Category Archives: Plants

Lactuca tatarica: Blue lettuce–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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flower blue lettuce

The introduced invasive species Lactuca tatarica appears occasionally at Race Rocks

Cautionary note in case someone gets hungry on the island:

“The milky-sap from this plant, contains a medicinal compound called ‘lactucarium’. It has been used for its pain-relieving, antispasmodic, digestive, urinating-inducing, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative inducing properties If one injests the plant it is used to treat insomnia, anxiety, neuroses, hyperactivity in children, dry coughs, whooping cough, and rheumatic pain. An external dose can even be applied to warts. However, it should be noted that this plant should not be used in these cases excepted by trained professionals. This is because the plant, even in small doses, could lead to death through cardiac paralysis.” (plant-life.org)

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lactuca
Species: L. tatarica
Lactuca tatarica

Other Angiosperms at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 

Gladiolus imbricatus: Turkish marsh gladiolus

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Gladiolus imbricatus in bloom: Originally from south-eastern Europe/Turkey, it was introduced in the garden of an early lightkeeper and has been growing unattended here for over 50 years.

rmirza2010rr

Raisa Mirza took this photo of Gladiolus imbricatus in May 2010


Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Ixioideae
Tribe: Ixieae
Genus: Gladiolus
Species: imbricatus
Other Angiosperms at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 

Triteleia hyacinthina: White brodiaea–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Triteleia hyacinthina, the white brodiaea, or fool’s onion is a native of the Pacific west coast of North America. These ones grow just east of the tower.10 metres.

Due to a late spring storm from the southeast three weeks ago, many of the early blooming plants show some effects of salt spray. Photos by Garry Fletcher May 9, 2010.

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Plantae
Superdivision Spermatophyta
DivisionMagnoliophyta
Class Liliopsida
SubclassLiliidae
Order Liliales
Family Lilaceae
Genus Triteleia
Species hyacinthina
(Lindl.)Greene
Common Name: White brodiaea, fools onion

 

Other Members of the Angiosperm at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

Garry Fletcher

Calendula officinalis: marigold–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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calendula

Calendula officinalis growing every month at Race Rocks– photo G.Fletcher

calendulapath

Many of the pathways are lined by this plant.

Although introduced to Race Rocks by  lightkeepers to brighten up their garden years ago, Calendula sp.is an interesting exotic since because of the ocean moderated temperature of the Ecological Reserve, it blooms at Race Rocks every month of the year. The reason it is so successful there is probably that it is not grazed by gulls or geese.

 

Also see the notation and images by Ecoguardian Anne Stewart, Sept 13 2015.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Calenduleae
Genus: Calendula
species: officinalis

Other Angiosperms (flowering plants) at Race Rock

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 

Garden Escapes and Invasive Species of Great Race Rocks Island.

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towerstockThroughout the year, on the main island of Great Race Rocks, a changing array of introduced garden flowers range over the landscape of the island. This island had been used by the British Colonial Navy and then by the Canadian Coast Guard since the 1860’s . During that time, many light keepers and their assistants had brought ashore soil and had planted gardens for their own provisioning. Along with the soil came many introduced species, and over the years, those species of plants that have been tolerant of the salt spray and the extreme drought of the summer months have survived. A further selective force was the “trimming and mowing” of the grass and the rock knolls on the island. Fire was always a hazard and as a result every attempt was made to prevent the build up of organic materials. In 1997 when Lester Pearson College started managing the environment on the island, a decision was made to attempt to restore the grassed area to a more natural environment by leaving it in its natural state. The introduced flowers are not cultivated, if they survived the conditions, they are allowed to flourish. Those that are unpalatable to Canada geese grazing now have an advantage. The unique thing about these perennials is that they often remain flowering throughout the winter since the air temperature, moderated by the surrounding waters keeps it the above freezing.

Link to other Posts on the Terrestrial Plants of Race Rocks

grape hyacinth images/crocus.jpg
Hyacinthoides non-scripta: English bluebells. Native to Europe. Matthiola incana: evening-scented stock, first discovered growing on cliffs above the sea in England. Also in picture with tower, above right. Muscari racemosum / neglectum: Grape Hyacinth: native to Armenia Crocus vernus subsp. vernus: Native to Asia.
wall flower and Race ROcks tower
Sedum sp.: possibly Sedum album see also below This was introduced beside the assistant keepers house in the mid 1980s and has since spread over most of the rock-exposed parts of the island, partially because of increased pressure of Canada goose grazing on other plants Calendula sp.: Native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran. Also shown beside the paths below where it self-seeds each year. Cheiranthus allionii: Perennial wall flower, native to the Canary islands. This plant will flower throughout the year.In mild winters it does not stop blooming. Cheiranthus allionii .–wallflowers near the residence with the tower in the background
sedum calendula gladiolus imbricatus
Gladiolus imbricatus,garden escape
 Sedum sp.  Pathway at Race Rocks with naturally growing border of Calendula.(Gulls will occasionally rip some out for nesting material.) Gladiolus imbricatus : It is not yet in bloom in this picture, but several clumps grow in late May on the east side of the main residence. G.imbricatusin bloom: Originally from south-eastern Europe/Turkey, it has been growing unattended here for over 50 years.

