The following information was put together for a botanical walk done for Nature Manitoba, on June 17, 2010, updated for August 20, 2025
The Bois des Esprit is a ~47-hectare (117-acre) riparian woodland located primarily on the east shore of the Seine River, Winnipeg, between John Bruce Road and Shorehill Drive. This forest represents the longest continuous protected riverbank woodland in Winnipeg. With little in the way of invasive species and only minimal disturbance, it is a showcase terrace and river bottom forest that also includes several diverse oxbow wetlands. A protection plan was started in 2001/2 with the area identified as a 'park' in 2004. In 2007 a trail and sustainable development plan was proposed in collaboration with the City of Winnipeg, Save our Seine, and other groups. The current crushed limestone trail was completed in 2009 as part of the ongoing plan.
When walking the path, look for the forest 'spirits' or sculptures carved into the dead stems or trunks of many of the trees.
This forest hosts five broad plant communities: river bottom, wetland, oak forest, aspen forest, and grassland. It is home to over 100 plant species, 24 mammals, 149 birds and waterfowl, 5 amphibians and 6 fish species. The area is well represented by Oaks and Trembling Aspen, with some Maples, Cottonwood, Ash, and Elms in the mix near the river and wetlands. The mature trees (Oaks) found in several long-term monitoring plots are fairly uniform in size and age (~90 years); the forest is fairly young. Within the forest, there were 10 heritage trees, with more, including Winnipeg's largest tree, found elsewhere along the river. Although the forest appears to be pristine, and for an urban area, it is, things are not always as they appear. There are relatively few Elm trees in the river bottom forest due to the removal because of Dutch Elm disease. If you look closely at the bark of the Oak trees in the upland forest, you will see many small orange and yellow lichens - more pristine forests also have many larger green and grey shield lichens, which are not found here.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa Michx.)
It has the largest acorns of all the oaks, starting to producing seed around 35 years with optimum production 75-150 years. It is drought and fire-resistant. It can live as long as 300+ years, and predominates on the terraces on the edge of flood plains. It often grows in almost pure stands or alone. It is a pioneer species with the widest range for oaks, found growing across most of eastern North America. It can grow up to 25m tall (usually less in Manitoba, where it can be scrubby). It is quite tolerant of pollution. It is high in tannins.
Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)
It is a clonal species. The leaves tremble in the breeze due to a flat petiole (stem). It is the most widely distributed tree in North America, in southern MB it is usually a small scrubby tree but can be much larger - up to 30m tall. Clones recover quickly after fire with as many as 100,000 stems/ha. It is a favourite food of beavers and forest tent caterpillar. It was a source of salicin. The oldest clone is ~10,000 years, the largest might be an Aspen clone in Wasatch Mountain Utah with 47,000 stems and weighing over 6 million kilograms.
Species list:
The following species were seen June 11, 2010 and updated on August 17, 2025. There are a number of species missing since they were not yet in flower or identification was not possible. In particular, I did not identify all of the grass or sedge species seen. There are probably a number of aquatic and emergent wetland species not identified since I didn't want to go wading to look. There had been a considerable amount of rain over the prior several weeks, inundating parts of the trail and filling the oxbow areas full of water. I did see a few typical domestic garden flowers blooming that were not recorded; a clump of Peonys for example. I mostly limited this list to native, naturalized, and invasive species. There was some Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife) in places. The species names (both Latin and common) were primarily derived from Budd's Flora of the Canadian Prairie Provinces, with some modifications or additions from other sources.
Acer negundo L. - Manitoba Maple
Achillea millefolium L. - Yarrow
Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. - Red Baneberry. The white forma is also expected.
Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.
Alisma plantago-aquatica L. - Common water-plaintain
Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh. - Green Alder**
Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt. - Saskatoon
Amorpha futicosa L. - False indigo
Amphicarpa bracteata (L.) Fern. - Hog-peanut
Andropogon gerardi - Big Bluestem
Anemone canadensis L. - Canada anemone
Anemone multifida Poir. - Cut-leaved anemone
Apocynum cannabinum L.- Indian-Hemp. Also see A. androsaemifolium L. or Spreading dogbane.
