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BOTANICAL EVALUATION OF THE GOAT ISLAND
COMPLEX, NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK |
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VASCULAR FLORA OF GOAT
ISLAND In this list, the designations
BUF and NYS represent specimens deposited in the herbaria of the Buffalo
Museum of Science, Buffalo, New York, and the New York State Herbarium,
Albany, New York, respectively. The first indication of collection date and
place refers to Goat Island. Other areas, such as Luna Island or the Three
Sisters are given as such. The species at the base of Goat Island, of the
flats area above the Horseshoe Falls and Terrapin Point are included among
the Goat Island taxa. Note should be made that only
the most conspicuous horticultural species or alien species significant in
terms of the flora of the area, e.g. as weeds, etc., are listed below.
Numerous other trees, such as various conifers and small trees of the rose
family, for example, exist in the Goat Island complex as well, as do various
Yews, Larices, etc., planted against buildings and in open areas, which are
not included here. In Day's contribution to the
Fourth Annual Report of the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara
for the year 1887 (Catalogue of the Niagara Flora, published in 1888), he
stated, with respect to this group that he "has no doubt that further
investigations, made in the vicinity of the Falls, will considerably increase
the number of species here recorded. In the more difficult genera of the
Cyperaceae (Sedges) and Gramineae (Grasses) demanding always in a large
degree the skill of the specialist, there must be omissions, more or less
numerous and important." Sufficient study by specialists has been made and
published since 1888 that it is with confidence that quite a few additions
have been made of species in these families, based on recent collections in
the study area. It is presumed that these populations also existed in place
at the initiation of the Reservation. Doubtless, more species do
occur in the Goat Island complex than are listed here, but they should not be
sufficient to significantly alter the statistics and inferences that may be
derived from the following list of species. Seeds are continually coming into
the complex from upriver, driven by the wind, accompanying bird migrations,
brought by tourists - on their vehicles and in the remains of their lunches,
and springing from the restaurant midden. Ornamentals will continue to be
planted and exotic seeds brought in with garden soils, and so on. Some
populations are sufficiently reduced in areal extent that it is possible they
were overlooked (e.g. Teucrium canadense on the Three Sisters),
and in some groups, such as the graminoids, they may have been overlooked
because the plants were indistinguishable in the field from species already
collected. Some few plants listed here as extirpated may reside in the soil
seed bank, and may not have been expressed in the 1988 growing season. Taxa
in square brackets ([ ]) are excluded from the flora of the Goat Island
Complex. R=
Rare in western New York State * =
Alien P =
native taxa protected by New York State law E =
endangered taxa in western New York A =
native taxa probably extirpated from the western New York flora.(all symbols
sec. Zander & Pierce, 1979). # =
Native RNY
= Rare in New York State (sec. Mitchell, 1986). [ Abies
balsamea (L.) Mill. BALSAM FIR. One hundred young trees of this
species were added to the nursery on Goat Island in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm,
1892), as were two hundred the following year (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1893). There
are no reports of this species growing naturally on Goat Island, and none
were observed growing there today. ] * Acalypha
rhomboidea Raf. THREE-SEEDED MERCURY. (As Acalypha virginica)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). 1987. Weedy curbside, 1988. Acalypha
virginica as understood at present represents a species characteristic
more of areas to the south and west of the Niagara Frontier Region. This name
occurs "chiefly" in place of Acalypha rhomboidea in
the seventh edition of Gray's manual (Fernald, 1970), and was probably the
species meant by Hooker and Gray (Hooker's American Journal). * Acanthopanax
sieboldianus Makino. ACANTHOPANAX. Planted in various places, along
the top of the northwestern slope, along the central woods edge, eastern
margins. 1988. Green Island, 1988. First Sister, east end, by bridge to
Second Sister, 1988. Twenty
five maple (Acer) trees in 1886, and seven in 1889 were blown down in
winter storms (6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890). Three maples were blown down in the
storm of January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). In 1890, 636 young maple
trees were removed from "the thicket" on Goat Island for the Goat
Island nursery (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891); one hundred and thirteen of these were
later removed in 1893 and planted in the eastern meadow (10 Ann Rep Comm,
1894). The following year, 113 were planted there (11 Ann Rep Comm, 1895). A
maple was reported growing on Ship Island, in the American channel (Agassiz,
1850). "The timber [ on Goat Island ] is chiefly of the ordinary
hard-wood trees, Beach [ sic ] and Maple predominating" (Chamberlin,
1892). Lady Theodora Guest in 1895 observed Maple trees bordering paths on
the Three Sister Islands (Guest, 1895). * Acer
campestre L. HEDGE MAPLE. Luna Island: centre of lawn, 1988. Planted
various places on Goat Island: overlooking Luna Island, lawn in front of
Terrapin Point, 1988. * Acer
ginnala Maxim. AMUR MAPLE. Planted, especially near Terrapin Point,
1988. * Acer
negundo L. BOX ELDER. 1983. Old grove planted above Terrapin Point,
contributes to heavy infestation in southwestern soil bank. Base of Goat
Island, 1988. There
are trees of some maturity above Terrapin Point which contribute heavily to
infestations on the south slope just east, or upriver, of Terrapin Point.
"Abundant at the brink of Niagara Falls, but already reported thence by
Day as self-seeded from stock planted in Prospect Park" (Zenkert, 1934). # Acer
nigrum Michx. f. BLACK MAPLE. 1987. Abundant throughout the Goat
Island forest, 1988. * Acer
platanoides L. NORWAY MAPLE. Young tree, SW shoreline, 1987.Several
trees of var. schwedleri Nichols., have been planted, obs. in lawns on
the north-central side, 1988. In the area of the old spring on the north
slope of Goat Island an extensive colony of these trees was planted long ago. # Acer
rubrum L. RED MAPLE. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Second Sister, west end,
1988. # Acer
saccharinum L. SILVER MAPLE. Day, 1901. 1987. Green Island: three
trunks, SE edge river, 1988. Mature
populations are reduced to a few trees. A group has been re-planted at the
west end of the island and one or two occur in the northern weedy-thickets by
the ballasted eastern end. Day's
1888 report (as Acer dasycarpum, the White Maple) does not list
this species on Goat Island, but he does report it later (Day, 1901). # Acer
saccharum Marsh. SUGAR MAPLE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). "Goat Island. One of the most abundant trees," Day, 1888.
"... perhaps the most abundant tree upon the island," Day, 1901.
Much of central woods, 1988. Luna Island, seedlings [ obs. 1988 ]. First
Sister, east end, 1987. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Day
called this species Acer saccharinum Wang (Sugar Maple) in
accordance with the nomenclature of his day. In
1828 the Scottish botanist David Douglas noted in his diary that this species
(as Acer saccharinum) "on the brink of the rocks grew very
large; they had all been tapped or bled and still seemed uncommonly
vigorous." George
Clinton collected specimens of Cytispora, Nectria, Uncinula
and Agaricus bombycinus (fungi), from Sugar Maple trees, the
latter from the "decaying side of a living" tree of this species [
as Acer saccharinum ] Aug. 17, 1874 (BUF). This is the official
tree of New York State (Mitchell, 1986). # Acer
spicatum Lam. MOUNTAIN MAPLE. "Near the Horseshoe Falls,"
Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Zenkert, 1934. # Achillea
millefolium L. COMMON YARROW. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. Weedy margin beyond the fence, crest, 1986. Second
Sister, east end, 1987; west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Actaea
alba (L.) Mill. WHITE BANEBERRY. Day, 1888. # Actaea
rubra (Ait.) Willd. RED BANEBERRY. Day, 1888 P# Adiantum
pedatum L. MAIDENHAIR FERN. "Not abundant," Day, 1888.
Zenkert, 1934. * Aesculus
carnea Hayne. (A. Hippocastanum X A. Pavia)
CHESTNUT. 1984. * Aesculus
hippocastanum L. HORSE-CHESTNUT. "An escape," Zenkert, 1934.
1986. Several in the central woodland. One large specimen on the east end of
Brother Island produces a spectabular bloom in late spring. * Aesculus
hybrida DC. (A. octandra X A. pavia). East
side meadow, 1988. R* Agrimonia
eupatoria L. COMMON AGRIMONY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. * Agropyron
repens (L.) Beauv. QUACK-GRASS. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. # Agropyron
trachycaulon var. unilaterale (Cassidy) Malte. ROUGH-STEMMED
WHEAT-GRASS. Base of Goat Island, on rocks, frequent, 1988. See
Zenkert, 1934 and Rhodora 35:161.1933). * Agrostis
stolonifera L. var. compacta
Hartm. CREEPING BENT. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988; First Sister,
east end, 1986. Second Sister, east end, 1988; west end, 1988. *
var. major (Gaud.) Farw. REDTOP. Crest woods, 1988. Flats above the
Horseshoe Falls, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988; west end, 1988. *
var. stolonifera Southwestern thickets, 1988. Second Sister, east end,
1988. * Ajuga
reptans L. BUGLE. "Introduced," Day, 1888. * Alliaria
officinalis Andrz. GARLIC MUSTARD. Great dense patches in the sunny
margins of the central woods, 1984. First Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ].
Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Found throughout the central woods and
all wooded areas. # Allium
canadense L. CANADA GARLIC. "Not common," Day, 1888. North
end, 1987. South end thickets, rather frequent, 1987. First Sister, east end
[ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Allium
tricoccum Ait. RAMP. "Abundant," Day, 1888. Single population,
woods, 1988. George
Clinton collected the fungus Vermicularia liiacearum from a
plant of this species on September 25, late 1800's (BUF). # Alnus
rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. SPECKLED ALDER. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Reported
by the Superintendent in the second report of the Commissioners in 1886.
Alders occurred on the smaller islands in the American Channel in 1968 (The
American Falls International Board, 1971) # Ambrosia
artemisiifolia L. COMMON RAGWEED. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. 1984. Base of Goat Island, 1988. # Amphicarpa
bracteata (L.) Fern. HOG PEANUT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Only
the generic name is given by Hooker, but this is the only species of the
genus occurring in the Niagara Frontier Region. As recently as the 1924
publication by H. House, this genus was renamed Falcata, but the plant
indicated is not, at any rate, a duplicate of the others reported for Goat
Island or vicinity. # Anacharis
canadensis (Michx.) Rich. WATER WEED. First Sister, west, 1986. # Amelanchier
arborea (Michx.f.) Fern. TREE SHADBUSH. Second Sister, west end, 1987. # Amelanchier
canadensis (L.) Medic. CANADIAN SHADBUSH. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). (As both var. botryapium) and var. oblongifolia
and therefore at least two trees ], Day, 1888. 1988. * Anagallis
arvensis L. SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Weedy margin on vehicular bridge, 1986. # Anemone
canadensis L. CANADA ANEMONE. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988. # Anemone
cylindrica Gray LONG-FRUITED ANEMONE. July 3 & 4, 1862 (Clinton
Journal). Day, 1888. # Anemone
quinquefolia L. WOOD ANEMONE. Day, 1888. # Anemone
virginiana L. THIMBLE-WEED. "On the side hill," that is,
wooded slope of Terrapin Point, June 26, 1862 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Third Sister, west end,
1987. var. alba.
Day, 1888. # Angelica
atropurpurea L. PURPLE-STEMMED ANGELICA. Base o Goat Island, 1988.
Terrapin Point, 1986. Second Sister, west end, 1986. # Antennaria
sp. Aug. 1, 1862 (Clinton Journal). * Anthemis
arvensis L. CORN CAMOMILE. 1988. On ballast, 1987. # Aquilegia
canadensis L. WILD COLUMBINE. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Lady
Theodora Day noted a "bright scarlet Columbine" on the Three
Sisters Islands in 1895. * Aquilegia
vulgaris L. GARDEN COLUMBINE. Thickets facing the First Sister, east
end, 1987. On the water's edge, north side of the meadow, 1988. # Arabis
canadensis L. SICKLE-POD. Day, 1888. # Arabis
laevigata (Muhl.) Poir. SMOOTH ROCK CRESS. Second Sister, west end,
1986. # Arabis
lyrata L. LYRE-LEAVED ROCK CRESS. Goat Island, May 17, 1862; June 26,
"on top of the bank" [ crest ] (Clinton journal)."Goat Island.
The Three Sisters," Day, 1888. "notable for their abundance and
beauty," Day, 1901. First Sister, west end, 1986. Grows
on soil-covered boulder tops. If these were removed, so would this species
diminish, as perhaps accounts for the loss of this species in the Goat Island
flora. # Aralia
nudicaulis L. WILD SARSAPARILLA. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). "Goat Island. The Three Sisters," Day,
1888. First Sister, west end, 1987. First Sister, east end, 1988.
Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Aralia
racemosa L. SPIKENARD. Second Sister, west end, 1987. A
species of Arctium BURDOCK was observed on the ballast, 1988 and on
the First Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]; Luna Island, north side, 1988. * Arctium
lappa L. GREAT BURDOCK. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal).
Day, 1888. Individuals of this large plant are regularly found in disturbed
areas throughout the island, 1988. * Arctium
minus Schk. COMMON BURDOCK. Ballast, 1985. This and the preceding
species may be found along all paths and borders. Second Sister, west side,
1988. RE# Arenaria
lateriflora L. SIDE-FLOWERING SANDWORT. 1862, David F. Day (BUF).
1884, J. H. Burdick (BUF). Day, 1888. 1896, Edward C. Townsend (BUF). 1896,
Marion Jessup Wrightl (BUF). A specimen of Johnson's, Zenkert, 1934. Third
Sister, 1886, Elizabeth C. Rochester (BUF). * Arenaria
serpyllifolia L. THYME-LEAVED SANDWORT. First Sister Island, east end,
flats at extremity, 1988. Second Sister, east end, north shore, 1988. # Arisaema
triphyllum (L.) Schott. var. triphyllum. JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.
"A large and small variety common," Day, 1888. 1986. In
1823 the Scottish botanist David Douglas noted in his diary that this species
(as Arum triphyllum) grew on Goat Island. It grows in
"rich low woods in mucky soil" (Zenkert, 1934). P# Arisaema
dracontium L. GREEN DRAGON. This species (listed as Dracontium
sp.) was reported in 1823 by Douglas from Goat Island. It grows in rich
alluvial soils along streambanks. * Arrhenatherum
elatius (L.) Mert. & Koch. TALL OAT-GRASS. Crest woods, 1987;
thickets east end, 1987; ballast, southeast end, 1988. First Sister, west
end, 1988. # Asarum
canadense L. WILD GINGER. Prinz von Wied-Neuwied (1843) mentioned this
species (as Asarabaca) growing with Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
and other plants on the forest floor on Goat Island. I have accepted this
report, as this species grows throughout the Niagara gorge and in woodlands
nearby on the mainland. # Asclepias
exaltata L. POKE MILKWEED. Day, 1888. # Asclepias
incarnata L. SWAMP MILKWEED. Day, 1888. First Sister, east end, 1986;
Second Sister, east end, 1986. # Asclepias
syriaca L. COMMON MILKWEED. (As Asclepias cornuti) Sept.
19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Ballast [ obs. 1988 ].
Southwestern river margin, 1986. Third Sister, west end, 1988 [ obs. ] * Asparagus
officinalis L. ASPARAGUS. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. 1987. P# Asplenium
trichomanes L. MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT. First Sister, west end, 1986.
Boulder flora. # Aster
cordifolius L. HEART-LEAVED ASTER. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). # Aster
divaricatus L. WHITE WOOD ASTER. Day, 1888. # Aster
ericoides L. WHITE HEATH ASTER. Day, 1888. 1988. Third Sister, 1988. # Aster
laevis L. SMOOTH ASTER. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). # Aster
lateriflorus (L.) Britt. STARVED ASTER. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. 1988. Terrapin Point, 1986. Third Sister, soil
in rock depression, west end, 1988. # Aster
macrophyllus L. LARGE-LEAVED ASTER. Day, 1888. # Aster
novae-angliae L. NEW ENGLAND ASTER. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. 1988. Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, west
end 1987. Second Sister, weedt path margins, 1986. # Aster
puniceus L. PURPLE-STEMMED ASTER. Day, 1888. # Aster
sagittifolius Willd. ARROW-LEAVED ASTER. Day, 1888. # Aster
simplex Willd. TALL WHITE ASTER. Day, 1888. Southern, upper-thicket.
1988. var. interior
(Wieg.) Cronq. Southwestern thickets, 1987. The Aster tradescantii
L. TRADESCANT'S ASTER of Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal) and
Day, 1888, are here placed with Aster simplex var. interior
following Britton and Brown, 1952. These last authors indicate the range of
this variety begins in western New York and procedes westward. # Aster
umbellatus Mill. TALL FLAT-TOPPED WHITE ASTER. Day, 1888. Zenkert,
1934. R# Aster
undulatus L. WAVY-LEAVED ASTER. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). R# Astragalus
canadensis L. CANADIAN MILK-VETCH. 1885, A. D. Pease (BUF). R# Astragalus
neglectus (T.&G.) Sheld. COOPER'S MILK-VETCH. (As A. cooperi)
"Descending to the level of Terrapin Bridge, to the left of the path,
June 26, 1862; "in the flat by Terrapin Bridge" Friday, Sept. 11,
1863; "By the [ Terrapin ] Tower," July 7, 1864, (Clinton Journal).
