Woodland Communities
In each of the communities covered, a photograph of the community is accompanied by a description of the soil conditions favored, the distribution of the community, and other points of interest. This summary is followed by two lists; the list entitled 'typical indicator species' includes plant species which tend to be dominant and typify the community. The second list, entitled 'Species to watch for' includes some of the rarer species which - in our area at least - tend to favor this community. Becoming familiar with the commoner species and their association with each other can be a good step toward finding rarer or more interesting plants.
Arable Farm Fields
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| Typical bare ground community with flowering Common Field Speedwell and European Field Pansy. |
Cultivated and fallow land with large stands of Wild Radish and amaranths in the background. |
Late season lush growth of Common Ragweed, Common Thorn-apple and Green Amaranth. |
The growing of crops on an agricultural scale has pretty much become a thing of the past in Cape May County, but it is not too many years ago that provide an unnatural landscape, dominated largely by either bare earth, or a monoculture of cultivated plants, according to season. Heavy use of herbicide and pesticide can further reduce opportunities for wildlife to co-exist on such land.
and mustard and cress family, then later by the goosefoots, then a number of alien species from warmer climes, especially the Amaranths and members of the nightshade family. If the soil is disturbed at any time, then the progression is halted and starts again.
| Typical indicator species |
Species to watch for |