Aralia nudicaulis L. - Wild sarsaparilla
Arenaria lateriflora L. - Blunt-leaved sandwort
Artemisia frigida Willd. - Pasture sage
Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. - Prairie Sage
Asclepias speciosa Torr. - Showy milkweed. Also look for A. ovalifolia.
Aster spp (syn Symphyotrichium) There are several but none were flowering on the survey date.
Possible/Likely: A. laevis, A. ciliolatus, A. ericoides, A. lateriflorus,
Aster novae-angliae, A. simplex.
Beckmannia syzigachne - Sloughgrass
Bidens frondosa L. - Common beggarticks
Bromus inermis Leyss. - Smooth Brome
Campanula rapunculoides L. - Creeping Bellflower
Carex assiniboinensis Boott - Assiniboia sedge
Carex atherodes Spreng. - Awned sedge
Carex bebbii - Bebb's sedge
Carex canescens - Short sedge
Carex disperma Dewey - Two-seeded sedge
Carex lanuginosa Michx. - Woolly sedge
Carex retrorsa Schw. - Turned sedge
Carex spp - Sedge. I got tired of keying sedges; there are at least four more
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. - Canada Thistle
Cirsium sp - Thistle (tall, large purple flowers)
Cornus stonlonifera L. - Redosier dogwood
Convolvulus sepium L. - Hedge bindweed
Corylus americana Walt. - American hazelnut
Corylus cornuta Marsh. (Beaked hazelnut) is also expected.
Crataegus rotundifolia Moench - Round-Leaved Hawthorn
Elaeagnus angustifolia L. - Russian olive*
Eleocharis spp - Spike-rush
Elymus sp. L. - Wild Rye (probably E. canadensis but didn't key)
Equisetum arvense L. - Common horsetail
Erigeron canadensis L. - Canada fleabane
Erigeron philadelphicus L. - Philadelphia fleabane (probably but didn't key)
Fragaria virginiana Dcne. - Wild strawberry
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. - Green Ash
Galium boreale L. - Northern bedstraw
Galium triflorum Michx - Sweet-scented bedstraw
Geranium bicknellii Britt. - Geranium
Geum alleppicum Jacq. - Yellow avens
Glechoma hederacea L. - Creeping Charlie
Glyceria sp. - Tall Manna Grass (probably G. grandis but didn't key)
Glycyrrhiza lepidota (nutt.) Pursh - Wild Licorice
Helenium autumnale L. var. montanum (Nutt.) Fernald - Mountain sneezeweed*
Helianthus maximiliani Schrad. - Maximilian sunflower*
Helianthus
Heliopsis helianthoides L. False sunflower
Hordeum jubatum L. - Wild barley
Juncus spp. - Rushes
Lappula deflexa (Wahl.) Garcke - Nodding stickseed
Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. - Cream colored vetchling
Lathyrus venosus Muhl. - Wild peavine
Lemna minor L. - Duckweed.
Also expect Spirodelia polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. a larger duckweed.
Wolffia columbiana Karst. (Columbian watermeal) was
collected near Abinojii Mikanah, so it might be found here as well.
Lemna trisulca L. - ivy-leaved duckweed
Liatris ligulistylis (A. Nels.) K. Schum. - Meadow blazingstar
Lonicera dioica L. - Twining honeysuckle
Lonicera tatarica L. - Tartarian honeysuckle
Lycopus americanus Muhl. - Water-horehound
Lysimachia ciliata L. - Fringed loosestrife
Lysimachia thyrsiflora L. - Tufted loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria - Purple loosestrife
Maianthemum canadense Desf. - Wild lily-of-the-valley
Medicago sativa L. - Alfalfa.
