FIELD TRIPS OF THE CLUB 

 Trip of April 12 — Easter Sunday — To Branchville, Conn. 



Easter Sunday was not the warm, sunny day that people 

 usually look forward to; instead the day was cold, damp and 

 overcast. However Torrey members are hardy and a group ap- 

 peared. Because it had rained almost every day the preceding 

 week the mosses and lichens were in excellent condition. 

 Bartramia pomijormis was discovered for the first time in the 

 region in many isolated patches and Buxbaumia aphylla was 

 really almost common. It was gratifying to note the interest 

 aroused in these tiny plants as everyone eventually knelt down 

 to examine a fruiting body with a hand lens. One magnificent 

 fruiting patch of Baeomyces roseus was seen in the morning. 



It is always a delight these days to find virgin forest. The 

 hemlock forest of the morning trail is one of rare beauty. The 

 stand of Cypripedium acaule was just making its appearance 

 above the ground in the center of the hemlock forest. However, 

 everyone could imagine what a magnificent sight so many 

 orchids in bloom would make. 



Plants were easily identified but few were in bloom. Hepa- 

 tica, Trillium, Early Saxifrage, Antennaria, and Golden Saxi- 

 frage were the only herbaceous plants in flower. 



Recognition of plants by taste proved to be an interesting 

 topic. Those who had never tasted partridge berry, wintergreen, 

 black birch, water cress, toothwort, and dwarf ginseng partook 

 of the opportunity. 



We digressed from our botanical studies for a short time 

 in the afternoon to become amateur herpetologists. The leader 

 brought some spotted salamander eggs from out a pond in the 

 woods and discussed the two types of masses laid by one species. 

 Wood frog tadpoles and water newts were also seen. 



Yellow Birch and Beech were dominating species of the 

 forest trail taken in the afternoon — both attaining to unusual 

 sizes. An Alternate-leaved Dogwood was the rarest tree ob- 

 served. 



Dr. Sharp, director of Life's Camps peped us up for our long 

 afternoon trek by making a large fire in the Recreation Hall 

 fireplace of Life's Girls' Camp and preparing a huge pot of 

 coffee. 



Eleanor Friend 



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