Clay Bluff Plant List

Graminoids

  • marram grass (Ammophila breviligulata)
  • golden-fruited sedge (Carex aurea)
  • rushes (Juncus brachycephalus, J. canadensis, J. tenuis, and J. torreyi)
  • green bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)

Forbs

  • fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
  • common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
  • grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
  • wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
  • small fringed gentian (Gentianopsis virgata)
  • jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
  • great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
  • grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia glauca)
  • goldenrods (Solidago canadensis, S. nemoralis, S. rugosa, and S. uliginosa)
  • side-flowering aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

Fern Allies

  • common horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
  • scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale)
  • variegated scouring rush (Equisetum variegatum)

Shrubs

  • tag alder (Alnus incana)
  • red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
  • Kalm’s St. John’s-wort (Hypericum kalmianum)
  • pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica)
  • choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)
  • wild black currant (Ribes americanum)
  • willows (Salix myricoides and others)
  • soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis)

Trees

  • sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
  • paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
  • white ash (Fraxinus americana)
  • green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
  • red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
  • tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
  • ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)
  • cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
  • quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
  • mountain-ash (Sorbus decora)
  • northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
  • basswood (Tilia americana)
  • hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Citation

Cohen, J.G., M.A. Kost, B.S. Slaughter, D.A. Albert, J.M. Lincoln, A.P. Kortenhoven, C.M. Wilton, H.D. Enander, M.E. Anderson, M.R. Parr, T.J. Bassett, and K.M. Korroch. 2025. Michigan Natural Community Classification [web application]. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension, Lansing, MI. Available https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/classification. (Accessed: March 18, 2026).