5/26/2008

A Memorial Day hike to Tioga Falls in northern Hardin County, Ky., rewarded with a multitude of botanical treasures. This short hike (approximately 2 miles) is located about a 30-mile drive from downtown Louisville and provides an excellent glimpse of Kentucky woodland that is remarkably free from invasive exotic plants (there is a considerable invasive exotic plant population along the railroad tracks; Ailanthus altissima, Paulownia tomentosa, Lonicera japonica). The site is formally part of Fort Knox and is sometimes closed for training exercises so call ahead. For trail information and for a detailed description of this fascinating site, go to http://www.radclifftourism.org/tiogafalls.shtml.

Tioga falls is part of a spring-fed stream that cascades down Muldraugh Hill, the topographic division between the Salt and Green Valleys. The geology is primarily Devonian limestone with thin shale veins at periodic intervals. The terrain is fairly steep in spots with numerous stone outcroppings and periodic weeps that together, create a varied environment for plants, from dry to moist. Much of the site was heavily impacted by a 1974 tornado or two that removed much of the over-story and left the site open to re-growth. There are few large old trees on the site but on today’s hike, we spotted several old Quercus alba (White Oak) with trunks in excess of 45” diameter.

The mile-long hike to the falls includes a substantial elevation change with concomitant change in vegetation. The listing below provides a general overview of the plant species encountered along the hike. The list is not meant to be all inclusive.

                          Tioga Falls                                            Heuchera americana                                         Sedum ternatum                                 Polygonatum biflorum

Tioga Falls botanical listing; 5/26/2008 * denotes exotic plant species Latin Name Common Name Comments Tree Canopy Acer negundo box elder along railroad tracks, uncommon along trail Acer rubrum red maple far less comon than A. saccharum Acer saccharum sugar maple dominant species; maximum trunk diameter ~30"  Carya ovata shagbark hickory spotty, in small groves Fagus grandifolia American beech common up to about 24" DBH Fraxinus pennsylvanicum green ash second in dominance to A. saccharum Liriodendron tulipifera tuliptree, yellow poplar more common in lower elevation areas; several 40"+ Nyssa sylvatica black gum uncommon Paulownia tomentosa* princess tree uncommon, along railroad tracks Quercus alba white oak common at low and mid elevations Quercus rubra red oak common throughout Ulmus americana American elm spotty Ulmus rubra red elm spotty Woody understory Ailanthus altissima* tree of heaven common along railroad tracks Asimina triloba pawpaw common Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam common Cercis canadensis eastern redbud uncommon Hydrangea arborescens smooth hydrangea everywhere Lindera benzoin spicebush common Lonicera amurense* Amur honeysuckle infrequent Lonicera japonica* Japanese honeysuckle along railroad tracks Ostrya virginiana hop hornbeam rare, on upper slopes Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virgina creeper common Ptelia trifoliata bladdernut common along mid elevation trail Smilax sp. greenbriar anybody's guess which one Symphoricarpos orbiculatus indian currant common along trail Toxicodendron radicans poison ivy everywhere Viburnum rufidulum rusty black haw spotty along trail Herbaceous understory Adiantum pedatum maidenhair fern spotty, along base of outcroppings or hill bottoms Antennaria plantaginifolia pussytoes uncommon, on limestone outcroppings Aqueligia canadense columbine uncommon on limestone outcrops Arisaema triphyllum jack in the pulpit common in moist areas Asarum canadense wild ginger common Campanula americana tall bellflower uncommon Claytonia virginica spring beauty common Delphinium tricorne dwarf larkspur low to mid-elevation sites Dentaria laciniata cutleaf toothwort common Desmodium nudiflorum naked tick trefoil spotty Dodecatheon media shooting star spotty in moist areas Eupatorium rugosum white snakeroot common Eupatorium fistulosum Hollow Joe-pye weed common Erythronium americanum trout lily spotty in moist areas Geum canadense white avens uncommon along trail Hepatica acutiloba sharp-lobed liver leaf uncommon along moist outcroppings Heuchera americana coral bells on sunny outcrops Hydrophyllum virginianum waterleaf low elevation, damp spots Impatens capensis jewelweed common Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells common in moist areas Oenothera biennis evening primrose uncommon Oxalis stricta yellow woodsorrel uncommon Phlox divaricata woodland phlox common Phytolacca americana pokeweed common in recently disturbed areas Podophyllum peltatum mayapple common Polystichum acrosticoides Christmas fern common Prunella vulgaris heal all uncommon Sanguinaria canadense bloodroot common along trail edge Scutellaraia incana downy scullcap spotty Senecio aureus golden ragwort common Thalictrum thalictroides rue anemone common Trillium flexipes drooping trillium uncommon along lower elevations Trillium nivale snow trillium uncommon along drier slopes Viola sororia common violet common

© 2003 Yew Dell Gardens - P.O. Box 1334 - Crestwood, KY 40014 - ph:502.241.4788
Yew Dell Gardens Home | About Yew Dell Gardens | Contacts/Directions | Events & Programs Travels With Paul | Yew Dell Plants | The Gardens | Theodore Klein Plant Awards Membership & Donations | Volunteers | Weddings and Rentals | Newsletter Visiting the Gardens | Photo Gallery | Yew Dell Gift Shop