the point even more clearly as "all mushrooms are edible, but some are only edible once." I say, "Don't eat anything you can't identify with 105% assurance," and that's why I pass this one by. I know what it is...or at least I know its genus if not the species. At least I think I do. It bleeds a sticky orange sap when broken and otherwise fits the basic profile for Lactarius deliciosus with its carrot-coloured cap marked with green, but I'm just not "105% sure."

I'm reminded of Uncle Eddie, my fishing buddy's brother-in-law with whom we often went 'shrooming. Eddie would collect Rozites, great basketsful of them for canning and drying. I looked them up in half a dozen field guides, but couldn't quite convince myself that Eddie knew what he was talking about. However, if Eddie's eventual demise at a reasonable age was in any part due to liver damage from eating the wrong sorts of mushrooms, it was not apparent to me. Field guides don't always show regional morphological differences, so maybe he was right about Rozites.

My mother used to collect this Lactarius and presumably identified it correctly. Not so with some of the other 'shrooms she gathered! After I discovered that she'd been eating Russulas after having misidentified them as Blewits, I was careful not to eat any mushroom at her house except the Oysters which she dried behind her woodstove. In hindsight, I might have been more cautious. Now I am not "105% sure" she had those right either.

I like mushrooms. I like eating them, but even moreso, I enjoy seeing them in the forests. I do not have the palate to appreciate the distinctions of flavour in different species, so I am more than willing to pass by those which raise even the slightest doubt in my mind as to their identity. I choose to abide by another wise saying, gleaned from the culinary world: "The first bite is with the eye." For me with respect to all but a few species, that first bite is all I need.

Elfin Saddle, Youth And Age

Day 23: Helvella lacunosa is a member of the group of fungi commonly called Elfin Saddles. Sometimes they are lumped into the larger category of "false morels" which also includes the genera Verpa and Gyromitra. While true Morels fruit only in the spring, the false morels occur most frequently in autumn. Although some false morels are considered edible, a larger number are poisonous, and some are deadly. This particular Elfin Saddle is notable for the ridges and holes in the stipe (stalk). The center specimen is beginning to decay, overgrown with a secondary fungus which consumes the host.

During my patrol of Longmire Campground for this species, the various locations in which it was found insinuated themselves into my subconscious mind until they erupted as an observation: behind trees and in close proximity to the base; at the edges of campsites; within the confines of a small two-sided enclosure near a bathroom. While it still bears further study, I am inclined to believe that Helvella lacunosa has a preference for urine-tainted soils. Just sayin'.

Calypso In White

Day 192: Happy Earth Day! No day goes by that I do not marvel at the Earth's wonders. Admittedly, an inordinate amount of that marvelling is conducted flat on the forest floor, heedless of mud and dirt whether I'm in uniform or not. Consequently, I frequently return to my desk after lunch with fir needles in my hair, bits of moss clinging to my elbows, pantlegs wet to the knees, and exultant over my latest find. Yesterday's gem was a white Calypso Orchid, discovered in the storm-ravaged Longmire Campground. It had been spared by the heavy equipment brought in to remove toppled trees and massive root wads, though what its future might be is open to conjecture. These delicate orchids like shady spots, and with almost 70 trees gone, the campground is a much sunnier site.

It was determined that the storm which caused the damage was a microburst, a localized pocket of high wind lasting only a few minutes. If you will, think of it as a sneeze on Mother Nature's part, and without the benefit of a hankie. The force exerted by her "achoo" on standing trees would be comparable to an unshielded human sneeze upon a desktop littered with confetti, over and done before the effects had time to settle. A human sneeze is difficult to suppress, but Ma Nature doesn't try. Nor do we when we're not out in polite company.

While I am thankful that she turned her head and spared the majority of the Calypsos, I cannot fault Ma for clearing her sinuses. After all, downbursts are as natural as wildflowers, and tree-fall is part of the process of succession in a healthy forest.

Footnote: white Calypsos are not a separate sub-species of Calypso bulbosa. Although far less common than the familiar magenta form, they are simply a colour variation.

