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Quincy Salt-Marsh Trail A Self-Guiding Nature Trail at Reuben and Lizzie Grossman Memorial Park by Brenda Shore and Jennifer Forman Orth illustrated by Beth Paulding Visit the Virtual Trail at http://www.virtualnaturetrail.com/sailors The Quincy Salt Marsh Trail is a half-mile long self-guided nature walk designed to showcase the major plant and animal species that find their homes in and around the Quincy salt marsh. Whether you are involved in a major ecological research project or simply out for a leisurely stroll on a pleasant summer day, this guide will help you use the numbered markers along the trail to identify noteworthy plant and animal habitats. Each season brings its own visual treats. As early as May, many flowers dot the landscape. In summer, or early fall the colors of the marsh reach their peak and provide magnificent views. 3 Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................................5 Trail Map.......................................................................................................6 Stops Along the Trail...................................................................................8 Glossary......................................................................................................26 Resources....................................................................................................28 Acknowledgements...................................................................................29 Rulers...........................................................................................................31 4 Introduction Originally designed and constructed in 1973 by Eagle Scout Charles Phelan Junior, with the assistance of Quincy Boy Scout Troop #20, the Quincy Salt Marsh Trail was updated and restored in 1999 through the efforts of local educators at the Beechwood Knoll Elementary School, which is located at the edge of the marsh. With the help of the Beechwood Knoll School’s principal, Kathleen Morris, and parent and community member Maureen McCarron, Beechwood Knoll Elementary School teacher Brenda Shore put together a committee of school staff, parents and community members to work on the restoration project. Under the direction of Ms. Shore, students at Beechwood Knoll Elementary School currently use the marsh as a living laboratory for school and after school science enrichment activities. Furthermore, students have been invited to adopt the trail and become its caretakers. The Quincy Salt Marsh Trail, along with the surrounding marshland, is under the protection of the Quincy Conservation Commission. The Commission is dedicated to keeping this land preserved in its natural state for the enjoyment and benefit of all the citizens of Quincy. Vandalism is one of the most persistent threats to the quality and continued existence of the nature trail. So that others may enjoy the trail after you have gone, please be careful with fire, and do not pick the plants or disturb the animals. Please keep the trail clean of litter. One word of caution: watch out for the patches of Poison Ivy that in some places grow right up to the edges of the trail. Certain plants and flowers may be toxic, poisonous and/or cause a skin rash upon contact. Thank you, and enjoy your walk! 5 6 Trail Map Index 1. Eastern Redcedar/Chinese Lantern............................................8 2. Seaside Goldenrod/Yarrow........................................................8 3. Salt Spray Rose..............................................................................9 4. Marsh Elder.....................................................................................9 5. Sea Blite........................................................................................10 6. Glasswort......................................................................................10 7. Tidal Channel (Upper and Lower Marsh)...............................11 8. Gray Birch....................................................................................12 9. Island.............................................................................................12 10. Multiflora Rose.............................................................................13 11. Caddy Park..................................................................................13 12. Black Cherry.................................................................................14 13. Saltmeadow Cordgrass...............................................................14 14. Staghorn Sumac...........................................................................15 15. Mosquito Ditches..........................................................................15 16. Bayberry.......................................................................................18 17. Black Oak.....................................................................................18 