Seine River South

Save Our Seine & Nature Manitoba – July 14, 2015

Background

This list and information was developed for a walk organized jointly between Save Our Seine (SOS) and Nature Manitoba on July 14, 2015.

The South Trail is a 1.8km extension of the Seine River Greenway along the west side of the Seine River south of the Royalwood Bridge and north of Creek Bend Bridge.  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 southern trail was mostly completed in 2011 as part of the ongoing plan (there was an easement issue with the land owner at the south end of the trail which meant the last hundred meters or so took longer to complete).

The Seine River Greenway is a narrow riparian zone that provides a natural buffer along the Seine River into the heart of Winnipeg.  This buffer zone protects the river quality and provides a natural habitat in which wild plants and animals thrive.

Fast Facts

The following few species are just a random selection of plants that may be seen during the walk. There was no real reason for picking these in particular.

Peachleaf Willow (Salix amygdaloides)

This is the largest willow in the prairie provinces, the second largest tree after the Eastern Cottonwood.  This is a short lived, quickly growing tree that is common along the Seine River Greeway.  It has lanceolate pale green leaves with a whitish underside.  The name suggests that the leaves are similar to peach leaves.  Baskets, furniture, mats, chew sticks.  Like all willows salicylic acid (pain and inflammation) can be extracted from the twigs.  Young leaves and inner bark and be used as an emergency food source.  The fast growing tree provides riparian stability.

http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_saam2.pdf

Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)

The Tartarian honeysuckle is a common bush found throughout the Seine River Greenway.  It is an import from Eurasia that was brought as an ornamental shrub.  It is usually an indicator of an area that was a homestead or farm but since it spreads easily shrubs can be found throughout the area.  In the city this shrub has not gotten too out of control but it has the potential to outcompete other native tree species.  There is a suggestion that it may produce allopathic compounds that inhibit other plants from growing.

Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium)

This is an introduced plant that is a relative of sage, it has either bi – or tripinnate silver-grey leaves covered in silver-white hairs.   It is a gorilla species quickly invading disturbed areas, usually it is found along the side of the path or in open areas.  It is one of the flavouring ingredients in the spirit absinthe.   In Europe it has traditionally been used to stimulate the appetite and relieve indigestion.  The name "artemisia" ultimately derives from the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman Diana), but likely the use of the name for this genus is related to Artemisia II of Caria, a botanist and medical researcher who died in 350 BC.  Collect several plants and hanging the leaves in a basement, wardrobe, or other area that you want to hide odours.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Milkweeds are best known for feeding Monarch butterfly caterpillars and are a important addition to any butterfly garden.  Other uses include extracting the tough fibers for making cords and ropes, and for weaving a coarse cloth.  The fibers are sometimes mixed with fibers of Indian hemp  (Apocynum cannabinum).  Although Milkweeds can be prepared for eating without careful preparation they are also toxic.

http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_assy.pdf

Water Smartweed (Polygonum amphibium)

Water Smartweed is a truly amphibious plant being able to live on both land and submerged in water.  At one time the same species was split into two because the morphology of the stem and leaves is quite different.  With genetic testing and just monitoring the plants it is clear that the species is just highly variable.   The plants have been used traditionally as a food source or for a variety of medicines.   Recently scientists found that Smartweed accumulate elevated levels of gold suggesting the plant might be used for bioassay or to help clean up polluted tailings. 

More Information

• This page of information: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~burchil/plants/seine_south/srs.pdf

• Companion Information: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~burchil/plants/bois_des_esprit/index.html

• More Information on SOS: http://www.saveourseine.com/

• Wpg SOS South Trail: http://www.saveourseine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SOS-Trail-Map-2009.pdf

• Some random pictures of species found along this section of trail

• City of Winnipeg Naturalist Species Lists (Seine 13,  12, 14, 999 St. Anne)
  
  http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/202.html
  
  http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/225.html
  
  http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/203.html
  
  http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/1087.html
  
  http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natural_areas/NA_Reports/1099.html
  
  

Species List

The following species list is a collection of the species listed on the individual links above along with new species added from a couple of ground truthing trips during June and early July, 2015. I don't expect this list to be complete neither does it reflect the current naming standards for some of the species.