(As Astragalus cooperi) Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. # Atriplex
patula L. SPREADING ORACHE. Thickets, 1988. Second Sister (var. littoralis),
1987. Third Sister, by bridge (var. littoralis), 1988. var. hastata
of Br. & Br. HALBERD-LEAVED ORACHE. Northern thickets, top of slope,
1988. Narrow-leaved
forms keying to var. littoralis of Br. & Br. (SEASIDE ORACHE in
Zander & Pierce, 1979) may fall within the scope of var. patula,
as var. littoralis is a "strictly maritime diploid species"
(Voss, 1985). # Aureolaria
flava (L.) Farw. SMOOTH FALSE FOXGLOVE. Day, 1888. * Barbarea
vulgaris R. Br. WINTER CRESS. Goat Island, 1987. Found on the ballast
and in all thickets; base of Goat Island [ obs.1988 ]. First Sister, east
end, dolomite flats at extremity [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [
obs. 1988 ]. * Bellis
perennis L. ENGLISH DAISY. Zenkert, 1934. Here and there in the lawns
on Goat Island, 1987. # Bidens
cernua L. NODDING STICKTIGHT. First Sister, west end, 1987. Third
Sister, 1988. # Bidens
frondosa L. COMMON BEGGAR-TICKS. Southern thickets, 1988. Second
Sister west, 1987. # Bidens
tripartita L. SWAMP BEGGAR-TICKS. Day, 1888. Shrubby, weedy thicket
facing the plunge pool by the gorge rim near Terrapin Point. Frequent along
thicket margins, 1986. Barberry
(Berberis) plants were reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent
in the report of the Commissioners in 1886. Referred to as a "wild
plant," the barberry on Goat Island "especially illustrates the
tendency of certain plants [ sc. horticultural ] to keep away from
cultivation. By far the finest specimen on the island hangs so far below the
Luna Island stair-landing that it is unsafe to try to gather the rich clusters
of scarlet berries, while a bush on the roadway that has been planted and
given some cultivation is far less vigorous and seldom bears more than one or
two berries on a single stem," Chamberlin, 1892. * Berberis
thunbergii DC. JAPANESE BARBERRY. Green Island, planted on the eastern
and western margins," 1986. Luna Island, thickets east end, 1988. In
1909 the Superintendent planted this horticultural species on Luna Island and
elsewhere in the Reservation as a substitute for an iron railing at the river
margin - this shrub keeping people away from the dangerous banks by reason of
its thorns, and stabilizing the bank (26 Ann Rep Comm, 1926). Native
alternatives might include the raspberries, and perhaps Nine-bark (Physocarpus
opulifolius, which forms dense thickets at the west end of the Second
Sister. * Berberis
vulgaris L. COMMON BARBERRY. Goat Island, G. W. Clinton, Sept. 28,
1870 (BUF). "Rare," Day, 1883. Edward C. Townsend, May 22, 1896
(BUF). Thickets, NE river's edge, 1988. First Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]. In 1870, on September 28, George Clinton wrote in his
collecting diary: “On Goat Island, American side [i.e. the north side], a
little above the Spring & between the road & the river [the channel
of the American Falls], noticed one thrifty bush of Berberis vulgaris. It was
never planted there.” Five
birches were reported blown down in the winter storm of 1889 (report of the
Superintendent, 6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890). Betula
alba may be the species reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent
in the second report of the Commissioners, 1886, where he refers to a White
Birch. It is not reported by Day, 1888. It would probably have been included
under Betula pendula in this catalogue. At any rate, the tree
referred to as White Birch may indicate an alien species, although there
exist two native white birches which might have been indicated in the
Superintendent's report. This reference has not been used in the present
tabulations because of its ambiguity. # Betula
lenta L. BLACK BIRCH. Day, 1888. Reported by the Superintendent in the
second report of the Commissioners in 1886. # Betula
lutea Michx.f. YELLOW BIRCH. "Near the Horse-shoe Falls,"
Day, 1888. Reported by the Superintendent in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. # Betula
papyrifera Marsh. PAPER BIRCH [ CANOE BIRCH ]. (As B. papyracea)
April 25, 1863; May 9, 1864; "near Terrapin Tower" Aug. 15, 1865
(Clinton's Journal). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day,
1883. Zenkert, 1934. Base of Goat Island, 1988. One young tree, W end, N
shore, 1988. First Sister, east end, two by bridge to Second Sister, 1988.
Second Sister, far west end [ obs. ] 1988. Several old trees in the north
slope woods, 1988. Reported
by the Superintendent (as Canoe Birch) in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. * Betula
pendula Roth. EUROPEAN WHITE BIRCH. Ballast, 1988. Second Sister, east
end, north side, 1988. The White Birch of Goat Island of the second
Commissioner's report is placed here. # Betula
populifolia Marsh. GRAY BIRCH. Second Sister, far west end, 1988.
Separated from B. pendula by tight white bark, short fruiting
aments, no ciliations on the bract margins. P# Botrychium
virginianum (L.) Sw. RATTLESNAKE FERN. Day, 1888. David Douglas
reported two species of this fern on Goat Island in 1823 growing "in
shady parts of the wood in decayed leaves." # Brachyelytrum
erectum (Schreb.) Beauv. BEARDED SHORT-HUSK. Zenkert, 1934. * Brassica
kaber (DC.) L. Wheeler. CHARLOCK. Goat Island, 1988.Second Sister,
east end, 1988. * Brassica
nigra (L.) KochBLACK MUSTARD. Base of Goat Island, abundant, 1988. # Bromus
ciliatus L. FRINGED BROME-GRASS. Zenkert, 1934. RNY,
R* Bromus erectus Huds. UPRIGHT BROME-GRASS. Culvert,
southside, 1988. * Bromus
inermis Leyss. HUNGARIAN BROME GRASS. Seepage, southwestern thickets,
1986. Abundant all along the crest, west end, along the fence. * fo.
aristatus (Schur) Fern. BROME-GRASS. First Sister, east end, 1987. R* Butomus
umbellatus L. FLOWERING RUSH. Terrapin Point, 1986. Small limestone
flat, northwest side of Goat Island, 1988. First Sister, west end, 1986.
Second Sister, east end, 1988. Spreading along the wet margins of the First
and Second Sister, and the flats above the Horseshoe Falls. # Calamagrostis
canadensis (Michx.) Beauv. BLUEJOINT GRASS. Day, 1888. Flats above the
Horseshoe Falls, 1988. Second Sister, east end 1988. # Campanula
aparinoides Prush. MARSH BELLFLOWER. "Near Horseshoe Falls,"
1892, Edward C. Townsend (BUF). "In grassy places on the edge of the
River," Day, 1888. * Campanula
rapunculoides L. CREEPING BELLFLOWER. Goat Island, 1987. Second
Sister, west end, 1987. P# Campanula
rotundifolia L. HAREBELL. Day, 1888. Day indicated that the Harebell
had disappeared from Goat Island "Within a little while"
"undoubtedly due to careless flower-gatherers, who have plucked and
pulled without stint or reason" (Day, 1888). * Capsella
bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. SHEPHERD'S PURSE. Ballast, east end, 1988. # Cardamine
douglassii (Torr.) Britt. PURPLE SPRING CRESS. Day, 1888. "Notable
for their abundance and beauty," Day, 1901. [ Cardamine
hirsuta L. BITTER CRESS. Day, 1888. ] Excluded. # Cardamine
pensylvanica Muhl. PENNSYLVANIA BITTER CRESS. First Sister, west end,
north side, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1987. R# Carex
aquatilis Wahl. NORTHERN WATER SEDGE. Johnson specimen, Zenkert, 1934.
Flats above Horseshoe Falls, 1988. # Carex
cephalophora Muhl. SOUTHERN SEDGE. First Sister, west end, 1988.
Second Sister, east end, 1988. # Carex
digitalis Willd. SLENDER WOOD SEDGE. Day, 1888. First Sister, east
end, 1987. # Carex
eburnea Boott BRISTLE-LEAVED SEDGE. Torrey citing Dewey, 1843.
"On the American side of the Island, by the river, & above the
Bridge found all out of season Carex eburnea," August 22,
1864 (Clinton's Journal). Day, 1888. First Sister, east end, 87511. First
Sister, west end, 1988. RNY,
R# Carex garberi Fern. GARBER'S SEDGE. 1987. First Sister, east
end on dolomite flat, 1988. # Carex
granularis Willd. MEADOW SEDGE. First Sister, east end, 1988; west
end, 1987.
The Carex viridula (as C. oederi) of Provancher
"near the Horse-shoe Fall" on the Canadian side (Flore Canadienne),
Day, 1888, may be this species, as might be Clinton's references to this
plant. # Carex
hystricina Muhl. PORCUPINE SEDGE. Goat Island, 1986. Flats above
Horseshoe Falls, 1988. First Sister, east end, 1987; west end, 1986. First
Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister, 1988. Luna
Island, 1890. # Carex
lacustris Willd. LAKE-BANK SEDGE. "eastern side," Day, 1888. # Carex
lasiocarpa Ehrh. var. latifolia (Boeck.) Gilly WOOLLY SEDGE.
First Sister, east end, 1987. First Sister, west end, 1987. Second Sister,
east end, 1987. # Carex
laxiculmis Schw. SPREADING SEDGE. Day, 1888. # Carex
laxiflora Lam. LOOSE-FLOWERED SEDGE. Goat Island, 1988. Luna Island,
1988. First Sister, east end, flats promontory, 1988; west end, 1987. Second
Sister, west end, wet muck, 1987. var.
blanda First Sister, wet west end, 1988. RNY#Carex
molesta Mackenzie TROUBLESOME SEDGE. First Sister, east end, 1988. # Carex
normalis Mackenzie. LARGER STRAW SEDGE. Flats above Horseshoe Falls,
1988. First Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1987. R# Carex
oligocarpa Schk. FEW-FRUITED SEDGE. First Sister, west end, 1988. # Carex
pedunculata Muhl. LONG-STALKED SEDGE. First Sister, west end, 1988. # Carex
pseudo-cyperus CYPERUS-LIKE SEDGE. Second Sister, 1987. RA#Carex
retroflexa Muhl. REFLEXED SEDGE. Day, 1888. # Carex
rosea Schk. ROSE SEDGE. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. 1988. Luna Island,
northern thickets, 1988. First Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister, 1987. # Carex
stipata Muhl. AWL-FRUITED SEDGE. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls,
1987. First Sister, west end, 1987. Second Sister, west end alluvium [ obs.
1988 ]. # Carex
stricta Lam. TUSSOCK SEDGE. "Shallow water," Aug. 10, 1918,
Frank W. Johnson (BUF). # Carex
vulpinoidea Michx. FOXTAIL SEDGE. First Sister, west end. # Carpinus
caroliniana Walt. AMERICAN HORNBEAM. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island,
single large tree on talus; cluster of 10 trunks, young 1988. First Sister, east
end, 1986. First Sister, west end, 1987. * Carum
carui L. CARAWAY. "On the naked pasture on the head of the
Island, an umbellifer, probably Carum carui," June 1, 1865
(Clinton's Journal). Day, 1888. A
hickory (Carya) species is reported for Goat Island by the
Superintendent in the second report of the Commissioners in 1886. Two
hickories in 1886, and one in 1889 were blown down in winter storms (report
of the Superintendent, 6 Ann.Rep. Comm., 1890). # Carya
cordiformis (Wang.) K.Koch BITTERNUT HICKORY. July 5, 1863, the
"bitter Carya" (Clinton's Journal). Day, 1888. Wooded crest,
1988. Behind restaurant, near Terrapin Point, 1988. Central woods, 1988.
Second Sister, west end, 1988. # Carya
tomentosa (Poir.) Nutt. MOCKERNUT HICKORY. Day, 1888. [ Castanea
dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. CHESTNUT. To date, no reports for this species
have been made, and no evidence has been found for its occurrence on Goat
Island, even though before the chestnut blight it formed an element in local
forests where it was "rather common" and grew on "morainic
slopes and ridges, also in sandy soil in the wooded tracts along Lakes Erie
and Ontario," Zenkert, 1934. Hooker and Gray made no note of its
occurrence on the island in 1877, but Day (1901) reported its presence in the
Niagara flora. ] * Castanea mollissima Blume CHINESE CHESTNUT. Behind the
old maintenance building in the loop of the vehicular bridge road, central
island, in horticultural context, with Juglans regia (obs. 2001, det. R. H.
Zander). [* Castanea
sativa Mill. EURASIAN CHESTNUT. Great tree at the entrance to the
Three Sisters, 1986. Tree on the north side by the maintenance shed, 1988. Correction (2002), these trees are actually Quercus muhlenbergii
Engelm. (= Q. prinoides var. acuminata (Michx.) Gl.). The tree facing the
Three Sisters is now gone but young sprouts occur on the First of the Three
Sisters from its acorns.] R# Castilleia
coccinea (L.) Spreng. PAINTED CUP. Day, 1901. R# Celtis
occidentalis L. HACKBERRY. Midst of the central woodlands, 1986,
perhaps an escape, since several trees were noted on the crest of the Niagara
River gorge below the Schoellkopf Geological Museum in a setting of
horticultural plantings. Some of these trees have escaped into the gorge
forest at the base of the gorge. Several planted, west end, 1988. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in
1886. I am assuming that Nettletree, used in this report, indicated this
species. The Superintendent indicated, however, that his Nettletree was a
shrub. Day also uses Nettletree to refer to Celtis occidentalis,
which he indicates is "rather common between Queenston and Niagara"
on the Canadian shore, based on a report by John Macoun. RNY,
R # Chelone glabra L. var. dilatata Fern. & Wieg.
TURTLEHEAD. Second Sister, west end, 1986. # Clematis
virginiana L. VIRGIN'S BOWER. SW side of island, 1987. Second Sister,
east end, "rather abundant," 1986; west end, 1986. * Catalpa
bignonioides Walt. CATALPA. 1988. By pedestrian bridge, by the
maintenance sheds, on the south side of the island by the entrance to the
Three Sisters, aroung the restaurant near Terrapin Point. # Caulophyllum
thalictroides (L.) Michx. BLUE COHOSH. "Abundant," Day,
1888. Absent
from the 1988 flora, although frequent in western New York forests. P# Celastrus
scandens L. CLIMBING BITTERSWEET. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886 and noted as growing "in great abundance."
The Bittersweet grows on Goat Island "as though this were their chosen
home of all the earth .... The largest Bittersweet clusters hang far over the
western bank, growing in very indifferent soil..." (Chamberlin, 1892).
Cuttings of Bittersweet were planted in the Goat Island nursery in 1900 (17
Ann Rep Comm, 1901). George
Clinton collected a specimen of Phyllactinia guttata (fungi)
from a plant of this species on October 13, 1870's. * Centaurea
jacea L. BROWN KNAPWEED. "Ballast, east end," 1987. RNY,
R* Cerastium semidecandrum L. SMALL MOUSE-EARED CHICKWEED.
Second Sister, east end, 1986. First
report for western New York. R* Cerastium
viscosum L. CLAMMY MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED. Day, 1888. * Cerastium
vulgatum L. COMMON MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED. Day, 1888. Lawns, 1986. First
Sister, east end flats, 1988. Third Sister, 1987. * Cercis
canadensis L. REDBUD. Green Island, three trees planted, SW grove,
1988. * Chenopodium
album L. LAMB'S QUARTERS. Day, 1888. Garden bed, 1988. Terrapin Point,
1987. Base of Goat Island, 1988. RNY,
# Chenopodium hybridum L. MAPLE-LEAVED GOOSEFOOT. "On the
Island," Sept. 11, 1862 (Clinton Journal). (As Chenopodium stramonifolium)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. R* Chenopodium
urbicum L. NETTLE-LEAVED GOOSEFOOT. Green (Bath) Island, Day, 1883
(problematical). Day may have reidentified a Clinton specimen of Chenopodium
murale L. from Green, or Bath Island as Chenopodium urbicum
L. for his 1888 publication. If he did, he made no annotation on the specimen
in the Clinton Herbarium. * Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum L. OX-EYE DAISY. Day, 1888. Ballast, 1985. Base of Goat
Island, abundant, 1988. * Cichorium
intybus L. CHICORY. Throughout Goat Island lawn margins, top of north
slope, 1988. A
species of Thistle (Cirsium) was observed on the Second Sister, west
end, 1988, and on the ballast of Goat Island, east end, 1988; on Luna Island,
1988. * Cirsium
arvense (L.) Scop. CANADA THISTLE. Day, 1888. Southwest side, wooded
slopes facing the river, 1986. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. Base of
Goat Island, abundant, 1988. # Cirsium
discolor (Muhl.) Spreng. FIELD THISTLE. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Cirsium
muticum Michx. SWAMP THISTLE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). * Cirsium
vulgare (Savi) Tenore BULL THISTLE. Day, 1888. "Ballast ... at
the eastern end of the island," 1986. Southeastern thickets, 1988. Flats
above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988 # Cicuta
maculata L. WATER HEMLOCK. Day, 1888. # Circaea
quadrisulcata var. canadensis (L.) Hara. ENCHANTER'S
NIGHTSHADE. Day, 1888. "abundant in areas in the woods margins,"
1984. 1986. Second Sister, west end, 1987. # Claytonia
caroliniana Michx. BROAD-LEAVED SPRING BEAUTY. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Claytonia
virginica L. NARROW-LEAVED SPRING BEAUTY. Day, 1888. R* [
# ] Collinsia verna Nutt. BLUE-EYED MARY. "Introduced," Day,
1888. # Comandra
umbellata (L.) Nutt. BASTARD TOAD FLAX. Day, 1888. * Convallaria
majalis L. LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY. Old planting at the pedestrian bridge,
1988. Green Island, east end, old planting, 1988. * Convolvulus
arvensis L. FIELD BINDWEED. 1987. # Convolvulus
epium L. HEDGE BINDWEED. Thickets to the north of Terrapin Point and
the crest of the Horseshoe Falls, 1986. Base of Goat Island, 1988. First
Sister, 1986. # Conyza
canadensis (L.) Cronq. HORSEWEED. (As Erigeron canadensis)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Just east of Terrapin
Point, lawn edge, 1987. Second Sister, west end, mown lawn by path, 1987. The
Dogwoods (Cornus) of Goat Island are referred to by the Superintendent
in the second report of the Commissioners in 1886. # Cornus
alternifolia L.f. ALTERNATE-LEAVED DOGWOOD. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). "Not uncommon in Western New York. Probably
overlooked," Day, 1888. Rather abundant in sunny margins of central
woods, 1984. Base of Goat Island, in wooded patch, upper talus slopes, 1988.
Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. This
species is frequent and of maturity in wooded areas on the Island, 1988. # Cornus
amomum Mill. SILKY CORNEL. Day, 1888. P# Cornus
florida L. FLOWERING DOGWOOD Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Zenkert, 1934.
Single tree of some maturity with many dead branches, by pedestrian bridge,
1988. # Cornus
racemosa Lam. PANICLED DOGWOOD. (As Cornus paniculata)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Ballast [ obs.
1988 ]. Southern thickets, river's edge, 1986. Terrapin Point, 1986. First
Sister, east end, dolomite pavement [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end,
"a tree in size" 1987. # Cornus
rugosa Lam. ROUND-LEAVED DOGWOOD. "Gathered some ... here and
there on the Island," June 26, 1862 (Clinton Journal). (As Cornus
circinata) Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal).
"Near the Horse-shoe Fall," Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934.
