Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ottawa National Forest Botany Program

Q1) What is diamond willow? Can I find it on the Ottawa? Can I harvest it on the Forest?

A1) Diamond willow is not a species of willow, but a condition. Several species of willow can form diamond-shaped patches or depressions, apparently in response to a fungal infection. The diamonds usually occur at nodes, where branches start to grow. The diamond shape varies between infected willows, as does the color. These diamonds form interesting patterns in the wood, which are prized by wood carvers and crafters. Diamond willow branches are often used for walking sticks, drum sticks, and various craft items.

Willow species known to form diamonds include the following:

Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana)

Pussy willow (Salix discolor)

Scouler willow (Salix scouleriana)

Feltleaf willow (Salix alaxensis)

Littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides)

Park willow (Salix pseudomonticola).

Of this list, only the first two are found in the Ottawa National Forest and vicinity. They occur across the Forest, generally in wetlands, edges, and on shores or banks. Both are usually shrubby but can grow to about 20 feet (~6 m). Willows are difficult to identify, and several other species of willow also occur on the Ottawa.

Harvest of diamond willow is allowed on the Forest, but requires a permit, which can be obtained at Forest Service offices. The permit is free for personal use, and is a charge permit for commercial uses. Permit conditions include no harvest within 50 feet of a lake or pond, harvest of only one willow stick per shrub, and collection of no more than 5 sticks per person per year for personal use or 25 sticks per person per year for commercial use. Collection is not allowed in designated wilderness, Forest Service administrative sites, developed recreation sites, and research natural areas. Satiny willow (Salix pellita) must not be harvested. This species has silky-hairy leaf undersides, and the leaf margins are rolled under. It does not form diamonds. It is a Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species and a Michigan Special Concern plant.

Diamond willow is generally slow-growing. The odds of easily finding a large diamond stick on the Forest are low; diamond willows are more easily found to the north, in Canada and Alaska. Diamond willow sticks may be purchased from many suppliers.

Q2) Where and when can I view wildflowers on the Forest?

A2) The forests and wetlands of the Ottawa offer many wildflower viewing opportunities, especially in late April to mid June when the spring species like Dutchman’s breeches, hepatica, wild ginger, trout lily, trillium, spring beauty, trailing arbutus, and bloodroot make lovely displays. Later in the summer, orchids may be found, as well as wild iris, water lilies, columbine, touch-me-not, dwarf dogwood, and various fruit-bearing shrubs. In later summer, asters and goldenrods dominate the scene.

Dutchman’s breeches

The Forest does not have any sites designated specifically for wildflower viewing, but trails at the following locations provide entry to the woods where flowers may be seen:

v Trails into waterfalls on the Black River, near Black River Harbor, north of Bessemer (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/recreation/rogs/brh-waterfalls.doc)

v North Country trail, with trailheads at several points across the Forest (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/recreation/rogs/hiking.doc)

v Imp Lake Trail, near Watersmeet.

v Alligator Eye Trail on the west shore of Lake Gogebic.

v Wolf Mountain Trail near Marenisco.

v Deer Marsh Trail south of Sidnaw.

Information on these trails is available from the Forest offices or web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa

Marsh marigold

Q3) Can I observe any threatened and endangered plants?

A3) Most of the threatened and endangered plants found on the Ottawa National Forest occur in very small populations and their locations are kept confidential to protect them. Occasionally researchers working with a particular plant are given site information, but typically sites are not open to the general public. Contact the Forest Botanist (906-932-1330) for more information or if you have a particular plant you want to see.

Q4) Can I get a checklist of the plants of the Ottawa?

A4) A complete checklist is not available at this time. Free checklists for the plants of the Trap Hills region and of Silver Mountain/Sturgeon Gorge area are available at District Offices or may be downloaded from the web page (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/forest_management/botany/index.html)

Ottawa Interpretive Association sells two color brochures at a nominal cost at OIA outlets (Forest offices). One of these brochures illustrates the common wildflowers of the Ottawa; the other shows the ferns and fern allies.

Q5) Can you recommend some botany reference books that treat the plants of the Ottawa area?

A5) Michigan Flora by Dr. Edward Voss, was published by Cranbrook Institute of Science and the University of Michigan Herbarium and is available in 3 volumes. These volumes cover most of the Ottawa species of vascular plants, except the ferns and fern allies, and are the primary reference books we use. They include technical keys, distribution maps, and species descriptions. They are sold at the Visitor Center in Watersmeet and are also available from bookstores and online book sources.

Orchids of the Western Great Lakes Region by Frederick W. Case, Jr, published by the Cranbrook Institute of Science is an excellent reference for orchids occurring on and near the Ottawa National Forest.

Ferns and ferns allies of the area are treated in Flora of North America Vol. 2 (Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms, 1993) and Ferns and Fern Allies of Canada by William J. Cody and Donald M. Britton (Research Branch Agriculture Canada, 1989).

Q6) Are there any poisonous plants on the Ottawa National Forest?