Medicago lupulina - Black medic
Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall - Yellow sweet clover
Expect to see: Melilotus alba Medic. (White sweet clover) &
Lotus corniculatus L. (bird's-foot trefoil)
Menispermum canadense L. - Moonseed
Mentha arvensis L. - Mint
Mertensia paniculata (Ait.) G. Don - Tall Lungwort
Nuphar variegatum Engelm. - Yellow pond lily
Oxalis stricta L. - Yellow wood-sorrel
Osmorhiza aristata (Thunb.) Mak. & Yabe - Smooth sweet cicely*
Panicum virgatum L. - Switch Grass (questionable)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. - Virginia creeper
Phleum pratense L. - Timothy
Phalaris arundinacea L. - Reed Canary grass
Picea glauca (Moench) Voss - White Spruce - only a few small plants.
Plantago major L. - Common plaintain
Poa pratensis L. - Kentucky blue grass.
Polygonum amphibium L. - Swamp persicaria. Look for other Polygonum species as well.
Populus balsamifera L. - Balsam Popular*
Populus deltoides Marsh. - Cottonwood
Populus tremuloides Michx. - Aspen Poplar or Trembling Aspen
Potentilla anserina L. - Silverweed
Prunus virginiana L. - Choke Cherry
Pyrola spp. - Wintergreen*
Quercus macrocarpa Michx. - Bur Oak
Ranunculus spp. - Buttercup* I did see several but did not collect.
Expect Ranunculus abortivus L. (Smooth-Leaved buttercup) and
Ranunculus macounii Britt. (Macoun's buttercup)
Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) Barnhart - Grayhead Coneflower/ Pinnate Prairie Coneflower
Ribes americanum Mill - Black current. Check also for R. rubrum & R. glandulosum
Ribes oxyacanthoides L. - Gooseberry
Rosa acicularis Lindl. - Prickly Rose
Rosa blanda Ait - Smooth Rose. R. woodsia is expected but not seen.
Rubus idaeus L. - Wild Raspberry
Rubus pubescens Raf. Dew berry
Rudbeckia laciniata - Tall coneflower
Rumex crispus L. - Curled Dock. Look for other Rumex species as well.
Sagittaria cuneata Sheld.- Arum-leaved arrowhead
Sagittaria latifolia Willd. - Broad-leaved arrowhead
Salix amygdaloides Anderss. - Peach-leaved Willow. Other willows will probably be found as well.
Sanicula marilandica L. - Snakeroot
Senecio vulgaris - Common groundsel (expect other Senecio species).
Sisyrinchium montanum Greene - Blue-eyed grass
Sium suave Walt. - Water-parsnip
Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf. - False solomon's seal
Smilax herbacea L. - Carrion Flower
Solidago canadensis L. - Graceful goldenrod
Solidago rigida L. - Stiff Goldenrod
Sonchus arvens L. - Sow-thistle
Stachys palustris L. - Marsh Hedge-Nettle
Stellaria longifolia L. - Long leaved stitchwort. Stellaria media (Chickweed) is expected.
Symphoricarpos occidentalis Hook. - Snowberry
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. - Dandelion
Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch. & Lall. - Tall meadow-rue
Thalictrum venulosum Trel. - Veiny meadow-rue
Toxicodendron rydbergii (Small ex Rydb.) Greene - Poison Ivy
syn: Rhus radicans L. var. rydbergii (small) Rehder
Tragopogon pratensis L. Goat's beard
Trifolium repens L. - White Clover also expect Trifolium pratense L. Red Clover
Trillium cernuum L. - Nodding Trillium
Typha latifolia L. - Common cattail (staminate-pistillate together, wide leaves)
Typha angustifolia L. - Narrow-leaved cattail (staminate-pistillate separated, narrow leaves)
Ulmus americana L. - American Elm. A Siberian elm seedling (or two) was also seen
Viburnum lentago L. - Nannyberry.
Viburnum opulus or Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf. - High bush cranberry
Viburnum rafinesquianum Schultes - Downy Arrowwood.
