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observation/species-celastrus-orbiculatus-was-found-cea-2011-10-17 CEA Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus I think I found it Invasive sites/default/files/cea/pa170017.jpg sites/default/files/cea/area_photo_1.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/208.jpg sites/default/files/cea/berries_number_3.jpg The Vital Signs ID card states that Oriental Bittersweet has berries, which consist of 4 sections, and a yellow shell. The berries that we found had 4 sections, and a yellow shell. This evidence proves to us even more that we found Oriental Bittersweet. sites/default/files/cea/leaf_number_1.jpg The leaves we found on what we think is Oriental Bittersweet match up to the real thing. The leaves alternate, they are simple, the shape of it is oval, and the edges are toothed. They also have a glossy tint to it. From 5-13 cm long. sites/default/files/cea/pa180062.jpg We had Oriental Bittersweet in trailing shrub form, but we notice that the fence near our plant had the same plant growing up the side. The coiling technique is the same technique Oriental Bittersweet uses to wrap around trees and such (according to the Vital Signs ID Card). We can also tell the wood is a similar woody color suggested by Vital Signs for older Oriental Bittersweet plants. There were speckled bumps that are white growing on the brown/grey bark. We found our plant on a fall day. It was a little cold but otherwise comfortable.There was a crisp smell to the air, that of fresh air. It was cloudy with sun shining through the second day, but the first day was a little darker and was not very good for taking pictures. We placed our quadrant near the overgrown patch that turns into woods on our school grounds (Cape Elizabeth Middle School). We placed it on a plant that was growing through the rocks which were placed there. Our group worked well together.
observation/species-berberis-thunbergii-was-not-found-team-awesome1-2011-10-17 TEAM AWESOME1 Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/team_awesome1/screen_shot_2011-11-02_at_11.04.09_am.png sites/default/files/team_awesome1/screen_shot_2011-11-02_at_10.59.50_am.png Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/202.jpg sites/default/files/team_awesome1/screen_shot_2011-11-02_at_10.58.06_am.png The first thing that I found that was not the same as the Japanese Barberry was that the leaves are different. The plant picture has leaves in an opposite arrangement, a compound-pinnate leaf type, an oval shape leaf, and the leaf edges are toothed. According to the Vital Signs ID sheet the Japanese Barberry has alternate leaf arrangement, it has a simple leaf type, an oval shape leaf, and it has smooth edges. That's why it is not the Japanese Barberry. sites/default/files/team_awesome1/screen_shot_2011-10-20_at_11.19.51_am.png Both Japanese Barberry and the plant that I found have thorns. The plant that I found has kind of a small thorn and it curves. It looks like a tooth. The thorn on the Japanese Barberry (according to the Vital Signs ID sheet) are much longer and they don’t look as strong. They are very skinny and it points straight out. Also the Japanese Barberry has one at every joint, but the plant I found has them placed everywhere. sites/default/files/team_awesome1/screen_shot_2011-11-02_at_10.59.50_am_0.png The Japanese Barberry has beautiful, purplish- red leaves on it, which start to turn colors around September. The plant we found didn’t have any purple-red leaves and it didn’t seem like it would change colors any anytime soon. This clue to the plant not being the Japanese Barberry was the largest. You would notice the distinctive colored leaves on it the very first time you glance at it, but this plant was just was a ordinary green. The neck of the wood we were searching was quite thin and you could make out houses in the back. It was a mid morning in October, and I could hear birds who were out on this beautiful clear day which had just a touch of a breeze. It was a bit chilly, but not that bad. The place we were looking had a slight incline and was on a dirt path. To the left was a large softball field. It was a beautiful day to look though the woods.
observation/species-vaccinium-angustifolium-was-not-found-berry-blue-jammerzzzzzzzz-2011-10-17 The Berry Blue jammerzzzzzzzz Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium I think I did not find it Native sites/default/files/the_berry_blue_jammerzzzzzzzz/better_photo_1.jpg sites/default/files/the_berry_blue_jammerzzzzzzzz/better_photo_4.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/726.jpg sites/default/files/the_berry_blue_jammerzzzzzzzz/better_photo_2_0.jpg This is a picture of the leaves of the plant we found. You can see that the leaves are palmate shaped. The Lowbush Blueberry has oval shaped leaves. The plant we found was not a Lowbush Blueberry. sites/default/files/the_berry_blue_jammerzzzzzzzz/better_photo_4_1.jpg The Lowbush Blueberry only grows in dry areas and the area that we found our plant in was not a dry area. The plant we found in our quadrant was in a marshy area. sites/default/files/the_berry_blue_jammerzzzzzzzz/better_photo_3.jpg This picture shows the stem of the plant we found. It shows that the leaves do not alternate on the stem. On the Species Identification Card, it says that the leaves on the Lowbush Blueberry alternate on the stem. This proves that the plant we found is not the Lowbush Blueberry. It was about the middle of autumn when our group started our search. We were in a fenced off, marshy area. The area was full of tall grass that looks like it's never been cut, and toward the deepest part is a small patch of cattails. We took our quadrant, and entered the damp area. That day was slightly gray, and dull. It smelled like it was going to rain along with the smell of damp grass and mud. A chilling wind was blowing, and we could hear our classmates debating where they should set their square meter to look for their plant. It was fun to get out of the classroom and search for Lowbush Blueberry.
