Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ae 3 Pr | \A 5 i— 7 Ov FLORA ofthe Ltt Datuxent Research Retude Mar land U. S F. S RECEIVED LIBRARY United States Dept. of the Interior Bureau of Biological Survey Wildlife Leaflet BS-154 FOREWORD Recognizing the complicated interrelationships of wildlife with man's changing uses of the land, the Biological Survey has for many years conducted studies in various parts of North Amer= ica, obtaining facts on which to base wise management of our wildlife resourcese Opportunity for research has been lacking on lands where deliberate changes in management practices and where the habitat requirements of the native species of wild animals could be under control of the Biological Surveye This gave rise to the establishment of the first national wildlife experiment station of a general naturee On the Patuxent Re= search Refuge, wildlife problems relating to the production of agricultural crops and to the practice of forestry will receive careful study. As a basis for long-time research the physio- graphy and the fauna and flora will be studied. This contri- bution is the first of a number of reports that will deal with the natural history of this research refugee United States Department ef the Interior Bureau of Biological Survey _—S— ee eee ee F Washington, D. CO. * May 1940 (ee ——— FLORA OF TWH PATUXENT RESEARCH REFUGE, MARYLAND 1/ By Neil Hotchkiss, Biologist, Section of Food Habits Divisicn of Wildlife Research ——— Se Contents Page Page Description of refuge... ] Description of refuge--Continued, Location and size..... 1] MePetaurOn sf ses Ss ee 4 Topography and water supply 2 toe foarte 3 °s 6 ss s Se eee 10 Geology and soils ..... 2 buss Of plants > . 2 ita Sees 10 — ee ee ee DESCRIPTION OF REFUGE The following notes are based on observations and collections made by the writer on 78 nonconsecutive days, scattered through the growing and fruiting seasons from October 19, 1936, to July 25, 1939, on the Patuxent Research Refuge, maintained by the Bureau of Biological Survey. Location and Size The Patuxent Research Refuge lies along both sides of the Patuxent River in Prince Georges and Anne Arundel Counties, Md., from about 3 miles south-southeast of Laurel southeastward for approximately 3 miles in a strip varying from 3/4 to 1-3/4 miles wide; thence southwestrard, in Prince Georges County, for approximately 3 miles in a strip varying from 1/4 tol mile wide, to a point about 1-1/2 miles west of Bowie. (See map, p. 3; also the U. S, Geological Survey's map of the Laurel quadrangle. ) There are three separately fenced, but adjacent, tracts, which are referred to in the following discussion as "west," "east," and "south" (in the plant list as W, E, and S.) The first lies between the Laurel- Bowie road and the Patuxent River and extends southeastward to Telegraph Road, which crosses the River at Duvail Bridge; the second lies across Telegrnph Road to the southeast; the third is south and west of the Laurel-Bowie road, The 3 tracts total more than 2,000 acres. A small Oe ee ee ‘4 Contribution from the Patuxent Research Refuge--No. 1 unfenced tract adjacent to the south tract on the east side of the Lavrel- Bowie road, and that part of the refuge in Anne Arundel County are not covered in this study: “topography and Water Supply The refuge is situetec entirely within the watershed of the Patuxent