Download Did you know that the forest that you are currently in is called a

Lindera Loop
Handicapped Trail
Putnam County’s First Handicapped Accessible Trail
About the Forest…
Did you know that the forest that you are currently in is called a deciduous
forest? These types of forests are found all over the world, not just in
North America. They are found in many locations in the Northern
Hemisphere like in Europe and Asia but they are rarer in the Southern
Hemisphere. This specific Appalachian forest in one of the two richest
broadleaf temperate forests on Earth! The forest is about 135,000 sq. mi.
(351,500 sq. km.) and though that would seem like a huge forest, it is
actually one of the smallest ecoregions that contains an abundant amount
of species and biodiversity.
Now, take a guess on how old this area of land is. If you guessed 440
million years old, you are correct! This small mountain range is known as
the Taconic Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains. The range was
formed from the collision of the North American plate into a small
volcanic arc during a period of time known as the Ordovician Period.
Many, many years later, a forest formed, followed by the arrival of many
diverse animals.
Our forest: Red Maple Swamp Forest
The forest on which the trail rests is a red maple
swamp forest. Here, maples are the dominant tree
type with an understory also containing a dense
vegetation of shrubs like spicebushes, dogwood,
and sweet-pepper bush. At the forest floor, plants
like skunk cabbage and ferns abound. The red
maple swamp forest is also famously inhabited
by many songbirds. Listen closely, and you may
just be able to hear the sweet chirps of the numerous species of birds that
take residence in this forest.
Ecological Succession
Ecological succession is the gradual and orderly process of change in an
ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one
community by another until a stable climax is established. It occurs when
the conditions of an environment suddenly and drastically change.
Colossal forces can destroy species, and thus alter the dynamics of the
ecological community, triggering ecological succession in two ways: (1)
in a rush for dominance among the species still present, and (2) in the
rebirth of a community after a disaster. Just as humans must regroup after
natural disasters and rebuild their homes, plants and animal must naturally
recover after natural calamities too.
One year after the wildfire
Two years after the wildfire
Look above. How can these two forests possibly be the same thing? Due
to the wonder of ecological succession, the Boreal Pine Forest in the
Lahemaa National Park in Estonia has naturally recovered from a wildfire.
The Layers of the Forest
Look around you, at the trees, bushes, shrubs, and ferns surrounding you.
Did you know the forest is organized in many different layers? In fact,
every forest is made up of different layers. This break-up of the forest into
different layers is known as Forest Stratification. There are many ways to
divide a forest. In this forest, you can see four main layers: the emergent
layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor.
The Emergent Layer
Look around. Find the
tallest tree. Does it
poke through the
canopy level of trees
and look like an
umbrella covering the
forest? If so, you have
found the emergent
layer. These trees take
in the most sunlight,
but are the most
susceptible to the
winds above the
forest, and are easily
knocked over.
The Canopy
Sometimes known as the “over story,” the canopy layer is deployed by
leaves from mature trees. The canopy layer is typically last to show green
in spring. It is the highest layer in the forest and intercepts much of the
forest’s sunlight.
The Understory
The understory layer is made up of tree saplings and tall shrubs. In mature
forests, many saplings can just about take in enough sunlight and nutrients
to reach the understory layer.
Forest Floor
The forest floor can also consist of another layer known as the shrub layer.
The shrubs and ferns that you see growing on top of the forest floor makes
up the shrub layer. The actual forest floor very dark, due to all the trees,
plants, ferns, and shrubs taking the little sunlight allowed through the
forest. The soil is layer with leaves and twigs, which decay and provide
nutrients in the soil. If you look down, you could also see mosses growing
on the floor, where it is warm and shady.
Deer
What do you think of when you see a
deer walking through the forest or
even your backyard? Do you think of
a sweet, innocent creature that is
always in harm’s way, like Walt
Disney’s classic movie character
Bambi? Hate to break it to you, but
deer are not always as delightful and
guiltless as the may seem, no matter
how cute they are.
With the removal of natural predators, the population of deer can now
thrive. However, deer cause a lot of damage to the understory of a forest,
and with this population increase, the damage is significantly worse.
As you read about the layers of the forest, you learned that the
understory consists of tree saplings that have only slightly grown because
of their lack of sunlight. As the deer population grows, the saplings are
trampled and over-browsed, resulting in the formation of an open, parklike area with little vegetation on the lower levels of the forest. So instead
of a diversity of woody and herbaceous trees, the ground surface is
dominated by ferns and grasses. This reduction in the understory removes
important nesting and feeding sites for some forest songbirds. Also, the
wild-flowers preferred by deer, such as
Trillium, may be reduced in abundance or
even eliminated completely where there is
a high population of deer.