18. Sailors’ Cemetery........................................................................19 19. Bird Watch....................................................................................20 20. Smooth Cordgrass........................................................................20 21. Crabapple....................................................................................21 22. Wildlife/Queen Anne’s Lace.....................................................21 23. Osprey Nest.................................................................................22 24. Value of the Salt Marsh.............................................................22 25. Poison Ivy.......................................................................................23 26. Common Reed...............................................................................23 27. Tansy/Chicory..............................................................................24 28. Pokeweed/Butter and Eggs.......................................................24 29. Reuben A. and Lizzie Grossman Park Memorial...................25 7 Stop 1 Eastern Redcedar – Juniperus virginiana This evergreen tree is typically covered with small bluish-green scale-like leaves. Juvenile plants have leaves that are more needle-like, pointed and awl-shaped. An adult tree may have both types of foliage. Male plants have tiny, capsule-shaped brown cones, while females produce waxy blue, berry-like cones that are about 0.25 inches long. Mature trees have reddish brown bark with long vertical strips that may have a shredded appearance. Redcedar has aromatic wood that has historically been used to build cedar chests and fence posts and to manufacture pencils. Chinese Lantern – Physalis alkekengi The common name of this plant comes from its distinctive fruit. As the fruits of this plant develop in fall, the large sepals of the flowers enclose an orange berry, resembling a large “paper sack” that looks like a miniature Chinese lantern. Later in the season the papery sepals turn brown and start to disintegrate, giving them a lacy appearance and showcasing the fruit inside. This species is a member of the Potato family (Solanaceae), can be annual or perennial, and will grow well in any well-drained soil with strong sun. Stop 2 Seaside Goldenrod – Solidago sempervirens Goldenrods are very common border plants among irregularly flooded salt and brackish marshes. Their large, showy clusters of bright yellow flowers give color to the marsh border in the late summer and early fall. While there are several species of goldenrod that grown along the trail, Seaside Goldenrod predominates. It is a fleshy herbaceous plant with smooth stems (though the flowering section of the stem may be rough or hairy). Its leaves are stalkless, alternately arranged and lance-shaped, and decrease in size toward the top of the stem. Plants are typically 3-4 feet tall but may be as much as 7 feet high. Yarrow – Achillea millefolium Yarrow is a weedy plant, usually found in fields and along roadsides. It has small white (or sometimes pink) flowers arranged in tight clusters in a flat-topped inflorescence, making it easy to confuse with Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota). Its slender fern-like leaves are greenish-grey and emit an herby scent when crushed. Yarrow can be found blooming along the trail from June through September. 8 Stop 3 Salt Spray Rose – Rosa rugosa This rough, extremely thorny shrub grows around the border of the salt marsh, often in dense clumps that are several feet in diameter. Also known as beach rose, this species blooms June through October, producing large, five-petaled flowers in bright fuchsia and sometimes white. In the fall, large scarlet rosehips develop that some people use to make an excellent jelly. Salt Spray Rose was introduced to the U.S. from Japan during the 19th century, and thrives along the Atlantic seacoast. It has frequently been used to stabilize beaches and dunes, and is now labeled as invasive in some states. Stop 4 Marsh Elder – Iva frutescens Also known as High-Tide Bush, this species is a member of the Composite or Aster family, a deciduous shrub that typically grows about 6 feet tall, but sometimes reaches 12 feet. It can be recognized by its oppositely-arranged toothed leaves that taper as they near the tip of the stem. Situated on the numerous leafy spikes are thick clusters of small greenish white flowers that attach directly to the stems. Marsh elder flowers from August to October along the upper borders of the salt marsh, where flooding sometimes occurs. Its native geographic range extends as far north as Nova Scotia and south to Florida. 