A Vascular Plant Survey of Weaver Lake Tavis Austin*
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100 A Vascular Plant Survey Of Weaver Lake Tavis Austin* INTRODUCTION During the summer of 1994 a survey of aquatic vascular plants in Weaver Lake, Warren, New York, was taken in order to establish a database and characterization of the biotope. Samples were collected in selected areas from the eulitttoral zone. The specimens were then pressed, identified, and grouped according to collection site. MATERIALS AND METHODS plant specimens were collected from areas of 100 feet X 10 feet along the western shoreline of Weaver Lake using a row boat, rake, and gallon size glass jars. The object was to get as much of the plants as possible in order to make future identification as easy as possible. After the plants were collected they were pressed and dried. This prevents the plants from rotting and allows them to be identified at a later date. To preserve them, plant presses and a large drying oven set at 120 degrees farenheight were utilized. Specimens were placed in the oven to dry for approximately 15 hours. After several collections and pressings, plants were identified. Several taxonomic keys (see References) were used to classify the plants into their respective taxa. Common names were also ascertained. Once the flora was determined, Table 1 was constructed by organizing all of the plants alphabetically by family, indicating the areas from which they were collected. A map of Weaver Lake was then drawn to show the location of the 10 sampling stations (Figure 1). After identification plants were mounted on special herbarium paper for protection and display. Dr. B. R. Dayton will examine the preserved samples to verify correct identification. An updated list of taxa will be presented as a future contribution. RESULTS Table 1 is a list arranged in alphabetically by taxa, of the plants collected during the study. Common names are included as well as the sites (A J) (see Figure 1) where they were found. *New York Academy of Sciences, High School Research Trainee, Summer 1994. Sponsored by the National Institute of Health and the NYS legislature, Senator James Seward. 101 Figure 1. Bathymetric map of Weaver Lake showing eulittoral plant sampling sites A-J (Modified from Graham and Gardner, 1992). 102 Table 1. A collection of plants from Weaver Lake, NY. indicating collection sites as shown in Figure 1. TAXA COMMON NAME SITE # Alismaceae Sagittaria latifolia Arrowhead, Duck potato ABCDEFGFIJ Asclepiadaceae Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed A Asclepias purpurascens Purple Milkweed B Balsaminaceae Impatiens capensis Spotted Touch-me-not IJ Callitrichaceae Callitriche heterophylla Water Starwort B Campanalaceae Campanula aparinoides Bedstraw Bell Flower B Caprifoliaceae Conicera oblongifolia Swamp-fly Honeysuckle EFGHI Cornaceae Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood IJ Cyperaceae Carex cumosa Sedge EFG Carex lurida Sedge H Carex poeudes-cyperus Sedge CD Carex vesicara Sedge EFG Eleocharis rostellata Sedge CD Scirpus americanum Bulrush A Scirpus debilis Bulrush CD Scirpus validus Sedge CD Gramineae Alopecurus aequalis Short-awn Foxtail AB Beckmannia syzigachne Slough Grass B Calamigrostis canadensis Blue Joint CD Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass EFGHIJ Haloragidaceae Myriophyllum exalbescens Water Milfoil ABCDEFGIJ Hydrocharitaceae Anacharis canadensis Elodea ABCDEFG Hyperaceae Hypericum boreale Saint John's Wort EFG Leguminosae Astrogalus canadensis Milk Vetch EFG Lemnaceae Lemna minor Duckweed AIJ Lentibulariaceae Utricularia inflata Bladderwort CDEFG Utricularia vulgaris Bladderwort H var. americana Lythraceae Ammannia auriculata Evening Primrose B Decodon verticillatus Water Willow EFG Lythrum salicaria Purple Loostrife ABEFGIJ 103 Table 1. (Cont.) TAXA COMMON NAME SITE # Myricaceae Myrica gale Sweet Gale HIJ Najadaceae Najas flexilis Bushy Pondweed EFG Potamogeton crispus Pondweed ABEFG Potamogeton foliosus Pondweed CD var. macellus Potamogeton natans Pondweed EFG Potamogeton vaginatus Pondweed CDEFG Nymphaeceae Nymphaea odorata Fragrant Water Lily ABCD Onagraceae Ludwigia palustris Evening Primrose IJ var. americana Plantoginaceae Galium tinctorium Blue Bell B Polygonaceae Polygonum coccineum Swamp Smartweed IJ Polygonum hydropipruoides Mild Water Pepper H Polygonum pers~caria Lady's Thumb B Rumex orbiculatus Water Dock EFG Pontederiaceae Pontederia cordata Pickerelweed EFG f. taenia Rubiaceae Cephalanthus occidentals Button Bush IJ Salicaceae Salix longipes Willow A Scrophulariaceae Mimulus ringens Squarestemmed Monkey Flower IJ Solanaceae Solanum nigrum Nightshade H Sparganiaceae Sparganium americanum Bur Reed A Sparganium androcladon Bur Reed B Sparganium angustifolium Bur Reed ABEFGHIJ Sparganium chlorocarpum Bur Reed IJ Umbelliferae Cicuta bulbifera Water parsnip IJ Verhenaceae Verbena hastata Blue Vervain B DISCUSSION The information gathered on the flora of Weaver Lake in the summer of 1994 will be used to develop a database concerning the characterization of the Weaver Lake biotope. Similar studies will be conducted in the future in order to complete the characterization. REFERENCES Brown, L. 1979. Grasses, an identification guide. Houghton/Mifflin Company, New York. 240 p. Fassett, N. C. 1967. A manual of aquatic plants. University of Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin. 104 Fernald, M. L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. 8th ed. American Book Company, New York. 1632 p. Harman, W. N. 1994. Personal communication. Biological Field Station, SUNY Oneonta. Knobel, E. 1977. Field guide to the grasses, sedges, and rushes of the United States. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. Peterson, R. T. and M. McKenny. 1968. Peterson field guide to wildflowers, Northeastern/Northcentral North America. Houghton/Mifflin Company, Boston. 420 p. Petrides, G. A. 1958. A field guide to trees and shrubs. Houghton/Mifflin Company, Boston. 428 p. Reid, G. K. 1967. Pond life, a guide to common plants and animals of North American ponds and lakes. Western Publishing Company. .