Now think about all the auto accidents
deer cause a year. Not only are the deer
hurt, but us humans could get seriously
injured or may even die. The more deer
that live in a forest, the more they roam to
find a place to stay, and the more car
accidents they cause.
It’s hard to believe how such a seemingly harmless creature could cause so
much harm! If only we could bring back their natural predators, the
forest’s ecosystem would return to balance.
Gray Squirrels
This is the squirrel that most New
Yorkers think of and see outside in
their backyards. These squirrels like
to live in larger trees, such as oak and
hickory, where they have an
abundance of food and lodging sites.
Though it is a calmer and less
aggressive species of squirrels, the
gray squirrel is still very energetic
and capable of climbing and jumping
from branch to branch of trees. Gray squirrels are known to be gatherers of
foods, preferring to eat nuts and seeds that are found on the forest ground.
The downside of foraging the grounds is that the squirrel becomes more
vulnerable to predators like foxes, hawks, and owls. A gray squirrel
averages one to one and a half pounds, which is relatively small. But still,
it’s hard to imagine a forest without the lively, chattering squirrels running
along the ground and up the trees!
As you walk along the trail, you may notice various posts. These posts
are there to call attention to points of interests. The rest of this
brochure corresponds to the posts, providing the information about
these natural wonders.
1.
The Trail’s Namesake: Lindera Benzoin
Right at the entrance of the trail, take a look to
your left. If you’re looking at a large, shrub-like
plant with several stems and brown, speckled
bark, you are looking at the trail’s namesake:
Lindera benzoin.
The leaves are 3-5 inch long elliptical shapes,
and give out a spicy odor when crushed. These
aromatic leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow
in the fall. When in bloom in the spring, the
flowers are small and yellow and appear in clusters. In the fall, the flowers
are completely matured into berry-like fruits also giving off a peppery
scent. Birds like to feed off these berries during the summer and they are
one of the best sources of energy for long distance migratory birds.
There are so many other benefits to this beautiful plant. It is an excellent
source of nectar to pollinators like butterflies and bees. It can even act as a
host plant for spicebush and tiger swallowtail butterflies. The flowers and
leaves produce an amazing fragrant. It provides cover and nesting for
birds. Luckily, it is deer resistant and it is a perfect plant for damp, shady
regions.
So when you are walking by the Lindera benzoin, stop and take a look at
it. Notice its flower if it is spring, its berries if it is summer, or its beautiful
array of golden leaves if it is fall. However, anytime of season you can
stop and breathe in its wonderful aroma and relax in the wonders of
nature.
2.
Barberry
As you walk along the trail, keep an eye out for a thorny, shrub with
narrow, oval, small,
dark-green leaves. In
the spring, there are
small, not showy,
clustered yellow
flowers that turn into
bright red berries that
can last during the
winter.
Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that displace the actual
native species, disrupt the ecosystem, damage resources, and can disturb
recreational activities. And believe it or not, barberry is an invasive
species. It can spread up to eight feet, and cannot be controlled because
since it is a non-native plant, it has not natural predators or competitors.
And getting rid of it is nearly impossible. Just imagine coming out here
and pulling out these thorny shrubs to make room for this trail. Now that’s
dedication!
3. Ferns
Ferns are an ancient linage of plants, dating back to the Devonian Period.
There are actually over 10,000 species of ferns! Most ferns are found in
tropical forests, where their stems grow up to 40 feet tall. Here, in
temperate forests, the stems of ferns, called rhizomes, grow underground,
so unfortunately they don’t grow as tall. Leaves, or fronds, grow from the
rhizomes every spring. Ferns like to live in shaded, undisturbed places.
Probably the most common fern in this forest is the broad beech-fern. This
species extends all the way from Florida to Texas to Minnesota and
Maine. Another fern common in these woods is the royal fern. This fern
can grow between 2 to 5 feet tall with smooth, pale green stems. The dark
green leaflets are the fertile leaflets, which contain spores. The spores
themselves are green and capable of photosynthesis. After the spores have
been released, the fertile leaflets turn light brown.
Broad Beech-Fern
4.
Royal Fern
Bluestem Goldenrod
There are several different types of goldenrod. This specific type of
goldenrod, the bluestem goldenrod (seen below and to the left), likes to
grow in wooded areas, such as the area surrounding this
trail. It can grow up to three feet tall. Its name comes
from its obvious bluish-purple colored stem which
frequently arches as the plant grows and gets taller. It
produces yellow flowers during its blooming season in
August to October.
