Discovery Park

Discovery Park: -122.414500 47.6625
Date June 5, 2012
Time: 1:20 PM

Weather: Slightly cloudy, but some blue sky. Close to 60 degrees. Occasional light breeze.

Area Description: Open grassy areas that lead into patches of shaded wood forests. There are lots of Douglas fir, easily identifiable by their pinecones that cover the ground. Under the trees it is very shady and the soil is darker. There is a lot of moss on the ground. Sword ferns and English ivy surround the tree trunks, along with a tall thin green grass and some other shrubs. Around the edges of the fir forests is a perimeter of pacific crab apple trees. Towards the east there is a shore pine that is approximately 30 feet tall. It has long thin needles and clusters of tan pinecones at the tip. Moving south there is a more open area with tall tan grass area with scotch broom and Himalayan blackberries. To the East there is a patch of pink and purple garden Lupin’s that look like they were planted. Further east there is a large red alder tree with the tree trunk covered in moss and downward swooping low branches.

Birds: I only saw two robins and three crows in the hour I spent in the area, but I heard the song of what I believe was a song sparrow.

Moss and Lichen: Moss covers the ground in the shady areas under the fir trees. Lichen is more common on the deciduous trees, but can be found on the branches of conifers as well. Shield Lichen is probably the most common. Red roof moss can be found on the cement walkways through the park.

Species Descriptions:
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Pinecones are mostly brown (some green) and looks like mice legs and tail are sticking out of the back, flat green needles that are 2-8cm, the bark is brown and uneven, about 30 feet tall
Pacific Crab Apple Malus fusca
Alternating leaves, small white flowers that grow in clusters with 5 petals and tanish/brown extensions from the center, the leaves are pointed at the tip, dull, and smooth
Oakmoss Evernia Prunastri
Elongated lobes, long/ dangly 1-4 mm wide and up to almost a foot long, divergently branches, light green, soft
Shield Lichen Parmelia Sulcata
Grows closer to the bark, grey top with black underneath, rough feeling
Common Witch’s Hair Alectoria sarmentosa
Long thin, diverging lichen that grows in small clusters along branches of deciduous trees, pale green, no central branch
Lyell’s Bristle Moss Orthotrichum lyellii
Dark green to light green at tip, grows on ground and trees
Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata
Green overlapping braided scales, around 40 feet tall, smells good, thin brown cones
Black Cottonwood Populus balsamifera trichocarpa:
Heart shaped, shiny/waxy dark green leaves, has weird white bubble/ bumps on leaves, gray bark
Shore Pine Pinus contorta contorta
2-6 inch needles that grow around the branch in a circle and are somewhat spaced out, clusters of tan cones that are about 2 cm and pointed at the tip
White/ Paper Birch Betula papyrifera
White bark with gray pathes, leaves are decaying- brownish- looks like it is dying
Mountain maple Acer glabrum
About 4 feet tall with huge leaves (about 8 inches across), green, has 6 lobes, loosely serrated
Beach pea Lathyrus japonicus
Soft, dull roundish green leaves with flat pea pods covered in fine thin hairs, opposite leaflets that grow in even numbers
Yellow and Black Potter Wasp Delta campaniformis
Two seen in dandelion pollinating it, very small, only about ½ cm, mostly black but a few yellow stripes
Garden Lupin Lupinus polyphyllus
Pink and purple perennials growing straight upright, about 2 feet tall, 10-15 thin pointed leaflets at the base
Bark Barnacle Thelotrema lepadinum
Flat white bumpy lichen found on smooth bark
Moss Eurhynchium praelongum
About 2 cm long, dark green fuzzy moss
Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius
About 4 feet tall, yellow flowers, small leafs

Other species observed:
Himalayan blackberry Rubus armeniacus
Sword Fern Polystichum munitum
Red Alder Alnus rubra: really big
Trailing Blackberry Rubus ursinus
Common Ivy Hedera helix
Dwarf Rose Rosa bridgesii
Dune Grass Swallenia alexandrae
Dull Oregon Grape Mahonia nervosa
Grass Calamagrostis nutkaenis
Brown Grass Alectoria sarmentosa
Daisy Chrysanthemum majus
Red clover Trifolium pratense
Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Bitter Cherry Prunus emarginata