Plant Songs

A Field Guide to New England Plant Communities, and their Soundscapes

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song for a stream/

lycopodium obscurum/

alone

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Magicicada septendecim spends the first 17 years of its life underground as a juvenile, feeding on the juices of plant roots - something we can all relate to. They emerge all at once after 17 years, when the soil temperature at about 20cm is above 17.9 degrees C; upon doing so they find a suitable place to molt, mate, lay their eggs, and die. 

The synchronization is to starve out and subsequently overwhelm predators, ensuring large amounts of the species can still reproduce. 

Sources:

http://magicicada.org/magicicada/m_septendecim/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magicicada_septendecim

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Phasianus colchicus - Ring-necked Pheasant 

“Loud crowing caw-cawk! followed by a resonant beating of the wings. When alarmed flies off with a loud cackle. 

Typically feeds on ground, sometimes in trees. On ground, scratches with feet or digs with bill to uncover food.”

Introduced to the United States from Asia as a game bird.

Sources:

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/ring-necked-pheasant

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Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush Blueberry  

Region: L48(N), CAN(N)

Mature Size: 12 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: diverse soil textures, shade tolerant, fire tolerant, high salinity tolerance, acidic soil

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 7

Leaf Color: reddish-green spring leaves, blue-green in summer, red/yellow/purple/orange in fall

Flower Color: white or pink flowers, berries that are blue

Wildlife Benefit: loved by all; twigs and foliage eaten by deer; berries eaten by bears, gray catbird, american robin, and countless others

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=vaco

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=VACO

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=n470

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/highbush-blueberry

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Typha latifolia - Water Sausage

Region: L48(N), CAN(N), AK(N), HI(I)

Mature Size: 8 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: diverse soil texture, diverse pH, intermediate shade tolerance, high anaerobic tolerance (standing water required), medium salinity tolerance (brackish conditions okay)

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 10

Leaf Color: green leaves/stalks; tan-brown in the fall

Flower Color: yellowish male flowers, greenish female

Wildlife Benefit: cover for insects, important nesting and food source for ducks

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=tyla

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=TYLA

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a407

http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Typha+latifolia

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Tsuga canadensis - Eastern Hemlock

Region: L48(N), CAN(N)

Mature Size: 100+ ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: coarse soils, acidic, shade tolerant

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 7

Leaf Color: dark green with white bands

Flower Color: tan-brown cones

Wildlife Benefit: nesting material for warblers; cover for deer and songbirds; seeds eaten by chickadees

Sources: 

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=tsca

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=TSCA

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g100

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/eastern-hemlock

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=849

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tsuga+canadensis

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Tilia americana - Basswood

Region: L48(N), CAN(NI)

Mature Size: 100 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: coarse soils, circumneutral pH, shade tolerant

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9

Leaf Color: dark green; pale green to pale yellow fall color

Flower Color: pale yellow

Wildlife Benefit: extremely attractive to bees 

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TIAM

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=TIAM

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a917

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/american-basswood

http://www.pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tilia+americana

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Rhododendron viscosum - Swamp Azalea 

Region: L48(N)

Mature Size: 12 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: versatile soil texture, acidic soils, medium anaerobic tolerance, shade tolerant

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9

Leaf Color: dark green above, pale green below; attractive shades of orange, yellow, and purple in the fall

Flower Color: tubular, white to pale-pink flowers

Wildlife Benefit: special value to bees; toxic to many animals

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=rhvi2

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=RHVI2

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280018

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/Rhododendron-Viscosum-Swamp-Azalea

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Quercus palustris - Pin Oak

Region: L48(N), CAN(N)

Mature Size: 100 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: fine soils, acidic, shade intolerant, medium anaerobic tolerance, high water use

Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8

Leaf Color: glossy, dark green leaves; deep red in the fall

Flower Color: yellowish-green, catkins

Wildlife Benefit: particularly important food source for ducks, eaten by turkeys, squirrels, deer, and songbirds

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=qupa2

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=QUPA2

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a904

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/pin-oak

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=879

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Lycopodium obscurum - Princess Pine

Region: L48(N), CAN(N)

