Field identification of Sedges (the genus Carex) of Northwestern Connecticut: a 2-day Workshop.
This plant identification workshop focuses on the most diverse genus of vascular plants in Connecticut: Carex, or the “sedges” sensu stricto. Considered by many a “cryptic” (i.e., hard-to-identify) group, the sedges are actually a well-behaved taxonomic group, with relatively little hybridization, that have high value as indicator species of hydrologic regime and fertility regime, and the vast majority of species are identifiable with no more than 10X magnification. This workshop will focus on field identification, ecology, and indicator value of wetland Carex species. The workshop will emphasize development of field identification skills, as opposed to collection and keying out of specimens in the lab. On the first day, we will visit wetlands in and around White Memorial Conservation Center, in Litchfield, CT. This 4000-acre sanctuary contains a great variety of wetland types. The second day will begin at Aton Forest, a research forest in Norfolk and Colebrook, CT, that is especially rich in northern-affinity wetlands. After Aton Forest, we will visit several calcareous wetlands in the marble districts of northwest Connecticut. Field days will begin at 09:00 and end ~18:00. There will be an optional lab session on the evening of the 7th, on the first floor of the dormitory at White Memorial Conservation Center. The running of the workshop is conditional upon a minimum enrollment of 12 people. Decision as to whether or not the workshop will run will be made July 2nd. Enrollment is limited to 15 people, so those who are sure they want to take the workshop should contact Bill Moorhead (contact info below) as soon as possible to reserve their space.
NOTE: for people working toward New England Wildflower Society (NEWFS) Regular or Advanced Field Botany certificates, this workshop can be counted as 1 elective course in the Regular Field Botany program, or 1 core course in the Advanced Field Botany Program.
Each participant should bring: a good quality hand lens with at least 10X magnification; fine-pointed forceps that can be carried in the field, hip or chest waders, his/her choice of insect repellant, sun protection, etc. The waders are not absolutely essential, but participants should be in any case prepared be in thigh-deep water/muck some of the time. A waterproof field notebook and collecting bags are highly recommended.
Taxonomy will follow Flora of North America Volume 23, with exceptions noted when Arthur Haines draft Flora Novae Angliae differs.
This workshop is sponsored by Aton Forest, Inc.
Instructor: Bill Moorhead, Consulting Field Botanist, 486 Torrington Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759. Telephone: 860-567-4920. Email: whmoorhead@optonline.net.
Dates: Tues July 7 - Wed July 8, 2009. Field days will begin at 09:00, and end ~18:00. An attendance-optional lab session will occur ~19:00-21:00 on July 7th, on the first floor of the dormitory.
Accommodations and amenities: dormitory-style overnight accommodations at White Memorial Conservation Center on the night of July 7th are included in the tuition. This includes use of a kitchen on the night of the 7th and morning of the 8th. Overnight accommodations on the night of the 6th and the 8th may be available, for an extra fee that is dependent on the number of people that need accommodations. Lunch and liquid refreshments on both July 7th and 8th are included in the tuition. Transportation to field sites will be provided.
Tuition: $225.00. Payment in full, by cash or check, is due by the beginning of the workshop on July 7th, 2009. Credit or debit card payment is not accepted (sorry). An advance deposit is not required, but those who wish to take the workshop should contact Bill Moorhead by telephone or email as soon as possible. Enrollment will be on a first-come-first-served basis, and is limited to 15. As the running of the workshop is conditional upon a minimum enrollment, the final decision as to whether the workshop will be run will be made by July 2nd. Any advanced payments will refunded in full if the workshop is cancelled.
For more information, contact Bill Moorhead (860-567-4920, whmoorhead@optonline.net) or John Anderson, Executive Director, Aton forest, Inc. (860-542-5125, contact@atonforest.org)