observation/species-lythrum-salicaria-was-not-found-bhas-2011-10-17 BHAS Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/bhas/img_0169.jpg sites/default/files/bhas/img_0163.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/015.jpg sites/default/files/bhas/img_0168.jpg The photo shows the stem of the plant is red, and round. According to the species identification sheet Purple Loosestrife has a squared and green stem. The stem on Purple Loosestrife is covered with hairs. Our plant was not covered with hairs. sites/default/files/bhas/img_0209.jpg We also believe that we did not find Purple Loosestrife because the leaves on the plant we found were only 0-4 inches. On Purple Loosestrife they are 6-10 inches. The leaves are supposed to be smooth on Purple Loosestrife, but on our plant they are serrated. sites/default/files/bhas/img_0163_0.jpg Purple Loosestrife has purple peddles and on the plant we found it had no purple Flowers at all. Purple Loosestrife grows up to 2 meters tall, and ours was know where near that height. On October 17-18 my classmates and I went outside and researched an overgrown wetland area in a coastal town with invasive and native plants. It was a cold fall morning, around 11:00 A.M and about 50 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind blowing on our backs. We could hear the wind blowing around, and through the trees and plants. We could smell the over grown grass, and the mud that was surrounding our plant. We could see the over grown plants and trees all around us. My group and I planned to research and look for Purple Loosestrife. Purple Loosestrife is a very common invasive specie to Maine, that grows in wetlands and developed areas. Purple Loosestrife has purple flowers and is very easy to depict from other plants. Our qua drat was placed around a bush on the side of a developed area
observation/species-fallopia-japonica-was-not-found-japonica-2011-10-17 Japonica Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/japonica/j_knot_scienceimg_0229.jpg sites/default/files/japonica/img_0223.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/210.jpg sites/default/files/japonica/img_0224.jpg The Japanese Knotweed’s Species I.D card said that during September and October there should be white flowers on the plant. On the plant pictured above there are no flowers. When not seeing any signs of flowers, we knew that it was not our plant. This time of year there should be flowers in finger shaped bunches. This is not a Japanese Knotweed because there are no flowers. sites/default/files/japonica/img_0227.jpg On the Japanese Knotweed, the Species I.D sheet listed the leaf arrangement was alternate. The I.D Card also mentioned the leaves of a Japanese Knotweed being about eighteen centimeters long and about twelve centimeters wide. The bush in the field had leaves about one-third of that size, according to the picture shown above, so the leaves were a lot smaller than a Japanese Knotweed. This is a reason why this plant was not a Japanese Knotweed. sites/default/files/japonica/j_knot_sciencemg_0232.jpg Another key component to finding out that this was not our plant was the measurements. The Species I.D card stated that the Japanese Knotweed is three meters tall. The plant our group found was about one and half meters tall. Seeing that, we thought maybe it was a smaller version of the Japanese Knotweed. But from the other pieces of evidence we saw that there could not be a chance of it being Japanese Knotweed. The day was an average fall morning, with a light wind blowing around. The air was slightly chilled and moist. Long grass around the area was mostly dead and dry. It was a developed area, so there were many different types of plants everywhere. In the middle of the field, there were lots of tall cattails in a fairly large group. The sky was a gray-white, and there wasn’t a lot of sun. A lawnmower was buzzing in a close-by neighborhood. There were other classmates talking from several different directions. The smell of the plants around were fresh, but the dying of trees and other living things were also in the air.
observation/species-daucus-carota-was-found-adventurers-2011-10-17 The Adventurers Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Wild carrot Daucus carota I think I found it Native sites/default/files/the_adventurers/img_0185.jpg sites/default/files/the_adventurers/ssp.png Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/738.jpg sites/default/files/the_adventurers/img_0193.jpg On the identification card, Queen Anne’s Lace in the fall and winter is described as being like a bird’s nest. In this picture, from the top and the side, it is clear that the bloom has the same general shape and color as a bird’s nest. sites/default/files/the_adventurers/img_0199.jpg The stem of our plant was long, skinny, and brown. The picture in the “seasonal change” section of the I.D card confirms this is true. sites/default/files/the_adventurers/img_0198.jpg Queen Anne’s Lace can grow up to around 1 meter tall and In this picture, the tallest bloom is about 5-6 centimeters taller than the meter stick. When we went on the mission, it was October meaning it was very cold. So cold, in fact, we could see our breath. Though it was really cold, the sun was shining brightly. Most of the plants were dormant, meaning they were brown, crunchy and their leaves had fallen off. This made it harder to identify things because most of the photos and information on the ID card were ones of the plant in the spring or summer, and there was a lot of information about the leaves. Leaf info was useless because all the leaves were dead and had fallen off. There was however, a photo of what Queen Anne’s Lace looked like in the fall, so that’s what we went by. In the area we were in, there was Queen Anne’s Lace everywhere. We randomly placed our meter stick box, and inside it was lots Queen Anne’s Lace. Though we did expect to find it, because it is common in Cape Elizabeth, we didn’t expect so much of it.
observation/species-berberis-thunbergii-was-not-found-thesourpatch-trio-2011-10-17 TheSourPatch TRIO Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/thesourpatch_trio/screen_shot_2011-10-27_at_8.23.40_am.png sites/default/files/thesourpatch_trio/study_method_photo.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/202.jpg sites/default/files/thesourpatch_trio/leaf_type.jpg The leaf on the plant we found was compound pinnate, but species identification card said that the leaf on the Japanese Barberry should be simple, therefore, this is not the Japanese Barberry. sites/default/files/thesourpatch_trio/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_8.33.06_am.png The species identification card said that a leaf on a Japanese Barberry should have a smooth edge, and on the plant we found, the edge was toothed. sites/default/files/thesourpatch_trio/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_8.34.20_am.png The species identification card said that the Japanese Barberry has thorns at each joint. The plant that we found does not have any thorns. This shows that we did not find the Japanese Barberry. We did our field observations in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It was October 18, 2011. It was fall and most of the foliage had turned from a bright, healthy green to the red, orange, and yellow that is common in the fall. It was a bright sunny day and we heard, rustling leaves in trees and saw cattails and other plants. We could feel the cold air rushing past us and it felt as though the ground could be frozen-over but, to our surprise, the grass was green and lush. We were surprised that finding our plant wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be.
observation/species-acer-rubrum-was-not-found-magambas-2011-10-17 The Magambas Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Red maple Acer rubrum I think I did not find it Native sites/default/files/the_magambas/scan0004_0.jpg sites/default/files/the_magambas/tree_photo_0.png Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/704.jpg sites/default/files/the_magambas/leaf_pic._0.jpg The leaves on the tree are symmetrical, and the same length as the Red Maple’s leaves (6-11cm), the tree’s leaves had five lobes, whereas the red maple’s leaves only have three. The tree’s leaves were not toothed, however on the Red Maple’s ID card it said the Red Maple’s leaves were toothed. This shows that the tree we have located is NOT the Red Maple. sites/default/files/the_magambas/scan0002.jpg The branches and twigs on the tree were also different from the Red Maple’s. This tree’s bark is light brown and smooth, as opposed to the rough gray bark we wanted to find. This proves it is not a Red Maple. sites/default/files/the_magambas/photo_on_2011-11-02_at_08.49.jpg The leaves on the tree were all turning from green to brown, and then falling off the tree. Red Maple leaves turn varying shades of red before they fall off of the tree. They are also covered in small white hairs on the back. The leaves we are looking at are smooth and slightly shiny on the back. Our group was in a developed area, close by a collection of sports fields. Next to us, there was a undersized pond. Behind us was a small enclosed marsh like area, free to grow without disturbance. Between the thin layer of forest we were searching by, we could see a cluster of houses. From one of those houses, we could hear a very loud lawn mower, and from that, we could smell gas. We could hear the rustling of leaves in the trees, and the chatter of people talking. Our group was quite surprised that we could not find the Red Maple. We did run into one problem in our studies. It was late October, and very cold outside, so the leaves were starting to turn brown, and fall off the trees. This made it hard to find a good leaf to study, and hard to distinguish what tree they belonged to.
