Blog post written by Amy Jewitt, GRLC Board Member
Videos provided by Peter Walker, GRLC Board Member
First image: Clubmoss. Credit: Pixabay
Second image: Cracked cap polypore. Credit: FungusFactFriday.com
One of the reasons Glade Run Lake is considered such a special place in our community is because of the plethora of plant and animal life that it boasts. Apart from the fish in the lake, the park portion of the property provides habitat for many species of trees, shrubs, ferns, and fungi, among other things. As an amateur naturalist, I often can't help but notice the plants and other living things growing in the forest and along the shoreline at Glade Run Lake, and frequently feel curious when spotting something new or distinctive.
The following two videos, recently filmed at Glade Run Lake, highlight two examples of unique life found growing on the lake property.
The first video showcases club mosses, perennial evergreen plants that resemble small trees and which have club-shaped structures that produce spores. These plants are actually "living fossils" because they were around during the time of the dinosaurs many millions of years ago. At that time, they were known to grow upwards of 100 feet, very different from their small stature of today. To learn more about club mosses, watch the short video (below) featuring Peter Walker, GRLC board member.
Video credit: Peter Walker, GRLC
The second video highlights a species that isn't a plant at all, but rather a type of fungi. Called a cracked cap polypore, this particular type of mushroom can be found growing on wounds of locust trees that are caused by the locust borer, a longhorned beetle endemic to eastern North America. Peter's son, Gwilym, narrates the following video and provides a quick overview of this unique species.
Video credit: Gwilym Walker
If you have questions or would like to learn more about about a particular plant (or fungi) species growing at Glade Run Lake, feel free to contact us. Also, please do your part to respect all plant and animal life found at Glade Run Lake. You can do this by staying on the designated hiking trail in order to avoid stepping on plants. Also, do not pick or take any plants home with you. The Glade Run Lake Conservancy as well as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission thanks you for your understanding and cooperation.
Amy Jewitt (blog post author) and Peter Walker (video contributor) are each active board members of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy, and both appreciate any time they get to spend at the lake and surrounding park property.