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present on the island. The largest of these is found by 

 parking lot 5 along the Pines Nature Trail. The understory 

 of these pine stands is sparse. The dominant species is 

 Carex pensylvanica (sedge) , which forms dense mats giving 

 the area a parklike appearance. Other species such as 

 Vaccinium spp . (blueberry) , Arc tost aphylos uva-ursi 

 (bearberry) , Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower) , and 

 Tr ientalis borealis (star flower) also commonly occur under 

 the pines. 



The meadows on the island are maintained by the Refuge 

 as goose pastures. The largest of these are on Cross Farm 

 Hill and Stage Island, with smaller meadows occurring along 

 the eastern edge of North and South Pools and adjacent to 

 Subheadquarters. They are predominantly covered by such 

 grass species as Agropyron repens (witch grass) , Lolium 

 perenne (common darnel) , Phleum pratense (timothy) , Poa spp . 

 (bluegrass) , Agrostis spp . , Festuca spp . (fescue) and 

 occasionally a few patches of Secale cereale (rye) . In 

 addition to the grasses, such species as Ranunculus repens 

 (creeping buttercup) , Rumex acetosella (sheep sorrel) , 

 Trifolium spp . (clover) , Daucus carota (wild carrot) , Vicia 

 spp . (vetch) , and Convolvulus sepium (hedge bindweed) can 

 also be found growing in the meadows. 



Freshwater Habitats 



The construction of North and South Pools and the 

 damming up of Stage Island Pool greatly increased the 

 acreage of freshwater habitats on the island. In addition 

 to providing excellent waterfowl feeding and nesting areas, 

 they provide habitats for freshwater aquatic plants not 

 commonly found elsewhere on the island. Unfortunately they 

 provide ideal conditions for the establishment of Lythrum 

 salicar ia (purple loosestrife), a pest plant that covers 

 much of North and South Pools. Other plants forming large 

 colonies in the impoundments include Typha spp . (cat-tail) , 

 and Phragmites australis (reed grass). The dominant 

 floating aquatics in the impoundments are Potamogeton 

 perfoliatus (pondweed) , P. pectinatus (sago pondweed) , and 

 Lemna minor (duckweed) . Along the muddy shores extensive 

 mats of Eleocharis parvula (spike rush) have formed. Other 

 less dominant species that occur along the shores include 

 Sagittaria latifolia (arrowhead) , Lythrum hyssopifolia 

 (hyssop-leaved loosestrife), Bidens spp . (beggar-ticks), 

 Thelypter is palustr is (marsh fern) , Onoclea sensibilis 

 (sensitive fern) , Ludwigia palustris (water purslane) , 

 Lycopus spp . (water-horehound) , and Iris versicolor (blue 

 flag) . 