iver, which here flows through a valley the maximum dimensions of which are about 3 miles wide and 150 fest deep. The altitude of the area varies from less than 80 feet above sea level along the river to more than’ 220 feet noar the west and south ends, but the slopes are mostly gentle, ex- cept for frequent 5= to 18-reot bluffs alongs the highland side of the bot= toms, The river falls 20 to 25 feet in its rather crooked course through apart of the refuge, traversing for the entire distance a bottom land that, on the southrest side of the river, except at one place, is a quar- ter to half a mile wide. In places, between the bottoms and the upland slopes, are broad, nearly level terraces thot lie only a few feet above the bottoms, Several brooks rise just outside the boundary of the refuge and flow more or less directly toward the river. They are so small that the ma— jority do not maintain channels across the bottom land, but spread out or disappear on broad, flet areas or lose their identity in high-water chan- nels along the highland side of the bottoms. One and one-half miles is the greatest length of any brook except the southeasternmost, Cash Branch, which drains the south tract and has a length of over $ miles, Its lower course is outside the refuge boundary. Cash Branch has been dammed to form 2 lakes in the south tract. In most years, the bottom lands are flooded on one or more occasions for a few days at a time, but the river normally flows between well-defined banks. A small flow of water continues through a few shailow side channels, except in summer; and in places along the highland side of the bottoms there are permanent swampy areas. The deepest and largest of these, which is more of a peat bog than a river swamp, lies just southwest of Duvall Bridge. & Veronica arvensis L.--Occasional; \; abandone ields. . (50 V. officinalis -L.--Occasional; W%,S; abandcned ficlds (5149) V. peregrina L.~-Rare; W; abandoned ficld (5139) Te serpyllifo lia L.--Occa gional; W; abandoned field. (5093) LENTIBULARIACEAE: Utricularia geminiscapa Benj.--Rare; W,,5; brooks. (5992, 8075) OROBAN CHACHAE: Eoifarus virginiana (L.) Bart.--Coumon; W, 8; terrace and slope 5603) ue nawaie oe L.--Rare: Ws; bottom-lond forest. (5134) _ SS BIGN Sd TACi ee SS ee og G1 a OD, Ge ~S PHRYLACEAR: Phryma leptostachye L.--One plant; W; bottom-land forest. (5453) PLANTAGINACEAR: Plantago aristata iichx.--Ocensional; W; roadside. (5335) P, lanceolata L.--Commpn; VW; abandoned fields. (5104) Pp Bene - ee ar P. rugelii Dene.-Common: W; abandoned fields. (5459, 5532) D 7 - fm-5 2. virginica L.--Occeasionnal: W, E: ahandoned fields. (5163) RUBIACEAR: Cephalanthus occidentalis L.--Common; W, E, S; shrub swamp. (52 Diodia teres Walt. —Abundant; W, E, a abandoned fields 5418) Galium aoarine L.--Common; W; pate tae. forest. (5185 ? Ge < circaezgans Michx,.--Rarce; W; terrace forest. (5311, 5426 G. claytoni Michx,--Locally common; W; wet moadow. (5233) G. pilosum Ait.--Rare; W, S; upland forest-ond abandoned ficld on sandy terrace, (5713, 5749) hrub swamp. (5737) tinctorium L.--Occasional; W; bottom—land forest. (5185, 5253 ey ULE florum | Michx.--Occasional; W forast. (S549, 6109) Houstonia caerulea L.--Common; W, EB; bottom-land forest, wet mon abandoned fields, etc. (5082 H. purpurea L,--Occasional; W; bottom-land forest, etc. (?) (516: Mitchella repens L,.