22 ha. wet Hickory/Oak forest managed by Essex County Regional Conservation (ERCA) formed on Brookston clay overlaid with sand spot phase of 3 ridges of Plainfield Sand running east-west. Poor drainage with several vernal pools. Forest was clear-cut in 1850’s, but never farmed.
Dominant trees Hickory and Oak. Ash (Fraxinus) trees destroyed by Emeral Ash Borer, including the rare Pumpkin Ash (Fraxinus profunda). Also Red and Silver Maple 15%, Sassafras and Tuliptree ( on sand ridges), Black Gum and Flowering Dogwood.
Common shrubs are spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americana) and Dogwood (Cornus). Three species of Carrionflower (Smilax), Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) and wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) are also common. Common herbs include black snake-root (Sanicula canadensis), honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis), wake-robin (Trillium erectum), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and Michigan lily (Lilium michiganense). An unusual diversity of fern species royal fern (Osmunda regalis), spinulose wood fern (Dryopteris spinulosa), lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), marsh fern (Dryopteris thelypteris) and sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis).