Checklist

Species	Plant Form	Nativity	Plant Family
*Acalypha rhomboidea*	W / G	N	Euphorbiaceae
*Acer negundo*	T	N	Sapindaceae
*Ageratina altissima*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Alliaria petiolata*	W / G	E	Brassicaceae
*Ambrosia artemisiifolia*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Ampelopsis glandulosa*	S / V	E	Vitaceae
*Anthemis cotula*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Aquilegia canadensis*	W / G	N	Ranunculaceae
*Arctium lappa*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Artemisia vulgaris*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Barbarea vulgaris*	W / G	E	Brassicaceae
*Bellis perennis*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Berberis thunbergii*	S / V	E	Berberidaceae
*Blephilia hirsuta*	W / G	N	Lamiaceae
*Brassica juncea*	W / G	E	Brassicaceae
*Campanula americana*	W / G	N	Campanulaceae
*Cardamine diphylla*	W / G	N	Brassicaceae
*Carex annectens*	W / G	N	Cyperaceae
*Carex hystericina*	W / G	N	Cyperaceae
*Carex retrorsa*	W / G	N	Cyperaceae
*Carex scoparia*	W / G	N	Cyperaceae
*Carex vulpinoidea*	W / G	N	Cyperaceae
*Celastrus orbiculatus*	S / V	E	Celastraceae
*Centaurea nigrescens*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Centaurea stoebe*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Chelidonium majus*	W / G	E	Papaveraceae
*Cichorium intybus*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Cirsium arvense*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Cirsium vulgare*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Conyza canadensis*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Cyperus strigosus*	W / G	N	Cyperaceae
*Dactylis glomerata*	W / G	E	Poaceae
*Daucus carota*	W / G	E	Apiaceae
*Dianthus armeria*	W / G	E	Caryophylaceae
*Dipsacus fullonum*	W / G	E	Caprifoliaceae
*Echinacea purpurea*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Elymus hystrix*	W / G	N	Poaceae
*Epilobium ciliatum*	W / G	N/E	Onagraceae
*Erechtites hieraciifolius*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Erigeron annuus*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Erigeron philadelphicus*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Euonymus alatus*	S / V	E	Celastraceae
*Euphorbia maculata*	W / G	N	Euphorbiaceae
*Galium album*	W / G	E	Rubiaceae
*Geranium robertianum*	W / G	N	Geraniaceae
*Geum canadense*	W / G	N	Rosaceae
*Glechoma hederacea*	W / G	E	Lamiaceae
*Hemerocallis fulva*	W / G	E	Asphodelaceae
*Hesperis matronalis*	W / G	E	Brassicaceae
*Juncus tenuis*	W / G	N	Juncaceae
*Lactuca serriola*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Lamium purpureum*	W / G	E	Lamiaceae
*Lapsana communis*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Leonurus cardiaca*	W / G	E	Lamiaceae
*Lepidium campestre*	W / G	E	Brassicaceae
*Leucanthemum vulgare*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Lonicera morrowii*	S / V	E	Caprifoliaceae
*Lotus corniculatus*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Lychnis flos-cuculi*	W / G	E	Caryophylaceae
*Lysimachia ciliata*	W / G	N	Primulaceae
*Lythrum salicaria*	W / G	E	Lythraceae
*Malva moschata*	W / G	E	Malvaceae
*Medicago lupulina*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Melilotus albus*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Melilotus officinalis*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Mertensia virginica*	W / G	N	Boraginaceae
*Morus alba*	T	E	Moraceae
*Myosotis arvensis*	W / G	E	Boraginaceae
*Nepeta cataria*	W / G	E	Lamiaceae
*Oenothera biennis*	W / G	N	Onagraceae
*Oxalis stricta*	W / G	N	Oxalidaceae
*Persicaria lapathifolia*	W / G	N	Polygonaceae
*Persicaria maculosa*	W / G	E	Polygonaceae
*Philadelphus pubescens*	S / V	E	Hydrangaceae
*Phleum pratense*	W / G	E	Poaceae
*Picris hieracioides*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Pilosella aurantiaca*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Pilosella caespitosa*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Pilosella flagellaris*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Plantago lanceolata*	W / G	E	Plantaginaceae
*Plantago major*	W / G	E	Plantaginaceae
*Platanus occidentalis*	T	N	Platanaceae
*Polemonium reptans*	W / G	N	Polemoniaceae
*Populus grandidentata*	T	N	Salicaceae
*Potentilla argentea*	W / G	E	Rosaceae
*Potentilla norvegica*	W / G	N	Rosaceae
*Prunella vulgaris*	W / G	E	Lamiaceae
*Prunus virginiana*	S / V	N	Rosaceae
*Pycnanthemum virginianum*	W / G	N	Lamiaceae
*Ranunculus repens*	W / G	E	Ranunculaceae
*Robinia pseudoacacia*	T	N	Fabaceae
*Rubus occidentalis*	S / V	N	Rosaceae
*Rudbeckia hirta*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Rudbeckia triloba*	W / G	U	Asteraceae
*Rumex crispus*	W / G	E	Polygonaceae
*Rumex obtusifolius*	W / G	E	Polygonaceae
*Schedonorus arundinaceus*	W / G	E	Poaceae
*Solanum carolinense*	W / G	N	Solanaceae
*Solidago altissima*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Solidago caesia*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Solidago flexicaulis*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Solidago gigantea*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Solidago rugosa*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Sonchus asper*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Symphyotrichum lanceolatum*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Symphyotrichum lateriflorum*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Symphyotrichum pilosum*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Symphyotrichum prenanthoides*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Symphyotrichum undulatum*	W / G	N	Asteraceae
*Syringa vulgaris*	S / V	E	Oleaceae
*Taraxacum officinale*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Thuja occidentalis*	T	N	Cupressaceae
*Torilis japonica*	W / G	E	Apiaceae
*Toxicodendron radicans*	S / V	N	Anacardiaceae
*Trifolium aureum*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Trifolium pratense*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Trifolium repens*	W / G	E	Fabaceae
*Triticum aestivum*	W / G	E	Poaceae
*Tsuga canadensis*	T	N	Pinaceae
*Tussilago farfara*	W / G	E	Asteraceae
*Urtica dioica*	W / G	E	Urticaceae
*Verbascum blattaria*	W / G	E	Scrophulariaceae
*Verbascum thapsus*	W / G	E	Scrophulariaceae
*Verbena urticifolia*	W / G	N	Verbenaceae
*Veronica chamaedrys*	W / G	E	Plantaginaceae
*Veronica persica*	W / G	E	Plantaginaceae
*Vitis riparia*	S / V	N	Vitaceae
*Zizia aurea*	W / G	N	Apiaceae

