` BENEFITS OF WETLANDS WETLAND INHABITANTS Monarchs, tiger swallowtails and red admiral butterflies frequent our wetlands. For each butterfly, there is a host plant that contains the specific nutrition for that species. By laying the eggs directly on or near that host plant, the butterfly insures offspring have the particular food source they CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS need. Many host plants are particularly suited to The fact is that wetlands do many things, some a wetland environment due to abundant more noticeable than others: sunshine and moisture. The Monarch butterfly’s Many animals depend on wetlands for host plant is milkweed. Turtlehead is the host homes and migratory resting spots. Fish, plant for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly. amphibians, reptiles, aquatic insects and A snapping turtle lays its certain mammals need wetlands as a eggs in June. Snapping place for their young to be born and turtles feed on fish, grow. waterfowl young and Wetlands support many types of plant amphibians. species which provide food and habitat to animals, insects and microbes. Water flows even Well before the property was donated to MSU, during the winter, the 3 acre pond was first dredged in the 1950’s By trapping and holding water, wetlands attracting ducks and to provide a retention area for farm runoff. The store nutrients and pollutants in the soil, geese to the open entire property slopes towards the southeast allowing cleaner water to flow in to the water. corner, so that rain and snowmelt gravitate to body of water beyond or below the this low point. Drainage pipes facilitate the wetland. Vegetation, like cattails, can One very persistent runoff from the PAR Gardens and pastures, and absorb some of the pollutants that wading bird is one of can be seen emptying into a catch basin at the remain in the soil. many metal sculptures through the wetlands western edge of the pond system. The string of 43 per cent of threatened or endangered adding a touch of small settling ponds were constructed in the 90’s plant and animal species in the U.S. live in to collect sediment from the runoff before it whimsy. or depend on wetlands. could reach the large pond. ` WETLAND PLANTS Blue Flag iris (Iris versicolor) is a graceful, sword-leaved plant similar to the iris that grows 2-3’ tall. The flowers, which may be any shade of purple are always decorated with yellow on the falls. It thrives in medium to wet soils in full sun to partial shade. Some of the plants shown here are: Cattails are important wetland plants that reach Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) grows in 3-10’ high. Two species are the most common, water or moist soil. It has shiny, dark green and the broad leaved cattail (Typha latifolia) that is a Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) is a perennial pointed 3-6” leaves and round, white flowers the desired native. The narrow leaf cattail (Typha with yellow buttercup-like blossoms from April size of a ping pong angustifolia) is aggressive and invasive and to June. The plant which is 1-2’ high prefers ball. When flowers should be avoided. Cattails add motion to the moist soil and will shed its leaves and go dormant fade, they leave garden as pollinated flowers develop fluffy seed if not provided adequate moisture. Both brown, ball-like heads that blow in autumn breezes. butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to fruits filled with Underwater, they provide a safe haven for tiny marsh marigolds. seeds eaten by fish and attract ducks, geese and smaller aquatic The White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata) is a songbirds. Bees and butterflies visit for nectar creatures that perennial arising from flexible stalks from large and help pollinate the shrub. Songbirds have birds and other thick rhizomes. been known to build nests in them and small wildlife feed on. The leaves, animals such as frogs and insects use buttonbush Their leaves and which float on as cover. seeds provide the water, are nesting materials and create a shelter from round, bright Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) is a prolific winter cold and wind for mammals and birds. In green and 6- grower than can fact, cattails are the only place where red-wing 12” in diameter cover large areas. It blackbird nests. with a slit 1/3 has large heart of the length. Flowers, which open in the shaped leaves that MSU Tollgate Farm morning and close in the afternoon, have 25 or are twice as long as 28115 Meadowbrook more brilliant white petals with yellow centers wide and large spikes Novi, MI, 48377-3128 and are very fragrant. of purple or white www.tollgate.msu.edu flowers. 248-347-3860 ext. 251 .