9 Stop 5 Sea Blite – Suaeda linearis Sea Blite is an herbaceous, upright plant that ranges in height from less than a foot to almost three feet tall. Its numerous branches are covered with dark green, fleshy leaves that are typically flat on one side and rounded on the other. The leaves and shape of the stems give this plant a spiked appearance. From August through October, Sea Blite produces clusters of one to three inconspicuous green flowers in the axils of its leaves. It can be found along salt marshes and sandy beaches. Stop 6 Glasswort – Salicornia europaea This plant has a distinct fleshy and jointed stem, with branches that are oppositely arranged. Though it appears to be leafless, its leaves are actually tiny scales. Take a closer look and you will see many variations in the growth habits of the Glasswort in this area and throughout the marsh. Glasswort grows low in the salt marsh and may sometimes be submerged by the tide. Salt water creates a hostile environment and demands that a plant have special adaptations to survive. In this case, the fleshy stem allows the cells to resist the drying effects of salt water. Glasswort is classified as a halophyte, a category for plants that require a salty environment for survival. If you are visiting the trail in autumn, you can easily pick out glasswort patches along the salt marsh by the vivid flame red color. This salty, fleshy plant has been used to give a salty tang to salads, and another of its common names, Pickleweed, comes from the use of young glasswort stems to make pickles. 10 Stop 7 Anatomy of the Salt Marsh – Tidal Channel and Transition of Lower to Upper Marsh The close proximity of salt marshes to the ocean means that they are greatly influenced by the tides. Tidal marshes are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. The plants and algae found here use a higher percentage of sunlight than most other communities, resulting in much more food being produced for all of the salt marsh inhabitants. The marsh you see here is naturally arranged. The low marsh is closest to the saltwater source and is normally flooded or exposed daily to the ebb and flow of the tide via the tidal channels. The channels are what give sea life access to the nutrient rich land. Some creatures have evolved to adapt and grow in the marsh, while others are consumed by the marsh and its wild life as nutrition or are washed back out to sea. The salt marsh can be a harsh environment for vegetation, but it produces an abundance of nutrients to sustain a vast array of plant and animal life. Seventy percent of all ocean fish either spend part of their life on a salt marsh or feed on fish that have lived there. The success and productivity of the marsh is a result of its being a meeting place for sea life and land nutrients. The lower marsh is predominantly covered by a single plant species: the tall form of smooth cordgrass (Spartina Spartina alterniflora).). The tidal movements flood this land daily. Closer to the inland, the upper marsh is flooded irregularly, and exposed to the air for a longer duration than the lower marsh. The vegetation in the upper marsh is more diverse, and includes grasses such as the short form of smooth cordgrass, saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) and spike grass (Distichlis spicata).). Upstream from the marsh is the other type of tidal marsh called the brackish marsh, a mixture of fresh and salt water. Brackish waters are mostly associated with estuaries and are transitional zones where streams, rivers and the ocean meet. The brackish environment attracts diverse species that have the ability to adapt to the daily changes in temperature, salinity and alternate drying and submergence. 11 Stop 8 Gray Birch - Betula populifolia The Gray Birch is a small tree that frequently colonizes burned-out or disturbed areas. It is short-lived, often dying soon after it is shaded out by larger trees. Its chalky white bark resembles that of a paper birch but does not peel as easily. The trunk includes many dark inverted v’s (chevrons) along various horizontal marks and at the base of its branches. Leaves are double-toothed, as is typical of all birch species, but the twigs lack the wintergreen odor characteristic of other birches. Birch has been valued in the cabinetmaking industry, and also for the manufacturing of smaller household tools such as spools and clothespins. Stop 9 Salt Marsh Formations – a salt marsh island This elevated patch of land within the salt marsh collects fresh water in a “lens” while suppressing the salt water underneath. Land formations like this are found in many salt marshes. There are many different ways that this island could have formed. Perhaps the tide washed in debris and other foreign materials (silt, sand and other plant life) that became encased in the mud while gradually forming the island. Or the island could be the by-product of leftover glacial deposits. However it was formed, it is worthy to note that the plant species growing here are less salt-tolerant, terrestrial species. 