Ephemeral definition forestry12/6/2023 That makes them good indicator species, species that can help scientists gauge environmental conditions and habitat quality. Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), “a quintessential spring ephemeral.”Īt the base of a tree near a small river, Cagle points out a flower called spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), “a quintessential spring ephemeral.” Some flowers, like the common bluet we saw earlier, thrive in disturbed areas, but plants like the spring beauty need rich, undisturbed habitat. Cranefly orchids even have “specialized seed structures” that “get fused onto insects … and carried off.” When the plant blooms, “the flowers are so delicate and so subtle that most of the time you miss them.” Pollinators like Noctuid moths, on the other hand, find the flowers easily and often. The plant gets its common name (and its scientific genus name, interestingly) from its delicate flowers, which are supposed to resemble craneflies. Cagle explains that the purple coloration serves as sunscreen and protection from critters that eat plants. Some of the ones we see are purple on top as well. Cagle says the plant’s scientific name can remind you what to look for: “‘Tip-’ because you’re going to tip this leaf over” to look at the underside and “discolor” because the leaves are a striking purple underneath. However, “it’s ephemeral in its own way,” the leaves disappear by the time it flowers. According to Cagle, Tipularia discolor “isn’t actually a spring ephemeral” because it reproduces later in the year. The cranefly orchid, Tipularia discolor, isn’t yet in bloom, but we come across the leaves several times on our walk. Many of its members are tropical, including the Vanilla genus, but “we do have a number of native orchids” here as well, including yellow and pink lady’s slipper orchids, putty-root, and the cranefly orchid. The orchid family, Orchidaceae, is one of the largest families of flowering plants in the world. The purple on the bottom of the leaves, and sometimes on the top as well (see right), helps protect the plant from sunlight and herbivores. The Cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor) reproduces later in the year. The bird’s foot violet and wood violet, for example, “tend to have really deep lobes.”Ĭagle says the violet we’re looking at is likely the common blue violet, characterized by smooth leaves and petals, purple or purple-and-white flowers, and rounded or slightly arrow-shaped leaves. Some species are distinguished mainly by characteristics like the lobes (projections in leaves with gaps between them) or the hairiness of the leaves. The Johnny-jump-up pansy, for instance, can have “funkier colors,” like yellow or pinkish purple and is native to Europe and Asia. Other species in the violet family come in different colors altogether, and Cagle says many of those are of European origin. Many of the native species have both a purple form and a variety that’s white with purple striping. “We have a lot of different violets… of varying origins” around here, Cagle says. There’s a patch of violets near the Hexastylis plants. According to Cagle, this one is likely to be a common blue violet, Viola sororia. “We have a lot of different violets of varying origins” in this area. We also found several species that aren’t technically ephemerals but still bloom in early spring - before the tree canopy emerges and plunges the floor into shade. “Spring ephemerals are perennials that emerge early in the spring and then grow, reproduce, and disappear from the surface of the forest floor in just a few short weeks,” Cagle explains. We focused on identifying herbaceous plant species and families, particularly spring ephemerals. The workshop was hosted by DSER, the Duke student chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration. Nicki Cagle, Ph.D, a senior lecturer in the Nicholas School of the Environment, led a spring ephemeral workshop in the Korstian Division of Duke Forest on a Friday afternoon in late March. The term “ spring ephemeral,” for instance, refers to flowers that are visible for only a short time each spring before they disappear. Today “ephemeral” is most often used to describe anything fleeting or short-lived. It comes from ephēmeros, a Greek word meaning “lasting a day.” English initially used it in a scientific sense, to refer to fevers and then in reference to short-lived organisms like flowers or insects. It conjures up images of vernal pools and fireflies and flowers in spring. Nicki Cagle, Ph.D., with perfoliate bellwort, an ephemeral forest plant also known as wild oats (Uvularia perfoliata).
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