INPAWS Hike: Bryoflora of Fern Cliff Preserve
Saturday, October 6 – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Eastern Daylight Time
Fern Cliff Preserve, Putnam County, Indiana
Leader: Bill McKnight, former biology instructor and museum curator and author of Bryophytes of Illinois and Indiana (in prep).
Trail Conditions: Some terrain change (up and down and stream bank walking) but pace will be slow with frequent stops so we can examine plants (no collecting permitted).
Equipment: Bring your hand lens or I will provide one (from Indiana Academy of Science stash), which will be available for purchase, if you are interested ($25 including lanyard).
What To See: Fern Cliff is quite enchanting and was former DePauw University bryologist Winona Welch’s favorite field site. West Central Indiana has a good bryoflora (mosses, liverworts and hornworts), with Putnam County having almost half of the 450 species reported from Indiana. If time permits we may do an additional site (possibly Sword Moss Gorge), using the break for lunch at the vehicles (remember to pack a lunch).
Directions: We will meet and car pool from the parking lot of the Wendy’s restaurant just south of the intersection of I-70 and US 231 at the Greencastle/Cloverdale exit.
Questions? Contact Bill McKnight at bnmcknight@comcast.net or 317-205-5440. No RSVP required. We will hike rain or shine.