12 Stop 10 Multiflora Rosa – Rosa multiflora This thorny shrub produces clusters of small, fragrant white flowers (occasionally light pink). It averages a height of 3 to 15 feet and blossoms from May to June. It bears fruit in the form of a small fleshy hip that is attractive to birds, who disperse the seeds. Native to Asia, Multiflora Rose was once widely planted as a ground cover and as shelter for wildlife. It can be a nuisance in fields, open areas and any area it spreads, and is considered an invasive species in many states. Stop 11 Caddy Park From this spot you can look across the marsh to Caddy Memorial Park, which was named for William Caddy, a private who died at Iwo Jima in W.W.II. Private Caddy received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery. Caddy Park is a nice spot to enjoy a picnic and catch a different view of the marsh area, including Black’s Creek. Located across from Wollaston Beach, the park can be accessed directly from Quincy Shore Drive, between Fenno Street and Furnace Brook Parkway. A parking lot is located adjacent to the park. 13 Stop 12 Black Cherry – Prunus serotina The large, fruit-laden trees you see here are no doubt at least partly responsible for the many birds that frequent this area. Birds and small mammals relish the bitter bluish-black fruit of the Black Cherry. Wild cherry syrup and jellies can be prepared from the fruit when it reaches maturity in late summer. A Black Cherry tree can reach a height of 50-60 feet and a diameter of about 3 feet. Young trees have smooth, dark reddish-brown bark. On the mature trees the outer bark is rough with short horizontal lines. Beneath this bark, cracked openings reveal a red-brown underbark. Many years ago this are fell victim to a fire. The burnt and charred area temporarily created hardship for the animals that live here. The food chain they relied upon was disrupted and shelters were destroyed. Over time the nutrients that were generated from the fire caused new vegetation to grow, generated rebirth of this forested area, and sparked the beginning of a new life cycle for both plants and animals. Stop 13 Saltmeadow Cordgrass – Spartina patens This grass is found mostly in the upper marsh area where it is flooded irregularly, sometimes only monthly during spring and storm tides. It adapts to the high salinity by secreting salt through special glands. It is a low to medium spreading grass, often forming cowlicked mats. The stem is slender, wirelike and hollow. Saltmarsh Cordgrass flowers from late June to October. 14 Stop 14 Staghorn Sumac – Rhus typhina This tree can be easily recognized by its hairy twigs and leafstalks and fuzzy red fruit clusters. Its name comes from the fact that the branches of this shrub bear a marked resemblance to a deer “in velvet” and can be most noticeably observed during the winter months. The very similar Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) also grows along the trail, and while it has the same feather-shaped toothed leaves, the stems are smooth and hairless. The bark and leaves are rich in tannin, and it is reported that a black ink can be made by boiling leaves and fruit. Birds, pheasant, and skunk feed on the long-haired fruit, while rabbits chew on the twigs. Sumac can grow in rather poor soil and can fast obliterate the scars of man. During the fall the leaves of this shrub (or small tree) turn bright red and purple, covering parts of the upland with thickets of color. Stop 15 Mosquito Ditches Many of the mosquito ditches that you see in this area have been dug and maintained by for mosquito control projects. They are functional in draining off water that might otherwise become stagnant and provide a breeding place for mosquitoes. The ditches also serve as a breeding place for smaller fish such as the mummichogs and silversides. During the late summer, a yellow-green growth made up of diatoms and other marine algae appears along the ditches – it is an indication of the presence of excess nutrients. 15 Stop 16 Bayberry – Myrica pensylvanica Like most coastal plants, bayberries have thick leathery leaves that help reduce evaporation and possibly make them more resistant to salt spray as well. The fragrant berries produced by this species were prized by the colonists, who melted the wax coating off of the fruits to make candles. Back in colonial days an “October law” appeared on the books stating that Bayberry fruit could not be picked before the first day in October, an attempt to provide enough berries for everyone by preventing colonists from gathering extra amounts of immature fruits. Today, the berries are more important as a food source for birds – the wax is considered toxic to humans. The leaves of Bayberry have been dried for use as a soup flavoring or as an insect repellent. Stop 17 Black Oak – Quercus velutina If you look closely, you will see the sand and gravel, left behind by the glaciers that receded from this area long ago. The little hills that appear here and throughout the marsh are called hummocks. The Black Oak does well in poor, dry rocky soil, as is