A6) Yes, there are numerous plants with fruits, stems, or other parts that are toxic if you ingest them. Examples include baneberry (Actaea pachypoda, A. rubra), dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), poison hemlock (Cicuta maculata, C. bulbifera), bog laurel (Kalmia polifolia), bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla), iris (Iris versicolor), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), Canada yew (Taxus canadensis), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), horsetail (Equisetum species), nightshade (Solanum species), buttercup (Ranunculus species), wild cherry (Prunus species, except fruit) and several others.

There are also several plants that can cause a skin reaction in susceptible people, including the following: poison ivy (Rhus radicans), nettles (Urtica species), cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), showy lady slipper (Cypripedium reginae), and buttercup (Ranunculus species). The part of the plant causing the reaction is usually the sap, but may also be hairs (e.g. stinging hairs on nettles), pollen (e.g. poison ivy), or leaves and stems. Plants in the parsley family (cow parsnip, wild parsnip) tend to have photo-activated reactions: if a susceptible person is touched by the sap and then by sunlight, a severe rash or burn-like lesions can occur.

Lady Slipper

Spines and prickles occur on some plants in the Forest, such as raspberry, blackberry, currant, rose, thistle, and hawthorn. Plants on the Forest can also be allergenic to some people, especially ragweed and tree pollen.

Q7) Are there any edible plants on the Ottawa National Forest?

A7) Yes, there are many edible plants on the Forest. However, there are also many poisonous plants on the Forest. DO NOT EAT ANY PART OF A WILD PLANT UNLESS YOU HAVE A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION AS AN EDIBLE PLANT. THERE ARE NO CATEGORIES OF PLANTS (SUCH AS CONIFERS, FUZZY LEAVES, BLUE BERRIES) IN WHICH IT IS SAFE TO EAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE CATEGORY. DO NOT ASSUME A PLANT IS SAFE TO EAT JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE A BIRD, SQUIRREL, OR OTHER ANIMAL EAT IT.

Edible plants on the Forest include the following examples:

• Greens and trail nibbles such as dandelion buds and leaves, sheep sorrel, nettles, leeks, wintergreen leaves.
• Tea or beverage ingredients such as clover, white pine, staghorn sumac and mint.
• Berries and nuts such as raspberries, thimbleberries, blackberries, wild strawberries, blueberries, wintergreen berries, cranberries, rose hips, gooseberries, and hazelnuts (if you can beat the squirrels!).

Q8) Where can I find morel mushrooms on the Forest? How about other edible mushrooms?

A8) We would hesitate to divulge our secret mushroom spots... We can tell you that, in general, morels on the Ottawa are found in aspen, birch, balsam fir and pine stands. Black morels are the more common species here, usually found in spring—May to June. Morels often fruit in areas of fire or disturbed soil. They may also be found along streams and drainages, near edges, stumps, and in a variety of other open and shaded habitats. Morels seem to be less common in the Upper Peninsula than in the Lower Peninsula, and we do not have any morel festivals, mushroom clubs, or scheduled group mushroom forays in the Ottawa area.

Oyster mushrooms, chantarelles, and other edible mushrooms can be found on the Forest. Please remember that many mushrooms are poisonous. Commercial collection of mushrooms may require a permit; collection of small amounts for personal use does not.

Q9) Are there any noxious weeds or non-native invasive plant species on the Ottawa NF?

A9) Yes. There are several State-listed noxious weeds that are found on the Forest. The State list includes weeds mainly of agricultural concern, which are not usually the ones of greatest concern to Forest management. The Ottawa Botany Program has developed a draft list of non-native invasive species of concern for the Forest, shown below. More information and photos of invasive plants are available elsewhere on the web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/forest_management/botany/invasive_folder/ottawa_national_forest.htm

Non-native invasive plants of concern for the Ottawa National Forest (2003).

Priority	Common name	Scientific name
High	Garlic mustard	Alliaria petiolata
High	Japanese barberry	Berberis thunbergii
High	Leafy spurge	Euphorbia esula
High	Morrow honeysuckle	Lonicera morrowii
High	Tartarian honeysuckle	Lonicera tartarica
High	Bell’s honeysuckle	Lonicera ×bella
High	Purple loosestrife	Lythrum salicaria
High	Eurasian water-milfoil	Myriophyllum spicatum
High	Common buckthorn	Rhamnus cathartica
High	Glossy buckthorn	Rhamnus frangula
Medium	Burdock	Arctium minus
Medium	Smooth brome	Bromus inermis
Medium	Spotted knapweed	Centaurea maculosa (= C. biebersteinii)
Medium	European swamp thistle	Cirsium palustre
Medium	Bull thistle	Cirsium vulgare
Medium	Canada thistle	Cirsium arvense
Medium	Crown vetch	Coronilla varia
Medium	Wild parsnip	Pastinaca sativa
Medium	Reed canary grass	Phalaris arundinacea
Medium	Japanese knotweed	Polygonum cuspidatum
Medium	Giant knotweed	Polygonum sachalinense
Medium	Common valerian	Valeriana officinalis

Known abundance of high-priority and uncommon medium-priority plants on the Ottawa National Forest (as of October 2003).

