10 Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) The gray-brown bark of this small tree forms vertical shaggy strips which curl away from the trunk. Like musclewood, the leaves are elliptical and doubly serrate. The zigzag twigs have sharp pointed buds. The common name is appropriate because this wood is one of the hardest and strongest known. 11 Snags To a person only interested in maximum production from a woodlot, standing dead or dying trees known as snags are worthless. However, they are vitally important for a number of species, most notably the woodpeckers. Woodpeckers from the small downy to the large pileated use snags for feeding areas, nest sites, and even territorial drumming. Woodpeckers mark their territory by drumming (pecking) on a hollow snag, the noise resonating loudly through the forest for all to hear. Recent studies in Europe have shown that overall forest biodiversity is correlated with woodpecker diversity. 12 American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) American beech is a member of the climax forest. The smooth gray bark, long pointed buds, and distinctly veined elliptical leaves are key characteristics. Some leaves remain attached to the stems even during the winter. Look for the small, spine-covered beechnuts on the ground. These are a favorite food of birds and deer. A number of beeches in this forest are infected with beech bark disease. The disease is caused by an insect and a fungus. The insect first infests the tree and destroys cells of the living bark. This creates cracks through which the fungus can enter. The spread of the fungus kills the bark, which results in the death of the foliage and finally of the roots. Lesions of infected trees may appear woolly white due to the insect or red due to the fungus. The continued destruction of beeches may drastically change the face of our climax forest. 13 Haircap Moss (Polytrichum commune) These bristly low-growing plants require a moist habitat for at least part of the year. Separate male and female plants are necessary for this moss to complete its life cycle. Male mosses possess a cup-shaped structure at the tip in which sperm develop. Females lack the cup; instead, they produce eggs at the tip of growth. Rain or dew transports the swimming sperm to the egg which will be fertilized within that female. The fertilized egg develops into the spore-producing structure that grows as a slender stalk and capsule attached to the female. The capsule contains hundreds of microscopic spores, which will be dispersed by the wind and will germinate into new moss plants. 14 Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Black cherry has narrow oval leaves with finely serrated edges. The fragrant white flowers bloom in the spring and if pollinated will develop into black cherries. The mature trees have “burnt potato chip” bark. That is, the dark bark forms squarish flakes. Young cherry trees have smooth, dark red bark with wide horizontal lines called lenticels. Lenticels are pores in the bark for gas exchange. 15 Animal Life Common inhabitants of these woods are white-tail deer, cotton-tail rabbit, eastern chipmunk, and gray squirrel. Watch for their tracks. Do you find any others? Several species of birds may be found near here. Listen for the “chick-a-dee dee-dee” and “fee-bee” sounds of the black-capped chickadee, the eastern towhee which says “drink your teeeeee,” and the nasal “yank yank” of the white-breasted nuthatch. The scarlet tanager is a resident of mature woods, where it and other neotropical migrants control the insect numbers by feeding on them. 16 Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Hemlock is an evergreen member of the climax forest. The flat green needles have two white lines of stomata on the underside. Stomata are openings on the leaf through which gas is exchanged. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf and oxygen exits during photosynthesis, the food-making process in green plants. The needle-type of leaf has a small surface area which reduces the volume of water lost through the stomata, an important consideration during the winter drought when water is in the form of ice and snow. Deciduous trees, such as beech and oak, have broad leaves with a great number of stomata underneath. Deciduous trees must drop their leaves in order to retain water in the winter. 17 Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) On the left side of the trail is a stand of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), identified by the greenish or cream-colored bark. The tree takes its name from the almost circular leaves attached to twigs by flattened leaf stems called petioles. The foliage trembles in the slightest breeze. Quaking aspen spreads quickly by root suckering. All the aspen trunks in this stand are likely the same individual, having started from one seed. Aspen is a pioneer tree in the secondary succession of open areas. On the gorge side of the trail is the climax forest. Which climax trees can you identify? 18 Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) Jack-in-the-pulpit may be found along the trail in moist areas. The male plant consists of a single three-part leaf and a flower contained on a club-shaped spadix (Jack) within a green or purple hooded covering called the spathe (the pulpit). Female plants have two three-part leaves. These plants can switch sex throughout their lives. In the summer, the pollinated flowers develop into clusters of scarlet berries that are eaten by squirrels. 19 Sapsucker Drillings Along the trail you may see horizontal lines of holes in trees such as basswood. These are the drillings of the yellow-bellied sapsucker, a member of the woodpecker family. These holes will fill with sweet sap which attracts insects. The sapsucker returns later to feed on the insects. Hummingbirds will drink the sap in spring before nectar-producing flowers have opened. On the forest floor you may see trout lilies. Each plant will produce a single leaf during the first part of its life, then produce two leaves and a flower as it matures. The McDermott Nature Trail proceeds to the left. The Finger Lakes Trail forks to the right.