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The exposed roots of this Douglas Fir were the result of many years of foot traffic with no erosion control. One of the reasons we limit use of the property to 20 people a day is that human feet can be very destructive to the environment, both in contributing to soil destabilization and compaction. We have built the cedar stairs on the trail to help slow the rate of erosion. You will notice on many of the exposed roots grow colonies of tiny, rubbery, mossy-looking plants. These plants are called liverworts
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Snail (Haplotrema sportella)
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Liverwort: Liverworts are a species of plant somewhat like a moss but more rubbery. Mosses and liverworts are bryophytes (nonvascular plants). Since they have poorly developed conducting tubes, they remain small and grow in wet places. The word “wort” comes from Old English, meaning plant.
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Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris): The predominant fern you see around you at this station is the oak fern. Its small, fragile fronds are all connected with an underground network of rhizomes. It tends to prefer shady, moist but well-drained soil. It completely disappears from sight in the winter. |
