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14. PLANTS AND WILDLIFE

Section 1 - Plant life

The variety of plants and wildlife found in an area is a good measure of the quality of the area's environment. A generally mild climate, adequate precipitation and a variety of soil types and physiographic provinces (flood plain, marsh, swamp, hills) provide a wide range of natural vegetation and wildlife in our area. Since large areas of private and public lands have been left in the natural state, the Township provides a veritable laboratory for naturalists.

The plant lists were prepared by Vincent Domidion, II, and are specific to Colts Neck. The animal lists were provided by K.T. Kellars, Monmouth County Park System and are not specific to Colts Neck, i.e., the lists apply to the County. The lists are not necessarily complete, but they do include most of both the common and the unique varieties found in the Township.

Plant List

For those who have the first edition of this Inventory and will wonder at the differences between this list and that which was included in the earlier publication, the primary difference is that the old list was provided by the county and this list is based entirely on original field work done in Colts Neck. The result is that fewer plants are represented but all that are named are in Colts Neck. This is a very conservative list, which means that there are many other plants that are in Colts Neck but have thus far been identified only by genera. These are not included. There are no grasses, sedges, asters or goldenrods on the list for this reason.

This list has been further defined by the exclusion of specimen plants and escapes that have no sure foothold here. Other alien species have been included, such as the Norway maple and garden phlox, both of which are successfully established. There is also a certain arbitrary element in the compilation that includes the enduring stand of red pine on Creamery Road while leaving out the Japanese maples that decorate many yards.

The order of the list generally follows that used in the Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeast and Canada and A Checklist of the Plants of New Jersey by Karl Anderson. For the most part the line spacing in the Angiosperms represents the break between families. The English names are listed first and are chosen by perceived familiarity. The Latin follow with the hope that those who wish to learn about the plants of Colts Neck to a greater depth will find this a guide of some utility. Finally, the work continues. The hope is to eventually develop a truly comprehensive list. In the interim this is included with confidence as to accuracy and breadth of representation.

Pteridophyta (Ferns and Fern Allies)

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Tree Clubmoss (Lycopodium obscurum)

Crow's foot Clubmoss (Lycopodium digitatum)

Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron)

Northern Lady Fern (Athyrium felix-femina v. angustum)

Silvery Glade Fern (Athyrium thelypterioides)

Dissected Grape Fern (Botrychium dissectum v. dissectum)

Oblique Grape Fern (Botrychium dissectum vs. obliquum)

Rattlesnake Fern (Botrychium virginianum)

Hay-scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)

Spinulose Wood Fern (Dryopteris carthusiana)

Crested Fern (Dryopteris critata)

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

Marginal Wood Fern (Dryopteris marginalis)

Triploid Wood Fern (Dryopteris X triploidia) (carthusiana X intermedia)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)

Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana)

Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)

Common Polypody (Polypodium virginianum)

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)

Northern Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum v. latiusculum)

Broad Beech Fern (Thelypteris hexagonoptera)

New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis)

Massachusetts Fern (Thelypteris simulata)

Marsh Fern (Thelypteris thelypterioides)

Netted Chain Fern (Woodwardia areolata)

Virginia Chain Fern (Woodwardia virginica)

Boott's Fern (Dryopteris cristata X intermedia)

Gymnospermae (conifers)

American Yew (Taxus canadensis)

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)

Scrub Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)

Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)

Angiospermae: Monocotyledone

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)

Creeping Dayflower (Commelina nudiflora)

Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)

Day Lily (Hemerocallis fulva)

Wild Garlic (Allium vineale)

Turk's-cap Lily (Lilium superbum)

Tiger Lily (Lilium tigrinum)

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

False Solomon's Seal (Smilancina racemosa)

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Perfoliate Bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata)

Sessile-leaved Bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia)

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)

Indian Cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana)

Glaucous Greenbriar (Smilax glauca)

Common Greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia)

Stemless Ladies' -slipper (Cypripedium acaule)

Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes tuberosa)

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)

Angiospermae: Dicotyledones

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)

Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)

Northern Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica)

Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)

Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)

Black Willow (Salix nigra)

Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana)

Black Birch (Betula lenta)

Gray Birch (Betula populifolia)

Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata)

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Red Oak (Quercus ruba)

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)

Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

American Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)

White Mulberry (Morus alba)

Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera)

Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)

Sheep Sorel (Rumex acerosella)

Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)

Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolia)

Bloody Dock (Rumex sanguineus)

Virginia Knotweed (Tovara virginiana)

Climbing False Buckwheat (Polygonum scandens)

Lady's Thumb (Persicaria persicaria)

Japanese Knotweed (Pleuropteris zuccarinii)

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Large Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum)

Starry Campion (Silene stellata)

Bladder Campion (Silene latifolia)

White Campion (Lychnis alba)

Bouncing Bette (Saponaria officinalis)

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)

White Baneberry (Acta~

Windflower (Anemone quinquefolia)

Fall Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum polygamum)

May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Sassafras (Sassafras sassafras)