"Abundant," 1984. First Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. * Cornus
sanguinea L. BLOODTWIG DOGWOOD. 1988. Luna Island, top of north slope,
southern central woods margin, edge of southern wet thickets. Observed on
Luna Island, N end, 1988. This
horticultural shrub may be instead a variety of Cornus alba,
although the berries appear black, as in C. sanguinea, rather
than blue to white-blue, as in C. alba. The branches of these
shrubs are purple or dull red, as in C. sanguinea, rather than
"bright blood-red" as described for C. alba. # Cornus
stolonifera Michx. RED-OSIER DOGWOOD. Day, 1888. Abundant in thickets
at the water's edge, southwest, 1986. Terrapin Point, 1987. Base of Goat
Island, abundant, 1988. Appear to be abundant on Brother Island, 1988. First
Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end, abundant in west. * Coronilla
varia L. CROWN VETCH. Southern margins of the Island, 1986; crest near
Terrapin Point, 1987. R# Corylus
americana Walt. AMERICAN HAZELNUT. Day, 1883. * Corylus
avellana L. EUROPEAN FILBERT. Luna Island, "Planted," Day,
1888. The
"Wild Apple" reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the
report of the Commissioners in 1886 may refer to Hawthorns [ Crabapples ], Crataegus,
or to Pyrus (Paer or Apple) trees (Pyrus coronaria, native and
not reported for the islands, or P. communis, P. malus,
both horticultural. Sixty hawthorns were planted in the Goat Island nursery
in 1892 - perhaps from the native populations on the island (9 Ann Rep Comm,
1893). # Crataegus
calpodendron (Ehrh.) Medic. PEAR THORN. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Crataegus
coccinea L. SCARLET THORN. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Crataegus
crus-galli L. COCKSPUR HAWTHORN. "Not common in Western New York;
but here, quite abundant," Day, 1888. Day, 1901. * Crataegus
phaenopyrum Medic. WASHINGTON HAWTHORN. Planted throughout the island
by roadsides and buildings, 1988. This species is native to the south-central
areas of the eastern states. # Cryptotaenia
canadensis (L.) DC. HONEWORT. Day, 1888. R# Cubelium
concolor (Forst.) Raf. GREEN VIOLET. 1877. "near the center of
Goat Island," Day, 1883. Day, 1888. # Cuscuta
gronovii Willd. COMMON DODDER. Thickets to the southwest, 1987. A
species of this plant is abundant at the base of Goat Island, 1988. * Cynoglossum
officinale L. HOUND'S TONGUE. Day, 1888. This weedy species is
frequent on the American side in the Niagara River gorge on the gorge crest
and the top of the talus slope. # Cyperus
esculentus L. YELLOW NUT GRASS. Day, 1888. Single plantin wet ditch,
east end, curbless area by road, 1987. # Cyperus
odoratus L. FRAGRANT CYPERUS. Zenkert, 1934. # Cyperus
rivularis Kunth. SHINING CYPERUS. "On the east side," Day,
1888. Zenkert, 1934. Second Sister, east end, dolomite flats area, edge of
grass mat, 1986. P# Cystopteris
bulbifera (L.) Bernh. BULBLET BLADDER FERN. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934.
Base of Goat Island, frequent on boulders, 1988. First Sister, east end,
"on stone bridge to the mainland, facing west," 1986. Third Sister,
"dolomite rocks facing Brother Island," 1986. * Dactylis
glomerata L. ORCHARD GRASS. North end lawns, 1987. Ballast, 1988.
First Sister, east end, 1986. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. R* Daphne
mezereum L. MEZEREUM. "One individual, perhaps planted,"
Day, 1883. "Introduced and spreading," Day, 1888. "Not
observed," Zenkert, 1934. * Daucus
carota L. QUEEN ANNE'S LACE. This species is frequent along paths and
road margins throughout the Goat Island complex [ obs. 1988 ]. P# Dennstaedtia
punctilobula HAY-SCENTED FERN. Base of Goat Island, here and there
toward the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. # Dentaria
diphylla Michx. TWO-LEAVED TOOTHWORT. Day, 1883. Day, 1888.
"Notable for their abundance and beauty," Day, 1901. # Dentaria
laciniata Muhl. CUT-LEAVED TOOTHWORT. April 29, 1862; May 9, 1864
(Clinton Journal). Day, 1888. Extensive mats throughout woods, 1982. Green
Island, extreme west end, 1986. Luna Island, some in northern thicket [ obs.
1988 ]. Second Sister, west end, "small colony," 1986. R# Deschampsia
caespitosa (L.) Beauv. TUFTED HAIR GRASS. Day, 1888. * Dianthus
armeria L. DEPTFORD PINK. July 23, 1865, "On Goat Island,
American side, above the Bridge ... abundant & nearly accessible
..." (Clinton's unpublished diary). First Sister, east end, 1986. # Dicentra
canadensis (Goldie) Walp. SQUIRREL CORN. April 25, 1863; May 9, 1864
(Clinton Journal). "Abundant," Day, 1888. Day, 1901.
"Occasional in rich deciduous woods," 1984. # Dicentra
cucullaria (L.) Bernh. DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES. April 29, 1862; May 12,
1864 (Clinton Journal). Day, 1883. "Abundant," Day, 1888. Day,
1901. "Hybrids of this and the foregoing species were reported by Day
from...Goat Island," Zenkert, 1934. "Abundant," 1984. Day
(1888) predicted the extermination of these species (as Diclytras) on Goat
Island by "careless flower-gatherers." * Digitaria
ischaemum (Schreb.) Schreb. ex Muhl. SMALL CRAB-GRASS. Goat Island,
1987. Second Sister, west end, 1988. Third Sister, 1988. * Digitaria
sanguinalis (L.) Scop. LARGE CRAB-GRASS. Goat Island, 1988. One
or the other of the next two species is abundant at the base of Goat Island,
1988. RNY,
R* Diplotaxis muralis (L.) DC. SAND ROCKET. Woods, 1987. An
occurrence of this or the following on Luna Island by the brink [ obs. 1988
]. RNY,
R* Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC. WALL ROCKET.
"Base," 1986. * Dipsacus
sylvestris Huds. COMMON TEASEL. "ballast on the eastern
meadow," 1985. # Dirca
palustris L. LEATHERWOOD. Reported for the Goat Island woods by the
Superintendent in his 1886 published report to the New York State
Legislature. Rich deciduous or mixed woods. # Disporum
lanuginosum (Michx.) Nichols. YELLOW MANDARIN. Day, 1888. Zenkert,
1934. * Dodecatheon
meadia L. AMERICAN COWSLIP. "Introduced," Day, 1888. R* Draba
verna L. WHITLOW GRASS. "Introduced .... Hardly yet
established," Day, 1883. "Perhaps not established," Day, 1888.
First Sister, east end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988. P# Dryopteris
marginalis (L.) Gray MARGINAL SHIELD FERN. Day, 1888. * Echinochloa
crusgalli (L.) Beauv. BARNYARD GRASS. 1987. # Eleocharis
palustris (L.) R.&S. CREEPING SPIKERUSH. First Sister, west end,
1988. # Elymus
virginicus L. VIRGINIA WILD RYE. Third Sister, willow base, south side
river's edge [ obs. 1988 ]. # Epifagus
virginiana (L.) Bart. VIRGINIA BEECHDROPS. "Not common,"
Day, 1888. There
are very few beeches on Goat Island on which this parasitic plant might live;
this may be due in part to the calcareous soils. There was only one tree seen
that did not have its base mown, which would prevent this plant from
establishing itself. David
Douglas in his diary in 1823 reported two species of Orobanche
"in dry places ... among leaves." # Epilobium
ciliatum Raf. NORTHERN WILLOW-HERB. 1986. First Sister, west end,
1986. Terrapin Point, 1986. Goat Island, edge of garden, 1987. R# Epilobium
glandulosum Lehm. WILLOW-HERB. Terrapin Point, 1986. * Epilobium
hirsutum L. HAIRY WILLOW-HERB. Sept. 22, 1936, Mabel James (BUF).
1986. Second Sister, west end, 1988. * Epipactis
helleborine (L.) Crantz. HELLEBORINE ORCHID. Goat Island ... where
originally introduced by Day," Zenkert, 1934. 1984. Wooded crest, 1988.
Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, abundant, 1988. "Frequent on all three
Sisters islands," 1984. Second Sister, west end, 1986. # Equisetum
arvense L. COMMON HORSETAIL. Day, 1888. Slopes in south end of Goat
Island, 1987. Probably
a collection from the First Sister, west end, 1988 and on Luna Island, 1988
is this species. # Equisetum
variegatum Schleich. VARIEGATED SCOURING-RUSH. "About the flat by
Terrapin bridge," July 5, 1862; May 12, 1864 (Clinton Journal). Sept.
19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal. Day, 1888. # Erechtites
hieracifolia (L.) Raf. PILEWORT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Several plants in garden soil, front of
Terrapin Point Restaurant, 1987. # Erigeron
annuus (L.) Pers. SLENDER WHITE-TOP. Second Sister, east end, 1988. # Erigeron
philadelphicus L. PHILADELPHIA FLEABANE. Rocky area by Horseshoe
Falls; in thickets along the south end of the island, 1986. Second Sister,
east end, 1987. # Erigeron
pulchellus Michx. POOR ROBIN'S PLANTAIN. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. # Erigeron
strigosus Muhl. DAISY FLEABANE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. "frequent in thickets on the
south side," 1986. # Erythronium
americanum Kerr. YELLOW ADDER'S TONGUE. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Central
woods, 1982. * Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, HARDY RUBBER TREE. One of the
collection of exotic trees behind the stone maintenance building at the foot
of the vehicular bridge. After a decade of trying to identify this large,
mature tree, which has never flowered or fruited during that time, and which
has no distinguishing characteristics of an ordinary nature, its identify was
discovered by chance at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where a similar tree
was located. Among the unusual characteristics of the species is the fact
that it is the only lactiferous, specifically rubber-producing tree of the
north temperate zone (it derives from China where it is rare in the wild). It
has no known taxonomic relationship with any other tree group, although
currently placed in the Cornales. It is the only member in its family, the
Eucommiaceae. Its exotic nature was appreciated many years ago when it was
planted on Goat Island and is probably the same age as the two alien
nut-trees (Chestnut and Walnut). Another old example of this species occurs
adjacent to the central woods near the road that cuts through it, on the
north boundary. Twelve Euonymus shrubs were planted
on the denuded southern slopes of Goat Island in 1892 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892).
Sixty Euonymus shrubs were transplanted from the Goat Island
"thicket" to the Goat Island nursery in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm,
1892). Another 204 Euonymus were put in the nursery in the next year
(9 Ann Comm Rep, 1893). PR# Euonymus
atropurpureus Jacq. WAHOO or BURNING BUSH. "On Goat Island, Euonymus
atropurpureus in fruit, very pretty," Nov. 29, 1865 (Clinton's
Journal). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1883. June
27, 1896, Marion Jessup Wright (BUF). Day, 1888. Oct. 14, 1899, Edna Porter
(BUF). Reported
by the Superintendent (as Burning Bush) in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. The "Waahoo ... grow as though this were their
chosen home of all the earth ... and ... is best content where left entirely
to itself" (Chamberlin, 1892). The sixty Euonymus shrubs removed
from the Goat Island "thicket" and planted in the Goat Island
nursery in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892) were native and abundant, and were
probably this species, as were perhaps the 216 other Euonymus plants
mentioned. Mitchell
(1986) in his recent checklist of the plants of New York State reports this
species as a "rare introduction" in New York State, and Fernald
(1950) indicated that it is "cultivated and somewhat naturalized
northeastward" of its natural range. Mitchell has since informed me this
species is not now considered rare in New York (personal communication. House
(1924) reported this species as "Infrequent or rare from Oneida and
Schuyler counties westward and southward. Increasingly common toward the
southwest." This species grows more in regions south and west of the
Niagara region, reaching the eastern borders of the Great Plains (Fernald,
1950), for example, in Michigan it grows in several counties on "river
banks and floodplain forests" (Voss, 1985). In southern Ontario below
the boreal forests of the central and northern portions of the province, that
is, in the Deciduous Forest Region (Carolinian Zone), the shrub is native
with populations extending from five stations near the Niagara River west to
the St. Claire River region of London-Detroit (34 populations reported)
(Soper & Heimberger, 1982). The habitat reported is "low places,
particularly in thickets along streams, in rich alluvial soil; also in damp
sandy or rocky woods." Zenkert
(1934) indicated Euonymus atropurpureus was somewhat rare in
western New York where it can be "abundant and sometimes in dense
thickets." Zenkert goes on to say Indians on the Cattaraugus Indian
Reservation had collected roots, etc., of this shrub with "whole
thickets being destroyed in this manner." Euonymus
americana L., STRAWBERRY-BUSH, is native to western New York State in
low woods and is rare in the state, being a southern species reaching its
northern limits in the state. It is not reported for Ontario by Soper and
Heimberger (1982), and no publication seen so far reports its existence at
Niagara Falls. The existence of specimens from Goat Island of Euonymus
atropurpureus, together with various reports of it noted above, and
the reported density of populations on the Island in 1892 lends overwhelming
evidence for a native enclave of this species in this part of New York State.
This idea is consistent with other evidence for species more common south and
west of the Niagara area extending across southern Ontario in the Deciduous
Forests along the north shore of Lake Erie, and along the limestone habitats
of the Niagara Escarpment. * Euonymus
europaeus L. SPINDLE-TREE. "Apparently naturalized on Goat
Island, Niagara Falls (Johnson), but possibly planted," Zenkert, 1934. # Eupatorium
maculatum L. JOE-PYE-WEED. 1987. Terrapin Point, 1986. Base of Goat
Island, 1988. First Sister, west end, 1987. First Sister, east end, 87317.
Second Sister, west end, alluvium, 1988 [ obs. ]. # Eupatorium
perfoliatum L. BONESET. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). 1986. Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, west end, 1988. Second
Sister, west end, alluvium, 1988 [ obs. ]. # Eupatorium
purpureum L. LOWLAND PURPLE BONESET. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). This
species has a rather confused history in the Niagara Frontier Region.
Specimens with this name from the regionexist in the Clinton Herbarium, and
the herbarium of the Queen Victoria Park School of Horticulture, as do
published reports (Day, 1882; Cameron, 1895; Hamilton, 1943 for the parks in
Niagara Falls, Ontario). It does not appear in the checklist for the Niagara
Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979). This species probably does exist
locally and this name has been included in the statistical tabulations. The
specimens in question will eventually be sent to a specialist in the genus at
the National Herbarium (US). # Eupatorium
rugosum Houtt. WHITE SNAKE ROOT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. On slopes facing the Three Sister Islands,
1983. Terrapin Point, 1986. Base of Goat Island, 1988. First Sister, west and
east ends, throughout, 1988 [ obs. ]. Second Sister, west and east ends,
throughout, 1988 [ obs. ]. Third Sister, throughout, 1988 [ obs. ]. # Euphorbia
maculata L. WARTWEED. Second Sister, east end, 1987. # Fagus
grandifolia Ehrh. BEECH. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.Hooker's American
Journal). "Abundant," Day, 1888. Northern slopes just west of
pedestrian bridge, "single tree and suckers," 1988, 2-3 more trunks
at edge of central woods facing the maintenance shed. Second Sister, east
end, "single tree," 1987; west end [ obs. 1988 ]. The
timber [ on Goat Island ] is chiefly of the ordinary hard-wood trees, Beach [
sic ] and Maple predominating" (Chamberlin, 1892). Six beeches were
reported blown down in the storm of January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891).
A lovely old trunk is depicted in a photograph in 1902 showing the typical
masses of names carved in the trunk as high as a human being can reach (19
Ann Rep Comm, 1903). * Festuca
elatior L. MEADOW FESCUE. Day, 1888. * Festuca
ovina L. var. duriuscula (L.) Koch SHEEP FESCUE. Third Sister,
dolomite boulder, 1986. # Floerkea
proserpinacoides Willd. FALSE MERMAID. Day, 1888. Floerkea uligonosa
Muhl. is an earlier name. Although
not very common any more in our immediate area, in 1862 Judge Clinton found
it in Buffalo, at what he called the Elk Street wood [ nearly destroyed by
1866 ]. He "met therein David F. Day. He had just found a Floerkea
uliginosa. (I afterwards found it in the hollow at the right, after
crossing, from Buffalo, the Lake Shore R. R. bridge over the Buffalo Creek
.... Indeed, it is quite common in damp woods and river bottoms") (from
an unpublished mss. in Zenkert, 1934). * Forsythia
suspensa Vahl. FORSYTHIA. Planted by entrance to pedestrian bridge, border
of thicket, north slope, 1988. * Fragaria
vesca L. (s.l.) STRAWBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal. Day, 1888. Northeastern thickets, 1988. First Sister, west end [
obs. 1988 ]. A species of Strawberry was observed on the northeast end of the
Second Sister in 1988. # Fragaria
virginiana Duchesne WILD STRAWBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal. Day, 1888. Northeastern thickets, 1988. When
the Goat Island nursery was established in 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891), 130
young Ash (Fraxinus) trees were transplanted there "from the
thicket on Goat Island." In 1893, seventy-six of these were removed and
planted in the eastern meadow (10 Ann Rep Comm, 1894), the following year 76
more were planted (11 Ann Rep Comm, 1895). Chamberlin
(1892) mentioned that at the time of writing the Goat Island forest was
predominantly Beech and Maple, with an "occasional" Ash. This is
quite unlike present conditions where Ash is the second most dominant tree in
the central woods. Seedlings
of Ash are more abundant in 1988 throughout the area than any other tree
species. # Fraxinus
americana L. WHITE ASH. July 5, 1863 (Clinton's Journal). Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. "Thickets
at brink of Horseshoe Falls," 1986; "thickets on N side of the
Island," 1987. Fraxinus [ americana-pensylvanica ] Second
Sister, west end. Alluvium, 1988 [ obs. ] ] Luna Island, northern thickets [
obs. 1988 ]. # Fraxinus
nigra Marsh. BLACK ASH. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. One
tree of this species was blown down in the winter storm of 1889 (report of
the Superintendent, 6 Ann.Rep. Comm., 1890). The
disappearance of this species may relate to its disappearance in western New
York State as a whole. "The black ash, once very abundant in swamps and
there outnumbering all other species combined, seems to have fared worst ....
The progressive drying-out of the land is mainly responsible for its marked
decrease. Seedlings of the black ash do not compete successfully under drier
conditions with those of the white (American) elm and those of the red and
silver maples,, with the result that these have become the prevailing trees
in low ground" (E. J. Hill in Zenkert, 1934). The dryer conditions
referred to by Hall relate to the general deforestation of the region. Loss
of moisture on Goat Island may be due to island deforestation and water
diversion. # Fraxinus
pennsylvanica Marsh. RED ASH. Zenkert, 1934. "South end in
thickets on the river's edge," 1986. Base of Goat Island, abundant, one
40 inches in circumference, 1988. * Galeopsis
tetrahit L. HEMP-NETTLE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). The
variety bifida (Boenn.) Lej. & Court. occurs in the Niagara
Frontier Region (Zander & Pierce, 1979). * Galinsoga
ciliata (Raf.) Blake CILIATE GALINSOGA. "By crest of the
Horseshoe Falls," 8705215. Base of Goat Island, 1988. One
Bedstraw (Galium) species was observed on the First Sister, west end,
but was not in identifiable condition, another occurred by the entrance to
the maintenance facility, in wooded area, 1988. # Galium
aparine L. CLEAVERS. Day, 1888. # Galium
asprellum Michx. ROUGH BEDSTRAW. Day, 1888. # Galium
boreale L. NORTHERN BEDSTRAW. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. * Galium
mollugo L. BEDSTRAW. "Introduced," Day, 1888. # Galium
obtusum Bigel. BLUNT-LEAVED MARSH BEDSTRAW. Thickets, south side,
1986. # Galium
trifidum L. var. tinctorium (L.) T.&G. STIFF MARSH
BEDSTRAW. Day, 1888. # Galium
triflorum Michx. SWEET-SCENTED BEDSTRAW. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934.
