Flora and Fauna of Marion

Bobcat prints at Mary's Pond

This list of plants and animals was compiled from a survey of Marion residents in 1994 and 1995.  Since that time there have been additions to the list of both plants and animals.  If you would like to make an addition to the list, or have any other comments please contact us at openspace@marionma.gov.

Flora (Does not include mosses liverworts fungi)

Need help with plant Identification?  Send us a photo of the plant!  GoBotany is a great webpage for information and identification guides at the New England Wild Flower Society.

Links are provided to the USDA Plants data base. 

TREES:

To identify trees in winter a great book is Winter Keys to Woody Plants of Maine.

Try V-Tree the University of Virginia tree identification app. The University of Virginia site is http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/main.htm

 Gymnosperms

fir, Abies balsamea

Atlantic white cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides

red cedar, Juniperus virginiana

white spruce, Picea glauca

Austrian pine, Pinus nigra (introduced)

eastern (Canada) hemlock, Tsuga Canadensis

pitch pine, Pinus rigida

white pine, Pinus strobus

 Dicots

Norway maple, Acer platanoides (introduced)

sycamore maple (planetree maple),  Acer pseudoplatanus (introduced)

red (swamp) maple, Acer rubrum

horse-chestnut,  Aesculus hippocastanum (introduced)

yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis

grey birch, Betula populifolia

American hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana

mockernut hickory, Carya cordiformis

hawthorn, Crataegus sp. (some hawthorn species are introduced)

American beech, Fagus grandifolia

European beech, Fagus sylvatica (introduced)

white ash, Fraxinus americana

bristly (honey) locust, Gleditsia triacanthos

American holly, Ilex opaca

black tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica

American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis

London planetree, Platanus acerifolia (introduced)

pin cherry, Prunus pensylvanica

black cherry, Prunus serotina

apple, Malus pumila (introduced)

white oak, Quercus alba    

swamp-white oak, Quercus bicolor

scarlet oak, Quercus coccinea

scrub oak, Quercus ilicifolia

red oak, Quercus rubra

black oak, Quercus velutina

black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia

sassafras Sassafras albidum

American linden, Tilia americana

Cucumber tree, Magnolia acuminata

SHRUBS:

bog rosemary, Andromeda polifolia, var. glaucophylla

sweet pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia

American hazelnut, Corylus americana

huckleberry, Gaylussacia sp.

American witchhazel, Hamamelis virginiana

inkberry, Ilex glabra

winterberry holly (black alder), Ilex verticillata

sheep laurel, Kalmia angustifolia

bog laurel, Kalmia polifolia

spice bush, Lindera benzoin

male berry, Lyonia ligustrina

bayberry, Myrica pensylvanica

Japanese knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum  (introduced)

beach plum, Prunus maritima

swamp azalea, Rhododendron viscosum

wing-rib-sumac, Rhus copallina

smooth sumac, Rhus glabra

staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina

poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix

multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora  (introduced)

swamp rose, Rosa palustris

rugosa rose, Rosa rugosa (introduced)

pussy willow, Salix discolor

high bush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum

HERBACEOUS:

For wildflower ID try the new Wildflowers of New England: Timber Press Field Guide, byTed Elliman

yarrow, Achillea millefolium (introduced)

groundnut, Apios americanadogbane, Apocynum sp.

wild columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

lesser burdock, Arctium minus

seabeach Sandwort, Honckenya peploides

jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum

dusty miller, Artemisia stelleriana (introduced)

milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

New England aster, Aster novae-angliae

salt marsh aster, Symphyotrichum tenuifolium

mustard, Brassica rapa (introduced)

sea‑rocket, Cakile edentula

trumpet vine, Campsis radicans

shephard's purse, Capsella bursa‑pastoris

painted-cup (Indian paintbrush), Castilleja coccinea

Asiatic bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus  (introduced)

knapweed, Centaurea maculosa (introduced)

ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare (introduced)

chicory, Cichorium intybus (introduced)

pink lady’s slipper, Cypripedium acaule

purple thistle, Cirsium altissimum

Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota

bindweed, Calystegia hederacea (introduced)

Deptford pink, Dianthus armeria (introduced)

daisy fleabane, Erigeron annuus

Joe-Pye-weed, Eupatorium maculatum

common strawberry, Fragaria virginiana

wintergreen (checkerberry or teaberry), Gaultheria procumbens

sea-poppy (horn-poppy), Glaucium flavum (introduced)

sea milkwort, Glaux maritima

ground-ivy,Glechoma hederacea (introduced)

rattlesnake plantains, Goodyera

bog orchid, Habenaria

cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum

hawkweed, Hieracium

bluet, Houstonia caerulea

St. Johnswort, Hypericum

jewelweed, Impatiens capensis

morning glory, Ipomoea

blueflag, Iris versicolor

marsh elder, Iva frutescens

two-flowered Cynthia, Krigia biflora

beach pea, Lathyrus japonicus

everlasting pea, Lathyrus latifolius (introduced)

sea-lavender, Limonium carolinianum

butter-and-eggs, Linaria vulgaris (introduced)

cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis

water-horehound, Lycopus

yellow loosestrife, Lysimachia terrestris

purple loosestrife, Lythrum virgatum (introduced)

Canada mayflower, Maianthemum canadense

Indian cucumber, Medeola virginiana

partridge berry, Mitchella repens

indian pipes, Monotropa uniflora

beech drops, Epifagus virginiana

forget-me-not, Myosotis

sweet gale, Myrica gale

bayberry, Morella pennsylvanica

water lily, Nymphaea odorata

evening primrose, Oenothera biennis

wood sorel, Oxalis montana

cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon

pokeweed, Phytolacca americana

seaside‑plantain, Plantago mmaritima, var. juncoides

knotweed, Polygonum

rough-fruited cinquefoil, Potentilla recta

lion’s foot, Prenanthes serpentaria

buttercup, Ranunculus repens

poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans

blackberry, Rubus allegheniensis

prickly dewberry, Rubus flagellaris

swamp dewberry, Rubus hisbidus

black-eyed susan, Rudbeckia hirta

swamp dock, Rumex verticillatus

arrowhead (swamp-potato), Sagittaria

glasswort, Salicornia

elderberry, Sambucus canadensis

bouncing bet, Saponaria officinalis (introduced)

stone crop, Sedum sarmentosum

catbrier, Smilax glauca

common greenbrier, Smilax rotundifolia

nightshade, Solanum dulcamara (introduced)

common nightshade, Solanum nigrum (introduced)

seaside goldenrod, Solidago sempervirens

goldenrod, Solidago

duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza

skunk cabbage,  Symplocarpus foetidus

common tansy, Tanacetum vulgare (introduced)

dandelion, Taraxacum officinale

germander, Teucrium canadense

spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana

starflower, Trientalis borealis

rabbit’s-foot clover, Trifolium arvense (introduced)

red clover, Trifolium pratense (introduced)

white clover, Trifolium repens (introduced)

trillium, Trillium

common mullein, Verbascum thapsus

purple vetch, Vicia Americana, subsp. americana

violet, Viola

sea‑burdock, Xanthium strumarium

Hayscented fern off of County Road

FERNS and FERN ALLIES:

A easy to use fern guide made by one of the MOSAC folks is the Pocket Guide to Common Ferns for Delineating Bordering Vegetated Wetlands in Massachusetts.

hayscented fern, Dennstaedtia punctilobula

running pine (Christmas green), Lycopodium complanatum

tree clubmoss, Lycopodium obscurum

bog clubmoss, Lycopodium appressa

ostrich fern, Matteuccia pensylvanica

cinnamon fern, Osmunda cinnamomea

royal fern, Osmunda regalis

New York fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis

Massachusetts fern, Thelypteris simulata

marsh fern, Thelypteris palustris

interrupted fern, Osmunda claytoniana

Polypody fern, Polypodium virginianum

GRASS and GRASSLIKES

beach grass, Ammophilia brevilulata

long sedge, Carex folliculata

marsh straw sedge, Carex hormathodes

strawcolored flatsedge, Cyperus strigosus

saltmeadow grass, Leptochloa fusca

spike grass, Distichlis spicata

dwarf spike rush, Eleocharis parvula

switchgrass, Panicum virgatum

common reed, Phragmites australis (introduced)

goose grass, Puccinellia maritima

woolgrass, Scirpus cyperinus

blue-eyed grasses, Sisyrinchium sp. (introduced)

smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora

saltmeadow cordgrass, Spartina patens

prairie cordgrass, Spartina pectinata

narrow-leaved cattail, Typha angustifolia

common cattail, Typha latifolia

eelgrass, Zostera marina

Fauna

Links are provided to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Animal Diversity Web at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

MAMMALS

shorttail shrew, Blarina brevicuada  (ADW)

coyote, Canis latrans (DFW) (ADW)

starnose mole, Condylura cristata (ADW)

opposum, Didelphis virginiana (ADW)

southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans (ADW)

woodchuck,  Marmota monax (DFW) (ADW)

striped skunk,  Mephitis mephitis (DFW) (ADW)

meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus (ADW)

house mouse, Mus musculus (ADW) (introduced)

long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata (ADW)

mink,  Neovison vison (ADW)

little brown myotis (bat) , Myotis lucifugus (DFW) (ADW) about bats in Massachusetts

whitetail deer, Odocoileus virginianus (DFW) (ADW)

muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (ADW)

hairytail mole, Parascalops breweri (ADW)

white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus (ADW)

harbor seal, Phoca vitulina (ADW)

racoon, Procyon lotor (DFW) (ADW)

Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus (ADW) (introduced)

eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus (ADW)

eastern gray squirrel,  Sciurus carolinensis (DFW) (ADW)

Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus (DFW) (ADW)

red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (DFW) (ADW)

eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus (ADW)

gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus (DFW) (ADW)

red fox, Vulpes vulpes (DFW) (ADW)

meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudsonius (ADW)

fisher, Martes pennant (DFW) (ADW)

river otter Lontra Canadensis (ADW)

REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS:

Links are provided to UMass Amherst Snakes of Massachusetts   Frog calls can be found at the Animal Diversity Web.

spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum (ADW)

eastern American toad, Anaxyrus americanus (ADW)

snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina (ADW)

eastern painted turtle, Chrysemys picta(ADW)

spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata (ADW)

northern black racer, Colubar constrictor (UMA) (ADW)

northern spring peeper, Pseudacris crucifer (ADW)

eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum (UMA) (ADW)

diamond backed terrapin,  Malaclemys terrapin (DFW) (ADW)

eastern smooth green snake, Opheodrys vernalis (UMA) (ADW)

redback salamander, Plethodon cinereus (ADW)

bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus (ADW)

wood frog, Lithobates sylvaticus  (ADW)

eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina (DFW) (ADW)

eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis (UMA) (ADW)

BIRDS:

For bird ID we like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Merlin Bird ID app, or the Birds of Massachusetts Field Guide by Stan Tekiel. Links are to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site All About Birds.

spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius

Cooper’s hawk, Accipiter cooperii

northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus

red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

wood duck, Aix sponsa

green-winged teal, Anas crecca carolinensis

mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

American black duck, Anas rubripes

ruby throat hummingbird, Archilochus colubris

great blue heron, Ardea herodias

greater scaup duck, Aythya marila nearctica

canvasback, Aythya valisineria

cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedroium

ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus

brant, Branta bernicla

Canada goose, Branta canadensis

great horned owl, Bubo viginiananus

bufflehead, Bucephala albeola

common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula

red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis

broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus

green-backed heron, Butorides striatus

northern flicker, Calaptes auratus

American goldfinch, Cardeulis tristis

northern cardinal,  Cardinalis cardinalis

house finch, Carpodacus mexicanus (introduced)

purple finch, Carpodacus purpureus

Great egret, Ardea alba

turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus

brown creeper, Certhia americana

belted kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica

plover, Charadrius vociferus

snow goose, Chen hyperborea

marsh hawk (harrier), Circus cyaneus

Long-tailed duck (old-squaw), Clangula hyemalis

northern flicker, Colaptes auratus

bob-white (quail), Colinus virginianus

eastern wood-peewee, Conopus virens

crow, Corvus brachyrynchos

fish crow, Corvus ossifragus

blue jay, Cyanocitta critata

mute swan, Cygnus olor (introduced)

downy woodpecker, Dendrocopus pubescens

hairy woodpecker, Dendrocopus villosus

yellow warbler, Dendroica petechia

catbird, Dumetella carolinensis

yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris

American kestrel, Falco sparverius

little blue heron, Egretta caerulea

American coot, Fulcia americana

common loon, Gavia immer

evening grosbeak, Coccothrustes vespertinus

American oyster-catcher, Hoematopus palliatus

Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula

orchard oriole, Icterus spurius

tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor

dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis

herring gull, Larus argentatus

laughing gull, Larus atricilla

Great Black-backed gull Larus marinus

snowy egret, Egretta thula

white-winged scoter, Melanitta fusca

surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata

wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo

song sparrow, Melospiza melodia

common merganser, Mergus merganser

mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater

snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus        (on Bird I.)

black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

eastern screech owl, Otus asio

osprey,  Pandion haliaetus

black-capped chickadee,  Poecile atricapillus

tufted titmouse,  Baeolophus bicolor

house sparrow, Passer domesticus  (introduced)

double-creasted comorant, Phalacrocorax auritus

European cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

ring-necked pheasent, Phasianus colchicus (introduced)

woodcock, Scolopax minor

downey woodpecker, Picoides pubescens

towhee (chewink), Pipilo erythrophthalmus

pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps

purple (common) grackle, Quiscalas quiscula

eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis

eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe

ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus

red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis

common eider, Somateria mollissima

yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius

pine siskin, Spinus pinus

roseate tern Sterna dougallii

common tern, Sterna hirundo

barred owl, Strix varia

European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (introduced)

Carolina wren, Thyrothorus ludovicianus

greater yellow-legs, Tringa melanoleuca

lesser yellow-legs, Tringa flavipes

brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum

house wren, Troglodytes aedon

American robin, Turdus migratorius

eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus

mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

SHELLFISH

Links provided to the Habitat Restoration section of the University of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center or The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, among others.

jingle shell, Anomia simplex

bay scallop, Argopecten irradiens

channeled whelk, Busycotypus canaliculatus

knobbed whelk,  Busycotypus carica

blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

rock crab, Cancer irroratus

green crab, Carcinus maenas

oyster, Crassostrea virginica

common razor clam, Ensis directus

ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa

lobster, Homarus americanus

common spider crab, Libinia emarginata

horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus

periwinkle, Littorina littore (introduced)

quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria

horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus

soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria

blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

lady crab, Ovalipes ocellatus

hermit crabs, Pagurus spp.

shore shrimp, Palaemonetes spp.

fiddler crabs, Uca spp.

 BUTTERFLIES

Our inclusion of Order of Insects is limited to the Butterflies by personal choice. Links are to pages from Butterflies and Moths of North America

monarch, Danaus plexippus

cabbage white, Pieris rapae

eastern black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes

tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus

zebra swallowtail, Eurytides marcellus

sulphur,Colias sp.

great spangled fritillary, Speyeria cybele

red admiral, Vanessa atalanta

red spotted purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax

painted lady, Vanessa cardui