apparent here. In good soil, it cannot compete as well with other species. This stately tree has orange or yellowish inner bark that in the past was used for tanning leather. The hard wood of this tree has been used to make flooring, furniture, railroad ties, and as a source of fuel. To identify a species of oak, it is often necessary to have the tree’s acorns and cups, and some species are even difficult for botanists to recognize. In black oaks, the acorn cup is bowl-shaped, with rough edges that have fringelike scales. Its leaves are somewhat thickened, with pointy, bristle-tipped lobes and a glossy upper surface, and are approximately 4 to 10 inches long. Individuals of this species may grow up to 80 feet tall. 18 Stop 18 Sailors’ Cemetery Overlooking the marsh, high on the hummock, sits Sailors’ Cemetery – final resting place for the remains of 118 sailors and marines who served in the U.S. Navy around the time of the Civil War. Following their tour of duty, the veterans resided at the National Sailors’ Home, located on a 6.5 acre farm in the area bordering what is now Rice Road and Fenno Street, in the Beechwood Knoll section of Quincy. Dedication ceremonies of Sailors’ Home were held on August 1, 1866. The original purpose of this home was to provide a residence for disabled sailors and marines that had served in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. The home was funded through private fund raising as well as subsidies from the federal government. Due to declining numbers of occupants and mismanagement of funds, the home was forced to close its doors around 1930-31. The cemetery is now all that remains of the National Sailors’ Home. It has been entrusted to the care of the City of Quincy. 19 Stop 19 Bird Watch Depending on the time of year, you may see a variety of bird life from this spot. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), is often sighted here. A tall, gray bird with a white face and a yellow beak, the Great Blue Heron can also be recognized by the black accents on its shoulders, crown and stomach. Another heron, known as the Great Egret (Ardea alba),), can also be found in this area. It can be recognized by its long yellow bill, black legs and feet, and solid white coat of feathers. You may spot numerous ducks and geese in the salt marsh – they are attracted by the plentiful supply of algae and marsh grass. Out in the open water, gulls often rest, and cormorants perch on large rocks and pieces of driftwood. Directly across the water from this stop is Merrymount Park, a fantastic spot to see migrating song birds in the spring. Stop 20 Smooth Cordgrass – Spartina alterniflora This grass grows in the wettest area of the marsh, and is on the “front-line” of the salt marsh as it evolves from the mud flats. Smooth Cordgrass provides nutrients to the marsh food chain and at high tide provides a haven for the marsh snails that cling to its tall stalks until the tide subsides. The food chain begins when the marsh grass dies and bacteria begin to compose the dead organic matter (detritus). Plankton then feed upon the detritus and in turn are fed upon by clams, crabs, shrimp fry and other animals. These animals then provide food for birds, larger mammals, fish and humans. As a way of surviving the high salinity of the salt marsh, Smooth cordgrass discharges excess salt, as evidenced by the visible crystals that appear on its leaves. Its roots are submerged deep within the mud and receive little oxygen, therefore the plant must rely upon its hollow stems to transport the oxygen from the leaves to the roots. Value is placed on the role this grass plays in buffering storms and absorbing mercury, lead and other pollutants before they reach the sea. However, its most important role is the contribution it makes to the food chain. 20 Stop 21 Crabapple – Malus coronaria This is a little, stiff tree that produced highly fragrant pink or white flowers in the spring. Later, this ornamental species bears small, acidic fruits favored by raccoons and skunks (unless people get there first to steal the fruit for making crabapple jelly). The apples are approximately 1 inch in diameter and feel waxy to the touch, meaning that they have a lot of jelly-making substance in the skin. There are many crabapple trees growing through the marsh area. They can sometimes be found growing in a shrub-like form – those may be younger trees. Be careful around this part of the trail. Poison Ivy has a tendency to proliferate here. Stop 22 Wildlife – Land animals This forested area surrounded by the salt marsh provides a variety of food and shelter for the small wildlife that frequents the area. The grass and low bushes are excellent cover for the cottontail rabbits, raccoons, ring-necked pheasants and opossums that live here. Birds that have nested here include robins, red-winged blackbirds, and a variety of sparrows and cardinals. Queen Anne’s Lace – Daucus carota Also knows as Bird’s Nest or Wild Carrot, this lacy flower is in the Parsley family (Apiaceae). Its flat-topped clusters of tiny, cream-white flowers have a single, dark purplish-brown floret in the center. Plants are biennial, so in any one year you will see some plants with only long, bright green feathery leaves, while others will have flowers on stalks as tall as 3 feet. The flowering season begins in May and continues through October. 