||| FROM TANYA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK |||
Discovered during recent monitoring at Entrance Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island, this petite pink wildflower is extremely sensitive to trampling; heedless hikers can cause serious damage to the population of an area if they step on them.
Commonly known as Pipsissewa or Prince’s Pine (Chimaphila umbellata), this native is a low growing evergreen, found in coniferous forests, and mixotrophic. It uses both its green leaves to photosynthesize carbon and its underground mycorrhizae (fungal relationships) to gather extra nutrients from the forest soil. It spreads through a network of underground rhizomes; an entire patch of these plants can share the same root system and form long-lived clonal mats.
Fun Fact – it was once a flavoring component in traditional root beer and candy!
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Thank you Tanya! A lovely native wildflower is certainly a reason to advocate for conservation and so important for biodiversity.
The vast majority of people who use land bank preserves are respectful. While I am sure there are isolated cases of damage, there is no better way to gain support for preservation than allowing the public to visit the preserves they pay for, many of whom pay over a period of 30 years at six percent interest. They belong to the people. Let the people be proud of them, and this starts with public access to every one.