Plants

These are the plants that are not only abundant in Discovery Park, but are abundant in the Puget Sound area. Upon walking through the trails of the park you should find all of these in many different areas.  

Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Red flowers on the Red-Flowering Currant

Leaf and stem of Red-Flowering Currant

Field drawing of Red-Flowering Currant

Deciduous shrub that stands erect on the forest floor. Leaves are 5-lobed, double-toothed, and have a soft texture due to fine hairs on the leaf. The stem is woody and also has fine hairs on it which make it soft to the touch. Flowers have 5 sepals, 5 petals, 5 stamens, and 1 carpel. They have a tubular shape, are arranged conically around the petiole in an alternate fashion. Leaves and flowers branch out in a palmate structure. In the spring, this plant can mainly be identified by its red-pink flowers. It also has a black berry that is not present at this time. You can find it in areas that are not heavily covered by other trees and shrubs so it has some sunlight and usually in lowland - low mountain areas.

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

Field drawing Thimbleberry leaf

Thimbleberry leaf

 This deciduous shrub stand erect off the forest floor and has 5-lobed leaves that are in a palmate structure and are double-toothed. The leaves have fine hairs on them that make them very soft. It often is referred to as "nature's toilet paper" to any backpacker or camper spending a few days in the woods. This plant can mainly be identified from touch and its leaves have a lighter green color. It has red raspberries that when plucked off, the receptacle stays on the plant which gives it the "thimble" appearance. White flowers also bloom on it. It has a woody stem and can be found in open places in the forest that have lots of sunlight. 

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Leaf of Salmonberry

Thorns on Salmonberry stem

Flower of Slamonberry

Field drawing of Salmonberry

Deciduous shrub that can stand pretty tall off the forest floor, much taller than me. It comes from the rose family so it has protruding thorns on its stem and small hair-like thorns under its leaves. The leaves are serrated and 3-compound. It has a magenta flower that has 5 sepals, 5 petals, lots of stamens, and a carpel that is covered by the stamens of the plant. There are quite a few insects that like to explore inside the flower, so don't get too personal with the flower. The plant needs lots of moisture so it is usually found in wet areas next to small creeks in the lowland - low mountain areas.

Dull Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa)

Field drawing of Dull Oregon Grape

Dull Oregon Grape

Not to be confused with the Tall Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), this shrub stands erect closer to the forest floor than some other shrubs in the Pacific Northwest. The leaves are pinnately compound, toothed, and have a dull green color with even a little brownish color on them. Their leaf vein is not as pronounced as seen in the Tall Oregon Grape which is one way you can differentiate between the two. The leaves also look similar to that of a Holly plant and are smooth/leathery to touch. Mainly identified by the yellow flowers that are clustered at the top of the shrub. Can be found in open areas with sunlight and around other trees and shrubs in the area.

Indian Plum (Omelaria cerasiformis)

Branch of Indian Plum

Field drawing of leaf of Indian Plum

This broadleaf deciduous shrub can grow to decently tall lengths, well above my height. The leaves are simple and grow in a palmate structure in bundles. At this time in the season, this shrub has neither its flowers or its berries which makes it difficult to identify. However, there is a distinct smell similar to that of cucumbers that the leaves of the plant give off when crushed which can be a good indicator. This shrub is usually found in wetter environments next to creeks or streams where it has access to sunlight.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

Western Red Cedar

Field drawing of Western Red Cedar

Evergreen conifer tree that grows to stand pretty tall. Branches are droopy and woody with scaly leaves placed alternately on the branch. The trunk of the tree is fibrous, has bark that can be easily peeled off, and gives off a sort of reddish hue. Can mainly be identified by its scaly leaves that come off the tree in a spray-like fashion. During pollination, the tips of the tree turn a reddish color and cones grow all over the tree. The cones grow erect on the tree in clusters and also have a scale-like appearance. Can be found all around the low-mid forests of the Pacific Northwest in rather densely packed areas of growth.

Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

Leaf of Bigleaf Maple

Opposite structure of leaves

Flowers of Bigleaf Maple

Field drawing of Bigleaf maple

In the spring, this this deciduous broadleaf tree can be easily identified by its drooping flowers that eventually drop off onto the ground as new leaves begin to grow back onto the tree. Can stand very tall and grow very thick trunks. Leaves are 5-lobed and big which is the easiest way to distinguish it from a Vine Maple or Douglas Maple. The leaves come off in an opposite structure and when growing are a light green color. The edges of the leaves are serrated and there is an intricate venous structure in the leaf. The bark on the trunk is ridged and a lighter brown color-almost dark gray color. 

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Douglas-fir branch and cone

Field drawing of Douglas-fir cone

This evergreen conifer can be found in recently disturbed areas as it is a colonizer in the succession of the area, built to be able to adapt to harsh environments. One of the main characteristics that separates the Douglas-fir is the conical distribution of the needles on the branches. The needles have round tips and are flat. The cones are brown and scaly that has floppy protrusions that look like "rat butts" (3 pointed tips). It has thick bark that protects the tree from fire. These trees can be found in a wide abundance of forests except at high elevations.