5.
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a woody
ivy that’s skin contains
an irritant that causes an itching rash for
most people. It grows throughout North
America, most commonly found in the
New England area as an understory plant
in a forest. It can grow in many different
environmental conditions, such as in an
arid climate, a moist climate, and even in
brackish water. The plant is virtually unknown in Europe, and many
European hikers in America are surprised to find such a hazardous plant.
Poison ivy is distinguished by its three leaflets. The colors of its leaves
change depending on its age, with the light green leaves showing a
younger plant and the darker leaves showing a more mature plant; in the
fall the leaves turn red before they fall. Flowering of poison ivy occurs
from May to July, and a berry-like
fruit, called a drupe, matures during
the months of August to November.
Poison ivy, in fact, is very beneficial
for birds. The allergic reaction caused
by poison ivy is known as urushiolinduced contact dermatitis. About
15%-30% of people are not allergic
to poison ivy, and many become
sensitized to it with repeated
exposure.
6.
Lichens
Many people don’t know how
truly important lichens are to our
environment. Lichen is a combination of a symbiotic relationship between
a fungus and a photosynthetic partner. They can grow virtually anywhere,
regardless of the climate; they even grow on soil or even rocks. Lichens
are the first species to arise in an environment, before any plant, tree,
shrub, bush, or animal even moves into the area. The appearance of lichen
allows for more oxygen in the environment because the photosynthetic
counterpart takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, allowing for
animals to come in. When the lichen dies, it decomposes and provides
nutrients for the soil, thus allowing future plants to come in and inhabit the
area. This leads to the eventual formation of a forest; therefore, all forests
start off as empty land inhabited by lichen. Lichens have been used for
many purposes, including medicines, perfumes, and dyes. It’s amazing
how this symbiotic relationship is so important to our environment.
7.
Winterberry Holly
When many Americans think of Christmastime, their minds often drift to
wreaths adorned with winterberry holly. It is also known as “black alder,”
“false alder” and “fever bush.” Winterberry holly is native to the eastern
United States and Canada in wetland areas though it can be grown in other
climates. Its native area stretches from Nova Scotia, Canada to southern
Florida and out west to Missouri and Michigan. The plant is quite easy to
cultivate as it only requires partial sunlight to thrive and has few disease or
insect problems. Winterberry holly can grow to heights anywhere from 3
feet to 15 feet tall. This shrub becomes very showy, and conducive to
displaying at Christmastime because winterberry holly loses its leaves
every autumn, so its shiny red berries are even more prominent during the
colder seasons. Pretty as they may be, winterberry holly can be quite
dangerous for humans. Ingesting just 20 berries can be fatal to the average
adult. However, winterberry holly serves as an important source of food
for many species of birds and other wild animals. Winterberry holly can
also serve as shelter for some birds and thereby provide food and
protection from predators (by the spiny leaves) within the shrub.
8.
Trout Lily
This early bloomer is often a sign that spring is just around the corner.
Trout lily, a common wildflower in the woods of eastern Canada and the
United States, often blooms before the last of winter’s ice has melted from
the ground. It is called a “trout lily” due the mottled color of its leaves
which resemble the coloring of the brook trout. Its purple/yellowish
coloring makes it extremely recognizable. The plant has multiple names in
addition to trout lily such as “adder’s tongue” and “dogtooth violet.”
Adder’s tongue comes from the likeness between a snake’s tongue and the
harshly pointed, closed leaves as they poke through the dense forest floor.
It is also called dogtooth violet because its bulb is white and tooth-like,
similar to a violet, though it is not a violet at all. The trout lily is a lowgrowing plant that grows into different colonies at different ages. When it
is young, the trout lily has but one leaf and is flowerless. When it is older
is grows a second leaf along with a flower. More parts will not grow until
the plant’s corm reaches a sufficient depth (roughly 10-20cm). Like all
members of the lily family, the trout lily has the characteristic three petals
and three petal-like sepals. Though trout lily is an edible plant that was
traditionally boiled and eaten, like everything else it should be eaten in
moderation. Ingesting too much trout lily can cause mild vomiting. Trout
lily spreads via an underground root system (corms) rather than by seeds.
9.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
This plant, scientifically
called Arisaema triphyllum, is native to North
America growing in woodlands from the East
coast to Minnesota and from Florida all the way
North to Nova Scotia. A jack-in-the-pulpit’s
leaves are trifoliate, with groups of three leaves
growing along a stem that arises from a corm.