21 Stop 23 Osprey Nest – Pandion haliaetus This pole was erected many years ago, along with several others in the area, as part of a program to try to attract the Osprey to nest in the area again. Some platform-topped poles have been successful, and you can regularly see Osprey fishing at Wollaston Beach and along the Neponset River during the summer months. The Osprey ranges in length from 21 to 24 inches, and can be recognized by the predominant brown color on its back, its white underside, and a dark colored line running along the side of its head. Stop 24 Value of the Salt Marsh A salt marsh means different things to different people, and its continued existence can be controversial. To some it is a foul-smelling eyesore, and a dangerous bog infested with mosquitoes. To others a filled in marsh represents a monetary profit from real estate development. To still others, and their numbers are increasing, the salt marsh is recognized for what it is – a dynamic ecosystem of great value and importance. The plant matter of a salt marsh interacting with water and sunlight starts a food chain – from simple invertebrates to man - that is vital to life. In production of food per acre, it greatly surpasses even the best corn fields of Iowa. Clams, oysters, shrimp, flounder, and striped bass are only a few of the more commercial items directly dependent on the salt marshes. Many young fish live in the tidal creeks until they mature and many fish come into the salt marsh to spawn. Salt marshes are also nature’s rain barrels – vast sponges absorbing water that if not contained might otherwise cause great flood damage. 22 Stop 25 Poison Ivy – Toxicodendron radicans Warning! Do Not Touch! Poison Ivy can grow as a large shrub, a vine that climbs up trees or one that trails along the ground. It can be recognized by it leaves, which are each made up of three leaflets, which is where the phrase “Leaves of three, let it be!” comes from. In the spring, Poison Ivy has shiny, greenish-red leaves, and it is this stage that is most dangerous to those who are allergic to the plant. The leaves dull and become green as they mature, and in fall, they change to brilliant reds and oranges. Flowers appear from May through June and again in August, followed by clusters of bright, waxy white berries. Although all parts of the plant emit a poisonous, skin-irritating oil, birds and other animals do eat the fruits, making this species valuable winter fare for wildlife. Poison Ivy thrives here in the salt marsh, so be careful! Stop 26 Common Reed – Phragmites australis This member of the grass family (Poaceae) grows along the borders of brackish marshes and ditches. Each thick stem is topped by a plume-shaped inflorescence made up of many fuzzy spikelets. Attached to the stems are long, blade-shaped leaves with parallel veins. There are both native and non-native varieties of Phragmites that grow in the U.S., but the native strain is scarce in Massachusetts. The non-native Common Reed that you see here is invasive: it can grow to a height of 15 feet and form dense thickets that prevent intrusion by other wetland plants. While each plant can produce a large amount of seed, the species typically spreads by underground stems known as rhizomes. Flowering occurs from late June through October, and the dried out flowering stalks can persist through the following growing season. 23 Stop 27 Common Tansy – Tanacetum vulgare This perennial is recognizable by its clusters of button-shaped golden flowers with flat heads, each about 1⁄2 inch wide. Tansy leaves are pinnate (feather-like), and separated into smaller leaflets that run along the side of the main leaf stalk, giving them a fern-like appearance. Common Tansy flowers from July through September and can be found along roadsides and edges of fields. The stems and leaves of this heavily scented plant contain a toxic yellow sap known to be hazardous to humans and animals. Chicory – Cichorium intybus Chicory is a member of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae) and is easily recognizable by its large blue flowers, each with multiple square-tipped petals. Each flower, borne against the plant’s thick stem, lasts for only one day. The leaves of this species have a dandelion-like appearance. The roots can be roasted and ground up and have been used as an additive in or substitute for coffee. Stop 28 Pokeweed – Phytolacca americana This large-leaved plant has heavy, smooth reddish stems, and grows in damp thickets, clearings and disturbed areas. It produces