Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1) What
is diamond willow? Can I find it on the
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.
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
Harvest of diamond willow is allowed on the
Diamond willow is generally slow-growing. The odds of easily finding a large diamond
stick on the
Q2) Where and when can I view wildflowers on the
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
v Trails
into waterfalls on the
v
v
Imp Lake Trail, near Watersmeet.
v
Alligator Eye Trail on the west shore of
v
Wolf Mountain Trail near Marenisco.
v
Deer Marsh Trail south of Sidnaw.
Information on these trails is available from the
Marsh marigold
Q3) Can I observe any threatened and endangered
plants?
A3) Most of the
threatened and endangered plants found on the
Q4) Can I get a
checklist of the plants of the
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 (
Q5) Can you recommend some botany reference books
that treat the plants of the
A5) Michigan Flora
by Dr. Edward Voss, was published by Cranbrook Institute of Science and the
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
Ferns and ferns allies of the area are treated in Flora
of
Q6) Are there any poisonous plants on the
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.
Spines and prickles occur on some plants in the
Q7) Are there any edible plants on the
A7) Yes, there are many edible plants on the
Edible plants on the
Q8) Where can I find morel mushrooms on the
A8) We would hesitate
to divulge our secret mushroom spots...
We can tell you that, in general, morels on the
Oyster mushrooms, chantarelles, and other edible mushrooms
can be found on the
Q9) Are there any noxious weeds or non-native
invasive plant species on the
A9) Yes. There are several State-listed noxious weeds
that are found on the
Non-native
invasive plants of concern for the
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 |
|
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
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
Q10) What is the
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
Q11) How does the
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
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.
Grasses and
grass-like plants:
Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii
Bottlebrush grass Hystrix
patula
Little bluestem Schizachyrium
scoparium
Path rush Juncus
tenuis
Sweet grass Hierochloe odorata
Forbs:
Bee balm Monarda fistulosa
Big leaf aster Aster macrophyllus
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia
hirta
Fireweed Epilobium
angustifolium
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
Grasses and
grass-like plants:
Hair grass Deschampsia
flexuosa
Little bluestem Schizachyrium
scoparium
Poverty oats/oatgrass Danthonia spicata
Forbs:
Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia
hirta
Early goldenrod Solidago
juncea
Fireweed Epilobium
angustifolium
Gray goldenrod Solidago
nemoralis
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
Grasses and
grass-like plants:
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
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