Hacklebarney State Park, Morris County


SPRING

May 10 2013:  We went to look for more spring flowers and decided on Hacklebarney State Park which has been ‘wild’ a long time and would have a diversity of plants.

We started along the Main Trail (white trail marker) heading south, at the intersection with the trail marker of 3 blue spots we turned down the intersecting trail toward the waterfall and then across the Trout Brook and up the trail to the right  Upper Trail.  We followed the Upper trail till it stopped being a 'highway' and became a rocky foot path by the Black River.  We turned back and at the waterfall, instead of crossing the Trout Brook, continued straight and back to the starting point.

Trail Map: hacklebarney         larger map

By this time in spring the woods were all green and we were able to see many natives.  Please see our list of native plants below.

Thalictrum dioicumin Thalictrum dioicumin We came across a clump of early meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicumin) in bloom.  The male and female flowers form on separate plants.  The photos show male flowers with several greenish sepals and dangling long stamens. 

There were a bunch of twoleaf miterwort (Mitella diphylla), Bishop's Cap, by the bridge crossing. The tiny fringed flowers, less than ¼", grow on long stalks with basal leaves.

Mitella diphylla - twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla (twoleaf miterwort) Mitella diphylla - twoleaf miterwort

Mitella diphylla - dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius hairy solomons seal Polygonatum pubescens

Also near the bridge crossing,
we found some dwarf ginseng
(Panax trifolius)

Here is the underside of
a Solomon's seal leaf showing
the hairs along the veins
(Polygonatum pubescens)



List of plants viewed on this trip
type flowering scientific name common name
herbaceous Actaea pachypodawhite baneberry
herbaceous Allium tricoccumramp
herbaceous Anemone quinquefoliawood anemone
herbaceous Aralia nudicauliswild sarsaparilla
herbaceousyArisaema triphyllumJack in the pulpit
herbaceous Chimaphila maculata Spotted Wintergreen
herbaceousyClaytonia virginicaVirginia springbeauty
herbaceous Epifagus virginianabeechdrops
herbaceous Erythronium americanumtrout lily
herbaceous Eurybia divaricatawhite wood aster
herbaceous Geranium maculatumwild geranium
herbaceous Impatiens capensisjewelweed
herbaceousyMaianthemum canadenseCanada mayflower
herbaceousyMitella diphyllatwoleaf miterwort
herbaceous Oxalis violaceaviolet woodsorrel
herbaceousyPanax trifoliusdwarf ginseng
herbaceous Peltandra virginicagreen arrow arum
herbaceousyPolygonatum pubescenshairy Solomon's seal
herbaceous Pyrola sp 
herbaceous Smilacina racemosaFalse Solomon's Seal
herbaceous Symplocarpus foetidusskunk cabbage
herbaceousyThalictrum dioicumearly meadow-rue
herbaceous Thalictrum pubescenstall meadow rue
herbaceous Trillium cernuum nodding trillium
herbaceousyViola blandasweet white violet
herbaceousyViola pubescensdowny yellow violet
herbaceousyViola sororiacommon blue violet
fern Botrychium virginianumrattlesnake fern
fern Osmunda regalisroyal fern
fern Polystichum acrostichoidesChristmas fern
fern Pteridium aquilinumbrackenfern
vine Parthenocissus quinquefoliaVirginia creeper
vine Smilax spcat brier
shrub Kalmia latifoliamountain laurel
shrub Lindera benzoinnorthern spicebush
shrub Rubus phoenicolasiuswine raspberry
shrub Viburnum acerifoliummapleleaf viburnum
tree Acer negundoboxelder
tree Carpinus carolinianablue beech
tree Fagus grandifoliaAmerican beech
tree Fraxinus americanawhite ash
tree Hamamelis virginianaAmerican witchhazel
tree Juniperus virginianaeastern redcedar
tree Liriodendron tulipiferatuliptree
tree Prunus serotinablack cherry
tree Quercus albawhite oak
tree Quercus palustrispin oak
tree Quercus prinuschestnut oak
tree Quercus rubranorthern red oak
tree Sassafras albidumsassafras
tree Tilia americanaAmerican basswood
tree Tsuga canadensiseastern hemlock

More information on Hacklebarney State Park:   general information plant list from NY-NJ-CT Botany website   

Hope you will go there and enjoy the natives.

H. & M. Ling