long clusters of small white flowers in summer, followed by dark purple berries highlighted by flower stalks that turn a brilliant pink. The fruit and fleshy root of Pokeweed are poisonous to humans, but birds eat the berries of this native species. The juice of the berries can be used as a dye and in the past was used to “improve” cheap wine. Butter and Eggs – Linaria vulgaris This European relative of the snapdragon has a distinct yellow flower with an orange center. Each flower is about one inch long and has five lobed petals; two petals in the upper “lip” and three in the lower “lip.” The flowers grow on long clusters on a stem covered with thin, linear leaves. Butter and Eggs can flower any time from May to October. It is commonly found along roadsides and in other disturbed areas. 24 Stop 29 Reuben A. and Lizzie Grossman Memorial Park The handsome winged fieldstone monument you see here, 24 feet in length, was designed by Anthony T. Delmonico of Quincy, and was constructed under his direction by the Quincy Park Department. On the monument’s face, etched on a medallion of pink granite, are profile likenesses of Reuben A. and Lizzie Grossman. Beneath the medallion is a message honoring the Grossmans: “This land and its natural resources Made available to the people of the City of Quincy By the children of Reuben A. and Lizzie Grossman In memory of their parents Who will always be remembered for Their humility, humanity, kindliness And godliness” 25 Glossary Algae - Simple single-celled or multicellular photosynthesizing organisms, typically located in water or wet areas. Similar to plants, but usually lacking true roots, stems or leaves. Annual - Life cycle of a plant that is completed in one season or one year. Axil - The angle between a leaf or stem and the supporting stem or branch from which it arises. Bacteria - A group of microscopic organisms, most of which survive by breaking down dead plant or animal matter. Biennial - Life cycle of a plant that lasts for two growing seasons. Brackish Marsh - A marsh flooded regularly or irregularly by water with low salt content. Cultivated - Plants that are grown by people; plants that survive only due to care and attention provided by people. Deciduous - A plant whose leaves fall off at the end of its growing season. Decompose - To decay or rot as a result of being broken down by microorganisms. Diatoms - Any of the many species of microscopic, single-celled algae that inhabit marine or freshwater habitats and have cell walls made out of silica. Ebb - The movement of the tide towards the sea. Ecosystem - A natural living system produced by the interactions between organisms and their environment. Estuary - An ecosystem formed where the mouth of a river meets the ocean, causing the merging of fresh and salt waters. Herbaceous - Not woody, and typically dying down to the ground at the end of each growing season. High Marsh - A marsh flooded irregularly, typically by spring tides or storm surges. Hip - A fleshy or leathery hollow fruit with seeds attached to the inside; the name given to the fruit of Rose species. Indigenous - Originating in and native to a particular region. 26 Invertebrates - Animals without a backbone. Leaflet - A single section of a compound leaf. Lobed - Having indentations on the margins, producing rounded projections. Typically applied to a petal or leaf. Lower Marsh - A salt marsh flooded daily by the tides. Perennial - Life cycle of a plant that continues for more than two growing seasons. Plankton - Tiny plants, animals and other organisms that drift freely in the waters of oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds. Salinity - The concentration of salt in the water. Salt Marsh - A marsh subject to repeated flooding with salt or brackish tidal waters. Scale - A leaf that is small, thin, and flat, often dry and frequently difficult to distinguish as a true leaf. Submerged - Under water; typically applied to plants that can survive under the water either part or full time. Tidal Creek - A channel in a salt water marsh through which the tidal waters ebb and flow. Toothed - An edge with triangular projections resembling teeth, typically applied to leaf margins and sometimes petals. Twig - The end subdivision of a branch. Upland - Used to describe ground that is elevated along a low wetland area. Whorl - A circle of three or more leaves around a stem. Also used to describe a circle of petals on a flower. Zonation - The distribution of different plant and animal communities over a certain area in response to different environmental conditions. Zooplankton - The tiny animals that make up a portion of the plankton. 