Acer ginnala -- Amur maple

Acer negundo -- Manitoba maple

Acer negundo var. interius -- Manitoba maple

Achillea millefolium -- Yarrow

Actaea rubra -- Red baneberry

Agropyron repens -- Quack- grass, Couch-grass

Agropyron trachycaulum -- Slender wheatgrass

Agrostis stolonifera -- Redtop

Alisma triviale Pursh  -- Northern Water Plaintain

Amaranthus retroflexus -- Green amaranth, Red-footed 

Ambrosia artemisiifolia -- Common ragweed

Amelanchier alnifolia -- Saskatoon

Amphicarpa bracteata -- Hog-peanut

Andropogon gerardii -- Big bluestem

Andropogon scoparius -- Little bluestem

Anemone canadensis -- Canada anemone

Apocynum androsaemifolium -- Spreading dogbane

Apocynum cannabinum -- Indian-hemp

Aralia nudicaulis -- Wild sarsparilla

Arctium minus -- Lesser burdock

Artemisia absinthium -- Absinthe

Asclepias ovalifolia -- Dwarf milkweed

Asclepias syriaca -- Common or Silky milkweed

Asparagus officinalis -- Garden asparagus

Aster simplex -- Small blue aster

Astragulus frigidus -- American milk-vetch

Avena fatua -- Wild oats

Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fernald  -- Sloughgrass

Bidens spp. -- Beggarticks

Bromus ciliatus -- Fringed brome

Bromus inermis -- Smooth brome

Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. -- Hedge bindweed

Campanula rapunculoides -- Creeping bluebell

Capsella bursa-pastoris -- Shepherd's-purse

Caragana arborescens Lam.  -- Caragana

Carex aquatilis Wahlenb. -- Water sedge

Carex assiniboinensis W. Boott  -- Assiniboia sedge

Carex atherodes Spreng.  -- Wheat sedge

Carex canescens L.  -- Silvery sedge

Carex disperma Dewey  -- Softleaved sedge

Carex lanuginosa auct. non Michx -- Wooly Sedge

Carex spp. -- Sedge

Celastrus scandens -- Climbing bittersweet

Ceratophyllum demersum L.  -- Coon's tail

Chenopodium spp. -- Goosefoot

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum -- Ox-eye daisy

Cirsium arvense -- Canada thistle

Cornus stolonifera -- Red osier dogwood

Corylus americana Walter  -- American Hazelnut

Corylus spp. -- Hazelnut

Crataegus rotundifolia -- Round-leaved hawthorn

Crataegus spp. -- Hawthorn

Descurainia sophia -- Fixweed

Echinochloa crusgalli -- Barnyard grass

Echinocystis lobata -- Wild cucumber

Elaeagnus angustifolia -- Russian olive

Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult.  -- Common spike rush

Elymus junceus -- Russian wild rye

Epilobium ciliatum -- Northern willowherb

Equisetum arvense -- Common horsetail

Erigeron canadensis -- Horse-weed, Canada fleabane

Erigeron philadelphicus -- Philadelphia fleabane

Erysimum cheiranthoides -- Wormseed mustard

Euphorbia esula L.  -- Leafy spurge

Fagopyrum sagittatum -- Buckwheat

Fagopyrum tataricum -- Tartary buckwheat

Fragaria virginiana -- Smooth wild strawberry

Fraxinus pennsylvanica -- Green ash

Galeopsis tetrahit -- Common hemp-nettle

Galium boreale -- Northern bedstraw

Galium triflorum -- Sweet-scented bedstraw

Geum alleppicum -- Yellow avens

Glechoma hederacea -- Gill-over-the-ground

Glyceria grandis -- Tall manna grass

Glycyrrhiza lepidota -- Wild licorice

Hesperis matronalis -- Dame's rocket, Dame's-violet

Hieracium canadense -- Canada hawkweed

Hordeum jubatum -- Foxtail barley

Lactuca tatarica -- Wild lettuce

Lappula echinata -- Bluebur

Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. -- Cream-coloured vetchling

Lathyrus spp. -- Peavine

Linaria vulgaris -- Butter-and-eggs

Lonicera spp. -- Honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica -- Tartarian honesuckle