Second Sister, west side, 1988; east side, 1988. # Gaylussacia
baccata (Wang.) Koch BLACK HUCKLEBERRY. Day, 1888. RNY,
PRE# Gentiana procera Holm SMALLER FRINGED GENTIAN. Torrey,
1843. (As Gentiana detonsa) Sept. 11, 1862, "On the right
of the path to Terrapin Tower saw a hundred Gentians," "on Goat
Island near Terrapin Bridge ... abundant," Sept. 23, 1862 (Clinton
Journal). Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Terrapin Point, Sept. 10, 1986, R. Mitchell
(BUF, NYS) On
the talus at Niagara, "in moist spots, here and there a sharp eye may
detect many flowered tufts of the beautiful fringed Gentian, strange to
European eyes" (Olmsted, 1880, citing Robinson, 1875). Lady
Theodora Guest, in 1895 noticed a "Pink Crane's Bill" (Geranium)
growing on the Three Sister Islands. # Geranium
maculatum L. WILD CRANE'S-BILL. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. R* Geranium
pusillum L. SMALL-FLOWERED CRANE'S-BILL. Lawn, area where three roads
meet near maintenance building, 1988. Second Sister, east end, dolomite
flats, 1987. # Geranium
robertianum L. HERB ROBERT. June 26, 1862 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1883. Day, 1888. Base of Goat
Island, 1988. First Sister, east end, 1986. # Gerardia
purpurea L. PURPLE GERARDIA. Day, 1888. R#var.
parviflora Benth. SMALL-FLOWERED PURPLE GERARDIA. Terrapin Point,
1987. Second Sister, east end, 1986. # Geum
aleppicum Jacq. var. strictum (Ait.) Fern. YELLOW AVENS. Day,
1888. Second Sister, west end, 1988. # Geum
canadense Jacq. WHITE AVENS. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988.
Central Woods, 1986. Second Sister, west end, frequent [ obs. 1988 ]. # Geum
laciniatum Murr. ROUGH AVENS. (All reports use the earlier name G.
virginianum L., which is now applied to a different species of Geum
formerly known as G. flavum). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. * Glechoma
hederacea L. GILL-OVER-THE-GROUND. Day, 1888. Goat Island, Edward C.
Townsend, May 22, 1896 (BUF). Throughout Goat Island lawns, 1988. First
Sister, east and west ends [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end, abundant
in woods section [ obs. 1988 ]. Gleditsia triacanthos L. HONEY-LOCUST.
Planted in various places throughout Goat Island, 1988. One tree planted with Robinia and Sophora in the lawn
verge at the eastern end of the large western parking lot, 2006. # Glyceria
striata (Lam.) Hitchc. NERVED MANNA-GRASS. Crest woods, 1987. First
Sister, west end, 1987. Second Sister, west end, 1987. # Gnaphalium
uliginosum L. LOW CUDWEED. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). P# Habenaria
hyperborea (L.) R.Br. TALL LEAFY GREEN ORCHID. (As Platanthera)
"About the flat by Terrapin bridge," July 5, 1862 (Clinton
Journal). "Near the Horse-shoe Fall," Day, 1888. # Hackelia
virginiana (L.) Johnst. VIRGINIA STICKSEED. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. * Hedera
helix L. ENGLISH IVY. Luna Island, dense, choking masses all margins
of the island, 1988. # Helenium
autumnale L. SNEEZEWEED. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. 1986. Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, east end,
1988; west end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, shrubby area, wet dolomite,
86121414. # Helianthus
divaricatus L. WOODLAND SUNFLOWER. Day, 1888. # Helianthus
strumosus L. PALE-LEAVED SUNFLOWER. Day, 1888. * Hemerocallis
fulva L. DAY LILY. Second Sister, east end, 1987. # Hepatica
acutilobula DC. SHARP-LOBED HEPATICA. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Hepatica
americana (DC.) Ker BLUNT-LEAVED HEPATICA. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Heracleum
lanatum Michx. DOWNY COW PARSNIP. Day, 1888. RNY,
R* Heracleum mantegazzianum Som. & Lev. GIANT HOGWEED.
"Dense thickets on the S side of the island," 8705199. Luna Island,
1988 [ obs. ]. * Hieracium
aurantiacum L. DEVIL'S PAINT-BRUSH. "Introduced," Day, 1888. R* Hieracium
florentinum All. FLORENCE KING-DEVIL. Second Sister, west end, 1988. R# Hieracium
gronovii L. HAIRY HAWKWEED. Day, 1888. * Hieracium
pratense Tausch. KING-DEVIL. Ballast, 1987. First Sister, west end [
obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, east end, 1987. # Hieracium
venosum L. RATTLESNAKE-WEED. Day, 1888. # Houstonia
canadensis Willd. FRINGED HOUSTONIA. Torrey, 1843. June 26, 1862,
"On top of the bank" [ the west-facing crest, as it occurs
elsewhere on the crest of the Niagara River Gorge ], (Clinton Journal). (As Houstonia
purpurea var. ciliolata) Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. # Hydrocotyle
americana L. WATER PENNYWORT. Goat Island, Edward C. Townsend, June
27, 1896 (BUF). # Hydrophyllum
virginianum L. VIRGINIA WATERLEAF. Day, 1888. Populations of this
plant may be found along the crest of the Niagara Gorge, eastern side, and
DeVeaux College woods. RNY,
R# Hypericum kalmianum L. KALM'S ST. JOHN'S WORT. Torrey, 1843.
"About the flat by Terrapin bridge," July 5, 1862; Aug. 1, 1862;
Aug. 22, 1864; "Near the Terrapin Tower, July 18, 1865; July 26, 1865;
"On the talus directly below the Cave of the Winds shanty ..." Aug.
8, 1865 (Clinton Journal). Clinton, 1864. Day, 1883. "Goat Island. First
Sister, east end, 1892 (BUF). Day, 1901. Zenkert (1934) gave the additional
information of a specimen collected by C. S. Osborne in 1867 (BUF) and a
specimen in the New York State Herbarium, Albany, collected by E. Hunt and
Asa Gray, without date. Beck (1833) reports this "species has been found
near Niagara Falls by Dr. Asa Gray." This
is the only known locality for the species in New York State. Mitchell
reported it as possibly extirpated from New York State (1986). Zenkert (1934)
reported it as "not observed at the Falls in recent years." Parts
of the base of Goat Island and the islands in the American channel of the
Niagara River at the falls were not made available for examination during the
course of this study - it is conceivable this plant may still be found in
these areas. There
are reports for this species from the Canadian side, on the talus:
"Rochers au bas de la chute de Niagara " Provancher (Fl. Canad. p.
104), Day, 1888. * Hypericum
perforatum L. COMMON ST. JOHN'S-WORT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Goat Island, 1987. Ballast [ obs. 1988 ]. First
Sister, east end, 1987. First Sister, west end, 1986. Second Sister, west
end, 1987; east end 1987. # Hysterix
patula Moench. BOTTLE-BRUSH GRASS. Goat Island, G. W. Clinton, 1872
(BUF). Second Sister, west end, 1988. # Impatiens
biflora Walt. SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT. Day, 1888. All along the wooded
slope against the waterline to the south, in seeps in the southwestern part
of the Island, 1984. Base of Goat Island, becomes more abundant as you
approach the Horseshoe, 1988. Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, west and
east ends [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end, "abundant," 1986. # Impatiens
pallida Nutt. PALE TOUCH-ME-NOT. Day, 1888. This species is frequent
in the Niagara River Gorge. * Inula
helenium L. ELECAMPANE. Day, 1888. # Iris
versicolor L. BLUE FLAG. Day, 1888. Second Sister, west, 1987. One
walnut tree (Juglans) was reported blown down in 1886 during winter
storms. # Juglans
cinerea L. BUTTERNUT. Second Sister, west end, 1988. # Juglans
nigra L. BLACK WALNUT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). 1984. Tree just west of vehicular bridge, 1988. Two trees in the
meadow, east end, and in the picnic area to the southwest, 1988. Behind
restaurant, 1988 [ obs. ]. Southern thickets, 1988. Base of Goat Island,
1988. One tree stands beside a collection of alien
trees of the Pea Family at the east margin lawn beside the large western
parking lot. According
to the second report of the Commissioners to the State Legislature in 1886 [
for 1885 ] is the mention made by the Superintendent that this tree
predominated among the natural woods in "The area at the head of the
reservation" by the old Port Day pier, just east of the boundary line of
the reservation on the mainland. Lady Theodora Guest in 1895 noticed Black
Walnut trees on the Three Sisters. This
species is among the trees being replanted on Goat Island and seems a good
choice. * Juglans regia L. PERSIAN or ENGLISH WALNUT. Very mature
tree behind old maintenance building in loop of the vehicular bridge road,
mown area amid some native trees. Planted a long time ago. Coll. 2001 (BUF). # Juncus
articulatus L. JOINTED RUSH. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988.
First Sister, east end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1986. Third Sister,
east end, 1986. # Juncus
brachycephalus (Engelm.) Buch. SHORT-HEADED RUSH. Clinton (late
1800's), Zenkert, 1934. # Juncus
bufonius L. TOAD RUSH. Goat Island, 1988. First Sister, south side,
east end, 1988. # Juncus
dudleyi Wieg. DUDLEY'S RUSH. Crest by the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. First
Sister, west end, 1988; east end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988; west
end, 1986. # Juncus
effusus var. solutus Fern. & Wieg. COMMON RUSH. Second
Sister, east end, few, 1988. # Juncus
nodosus L. KNOTTED RUSH. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. # Juncus
tenuis Willd. PATH RUSH. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Low,
wet area just east of bridge, north Goat Island, 1987. Second Sister, west
end, 1988. Third Sister, east end, 1986. # Juniperus
communis L. LOW JUNIPER [ COMMON JUNIPER ]. Goat
Island, George Engelmann (GEH at MO) August 1840; Goat Island, April
29, 1862 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal).
Day, 1888. This
is the Common Juniper referred to in the Goat Island woods by the Superintendent
in the second report of the Commissioners, 1886. There are the remains of a
Juniper shrub visible on Luna Island, 1988. # Juniperus
virginiana L. RED CEDAR. 1871. 1874. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). "... and the banks of Niagara River below the
Falls," Day, 1883. "Apparently disappearing," Day, 1888.
"... unfortunately disappearing," Day, 1901. Several fine trees in
the eastern meadow, 1988. The
Superintendent of the Reservation indicated "The red cedars are dying
out of late years" in the second report of the Commissioners of 1886.
Perhaps this published concern for these trees accounts for the fine grove of
this species in the eastern meadow. Eleven red cedars were blown down in the
winter storm of 1889 (report of the Superintendent, 6 Ann.Rep. Comm., 1890),
and two January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). Nine red cedars were planted
on the denuded southern banks of Goat Island in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1982).
In 1892, eighty-three red cedar were added to the Goat Island nursery (9 Ann
Rep Comm, 1893). A Red Cedar was noted growing on Ship Island in the American
channel (Agassiz, 1850). Chamberlin
(1892) observed on Goat Island "near the paths many small Cedars, white
and red ..." in the woods. R# Justicia
americana (L.) Vahl WATER-WILLOW. "Shallow water," Charles
A. Zenkert, 1924 (BUF). "Near brink of Falls," Charles A. Zenkert,
1928 (BUF). "Shallow water of Niagara River, on limestone, off Goat
Island, just above the Falls, where rather abundant," Zenkert, 1934. Populations
of this lovely river plant (not a Willow at all) were to be found at Dufferin
Islands until a few years ago. [ Larix sp. Several
species of Larch of maturity occur throughout Goat Island, growing in open
stations where they have been planted - no attempt has been made to identify
these as they are obviously introduced, and do not appear to be spreading. In
1891, one hundred "Scotch larch" trees were procured for the Goat
Island nursery (perhaps Larix decidua) (8 Ann Rep Comm,
1892).In 1893, thirty-six larches were planted in the eastern meadow, taken
from the nursery (10 Ann Rep Comm, 1894), and the following year, 36 more (11
Ann Rep Comm, 1895). #Larix decidua Mill.
EUROPEAN LARCH. Central wood's edge, northeast side facing entrance to
pedestrian bridge, with Eucommia ulmoides, near Picea sitchensis, apparently
even-aged with these horticultural trees. Native to the Alps and Carpathian
Mountains of eastern Europe. # Lathyrus
ochroleucus CREAM-COLORED VETCHLING. Day, 1888. # Lathyrus
palustris var. myrtifolius (Muhl.) Gray MYRTLE-LEAVED
VETCHLING. On June 26, 1862, Clinton found "a pretty Lathyrus"
"in the flat by Terrapin Bridge." Later that year, on August 1,
1862, he found L. palustris in the same locality as Hypericum
kalmianum, presumably at Terrapin Point (Clinton Journal). Day, 1888. # Lactuca
biennis (Moench) Fern. TALL BLUE LETTUCE. (As Lactuca leucophaea)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). # Lactuca
canadensis L. WILD LETTUCE. (As Lactuca elongata) Sept.
19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). A
species of Leersia was noted for Goat Island on Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). # Leersia
oryzoides (L.) Sw. RICE CUT-GRASS. First Sister, west end, 1988. # Leersia
virginica Willd. WHITE GRASS. Day, 1888. # Lemna
minor L. LESSER DUCKWEED. "Southwest end," 1986. * Leonurus
cardiaca L. MOTHERWORT. Day, 1888. First Sister, west end [ obs. 1988
]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Throughout the wooded margins of
Goat Island and the Three Sisters, 1988 [ obs. ]. * Lepidium
campestre (L.) R. Br. FIELD PEPPERGRASS. Ballast, 1987. North slope,
along path, 1988. # Lepidium
virginicum L. COMMON PEPPERGRASS. First of the Three Sisters Islands,
east end along dirt path, 1986. Third Sister, 1988. * Ligustrum
vulgare L. PRIVET. "Ballast, east end," 1985. Luna Island,
thickets on the east margin [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister, east end, dense
thickets [ obs. 1988 ]. * Linaria
vulgaris Hill BUTTER-AND-EGGS. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Ballast,
east end, 1985. # Lindera
benzoin (L.) Blume SPICEBUSH or SPICEBARK. "Goat Island and the
Three Sisters," Day, 1888. "Handsomely represented," Day,
1901. Central woods, 1986. Large shrubs may be found along the river's edge
on the north side of the island.
Reported for Goat Island (as Spicebark) by the Superintendent in the report
of the Commissioners in 1886. # Liriodendron
tulipifera L. TULIP TREE. "One fine specimen is growing near the
carriage way on the north side of the island," Day, 1888. Day, 1901.
"Planted as an ornamental," 1986. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in
1886. Chamberlin (1892) mentioned that at the time of writing, the Goat
Island forest was predominantly Beech and Maple, with an "occasional"
Tulip-tree. Present planting policy includes extensive planting of this
species on the Island. * Lithospermum
arvense L. CORN GROMWELL. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. * Lithospermum
officinale L. COMMON GROMWELL. "A common weed on the Island &
about the Falls," June 26, 1862; "by the [ Terrapin ] Tower &
along the bank ..." June 7, 1864; April 21, 1866, "... W.
Pettibone, ... told me that there was a plant on Goat Isld., a tea from the
roots & seeds of which, drunk as you would any tea, had relieved him very
much in his kidney complaint, gravel. Went over the Island with him,
he looking in vain for it. He describes it as a low bush, with a very small,
pearshaped, white hard seed. It occurring to me that it was, most probably, Lithospermum
officinale, I looked it up & dug up a root with a dead stalk &
he thought it to be the plant, though, the seed being gone, he could not tell
certainly. Said the root looked & smelt like it. (Clinton Journal). Goat
Island, D. F. Day, July 19, 1863 (BUF). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. First Sister, east end [ obs.
1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Found throughout the thicketed
areas of Goat Island, 1988. # Lobelia
kalmii L. KALM'S LOBELIA. Day, 1883. Day, 1901. The Three Sisters,
1894. Second Sister, east end, 1986. # Lobelia
siphilitica L. GREAT LOBELIA. Second Sister, west end, 1986. First
Sister, west end, 1988; east end, extremity on flats, 1988. * Lolium
perenne L. ENGLISH RYE GRASS. By vehicular bridge, 1988. Populations
of Honeysuckle (Lonicera) on Goat Island were reported by the
Superintendent in the second report of the Commissioners in 1886. One kind is
referred to by the Superintendent as a "creeping plant" or vine,
although which species this may refer to is conjectural. It is doubtful the
reference is to Lonicera japonica. On Goat Island "a red
honeysuckle [ has ] there climbed to the very top of an arborvitae situated
on a promontory ..." Baxter, 1855. Honeysuckle may have referred to a
variety of plants, such as species of Rhododendron and Aquilegia
canadensis (Fernald, 1970), neither of which could have "climbed
to the top" of anything. # Lonicera
canadensis Marsh. FLY HONEYSUCKLE. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. Flats
above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. # Lonicera
dioica L. SMOOTH-LEAVED HONEYSUCKLE. (As Loniceraparviflora)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. * Lonicera
japonica Thunb. JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE. Terrapin Point, 1986. * Lonicera
tartarica L. TARTARIAN HONEYSUCKLE. Day, 1888. Goat Island, Edward C.
Townsend, May 22, 1896 (BUF). "Abundant," Zenkert, 1934. Base of
Goat Island, well established, 1988. First Sister, east end dense thicket,
and west end, abundant [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. * Lotus
corniculatus L. BIRD'S FOOT TREFOIL. Ballast, 1986. * Lychnis
alba Mill. EVENING LYCHNIS. Ballast, 1988. RNY,
R* Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. TOMATO. Restaurant midden,
1988. First report for western New York State. # Lycopus
americanus Muhl. CUT-LEAVED WATER HOREHOUND. (As Lycopus sinuatus)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Terrapin Point, 1986. First
Sister, west end, 1988. Third Sister, 1988. RNY,
R* Lycopus europaeus L. EUROPEAN WATER HOREHOUND. First Sister,
1988. # Lycopus
virginicus L. VIRGINIA BUGLEWEED. Day, 1888. Terrapin Point, 1986.