This is not to be confused with the foliage of
poison ivy. The flowers of a jack-in-the-pulpit
are also known as inflorescence, or a group of
flowers arranged on top of a stem. The flower is
irregularly shaped and usually grows to about 8
cm. long. A brown and yellow striped spathe, or pulpit, wraps around the
spadix, or “Jack,” which is covered by all the tiny flowers of both sexes.
Flowering occurs from April until June, and then smooth, shiny green
berries form and cluster on top of the spadix. Jack-in-the-pulpit contains
oxalic acid, which is poisonous if ingested, causing extreme pain and
eventual death. It was found that the Indians who used to live in North
America would mix meat with the crushed corm of a jack-in-the-pulpit,
and then leave the meat out for their enemies to find and eat, causing a
painful death. Even so, the plant is still edible, but only if it is properly
dried or cooked.
10.
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
If you’re lucky and you listen closely, you can
maybe hear the soft pecking of a yellow-bellied
sapsucker on a tree. This is a pretty common
woodpecker in this area. This bird, however, is
very shy and often the only signs of the bird can
be on the trees and the horizontal rows of holes it
leaves behind on the tree. The bird pecks on the
trees so that the sap oozes out. The sweet and
sticky sap attracts many insects that come hungry
to eat the sap. The yellow-bellied sapsucker then
not only drinks the sap but also eats the insects
that are caught in the sap when it returns for pecking at another tree. But
don’t worry about the trees! This doesn’t hurt them and they can heal
relatively quickly, though they will always bear a “scar” as a result of the
sapsuckers pecking.
11.
Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies are found on all
continents in the world except
for Antarctica, and there are
over 170,000 different species
of the lepidopteron species
(butterflies and moths). These
insects are most often seen
during the warm seasons, but
they sometimes even appear on
warm winter days.
It’s truly amazing how
important the wings of butterflies and moths are to their survival. First of
all, males and females have certain patterns and colors on their wings that
distinguish between the sexes. Certain species have superbly vivid colors
on their wings that caution predators to be aware. Monarchs (shown
above), for example, have this characteristic. Monarchs in particular also
have poisonous wings and taste horrible to predators. Some butterflies and
moths also have wings that allow them to blend in with the environment, a
camouflage that prevents them from being eaten.
A characteristic of all Lepidoptera is that they undergo metamorphosis.
This transformation involves four different stages: egg, larva (caterpillar),
pupa (cocoon), and adult. Caterpillars usually eat plants while adult
butterflies and moths prefer flower nectar and pollen. Butterflies and
moths, in their larva stage in particular, are important to the food chain
because they are often the preferred food choice for animals like birds,
bats, and spiders.
While walking on the trail, be sure to keep a look out for some
Lepidoptera! Monarch butterflies and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
butterflies are two of the more common seen along the trail, especially at
the clearing at the end of the trail.
12.
Vernal Pools
Vernal pools are
temporary pools of
water that are
devoid of fish, thus
usually support
amphibians and
insects. This pool
created by the tree
root isn’t exactly a
vernal pool, but it
definitely similar in its functions. Like vernal pools, this “pond” is dry for
some parts of the year, but teems with life come spring (hence the
name vernal). Frogs and toads are the most obvious inhabitants, especially
in spring when they lay their eggs. In New York State specifically, the
endangered tiger salamander is a prominent species that is dependent on
vernal pools. The flora of the vernal pools depends on the weather, season,
and moisture of the pool.
13.
Trillium
Have you ever seen these
pretty little flowers? Chances
are you have. These
flowering plants are native to
North America and Asia.
They are called trillium (also known as wake robin or birthroot). In eastern
North America the most common type of
this herbaceous plant is the trillium
grandiflorum (pictured at right). This plant
has a large, often white three-petaled flower
above three broad bracts that look like
leaves. Many species of trillium are
cultivated in wildflower gardens.
While these flowers look beautiful enough
to pick and keep forever, PLEASE DO
NOT. In New York State it is illegal to pick
trillium for their flower because it seriously
injures the plant. The three leafy bracts
below the flower are the plant’s only ability to produce food. A picked
trillium can take many years to recover.
Trillium is one of many various flowering plants whose seeds are spread
via ants and mice. The ants are attracted to the fleshy organ on the plant’s
seeds called an elaiosome. The ants take the seeds and they eat the
elaiosome. Then they keep the seeds in their garbage where they are
protected until they can germinate. Thus, more plants are created for us to
enjoy!
14.
May Apple Colony
Look to your left, you see those pretty little white flowers?? That’s
podophyllum peltatum, commonly called may apple, and commonly found
in eastern United States, coincidentally the home of the Lindera Loop
Handicapped Trail. Though the common name is may apple, it is the
flower that appears in early May, not the “apple.”