27 Resources Duke, James A. and Steven Forster, A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1990. Duncan, Marion B. and Wilber H. Duncan, The Smithsonian Guise to Seaside Plants of the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1987. First Field Guide – Birds, National Audubon Society, Scholastic, New York, 1998. Levering, Dale, Ph.D., An Illustrated Flora of the Boston Harbor Islands, Northeastern University Press, Boston, 1978. McKenny, Margaret and Roger T. Peterson. A Field Guide to Wildflowers (of Northeastern and North Central North America), Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1968. Mohlenbrock, Robert H. and John W. Thieret, MacMillan Field Guides – Trees, MacMillan Publishing Company, New York, 1987. Niering, William A. and Nancy C. Olmstead, Field Guide to North American Flowers (Eastern Region) – National Audubon Society, Alfred A. Knopf Inc., New York, 1995. Page, Nancy M. and Richard E. Weaver Jr., Arnoldia, Vol. 3, No. 4, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, 1974. Petrides, George A., A Field Guide to Eastern Trees, Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1988. Scott, Michael, The Young Oxford Book of Ecology, Oxford University Press, New York, 1995. Stokes, Donald, and Lillian Stokes, Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Birds, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1996. Symonds, George W.D., The Shrub Identification Book, William Morrow and Company, New York, 1963. Tiner, Robert W., Jr., A Field Guide to Coastal Wetland Plants (of the Northeastern U.S.), The University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst, 1987. 28 Acknowledgements From Jennifer Forman Orth (Editor, Photographer, Website Designer/UMass Boston): The Virtual Nature Trail for the Sailors’ Home Salt Marsh Trail (http://www.virtualnaturetrail.org/sailors) and the updated version of this paper trail guide could not have been completed without: - Lori Schneider, who spent many hours walking the trail, taking photographs, and assisting me in identifying the flora and fauna of the area. - Sally Owen, who encouraged me to proceed with this project and to share the fruits of my labor through the Quincy Environmental Treasures program. - The contributions of other excellent photographers (Gwendolyn White, Derek Berezdevin, Morola Adjibodou, and Suzanne Shrewsbury) and the identification expertise of numerous people, including Rick Kesseli, Tom Palmer, Fred SaintOurs and Anna Santos. Support provided by the Electronic Field Guide Project, Dr. Robert Morris and Dr. Robert Stevenson co-PIs, University of Massachusetts Boston, with a grant from the National Science Foundation. From Brenda Shore (Project Director/Quincy Educator): I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the many individuals, educators, parents, and community leaders, who enthusiastically joined me in the updating of the salt marsh walking trail and guidebook. It is because of their tireless effort that this project is a reality. I would also like to thank: - Kathleen Morris, Beechwood Knoll School principal, for her unending support and commitment to the preservation of the salt marsh, which will ever benefit the Beechwood Knoll School and community. - Maureen McCarron, Beechwood Knoll parent and community leader, who painstakingly evaluated the marsh habitat, researched data, and organized the physical restoration of the trail. - Chuck Phelan, Director of Data Processing for the City of Quincy, who assisted in the development of a restoration plan and was largely responsible for the printing of this trail guide. - Jack Lydon, Operations Manager, and members of the staff of the Data Processing Department for the City of Quincy, who also assisted in the printing of this guide. - Dr. Philip McLaren, Eastern Nazarene College, who shared his expertise and provided scientific and historical information about the salt marsh. - Janet Baglione, Beechwood Knoll parent, who provided scientific data that was instrumental in the identification of plant and animal life along the trail. - Steven Baglione, Beechwood Knoll parent, who photographed the trail and contributed his collection of nature photographs, which can be observed along the trail on many of the numbered markers. - Dave Murphy, Quincy Park Department, who constructed new trail posts and restored the walking trail. - Beth Paulding, art student, who so beautifully illustrated the guidebook. - A Special Thanks to the Quincy Conservation Commission for supporting and encouraging our efforts to revitalize the trail. - Funding for trail restoration and the previous edition of the trail guide provided through the Quincy Public Schools’ Community Service Learning Grant program and the generosity of Colonial Federal Savings Bank, Beechwood Knoll School business partner. 29 “This land and its natural resources made available to the people of the City of Quincy by the children of Reuben A. and Lizzie Grossman in memory of their parents who will always be remembered for their humility, kindliness, and godliness” Notes inches centimeters 31 Visit the Sailors’ Home Cemetery Salt Marsh Trail website, featuring more than 1000 digital photos, at http://www.virtualnaturetrail.com/sailors