Second Sister, east end, 1988. # Lysimachia
ciliata L. FRINGED LOOSETRIFE. Day, 1888. Goat Island, Union School
Herb. Lockport, N.Y., Edward C. Townsend, July 29, 1892 (BUF). 8612729.
Thickets, southwestern Goat Island. Thickets, northern slopes, near the top,
1988. First Sister, west end, 8705292. Second Sister, west end alluvium [
obs. 1988 ]. * Lysimachia
nummularia L. MONEYWORT. Third Sister, west end near water, 1988. RNY,
R# Lysimachia quadriflora Sims. LINEAR-LEAVED LOOSESTRIFE,
PRAIRIE MONEYWORT. Second Sister, east end, on edge of soil mat east end,
July 14, 1987 "On
calcareous rocks. Western New York. Rare. Niagara Falls, Eddy, Cooper,
Sartwell (Torrey, Flora of New York Vol. 2:10. 1843; Eaton, Gray (state herbarium),"
House, 1924. * Lythrum
salicaria L. PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE. Abundant in thickets by the water's
edge on the southwest side of the island, 1986. Green Island shoreline, 1986.
First Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]; west end, 1985. Second Sister, west end,
alluvium, 1988 [ obs. ]; east end, edge of grass mat, 1988 [ obs. ] # Maianthemum
canadense Desf. FALSE LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY. First Sister, east end,
1987. * Malva
neglecta Wallr. CHEESES. Day, 1888. Found in lawns on the island,
1986. * Matricaria
matricarioides (Less.) Porter PINEAPPLE-WEED. 1988. P# Matteuccia
struthiopteris (L.) Todaro OSTRICH FERN. Day, 1888. # Medeola
virginiana L. INDIAN CUCUMBERROOT. "Not common," Day, 1888. * Medicago
lupulina L. BLACK MEDICK. June 19, 1866, David F. Day (BUF). Lawns,
north end, 1987. Weedy path area by the Horseshoe Falls, 1986. Ballast, 1988.
Second Sister, east end, open, rocky area, 1988. # Melampyrum
lineare Desr. var. americanum (Michx.) Beauverd AMERICAN
COW-WHEAT. Day, 1888. * Melilotus
alba Desr. SWEET CLOVER. Day, 1888. 1987. Base of Goat Island, 1988.
Second Sister, July 14, 1987. # Menispermum
canadense L. MOONSEED. Central woods, 1986. # Mentha
arvensis L. var. glabrata (Benth.) Fern. AMERICAN FIELD
MINT. Day, 1888. 1987. Terrapin Point, 1986. Second Sister, east end, 1986. * Mentha
piperita L. PEPPERMINT. Sporadically abundant along wet, shrubby
margins, 1984. First Sister, west end, 1986. * Mentha
spicata L. SPEARMINT. (As Mentha viridis) Aug. 1, 1862
(Clinton Journal). Day, 1888. # Mitchella
repens L. PARTRIDGEBERRY. Day, 1888. # Mitella
diphylla L. MITERWORT. Day, 1888. # Monarda
fistulosa L. WILD BERGAMOT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. First Sister, east end, 1987; west end, 1988. # Monotropa
hypopitys L. PINESAP. Day, 1883. Perhaps indicative of old evergreens
on the island, as this species is parasitic or symbiotic with them. "An
undetermined species [ of Morus ] has been planted on Luna
Island" Day, 1888. Lady Theodora Guest in 1895 observed Mulberry trees
bordering "little rocky paths" on the Three Sister Islands. * Morus
alba L. WHITE MULBERRY. 1987. Green Island, 1896; Zenkert, 1934.
"Large trees in meadow (east end), 1986. Ballast, young, [ obs. 1988 ].
Base of Goat Island, 1988. Three Sisters, 1932. "Along bridge to Second
Sister," 1986. First Sister, east end, 1988. Second Sister, west end,
abundant, 1988; east end, 1988. Third Sister, 1988. All
trees, seedlings and saplings of the Mulberry observed were of White
Mulberry, this in spite of the fact that in almost every case the berries of
these plants developed from white to deep purple. The leaf characters
conformed in every instance to that of Morus alba. The weedy
character of these plants is also diagnostic. # Morus
rubra L. RED MULBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal. 1896. Zenkert, 1934. Luna Island, 1896. # Muhlenbergia
frondosa (Poir.) Fern. LEAFY MUHLENBERGIA. fo. commutata
(Scribn.) Wieg. Third Sister, 1988. # Muhlenbergia glomerata (Willd.) Trin. SATIN
GRASS. On moist rocks, Goat Island, G. Engelmann, August 1860 (MO). # Muhlenbergia
mexicana (L.) Trin. WOOD GRASS. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal. fo. mexicana
First Sister, west end, 1988. fo. ambigua
(Torr.) Wieg. Second Sister, east end, 1988. # Muhlenbergia
sylvatica Torr. WOODLAND DROPSEED. Third Sister, 1988. # Myosotis
laxa Lehm. SMALLER FORGER-ME-NOT. Goat Island, 1986. Flats above the
Horseshoe Falls, 1988. First Sister, east end, 1986. Second Sister, west end,
1986; east end, 1988.
This species may be found in the springy areas of Goat Island by the eastern
end of the First Sister. # Myriophyllum
spicatum var. exalbescens (Fern.) Jeps. SPIKED WATER-MILFOIL.
Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. RNY,R*
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus L. DAFFODIL. Central woods, 1988.
A rare escape in New York State (Mitchell, 1986), several plants of this
species occur in the central woods where they contrast badly with the native
spring ephemerals. Several large patches of this plant are planted at the
woods margins. * Nepeta
cataria L. CATNIP. Day, Sept. 19, 1877 (BUF). (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). 1888. Frequent along shrubby margins of the Niagara River, 1984.
Base of Goat Island, 1988. Second Sister, west end, 1986 # Oenothera
biennis L. EVENING PRIMROSE. Day, 1888. Hillside by Terrapin Point,
1987. P# Onoclea
sensibilis L. SENSITIVE FERN. Day, 1888. Second Sister, west end,
1987. # Oryzopsis
asperifolia Michx. MOUNTAIN-RICE. Day, 1888. # Oryzopsis
racemosa (Sm.) Ricker BLACK-FRUITED MOUNTAIN RICE. "rocky soil,"
1921. Zenkert, 1934. # Osmorhiza
claytonii (Michx.) Clarke HAIRY SWEET CICELY. Day, 1888. George
Clinton collected a specimen of Vermicularia dermatium (fungi)
from a plant of this species (as O. brevistylis) on November 4,
1870's # Osmorhiza
longistylis (Torr.) DC. LONG-STYLED SWEET CICELY. Day, 1888. Zenkert,
1934. Top of slope overlooking the Three Sisters, 1988. P# Osmunda
regalis var. spectabilis (Willd.) Gray ROYAL FERN. "Not
common," Day, 1888. # Ostrya
virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch HOP-HORNBEAM [ IRONWOOD ]. July 5, 1863
(Clinton's Journal). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Second
Commissioner's report, 1886. Frequent in woods, 1988. Base of Goat Island,
top slope, 1988. Luna Island, 1988. First Sister, east and west ends, frequent
[ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. This
is the Ironwood reported for the Goat Island woods in the Superintendent's
report in the second report of the Commissioners, published in 1886. Two
Ironwoods in 1886, and three in 1889 were blown down during winter storms
(report of the Superintendent, 6 Ann.Rep. Comm., 1890). Four of these trees
blew down during the storm of January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). In
1890, twelve young Ironwood trees were removed from "the thicket"
on Goat Island and planted in the nursery on Goat Island (7 Ann Rep Comm,
1891). # Oxalis
stricta L. UPRIGHT YELLOW WOOD-SORREL. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island,
1988. Steps along fence facing Luna Island, 1987. Second Sister, west end [
obs. 1988 ]; east end [ obs. 1988 ]. RNY,
P#Panax quinquefolium L. GINSENG. "Rare," Day, 1888. Commercially
exploited in New York State; "native plants known to have occurred in
New York State five times or fewer (up to nine historical sites where some
are known to be extirpated) - sites harboring these species should be
preserved if possible, especially in cases where more than one rarity is
present" (Mitchell, 1986). # Panax
trifolium L. DWARF GINSENG. Day, 1888. Goat Island, Marion F. Floyd,
May 15, 1897 (BUF). Zenkert, 1934. # Panicum
capillare L. WITCH-GRASS. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal. 1988. # Panicum
clandestinum L. DEER-TONGUE GRASS. Day, 1888. R# Panicum
depauperatum Muhl. STARVED PANIC-GRASS. "In rocky places,"
Day, 1888. # Panicum
dichotomiflorum Michx. SPREADING WITCH-GRASS. Weedy curb, 1988. # Panicum
lanuginosum Ell. var.
lindheimeri (Nash) Fern. LINDHEIMER'S PANIC-GRASS. Goat Island, 1986.
First Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1986. var. septentrionale
Fern. NORTHERN WOOLY PANIC-GRASS. Second Sister, 1986. # Parnassia
glauca Raf. GRASS OF PARNASSUS. "... on Goat Island, on the flat
near Terrapin bridge ... July 3 & 4, 1862; "On the right of the path
to Terrapin Tower ...," Sept. 11, 1862 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19, 1877
(Hooker's American Journal. Day, 1883. "near the Horse-shoe Fall,"
Day, 1888. Day, 1901. "Within
a little while ... the Grass of Parnassus [ as Parnassia caroliniana
L.) ... is fast going. This is undoubtedly due to careless flower-gatherers,"
Day, 1888. The
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus) species were noted as abundant for
Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in 1886.
On the denuded southern shore of Goat Island, 440 Virginia creeper plants
were planted in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1982). Certain species were available
through commercial nurseries before 1900, and cuttings were made of native
vines for the Goat Island nursery (17 Ann Rep Comm, 1901). # Parthenocissus
quinquefolia (L.) Planch. VIRGINIA CREEPER. (As Ampelopsis quinquefolia)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Abundant
throughout the central woods, 1988. Luna Island, 1988. * Parthenocissus
tricuspidata Planch. JAPANESE or BOSTON IVY. On stone pedestrian
bridge between Goat and Green Islands, 1988. Six
plants of Ampelopsis vichii were planted on Green Island around
the cottage used as the offices of the Commissioners in 1893 (10 Ann Rep
Comm, 1894), and eighteen more the following year. This is an earlier name
for Parthenocissus tricuspidata. # Parthenocissus
vitacea (Knerr) Hitchc. DISCLESS VIRGINIA CREEPER. Wooded crest, 1988.
Baseof Goat Island, 1988. Stone bridge to First Sister from Goat Island,
1988. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Twelve
plants of Ampelopsis royalli (A. roylei, Hort.)
were planted on Bath Island by the office of the Commissioners (10 Ann Rep
Comm, 1984). Bailey (1924) indicates this is a large-leaved form of Parthenocissus
vitacea, seen by him as a variety of P. quinquefolia. # Pedicularis
canadensis L. COMMON LOUSEWORT. Day, 1888. George
Clinton collected Puccinia clintonii (fungi) on an individual
of this species growing on the island (Nov. 4, 1874, BUF). PRE#Pellaea
glabella Mett. SMOOTH CLIFF-BRAKE. Up until 1934, the only species of Pellaea
reported for western New York State was P. atropurpurea (L.)
Link, or PURPLE CLIFF BRAKE (Zenkert, 1934).Subsequently, our material from
the Niagara River Gorge has been reidentified by Stanley J. Smith, Curator of
Botany of the New York State Museum, and later by Richard H. Zander, Curator
of the Clinton Herbarium (BUF) to be P. glabella according to
the characters detailed by Mitchell & Sheviak, 1981. The present writer
has reviewed the relevant specimens at BUF and concurs with the changes in
identification. Day's reference to P. atropurpurea
("Formerly on Goat Island and the Three Sisters. Not lately seen by us.
Probably extirpated," Day, 1888) has been referred in this paper to Pellaea
glabella. One
specimen collected by George Clinton and hence dating prior to 1885, with no
locality given (Herb. No. 35310) is Pellaea glabella by most
characters, except it has very long stalks on its lower pinnae. It probably
derives from the Niagara River gorge, as no other station for the genus
occurs in western New York, or was reported from the Niagara Frontier Region
before 1934 (Zenkert, 1934). Day (1910) mentioned two species of Pellaea
growing in the vicinity of Niagara Falls: P. gracilis and P.
atropurpurea. * Penstemon
digitalis Nutt. FOXGLOVE PENSTEMON. "Introduced," Day, 1888. # Penstemon
hirsutus (L.) Willd. HAIRY BEARD-TONGUE. Day, 1888. This
species grows in several areas along the crest of the Niagara River gorge on
both sides of the river. # Phalaris
arundinacea L. REED CANARY-GRASS. Juse east of the vehicular bridge,
low, moist area, 1987. * Philadelphus
coronarius L. MOCK-ORANGE. Planted by central woods northern edge,
1988. * Phleum
pratense L. TIMOTHY. Day, 1888. 8705214. Second Sister, east end,
1988. # Phlox
divaricata L. BLUE PHLOX. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Phryma
leptostachya L. LOPSEED. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. # Physalis
longifolia Nutt. LONG-LEAVED GROUND-CHERRY. Ballast, 1988. # Physocarpus
opulifolius (L.) Maxim. NINEBARK [ SPIRAEA ]. (As Spiraea opulifolia)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934.
1988. Base of Goat Island, infrequent, 1988. First Sister, west end, 1987;
east end, south side [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, east end, 1986; west end,
river margins, north side, dense, 1988 [ obs. ] RNY
var. intermedius (Rydb.) Robins. Third Sister, Union School Herbarium,
Lockport, N.Y. and from the collections of Marion Jessup Wright, coll. Edward
C. Townsend, June 27, 1896 (BUF). First Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister,
1985. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in
1886. Fourteen spireas were planted on the denuded southern shore of Goat
Island in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1982). The same year, twenty Spirea shrubs
were transplanted to the nursery from the Goat Island "thicket" -
this reference indicates the shrub in question was not a horticultural
species, such as Spiraea vanhouttei familiar around many
dwellings in western New York. The shrub must have been abundant to be so
available for the purposes of the Superintendent, and so was not a native
species in the genus Spiraea as currently understood, and which were
never reported at the Falls. One of the synonyms of Ninebark is Spiraea
opulifolia, as described by Linnaeus (Sp. Pl. 489, 1753). Ninebark
looks superificially identical to our horticultural spiraeas, and this is the
shrub referred to as spiraea in the annual reports of the Commissioners.
Sixty-four Spirea shrubs were planted in the Goat Island nursery in 1892 (9
Ann Rep Comm, 1893). As
of this writing, no technical name was found apposite to a reference to an
"American Spruce," of which two hundred were planted in the Goat
Island nursery in 1892 (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1983). Two hundred other Spruce trees
were also planted in that year. # Phytolacca
americana L. POKEWEED. (As Phytolacca decandra) Aug. 1,
1862 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal).
Day, 1888. 1983. Second Sister, west end, 1988. Abundant along woods margins
in 1988. * Picea
abies Karst. NORWAY SPRUCE. By elevator, Cave of the Winds, 1988, and
several other places around the island. The use of this species by
maintenance staff on Goat Island goes back to 1890 when the Superintendent
Thomas Welch procured seventy-five trees for the nursery established on Goat
Island in that year (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). In 1891, one hundred more were
procured for the nursery (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892). A number of Norway spruce
planted along the riverway failed in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1982). * Picea
glauca Voss. WHITE SPRUCE. By monument, northwest end, 1988; eastern
meadow, 1988. Two
species of pine (Pinus) were noted growing on Goat Island in 1828 in
the diary of David Douglas: one no doubt the White Pine, the other perhaps
our hemlock (see note under Tsuga below). Wied-Neuwied (1843)
mentioned portions of the islands in the channel of the falls "are
covered with pines, some green, others in a decayed state ... the pines being
frequently broken and snapped and here and there piled up in the water,"
and that "The shores of [ Goat Island ] are shaded by old pines and very
large white cedars..." Lady Theodora Guest in 1895 reported a tree
"Balsam" bordering the paths on the Three Sisters - she was surely
referring to our Hemlock, as the Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) is
rare and not reported for the Goat Island complex -although a tree of that
species is reported recently to occur in Niagara Glen in the Niagara River
gorge (Hamilton, 1943). Ms. Guest may have seen transplanted Balsam Firs of
the hundred planted in the Goat Island nursery in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm,
1892). Frederick Law Olmsted (1880) quoted Robinson (1895) that at the falls
"the high cliffs are crested with woods ..." and the talus below is
"also beautifully clothed with wood to the river's edge, often so far
below that you sometimes look from the upper brink down on the top of tall
pines that seem diminished in size." Extensive
exotic conifer trees were purchased by the first Superintendent of the
Reservation. A screen of evergreens were planted on Goat Island in 1900 to
hide the lumberyard from the drive (17 Ann Rep Comm, 1901). # Picea sitchensis
(Bong.) Carr. SITKA SPRUCE. Several old trees amid White Pine on Goat Island
to the right facing the pedestrian bridge. This tree is native to the Pacific
Coast of the United States and Canada as far north as southern Alaska. It
should do well on Goat Island in the spray zone of the cataracts as in its
native habitat this tree is greatly dependent on the dense fog banks
associated with the nearby ocean. [ * Pinus
mugo Turra SWISS MOUNTAIN PINE. One hundred young trees of
"mountain pine" were procured for the Goat Island nursery in 1891
(8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892). One modern horticultural reference consulted
indicates Pinus mugo Turra is called Swiss Mountain Pine - an
earlier technical name being Pinus montana Mill., Mountain Pine
(Bailey, 1924). Later in the 8th report, ten Mugho dwarf pines were reported
purchased and planted on Bath Island and elsewhere on the Reservation. ] * Pinus
nigra Arnold AUSTRIAN PINE. Several trees planted in lawns on the west
end, 1988, and east meadow.
In 1891, one hundred young trees of this species were procured for the Goat
Island nursery (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892). # Pinus
strobus L. WHITE PINE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). "A few specimens," Day, 1888. By the pedestrian bridge,
1988. Second Sister, west end, 96122618. Several planted in eastern meadow.
"The banks of the river about the falls are lined with white pine and
cedar" (Clinton, 1822). White Pine was reported growing on Ship Island
in the American channel (Agassiz, 1850).
Reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the
Commissioners in 1886. Seven trees of this species were blown down in the
storm of 1889 (6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890); one pine fell January 13, 1890 (7 Ann
Rep Comm, 1891). One hundred young trees of this species were planted in the
Goat Island nursery in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892). Since all of the thousand
other conifer trees put into the nursery in that year were non-native,
nursery stock, perhaps the source of these young pines was not from the
Reservation, nor the two hundred planted in 1892 (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1893). Two trees of this species are established on Goat Island to the
right of the pedestrian bridge adjacent to the Sitka Spruces that also grow
on the elevation overlooking the bridge. * Pinus
sylvestris L. SCOTCH PINE [ SCOTCH FIR ]. Eastern end, 1988. Two
hundred trees of this species (as Scotch fir) were procured for the Goat
Island nursery in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892). # Pilea
pumila (L.) Gray CLEARWEED. Day, 1888. Along base of Goat Island,
1988. Pilea
was noted in 1988 at the base of Goat Island, but achenes were not developed
that might be used to distinguish Pilea pumila from the rarer
species P. fontana. The latter does occur just upstream on
Cayuga Island. * Plantago
lanceolata L. ENGLISH PLANTAIN. Thickets, north side, 1988. Ballast [
obs. 1988 ]. Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ]. * Plantago
major L. BROAD-LEAVED PLANTAIN. Sept. 11, 1863 (Clinton's Journal). On
this day Clinton also collected what he hoped was P. rugelii at
Terrapin Bridge, but was disappointed - the plant being, probably, P. major,
since they are superficially identical. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. 1986. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Terrapin
Point, 1986. Third Sister, 87315. # Plantago
rugellii Dcne. RUGEL'S PLANTAIN. Day, 1888. # Platanus
occidentalis L. SYCAMORE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. 1986. Second Sister, east end, 1986. One tree by the
pedestrian bridge, and by the bluffs overlooking Luna Island, 1988. These
trees are not the hybrid (P. acerifolia) since the fruits are
mostly one to a pedicle. Several trees on Green Island, 1988. This
is probably the tree referred to Goat Island by the Superintendent in the
report of the Commissioners in 1886 under the name "Buttonball." It
is probably not Cephalanthus, or Buttonbush, because this is more of a
shrub, and noone has reported its occurrence otherwise on the Island. During
the January storm of 1889, a Buttonball tree was blown down. It was
"five feet in diameter, the largest tree upon the reservation"
(report of the Superintendent, 6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890). This was probably the
"Monarch of the Isle" mentioned by Porter (16 Ann Rep Comm, 1900 -
with drawing), a section of which was kept in the Niagara Falls Public
Library. Its growth rings indicated it was 400 years old. * Poa
annua L. SPEAR GRASS. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Second
Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Third Sister, 1986. Note
that these small plants could be easily confused with the next one and must
be dissected for confident identification. It is probable that some of the
material referred to by sight identification in this report is actually P.
chapmaniana. RNY,
R* Poa chapmaniana Scribn. CHAPMAN'S BLUE-GRASS. First Sister,
west end, on boulder, 1988. Second
collection made in western New York State. Special search might disclose
additional populations in the Goat Island complex. * Poa
compressa L. CANADA BLUE-GRASS. Day, 1888. Dolomite rocks, area of the
Canadian Falls, 1986. First Sister, eastern end flats, 1988. Luna Island [
obs. 1988 ]. R* Poa
nemoralis L. WOOD BLUEGRASS. 1988. North side. Second Sister, west
end, abundant, 1988; east end [ obs. 1988 ]. Second
report for western New York. This is a "sparsely introduced species [ in
Ontario ] found mainly in long-settled towns and old resort areas where at
one time it was recommended to seed lawns in shady areas. It does not survive
mowing, but it has escaped to survive in adjoining woodland ..." (Dore
and McNeill 1980). It is probably found throughout the Goat Island complex. # Poa
palustris FOWL MEADOW-GRASS. Base of Goat Island, 1988. * Poa
pratensis L. KENTUCKY BLUE-GRASS. "On Goat Island the little flat
above the bridge," June 8, 1862 (Clinton's Journal). Day, 1888. # Podophyllum
peltatum L. MAY-APPLE. "Abundant," Day, 1888. Day, 1901.
Central woods, 1984. On
Goat Island "the Podophyllum peltatum was in flower,"
(Clinton, 1826). On Goat Island "we were refreshed, during our walk,
with wild fruits ... mandrakes which resemble our largest gooseberries, with
a very thick rind. They are the fruit produced by the plant called the
may-apple" (Gurney, 1841). Prinz von Wied-Neuwied mentions this plant
growing on Goat Island in 1843, and Lady Theodora Guest observed in 1895 its
occurrence on the Three Sisters Islands. # Polemonium
reptans L. GREEK VALERIAN. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. An
unidentified species of Polygonatum was noted on Goat Island Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). R# Polygonatum
biflorum (Walt.) Ell. GREAT SOLOMON'S SEAL. Day, 1888. On
November 2, 1870's, George Clinton found a specimen of the fungus Depazea
cruenta on a plant of this species. # Polygonatum
pubescens (Willd.) Pursh. SMALL SOLOMON'S-SEAL. First Sister, east
end. R* Polygonum
achoreum Blake HOMELESS KNOTWEED. Disturbed area beside path before
the Three Sisters Island, 1986. # Polygonum
aviculare L. COMMON KNOTWEED. Frequent along cracks in the pavement,
1984. Third Sister, west end, 1988. # Polygonum
convolvulus L. BLACK BINDWEED. Base of Goat Island, 1988. # Polygonum
lapathifolium L. DOCK-LEAVED SMARTWEED. Lawn by west parking lot,
1987. Central woods, disturbed maintenance area, 1988. # Polygonum
pensylvanicum L. PENSYLVANIA SMARTWEED. Meadow, garden soil beneath
tree, 1987. Base of Goat Island, 1988. * Polygonum
persicaria L. LADY'S-THUMB. 1987. Base of Goat Island, 1988. # Polygonum
punctatum Ell. DOTTED SMARTWEED. Dense herbage at water's edge, facing
the Three Sisters, 1986. First Sister, west end, 1986. Second Sister, east
end, 1988. P# Polypodium
vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eat. COMMON POLYPODY. Day,
"Goat Island. The Three Sisters," 1888. "Goat Island,"
Zenkert, 1934. P# Polystichum
acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott CHRISTMAS FERN. Day, 1888. * Populus
alba L. WHITE POPLAR. Eastern meadow, 1988. The
variety on the Island seems to be the var. pyramidalis Bunge, or
BOLLE'S POPLAR, due to the long plume-like habit of the trees in the eastern
meadow, rather than the typical broad-topped trees growing in the vicinity of
Niagara Falls generally. R# Populus
candicans Ait. BALM OF GILIAD. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal. "Roadsides
and along streams and in old fields. Sometimes regarded as a native of the
western states or Canada and supposed to be naturalized in [ New York ]
State. Appearing however as if indigenous along the shores of Lake Ontario.
Common in cultivation," House, 1924. Many regard this species as a
hybrid, with synonymy reported as Populus X jackii Sarg., P.
X gileadensis Rouleau and P. balsamifera X deltoides.
Populus balsamifera does occur in the Niagara River gorge. # Populus
deltoides Marsh. COTTONWOOD. Day, 1888. Ballast and several large
trees, top of north slope [ obs. 1988 ]. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Flats
above the Horseshoe Falls, 1986. Two trunks, north thickets, Luna Island [
obs. 1988 ]. First Sister, west end, 1987. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in
1886. The
Aspens, one or the other of the next two species, were reported for Goat
Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in 1886. # Populus
grandidentata Michx. BIGTOOTH ASPEN. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Dry woods, recent burns. # Populus
tremuloides Michx. QUAKING ASPEN. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls and ballast [
obs. 1988 ]. * Portulaca
oleracea L. COMMON PURSLANE. Southeastern thickets, 1988; lawn,
eastern meadow. "Goat
Island, searched it opposite to Luna Island & some way up, for Potamogeton
niagarensis in vain, July 18, 1865; "On Goat Island, a little
above, or opposite the head of Luna Island, in wet [ sand? ], the water
having retreated, a Potamogeton," August 15, 1865 (Clinton's
Journal). RNY,
P#Potamogeton alpinus var. tenuifolius (Raf.) Ogden
ALPINE PONDWEED. "Rapids of the Niagara River, near Bath Island,"
Zenkert, 1934. While
processing unsorted specimens of George Clinton's at the Clinton Herbarium
(BUF), a specimen of Potamogeton was found "From lower edge of
Goat Island, opposite Luna Island," which is probably the collection
referred to in Clinton's diary entry above. It is a specimen of Potamogeton
alpinus. * Potentilla
argentea L. SILVERY CINQUEFOIL. Lawn, east meadows, 1988. # Potentilla
canadensis L. DWARF CINQUEFOIL. Day, 1888. # Potentilla
norvegica L. ROUGH CINQUEFOIL. Day, 1888. Shrubby river banks, 1984.
Base of Goat Island, 1988. * Potentilla
recta L. SULPHURY CINQUEFOIL. Ballast, 1986. Second Sister, west end [
obs. 1988 ]. Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ]. # Prenanthes
alba L. LION'S-FOOT. (As Nabalus sp.) Sept. 11, 1862 (Clinton
Journal). (As Nabalus albus) Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. First Sister, east end, 1987. # Prunella
vulgaris L. HEAL-ALL. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. Lawns, woods margin, 1987. First Sister, west end, 1988.
Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ]. # Prunus
americana Marsh. WILD PLUM. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. * Prunus
avium L. SWEET CHERRY or BIRD CHERRY. Large trees observed along the
north slope of Goat Island, 1988. Southern thickets, 1988. First Sister, west
end [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ 35" ] 1987' [ base of three
trunks, 63": 29, 25, 18" ], 1987. Third Sister [ 7" ], 1987; [
57" ], 1987. Reports
of the Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) are probably this species. * Prunus
cerasus L. SOUR CHERRY. "Spontaneous on Goat Island," Day,
1888. As this species seldom escapes from cultivation, it is doubtful this
species occurred spontaneously on the island. It is frequently confused with Prunus
avium. * Prunus
insititia L. BULLACE, DAMSON PLUM. (P. domestica var. insititia
Bailey). Thickets, SW side, 1988. * Prunus
persica (L.) Batsch PEACH. "Spontaneous on Goat Island,"
Day, 1888. # Prunus
serotina Ehrh. BLACK CHERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). "attaining ... a wonderful development," Day, 1901.
Several old trees noted at different stations throughout the island, 1988. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in
1886. The Superintendent also mentions a "white cherry," whose
technical name I cannot find. # Prunus
virginiana L. CHOKE CHERRY. Throughout the north slope, 1986. Central
woods [ obs. ]. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Luna Island, abundant in eastern
thickets [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister, east end, 1987. Second Sister, west end
[ obs. 1988 ]. Sixty
of these little trees were added to the Goat Island nursery in 1892,
presumably from the Goat Island populations (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1893). # Pycnanthemum
virginianum (L.) Durand & Jackson VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN MINT. Flats
above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. First Sister, east end, 1986; west end,
1988. Second Sister, east end, 1986. # Pyrola
elliptica Nutt. ELLIPTIC-LEAVED PYROLA. Day, 1888. * Pyrus
communis L. COMMON PEAR. Spontaneous on Goat Island," Day, 1888. P# Pyrus
coronaria L. WILD CRABAPPLE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day (1901) reports this species "Near the gorge of the river,
on either side, but not upon the island ...." * Pyrus
malus L. APPLE. "Spontaneous on Goat Island," Day, 1888.
Base of Goat Island, 1988. Luna Island, 1988. # Quercus
alba L. WHITE OAK. Day, 1888. Tree planted near elevator to Cave of
Winds, 1988. White
Oak is reported in the Goat Island woods by the Superintendent in the second
report of the Commissioners in 1886. The January storm of 1889 blew down a
white oak (6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890), and another on January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep
Comm, 1891). # Quercus
borealis var. maxima (Marsh.) Ashe. NORTHERN RED OAK. 1984.
First Sister, east end, 1986. Second Sister, west end, several, 1988 [ obs.
]. Being planted in the east end and other places. Red
Oak is reported for the Goat Island woods by the Superintendent in the second
report of the Commissioners in 1886. # Quercus
coccinea Muenchh. SCARLET OAK. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. 1988, near the
wooded crest. Being planted at various places on Goat Island. # Quercus
macrocarpa Michx. BUR OAK. Lawn by maintenance shed, 1988; north side,
east of pedestrian bridge, 1988. * Quercus
palustris Muenchh. PIN OAK. Several trees of this species have been
planted througout the island in upland situations, unlike the moist to wet
habitat it prefers naturally. Little attempt has been made to distinguish
this tree from Q. coccinea for the purposes of this study: it
appears that wherever they occur on the island, they have been planted. The
asterisk is given here as natural occurrences are not apparent on the
Reservation. # Quercus
prinoides Willd. Day, 1888. var. acuminata
(Michx.) Gl. YELLOW OAK or CHINQUAPIN OAK. Zenkert, 1934. "Big tree in
Meadow area," 1986; north shore in thickets, 1988. Several on Luna
Island by bridge [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister, east end, on and between
dolomite boulders, 1986. The
"Chestnut-oak" of Agassiz (1850) reported for Ship Island was
perhaps not Quercus prinus, which is usually called by that
name, but the variety of Q. prinoides of this list. Quercus
prinus does occur in the Niagara Frontier Region, and exists in the
Niagara River Gorge flora (Eckel, in prep.). Note, however, Provancher's
report of Q. prinus for Niagara Falls (Day, 1888). # Ranunculus
abortivus L. SMALL-FLOWERED CROWFOOT. Day, 1888. First Sister, east
end, 1987. * Ranunculus
acris L. TALL MEADOW BUTTERCUP. Day, 1888. 1987. R* Ranunculus
bulbosus L. BULBOUS BUTTERCUP. "Introduced," Day, 1888. R# Ranunculus
hispidus Michx. HISPID BUTTERCUP. Goat Island, north end just east of
Vehicular bridge in low moist area. In danger of mowing and will become
extirpated in the next few years for this reason, 1987. # Ranunculus
recurvatus Poir. HOOKED BUTTERCUP. Day, 1888. Central forested area by
woods margin, 1986. Second Sister, west, 1987. * Rhamnus
cathartica L. COMMON BUCKTHORN. "rather frequent," 1983.
Ballast, 1987. Terrapin Point, 1987. A great thicket of old shrubs just west
of the vehicular bridge. An aggressive colonizer. Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ].
First Sister, east end, 1986. Second Sister, east end, 1986; west end [ obs.
1988 ]. * Rhamnus
frangula ALDER BUCKTHORN. Base of Goat Island, 1988. * Rhodotypos
scandens Makino JETBEAD. Green Island, planted, 1986. First Sister,
east end, planted by bridge, 1987. # Rhus
aromatica Ait. FRAGRANT SUMAC. Shrubby slopes overlooking Luna Island,
1988. Occurring
in abundance in the Great Plains where, in South Dakota, it is called
Skunkbush. # Rhus
radicans L. POISON IVY. "Gathered some ..." June 26, 1862
(Clinton Journal). David F. Day, Goat Island, June 19, 1863 (BUF). (As Rhus
toxicodendron) Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Goat
Island, Day, June 19, 1863 (BUF). Day, 1883. Day, 1888. Shady woods, on Acer
saccharum, 1984. Ballast, scrambling over stones [ obs. 1988 ]. Base of Goat
Island, in drier areas between the two Falls, especially associated with
wooded patches, 1988. Luna Island, northern thickets [ obs. 1988 ]. First
Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. This
is probably the "Ivy," the "creeping plant" on Goat
Island reported by the Superintendent in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886 growing "in great abundance." The policy has
been, in both Canadian and American parks, to remove this vine from the trunks
of trees. Bits of viny "holdfasts" may occassionally be seen on
trunks of trees in cleared areas where the public walks, etc. Unfortunately
the similar but harmless and interesting Virginia Creeper is also being
removed. In
1828 David Douglas noted that on Goat Island a "species of Rhus
clad the trunks of the large trees. # Rhus
typhina L. STAGHORN SUMAC. July 5, 1862 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Found throughout
successional areas, thickets, etc., on Goat Island. Southeastern thickets on
Goat Island and on the south toward the Horseshoe Falls. Also fine clump on
the north slope by the vehicular bridge. Base of Goat Island, abundant along
elevator path, 1988. Not found on the Three Sisters, 1988. Probably
this is the species reported by the Superintendent in the second report of
the Commissioners in 1886 that was "spreading in groves over the eastern
end of the island [ and ] should be removed." Others do not seem to
share the Superintendent's opinion: "Beautiful plants grow among the
boulders [ in the Goat Island complex ], the rocks on the banks of the river,
such as the gueldar rose, the white cedar ... and sumach" (Wied-Neuwied,
1834). "Goat Island is a luxuriant spot. The shumach [ sic ] trees with
their red bunches of hairy berries, were at this time adorning it,"
Gurney, 1841. "the Sumachs, which form a grove on the southeast of [
Goat Island ] that is striking at any season, do not wait for frost, and
produce reds and yellows that are fairly flaming," Chamberlin, 1892. In
1895 Lady Theodora Guest noted "On Goat Island is a considerable growth
of sumach." "Many of the sumachs, which are rapidly overrunning the
upper end of Goat Island, should also be removed, and the meadow suitably
planted," the Superintendent (6 ann rep Comm, 1890). The sumachs finally
went in 1982 (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1893), a "large number of sumachs which
were spreading rapidly over the upper end of Goat Island have been removed.
Clumps in various places have not been disturbed." "A large number
of the sumacs that were rapidly spreading over the upper end of Goat Island
have been removed" (17 Ann Rep Comm, 1901). The destroyed shrubs were
then placed over the "timber docking and cribwork" on the south
side of the island, together with brush collected "in the thicket on
Goat Island" in order to restore the "natural appearance of the
shore." # Rhus
vernix L. POISON SUMAC. In 1828 the Scottish botanist David Douglas
noted in his diary the occurrence of this species on Goat Island. Characteristic
of wooded swamps and bogs, and growing at Dufferin Islands, where it was
reported as "particularly abundant in several wet places" by
Hamilton, 1943. "...
