Gorge Trail - Highlands Wet

. Vascular Plants of the Gorge at Buttermilk Falls State Park (Ithaca, NY) .
. .	Home	Ecology Main	Documentation	.
. Plant Ecology of the Area Surveyed Gorge Trail - Highlands Wet .


	x Figure A. Damp ledges and gorge trail along Buttermilk Creek, November 2018. .
	Assuming that a hiker follows the gorge trail from its lower entrance below the falls, the "Highlands Wet" subsection of the gorge trail begins at the point at which the gorge trail descends from a dry-mesic woodland, to reconnect with Buttermilk Creek at water level. Most of this subsection passes through relatively dark, mesic, rich woods, dominated by eastern hemlock, yellow birch, red oak, basswood and white ash. Occasionally, one may also find a mature tulip tree, sugar maple, red maple, eastern sycamore or big-toothed aspen. This subsection is largely dark, damp and cool. Water often seeps off adjacent ledges, draped with bulblet bladder ferns, clearweed, wood-nettle, and various mosses, lichens and liverworts. The footing is often wet or at least damp. The primary understory trees here are hop hornbeam and mountain maple, which are fairly prevalent throughout the gorge trail. The most common shrub is witch hazel. On the north side of the creek eastern hemlocks dominate, from above the rim trail down to water's edge. This subsection of Buttermilk Creek is very ferny, particularly of one species: bulblet bladder fern.

.
Figure B. View of cascades, ledges and stone work along Buttermilk Creek. Prevalent flora shown
include bulblet bladder fern* and mountain maple, June 2018.

	As one proceeds eastward, the creek channel eventually widens enough for more light to reach the ground. This change provides an opportunity for a variety of other species to flourish on ledges and stone walls, such as purple-flowered raspberry*, herb robert, crooked-stemmed aster, Virginia creeper and wild columbine. Other than the increase in light, the basic ecological regime is roughly the same; cool and damp.

.
Figure C . Virginia creeper*, purple-flowered raspberry, and an abundance of bulblet bladder fern
enjoying life on a stone wall above the creek, July 2019.

.
     Figure D .  Pinnacle Rock and twin cascade, close to eastern end of gorge trail. Other than increased
                         sunlight, cool and damp conditions are similar to remainder of "Highland Wet" subsection.
                         November 2018.
.

* To convert English plant names to their scientific equivalents, click this link.