--Common; W, 8; ‘terrace and slope forest. (5 Oldenlandia uniflora L.--Rare; W; wet meadow. (5714) 3l , B, S3; bottom—-land and terrace CAPRIFOLIACEAR Lonicera senemdca a Thunb.--Common; W, BE, 5; bottom-land, swamp and ‘terrace forse %, abandoned fields and hedgerows. (5154) Sambucus eeuedleneie L.--Occasional; W, 8; bottom+land forest, auser eR mCP aoe Ae \ shrub swamp and hedgerows. (5221) fivurnum acerifolium L.--Cecasional: W; well-drained bottom—land and terrace forest. (5164) V. Gentatum L.+-Occasional (?7);.E; shrub swamp. (58324) V. nudwa L.--Occasional; W:; swamp forest. (5065, 5553, 5767, 5827) V. prunifoliun Those etonen W: btottom-land forest. (5046, 5112) V. pubescens (Ait.) Pursh.--Comnon; W, 5; bottom-land, swamp and terrace forest and hedgerows. (5050, 5229, 5579, 5605, 5662, 5795) CUCUREBITACHAE: Sicyos angulatus L.--Rare; W; bettom-land forest. (5576) CAMPANULACEAE: Specularia perfoliata (L.) A. DC.~-Occasional; W, EH; abandoned aye SR fuelase (5200) cardinalis L.--Gonsnon ; W, EH; bottom-land forest. (5350) L ta, L.--Occasional; BE; abandoned field. (53¢0) L. puoerula Michx.--Locally common; W; wet meadow. (5463, 5552) L. spicata Lam.--Rere; W; open forest and abandoned I er COM: POSITATE (Determined by S. F. Blake, except as otherwise noted): Achillea millefcolium L.--Occasional: W; abandoned rl (5225) Actinomeris alter nifolia (a3 9): 208) 6 Uae. W, HE; open bottom—land forest. (6022, det. Hotchkiss) imbrosia artemisiifolia L.--Common; W, 2 5509) A. trifida L.--Rare; W; open bottom—-land for andoned fields. (5057, (5492) st. abandoned fields. 3 Antennaria neglecta Greene.--Occasional; W, 3; 5116) (5610, det. Hotchiiss) A. neodicica Greene.-~-Rare; W; abandoned field. (5118) i parlinii F eee W; roadside. (5148) is L.e--Sommon: WV, HE; abandoned fields. (5205) (5895, Pia NS Anthemis ave L BENT det. Ho LChKLSS J. cotula L.--Rare; 3; yard. (5914, det. Hotchkiss) Arctium Iinus (Hill) Bernh.--Occasional; EB; yard. (5385 Aster a divaricatus L.--Rare: HE: bottom-land forest. (5567) A. dumosus L.--Cecasional; W; open shrub swamp. (5554 A. eae ee Le--Hare: W, H: woods margins. (5775) al (7); W; open shrub swamp (5555) A. paniculatus Lan, (2Y.--Occasiona and roadside. (5760, form) . umbellatus Mili.--Rare: W; wet meadow. (6099) undulatus L,--Oceasional; Wspartly cleared terrace and upland ~ fore st. (5602 , 5776) 4A. vimineus Lam.--Occasional; S; abandoned field. (5745) ry ee COMPOSITAH--Continucd. ; . Bidens bipinnats L.--Rare; 3; yard. (5627) B,. connat aos Gan eacannen: WV; marsh, (5558) B a L.—-Hare;. W; wet meadow. (5534) B vuizata Greene. --Rare: W; abandoned field. (5723) Gacalia a atriplicifolia L.--Rare; W;’ open terrace forest. (542 Chrysanthemu leucanthemum Dies) VAT s pinnatifidun’ Lecoq & et ae ~~ Common; W, =; abandoned fields. (5152) Chrysovsis: mariana (L. ) Nutt.--Comnon: W, BE, S; terrace forest’ (rare) and abandoned, often brushy fields. (5684)- Cichoritm intybus L.--Occasional; E; yard. (5622) Girsiun linceolatun (L.) Hill, --Oceasional W; abandoned fields. ( BAYS 9 ae pees Coreops sis verticillata L,--Ocen sional; WV, = upland forest and aban- “doned fields, (5442) ( Eclipta alba (i) ieee Occasional: Why fades meadow. (5652) Hlephant bonus carolinianus TWilld.—-Occa sional; W; woods margins. (5557) Erechti ites hieracifolia (L.) Ra af ,.--Common; We S; cleared swamp and upland ( rare) forest. (5502) Hrigeron oe (L.) Pers.