Must Find Mustard

The Mustard family (Brassicaceae) is a large, diverse, and economically important group. They are identifiable based on their small flowers, usually with four yellow or white petals; their distinctive, elongated fruit structure called a silique; and leaves that give off a pungent smell when crushed. Over 50 species of Mustards have been found growing wild in New York City. The most abundant species in NYC are the invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and the non-native Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), but there are also a number of common native species such as Virginia Pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum), Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), and Bog Yellowcress (Rorippa palustris). How many Mustards can you find this May?

Guide to Mustards of NYC

The City Nature Challenge 2024 has begun! Check out over 25 events this weekend to explore the city and help document biodiversity!!

More Information and Registration Links

CNC NYC iNaturalist Project

Map Maple

Maple (Acer spp.) is an ecologically and economically important genus of trees that have distinctive palmate leaves and winged fruits. There are at least 12 species of maple found in New York City, including Norway maple (A. platanoides), a common street tree; sugar maple (A. saccharum), the state tree of New York; and boxelder (A. negundo), the only North American maple with compound leaves. In early spring, many species produce flowers while the tree is still leafless. How many maples can you find?

NYC Maple Guide

Browse Bryophtes

Bryophytes are small, non-vascular, spore-bearing plants which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They are pioneers of barren surfaces such as rocks, tree trunks, and pavement, and play essential roles in nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water retention. An inventory of the bryophytes of New York City has never been published, but there are currently 85 species with Research Grade observations available on iNaturalist.

Your observations will help to further our understanding of the variety and abundance of bryophytes in our city!

NYC Bryophyte Guide

Bryophytes of NYC page on NYBG.org

Guide to Mosses and Liverworts of Chicago includes many genera and species found in NYC

Behold Bark, Buds, and Berries

Clockwise from top left: American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) bark; Japanese Angelica Tree (Aralia elata) stem; Boxelder (Acer negundo) bud; Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) fruits; Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) leaves.

February is a great month to refine your winter botany skills by learning to recognize important dormant-season plant characteristics such as bark, buds, and persistent flower and fruit structures.
Previous winter-month EcoQuest Challenges provide many examples of common plants that can be identified in winter, representing diverse groups of native and invasive species, including cryptogams and gymnosperms as well as flowering plants (grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees).

How many species can you find this February?

Here are some resources to help get started:

Pictoral Guide for Tree Bud Identification
What are Lichens?
NYC Bryophyte Guide
Guide to Pines of NYC
Guide to Birches of NYC in Winter
Guide to Common Reed (Phragmites)
Guide to Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orientalis)
Guide to Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
Guide to Euonymus
Guide to English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Guide to Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Look for Lichens

Clockwise from top left: British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia cristatella), Common Greenshield Lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata), Cobblestone Lichen (Acarospora sp.), Bare-bottom Sunburst Lichen (Xanthomendoza weberi).

Lichens are unique organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides a structure and protection, while its partner contributes energy through photosynthesis. Formerly scarce in NYC due to air pollution, improvements over the last 50 years have spurred a resurgence of lichens in the city. On iNaturalist there are over 2000 research grade observations of 88 species of lichen in NYC, and thousands more not fully identified. Learn more about the lichens of New York City and help contribute to our knowledge on urban lichens!

Pursue Parthenocissus

Clockwise from top left: Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper); P. tricuspidata (Japanese Ivy); tendrils with adhesive pads found in Virginia Creeper and Japanese Ivy; P. inserta (Thicket Creeper).

Parthenocissus is a genus of tendrillate vines in the grape family, with three species found in New York City. Among them are the native, five-leaved Virginia Creeper (P. quinquefolia) and the introduced, trifoliate Japanese Ivy or Boston Ivy (P. tricuspidata), both capable of climbing smooth surfaces thanks to adhesive pads on their tendrils. The third species, Thicket Creeper (P. inserta), is less commonly observed, possibly due to misidentification as P. quinquefolia. Can you spot all three species this month?

Great Tree Search

For the first time since 1985, the Great Tree Search has been launched by NYC Parks to designate a set of Great Trees across the city. Anyone can nominate a tree based on its historical, cultural, or botanical significance. To celebrate this initiative, this month's EcoQuest is highlighting rare or threatened tree species that qualify as “botanically significant”, such as Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Butternut (Juglans cinerea) (pictured above), and the critically endangered American Chestnut (Castanea dentata). Check out the project page on iNaturalist to learn more about NYC's rare tree species, and remember to submit your nominations for the Great Tree Search!

For more information about the Great Tree Search and to nominate a tree, click HERE

Goldenrods and Galls

The yellow blooms of Goldenrod are a familiar sight to many New Yorkers this time of year. However, there is more to these autumn beauties than meets the eye. Goldenrods (Solidago and Euthamia spp.) are host to a wide variety of gall-forming insects, who create homes for their offspring by inducing abnormal growth in the tissues of plants. This month we are asking participants to document Goldenrod species as well as to look carefully to find and to photograph any galls they might be hosting.

For resources and a guide to Goldenrod Galls in the Northeast, please refer to this wonderful post made by user @ddennism :

Goldenrod Galls

Plants Can Help Make the NY–NJ Harbor Estuary Fishable and Swimmable!

Robert Pirani, Program Director, New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program at the Hudson River Foundation

Tuesday, September 26, 5:00PM EST

REGISTER HERE

The New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary is the largest public resource in the nation’s greatest city. Conservation and management of its flora can help make its waters fishable and swimmable, and help ensure that the estuary’s many benefits are available to people throughout the region. Rob Pirani, Program Director of the New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program at the Hudson River Foundation, will talk about some of the opportunities and challenges.

Robert Pirani is the program director for the New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program at the Hudson River Foundation. HEP is a collaboration of government, scientists and the civic sector that helps protect, restore, and provide access to the Hudson River Estuary. It is one of 28 such programs around the country authorized under the Clean Water Act.

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