observation/species-celastrus-orbiculatus-was-not-found-tropical-pandas-2011-10-17 Tropical Pandas Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/tropical_pandas/pa180137.jpg sites/default/files/tropical_pandas/pa180138.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/208.jpg sites/default/files/tropical_pandas/pa180140.jpg The plant we found was not our plant because it did not have the yellowish-red berries that Celastrus Orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet) has. This time of year, the berries would have been a brownish-green according to our species ID card. The plant we found didn’t have anything on it’s stem except for thorns. Oriental Bittersweet does not have thorns either. sites/default/files/tropical_pandas/screen_shot_2011-11-02_at_11.14.43_am.png According to Vital Signs, an Oriental Bittersweet’s stem is smooth and green when young, and gray and bumpy when old. In the picture, it is easy to see that this plant’s stem is a dark red. It also was not a vine, which it would’ve been if it was our species. sites/default/files/tropical_pandas/screen_shot_2011-11-02_at_11.15.45_am.png The Species ID card shows a picture of a viny plant that grew off the trees. As you can see, this non-bittersweet species is a ground plant. This is definitely not our species because it is it’s own plant, not reliant on the tree for support. The day was a sunny, cool day. The breeze was light, I could smell oak leaves, and hear the breeze rustle against the leaves. It was mid October, and a little damp. It was early morning about 10, with a chilly breeze coming by. The sky was cloudless with no chance of rain. Our quadrat was located near the borders of a small forest. The second day out, it was cloudier but about the same temperature. There was less of a breeze too. Behind us was an overgrown field and a soccer field.
observation/species-euonymus-alatus-was-not-found-team-nbc-2011-10-17 TEAM NBC Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Burning bush Euonymus alatus I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/team_nbc/img_0159.jpg sites/default/files/team_nbc/img_0157.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/220.jpg sites/default/files/team_nbc/img_0206.jpg If you look at this leaf’s sides, they are not smooth like the Burning Bush, but sharp and ragged. The leaf from bottom to tip is 5 1/2 centimeters long, when a Burning Bush's is right around 4 inches. The leaves veins are red but the rest of the leaf is dark green. The shape of Burning Bush leaves are almost oval and are totally red most of the year; especially in fall. They also have little puny teeth along the edges. sites/default/files/team_nbc/img_0168_0.jpg This picture is of the stem of the plant inside our quadrant. The stem of the bush is red like the Burning Bush, but this plants trails off to green when it gets to the leaf. On the Burning Bush, the leaves stay red all the way through. sites/default/files/team_nbc/img_0169.jpg On the left side of this picture, you can see part of our yard sticks that marked out our quadrant. And in the quadrant there is the plant that we were looking at. The plant is around 2 feet tall but is in the beginning stages of its life. Normally the Burning Bush is around 6 feet tall and is totally red during the fall, unlike the plant we found. The area to the left was very marshy and had standing water; the burning bush is a dry land species. That morning it was chilly and the morning dew covered most of the ground. The air was very thick and foggy. Those early mornings on Monday October 17, 2011, and Tuesday October 18, 2011 we went out and did research looking for the invasive plant, Burning Bush. Around us we heard other groups searching for their plants and the low buzz of a lawn mower in the fields across from us. We thought that we could find the Burning Bush, but we did not find it. Although, we did find a type of maple tree.
observation/species-euonymus-alatus-was-not-found-captain-crunch-cereal-killers-2011-10-17 Captain Crunch & the Cereal Killers Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Burning bush Euonymus alatus I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/captain_crunch_amp_the_cereal_killers/img_0396.jpg sites/default/files/captain_crunch_amp_the_cereal_killers/img_0396_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/220.jpg sites/default/files/captain_crunch_amp_the_cereal_killers/leaf_0.jpg The Vital Signs species I.D. sheet informs us that the Burning Bush has bright red leaves in the fall. The plant we found was of a green color with brown speckles. sites/default/files/captain_crunch_amp_the_cereal_killers/img_0391_0.jpg The plant we found had stems with reddish brown thorns going all the way to the top. Burning Bush’s stems usually have 2-4 broad, corky wings, according to the Vital Signs I.D. sheet. It does not have thorns, like this plant. As you can see from the picture, the stem of this unknown plant is a maroon color with a little bit of green at the bottom. From the information we collected from the Vital Signs I.D. sheet, the Burning Bush has stems of a grayish brown color. The stems of the Burning Bush and this unknown plant are very different in color and texture. sites/default/files/captain_crunch_amp_the_cereal_killers/img_0395_0.jpg The height of an average Burning Bush plant is 8.5 feet, according to the Vital Signs species I.D. sheet. The plant we found was only 2 feet 4 inches tall. We did our research on Monday October 17, and Tuesday October 18. Both days were sunny, but rather cold. Our quadrant was in a gated area of field. We had a lot of brush, dead leaves, and long grass to work around while we were searching. We were working in an area with multiple other children, so it wasn’t necessarily quiet. While we were out we heard mainly the wind and other voices. We also smelled wet grass.
observation/species-daucus-carota-was-found-krazy-karrots-2011-10-17 Krazy Karrots Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Wild carrot Daucus carota I think I found it Native sites/default/files/krazy_karrots/study_site_photo.jpg sites/default/files/krazy_karrots/sampling_method_photo_1.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/738.jpg sites/default/files/krazy_karrots/reletive_size_photo_1.jpg Supporting evidence for Flower. The flowers of the queen anne’s lace are white, round and dome shaped in summer. In fall, they change a lot. they become brown and more concave. they also have a lot of fuzzy seeds in the middle which matches what we saw in the plants we found. sites/default/files/krazy_karrots/stem_photo.jpg Supporting evidence for stem. The stem of the wild carrot is round and hollow. In summer it is green and  is covered in bristly hairs. In fall, the stems are dry and brown. The ones we saw were dry and brown and they also were hollow. Also, the stems were branched at the base which is a characteristic of the wild carrot. Also, it says that the stem can grow up to 3 feet tall. The plant we found was about 2.5 ft tall. sites/default/files/krazy_karrots/seed_photo_1.2.png Supporting evidence for seed. The seeds of the wild carrot are small and brown. In the species I.D. card it told us that one flower can produce thousands of seeds. In the flowers we saw there were a lot of seeds and they fit the description. This shows us that we did find the wild carrot flower. Today is a cold, windy October day and it’s around 10 am. The sky is clear and blue and the sun is shining. Its dry out and it smells fresh, like fall. Now, in mid-October, the summer plants are browning and dying. We are in a small ditch like area with steep sides and a small marshy area covering the bottom. In the middle of the ditch are a lot of tall marshy plants and there are bushes and patches of tall grass and flowers covering the steep sides. From here, we can see sports fields and trees beyond that. In the sky we see birds. We can hear the cars from the road, the wind, and leaves rustling. We were surprised to see that there were Queen Anne’s Lace flowers all over the side of the hill but none in the middle. After some discussion, we concluded that the Queen Anne’s Lace flowers couldn’t handle the marsh-like conditions at the bottom of the ditch.
