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Darlingtonia Trail VVVV WWWW Smith River National Recreation Area Six Rivers National Forest

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Darlingtonia Trail VVVV WWWW Smith River National Recreation Area Six Rivers National Forest Darlingtonia Trail VVVV WWWW Smith River National Recreation Area Six Rivers National Forest elcome to a most uncommon habitat, home of the extraordinary California Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia californica), a host of other plants, a few animals, and various Winsects. It’s the insect-digesting characteristic of the Darlingtonia, plus its Cobra-like shape and showy blossoms, that people find so intriguing. As prospectors in times past sought out serpentine rock formations because of the minerals they contained, photographers and wildflower enthusiasts today seek the botanical treasures produced in serpentine environments. You’re invited to walk Discover the a short, easy trail to a bog where you may observe the beauty of a large Treasures of Darlingtonia community from two viewing platforms. Learn more about this rare and amazing plant and the plants and animals which share this space. a Serpentine Environment Did you notice the beautiful jade-green color of Away from the the water in the Smith River as you drove along the coast, the Darlingtonia is usually found in Highway 199 Scenic Byway? The mineral serpentine perpetually wet serpentine soil, like seeps or bogs. has a gray-green color and many of the rocks in the Smith River NRA contain this mineral in various A Warning! Another plant species that grows forms, lending its distinctive color to the flowing well here is poison oak. Please water. The weathering of serpentinized rocks pro- stay on the path, both to minimize duces soils rich in magnesium, silica, and iron and low impact on this fragile environment and to protect in calcium, potassium, and aluminum with high yourself from poison oak. Remember, look, but concentrations of the heavy metals nickel, chromium, don’t touch! The Darlingtonia may be viewed and and cobalt. photographed but picking or collecting them is not permitted. Help us main- Serpentine soils are elcome to the Smith River National tain this special resource highly toxic to most plant Recreation Area, located within the Six for both present and future species, and if you were to WRivers National Forest and managed by visitors. drive in areas along the the Forest Service, United States Department of North Fork Smith River, Agriculture. This 305,337 acre National Recreation At Mile Post 17.9 where the soils have a high Area (NRA) was designated by Congress in Novem- Hwy 199 serpentine content, you ber 1990 to protect the area’s special scenic value, The trail begins at the left would notice how the natural diversity, cultural and historical attributes, (west) end of the parking trees appear stressed and wilderness, wildlife, fisheries, and the Smith River lot and continues in a .2 stunted in growth. But watershed’s clean waters. The Forest Service has mile loop. The two view- some plants have adapted been designated as the steward of the NRA to ing platforms are wheel- to serpentine soils and provide recreational opportunities and to manage chair accessible. Trail several will grow only in this diverse area for all of its valuable resources. surface is gravel. serpentine environments. United States Department of Forest Service Six Rivers National Forest Agriculture Pacific Southwest Region Smith River National Recreation Area On the Way to the Bog Platform One: A Darlingtonia Haven itcher Plants thrive in wetland environ- ost plants receive essential nutrients like ments where few other plants can survive. nitrogen and phosphorous from the soil But judging by numerous plants growing along the Mand not many can survive in wetlands. path, one would not guess that a bog is nearby. Wetlands typically have few nutrients available for You may see the western fence lizard on the large plants. Darlingtonias receive their nitrogen and other rock at the beginning of the trail. Or you may dis- nutrients from an unusual source — the insects and cover a northern or southern alligator lizard or a blue other small organisms that become trapped within the tailed skink darting among rocks or logs. You’ll also hood of the plant. see coffeeberry, manzanita, blue-blossom ceanothus, canyon live oak, and Squaw Carpet, which all prefer The hood and other appendages secrete a nectar dry, well-drained soils typical that lures the insect into a hole on the underside of the of rocky serpentine environ- hood. (See drawing on the right.) Light enters the ments. Some plant species, like transparent top of the hood and the insect flies Douglas-fir and Pacific mad- toward the light. But the hood’s slippery interior rone, will tolerate more vari- walls, with many downward-pointing hairs, impede ances in