Abbreviations Used
	F	Ferns or fern relatives	E	Exotic (non-native) species
	S / V	Shrubs or woody vines	N	Native species
	T	Trees
	W / G	Herbaceous flowering plants, incl. graminoids


	The "Vacant Lot" is a small ( approx. 1/4 acre) parcel of land, located adjacent to the lower entrance to the Gorge Trail. It is open (unforested), "disturbed" land. There used to be a large, single-family home in that place, which apparently was demolished in 2014. It isn't clear who lived in that home, when the owners departed, or how long the home had been unoccupied. Afterwards, the land was graded and leveled. In no time, an amazing diversity of opportunistic plants has since taken root to fill the void. Over 120 species, representing over 45 plant families are present. Together, they don't create a recognizable, naturally-formed plant community. Rather, it's a motley assemblage; a veritable melting pot of species of dry habitats and wet habitats; of natives and non-natives; of annuals, biennials and perennials, including trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and sedges. The composition of that plot is continually changing and evolving. Species that were found in one season, are often absent the next season. Species that were absent during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, suddenly showed up in 2019. Where they all came from is unknown. As I write this note, a cluster of rapidly growing American sycamore saplings has begun to dominate a large portion of the plot. In 2017, those saplings were barely knee high. Today, they reach over eight feet in height, and tower over everything. Elsewhere, highly aggressive grass species are claiming more and more territory. So far, extemely few of these species have found their way into the core sections of the Gorge Trail. My guess, is that a significant number of the species listed below are no longer present, or will disappear soon. As of today, the plot has been largely neglected by state park maintenance personnel. Because of its plant diversity, the vacant lot is an excellent place to take an introductory class in plant science.