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Celandine Poppy (Chelidonium majus)

Mouse-ear Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)

Lyre-leaved Rock-cress (Arahis lyrata)

Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Rough Avens (Geum virginiana)

Black Rasberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Wine Rasberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)

Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)

Bristly Dewberry (Rubus hispidus)

Prickly Dewberry (Rubus flagellaris)

Pasture Rose (Rosa virginiana)

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Oblong-leaf Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

Downy Juneberry (Amelanchier arborea)

Apple (Pyrus malus)

Domestic Pear (Pyrus communis)

Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium)

Partridge Pea (Cassia fasciculata)

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Black Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia)

Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Rabbit's Foot Clover (Trifolium arvense)

Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata)

Groundnut (Glycine apios)

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Carolina Cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum)

Upright Yellow Wood-sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida)

Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens biflora)

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Winged Sumac (Rhus coppallina)

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans)

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

Low Gallberry Holly (Ilex glabra)

Norway Maple (Acer platonoides)

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Ash-leaved Maple (Acer negundo)

Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)

Silverleaf Grape (Vitis aestivalis var. argentifolia)

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocossus quinquefolia)

Sweet White Violet (Viola blanda)

Common Purple Violet (Viola papilionacea)

Primrose-leaved Violet (Viola primulifolia)

Prickly Pear (Opuntia opuntia)

Meadow Beauty (Rhexia virginica)

Northern Evening Primrose (Oenothera muricata)

Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana)

Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolium)

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)

Round-leaved Dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)

Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Spotted Wintergreen (Pipsissewa) (Chimaphila umbellata)

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Pink Azalea (Azalea nudiflorum)

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens)

Spicy Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Common Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Early Low Blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans)

Late Low Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Whorled Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia)

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)

Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)

Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Great Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium)

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)

Gill-over-the-ground (Glecoma hederacea)

Horse Mint (Monarda punctata)

Smooth Ground Cherry (Physalis subglabrata)

Clammy Ground Cherry (Physalis heterophylla)

Jimson-weed (Datura stramonium)

Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria)

Yellow Toad-flax (Linaria vulgaris)

Pale Broom-Rape (Orobunche uniflora)

Beech Drops (Epifagus virginiana)

Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)

Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides)

Greater Plantain (Plantago major)

Lance-leaved Plantain (Plantago lanceolatta)

Partridge-berry (Mitchella repens)

Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Rough Bedstraw (Galium asprellum)

Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Maple-leaved Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

Southern Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Smooth Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Canadian Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)

Venus' Looking-glass (Specularia perfoliata)

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

King Devil (Hieracium florentinum)

Rattlesnake Weed (Hieracium venosum)

Lion's Foot serpentaria)

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiaefolia)

Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

Beach Clotbur (Xanthium echinatum)

New York Ironweed (Veronia noveboracensis)

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

White Snake-root (Eupatorium urticaefolium)

Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

Pearly Everlasting (Anapha]is margaritacea)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common Bur Thistle (Cirsium lanceolatum)

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NATIVE TREES

A large part of the Township is densely wooded and shrubbed, particularly, in the hilly areas and along streams where farming is impractical. Trees over 100 years of age have been listed and identified with the hope of guaranteeing their preservation. [See Ancient Trees, Joseph Moreau, Colts Neck Environmental Commission, 1982.] Municipal ordinances to preserve fine trees in developing areas have been in effect for many years. Colts Neck, however, does not have such a "tree ordinance".

Ancient Trees

Some of the "big" trees* in Colts Neck are as follows:

l) Phalanx Area:

a. Species: White Oak

Trunk Diameter: 49 1/2 inches

Estimated Age: 190 years

Location: Corner of Richdale and Bucklin Roads

b. Species: Red Oak

Trunk Diameter: 57 1/2 inches

Estimated Age: 190 years

Location: North end of George C. Richdale's house on Richdale Road.

2) Scobeyville Area:

a. Species: Yellow Locust

Trunk Diameter: 43 inches

Estimated Age: 175 years

Location: Route 537 south side,

1.8 miles West of Tinton Falls border.

Note: This tree is larger than the largest of its species in New Jersey as listed in New Jersey's Biggest Trees (a New Jersey State Booklet).

b. Species: Red Oak

Trunk Diameter: 50 inches

Estimated Age: 160 years old

Location: About 80 feet northwest of the cul-de-sac at the end of Northpoint Road.

3) Colts Neck Village Area:

Species: 2 Eastern Hemlocks

Trunk Diameter: 37 inches (each)

Estimated Age: 215 years old (each)

Location: Creamery Road Green Acres Tract.

There are numerous other large hemlocks in this tract which are over 100 years old and which have trunk diameters over 18 inches.

Trunk diameters and estimated ages of these trees are registered as of the year 1976 by Colts Neck Environmental Commissioner Joseph Moreau. We also have within our Township a 45 1/2 inch diameter Wild Cherry in the Buck's Mill Road area, and a 17 inch diameter Holly on Obre Road.