 

Amsinckia,fiddleneck
Amsinckia spectabilis , fiddleneck
 Amsinckia spectabilis , fiddleneck Amsinckia spectabilis , fiddleneck
This fiddleneck,Amsinckia spectabilis is a recent arrival to the islands, Amsinckia spectabilis in bloom. Although not a garden escape, it has colonized many areas here possibly because of the unpalatability to Canada geese. Close up of Amsinckia spectabilis in bloom.. Fiddle shaped seed heads of Amsinckia spectabilis. Below are  the seedsAmsinckia spectabilis , fiddleneck seedsUnless otherwise stated, photos on this page were taken by G. Fletcher

Zostera marina: eel grass–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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This true sea grass, is not an algae, but a flowering plant. It does have a close relative, the other sea grass Phyllospadix scouleri which does live at Race Rocks. We have included it here because it often ends up on the small pocket beach areas as drift along marine algae and logs. So technically its energy is imported into the Race Rocks Ecosystem with the help of storms. It actually grows in shallow offshore areas in a sand sediment bottom. The closest to Race Rocks is around Bentinck Island and in Emdyck Passage

Asexual Reproduction: In the photos you can see that it grows on a sediment substrate and has creeping roots or rhizomes just below the surface. They serve as its main method of propagation. It also can produce seeds from small inconspicuous flowers. A bed of this grass may be closely related genetically as it is joined by a network of these rhizomes underground.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Zosteraceae
Genus: Zostera
Species: marina
Common Name: Eel Grass

 

Other Members of the Angiosperms at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 name –year (PC)

Phyllospadix scouleri: surf grass– Race Rocks taxonomy

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Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Zosteraceae
Genus: Phyllospadix
Species: P. scouleri
Binomial name
Phyllospadix scouleri

Genus/species Phyllospadix scouleri (Hooker)

 

Description: This flowering plant is most characteristic of the open rocky shores of the coast that are exposed to the full force of the waves, as on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  There it forms bright emerald-green beds on the rocks near extreme low-tide level.  The plants are relatively short, usually not more than a metre in length, and the leaves are 20-32 mm. wide.  Short basal flowering stems are produced, which are 5-8 cm. long.

Habitat:  On rocks in the lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones.

Pacific Coast Distribution:  Alaska to Mexico.

Robert Scagel, 1972

 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. March 8 2009- Ryan Murphy

Armeria maritima: Thrift–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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gfjune513thrift-1024x768

Thrift, Armeria near Race Rocks Jetty. Photo by Garry Fletcher

 

gfjun2011thrift-1024x816

Thrift is a native plant which grows in the salt spray zone at Race Rocks .

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Genus: Armeria
Species: A. maritima

Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd.

Other Members of the Angiosperms at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

–Garry Fletcher

 

Lathyrus japonicus: Beach Pea–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Description:

The beach pea Lathyrus japonicus or wild pea is found along in several locations at Race Rocks.In the west bay near the docks, and in the southeast beach area. It also has a conspicuous location on the center path where it grows out of an old log planted on end. We have also spread some seeds down the sidewalk wall toward the desalinator building. The flowering size is 3/4 inch wide, The flowering color is pink to purple,The flowering time is June to August. Height is 1-2 feet.

The beach pea has tough roots, is useful a sand binder and it adds nitrogen to the soil.

A major characteristic of the beach pea that makes it an ideal palnt for coastal areas is that it can live in soils which are Nitrogen deficient. It does this as do most of the legumes by converts atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates, a process known as “Nitrogen Fixation” .It has nodules on its roots which house Rhizobium bacteria. (Link to the exercise on Nitrogen Cycle)

Tne beach pea can cause a very serious disease of the nervous system, (brain and spine). Also the beach pea can be toxic to animals. It was however used as a laxative among the Coastal First Nations people.

Range: Coastal Labrador New England, south to North Jersey,along the Great Lakes, Pacific Coast from Alaska to California.The beach pea cannot grow in the shade and requires moist soil.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Plantae
Division Anthophyta
Class Dicotyledonaceae
Family Fabaceae
Genus Lathyrus
Species japonicus
Common Name: Beach pea

Other Members of the Angiosperm at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. Mersiha Niksic (PC)