--Common; W, E; abandoned fields. (5202) H. canadensis L.--Common; W, E; abandoned fields. (5461) | Zz. ramosus Cit.) Boma my A. ee V, Be: abandoned ficids, (5201) Hupatorium albu L,--Rare; ZB; abandoned field under pine. (5735) a aronaticum L, --Rare; Tee open terrace forest.’ (5597) z. coclestinum Le--Rare; Wj abandoned field. (5462) HE. hyssopifolium L.--Raro; 7; wot meadow. (5582) EH. perfoliatum L.--Occasional; VW; BH; wot meadow. (5470) EH. pubescens lfhl. --Raro; S: abandoned ficla. (5742) BH. purpurcua L.—-Oceasional; 7; wet meadow ana yoandoned fic es PASLI9)— z. poem ror L.--Occasional; 7; wet mondow. (5590) HE. torrevonun 2 Short.--Rare; E; apanaaied field among pines (5641) E. eVeAeTe | tun lichx.--Occasional; W, 8; open terrace forest and abandoned ficld. (5547, 5741) alinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake.--Rare; W; yard. (5235) cae eae aac eee L.--Occasional; W; abandoned field Gr purpureum L.--Occasional (7); V; eeaaosed field. (519¢ Helenivum a auitmmale L.--Rare: VW, B: wet meadow. (6028) : | H. nudifiorum freer clonal W, S; abandoned field (595, det. Hotchlciss) Helianthus gigantevs L.--Occasional; W; margins of terrace forest. (5495--form, 5535) Hicracium gronovii L.--Occasional; W; a race. Wa 5412) HK. paniculatum L.--Occasional; well-drained bottom—-land and terrace forest. (562) H. scabrum Michx.--Rarec; W; woods margin. (5-420) H. venosum L.--Ocensional; W; slope and upline : oo! fs, , ~whaAsxr + andoned field on sandy ter- c L. floridana (L.) Gacrtn.--Oceasional; WV ma . forest. (524: Krigia virginica (L.) Willd.--Common; W, EB; abandoned ficlds. (5109) Lactuca canadensis L., form.--Occasional; WV; abandoned ficld. (5326) . ’ C . 2 is 1 Cc ; woods margins. (5415 s e 2 mvry oo COMPOST TAH--Continued. L, scariola L.--Occasionals Wy yarall (5988) Liatris s graminifolia (Walt. »)) Willd.--Locally common; W (rare), Zz, S; abandoned fields. (5630) | Mikanio scandens (L.) Willd.--Rare; W; bottom—lond forest. (5606) Psonu ties senpenterte Pursh.--Rare; VW, E; woods margins. (5602) (6081, det. Hotchkiss) . Rudbeckia hirta dots, L,.--Locally common; WV, S; abandoned fields. (5219) R. laciniata L.--Occasional; W, BE; dottom—-land forest. (5485) Senecio | aureus L,--Rare; W; bottom-lond forest. (5174) Sie Saolad Britton, prea Ww, EH; abandoned fields. (5901, det. Hotch- ue kiss) Se ericocarpus asteroides (L.) B. B. P,--Oceasional; 5; slope forest. (5321) Sie atfollins (L.) B, S. P.--Common; EB, S; abandoned fields. (5333) Solida ago altissima L,--Occasional; “7; abandoned field. (5576) Soi bicolor feo —-Rare; W, E, §; well-drained bottom—land to upland ~ forest. (5665) S. cnesin L.--Rare; “; open terrnce forest. (5596) 8. graminifolia (L.) Salisb., var. nuttallii (Greene) Fern,--Rare ss pbandoned field. (5529) Ss. juncea Ait,--Locally common; (5358) S. nemoralis Ait.--Locally common; V; abandoned field. (5589) §. puoerula Nutt.--Locally common; V7, §; open upland forest and aban~ Goned field. (5666, 5727) rugosa, Mgll.--Occasional; 7; open terrace forest. (5432, 5546) araxocun laevigatum (Willd.) DC. (2. erythrospernum).--Rare; 5; kreec Gee ee 4 T, officinale Veber.--Occasional; W, EB; partly cleared terrace forest (rare) and yards. (5823, det. Hotchkiss) Vernonia noveboracensis Willd.--Occasional; Ws wet mendow, (5471) Xanthiua pungens ; Wally .--Occasional; 3 abandoned fields. (5702) Bl ; abandoned field on sandy terrace, 34