Save Our Seine & Nature Manitoba – July 14, 2015
This list and information was developed for a walk organized jointly between Save Our Seine (SOS) and Nature Manitoba on July 14, 2015.
The South Trail is a 1.8km extension of the Seine River Greenway along the west side of the Seine River south of the Royalwood Bridge and north of Creek Bend Bridge. A protection plan was started in 2001/2 with the area identified as a 'park' in 2004. In 2007 a trail and sustainable development plan was proposed in collaboration with the City of Winnipeg, Save our Seine, and other groups. The current crushed limestone southern trail was mostly completed in 2011 as part of the ongoing plan (there was an easement issue with the land owner at the south end of the trail which meant the last hundred meters or so took longer to complete).
The Seine River Greenway is a narrow riparian zone that provides a natural buffer along the Seine River into the heart of Winnipeg. This buffer zone protects the river quality and provides a natural habitat in which wild plants and animals thrive.
The following few species are just a random selection of plants that may be seen during the walk. There was no real reason for picking these in particular.
This is the largest willow in the prairie provinces, the second largest tree after the Eastern Cottonwood. This is a short lived, quickly growing tree that is common along the Seine River Greeway. It has lanceolate pale green leaves with a whitish underside. The name suggests that the leaves are similar to peach leaves. Baskets, furniture, mats, chew sticks. Like all willows salicylic acid (pain and inflammation) can be extracted from the twigs. Young leaves and inner bark and be used as an emergency food source. The fast growing tree provides riparian stability.
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_saam2.pdf
The Tartarian honeysuckle is a common bush found throughout the Seine River Greenway. It is an import from Eurasia that was brought as an ornamental shrub. It is usually an indicator of an area that was a homestead or farm but since it spreads easily shrubs can be found throughout the area. In the city this shrub has not gotten too out of control but it has the potential to outcompete other native tree species. There is a suggestion that it may produce allopathic compounds that inhibit other plants from growing.
This is an introduced plant that is a relative of sage, it has either bi – or tripinnate silver-grey leaves covered in silver-white hairs. It is a gorilla species quickly invading disturbed areas, usually it is found along the side of the path or in open areas. It is one of the flavouring ingredients in the spirit absinthe. In Europe it has traditionally been used to stimulate the appetite and relieve indigestion. The name "artemisia" ultimately derives from the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman Diana), but likely the use of the name for this genus is related to Artemisia II of Caria, a botanist and medical researcher who died in 350 BC. Collect several plants and hanging the leaves in a basement, wardrobe, or other area that you want to hide odours.
Milkweeds are best known for feeding Monarch butterfly caterpillars and are a important addition to any butterfly garden. Other uses include extracting the tough fibers for making cords and ropes, and for weaving a coarse cloth. The fibers are sometimes mixed with fibers of Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum). Although Milkweeds can be prepared for eating without careful preparation they are also toxic.
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_assy.pdf
Water Smartweed is a truly amphibious plant being able to live on both land and submerged in water. At one time the same species was split into two because the morphology of the stem and leaves is quite different. With genetic testing and just monitoring the plants it is clear that the species is just highly variable. The plants have been used traditionally as a food source or for a variety of medicines. Recently scientists found that Smartweed accumulate elevated levels of gold suggesting the plant might be used for bioassay or to help clean up polluted tailings.
http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/202.html
http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/225.html
http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/203.html
http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/1087.html
http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/1099.html
The following species list is a collection of the species listed on the individual links above along with new species added from a couple of ground truthing trips during June and early July, 2015. I don't expect this list to be complete neither does it reflect the current naming standards for some of the species.