growing conditions, an escape and the invading insect falls into the though obviously all the plants “pitcher’s” water in the stem and drowns. Many you see can withstand the minute organisms living in the water slowly consume heavy winter rainfall of north- the bug and, in the process, release essential nutrients ern California. that are absorbed by the darlingtonia. Evergreen huckleberry grows Do you see any here and on moist, well-drained darlingtonia flowers? They soil, in sun or shade, throughout almost appear to be a separate the NRA, as does California plant, their reddish lily-like laurel. As you get closer to blossoms rising beside and the bog you’ll notice more often above the parent plant. plants that like moist well- The flower turns upright after pollination and you drained soil, like ocean spray may see some of last year’s crop. Botanists are and incense cedar. Another Ocean Spray uncertain as to how exactly the flower is pollinated. common name for ocean Wouldn’t it be ironic if spray is arrowwood, so called because native Ameri- the pitcher plant’s cans used its straight stems for arrow shafts. You can source of pollination spot the flower “sprays” even in winter. Incense and food were the cedar is easily identified by its duckbill-shaped cones. same insect? A real Don’t miss the majestic Incense Cedar predicament! Jeffrey pine growing near the bog. It’s estimated to Nearby neighbors be about 150 years old. to the darlingtonia are The cinnamon-red bark plants that thrive in has a fruity odor and an the moist yet well- appearance almost like a drained soil near the jigsaw puzzle. edges of the bog: the lovely California lady slipper, Labrador tea, Western the beautiful western Azalea azalea, delicate five- Platform Two: A Port-Orford-cedar (POC) walls make e or sc with its beautiful lacy foliage ri ap Another Photo te e provides shade for this plat- n d Opportunity i if fi form and the adjacent y cu r l darlingtonia. Look around for other POC in the area e t p — you’ll see white X’s on the underside of the p i l s foliage sprays and a grayish-brown bark that often d splits into long narrow strips. These and other cedars n I n a frequently share space with pitcher plants. Unfortu- s s e r i c nately, Port-Orford-cedars are threatened by a disease t s fungus carried by water and mud. Many POC in e n g southern Oregon and northern California have been te n r i killed by this disease which has no cure. We t en h is op do not know how the loss of POC in a bog like this one will affect the habitat and ultimately the future of darlingtonia. Everyone can help protect healthy POCs by observing gate closures and washing mud from the aydwwr onigha pointing downward Many underside of vehicles and equipment used in spore- infested areas. The Smith Tiny River NRA Visitor Center organisms can provide additional infor- Port-Orford-cedar consume the mation on the disease and its drowned prevention. insects and release What’s this big A fence surrounds a hole nutrients Hole-in-the- which is probably a test Ground? mine, dug by a miner to exam- needed by the ine the area for traces of gold or pitcher plant. other valuable mineral. Since no other evidence of mining exists at this site, the area must have “flunked” the mining-potential test.This hole A vertical cross-section of the hood and stem of could have been dug in the 1930s, when the Darlingtonia californica Depression brought many people to the Smith River area looking for quick income. This cross-section of soil shows just how rocky the finger ferns, and Port-Orford-cedar. Some of the not- land is and how unsuitable it would be for so-visible bog neighbors may include snakes — farming. However, since this location is rela- garter, gopher, brown racer, and the colorful ring tively flat, it may have provided a home site for neck — all non-venomous. miners working the Middle Fork Smith River. Since the 1860s prospectors have explored and exploited the many serpentine areas along Garter the Smith River for gold, chromite, and copper. Snake The history of Del Norte County is intimately connected to the mining of gold. The Return Loop s you walk the return trail loop, look for wildflowers growing along the path: trillium, Airis, western modesty, calypso orchid, false solomon’s seal, lupine, wild rose, and others. Can you tell by looking at the trees, shrubs, ferns, and flowers where the soil changes from moist to dry? You may see evidence of past logging where selective trees were removed. See how many trees you can identify — look for sugar pine, madrone, California laurel, live oak, tanoak, incense cedar, and Douglas-fir. Calypso Orchid Trillium Lupine Western Modesty Please help us protect darlingtonia communities wherever they grow. The numbers of this rare plant growing in the wild have been severely diminished by illegal collecting and loss of wetlands habitat.
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