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Kalamazoo Nature Center Survey

Non-Vascular Plants

Methods

The entire property was surveyed for non-vascular species, except for the southern

fields that had been too recently disturbed to reflect accurately their typical vegetation.

Since most of these plants grow low to the ground, the search was conducted on and

under the leaf litter and near, on and under fallen trees, almost always off broken trail.

Two methods were used to inventory the three different types of non-vascular plants

studied: fungi, lichens and bryophytes. Fungi were identified on site using Mushrooms

Demystified (Arora 1986) when the criteria needed for identification were sufficiently

obvious. If a specimen defied field identification, it was placed in a box on an

appropriately colored piece of paper to obtain a spore print and taken into the lab to be

identified microscopically.

Bryophytes and lichens were collected in the field using Grout's method as outlined in

Mosses with Hand-Lens and Microscope, published in 1903. An appropriately sized piece

of moss found with complete setae, or a lichen in its natural state, was removed from its

place and put in a paper envelope marked with date collected, nature of the substrate

and its surroundings, approximate abundance of the species and location. Because it is

nearly impossible to identify bryophytes and lichens in the field, all samples collected

were taken back to the lab and identified under optical magnification.

Qualitative Non-vascular Plant Survey Results

General

The survey was conducted between 24 April and 30 September 2000. All three seasons

covered provided abundant samples of the non-vascular flora.

Fungi

The fungi identified (Table A) were consistent with the type of forest cover found at the

Asylum Lake Preserve. Oak conk, dryad saddle, scarlet cup fungi and many other

fungi were found and identified. The fungal flora was abundant.

Of particular interest was the species Coprinus micaceous, found in the Old Orchard.

Generally the presence of this fungus indicates burnt soil. It was abundant and found

throughout this sector. Though research was done to see if burning had occurred

before the orchard was planted, no evidence could be found. However, it is known that

Native Americans used fire as a management tool in some instances (Chapman 1984). It

was also common practice to burn an area before planting it with orchard trees, so this

indicator species could be evidence of an historic burning. Other supporting evidence

was the ubiquitous presence of mosses and a lack of higher vascular herbaceous

growth.

Mosses and Liverworts

Mosses are listed in Table B. Without independent validation of the identifications, the

potential exists for error, particularly at the species level. The extensive disruption of

the site over the past 150 years profoundly affects the nonvascular flora. The probable

influence of fire prior to the recent era also is relevant. For a few types, specimens with

setae, a critical feature for identification, were never found, so these remain anonymous.

No moss of particular interest was found. However, Dr. Elwood B. Ehrle of Western

Michigan University’s Department of Biological Sciences (Personal communication

2001) has provided a list of “bryophytes which might persist in seriously disrupted

places like the Asylum Lake property and other areas with depauperate woods, a

largely destroyed forest floor community and polluted wetlands.”

Hepaticopsida (Liverworts)

Order Jungermanniales

Lophocolea heterophylla

Fullania eboracensis

Radula complanata

Musci (Mosses)

Family Ditrichaceae

Ceratodon purpureus

Family Bryaceae

Bryum argenteum

Family Mniaceae

Mnium cuspidatum

Family Leskeaceae

Anomodon attenuatus

Thuidium delicatulum

Family Amblystegiaceae

Campylium hispidulum

Amblystegium serpens

Family Brachytheciaceae

Brachythecium oxycladon

Family Rhynchostegiaceae

Rhynchostegium serrulatum

Family Hypnaceae

Platygyrium repens

Hypnum pallescens

Callicladium haldanianum

Family Tetraphidaceae

Tetraphis pellucida

Family Polytrichaceae

Atrichum angustatum

Polytrichum ohioense

In addition to the above, Dr. Ehrle provided a list of bryophytes likely to occur at less

disturbed sites in Kalamazoo County. This list is not included in the report.

Lichens

The number of different lichen species (Table B) was notable.

Ferns

The small number of fern species present (Table B) reflects the disturbed nature of the

site.

Overall, the non-vascular flora is widespread and varies from diverse to depauperate,

depending on the group.

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