Marker 1

      The ground in front of this marker is covered with small spiky greenish-grey "plants." These "plants" are actually lichens, the classic example of symbiosis discussed in most introductory biology textbooks. Literally translated, symbiosis means "living together," and lichens are actually two separate organisms which live together for mutual benefit. One partner is a fungus, which provides support and retains moisture. The other, an alga, provides nourishment through photosynthesis, the process of using the sun's energy to combine inorganic compounds into energy rich foods.
      The combination allows lichens to survive in inhospitable places where most organisms would not be able to live. The spiky lichen growing on the ground along and around the trail is a species of Cladonia, often mistakenly called reindeer moss. Cladonia varies from sharp and brittle to soft and spongy, depending upon the amount of moisture it has absorbed.
      As you continue along the trail you will see that many of the tree trunks are festooned with a colorful array of lichens, including Usnea, which Parula warblers often use in their nests.
      Lichens are generally very sensitive to air quality and will not grow where the air is badly polluted. The profusion of lichens on the Vineyard is living testimony to the quality of the Island's air.

Marker 2

      Near the second marker are several clumps of evergreen sprouts. A quick look at the base of these sprouts will reveal that each clump surrounds a stump where a pitch pine was cut down.
      These stump sprouts represent an adaptation to frequent fies. Pitch pines have large root stocks just below the ground where they store energy. Although a severe fire may consume the above-ground portion of trees and shrubs, the roots often survive. The energy stored in the root stocks enables pitch pines to resprout quickly and take advantage of the open spaces created by fire.
      Pitch pines also have two types of cones, one of which will not open until subjected to intense heat. Once they have been heated these serotinous cones open, spreading seeds over the soil newly enriched by ash from the fire. Scrubby trees with a large number of tightly closed cones are a sign that an area has been subjected to frequent fires.

Marker 3

      When conditions are right, the woods along this stretch of trail support a large stand of pink lady slipper orchids (Cypripedium acule). These beautiful orchids, which on the Vineyard generally bloom from mid-May through early July, are one of the most spectacular flowers growing on the Island.
      Orchids are generally long lived and, when pollinated, produce thousands of small seeds in a prominent green seed pod about 1-1/2 inches long. However, if at the end of the summer you look over a typical stand of pink lady slippers, you will see very few seed pods.
      Despite its showy flower, pink lady slippers do not provide any nectar for pollinhators. Instead, they depend upon bumble bees mistakenly entering the flower to transfer their pollen from plant to plant. Of course, the bumble bee must make the same mistake twice for pollination to occur, which may explain why so few of them produce seed each year.
      For the pink lady slipper orchid to grow, the seed must connect with a symbiotic root fungus which helps it absorb nutrients from the soil. This makes pink lady slippers very difficult to propagate or transplant and they are best enjoyed in their natural surroundings.

Marker 4

      This is a good place to observe the transition from oak woods to wetland plants, predominantly sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), but also swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) and other shrubs, as the ground slopes down towards the pond. In winter and early spring two evergreen plants are also obvious along the trail, their green color providing a welcome contrast to the generally somber hues of the winter woods. Teaberry (Gautheria procumbens) is a small plant with shiny, waxy dark green leaves and sometimes a bright red berry. Teaberry leaves and berries contain oil of wintergreen which gives them a distinct taste and smell. It is often referred to as wintergreen, although it is actually a member of the heath family.
      Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), an evergreen shrub standing 2 to 3 feet tall with drooping leaves growing in whorls of three, is also found in this area. The leaves are pale green in spring, but in winter have a brown or reddish hue. Sheep laurel is also a member of the heath family. The leaves are said to be poisonous to sheep and other livestock, although others report that deer and rabbits seem to eat them without any ill effects.

      As you continue you will cross a dirt road which leads to a private residence; please respect the privacy of the neighbors and stay on the trail, which curves gradually to the right.

Marker 5

      The low, flat area in front of you is a salt marsh, one of the most productive but also most abused natural communities on earth. The plants and algae growing in salt marshes produce a tremendous amount of vegetative matter, some of which is eaten and some of which dies and breaks down into small pieces. This detritus washes into adjacent bays and harbors where it nourishes fish, crabs and other organisms. Salt marshes also provide protection for the young of many species of fish, help reduce flooding and provide a buffer against storm waves.
      The ditches in the salt marsh were intended to drain water and control biting insects. Unfortunately, many scientists now feel that ditching does more damage to the salt marsh than to the populations of mosquitoes and greenhead flies which it is supposed to control.

      Follow the trail until it crosses the road again.

Marker 6

      If you look carefully along this section of the trail you will find another small evergreen plant which has white pigment along the veins of the leaves. Often called spotted pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), it also is known as striped wintergreen, which seems a more appropriate name since the white color is more striped than spotted and it is a member of the Pyrolaceae, the wintergreen family.
      You will also see a healthy stand of poison ivy in this area. Despite its evil reputation, poison ivy actually plays an important ecological role. In the fall it produces numerous small white berries with a high fat content. The high levels of fat make the berries very nutrious and many species of birds feast on them. However, the fat also causes the berries to spoil rapidly, so it is important that the birds find them soon after they ripen. You probably have noticed that poison ivy leaves turn a beautiful deep red color in the fall. The bright colors are a signal to fruit-eating birds that nutritious berries are present. The birds eat the berries and distribute the seeds in their droppings, helping the poison ivy spread into new habitat.

      At this point the trail goes up and down a hill and through a stand of pitch pine before completing the loop. Turn left where the two paths meet, from there is is a short walk back to the parking area.

Caroline Garrett Tuthill