The Letter “P X 3” – Can you name the “P” creatures? The first “P” has chewed the bark off of at least 57 Red Pine tress in a small area of the Alton Grange. Interesting that numerous Hemlock and scattered deciduous saplings were untouched except for one sapling. The second “P” was calling throughout the Hockley Valley Nature Preserve. This very large excavation was found this past Monday before the snow arrived. The third “P” at least 36 of them took over our bird feeders once the temperatures dropped accompanied by the falling snow.
A word that I have not uttered or thought about for probably thirty years popped into my head when looking at this picture of …….Lenticels. Although I was able to associate the word with the horizontal lines found on the Birch tree trunk I remembered nothing about the structure or function of Lenticels. “Raised circular, for sale oval or elongated areas on stems and roots are known as lenticels.” After reading this I saw lenticels everywhere..on my carrots, beets, apples, potatoes and houseplants. Lenticels function as pores to allow for the exchange of gases. It’s how tissues within stems, trunks and roots get oxygen. For some tree species such as the Pignut Hickory and Northern Spicebush, the shape of the lenticels can help with winter identification. http://www.namethatplant.net/gallery/gallery_glossary.shtml?term=lenticel Split Rock side trail, Bruce Trail, Mono, ON
On Tuesday Jan. 26th, Phil Bird from the CVC will be giving an illustrated talk about some of the unique fishes found in the Credit River watershed. Presentation will start at 7:30pm at the Orangeville & District Seniors Centre, 26th Bythia Street, Orangeville. Did you know that all of the fishes shown below are found in the Credit River?