Vicia americana Muhl. - American vetch
Viola spp. There are a number of species likely but none blooming.
Expect: V. adunca, V. rugulosa
Viola pubescens Ait. - Downy Yellow Violet*
Vitis riparia Michx. - Riverbank Grape
Zizia aurea (L.) Koch - Golden Alexanders
Zizia aptera (A. Gray) Fernald - Heart-leaved alexanders*
*These species were listed on City of Winnipeg Naturalist site but not seen in this survey.
**Reported on information sign at the trail head but not seen at site.
Lichens/Mosses
This is only a short list - there were no crustose lichens identified and not all of the expected lichens were noted. Only a few of the mosses seen were identified. Lichens were identified using primarily Lichens of North America. Mosses identification was done using a variety of sources including how to know the mosses and liverworts, Moss Flora of the Maritime Provinces, Illustrated Guide to some Hornworts, Liverworts and Mosses of Eastern Canada, and Mosses Lichens & Ferns of Northwest North America.
Candelaria concolor - Candleflame lichen/lemon lichen
Cladonia chlorophaea - Pixie Cup
Cladonia phyllophora - Felt cladonia
Flavoparmelia caperata - Common greenshield lichen
Parmelia sulcata - Hammered shiled lichen
Peltigera canina - Dog-lichen
Peltigera malacea - Veinless pelt
Peltigera neckeri - Black saddle lichen
Phaeophysicia cernohorskyi - Hairy shadow lichen
Physcia stellaris - Star rosette lichen
Physciella chloantha - Cryptic rosette lichen
Physconia detersa - Frost lichen
Punctelia subrudecta - Powedered speckled shield lichen
Xanthoria fallax - Hooded sunburst lichen
Xanthoria hasseana - Poplar sunburst lichen
Xanthoria sp. - I expect X. elegans also appears
Brachythecium acuminatum (Hedw.) Aust.
Brachythecium salebrosum (Web & Mohr) B.S.G. - Golden Ragged Moss
Homalia trichomanoides (Hedw.) B.S.G.
Leskea gracilescens Hedw.
Plagiomnium cuspidatum (Hedw.) Kop - Woodsy moss
Naturization Area (Royalwood Retention Pond)
The retention ponds within Royalwood have been built to mimic prairie wetlands, providing improved wildlife habitat and water quality. The ponds and surrounding buffer zones have been seeded with native wetland and prairie species. The walk did not look at these ponds specifically, but I have included the following for general interest and information. The following list was taken from the information display at the site. There are still some invasive species found around the buffers.
Buffer Species
Agropyron subsecundum (link) Hitchc. - Awned wheatgrass
Andropogon gerardii Vitman - Big bluestem
Dalea purpurea Vent. - Purple prairie clover
Elymus canadensis L. - Canada wildrye
Glyceria sp. - Manna grass
Panicum virgatum L. - Switchgrass
Spartina pectinata Link - Prairie cord grass
More Information:
Resources/References:
The following books may be a useful source for identifying the plants found in this forest.
Johnson, Derek, Linda Kershaw, Andy MacKinnon, Jim Pojar. Plants of the Western Boreal Forest & Aspen Parkland. Lone Pine Pub. 1995.
Looman, J., K.F. Best, Budd's Flora of the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Minister of Supply and Services Canada. 1979. (1987)
Manitoba Conservation. Field Guide Trees of Manitoba. 2019.
Oswald, Edward T., Frank H. Nokes. Field Guide to the Native Trees of Manitoba. Manitoba Natural Resources. 1998.
Vance, F.R., J.R. Jowsey, J.S. McLean, F. A. Switzer. Wildflowers Across the Prairies. Greystone Books. 1999 (see earlier version for family key)
Equipment:
The following equipment is useful for identification purposes: magnifying glass or loupe, measuring tape, dissecting kit, trowel, notebook, knife, plant press, map or GPS