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Introduction:
The College Woods provides
habitats for a variety of plant species.
The uppermost layer of the forest, or canopy, is dominated by
oaks, including white oak (Quercus alba), black oak (Q. velutina),
and northern red oak (Q. rubra), mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa),
tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), American beech (Fagus
grandifolia), and wild black cherry (Prunus serotina). Understory species include flowering
dogwood (Cornus florida) and American holly (Ilex opaca). The shrub layer contains arrow-wood (Viburnum
dentatum) and strawberry-bush (Euonymus
americanus), and the herb layer contains New York fern (Thelypteris
noveboracensis), crane-fly orchid (Tipularia discolor), May-apple
(Podophyllum peltatum), and ground-pine (Lycopodium obscurum). This layering of a forest’s vegetation is
called stratification. In the swamp
around the Fork Branch, red maple (Acer rubrum) is common, along with
black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The College Woods is home to a number of
animal species, including whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus), red
fox (Vulpes vulpes), eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis),
box turtle (Terrapene carolina), and Fowler’s toad (Bufo fowleri ),
as well as birds, snakes, salamanders, and other animals. Copies of this brochure are
available in a waterproof box near the trail entrance. You
may also download a copy by selecting the hyperlink on the left entitled, “Woodland
Brochure.” Enjoy your walk on the woodland
trail, and please remember—take only photos, leave only footprints. For More Information Contact: Dr. Susan Yost, Educator |
