Wonders of an Old-Growth Forest, Part 25: Epifagus Redux | Warren Woods State Park, Michigan, USA

Please note that this accompanying text is currently being written . . . and is therefore not yet complete. However, it will be finished soon. Your patience is appreciated.

Taken during a rain shower, in a stand of old-growth American Beeches (Fagus grandifolia) north of the Galien River footbridge, west of the hiking trail, and south of Warren Woods Road.

For a rundown on Beech Drops botany, take a look at Part 22.

The previous three posts in this series were all taken on September 17, 2005, and all have as their subject the weird and amazing herbaceous plant known as Beech Drops (Epifagus virginiana). And here we are again, two years later. It's evident that this member of the Broomrape Family (Orobanchaceae) is still thriving.

I like this photo especially because it shows a well-branched representative of this parasitic species growing close to, and no doubt off of, the buttress roots of the ancient American Beech (top of frame).

More than that, it suggests that the Beech Drops is a master of camouflage. Its brown, maroon, and off-white stems and flowers blend in very nicely with the earth tones of the O horizon of the forest floor. In fact, its form is only distinctly discernible where its upper portions are silhouetted against the Beech's gunmetal-gray bark.

Is this a true advantage derived from natural selection, or simply a coincidence attributable to the plant's lack of chlorophyll? I'm sure I do not know.

The giant tree that serves as the host for this Beech Drops is by no means its only neighbor. To the left is a small community of another common Warren Woods wildflower, Enchanter's Nightshade. A member of the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae), it bears the taxonomic name of Circaea canadensis. Its generic epithet derives from the sorceress Circe of Greek mythology, so its common name is spot on.

And at right there are a number of seedlings of this woodland's other primary tree species, Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum). Beloved for its stunning fall color display and the sugar and syrup made from its sap, it can nonetheless be a real headache for conservationists in this part of the US. It sometimes is a serious invader of mature oak-hickory forests, which depend on periodic fires that ignite in their dry, tannin-rich leaf litter and keep the understory clear of competing tree species.

But in autumn, after they put on their glorious show, Sugar Maple leaves fall to the ground and quickly turn into a gloppy, mushy layer that retains fire-retarding moisture. In this way, A. saccharum seedlings can grow to maturity and eventually dominate the ecosystem.

To see the other photos and descriptions of this series, go to my Natural History: Michigan album.

Taken in: United States / Michigan / Chikaming Township / Lakewood Mobile Home Estates (show map)

Taken on: August 19, 2007

Tags:

botany

dendrology

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plants

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Warren Woods State Park

Michigan

Circaea canadensis

Enchanter's Nightshade

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

Acer saccharum

Sugar Maple

Epifagus virginiana

Beech Drops

state parks

old-growth forest

woodland ecosystems

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Camera: NIKON COOLPIX S4, 38mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	NIKON COOLPIX S4
Focal Length:	38mm
ISO:	200
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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