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Wildflowers . . . the vegetation of Randolph . .
. has probably changed more The late Randolphian Arthur Stanley Pease, author of Flora of Coos County, noted that 186 of the 659 species of flowering plants and ferns actually collected in Randolph before 1924 were non-native species. Even at that point in history, the influence of a growing American population penetrating deeper and deeper into the northern forests had caused changes in the vegetation. Humans and their beasts of burden had become vehicles or vectors for seed dispersal, along with insects, mammals, birds, the wind, and the streams. With the seemingly countless flowering plants and ferns in the Randolph forest, it is beyond the scope of this guide to attempt to describe and locate them all. So, for identification of the complete array of flowers this area has to offer, please refer to a wildflower guide—Peterson’s and Newcomb’s are favorites. The information below simply adds a bit of natural history for a few flowers you are guaranteed to see. By the way, Arthur Stanley Pease has a fine essay, “Notes on the Randolph Flora,” on page 211 of Randolph Old and New. Woodland wildflowers bloom more commonly in spring, while wildflowers of forest openings and fields are seen mostly in late summer and fall. The woodland flowers devote their energy to making leaves and flowers as early as possible each spring, so as to catch the spring sunlight before the leaves of the understory and canopy trees above shade them completely by summer. The leaves of these understory plants will look ratty and used up by the time August rolls around, their seeds produced and their work done. On the other hand, wildflowers in open locations with sunlight all summer long devote their springtime energies towards growing tall. If they can’t at least equal the height of neighboring grasses and other “weedy” annual plants, the flowers they send out will be covered and missed by potential pollinators in spite of their colorful advertising. Interestingly, along the Four Soldiers Path, much of the cut over areas have woodland flowers on the treadway, right out in the open. In a few years, they will be out competed by the sun loving late summer plants, grasses, and other early successional shrubs. Following is a short natural history of two plants you will likely come across in the spring woods, and two you can see in large numbers later in the summer along Stag Hollow Road or in some of the open areas along Four Soldiers Path. Spring Woods Bunchberry – Also known as Canada Dogwood, Bunchberry is a small perennial shrub that spreads vegetatively across sections of forest floor, creating dense mats of green at many spots along the Four Soldiers Path. It is native to New Hampshire and is common at all elevations in the Randolph area except for the highest summits of the Presidentials. Its white flower—actually a cluster of flowers—will bloom June through August, at which time the red berries produced appear bunched together on each plant. These berries are rather tasteless, but were used in colonial times as survival food. It is likely that the four soldiers at Pond of Safety found bunchberries rather appealing.
Red Trillium – This spring flower of the woods is a member of the Lily family and is found all along Four Soldiers Path in May. The native Red Trillium, most commonly found here, can at times be purple, pink, or even white. It has many common names including Stinking Benjamin (from its pungent, unpleasant scent that attracts carrion-eating pollinators such as flies and beetles), Wake-Robin, Toadshade, and Whip-poor-will Flower. Its close relative, Painted Trillium, is found along the path intermittently. Trillium are often found among carpets of False Lily-of-the-Valley, Rose Twisted-stalk, Clintonia, Trout Lilly, and Sessile-leaved Bellwort.
Open Areas Canada Goldenrod – A tall, perennial plant with numerous small, yellow flowers in pyramid-shaped clusters at the top of single, leafy stems. Also known as Meadow Goldenrod, or Tall Goldenrod, this plant is an important source of nectar for honeybees. This species of Goldenrod does not tolerate frequent disturbances, so it is mainly found growing in perennial crops, abandoned fields, ditches, roadsides, and open woodlands. A typical goldenrod plant averages 3,070 seeds per plant. Interestingly, goldenrod releases a chemical that represses the growth of nearby plants, such as Sugar Maples.
New England Aster – New England Asters—a long with Purple-stemmed Asters and other bluish-flowered members of the Aster family such as Chickory and Coneflower—can be found in the same areas inhabited by Goldenrods. The native New England Aster, though certainly not widespread, does prefer moister open areas and is distinguishable by its two- to six-foot height. Aster is a Greek word meaning star, fitting the star-like Aster blossoms, so numerous on individual plants. A bright yellow flower disc is surrounded by blue-purple rays. Hardy in the field—often the last flowers remaining at the time of autumn’s first frost—but not hardy in the vase, Asters contribute little to a wild flower bouquet, so best to leave them be.
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