Acer ginnala -- Amur maple Acer negundo -- Manitoba maple Acer negundo var. interius -- Manitoba maple Achillea millefolium -- Yarrow Actaea rubra -- Red baneberry Agropyron repens -- Quack- grass, Couch-grass Agropyron trachycaulum -- Slender wheatgrass Agrostis stolonifera -- Redtop Alisma triviale Pursh -- Northern Water Plaintain Amaranthus retroflexus -- Green amaranth, Red-footed Ambrosia artemisiifolia -- Common ragweed Amelanchier alnifolia -- Saskatoon Amphicarpa bracteata -- Hog-peanut Andropogon gerardii -- Big bluestem Andropogon scoparius -- Little bluestem Anemone canadensis -- Canada anemone Apocynum androsaemifolium -- Spreading dogbane Apocynum cannabinum -- Indian-hemp Aralia nudicaulis -- Wild sarsparilla Arctium minus -- Lesser burdock Artemisia absinthium -- Absinthe Asclepias ovalifolia -- Dwarf milkweed Asclepias syriaca -- Common or Silky milkweed Asparagus officinalis -- Garden asparagus Aster simplex -- Small blue aster Astragulus frigidus -- American milk-vetch Avena fatua -- Wild oats Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fernald -- Sloughgrass Bidens spp. -- Beggarticks Bromus ciliatus -- Fringed brome Bromus inermis -- Smooth brome Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. -- Hedge bindweed Campanula rapunculoides -- Creeping bluebell Capsella bursa-pastoris -- Shepherd's-purse Caragana arborescens Lam. -- Caragana Carex aquatilis Wahlenb. -- Water sedge Carex assiniboinensis W. Boott -- Assiniboia sedge Carex atherodes Spreng. -- Wheat sedge Carex canescens L. -- Silvery sedge Carex disperma Dewey -- Softleaved sedge Carex lanuginosa auct. non Michx -- Wooly Sedge Carex spp. -- Sedge Celastrus scandens -- Climbing bittersweet Ceratophyllum demersum L. -- Coon's tail Chenopodium spp. -- Goosefoot Chrysanthemum leucanthemum -- Ox-eye daisy Cirsium arvense -- Canada thistle Cornus stolonifera -- Red osier dogwood Corylus americana Walter -- American Hazelnut Corylus spp. -- Hazelnut Crataegus rotundifolia -- Round-leaved hawthorn Crataegus spp. -- Hawthorn Descurainia sophia -- Fixweed Echinochloa crusgalli -- Barnyard grass Echinocystis lobata -- Wild cucumber Elaeagnus angustifolia -- Russian olive Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult. -- Common spike rush Elymus junceus -- Russian wild rye Epilobium ciliatum -- Northern willowherb Equisetum arvense -- Common horsetail Erigeron canadensis -- Horse-weed, Canada fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus -- Philadelphia fleabane Erysimum cheiranthoides -- Wormseed mustard Euphorbia esula L. -- Leafy spurge Fagopyrum sagittatum -- Buckwheat Fagopyrum tataricum -- Tartary buckwheat Fragaria virginiana -- Smooth wild strawberry Fraxinus pennsylvanica -- Green ash Galeopsis tetrahit -- Common hemp-nettle Galium boreale -- Northern bedstraw Galium triflorum -- Sweet-scented bedstraw Geum alleppicum -- Yellow avens Glechoma hederacea -- Gill-over-the-ground Glyceria grandis -- Tall manna grass Glycyrrhiza lepidota -- Wild licorice Hesperis matronalis -- Dame's rocket, Dame's-violet Hieracium canadense -- Canada hawkweed Hordeum jubatum -- Foxtail barley Lactuca tatarica -- Wild lettuce Lappula echinata -- Bluebur Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. -- Cream-coloured vetchling Lathyrus spp. -- Peavine Linaria vulgaris -- Butter-and-eggs Lonicera spp. -- Honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica -- Tartarian honesuckle Lotus corniculatus L. -- Bird's Foot Trefoil Lycopus americanus -- Water-horehound Lycopus americanus -- Water-horehound Lycopus asper -- Western water-horehound Lysimachia ciliata -- Fringed loosestrife Maianthemum canadense -- Two-leaved Soloman's- seal,Wild lilly of the valley Malus spp. -- Apple tree