point of interest 5 - Fantastic Flora

You are now standing in an area that was once part of the creek bottom. This ½ moon shaped valley was carved out when the water levels were higher, since then the creek has found a new path leaving this wet, low lying area. Because this area is so low and sheltered, water collects here creating cool, wet conditions. The decay of dead plant material in this valley has been slowed by this environment, creating a deep black humus soil. These unique conditions allow some unusual trees and plants to prosper here. Trees such as Yellow Birch, Red Ash, and Cedar grow in these distinctive conditions.

Yellow Birch produces thousands of confetti like seeds. Since these seeds have very little stored energy, unlike an oaks’ fleshy acorn, yellow birch seed must find nutrients in the soils soon after germination. Yellow Birch seeds tend to start growing on fallen trees using the nutrients stored in these rotting logs. As the tree establishes itself the log continues to rot as normal eventually leaving a void. This leaves some adult Yellow Birch looking like their trunks are on stilts.