observation/species-berberis-thunbergii-was-not-found-barberry-bros-2011-10-17 Barberry Bros Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/barberry_bros/close_up_site_photo.jpg sites/default/files/barberry_bros/img_0153.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/202.jpg sites/default/files/barberry_bros/img_0297.jpg The leaves on our plant are simple and toothed. They are about 2.5 inches long, and are also green and frail. This differs from the Barberry because with the Barberry we saw a more oval shaped smooth leaf that was not toothed and frail. sites/default/files/barberry_bros/img_0295.jpg These are the maroon, brownish berries that consumed the large bush in the field. The berries we saw looked almost dried out, and colorless. We could tell this corresponded with the time of year, keeping in mind when we found our evidence, it was quite cold out, and there was frost on the ground. The berries of the actual Barberry are more tubular and brighter in this time of year. The Barberry berries appear more colorful in the spring and summer time. Unlike our plant. sites/default/files/barberry_bros/img_0296.jpg In the picture of the Japanese Barberry the I.D. card gave, the  thorns are long, slender and occur at every joint in the branch. Our plant has thorns that are fatter and occur in pairs. Unlike the Barberry that has thorns that occur with a leave. For a project in science class we went out on our schools campus to try and find invasive plants so scientists can gauge the amount of invasive plants in Maine. We were looking for the Japanese Barberry which is one of the most invasive plants in Maine. Our study spot was on a path near Cape Elizabeth Middle School. Our plant was in a very overgrown area on the side of the path. This seemed like prime Barberry living area with many other thorny, plants, and lots of tangled bushes. We knew what to look for. A large bush containing reddish berries, consumed in rounded leaves. We had had a picture of this species with us, and when compared to what lay in front of us, I think we saw more than a simple connection. It was October 17th, about 10:00 in the morning, there was frost on the ground, and leaves where spinning in different directions it seemed as if a tornado was brewing. The tree we saw in front of us had red berries, light red, we could tell that these would get darker as the season past on. Another thing that we were looking for was rounded leaves, here however, we ran into problems. As we started looking more closely, we realized that we had no reason to be celebrating. The leaves were spiked, and looked considerably larger than the rounded leaves in the pictures. Also, there were small pointy thorns on each of the stems of the plants. We knew this was not something usually found on Japanese Barberries.
observation/species-rosa-multiflora-was-found-invasive-investigators-2011-10-17 The Invasive Investigators Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora I think I found it Invasive sites/default/files/the_invasive_investigators/img_0222.jpg sites/default/files/the_invasive_investigators/img_0222_4.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/201.jpg sites/default/files/the_invasive_investigators/img_0307_1.jpg The picture of the plant shows identical berries to the berries described on our plant's identification card. The card showed small red berries, and our plant had the same small, round, and very red berries. The berries in our image are the same size, shape and color. sites/default/files/the_invasive_investigators/img_0227_1.jpg The I.D. Card showed small, brown, thorns on the stem of the Multiflora Rose. The plant pictured above shows that each stem has a couple of small, brown, thorns like the Multiflora Rose I.D. card. The photo has the same thorns as the Species I.D. card. sites/default/files/the_invasive_investigators/img_0237_0.jpg The I.D. Card for Multiflora Rose showed toothed, oval, compound-pinnate leaves, and they looked exactly like the leaves in our photo. The leaves in the photo are also the same color green as the leaves shown in the Species I.D. card. Based on this comparison, our plant is Multiflora Rose. It is a chilly, October day. The sun is very bright, but the heat is offset by the huge gusts of wind. You can hear the wind in the tall cattail grass. I can also hear a few kids talking, and the occasional bird chirping. The grass was slightly wet with dew, because it is still fairly early in the morning. The fenced off area we are contained to has wild green and yellow plants, but I am surprised to find a burst of colorful berries.We are examining a small 3x3 foot area, right near the edge of the fenced off area.
observation/species-lythrum-salicaria-was-not-found-purple-plant-people-2011-10-17 Purple Plant People Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/purple_plant_people/img_0310.jpg sites/default/files/purple_plant_people/img_0311_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/015.jpg sites/default/files/purple_plant_people/img_0323.jpg In this photo, the plant we were comparing Purple Loosestrife to is shown. We did not find Purple Loosestrife because the plant that we compared it to had a circular stem. According to the Vital Signs species identification card for Purple Loosestrife, Purple Loosestrife has a squared stem unlike the plant we were comparing it to. sites/default/files/purple_plant_people/img_0327.png Shown in this photo is the plant we were comparing Purple Loosestrife to. We did not find Purple Loosestrife, which, according to the Vital Signs species identification card, has a opposite whorled leaf arrangement, and the plant that we were comparing it to had an alternate leaf arrangement. sites/default/files/purple_plant_people/img_0330.jpg This is a photo of the leaf on the plant we were comparing to Purple Loosestrife. We did not find Purple Loosestrife because, as the Vital Signs species identification card says, it’s leaves have smooth edges and the leaves of the plant that we were comparing it to had toothed edges. Our group walked down near a field behind Cape Elizabeth Middle School. The first day we went out into the field, it was cold and very windy. The second day was a bit warmer and a lot less windy. We were looking for Purple Loosestrife, so we decided to randomly drop our quadrat in a developed area close to a small marsh, because we knew that Purple Loosestrife can flourish in that habitat. Dropping our quadrat was not easy because it kept getting caught and tangled in branches and stems. There was a thin gravel path in front of our quadrat and a few houses roughly thirty yards behind it. We could see plants, houses, people and trees, could hear wind and voices, and could smell the plants surrounding us. It was hard to count the number of species in our quadrat, but we determined there were five different kinds of plant species, and the species did not consist of Purple Loosestrife. We were surprised that we did not see it because our quadrat was placed in an area that it would usually grow.
observation/species-asclepias-syriaca-was-found-milkweed-hunters-2011-10-17 The Milkweed Hunters Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Milkweed Asclepias syriaca I think I found it Native sites/default/files/the_milkweed_hunters/screen_shot_2011-10-20_at_11.14.00_am.png sites/default/files/the_milkweed_hunters/img_0246.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/729.jpg sites/default/files/the_milkweed_hunters/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_10.54.32_am.png (Left) One of the biggest clues that our plant matched a milkweed plant were the pods attached to the plant. The pods matched the description on the plant ID card because it said the pods are supposed to be between 6-14 cm longs, and the pods we measured were 13 cm. There were warty, small hairs covering the outer casing of the pod making it a match to the pictures and evidence we saw online of the common milkweed plant pods. The outside of the pods also showed left over white sap which milkweed pods care supposed to contain. This evidence helped us to know that our plant was indeed a real milkweed plant. (Right) During the late summer/fall season the milkweed plant should have pods, as we read and saw online. The inside of the milkweed pod should have white tiny threads connected by small, flat, oval shaped brow seeds, and our Milkweed plant had the white threads with brown seeds inside of its pod. sites/default/files/the_milkweed_hunters/screen_shot_2011-10-20_at_11.14.33_am.png This photo is evidence that this plant is milkweed because of the leaves. According to the plant ID card for milkweed, the leaves are smooth, pale green, and between 7 and 25 cm long. The leaf from our plant measured 15 cm long, had a smooth texture, and pale green color, matching the ID card. The bottom of the leaves felt soft and velvety, which are characteristics from a milkweed plant that we found online. sites/default/files/the_milkweed_hunters/img_0179.jpg We found evidence from our stem that proves this plant is milkweed. The thickness and color of the stem is evidence to prove this plant is milkweed based on online resources. The stem of our plant did not have any branches meaning the leaves grow right out of the stem, which matched it to the milkweed plant ID card. This picture of our Milkweed plant(above) shows where the leaves connect to the stem. Our picture shows how the stem is thick, light green, and has brown speckles when looking close up, and those are more characteristics that our Milkweed plant and research online shared. Our stem evidence matches up to the characteristics we read online and read on the milkweed ID card. My team and I went out to the field at around 11 am. It was a windy fall day, October 17-18, and the sun was shining. The field we went to was an un-cut fenced in area near our soccer fields and basketball courts. The first day we went out, the plants had no reaction to the weather except for them not being in bloom because of the time of year. The second day there was more of a chill so the leaves turned in a bit making it harder for pictures, and getting evidence. There were smells of burning fire wood in the air, and the musky dirt smell was in our senses. This particular field was made up of small bushes, big bushes, a patch of tall cat tails, and other invasive/ native plants. There was different shades of green everywhere in the field, and browns on top of light tans. The trees leaves were colored with vibrant yellows, oranges, and red because of the becoming fall season.