Mature Size: tiny

Habitat/Growing Conditions: sandy soils, moist environments, shade

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 7

Leaf Color: a rich, emerald green 

Flower Color: reproduces with spores

Wildlife Benefit: paralyzes mammals

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LYOB

http://www.borealforest.org/ferns/fern11.htm

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lycopodium+obscurum

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Pinus strobus - Eastern White Pine 

Region: L48(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)

Mature Size: 150+ ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: medium soils, intermediate shade tolerance, acidic soils

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8

Leaf Color: soft, blueish-green needles, jumbles of five

Flower Color: cones, usually on the larger side

Wildlife Benefit: nesting for grackles and chickadees; seeds a favorite of black bears and squirrels 

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PIST

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=PIST

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e710

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/eastern-white-pine

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=903

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Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay

Region: L48(N)

Mature Size: 60 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: diverse soil texture, acidic soils, intermediate shade tolerance

Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9

Leaf Color: Shiny green, silver underneath; deciduous in colder climates

Flower Color: Creamy white, waxy flowers

Wildlife Benefit: fruit eaten by turkey, quail, squirrels, and some songbirds

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=mavi2

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=MAVI2

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e110

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=865

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Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweet Gum

Region: L48(N)

Mature Size: 100 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: diverse soil texture, acidic soils, shade intolerant, high moisture use

Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9

Leaf Color: glossy, deep green; fall color brilliant mixtures of red, orange, yellow, and purple

Flower Color: non-showy, yellow-green flowers; give way to gum balls 

Wildlife Benefit: gum balls used as nesting material for birds; seeds eaten by bobwhite quail, turkeys, squirrels 

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=list2

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=LIST2

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c116

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/sweet-gum

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=928

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Juniperus virginiana - Eastern Redcedar 

Region: L48(N), CAN(N)

Mature Size: 50 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: diverse soils, high drought tolerance, circumneutral pH, intermediate shade tolerance

Hardiness Zone: 2 - 9

Leaf Color: dark blue-green scale-like foliage, may turn brown-green in winter

Flower Color: blackish-green-blue berry-like cones 

Wildlife Benefit: staple for many birds and mammals, provides nesting cover for warblers and robins

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=juvi

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=JUVI

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a394

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/eastern-red-cedar

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=913

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Ilex glabra - Inkberry 

Region: L48(N), CAN(N)

Mature Size: 6 - 12 ft

Habitat/Growing Conditions: diverse soil texture, acidic soil, medium salinity tolerance, shade intolerant

Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8

Leaf Color: glossy, dark green, retain color through winter unless temperatures dip below well below zero

Flower Color: greenish-white flowers, relatively inconspicuous; dark black berries

Wildlife Benefit: special value to honey bees; favorite of birds

Sources:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ilgl

https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=ILGL

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d553

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/inkberry

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“Wood frogs are seasonal breeders that breed from early March to May. They are the first frogs to begin calling, often before the ice is completely off the breeding ponds. While the calls of these male frogs are very abundant in season, once the breeding season is over they become silent. During the breeding season however, they create a chorus of duck-like quacking sounds, described by some as a "lot of chuckling".

Wood frogs inhabit a wide variety of habitats including tundra, thickets, wet meadows, bogs, coniferous and deciduous forests. Wood frogs are aquatic breeders and require fish-free seasonal or semi-permanent bodies of water to reproduce, but will migrate from their primary habitat to breed. These frogs seek out terrestrial locations with ample cover to hibernate which may or may not be near a breeding pond.”

Sources:

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lithobates_sylvaticus/

https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_frog

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“Spring peepers are to the amphibian world what American robins are to the bird world. As their name implies, they begin emitting their familiar sleigh-bell-like chorus right around the beginning of spring.

They are nocturnal creatures, hiding from their many predators during the day and emerging at night to feed on such delicacies as beetles, ants, flies, and spiders.

They mate and lay their eggs in water and spend the rest of the year in the forest. In the winter, they hibernate under logs or behind loose bark on trees, waiting for the spring thaw and their chance to sing.”

Sources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/s/spring-peeper/

https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/