May apple stems grow to about 18 inches high. It separates into two large,
dark green, lobed, palmate, stemmed leaves. May apple looks almost like
an umbrella protecting the large white flower and the “apple” (the fruit).
The white flower of the may apple is known for growing right in-between
the leaves, and blooms in May. The “apple” (the fruit of the plant) is
produced and later ripens during the summer season.
Originally Native Americans and later other settlers used the rhizome of
the may apple for many medicinal purposes. However, be aware that when
consumed in small amounts the may apple’s ripened fruit is edible, but
when consumed in large amounts it is poisonous.
About the Lindera Loop Trail…
The Lindera Loop Trail is inside the 140 acres of Putnam County Land
Trust’s Peach Lake Natural Area off Cobb Road in Southeast, nestled
under the tall canopy of deciduous forest and winding through the
understory of native Lindera bezoin. The trail, a 700-by-5-foot path, is
Putnam County’s first handicapped-accessible trail.
This location, as you may have
seen, is home to many plants and
animals that are native to red
maple swamps including wild
monarda, geranium, trillium, may
apple, trout lily, jack-in-the-pulpit,
Virginia creeper, violet, various
ferns, winterberry holly, spicebush,
deer, turkey, pheasant, partridge,
squirrel, chipmunk, and countless
species of small birds. The site of
the new trail is also the location of
the headquarters of PCLT -- the
house (right) was donated by
Dorothy O’Brien, an avid naturalist
with a passion for preserving
natural areas.
In September 2008, Anna Eisenstein and Krista Gabarro opened up the
Lindera Loop Handicapped-Accessible Trail with the help of the Putnam
County Land Trust and its president and vice president: Judi Terlizzi and
Brian Alberghini. Part of a Diploma of Excellence project, a Carmel High
School program that requires 300 hours of community service with the
creation of two projects, Anna and Krista came up with this idea and
started working on this project their freshman year. The two of them
believed that the beauty of nature should be available to everyone, even
those physically challenged. They spent countless hours clearing the trail
of plants like barberry, working relentlessly to raise money to pay for the
materials, sending letters, and making presentations to get donations from
various companies and organizations.
Their hard work and dedication paid off, and the results are perfect
portrayals of success. As the first handicapped-accessible trail in Putnam
County, it has been a major success. Every day, we see many people
strolling through the woods
on the trail to enjoy the
wonders and beauties of
nature. The path features an
environmentally friendly
surface (Item 4 choked with
stone dust) that wheelchairs
can roll over, and pull-offs or
landings every 100 feet. It
includes a small cul-de-sac
(the “Loop”), a fern glen, a trail guide, observation area, benches, and
appropriate signage.
Anna and Krista are now in college, but the project was continued by
seniors Sam Gilbert and Laura Craciun. The two students have strikingly
diverse interests. Laura has an aptitude for the natural sciences, doing
research in a laboratory at Cornell Medical School and even aspiring to be
a doctor. On the contrary, Sam is hoping to pursue a career in the social
sciences and humanities, as she has a passion for government and foreign
languages. Despite their differences, they share an interest in nature. Like
Anna and Krista, these two high school students are also participating in
the Diploma of Excellence project. They are making their own
contributions to this noteworthy trail. This brochure is the result of their
efforts. It provides details on not only the land’s native plants and
animals, but also the history of the land and the forest. They spent
countless hours researching, writing, designing, and editing this brochure.
Sam and Laura are also currently raising money for the trail, in hopes that
the trail can continue with its progress, perhaps with, for example, the
addition of sitting area to make the trail even more hospitable to all
visitors interested in exploring nature!
All four of these students have a love for nature and believe that such
wonders should be adored by everyone, no exceptions. This trail was built
in hopes that such a dream can be accomplished, and that even those
physically challenged can observe the wonders the natural world has to
offer. Anna, Krista, and now Sam and Laura have put forth enthusiasm
and love in their work on this trail in hopes that their visions can be
achieved.
Acknowledgements

Judi Terlizzi, Brian Alberghini, and the Putnam County Land Trust for
their support and cooperation

All the donors who made this trail possible:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Brewster VFW Post 672
Carmine Labriola Contracting Corporation
The Correll Family
IBM Community Grant Program
Envirostar
Margot Irlam Irish
Putnam County Land Trust
Brewster Elks Club
Brewster Rotary Club
George Candreva Foundation Environmental Mini-grant
All other donors
Donations are still appreciated for trail maintenance.
Contact Information:
For more information about the trail, visit our website at
http://www.pclt.net