Lotus corniculatus L.  -- Bird's Foot Trefoil

Lycopus americanus -- Water-horehound

Lycopus americanus -- Water-horehound

Lycopus asper -- Western water-horehound

Lysimachia ciliata -- Fringed loosestrife

Maianthemum canadense -- Two-leaved Soloman's- seal,Wild lilly of the valley

Malus spp. -- Apple tree

Matricaria maritima -- Scentless chamomile

Medicago lupulina -- Black medick

Medicago sativa -- Alfalfa

Melilotus alba -- White sweet-clover

Melilotus officinalis -- Yellow sweet-clover

Menispermum canadense -- Yellow parilla

Mentha arvensis -- Field mint

Mimulus ringens L. -- Blue Monkey Flower

Nuphar variegatum -- Bullhead-lilly, Yellow pond-lily

Oxalis stricta -- Yellow wood-sorrel

Panicum capillare -- Witch grass

Panicum virgatum -- Switch grass

Parthenocissus quinquefolia -- Virginia creeper

Petasites frigidus (L.) Fr. var. sagittatus (Banks ex Pursh) Cherniawsky -- Arrow-leaved colt's foot

Phalaris arundinacea -- Reed canary grass

Phleum pratense -- Timothy

Picea glauca -- White spruce

Plantago major -- Common plantain

Poa pratensis -- Kentucky blue grass

Poa spp. -- Blue grass

Polygonum amphibium L. var. stipulaceum Coleman  -- water smart weed

Polygonum spp. -- Smartweed

Populus tremuloides -- Trembling aspen

Potamogeton natans L.  -- floating pondweed

Potamogeton pusillus L.  -- Small Pondweed

Potamogeton richardsonii (Benn.) Rydb.  -- Richardson's pondweed

Potentilla anserina -- Silverweed

Potentilla arguta -- White cinquefoil, Tall 

Prunus americana -- American plum

Prunus virginiana -- Red-fruited choke cherry

Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa -- Black-fruited choke cherry

Quercus macrocarpa -- Bur oak

Ranunculus abortivus L. -- Smooth-leaved buttercup

Ranunculus cymbaliaria Pursh. -- Seaside Buttercup

Ranunculus macounii Britton  -- Macoun's Buttercup

Rhus radicans var. rydbergii -- Poison ivy

Ribes americanum -- Wild black currant

Ribes spp. -- Currant

Rosa acicularis -- Prickly rose

Rosa blanda Aiton  -- Smooth Rose

Rosa spp. -- Rose

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus -- Red raspberry

Rumex crispus -- Curled dock

Sagittaria cuneata -- Arum-leaved arrowhead

Sagittaria latifolia -- Broad-leaved arrowhead

Salix amygdaloides -- Peach-leaved willow

Salix exigua -- Sandbar willow

Sanicula marilandica -- Snakeroot

Scirpus sp. -- Bulrush

Scirpus validus Vahl -- Softstem Bulrush

Senecio vulgaris -- Common groundsel

Setaria glauca -- Yellow foxtail

Setaria viridis -- Green foxtail

Silene spp. -- Catchfly

Sisyrinchium montanum -- Blue-eyed grass

Sium suave -- Water-parsnip

Smilacina stellata -- Star-flowered Solomon's-seal

Smilax herbacea -- Carrionflower

Smilax lasioneura -- Blue ridge carrion-flower

Solidago canadensis -- Canada goldenrod

Solidago spp. -- Goldenrod

Sonchus asper -- Spiny-leaved sow-thistle

Sonchus oleraceus -- Common sow-thistle

Sonchus spp. -- Sow thistle

Stachys palustris -- Marsh hedge-nettle

Stellaria media -- Common chickweed

Symphoricarpos occidentalis -- Western snowberry

Taraxacum officinale -- Dandelion

Thalictrum dasycarpum -- Tall meadow-rue

Thalictrum spp. -- Meadow-rue

Thalictrum venulosum -- Veiny meadow-rue

Thlaspi arvense -- Stinkweed, Field pennycress

Tilia americana -- Basswood

Tragopogon dubius -- Yellow goats-beard

Trifolium hybridum L.  -- Alsike Clover

Trifolium repens L.  -- White Clover

Typha latifolia L.  -- Broadleaf Cattail

Typha spp. -- Cat-tail

Ulmus americana -- American elm

Ulmus pumila -- Siberian elm

Urtica dioica -- Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica var. procera -- Stinging nettle

Verbascum thapsus -- Common mullein, Flannel-plant

Viburnum lentago -- Nannyberry

Viburnum opulus var. americanum -- High bush-cranberry

Viburnum rafinesquianum -- Downy arrow-wood

Vicia americana -- Common vetch

Vicia cracca -- Tufted vetch

Viola spp. -- Violet

Vitis riparia -- Riverbank grape

Xanthium italicum -- Cocklebur

Zizia aurea -- Golden alexanders