The worth of the Woodland Trail was evident on Wednesday during our visit.  Although record-breaking heat occured in the state, along the trail we were cool and comfortable.  A delightful experience.  In two years, your group has accomplished a remarkable amount of work.  The signs are particularly attractive and informative, but unobtrusive
        Attached is the plant list we created as we sauntered along, observing things.  Except for the  Knapweed, we took no specimens to study in detail, so there could be errors.  Without those details, I would have identified the cherry tree so prevalent along the trail as Sweet cherry/Prunus avium, a non-native tree, but certainly defer to Matt Largess's ID as pin or bird cherry/Prunus pensylvanica, a native tree.
        We are grateful to REWHC, especially Diane, Harry and Bill, for their time and expertise...and enthusiasm...in guiding us along the trail and informing us of the work of the council.  Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Anne B. Wagner
Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

RIWPS Field Trip to Raytheon/REWHC-7/26/01
Woodland Trail Plant List


Trees
Apple Malus cv. alien
Black gum or tupelo Nyssa sylvatica native
Dawn redwood Metasequoia alien (planted)
Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana native
English oak Quercus rober alien
Grey birch Betula populifolia native
Pear Pyrus cv. alien
Pin or bird cherry* Prunus pensylvanica native
Red maple Acer rubrum native
Sycamore maple Acer psuedo-platanus alien
Sweet cherry* Prunus avium alien
White ash Fraxinus americana native
Wild black cherry Prunus serotina native

Shrubs
Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum native
Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata exotic invasive
Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica native
Blackbery/raspberry Rubus sp. native
Glossy buckthorn Rhamnus frangula exotic invasive
Hercules' club Aralia spinosa alien
Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum native
Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii exotic invasive
Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora exotic invasive
Privet Ligustrum vulgare exotic alien
Shining or dwarf sumac Rhus copallinum native
Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina native
Willow Salix sp. native


Vines

Asiatic bittersweet Celastrus orbiculata exotic invasive
Bittersweet nightshade Solanum dulcamara alien
Dewberry Rubus flagellaris native
Fox grape Vitis labrusca native
Greenbrier or catbrier Smilax rotundifolia native
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans native
Wineberry Rubus phoenicolasius exotic invasive
Woodbine/Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia native

Ferns/Fern Allies

Hay-scented fern Dennstaedia punctiloba native
New York fern Thelypteris novaboracensis native
Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis native


Herbaceous

Aster Aster sp. native
Broad-leaved plantain Plantago major alien
Brown knapweed Centaurea jacea exotic invasive
Butter-and-eggs Linaria vulgaris alien
Canada goldenrod Solidago sp. native
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense native
Common St. Johnswort Hypericum perforatum alien
Curled dock Rumex crispus alien
Daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus native
Early goldenrod Solidago juncea native
Figwort Schrophularia marilandica native
Grass-leaved goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia native
Jewelweed Impatiens capensis native
Milkweed Asclepias syriaca native
Mullein Verbascum thapsus alien
Pokeweed Phytolacca americana native
Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota alien
Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens native
Steeplebush Spirea tomentosa native
Stinging nettle Urtica dioica alien
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare alien
White avens Geum canadense native
Wild lettuce Lactuca sp. native
Wrinkle-leaved goldenrod Solidago rugosa native
Yarrow Achillea millefolia cosmopolitan


*A cursory examination leads me to believe Sweet cherry/Prunus avium is the tall cherry with the smooth reddish-brown bark found frequently in the woodland.. We did not, however, examine the tree closely and defer to Matt Largess's ID of pin or bird cherry/Prunus pensylvanica.

Prepared by Anne B. Wagner