Cladonia Ecmocyna

Day 189: Plants vs. Zombies, and I'm not sure who won. While I was exploring the back reaches of Longmire Campground a few days ago, I stumbled across a number of small but well-developed colonies of this unusual Cladonia (C. ecmocyna). Its slender, pointed podetia sometimes rise as much as three or four inches above the carpet of moss, giving the impression of pale worms emerging from the forest floor. A subspecies often forms narrow cups at its tips, and may exhibit brown apothecia on the rims.

Cladina Rangiferina, Reindeer Lichen

Day 185: Cladina rangiferina is one of several species erroneously referred to as "reindeer moss." While it is consumed by caribou, reindeer and other ungulates as a major component in their diets, only the "reindeer" portion of its common name is accurate. "Moss" is incorrect. Cladina rangiferina is in fact a lichen. Like many members of its genus, it prefers a habitat of thin soil, often colonizing where nothing but moss and other lichens grow. It can be identified by branch tips which appear to be combed to one side. The branches frequently exhibit brown pycnidia on their tips. At Longmire Campground, it occurs in abundance in open areas.

Forest Stoplight

Day 185: Longmire Campground is a particularly lichen-rich area, trees festooned with Alectoria sarmentosa, branches entirely masked by lavish colonies of Lobaria oregana and Lobaria pulmonaria, a quilt of Stereocaulon and Cladina rangiferina laid over mossy rocks which were once riverbed. It has its share of vascular plants, but the overall impression a visitor receives is of an understory thick with moss and lichen. A few oddities crop up now and then, such as Hemitomes congestum, a mycoheterotroph also known as Gnome Plant, implying that the mycorrhizal elements here contribute to a diverse and complex micro-ecology.

Having somewhat neglected the more common lichens of the area, I went exploring for textbook specimens to photograph for my records. Into the forest a few hundred yards, I was wading through mounds of Cladina and Stereocaulon when a brilliant red "stoplight" pulled me to a halt. It was perhaps the most luxurious colony of Cladonia bellidiflora I have ever found, more unusual because it appeared to be confined entirely to one moss-covered boulder not much larger than a cantaloupe. A few other scattered specimens were found as well, at most three or four in a group, none so lavish as those found on this one rock. "Micro-ecology," indeed! Why in this spot and no other? I wish they would explain themselves!

Stereocaulon Paschale

Day 176: Stereocaulon paschale is one of the "foam" lichens, and a walk through any area where it occurs will serve to justify the common name. It forms large patches which from a distance appear rather like the tidal froth found on ocean beaches. On closer examination, the "foam" resolves into tiny granular outgrowths resembling miniature cauliflower florets sprouting from pinkish stalks. It is often found in areas of old riverbed where stones and boulders have been overgrown with a thin layer of moss, its distinctive dusty blue-grey hue contrasting with brighter greens. Some older field guides refer to it as a subspecies of Stereocaulon tomentosum.

Making A Determination

Day 143: It's taken me three days to make a final determination as to the identity of this unusual Cladonia based on field characteristics alone. I lack the reagents which would give me conclusive results for this particular species, but given that it does not conform to all the physical characteristics any other option, I have placed it as Cladonia ecmocyna, which in any event is highly variable. Some squamules are visible on the podetia; podetia are pointed and frequently browned; the apothecia are infrequent and brown; narrow cups do form at some podetial tips.

I believe I may have mentioned this before, but I think one of the things which attracted me to the study of lichens is the exotic vocabulary which accompanies them. Words like "pruina" or "pseudocyphellae" don't crop up in just any conversation, but if I'm given the chance, you'll hear them fall from my tongue as smoothly as if they were poetry. In fact, if you were following along behind me secretly on a walk in the woods, you'd hear me muttering them to myself as I survey the surrounding lichenscape, describing it aloud to no one in particular. If you tailed me long enough, though, you might hear the one botanizing phrase I most enjoy using, the precise and highly technical expression I voiced when I encountered the (presumed) Cladonia ecmocyna in Longmire Campground. Nothing excites me more than having a chance to say, "What the hell is THAT?"

