Download Naomikong Creek Outing, May 3, 2009

Naomikong Creek Outing, May 3, 2009
Leaders: Chuck Bosley & Evelyn Simon
Eleven naturalists assembled at the trailhead for the Naomikong Creek trail, which is a
scenic section of the North Country Trail that follows the Lake Superior Shore for part of
its length. One of our objectives was to hunt for skunk cabbage but, as it turned out, little
hunting was necessary. Chuck & Ev reported that—including today’s finds—a total of 67
skunk cabbage plants had been observed. This fascinating plant (Symplocarpus foetidus)
generates temperatures 15-35°C above air temperature in the early spring, which is
enough to melt its way through frozen ground and emerge from the snow. This makes it
one of the few plants that exhibit thermogenesis, the conversion of energy from cellular
respiration to heat (thermogenic plants include other smelly species, such as carrion
flower and dead-horse arum).
Only a few flowers were in bloom, such as spring beauty and trailing arbutus, but a
number of other interesting plants were observed. Chuck showed us how to distinguish
shining clubmoss (Lycopodium lucidulum) from the similar bristly clubmoss
(Lycopodium annotinum); the former has sporangia in zones along the stem and the latter
has spores in cones that emerge from the ends of the stems. He also identified a variety of
other species, including the trail plant (Adenocaulon bicolor), so named because when
one travels through woods where it is common the disturbed leaves with their white
bottoms exposed reveal the hiker’s path. Other species of interest to botanizers included
trout lily, sheep sorrel, princess-pine (Lycopodium obscurum), Dutchman’s breeches,
partridgeberry, ostrich fern (fertile fronds), toothwort (Dentaria diphylla), bunchberry,
wood sorrel, miterwort, birch polypore, goldthread, Canada mayflower, marsh marigold,
swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum), avens, twinflower, rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera sp),
running clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), snowberry, several species of sphagnum,
blueberry spp, wintergreen, Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), pipsissewa, bearberry,
bastard toadflax, leatherleaf, sand cherry, and Michigan holly.
There were some sightings of interest to birders as well. Our walk along Lake Superior
shore led to sightings of 2 Caspian terns and a lone wood duck, who flew off with a pair
of mallards. Other bird sightings included a yellow-rumped warbler and a kestrel at the
Michigan Welcome Center, a pine warbler and another yump at our lunch site, a wood
wren (vocalization only), and a broad-winged hawk.
We had lunch in a clearing just west of the suspension footbridge that crosses Naomikong
Creek. During that time Carl Linhart informed us that the rather drably colored mourning
cloak butterfly—a specimen of which had flown by—is known as the Camberwell beauty
in England. Carl also posed the following riddle, which he attributed to Homer: “What
we caught we threw away; what we didn’t catch we kept.” (Answer at bottom of page.)
In all, this outing was a great way to welcome the long-awaited coming of spring.
Reported by John Lehman
Answer to riddle: lice