This was the first time I have seen
Phragmites australis growing in a dry soil situation. More precisely, it was invading a dry soil habitat from areas of poor drainage that probably hold standing water occasionally.
The dominant grass cover at this site was an annual
Sporobolus species, probably
S. vaginiflorus. No particularly rare plants were noticed, with the exception of a few scattered clumps of sideoats grama. This is not really surprising as it was the first time I've ever visited this site, more field surveys at different times during the growing season may uncover rare species. Even so it was very satisfying to wander this grassy cedar glade labyrinth. I'd estimate that it was several acres in size, which is large by contemporary Pennsylvania standards.
The blue flowered plant is
Lobeilia siphilitica a wetland plant, surrounded by horsetail. While the upper layer of soil hear was sandy and appeared well drained, there must be a hard pan layer below it to provide water saturated soil conditions for these wetland plants. Apparently the eastern red cedars tolerate varied soil conditions.
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| Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass) |
Clumps of purple lovegrass were scattered about on slightly higher sandy spots.
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| Rhus copallinum (winged sumac) |
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This was this first time I've seen this species of sumac. It's a plant that's reported as common in the state, but just not the region I frequent.
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| Euphorbia dentata (toothed spurge) |
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