The Gulf of Maine Expedition 2002

Flowering Plants of the Gulf of Maine

We are keeping a record of wildflowers, shrubs, and vines in bloom, seed, or fruit as we travel along the coast. Observations are made at each location where we stop, have lunch, or camp. The first observation of the plant is recorded by date and place. Notes on habitat and frequency of occurrence are also made.

We decided to record wildflowers, shrubs, and vines as they are abundant and quite varied in the coastal edge environment between the shore and the upland forest edge. Woodland species found within a short distance of the edge have been recorded and noted as such.

Keeping records of only plants in bloom, seed, or fruit has been done for sake of positive identification and to leave a record of when these plants were found in that state in the year 2002. In general, plants tend to be either rarely found (e.g., Sea Milkwort, Glaux maritima), regular inhabitants of a particular habitat niche (e,g,, Beach Pea, Lathyrus japonicus), non-native, or invasive at the expense of other species (e.g., Morrow's Honeysuckle, Lonicera morrowi).

Observations are limited by our pattern of moving along the coast, our limited time at a given location, and the chance of finding the plant in a blooming, seed-bearing, or fruiting state. The list is useful as a demonstration of the type of observations a student of botany might like to maintain. For a person established at one location, such lists for the same place over a period of years could be very informative in showing vegetative and climatic variation and change.