We were refreshed, during our walk, with wild fruits ... small prickly
gooseberries" (Gurney, 1841). The presence of Wild Currants and
Gooseberries, both of the genus Ribes, is reported for
Goat Island by the Superintendent in the second report of the Commissioners
in 1886. # Ribes
americanum Mill. WILD BLACK CURRANT. Wooded slope, NW, above path,
1988. Second Sister, east, 1987; west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Ribes
cynosbati L. PRICKLY GOOSEBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal. Day, 1888. Central woods, 1988. George
Clinton collected a specimen of Polyactis vulgaris Link. (fungi)
from a shrub of this species (Nov, 1871, BUF). * Ribes
sativum Syme. RED CURRANT. Central woods, 1988. Second Sister, west
end [ obs. 1988 ]. * Robinia
pseudacacia L. BLACK LOCUST. "Several trees planted on the SE end
... vigorous escape," 1986. The island is ringed with this species at
the crests or top of slopes on the western and southern parts of the island.
Four small trees of this species have been planted at the end of the ballast,
southeast end [ obs. 1988 ]. Base of Goat Island, 1988. One tree was planted with Gleditsia and Sophora at the
eastern lawn verge of the arge western
parking lot, 2006. A
species of the genus Rosa was reported for Goat Island on Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). # Rosa
blanda Ait. SMOOTH ROSE. Day, 1888. # Rosa
carolina L. DWARF ROSE. Day, 1888. * Rosa
eglanteria L. SWEETBRIAR. Green Island, Day, 1888. * Rosa
rugosa Thunb. RUGOSE ROSE. North- and southeastern thickets, 1988. R# Rosa
virginiana Mill. PASTURE ROSE. Crest woods. 1987. In
1841, on Goat Island, "we were refreshed, during our walk, with wild
fruits - raspberries ..." (Gurney, 1841). Raspberries, referring to the
genus Rubus, were reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent in
the report of the Commissioners in 1886. The dry, tasteless fruits of the
Purple-flowering raspberry have not been considered worth eating. # Rubus
flagellaris Willd. NORTHERN DEWBERRY. Day, 1888. # Rubus
occidentalis L. BLACK RASPBERRY. Day, 1888. Second Sister, east end,
1988. # Rubus
odoratus L. PURPLE-FLOWERING RASPBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal. Day, 1888. Goat Island, thickets, 1984. Base of Goat
Island, abundant in patches, 1988. Luna Island, northern thickets [ obs. 1988
]. First Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ].Second Sister, west end, alluvium,
1988 [ obs. ] "Among
the boulders, the rocks on the banks of the river ... Rubus odoratus, now
flowering in all its loveliness," Wied-Neuwied, 1843). # Rubus
strigosus Michx. RED RASPBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. Several plants seen in the central woods and along the
wooded north slopes, 1988. Crest, 1988. Ballast [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister,
east end, 1988. Second Sister, west end, several in rocky center [ obs. 1988
]. * Rumex
crispus L. CURLY DOCK. Thickets on river's edge, south side, 1987.
Ballast [ obs. 1988 ]. Base of Goat Island, throughout, 1988. Eastern meadow,
weedy area below young tree, 1987. Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister,
west end, 1988 [ obs. ]. * Rumex
obtusifolius L. BITTER DOCK. Goat Island, edge of woods, Charles A.
Zenkert, July 21, 1928 (BUF). Garden beds, 1988. First Sister, east end,
1986. Second Sister, wet west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Third Sister, 1986. R* Sagina
procumbens L. PEARLWORT. First Sister, east end, Bridge, S end ledge,
1988; east end, 1986. Second Sister, east end, 1987. # Sagittaria
latifolia Willd. BROAD-LEAVED ARROWHEAD. First Sister, west end, Aug.
30, 1987. Willows
were reported destroyed in winter storms of 1886 (six willows), and in 1889
(two willows "along the riverbank," presumably on the mainland part
of the reservation. Four young "osier" trees were transplanted
"from the thicket on Goat Island" to the newly established Goat
Island nursery in 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). In
1891 "700 cuttings of yellow willow, 110 cuttings of weeping willow,
1,900 cuttings of dwarf willow" were planted on the denuded banks of the
southern shoreline of Goat Island (8 Ann Rep Com, 1982). Willows were again
planted on the south shore in 1900 (17 Ann Rep Comm, 1901). Willows
were reported growing on the smaller islands in the American channel
(American Falls International Board, 1971). Several young trees are starting
on the ballast at the eastern end of the island, 1988. * Salix
alba L. WHITE WILLOW. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. Green
Island, 1988. Big tree, river's edge, eastern meadow, the top surface of the
leaf has white, silky hairs, 1988. Southeastern thickets, 1987. Second
Sister, east end, 1988. * Salix
alba var. vitellina Stokes. Several trees in the eastern
meadow; leaves glabrous above, glabrate below (silky hairs toward the leaf
base), yellow twigs, tenacious, 1988. This is supposedly a hybrid between S.
alba and S. fragilis. Southeastern thickets, 1987. # Salix
amygdaloides PEACH-LEAVED WILLOW. First Sister, west end, 1988. * Salix
babylonica L. WEEPING WILLOW. Meadow, east end, 1988. Southside of
eastern meadow, row of these trees, 1988. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in
1886. # Salix
bebbiana Sarg. BEAKED WILLOW. Base of Goat Island, 1988. First Sister,
west end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988. # Salix
discolor Muhl. PUSSY WILLOW. Day, 1888. First Sister, east end, 1988;
west end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988. * Salix
fragilis L. CRACK WILLOW. Southeast end by culverts, 1987.
Southeastern thickets (typical variety and X alba, sericeous), 1988.
Tree in eastern meadow, branches short, leaves green both sides, shining as
if viscid, glabrous, mature ones broader than 15 mm, branches fragile, 1988.
Second Sister, east end, 1988. The
Crack Willow on the Second Sister is a hybrid with the White Willow: it
displays all the typical characters of Crack Willow, but the branchlets and
branches are pubescent. Soper andHeimburger (1982) report that "much of
the material collected in Ontario representd hybrids between S. alba
and S. fragilis." # Salix
interior Rowlee SANDBAR WILLOW. Southeastern thickets, near ballast,
1986. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, west end
[ obs. 1988 ]. Alluvial soils, often pioneering on bars and beaches. # Salix
lucida Muhl. SHINING WILLOW. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. Flats above the
Horseshoe Falls, 1987. Luna Island, several stems, east end thickets, 1988.
First Sister, west end, 1988; east end, low southern shore, 1988. Second
Sister, eastern edge, 1987. * Salix
matsudiana Koidz. CORKSCREW WILLOW. Planted at end of thicket facing
Terrapin Point, southwest, 1987. # Salix
nigra L. BLACK WILLOW. Day, 1888. Dolomite flats, 1986. Large tree,
eastern meadow, 1988. Base of Goat Island, 1988. First Sister, east end,
1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988. Stream banks, rich low woods.
Reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the
Commissioners in 1886. # Salix
rigida Muhl. HEART-LEAVED WILLOW. (As Salix cordata)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Southeastern
thickets, 1987, 1988. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. Base of Goat
Island, talus, 1988. Luna Island, thickets E end, 1988. First Sister, west
end muck, 1987, 1988. Second Sister, west end, 1987; alluvium, several trees,
1988; east end, 1988. Third Sister, 1988. P# Sanguinaria
canadensis L. BLOODROOT. April 29, 1862; April 25, 1863 (Clinton
Journal). "Where it has been found producing pink flowers," Day,
1888. Day, 1901. 1986. Crest woods, 1987. Day
(1888) predicted the loss of this species due to "careless
flower-gartherers." If
care is not taken, a noxious weed of this family, Celandine (Chelidonium
majus) could easily be imported onto the island complex. This species
is infesting native woodlands on the Ontario side of the river, and the
American mainland. A vigorous population occurs on the slopes on the mainland
overlooking the eastern end of Goat Island. # Sambucus
canadensis L. ELDERBERRY. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Base of Goat Island, more abundant than the
following and also out in the open, 1988. Abundant on bluffs overlooking Luna
Island. 1987. Terrapin Point, 1986. Second Sister, west, 1986. This
species or the following or both were reported by the Superintendent in the
second report of the Commissioners in 1886. George Clinton collected a
specimen of Microsphaeria peckii (a fungus) from a shrub of
this species (Nov. 1874, BUF). # Sambucus
pubens Michx. RED-BERRIED ELDER. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. 1984. NW
bluffs, 1988. Base of Goat Island, found in wooded patches, 1988. First
Sister, west [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Sanicula
canadensis L. SHORT-STYLED SNAKEROOT. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). # Sanicula
marilandica L. BLACK SNAKEROOT. Day, 1888. * Saponaria
officinalis L. BOUNCING BET. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. Dolomite ballast, 1986. RNY,
#Satureja glabella var. angustifolia (Torr.) Svenson LOW
CALAMINT. (As Micromeria) "Goat Island," Torrey, 1843, who
referred to this plant as the NIAGARA THYME. Beck (1833) also reported this
plant from Niagara Falls, then the easternmost margin of its range. * Satureja
vulgaris (L.) Fritsch WILD BASIL. Day, 1888. Near the eastern bridge,
in lawn beside the river, wet, 1987. # Saururus
cernuus L. LIZARD'S TAIL. "At the head of Niagara Falls,"
Charles A. Zenkert, Aug. 14, 1929. Zenkert, 1934. # Saxifraga
virginiensis Michx. EARLY SAXIFRAGE. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. Several
stations of this plant occur throughout the Niagara River gorge and shores of
the lower river. A
species of Scirpus occurs on the little dolomite flat on the north
side of Goat Island near Luna Island. # Scirpus
acutus Muhl. ex Bigel. WESTERN BULRUSH. Shallow water, Goat Island,
Frank W. Johnson (BUF). # Scirpus
americanus Pers. CHAIR-MAKER'S RUSH. Southwestern thickets, culvert
just west of the Three Sisters, 1988. # Scirpus
atrovirens Willd. DARK-GREEN BULRUSH. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls,
1988. Flats above the American Falls, north side of Goat Island near Luna,
1988. First Sister, west end, 1987; east end, 1988. Second Sister, west wet
end, 1986. # Scirpus
lineatus Michx. REDDISH BULRUSH. "East side ... in wet places
near the River," Day, 1888. # Scirpus
validus Vahl GREAT BULLRUSH. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988.
Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, west end, 1986. Second Sister, east end,
north side, 1988. # Scrophularia
marilandica L. MARYLAND FIGWORT. "Scattered individuals on the
northern sections," 1986. Base of Goat Island, 1988. # Scutellaria
lateriflora L. MAD-DOG SKULLCAP. First Sister, west end, 1986. Second
Sister, east end, 1986; wet west end, 1988. R# Scutellaria
parvula Michx. SMALL SKULLCAP. Day, 1883. R# Selaginella
apoda (L.) Spring CREEPING SELAGINELLA. Zenkert, 1934. Base of Goat
Island, 1970. First Sister, west end, 1988. # Senecio
aureus L. GOLDEN GROUNDSEL. Day, 1888. * Senecio
vulgaris L. COMMON GROUNDSEL. Northwest end, 1988. Base of Goat
Island, 1988. * Setaria
glauca PIGEON-GRASS. Southern thickets, 1988. * Setaria
viridis GREEN FOXTAIL. 1988. Third Sister, west end, 1988. # Shepherdia
canadensis (L.) Nutt. CANADIAN BUFFALOBERRY. April 29, May 17, June
26, 1862; April 25, 1863; May 9 "above the Bridge," [ Goat Island,
perhaps Terrapin area ], 1864 (Clinton Journal). Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. * Silene
cucubalus Wibel BLADDER CAMPION. Ballast, 1988. # Sisyrinchium
angustifolium Mill. NARROW-LEAVED BLUE-EYED GRASS. First of the Three
Sisters Islands, eastern extremity, dolomite flats, 1987. # Sisyrinchium
graminoides Bickn. STOUT BLUE-EYED GRASS. First Sister, west end,
1988. R# Sisyrinchium
montanum Greene MOUNTAIN BLUE-EYED GRASS. Flats above the Horseshoe
Falls, 1986. # Smilacina
racemosa (L.) Desf. FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Central woods, 1984. First Sister,
east end [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Smilacina
stellata (L.) Desf. STAR-FLOWERED FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL. Sept. 19, 1877
(J. D. Hooker's American Journal). "Only the small variety," Day,
1888. 1891. Zenkert, 1934. "Frequent in rather dry woods," 1984. In
wooded patched, base of Goat Island, 1988. First Sister, east end, chlorotic
plants below dense Honeysuckle and Privel shrubs, rock-tops [ obs. 1988 ];
west end [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, west end, 1987. # Smilax
sp. CATBRIER, CARRION-FLOWER, GREENBRIAR. One species grew together with
Poison Sumac (Rhus vernix) on Goat Island in 1828, according to
David Douglas. Smilax
herbacea L. may be found in several stations along the Niagara River
gorge. * Solanum
carolinense L. HORSE-NETTLE. West end and along path, north side of
Goat Island opposite Luna Island, in a row, 1988. * Solanum
dulcamara L. BITTER NIGHTSHADE. Day, 1888. Scattered throughout the
woods margins and shrubby river borders, 1984. Base of Goat Island, abundant
on rocks, 1988. Second Sister, 1986; west end [ obs.1988 ]. Throughout
thicketed areas. Solanum nigrum L. BLACK NIGHTSHADE.
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Garden edge by police
headquarters, west end of the island, 1987. Also observed at entrance to
First Sister on Goat Island, 1988. *Sophora japonica L. JAPANESE PAGODA-TREE. One tree of this species was planted with Robiia
and Gleditsia in the lawn on the eastern verge of the large western parking
lot, 2005. There are probably one or two additional trees of this species
planted within the Reservation. # Spartina pectinata Link
SLOUGH-GRASS. (As Spartina cynosuroides) Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). # Sphenopholis
intermedia (Rydb.) Rydb. INTERMEDIATE BUNCH-GRASS. Flats above the
Horseshoe Falls, 1988. First Sister, east end, 1986. Second Sister, east end,
1988. * Stellaria
graminea L. LESSER STICHWORT. North side, east of Bridge, lawns, 1987. * Stellaria
media (L.) Cyrillo COMMON CHICKWEED. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island,
1988. # Streptopus
roseus Michx. TWISTED-STALK. Day, 1888. # Solidago
arguta Ait. CUT-LEAVED GOLDENROD. (Also as Solidagomuhlenbergii)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). # Solidago
bicolor L. SILVERROD. Day, 1888. # Solidago
caesia L. BLUE-STEMMED GOLDENROD. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). 1987. Terrapin Point, 1986. First Sister, west end, 1988.
Second Sister, west end, 1987. Third Sister, east end, 1988. # Solidago
canadensis L. CANADA GOLDENROD. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988. var. canadensis.
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). 1986. Terrapin Point, 1986.
First Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister, east end, 1988; west end, 1987. var. scabra
(Muhl.) T.&G. TALL GOLDENROD. (As Solidago altissima) Sept.
19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). "seepage area just W of
ballast," 1986; by west parking lot, 1988. Second Sister, east end,
1988; west end, 1988. Third Sister, 1988. # Solidago
flexicaulis L. ZIGZAG GOLDENROD. (As Solidago latifolia)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Northern wooded
slopes, 1988. First Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Solidago
gigantea Ait. LATE GOLDENROD. Day, 1888. var. serotina (Kuntze)
Cronq. NOVEMBER GOLDENROD. Day, 1888. Second Sister, east end, flats, 1988. # Solidago
graminifolia (L.) Salisb. NARROW-LEAVED GOLDENROD. Sept. 19, 1877 (J.
D. Hooker's American Journal). 1985. Terrapin Point, 1986. Base of Goat
Island, 1988. Second Sister, west end, 1987. Third Sister, 1985. # Solidago
juncea Ait. EARLY GOLDENROD. Day, 1888. Terrapin Point, 1986. Second
Sister, east end, 1988. # Solidago
nemoralis Ait. GRAY GOLDENROD. Day, 1888. First Sister, east end,
1988. Second Sister, east end, 1987. R#Solidago
ulmifolia Muhl. ELM-LEAVED GOLDENROD. Day, 1888. * Sonchus
arvensis L. FIELD SOW-THISTLE. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Second
Sister, far eastern end, 1988. * Sonchus
asper (L.) Hill. SPINY-LEAVED SOW-THISTLE. Terrapin Point, 1987. Base
of Goat Island, 1988. * Sonchus
oleraceus L. SOW THISTLE. Day, 1888. "On ... ballast," 1986.
Baseof Goat Island, 1988. Flats above the Horseshoe Falls, 1988. Second
Sister, east end, 1988. R# Stachys
aspera Michx. ROUGH HEDGE-NETTLE. Day, 1888. # Symphoricarpos
albus (L.) Blake. SNOWBERRY. June 26, 1862, "On the top of the
bank [ west facing crest ] (Clinton Journal). (As Symphoricarpos racemosus)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934.
River's edge by Three Sisters, 1984. Reported
by for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the second report of the Commissioners
in 1886. In 1891, forty native Snowberry bushes were transplanted from the
Goat Island "thicket" into the Goat Island nursery (8 Ann Rep Comm,
1892). The next year, sixty more were taken (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1893). *
var. laevigatus Blake GARDEN SNOWBERRY. Southern thickets, 1988. This
variety appears to predominate in the island complex. * Symphoricarpos
orbiculatus Moench. CORALBERRY. "NW end by Luna Island,"
1986. First Sister, east end by bridge to Goat Island, streamside [ obs. 1988
]. Second Sister, by bridge to First Sister, 1987. Reported
by the Superintendent as present on Goat Island in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. Although a species native to the south of us, its
presence on Goat Island was due to planting. It appears to have been
occasionally planted at the entrances to the bridges. # Symplocarpus
foetidus (L.) Nutt.) SKUNK CABBAGE. Reported by Douglas in 1828 (as Pothos
foetidus) for Goat Island where he "was not a little surprised to
see Pothos in a dry place; they had perfected seeds." This
species grows at Dufferin Islands and the wet base of Clifton Hill in Niagara
Falls, Ontario in cool, wet, shaded muck. * Syringa
vulgaris L. LILAC. "Apparently spontaneous in one spot on Goat Island"
Day, 1883. Frequent around the maintenance buildings near the vehicular
bridge, dense and escaped all along the top of the southwestern slopes.
Abundant in thickets, north side, 1988. Reported
for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. "Fifty-eight purple lilacs, twenty-four white
lilacs" were planted on the south banks of Goat Island in 1981 (8 Ann
Rep Comm, 1982). * Taraxacum
laevigatum (Willd.) DC. RED-SEEDED DANDELION. Zenkert, 1934. * Taraxacum
officinale Weber DANDELION. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). Day, 1888. Goat Island, B. O'Connor, April 26, 1976 (BUF). Base of
Goat Island, scarce, 1988. Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ]. This
species is evident throughout the Goat Island complex, 1988. Lady
Theodora Guest noted the occurrence of "the inevitable Dandelion"
on the Three Sisters in 1895. # Taxus
canadensis Marsh. GROUND HEMLOCK. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). Day, 1888.