observation/species-lythrum-salicaria-was-not-found-team-dragon-2011-10-17 TEAM DRAGON Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/team_dragon/img_0034.jpg sites/default/files/team_dragon/img_0034_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/015.jpg sites/default/files/team_dragon/supporting_evidence_1_0.png The flower of the plant in this photo is more widely spread, but on the Purple Loosestrife it is narrow and more tightly packed. On Purple Loosestrife, the flower is a brilliant purple. The petals and flower on the plant shown above are a dark, purple, brownish, orange-like color, and the petals and flower of the Purple Loosestrife are a bright violet. sites/default/files/team_dragon/edited_supporting_evidence_2.png The leaf edge on Purple Loosestrife is smooth. The leaf pictured has a serrated edge. The leaves of the Purple Loosestrife can be 4 inches in length. This leaf is about 1 1/2 inches in length. sites/default/files/team_dragon/supporting_evidence_3_0.png Purple Loosestrife can be seen from very far away, not only because of it’s brilliant purple color, but because of its height. The average height of a Purple Loosestrife can be from 1 1/2 meters to 2 meters tall. The plant is barely 80 cm tall. The surrounding area was filled with overgrown grass, some untouched plant growth, and a soccer field. I could hear the distant sound of a truck backing up, the ferocious breeze whistling past my ear and the smell of the freshly cut grass on the close-by soccer field. It is late October and it is about 50 degrees outside where we are. It is midday and cloudy outside near the area we are by (Cape Elizabeth, ME).
observation/species-lythrum-salicaria-was-not-found-purple-penguins-2011-10-17 The Purple Penguins Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/the_purple_penguins/pa180071_0.jpg sites/default/files/the_purple_penguins/pa180067.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/015.jpg sites/default/files/the_purple_penguins/pa180073.jpg This plant is not the purple loosestrife because on the purple loosestrife the stem is square, and is covered with fine hairs. However, on the plant we found, the stem is round, and has no hairs. sites/default/files/the_purple_penguins/pa190080.jpg This plant is not the purple loosestrife because it is not 39 to 72 inches tall, like the purple loosestrife, and is actually about 20 and a half inches tall. sites/default/files/the_purple_penguins/screen_shot_2011-11-01_at_1.00.47_pm.png This plant is not the purple loosestrife because the leaf arrangement is compound-palmate, and the purple loosestrife’s leaf arrangement is whorled. It’s a windy, fall day, and the air is crisp. I can feel the chill in the air that signals winter’s getting closer, which means that many plants will be dying soon. Many of the plants are flowerless, and are just green with no bright colors. Sounds of fellow classmates playing ultimate Frisbee carry into the cloudy sky, and a plane flying through the cool air. The smell of fall and fresh air wafts into my nose, the signature smell of October, which is right in the middle of autumn. I see trees with golden, red, and orange leaves, some of which are falling gently to the ground, carried by a gentle wind. Inside of the gated area in which we are searching for purple loosestrife is a large group of cattails, and surrounding them are various plants, but none with purple flowers. We are a bit surprised that we don’t see any purple flowers, or really flowers of any color, because on the species identification card it says that from July to September the purple flowers are out. We thought that there would be at least a few flowers left, but there is no splash of purple on any of the plants. A problem we ran into is that we didn’t see any purple flowers, and we don’t know what the purple loosestrife looks like when it’s not flowering. Also, the habitat is not mentioned on the species identification card.
observation/species-alliara-petiolata-was-not-found-team-generation-zero-2011-10-17 Team Generation Zero Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Garlic mustard Alliara petiolata I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/team_generation_zero/img_0223.jpg sites/default/files/team_generation_zero/img_0223_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/212.jpg sites/default/files/team_generation_zero/img_0216_1.jpg Garlic mustard normally grows in clusters. Our plant just grew by itself. It also is very close to the ground, unlike normal garlic mustard. sites/default/files/team_generation_zero/img_0220_0.jpg Garlic mustard always has about two leaves growing on a stem. Our plant only had one, and there as no sign that it had been removed. This picture shows that there are no same species plants close to it. sites/default/files/team_generation_zero/img_0218_0.jpg Garlic mustard has toothed edged leaves. Our plant had wavy edged leaves. The rosette on all garlic mustard plants was not on this plant, that was the big thing that told us that this was not the plat we were looking for. It was a fresh October day. The wind was jostling through the trees and into the fields. We could smell the grass, and the swampy water in the marsh. It was about 55°F outside, and many people were chilled.
observation/species-lythrum-salicaria-was-not-found-purple-loosestrife-xpress-2011-10-17 Purple loosestrife Xpress Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/purple_loosestrife_xpress/img_0260.jpg sites/default/files/purple_loosestrife_xpress/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_8.18.11_am_0.png Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/015.jpg sites/default/files/purple_loosestrife_xpress/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_4.07.30_pm.png Purple Loosestrife has sharp 5-7 petal flowers that run all around the stem of the plant. They also, grow right on the stem vertically ascending in the air. This plant in the picture has blossoming flowers, that do not become flowers with petals. These buds grow horizontal and diagonal. The evidence shows these plants are different. sites/default/files/purple_loosestrife_xpress/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_4.08.18_pm.png The height on the ID card was 40 to 80 inches. Purple Loosetrife grows straight, vertically toward the sky. Purple Loosestrife stays put on the stem. The mystery plant we found was only 20 inches when it was measured. While growing, it would shift toward different sides. It would branch off. sites/default/files/purple_loosestrife_xpress/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_4.09.21_pm.png The evidence shows that this is not Purple Loosestrife because these leaves don’t match the type of leaves that where shown on the ID card. Purple Loosestrife's are more long and skinny. They are “lance-shaped” and 6-10 cm long. The plant in our quadrant leaves were short and thick, and these are much more serrated then the Loosestrife’s. Also fine hair’s line the stem and ridge of the leaves here, but no such characteristics are one of the purple loosestrife. The cold October wind blows. The wet grass makes everything damp. On the hill is a plant, which does not seem to be an invasive purple loosestrife. Swampy area surrounds the field. The other kids doing research are communicating nearby, while an airplane flies above. It’s clear that fall is officially here because every time the wind blows hundreds of leaves flutter in the sky then fall to their new home on the ground. While walking you can hear the crisp crunch of the brown leaves breaking. My hands shake while I write on the paper. It’s very cold out; winter is coming. Surprisingly it was more difficult then we assumed to identify if it was Purple Loosestrife. Without color it isn’t as easy to identify because the characteristics are different then what was written on the ID card. Colors (like purple) that are especially clear in the Purple Loosestrife are no longer here for our research.