All In A Day's Work

Day 141: These are just a few of the lichen species I documented over a four-mile walk today. All of these are fairly common in the Longmire Stewardship Campground and on the west side of the Park. Top left: Stereocaulon paschale, "Easter Lichen"; top right: Peltigera britannica, "Flaky Freckle Pelt"; bottom left: Platismatia glauca, "Varied Rag" or "Ragbag"; bottom right: Sphaerophorus venerabilis (formerly S. globosus), "Coral Lichen." Each has a special mechanism for capturing and holding precious moisture until it can be absorbed into the lichen's tissues. Stereocaulon utilizes tiny scales (squamules), while both Peltigera and Platismatia have veined, pitted surfaces in which moisture accumulates. Sphaerophorus relies on its lacework of branches to retain even the smallest deposits of dew. Highly adapted organisms, lichens can survive protracted periods of dry weather due to their specialized forms.

A Pile Of Matchsticks

Day 111: It makes me feel good to know that at least some of my readers are enjoying my lichen posts. In fact, one of them expressed an interest in seeing Devil's Matchstick, and since this species is a personal favourite, I'm glad to oblige.

Pilophorus acicularis is a "pioneer" lichen. It prefers to colonize freshly exposed non-calcareous rock, and in so doing, contributes to its breakdown. It is also a nitrogen-fixer. The podetia (stalks) are thread-like, usually no more than an inch long, and are topped by shiny black apothecia (fruiting bodies). This particular colony is lush, growing on the vertical face of a boulder broken during road construction ("freshly exposed" is a relative term...the road was cut years ago). It is one of two species of Pilophorus I've found in Longmire. A handy snowbank served as my tripod for this shot, but you'll have to take my word on the size. There was nowhere to mount my penny-on-a-stick to give perspective. However, if you look in the upper left quadrant, you can see two brown fir needles for comparison.

Looking At Lichens

Day 102: Our friend Mr. Thoreau would have been delighted with the literal windfall of lichen species I discovered in Longmire Campground a few days ago, among them this magnificent specimen of Fringed Kidney Lichen. Its apothecia (fruiting bodies), well-developed in this photo, give it its common name. Scientifically, it is Nephroma helveticum, a designation which sounds like it should apply to a font rather than the forest. As I've been making surveys of the areas hardest hit by our winter storms, checking the branches and boughs brought down by gusty winds, I've been rewarded with several additions to my Life List. This Nephroma qualifies as one of my better finds. I don't get much distance out of my "storm patrols," but like Mr. Thoreau, I do enjoy them!

Killer Tree

Day 51: As recently proved by a storm which took down 65 trees one to three feet in diameter in a small section of Longmire Campground, the forest can be a dangerous place to work. When trees are analyzed and determined to be hazardous to structures, people or roads, Mount Rainier National Park has a dedicated "hazard tree" team which removes them. Determining the degree of hazard posed by any individual tree may be as simple as visual observation; in other cases, it requires boring into its core.

It's easy to see why this middle-aged Doug fir was classed as a hazard tree. Its heartwood was entirely rotted away leaving nothing but a husk of deteriorating wood and bark. It and an adjacent tree were earmarked for removal, but only one was taken down before the big windstorm hit the campground three weeks ago. Oddly, its partner in infamy remained standing, a "killer tree" waiting for its moment.

Longmire Campground After The Storm

 Day 36: Yesterday's storm resulted in a temporary closure of the Park, and while most of us were home watching the gauges on the Nisqually, Cowlitz and Carbon Rivers, havoc was being wreaked by high winds in the forests. Longmire Stewardship Campground was hit hard, dozens of trees snapped off or toppled across the loop road. Campsites are filled with the debris of broken branches, but as far as I could tell, none of the new picnic tables was damaged.

After the annual Turkey Feed, Park personnel were out assessing the damage this afternoon. If you look closely, you will be able to spot Superintendent Randy King (in hat) and two other Park employees in this photo.

Campground cleanup is an issue we deal with every spring, but seldom is it of this magnitude. This year, the call for volunteers will be "all hands on deck!"

Out With The Scouts - Pacific Chorus Frog

Day 255: Of all the things I do in the Park, one of the most rewarding and enjoyable is working with youth groups such as Scouts. Today I had the privilege of doing just that: explaining to them the difference between art photography and field-guide photography and then going on a patrol of the Longmire Stewardship Campground to practice. I had some specifics in mind, hoping to infect them with my enthusiasm for rare plants, and indeed that goal was achieved. However, their own finds were the most memorable and exciting: Red-legged and Pacific Chorus Frogs, and a colony of Cone Plants (Hemitomes congestum) numbering at least a dozen in a two-foot diameter circle.

