A slight change in elevation has created another temporary wet area on our trail where you may see wetland plants like the Saltmarsh Morning Glory and more of the Starsedges. Be on the lookout for a small blue-purple flower to the right of the path, which is Hairy Melochia (Melochia spicata), seen in the picture. The trialing branches and flowers are commonly interspersed among the tangle of green along the trail so once you notice it you will see it everywhere.
As you round the bend, you will see a patch of Swamp Fern. Take a look on the underside of the leaves and find the spore carriers (sporangia) arranged in two lines along the leaflet veins. The arrangement of the sporangia are importantant in identifying ferns. Remember they coated the underside of the leaves on the Giant Leather Fern. The Swamp Fern is tolerant of drier conditions than the Giant Leather Fern but when you see patches of it you know that area is a bit more moist than the surrounding terrain.
Annual plants have evolved the strategy of growing and reproducing quickly to take advantage of water and sunlight conditions that are optimal for them. There are three annuals that are abundant on the trails. They are in the legume family (Fabacae) and their leaves and growth forms look similar but they can be identified by their flowers and pods. The foliage and beans feed insects and animals although they can be poisonous to livestock. These plants fix nitrogen from the air which is important in replenishing nutrients in the soil.
Indian Jointvetch ( Aeschynomene indica)is a non-native annual that you will see here in large bunches. It has a pretty yellow flower and scalloped pods as seen in the picture. Indian Jointvetch is common but not considered an invasive at this time
Bladderpod (Sesbania vesicaria) and Danglepod (Sesbania herbacea) are native annuals, also in the legume family, that sprout up to a height of 4-8 ft or so. The flowers are short-lived but the pods persist through the winter and are easy to identify. The Bladderpod flowers are bright orange and the pods usually contain 2 beans. Danglepod has a yellow folded flower and a long skinny pod containing many tiny beans. You may not see Danglepod here but be on the lookout for them later as you continue on the trail.