observation/species-asclepias-syriaca-was-found-jcr4-2011-10-17 JCR4 Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Milkweed Asclepias syriaca I think I found it Native sites/default/files/jcr4/img_0371.jpg sites/default/files/jcr4/img_0371_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/729.jpg sites/default/files/jcr4/mail.jpeg In late summer and fall, milkweed plants have long pointed seedpods that are covered in spikes and hairs. They are about 3-5 inches long. The plant observed had pods that perfectly matched that description. sites/default/files/jcr4/img_0369.jpg The leaves on the plant that was observed were blade shaped, with smooth edges all around it. They were all in the range of 5-7 inches, and were placed on the stem in an opposite fashion. There is one main red vein down the middle of each leaf, and little white vessels heading out to the edges of the leaves. All of these characteristics are listed on the species identification card for milkweed. sites/default/files/jcr4/img_0376.jpg The stem is the base of the plant. It is light green and 1 cm thick. It has no branches only leaves coming off of it. All of these aspects of the stem are the same as those of a milkweed stem. It was a beautiful autumn day in Maine. The sun was shining down from the bright blue sky and the clouds were scarce. There was a cool breeze blowing across the field, and with it came the scent of the fresh crisp air. The sounds of the other groups echoed across the field and were joined by the crunch of footsteps along the grassy, leaf covered ground. The ground was wet and muddy because of the rain a few days back.
observation/species-daucus-carota-was-found-wild-wizards-2011-10-17 Wild Wizards Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Wild carrot Daucus carota I think I found it Native sites/default/files/wild_wizards/hguraga.jpg sites/default/files/wild_wizards/hguraga_1.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/738.jpg sites/default/files/wild_wizards/mail_0.jpeg This is wild carrot because on the top of the stem lays a white flower as shown on the identification sheet. The flowers pictured are in clusters on the stem and inside each cluster there are many bundles of flowers. Within the bundles there are petals of five. The clusters all grow from the center of the plant, the umbel. sites/default/files/wild_wizards/skieence_stem_0.jpg This is Wild Carrot because the stem is very thin, and has little leaf petals shooting out of the top of the stem; before the flower, as displayed above. The texture is slightly rough and has small hairs (shown from the picture). The stem is thin, usually no bigger then a straw. Once the plant starts to die the stem color goes from bright green to splotchy brown. sites/default/files/wild_wizards/mail-1-111_0.jpg The leaflets of Wild Carrot are lobed but are also compound-pinnate, according to the species identification sheet. Each leave is skinny and has an feathery shape to them. The leaves of wild carrot are all very similar, to those of an actual carrot and of the plant pictured above. In this upland habitat, it is a cold brisk day, a typical fall day in Maine. The sun is shining giving you the illusion that its warmer then it actually is. We can hear the rustling of the wind going through the trees and an occasional bird chirp. The hill slopes down and sitting in the middle of it is a small swamp with brown water, rocks and cattails. In the fenced in area we are in, wild carrot, scientifically called Daucus Carota, seems to be very abundant. The grass around the plant is the type that would be infested with ticks; long, overgrown and dead. Now mainly focusing in our quadrant; the tall grass has compressed and there are what we think, two Wild Carrot plants. One almost dead showing no color and another with two of its flowers and stem and leaves barley hanging onto its color. This Wild Carrot plant comes up to my mid thigh, which is approximately two feet. Some parts of the wild carrot are turning brown and causing the top to curl in, looking like a ball or a birds nest. The leaves were also turning brown, curling at the tips and dying.
observation/species-euonymus-alatus-was-not-found-ttm-2011-10-17 TTM Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Burning bush Euonymus alatus I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/ttm/screen_shot_2011-11-03_at_10.17.51_am.png sites/default/files/ttm/p1010006_1.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/220.jpg sites/default/files/ttm/p1010009_1.jpg According to the Vital Signs ID card, Burning Bush has oval shaped leaves with rigged and toothed edges. The leaves turn fiery red during the fall. On the unidentified plant we found, the leaves were oval and smooth edged. It was fall but the leaves were not red, but they were green. The leaves were clearly not the same. sites/default/files/ttm/pa180055.jpg Another piece of evidence that we gathered from the Vital Signs ID card that clearly showed that the plant we found was not Burning Bush was that Burning Bush usually has red fruit that grows and appears around the time from September to June. Since it was October when we went out to search for the plant, there should have been red fruit hanging on our plant. However, the plant we found had no fruit on its protruding stems. Instead of fruit, the plant had fuzzy white seed pods, that seemed to be spouting at the top of the plant. sites/default/files/ttm/pa180056.jpg Burning Bush has opposite leaves on a gray-brown, corky-winged stem. The plant we chose had alternate leaves on a smooth, red-brown stem. The average height of Burning Bush is about eight feet tall. Our plant was measured at only three feet. This evidence proves that we did not find Burning Bush. In Cape Elizabeth, Maine, just outside of Cape Elizabeth Middle School, my team searched for signs of the invasive species, the Burning Bush. It was 10:20 in the morning on October 16th, 2011. Our exact location was 43.59309 degrees latitude, -70.231886 degrees longitude. It was a cold and breezy autumn day and the scent of fall was in the air. The habitat of the site resembled a marsh, with its overgrown plants and occasional muddy places. The area that we investigated was fenced in between the schools sports fields. There was a slight decline towards the center of the fenced in area. At the bottom of the decline the ground was seeping with water. However, we had positioned our quadrat at the top of the hill around the exterior of the area, so the ground wasn’t soggy.