Leafy Spurge

Common name	Number of known sites	Total known infested area (acres)
Garlic mustard	3	15
Japanese barberry	61	214
Leafy spurge	3	33
Honeysuckle	97	56
Purple loosestrife	10	1
Eurasian water-milfoil	4	15
Common buckthorn	3	1
Glossy buckthorn	32	>480
Crown vetch	4	0.4
Japanese knotweed	2	0.3
Giant knotweed	1	0.1
Common valerian	2	1
Total	221	816.8

No plants on the Federal noxious weed list are known to occur on the Ottawa National Forest. However, in 2002, federally listed giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) was found in a few locations in Ironwood, MI. This plant is particularly noxious, with sap that can cause burning and lesions or blindness in some cases.

Q10) What is the Forest doing about these weeds?

A10) The Forest provides information on non-native invasive plants (e.g. signs at infested lakes, public presentations); utilizes prevention methods in project activities; conducts inventory of non-native invasive plants; maintains a database of sites and shares this information with other land managers and agencies; determines treatment priorities and methods; and treats some sites every year. Treatment site selection is determined by factors including species biology, persistence, and reproductive (spread) potential; impacts the species is known to have on natural systems’ structure, composition or processes; the values of the infested areas; current extent of the infestations, feasibility of control; and others as appropriate. The Forest is preparing (under contract) a programmatic analysis of possible environmental effects from non-native invasive plant treatment, to allow more rapid response to these infestations. Currently, mechanical and manual control methods are the most commonly used techniques for non-native invasive plant control. Some herbicide use and biological control use may also occur in the future. For more information, contact the Forest Invasive Plants Coordinator or see the scoping package at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/forest_management/projects/categorical-exclusion/invasive_plants/onf_invasives/onf_scoping_package.doc

Q11) How does the Forest conduct restoration – do you use native species?

A11) The Forest seeds open areas like roads and steep slopes to prevent erosion. Natural regeneration from plants near the area is encouraged. Where vegetation cover is needed more rapidly, seed mixes are used. While we recommend using locally native herbs, these seeds are not always available and we may instead use non-persistent, non-aggressive plants that are commonly used for landscaping and erosion control. General recommendations followed on Forest are shown below:

Seeding Recommendations

Use the lists below to select appropriate species for projects and check with the Forest Botanist if more information is needed. All plants are native unless otherwise noted.

Mesic sites

Recommended

Grasses and grass-like plants:

Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii

Bottlebrush grass Hystrix patula

Canada wild rye Elymus canadensis

Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium

Path rush Juncus tenuis

Sweet grass Hierochloe odorata

Virginia wild rye Elymus virginicus

Forbs:

Bee balm Monarda fistulosa

Big leaf aster Aster macrophyllus

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium

Acceptable (may also work on drier and wetter sites)

Grasses and grass-like plants:

Barley Hordeum vulgare non-native, annual, not long persistent, for initial erosion control

Buckwheat Fagopyron esculentum non-native, annual, not long persistent, for initial erosion control

Oats Avena sativa non-native, annual, not long persistent, for initial erosion control

Wheat Triticum aestivum non-native, annual, not long persistent, for initial erosion control

Red fescue Festuca rubra some varieties native; perennial

Forbs:

Alsike clover Trifolium hybridum non-native, perennial, nitrogen-fixing, initial erosion control

Ladino clover Trifolium repens non-native, perennial, nitrogen-fixing, initial erosion control

Red clover Trifolium pratense non-native, perennial, nitrogen-fixing, initial erosion control

White clover Trifolium repens non-native, perennial, nitrogen-fixing, initial erosion control

Dry sites

Recommended

Grasses and grass-like plants:

Hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa

Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium

Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica

Poverty oats/oatgrass Danthonia spicata

Virginia wild rye Elymus virginicus

Forbs:

Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta

Early goldenrod Solidago juncea

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium

Gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis

Wet sites

Recommended

Grasses and grass-like plants:

Blue joint Calamagrostis canadensis

Cut grass Leersia oryzoides

Hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa

Manna grass Glyceria striata, G. grandis

Fringed sedge Carex crinita, C. gynandra

Soft rush Juncus effusus

Wool grass Scirpus cyperinus

Forbs:

Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum

Joe-pye weed Eupatorium maculatum

Avoid at all sites

Grasses and grass-like plants:

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis

Canada bluegrass Poa compressa

Meadow fescue Festuca pratensis

Quack grass Elytrigia repens

Orchard grass Dactylus glomerata

Reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea

Smooth brome Bromus inermis

Tall fescue Festuca arundinacea (F. elatior)

Timothy grass Phleum pratense

Forbs:

Birds-foot trefoil Lotus corniculata

Crown vetch Coronilla varia

Dame’s rocket Hesperis matronalis

White sweet clover Melilotus alba

Yellow sweet clover Melilotus officinalis

Q12) My ___________ plant has died/has brown leaves/white spots/aphids…. What should I do?

A12) We usually cannot provide specific answers to house and landscaping plant ailments. We suggest you contact your local county extension agent or a landscaper or nursery. In Ironwood, the MSU Extension Office is on Lowell Street, near the Post Office, and the phone number is 906-932-1420. You may also want to look at the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry web site, which has many on-line publications pertaining mostly to tree diseases (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howto.htm).

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