introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

Along the stream channel connecting the eastern-most pond and the next pond west, there ispalustrine forest with cinnamon- or interrupted- fern (Osmunda sp.) tussocks and a mix of otherherbaceous species. There are patches of shrub around the ponds, mainly of silky willow (Salixsericea). The banks of the next pond west also include open, herbaceous areas with a drier suite ofspecies, dominated by blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) and (Danthonia spicata). Throughout the areascattered individuals of exotic species were observed, including: yarrow (Achillea millefolium),multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) two species of hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum, Hieraciumcaespitosum), and heal-all (Prunella vulgaris). Of these, multiflora rose is the only speciesconsidered to be invasive. The eastern-most pond is bounded on the east by a powerline right-ofway;otherwise the surrounding areas are forested.Herbaceous species included: sphagnum moss (sphagnum sp.), a species of bent-grass (Agrostis sp.),broom sedge (Andropogon virginicus), pussytoes (Antennaria sp.), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaematriphyllum), beggar ticks (Bidens sp.), sedges (Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Carex leptalea,Carex lurida, Carex scoparia, Carex stipata), virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana), northern oat grass(Danthonia compressa), poverty grass, (Danthonia spicata), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtiapunctilobula), spinulose wood fern (Dryopteris carthusiana), crested wood fern (Dryopteris cristata), a spikerush species (Eleocharis sp.), perfoliate boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), flat-topgoldenrod, (Euthamia graminifolia), a bedstraw species (Galium sp.), slender mannagrass (Glyceriamelicaria), fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), touch-me-not (Impatiens sp.), soft rush (Juncuseffusus), rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), water purslane (Ludwigia palustris), water horehound(Lycopus sp.), Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis),cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), mayapple (Podophyllumpeltatum), heart-leaved tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum),wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), sheep sorrel (Rumexacetosella), woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus), two bur-reed species (Sparganium chlorocarpum,Sparganium sp.), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia ),cattail (Typha latifolia ), blue vervain (Verbena hastata), and swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus).Shrub species included witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), silky willow (Salix sericea), andmeadow sweet (Spiraea alba).North Wetland Core Habitat Area—The northern tributary to Mud Run contains a large wetlandcomplex, as well as a unique forest community along the stream corridor above the wetlands. Thestream corridor is surrounded by early-successional vegetation, fields of dense goldenrod (Solidagorugosa) with aspen (Populus tremuloides) forming an open canopy. White pine (Pinus strobus)saplings also form dense stands in some areas. The stream itself was dry upon observation, with achannel ~1 m wide and ½ to 1 m deep. The forest immediately surrounding the stream was a mesicmix of hardwoods, including: red maple (Acer rubrum), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), hickory(Carya sp.), ash (Fraxinus sp.), hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), black cherry (Prunus serotina),white oak (Quercus alba), muscle beech (Carpinus caroliniana), basswood (Tilia americana).Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is also scattered and forms occasional patches. The stream terraceswere generally densely vegetated with a diverse and somewhat mesic suite of herbaceous species,including: Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), an aster species (Aster prenanthiodes), lady fern(Athyrium filix-femina), needle-and-thread grass (Brachyelytrum erectum), marsh marigold (Calthapalustris), a sedge (Carex stipata), goldthread (Coptis trifolia), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtiapunctilobula), silvery glade fern (Deparia acrostichoides), a wood fern species (Dryopteris sp.),slender mannagrass (Glyceria melicaria), fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), touch-me-not(Impatiens sp.), a cutgrass species (Leersia sp.), bishop's mitrewort (Mitella diphylla), bee balm(Monarda didyma), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana),wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), heart-leaved tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum), bracken fern(Pteridium aquilinum), wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha), shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica), a buttercupspecies (Ranunculus hispidus), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), foamflower (Tiarella103