I went on a hike in September to Shadow Falls campground near the entrance to Hemlock Valley Ski Resort/Harrison Hot Springs. I took quite a few images so instead of adding them all here, I made a set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/growin/sets/72157608911249709/ (thumbnails). If you already use flickr you can always add your suggestion directly to the image. I was told there was Hairy Manzanita (Arctostaphylos columbiana) on the exposed cliff but I just want to make sure I've got it right. There's also 2 different Polypodiums, one with a short leaf which I believe is P. scouleri and the other with larger leaves P. vulgare, although I'm not sure. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Sorry, I don't have a Flicker account. Shadow2 and Shadow2-1 are vanillaleaf, Achlys triphylla. 5 and 5-1 - Monotropa uniflora. Shadow7-1 looks like Apocynum. I think 15 is Goodyera pubescens. 17 and 17-1 are Anaphalis margaritacea.
"Plants of Coastal BC" Pojar & Mackinnon gives the name as P. glycyrrhiza - Licorice Fern "also known as P. vulgare". P. scouleri "rarely found far from salt spray" on the outer coast. P. amorphum has bitter rhizomes & seems to occur in rock crevices & favour higher elevations (never seen it personally). Yours looks like the plant I identify (& occasionally chew) as P. glycyrrhiza. Nibbling the root is optional. Get the book if you can. Great value for money. Widely available. You have a lot of plants there. It looks like you found Arctostaphylos columbiana to me - the one looking a bit like a mini Arbutus menziesii. gb
The smaller leaved Polypodium looks the same as P. glycyrrhiza labelled at UBC Botanical Garden but the other one has leaves that are atleast twice as long. There's one pic comparing the leaf to my hand. Quite a handsome Polypodium growing up the side of mossy rock. abgardeneer, thank you very much for those ID's. I've updated some and am reviewing the others on eFlora BC.
I have included illustrations of P. scouleri & P. amorphum, as well as P. glycurrhiza from the Eflora of BC. The others in the genus don't help with your larger specimen either. I have seen P. amorphum now that my memory is jogged. gb
Is it me or are the images on eflora mixed up? From the line-drawings you added (thanks!), P. glycurrhiza looks like my Polypodium2 which has a pointed leaflet tip. The other Polypodium I added, which I notice growing up tree trunks and fallen logs looks most like p. scouleri. It also looks like the plant labelled at UBC as P. glycurrhiza growing up a trunk. I should'a grabbed and chewed a root to notice the difference.
In reviewing most of my books for P. glycurrhiza, majority say that it is summer dormant. The images were taken on August 30th. Hmmmm - now what should I think.
I believe the plant shown in the picture "Shadow1" was identified on this forum not too long ago... but I don't remember what it was!
I realized I actually have a copy of "Plants of Coastal British Columbia" but forgot I had it. Could the Shadow1 be Trientalis latifolia? I've just updated the Anaphalis. That reddish succulent (Shadow12) kinda looks like Sedum integrifolium. Does Shadow14 look like Saxifraga ferruginea? Shadow8 kinda looks like Chimaphila umbellata. What do y'all think?
Re: P. glycyrrhiza. I have taken a # of pics of these & just had a look ot them. My observation is that the young fronds have the more rounded tips. As they mature they develop the more serrated edge & pointed tip. Summer dormancy is, in my observation, more a matter of decreased air & soil humidity than a inherent seasonal cycle. Where the substrate stays juicy & the humidity stays up, they can remain green & grow all summer. gb.