observation/species-betula-papyrifera-was-found-lawiz-birch-trees-2011-10-17 Lawiz Birch Trees Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Paper birch Betula papyrifera I think I found it Native sites/default/files/lawiz_birch_trees/2011-10-17_10.58.48_1.jpg sites/default/files/lawiz_birch_trees/2011-10-17_11.00.07_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/708.jpg sites/default/files/lawiz_birch_trees/2011-10-17_10.58.48_0.jpg We were looking for the White Birch and we believe we found it. White Birches have narrow trunks and as you can see the trunk of the tree is also quite narrow. The middle of the trunk was about 12 inches around. sites/default/files/lawiz_birch_trees/2011-10-17_11.03.41_0.jpg This photo shows the branches on our tree, which are silvery gray. According to the Vital Signs Identification card the newest part of white birches are this same silvery grey. sites/default/files/lawiz_birch_trees/2011-10-17_10.59.48_0.jpg As we took a closer look we saw that it’s bright white bark was pealing away, which is a characteristic of a white birch. This helped us conclude that our tree was in fact a white birch. It was a sunny yet crisp day with a slight breeze in the fall. We heard cars from the parking lot above and people talking. We could smell freshly cut grass. We saw small weeds, thorns, and many dead leaves in the background. The wind whipped around us as the leaves rustled. We were on the corner of a sidewalk that led into a field on the edge of a small wooded area. There were streams in the background and a downward slope behind it. Around it were fallen trees and smaller plants. There were about four different varieties of weeds and other plants within the quadrant.
observation/species-daucus-carota-was-found-wild-carrot-crusaders-2011-10-17-0 The Wild Carrot Crusaders Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Wild carrot Daucus carota I think I found it Native sites/default/files/the_wild_carrot_crusaders/p1020983.jpg sites/default/files/the_wild_carrot_crusaders/sampleingsitephotoooo_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/738.jpg sites/default/files/the_wild_carrot_crusaders/leaves_0.jpg The leaves in this picture are a stunning green and is the Compound Pinnate type of leaf, meaning there is a stem with different leaves sticking out of it. They're rosette and alternate shaped with smooth edges. sites/default/files/the_wild_carrot_crusaders/seeds_0.jpg The seeds in this picture stick to your clothing and in the species ID card it tells you that the seeds stick to your clothing to help with seed dispersal. sites/default/files/the_wild_carrot_crusaders/flower_0.jpg The Wild Carrot flowers from May through September. When the plant flowers, the flowers are small, white, and grow into mini clusters. In the picture, it shows the mini clusters of white flowers, and how the clusters are combined together to form a flat like top, resting on the top of the plant stem.This is one major characteristic that proves that we did find Wild Carrot.  The field was moist and we were surrounded by grass. It smelled like dead hay and we heard the cars outside zooming by. Outside, it was cold and windy, which made me regret not bringing my jacket. The thing I was worried the most about was ticks. Normally, ticks are found in long grass, where we were standing. The only thing that I was surprised to see out on the field was that it was mostly all made up of what looked like the Wild Carrot species.
observation/species-rosa-multiflora-was-found-fluffy-narwhales-2011-10-17 The Fluffy Narwhales Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora I think I found it Invasive sites/default/files/the_fluffy_narwhales/backround_pics.jpg sites/default/files/the_fluffy_narwhales/study_sight_photo.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/201.jpg sites/default/files/the_fluffy_narwhales/backround_pics_0.jpg The plant identification card stated that the Multiflora Rose grew in large bushes and when we found the plant pictured it grew in a large bush. It was also about a meter tall and on the species ID card it says the Multiflora can grow up to 3 meters. This information further proves the plant pictured is the Multiflora Rose sites/default/files/the_fluffy_narwhales/leaves.jpg This picture is of the individual leaves of the plant we found. The leaves were alternate, compound-pinnate, oval, and toothed. According to the species ID card the characteristics we found of our plants leaves were identical to those of the Multiflora Rose. This information and the plant pictured proves we did find the Multiflora Rose. sites/default/files/the_fluffy_narwhales/berrys.jpg This picture shows the plant has berries. The picture shows vibrant bright red berries about 1/3 of an inch. The berries are found in the Fall according to the species ID card. The species ID card stated that the berries would have all of the characteristics listed, therefore the berries pictured were those of the Multiflora Rose. It is a cold October day and the wind is strong. I hear faint yells, jetting airplanes, leaves crunching, and whispering winds. I see various plants of earthy tones; dark and pale green, bland tan, bursting crimson, and chocolate brown. I smell the crisp cool air, freshly cut grass, and the earthy dirt. The environment around me is calm.
observation/species-fallopia-japonica-was-not-found-team-edward-2011-10-17 Team Edward Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/team_edward/img_0269_0.jpg sites/default/files/team_edward/img_0269.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/210.jpg sites/default/files/team_edward/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_1.05.55_pm.png On the plant that we observed, the stems and branches had black thorns, which the species identification card says the Knotweed doesn’t have. As well, the joints of the stems, were not as swollen and pronounced as those of the Japanese Knotweed. sites/default/files/team_edward/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_1.08.05_pm.png The leaves of the Japanese Knotweed are shaped differently than those of this particular plant. The Knotweed’s leaves can end up looking almost round, or even heart shaped from the back end that connects it to the stem. These leaves look like teardrops, or spearheads and are more of an oval shape. sites/default/files/team_edward/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_1.09.14_pm.png This plant cannot be the Japanese Knotweed because this leaf is far too small, only about 6 cm long. The leaf of a Japanese Knotweed can grow up to 18 cm long and 12 cm wide according to the species identification card. The edge of the leaf on this plant is toothed. The leaf of a Japanese Knotweed has a smooth edge. Leaves are just starting to fall as our sixth period class took the afternoon to go outside and look for our invasive species. My team and I stroll down past sports fields to our site, on the lookout for the Japanese Knotweed. I see freshly mowed grass on the fields, and other kids in our class with clipboards in their hands, pondering over different plants, wondering whether or not they will find anything. Kids are screaming from down on the softball field, playing games for gym class. Although sunny, it’s chilly. The wind is whistling loudly in my ears, and makes me wish for my jacket. It smells like dirt and October air. Fall is definitely here.     I am surprised that we were unsuccessful at finding the Knotweed, but the evidence was definitely against us that the plant we were studying was of a different species.
observation/species-celastrus-orbiculatus-was-found-crazy-dandy-candies-2011-10-17 Crazy Dandy Candies Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus I think I found it Invasive sites/default/files/crazy_dandy_candies/img_0406.jpg sites/default/files/crazy_dandy_candies/img_0404_0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/208.jpg sites/default/files/crazy_dandy_candies/img_0400.jpg According the species ID card, one of the distinct features of the Oriental Bittersweet is the fact that they wrap their vines around themselves and other plants as well. In this picture you can see the vine wrapping around itself. sites/default/files/crazy_dandy_candies/img_0409.jpg Our second supporting evidence was the green and yellow leaves. The leaves were 5.5 centimeters long and had toothed edges that were a millimeter wide. There was a dark green line running straight up the middle. Also, splitting off of the middle line were lighter green lines that looked like veins as you can see on the left. These were the same as they were described in the species ID card. sites/default/files/crazy_dandy_candies/img_0406_0.jpg We found the trademark bright orange berries of our plant. According to the species ID card, the orange-red berries are the defining feature of the Oriental Bittersweet. Right now I am looking at an invasive plant called Oriental Bittersweet with my group mates. The area we are looking at it is inside the school grounds next to the soccer and baseball fields that are behind the school. The plant is sitting in a big bunch on a rocky hill. I can see the school about a hundred yards away from me. Although I am near the woods, I am not in them. I smell freshly cut grass and hear the cars driving down the roads in front of the school. I also hear the laughter and talking of other students in the area that are also looking for invasive species.