Upon hearing one of the girls shout, "Crow! I found something weird!" I abandoned photographing our little friend here and went to check. I found the troop gathered around the plants, some already on hands and knees taking pictures with cell phones and iPads. As soon as their discovery registered, I let loose a whoop of delight and complimented them on being keen observers. Then I emphasized the rarity of the species and, having already introduced the subject of mycoheterotrophy, listened as they discussed among themselves the specialized conditions required for the plant to grow. It never fails to amaze me when ten-year olds grasp a concept many adults find daunting. As we walked back to their camp, several of the girls regaled me with questions.

At their campsite, I reviewed all the photos they had taken. Some were blurry or badly exposed, some were what you might expect from a ten-year old photographer. However, in each and every camera was at least one good quality photo (and sometimes many) of one particular subject: the Cone Plants. Seven young scientists walked away from this event with solid documentation of a rarity. You can bet they'll remember this camping trip!

Pipsissewa Profile

Day 251: Two species of Pipsissewa may be found in Mount Rainier National Park. By far the most common is Chimaphila umbellata, also known as Prince's Pine. The second, Chimaphila menziesii, may be found growing interspersed among specimens of its cousin, and a few points of identification will help you separate them. The leaves of C. umbellata grow in distinct whorls and have fewer "teeth" along their edges. C. menziesii's leaves are toothed from tip to base and are alternate. C. umbellata bears more flowers per stalk, as opposed to C. menziesii's two or three. Shorter on both blossoms and foliage, it is understandable how C. menziesii became known as "Little Prince's Pine," although the "pine" part of the name continues to baffle me. The suggested etymologies do not seem to be supported in any authoritative work.

Pipsissewa was important as a "medicine plant" among the local indigenous cultures, cited as a remedy for kidney ailments and as a poultice for sore muscles. In fact, these specimens were photographed in the designated Tribal Use Area in the Longmire Stewardship Campground, a space set aside by the National Park Service for the people of the Nisqually Nation where they may gather the plants for use in ceremonies and in traditional medicine.

Candystick, Allotropa Virgata

Day 244: Without a shadow of doubt, Candystick (Allotropa virgata) is one of the most unusual plants you will find in Pacific Northwestern forests. This mycoheterotrophic species resembles nothing quite so much as a stick of peppermint candy with its red and white stripes, and like many of Mount Rainier National Park's other mycoheterotrophs, it is appearing in abundance this year, and in places where this observer has not previously seen it. These specimens were photographed in the Longmire Stewardship Campground on June 13, 2015. Other clusters of a dozen or more spikes, some a foot tall or more, were noted within the space of approximately one acre.

Nisqually Dancers

Day 241: Yesterday, it was my privilege to attend the dedication and opening of the designated Tribal Use Area in the Longmire Stewardship Campground at Mount Rainier National Park. A five-acre parcel of land flanked on one side by the Nisqually River was set aside for use by the Nisqually people, a contract which (among other things) allows them to gather traditional medicine plants like Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata). Members of the Nisqually celebrated the occasion with dance and song, and hosted a salmon bake as well as presenting gifts to each Park Service attendee. Establishment of the Tribal Use Area was a process many years in the making. I am proud to say that I was a part of this historic event.

Common Freckle Pelt, Peltigera Aphthosa

Day 101: Nothing excites me more than finding and identifying something I haven't previously catalogued. It doesn't have to be a rare species, although that's certainly a bonus. It just needs to be new to me. As many times as I've walked around Longmire Campground, I have failed to notice the abundance of this "pelt" lichen until today when the brilliant green thallus drew my attention during a rather wet lunchtime patrol. Later on my walk, I discovered several colonies in fruit, the large mahogany-brown apothecia sticking up like little flags. The scattered cephalodia (greyish-black dots which contain cyanobacteria) are what give this lichen its common name, Freckle Pelt. It is one of four species which host a green algal photobiont, the photosynthetic component of a lichen. In Peltigera aphthosa, this component turns brown when dry or when exposed to sunlight, undoubtedly the reason I overlooked it until now.