WHO KNEW Some Plants Are Picky About Their Neighborhood?
When walking in the woods, you might notice that some plants are often found in the same company of other plants. You may find yellow trout lily (AKA dogtooth violet), a spring ephemeral, near a stream or wetland and nearby you might also find false solomon’s seal, blue cohosh, sugar maple, red oak and/or maple-leaved viburnum. These plant species form these ‘natural communities’ because they all require a particular type of soil, water supply, geology, position in the landscape, exposure to the sun and other natural processes. These communities are predictable, based on their environment.
There are thousands of kinds of natural communities in the United States. 170 such communities have been recognized in New Hampshire. In 2000, a survey by The Nature Conservancy found 29 kinds of plant communities in Hanover: 17 in uplands and 12 in wetlands.
Natural plant communities are the foundation for diverse wildlife. From insects that pollinate their flowers and lay eggs on the plant’s leaves, to birds that feed the larvae to their young and shelter in the trees and shrubs, to rodents and larger animals who nest and feed as the result of the community, the basis for a healthy ecosystem starts with plant communities. There are many threats to these natural communities: off trail hiking or biking, sloppy logging done when the ground is muddy, construction and site preparation that wipes out native biota, expansive lawns that have little value for wildlife or the environment. Non-native invasive plants crowd out native plants since they have no predators to control their population. Excess deer over-browse plants and weaken the structure of a natural community, thus decreasing diversity.
How can we help? Let native plant communities thrive on your property and retain as much native vegetation as possible. Plant more native plants to build a more robust plant community. Create views by removing a few selected branches rather than whole trees. Decrease the size of your lawn and don’t mow often. Tread lightly on trails (and not in wet season). Remove non-native invasive plants ASAP. Invite hunters to harvest deer on your land. By all means don’t try to dig native plants; it took them a long time to establish and they belong there.
For more information, visit Hanover’s Biodiversity Committee’s webpage at [LINK]