Matricaria maritima -- Scentless chamomile Medicago lupulina -- Black medick Medicago sativa -- Alfalfa Melilotus alba -- White sweet-clover Melilotus officinalis -- Yellow sweet-clover Menispermum canadense -- Yellow parilla Mentha arvensis -- Field mint Mimulus ringens L. -- Blue Monkey Flower Nuphar variegatum -- Bullhead-lilly, Yellow pond-lily Oxalis stricta -- Yellow wood-sorrel Panicum capillare -- Witch grass Panicum virgatum -- Switch grass Parthenocissus quinquefolia -- Virginia creeper Petasites frigidus (L.) Fr. var. sagittatus (Banks ex Pursh) Cherniawsky -- Arrow-leaved colt's foot Phalaris arundinacea -- Reed canary grass Phleum pratense -- Timothy Picea glauca -- White spruce Plantago major -- Common plantain Poa pratensis -- Kentucky blue grass Poa spp. -- Blue grass Polygonum amphibium L. var. stipulaceum Coleman -- water smart weed Polygonum spp. -- Smartweed Populus tremuloides -- Trembling aspen Potamogeton natans L. -- floating pondweed Potamogeton pusillus L. -- Small Pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii (Benn.) Rydb. -- Richardson's pondweed Potentilla anserina -- Silverweed Potentilla arguta -- White cinquefoil, Tall Prunus americana -- American plum Prunus virginiana -- Red-fruited choke cherry Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa -- Black-fruited choke cherry Quercus macrocarpa -- Bur oak Ranunculus abortivus L. -- Smooth-leaved buttercup Ranunculus cymbaliaria Pursh. -- Seaside Buttercup Ranunculus macounii Britton -- Macoun's Buttercup Rhus radicans var. rydbergii -- Poison ivy Ribes americanum -- Wild black currant Ribes spp. -- Currant Rosa acicularis -- Prickly rose Rosa blanda Aiton -- Smooth Rose Rosa spp. -- Rose Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus -- Red raspberry Rumex crispus -- Curled dock Sagittaria cuneata -- Arum-leaved arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia -- Broad-leaved arrowhead Salix amygdaloides -- Peach-leaved willow Salix exigua -- Sandbar willow Sanicula marilandica -- Snakeroot Scirpus sp. -- Bulrush Scirpus validus Vahl -- Softstem Bulrush Senecio vulgaris -- Common groundsel Setaria glauca -- Yellow foxtail Setaria viridis -- Green foxtail Silene spp. -- Catchfly Sisyrinchium montanum -- Blue-eyed grass Sium suave -- Water-parsnip Smilacina stellata -- Star-flowered Solomon's-seal Smilax herbacea -- Carrionflower Smilax lasioneura -- Blue ridge carrion-flower Solidago canadensis -- Canada goldenrod Solidago spp. -- Goldenrod Sonchus asper -- Spiny-leaved sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus -- Common sow-thistle Sonchus spp. -- Sow thistle Stachys palustris -- Marsh hedge-nettle Stellaria media -- Common chickweed Symphoricarpos occidentalis -- Western snowberry Taraxacum officinale -- Dandelion Thalictrum dasycarpum -- Tall meadow-rue Thalictrum spp. -- Meadow-rue Thalictrum venulosum -- Veiny meadow-rue Thlaspi arvense -- Stinkweed, Field pennycress Tilia americana -- Basswood Tragopogon dubius -- Yellow goats-beard Trifolium hybridum L. -- Alsike Clover Trifolium repens L. -- White Clover Typha latifolia L. -- Broadleaf Cattail Typha spp. -- Cat-tail Ulmus americana -- American elm Ulmus pumila -- Siberian elm Urtica dioica -- Stinging nettle Urtica dioica var. procera -- Stinging nettle Verbascum thapsus -- Common mullein, Flannel-plant Viburnum lentago -- Nannyberry Viburnum opulus var. americanum -- High bush-cranberry Viburnum rafinesquianum -- Downy arrow-wood Vicia americana -- Common vetch Vicia cracca -- Tufted vetch Viola spp. -- Violet Vitis riparia -- Riverbank grape Xanthium italicum -- Cocklebur Zizia aurea -- Golden alexanders
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Last modified: Mon Jul 13 18:41:21 2015