Reported for Goat island by the Superintendent in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886. Chamberlin (1892) observed many "prostrate
Yew-bushes ... near the paths," in Goat Island's woods. # Taxus cuspidata Sieb. & Zucc. JAPANESE YEW. An old,
massive planting of this Asian species has been established on the eastern
boundary of Green Island where it obscures the upstream prospect of the
northern portion of the Niagara River where it divides around Goat Island. It
also obscures the plinth of a bust of Jacob Schoelkopf erected in this place,
which is bustless and buried within the bushes. # Teucrium
canadense L. AMERICAN GERMANDER. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988.
Second Sister, west end, sight record by Al Schotz, 1988. # Thalictrum
dioicum L. EARLY MEADOW-RUE. Day, 1888. # Thalictrum
polygamum Muhl. TALL MEADOW RUE. Wet shrubby thickets on south side of
Goat Island, 1986. George
Clinton collected a specimen of Aecidium ranunculacearum
(fungi) from a plant of this species (July 4, 1871, BUF). # Thaspium
trifoliatum (L.) Gray PURPLE MEADOW PARSNIP. Day, 1888. P# Thelypteris
noveboracensis (L.) Nieuwl. NEW YORK FERN. Day, 1888. P# Thelypteris
palustris Schott. var. pubescens (Lawson) Fern. MARSH FERN.
Day, 1888. Second Sister, west end, 1987. * Thlaspi
arvense L. PENNY CRESS. Wooded crest, 1988. # Thuja
occidentalis L. ARBOR VITAE, WHITE CEDAR. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). "The most abundant of the evergreens growing
near the Falls," Day, 1888. Second Sister, west end, single tree,
boulder top by bridge to Third Sister Island [ obs. 1988 ]. Eliminated from
Goat Island, 1988. Only a few individuals may be seen today growing with
bonzai-like effect from the tops of one or two boulders in the channels
between the Three Sisters Islands. How to account for the loss of these trees
is problematical. A fine clump of these trees grows at the base of Goat
Island along the path to the Cave of the Winds. Francois
André Michaux, in the 1819, English version of his North American Sylva
states "Goat Island, round which the Niagara divides itself to form the
... cataract ... is seen from the banks of the river to be bordered with
Arbor Vitae" (Zenkert, 1934). "By the rapids, on the American side
... and on Goat Island, grew some of the largest arbor vitae ... I ever saw,
- some of them measuring seven feet round" (Howitt, 1820). Prinz von
Wied-Neuwied (1843) observed "the shores of [ Goat Island ] are shaded
by old pines and very large white cedars such as we should in vain look for
in Europe ...." Luna Island "is closely overgrown with white cedar
... the tall, thick, whitish trunks of which, with their stiff, extended
boughs, scarcely leave space for the shrubs that grow between them, in which
the cedar bird (Bombycilla cedrorum) builds its nest. The
northern chatterer or silk tail ... is likewise found here in small companies
during the winter .... Beautiful plants grow among the boulders, the rocks on
the banks of the river, such as ... the white cedar ...."
"The banks of the river about the falls are lined with white pine and
cedar" (Clinton, 1922). Agassiz noted this tree growing on Ship Island
in the American channel (Agassiz, 1850). "A day on Goat Island! Would
that no stormy ocean separated us from the groves of arborvitae and forests
of maple, which overhang the rapids and clothe the steeps! ... A splendid
vine, from which I plucked delicious grapes, and a red honeysuckle have there
climbed to the very top of an arborvitae situated on a promontory..."
Baxter, 1855. Reported
by the Superintendent for Goat Island in the second report of the
Commissioners in 1886 (as White Cedar). Eight white cedars were blown down in
the winter storm of 1889 (report of the Superintendent, 6 Ann Rep Comm,
1890). Two of these trees fell in the winter storm of January 13, 1890 (7 Ann
Rep Comm, 1891). Seventy-five White Cedar "have also been procured"
for the Goat Island nursery established in 1890, and it is interesting that,
of the 1,122 young trees transplanted from the "thicket on Goat
Island," none of these were young White Cedars (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891).
In 1891, fifty Siberian arbor vitae were planted on the Reservation after
purchase, and perhaps the seventy-five White Cedars put in the nursery the
year before were exotics as well (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1892). The next year, two
hundred Arbor Vitae were added to the nursery (9 Ann Rep Comm, 1983). Chamberlin
(1892) observed on Goat Island "near the paths many small Cedars, white
and red ..." in the woods. George
Clinton collected two specimens of Prosthemium sp. (a fungus) on a
tree of this species (July 4, 1874 BUF), one on the "west side above the
Three Sisters". # Tiarella
cordifolia L. FOAM-FLOWER. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Tilia
americana L. BASSWOOD. Goat Island, George
Engelmann no. 10784, August 1840 (MO); Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's
American Journal). "An abundant and conspicuous element of its
forest," Day, 1888. "... Plentiful upon [ Goat Island ], and of
extraordinary size and beauty," Day, 1901. Goat Island, Charles A.
Zenkert, July 21, 1928 (BUF). Central woods, some quite mature, 1986. Base of
Goat Island, 1988. Luna Island [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister, east end [ obs.
1988 ]. Second Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]. This
tree is generally found throughout the wooded areas of the island. Second
Sister, west end, by alluvial area, 1988 [ obs. ] Ten
trees of this species were blown down in winter storms in 1889 (report of the
Superintendent, 6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890); eleven in the January 13 storm in 1890
(7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). When the Goat Island nursery was established in 1890,
ninety-one young trees of this species were transplanted there "from the
thicket on Goat Island" (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891). In 1893, fifty-five
basswoods from the nursery were planted in the eastern meadow, (10 Ann Rep
Comm, 1894), the following year fifty-five more were planted (11 Ann Rep
Comm, 1895). Tilia sp. "Day (Day, 1888) notes that
on Goat Island ... a basswood was to be found seemingly quite distinct from T.
americana, 'readily distinguished by its bark which is as white as
that of the white ash,'" Zenkert, 1934. At the end of the 1988 report by
Day is the note "The unnamed species of Tilia, herein referred to
seems to be only a variety of Tilia americana, L., July 26,
1888." This report by Day may have referred to an example of Tilia
heterophylla, WHITE BASSWOOD, which is rare in New York State. * Tilia
cordata Mill. SMALL-LEAVED LINDEN. 1988. This species, or a
horticultural variety close to it, is extensively planted throughout the
island. * Tragopogon
porrifolius L. SALSIFY. 1987. * Tragopogon
pratensis L. GOAT'S-BEARD. 1987. * Trifolium
hybridum L. ALSIKE CLOVER. Lawns throughout, 1987. Second Sister, east
end, 1988. * Trifolium
pratense L. RED CLOVER. Sept. 19, 1877 [ with a question mark ] (J. D.
Hooker's American Journal). Day, 1888. Garden bed by police headquarters,
infrequent, 1987. * Trifolium
repens L. WHITE CLOVER. Day, 1888. Lawns 1987. Ballast, [ obs. 1988 ]. P# Trillium
erectum L. RED TRILLIUM. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. A few plants were
observed in the central woods, 1988. David
Douglas noted in 1823 that on Goat Island "Trillium seemed to be
plentiful, but the leaves being decayed, I could not get as many as I would
like." On September 30th this spring ephemeral would have been decayed
indeed! P# Trillium
grandiflorum (Michx.) Salisb. WHITE TRILLIUM. "Flower with green
stripes through the petals frequently produced," Day, 1888. "Few
individuals," 1984. On
May 12, 1866, George Clinton recorded that "a party of young
ladies" from a Buffalo school "found a few specimens of the green
petalled Trillium, which seems to be T. grandiflorum." Day
(1888) predicted the extermination of Trillium plants on Goat Island
due to "careless flower-gatherers." # Triosteum
perfoliatum var. aurantiacum (Bickn.) Wieg. ORANGE
HORSE-GENTIAN. "Wooded slope on the SW end of the island," 1986.
"Shaded central woods," 1984. First Sister, east end, 1988; west
end, 1988. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. R* Tripsacum
dactyloides (L.) L. GAMMA GRASS. First Sister, 1988. First report for
western New York. # Tsuga
canadensis (L.) Carr. EASTERN HEMLOCK. (As Abies canadensis)
Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). "Not a prevailing
tree," Day, 1888. 1988. Second Sister, west end, 1986. Linnaeus
originally described this species in the genus Pinus (Sp. Pl. ed 2,
1421, 1763, as did DuRoi (as Pinus americana) in 1771, and
Marshall (as Pinus Abies-americana) in 1785 (House, 1924),
hence David Douglas' reference to two pines on Goat Island in 1828 surely
related to this tree. Agassiz
(1850) reported this tree growing on Ship Island in the American channel.
Reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the report of the
Commissioners in 1886. One of these trees was blown down in the winter storm
of 1889 (6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890), and another January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm,
1891). Chamberlin (1892) observed this tree in the Goat Island woods
"near the paths many ... Hemlock[ s ]." In 1892, two hundred young
trees were planted in the Goat Island nursery, and were probably purchased (9
Ann Rep Comm, 1893). Day (1901) recommended this tree for reforestation of
Goat Island.
A bank of these trees may be seen on the north side of the central woodland
facing the maintenance shed. They appear planted. Several young, presumably
escaped trees may be seen in the "road island' formed by three
intersecting roads just to the north of this bank of trees. It appears that
this species would do well if part of a restoration plan. * Tussilago
farfara L. COLTSFOOT. North-facing slope, wooded, weed-infested,
facing Luna Island, 1987. Second Sister, west end, alluvium, 1988 [ obs. ];
east end, 1988. Typha angustifolia L. NARROW-LEAVED
CAT-TAIL. First Sister, west end, 1986. Second Sister, east end, 1985. A
specimen of Scolecosporiella typhae (fungi) was collected from
the dead leaves of this plant by W. R. Buck, Nov. 2, 1988 (NY). Typha latifolia L. BROAD-LEAVED
CAT-TAIL. First Sister, west end, 1988. Second Sister, west end, alluvium,
1988 [ obs. ] Elms
(Ulmus) were reported for Goat Island by the Superintendent in the
report of the Commissioners in 1886. Three elms were blown down in the
January storm of 1889 (6 Ann Rep Comm, 1890). Five elms were blown down in
the storm of January 13, 1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm, 1891), two of these being
three feet in diameter. Fifteen young elm trees were transplanted "from
the thicket on Goat Island" to the Goat Island nursery established in
1890 (7 Ann Rep Comm 1891). Thirteen of these were taken from the nursery and
planted in the eastern meadow in 1893 (10 Ann Rep Comm, 1894), the following
year, thirteen more were planted there (11 Ann Rep Comm, 1895). Elms
were reported growing on the smaller islands in the American channel in 1968
(American Falls International Board, 1971). # Ulmus
americana L. AMERICAN ELM. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988.
Abundant seedlings, saplings and stump suckers, thickets NW slopes, 1988; 101
inch circ. tree in W parking-lot, 1988. Second Sister, west end, 1988. It
is interesting that Hooker and Gray did not note this species growing on Goat
Island in 1877 when they made their catalogue of its trees, shrubs and herbs.
Perhaps this indicates it was not a conspicuous member of the forest. * Ulmus
campestris L. ENGLISH ELM. Luna Island, "planted," Day,
1888. # Ulmus
rubra Muhl. SLIPPERY ELM. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal. Day, 1888. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Throughout the weedy thickets
around Goat Island, 1988. Ballast, young tree [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister by
bridge to Goat Island, stream margin [ obs. 1988 ]. Second Sister, east end,
1988. * [ #
]Ulmus thomasii Sarg. ROCK-ELM. Green Island, "planted,"
Day, 1888. An
unidentified species of Urtica was noted for Goat Island, Sept. 19,
1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal). # Urtica
dioica var. procera (Muhl.) Wedd. TALL NETTLE. Day, 1888. # Uvularia
grandiflora Sm. LARGE-FLOWERED BELLWORT. Day, 1888. Day, 1901. # Uvularia
sessilifolia L. SESSILE-LEAVED BELLWORT. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. # Vaccinium
vacillans Torr. LATE-FRUITING BLUEBERRY. Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. * Verbascum
blattaria L. MOTH MULLEIN. (white form) 1984. Restaurant midden
(yellow form), 1986. * Verbascum
thapsus L. MULLEIN. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal).
Day, 1888. Ballast, 1985. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Green Island, 1986.
Second Sister, east end [ obs. 1988 ]. A
modern synonym for Verbena obtusifolia noted by J. D. Hooker in
his American Journal for Goat Island has not been found as of this writing.
It may be Verbena hastata var. oblongifolia Nutt., a
probable hybrid between the two species below (House, 1924). # Verbena
hastata L. COMMON VERVAIN. Day, 1888. Terrapin Point, 1986. Second
Sister, west end, 1985. # Verbena
urticifolia L. WHITE VERVAIN. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Terrapin
Point, 1987. R* Veronica
anagallis-aquatica L. WATER SPEEDWELL. "Dolomite flats, SW side
of the island," 1986. First Sister, west end, 1988. * Veronica
arvensis L. CORN SPEEDWELL. Day, 1888. Along paths, 1986. First
Sister, east end on flats, 1988. RNY,
R # Veronica peregrina var. xalapensis (Kinth) St. John
& Warren. PURSLANE SPEEDWELL. Goat Island, along paths, 1986. # Veronica
serpyllifolia L. THYME-LEAVED SPEEDWELL. Day, 1888. First Sister, east
end, May 18, 1987. R* [
# ]Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw. CULVER'S-ROOT.
"Introduced," Day, 1888. Thirty-six
"snow-ball" trees were planted on the denuded southern shore of
Goat Island in 1891 (8 Ann Rep Comm, 1982); these may have been the
ornamental shrub Viburnum opulus L. var. sterile DC. -
the species or variety with the rounded inflorescence, with all the flowers
large, rather than just on the periphery of the flower cluster. However, it
is more likely the snow ball tree was the native shrub Viburnum opulus
var. americanum, and the plants were transplanted from the populations
on Goat Island. RNY,
R* Viburnum lantana L. WAYFARING-TREE. Central woods, 1986.
Specimens of this easily spreading species may be seen in the northern wooded
areas just to the west of the vehicular bridge. 1988. Terrapin Point, 1987.
First Sister, east end, 1988. First Sister, west end, young plant [ obs. 1988
]. Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. This
is the first report for this species in western New York. * Viburnum
opulus L. var. opulus GUELDER ROSE. "Large trees in
meadow, east end," 1986. Green Island, SW river margin, 1988.
Wied-Neuwied (1834) mentioned the "geuldar rose" [ sic ] growing along
the river banks, and probably meant to the native High-bush Cranberry, or V.
opulus var. americana Ait. I have not yet found a reference to
the native shrub growing on the islands. # Viburnum
rafinesquianum Schultes. RAFINESQUE VIBURNUM. Day, 1888. # Vicia
americana Muhl. AMERICAN VETCH. Day, 1888. # Vicia
caroliniana Walt. CAROLINA VETCH. Day, 1888. * Vicia
cracca L. COW VETCH. 1987. * Vinca
minor L. PERIWINKLE. "Introduced and spreading," Day, 1888.
"N side on wooded slopes ... planted," 1986. A species
of Violet (Viola) was observed on the north side of the Second Sister
in 1988. # Viola
blanda Willd. SWEET WHITE VIOLET. Day, 1888. # Viola
canadensis L. CANADA VIOLET. Day, 1888. "Abounds," Day 1901. # Viola
conspersa Reichenb. AMERICAN DOG VIOLET. Day, 1888. # Viola
cucullata Ait. MARSH BLUE VIOLET. Clinton though he found Viola
sagittata on Goat Island, but decided "it was a mere form of V.
cucullata," May 17, 1862 (Clinton Journal). Day, 1888. "Abounds,"
Day, 1901. # Viola
eriocarpa Schw. SMOOTH YELLOW VIOLET. "Common," Day, 1883.
Day, 1888. Top of sloping bank facing the Three Sisters, 1984. * Viola
odorata L. ENGLISH VIOLET. Near path to Luna Island, top of slope,
1987. # Viola
papilionacea Pursh. MEADOW VIOLET. First Sister, west end, 1988. # Viola
pubescens Ait. DOWNY YELLOW VIOLET. "Abounds," Day, 1901. A
specimen of Puccinia violarum (fungi) was collected from a
plant of this species (July 4, 1871, Aug. 12, 1875, BUF). # Viola
rostrata Pursh. LONG-SPURRED VIOLET. Day, 1888. "Abounds," Day,
1901. # Viola
sororia Willd. WOOLLY BLUE VIOLET. Goat Island, top of slope, north
side, woods margin, 1987. First Sister, west end by path, lawn edge, 1987. Regarding
grape (Vitus), "on Goat Island ... we were shown a piece of a
grapevine about six feet long, which must have averaged six inches in
diameter, "(Clinton, 1826). The
"wild grape-vines" are reported as abundant on Goat Island by by
the Superintendent in the report of the Commissioners in 1886. "In few
other places [ than Goat Island ] does the Wild Grape climb so high or spread
so far or swell itself into such tree-like proportions. Nowhere, especially
on the American side and in the vicinity of Luna Island, is the visitor out
of sight of these rampant vines. The slope leading down to Luna Island is
covered with small trees so overgrown by vines that one wonders how the trees
can grow at all, yet they appear to thrive under the load" (Chamberlin,
1892). # Vitis
aestivalis Michx. SUMMER GRAPE. (as var. aestivalis)
Goat Island, George Engelmann Aug. 17, 1879 (MO); (as var. aestivalis) small island in the Niagara rapids,
Geroge Engelmann August 1840 (MO); Day, 1888. Zenkert, 1934. Wooded
crest, 1988. * Vitis
labrusca L. FOX GRAPE. Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American
Journal). # Vitis
riparia Michx. FROST GRAPE. Banks of Goat
Island, George Engelmann August 1840 (MO); Goat Island, George Engelmann Aug.
17, 1879 (MO); Sept. 19, 1877 (J. D. Hooker's American Journal. Day,
1888. "Abundant on trees and shrubs in the woods and shrubby river
banks," 1984. Base of Goat Island, 1988. Luna Island, abundant in
northern and eastern thickets, [ obs. 1988 ]. First Sister, east end,
streamside by bridge to Goat Island [ obs. 1988 ]; west end [ obs. 1988 ].
Second Sister, west end [ obs. 1988 ]. # Waldsteinia
fragarioides (Michx.) Tratt. BARREN STRAWBERRY. Day, 1888. # Zizia
aurea (L.) Koch GOLDEN ALEXANDERS. Zenkert, 1934. |