observation/species-celastrus-orbiculatus-was-found-tootsiepops2-2011-10-17 Tootsiepops2 Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus I think I found it Invasive sites/default/files/tootsiepops2/img_0329.jpg sites/default/files/tootsiepops2/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_8.34.50_am_0.png Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/208.jpg sites/default/files/tootsiepops2/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_8.34.37_am_0.png Tiny red fruit with yellow skins for the Fall weather. On the species identification card, it said "after august look for bright red fruit with thin yellow skins." sites/default/files/tootsiepops2/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_8.34.27_am.png The vines are curly, twisted, and have with bumpy sides. This description matching this description of the oriental bittersweet on the species identification card, which said "the older vines are woody, round, and bumpy." sites/default/files/tootsiepops2/screen_shot_2011-11-07_at_8.33.59_am.png This evidence shows the length and the size of the vines. This picture shows the size of this particular Oriental Bittersweet. The leaves are oval with pointy tips and tiny toothed edges all around each individual leaf.  I have evidence showing that this is the species we are looking for. I am very happy, because even in the Fall weather, we still found our plant. We have found enough evidence to support our theory that this is the Oriental Bittersweet. The day was a cloudy and sunny day, but was very dry and cold outside.  We went into the field for two to three days and it was getting close to the end of October, which means the temperature was getting colder each day. The day we went into the field, it was a bitter day. The temperature was around 40 degrees fahrenheit and I felt the cold Fall wind blowing in our faces. We heard the wind whistling against the cars and the school. We saw the field and the Oriental Bittersweet grasping onto a fence and the dry ground. We smelt nothing but the cold air of the season's changing into Fall.    I hear, see, and smell- I smelt the cold Fall air and felt it make my nose cold. I heard a lawn mower and the raw wind whistling and blowing on our faces. I see an oriental bittersweet clenching onto a fence and bright red clusters opening up for the Fall weather. I also see the species ID card that we are looking at so we can try and identify the Oriental Bittersweet.
observation/species-asclepias-syriaca-was-found-cape-caterpillars-2011-10-17 Cape Caterpillars Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Milkweed Asclepias syriaca I think I found it Native sites/default/files/cape_caterpillars/img_0187.jpg sites/default/files/cape_caterpillars/img_0147_2.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/729.jpg sites/default/files/cape_caterpillars/img_0191_1.jpg Leaves: The Leaves on a Milkweed plant are long and wide. The leaves are also simple with a smooth edge. They are dark green. According to species ID card this confirms that this is a milkweed leaf. sites/default/files/cape_caterpillars/img_0187_2.jpg Plant: Observations on this plant were; that it is is large leaved, with a single stem, with no large branches. According to the species ID card these are characteristics of milkweed. sites/default/files/cape_caterpillars/img_0152_0.jpg Seasonal Change: Toward the end of the summer you will see a pod on a milkweed plant. This is part of the seasonal change that milkweed goes through. The species ID card said this was a characteristic of milkweed. It is late fall and the sun is fighting the clouds. There is a murmer of all the people around us making their observations. The air is cold. The Caterpillars make there way to a study site were they observe a milkweed plant.
observation/species-polygonum-perfoliatum-was-not-found-spartans-2011-10-17 Spartans Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Mile-a-minute weed Polygonum perfoliatum I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/spartans/main_photo.jpeg sites/default/files/spartans/main_photo_1.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/206.jpg sites/default/files/spartans/supporting_evidence_1_0.jpg The Mile-a-Minute weed vines up trees to cover up over other vegetation so they can take all the sunlight and leave none for the other plants. The Mile-a-Minute usually grows up to 7 meters. The weed around the tree is not covering up the other vegetation, and it is barely a quarter of a meter. sites/default/files/spartans/supporting_evidence_2_0.jpg The Mile-a-Minute Weeds leaves are shaped like a arrow head. The arrow head leafs of the Mile-a-Minute weed are alternate on the stem, and the leaves on this plant is a star shaped leaf. Also the Mile-a-Minute weed stem is 4-sided and green with rows of rigid barbs, but the plant that we are looking at has a red stem. sites/default/files/spartans/supporting_evidence_3.jpg The Mile-a-Minute weed stem is green and has small rigid barbs. It is also 4-sided. The vine in this picture is brown, it is not four sided, and it does not have small rigid barbs. We were looking for the Mile-a-Minute Weed, and our quadrant was located around a tree off a path to the Cape Elizabeth Middle School Softball field. The season is Fall. The time was 9:30 AM, on a October morning. The wind was blowing hard and felt crisp, and cold all around. The sun was out with little clouds showing, and the trees are very tall and still have some green leaves on it. There are dead leaves on the ground, and there is a small body of water behind the tree. Hearing the leaves rustling in the breeze, and and the other kids at work, but also hear the 5th graders.
observation/species-euonymus-alatus-was-not-found-purple-pickled-platypi-2011-10-17 The Purple Pickled Platypi Cape Elizabeth Maine 2011-10-17 04:00:00 Burning bush Euonymus alatus I think I did not find it Invasive sites/default/files/the_purple_pickled_platypi/habitat_of_burning_bush_.jpg sites/default/files/the_purple_pickled_platypi/habitat_of_burning_bush__0.jpg Cape Elizabeth Middle School sites/default/files/species_photos/220.jpg sites/default/files/the_purple_pickled_platypi/close_up_on_leaves_for_burning_bush_0.jpg The leaves in the picture are characterized as alternate under the category of leaf arrangement. On the species ID card of Burning Bush, provided by GMRI, states that the burning bush’s leaves are categorized as opposite under leaf arrangement. This fact supports our claim that the plant we found is not the burning bush. sites/default/files/the_purple_pickled_platypi/img_0188_0.jpg The leaves in this picture look like a dark red, close to a purplish color. As for the Burning Bush, the colors of the leaves are supposed to be a fiery red during the Fall. sites/default/files/the_purple_pickled_platypi/burning_bush_by_itself__0.jpg The third and last reason that we don't think we found the Burning Bush is that we think we were looking in the wrong area. The Burning Bush grows in mostly in developed areas, like around houses and around roads. We were looking in a little swampy area that is full of tall grass, and wet patches of land. The grass around us was littered with dew drops, for the previous night a storm had passed through. The already damp swamp was overdosed with puddles of water, creating tricky baths of mud. The earth was changing seasons as brittle leaves fell from their nurturing trees. Across the fence a construction sight was hard at work, offsetting the sound of nature. A lawn mower chewed up overgrowing grass around the swampy terrain, scaring away nesting birds. The seasons were changing quickly, each minute closer to Fall.