Hannington Swamp: Maidenhair Ferns and Jewel Beetles

TLC Staff member Torrey Archer out covenant monitoring near Bear Mountain. Photo Credit Kristen Dey.

This week TLC staff and one volunteer, Kristen Dey, tackled the Hannington swamp near Bear Mountain, Langford. After navigating through a mostly dry swamp due to our current drought, they still had to fight with waist-high skunk cabbage, head-high stinging nettles, and many prickly berry bushes! Circumnavigating the swamp they found many wondrous plants and animals. One of these was Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora), a plant similar to coralroot in that it also lacks cholorophyll and instead of photosynthesizing it parasitizes a fungus to receive it’s nutrition. It is also known as ghost plant or corpse plant. Another interesting plant encountered was the maidenhair fern, a member of the genus Adiantum which is comprised of about 200 species of these ferns. Though not rare, they are not commonly seen in our coastal forests either, and the fronds feel so delicate that you feel as if you must be stroking a maiden’s hair. Animals of all types were encountered during the visit, including large snails, a tiny Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla), a white satin moth (Leucoma salicis) and an aptly named jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. As Torrey and Kristen bushwhacked their way through the forest, they came upon a small stream they needed to cross. Lo and behold, some kind soul had constructed a bridge for them, exactly where they needed it! Fortuitous, indeed. Kristen and Torrey couldn’t resist attempting a selfie as proof that they were both there that day, with Kristen’s smile accurately depicting how they both felt at being able to access such pristine forest. Covenants protect areas like this and thankfully this place is safe forever.

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