radbackedsalamander's Identifications

These plants were found growing in thin soil over ledge with associated vegetation indicating circumneutral conditions. This image was taken during a follow up visit after initial observation in July of the same year (See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/198391825 for images from that visit).

The brown, minutely echinate pericarp which readily separates from the slightly ovate achene, distinguishes Chenopodium foggii from C. album and other similar congeners.

Thirty-three plants were located, restricted to an area of approximately 20 sq. meters, growing in thin soil (3-5 cm) and pockets of soil, lacking leaf litter, at the base of trees and on ledges. The canopy was open with Fraxinus americana, Quercus velutina, and Ostrya virginiana growing along the periphery. Seven individuals of Chenopodium foggii were located in the opening which was dominated by Carex pensylvanica, with scattered Capnoides sempervirens, Parthenocissus inserta, Elymus hystrix, Erechtites hieracifolius, Chenopodium simplex, Dryopteris marginalis, Polygonatum pubescens, Danthonia spicata, several individuals of Geranium bicknellii and Solanum dulcamara, and a single individual of Crataegus macrocarpon. The remnants of several fallen Fraxinus americana were scattered about the opening; no evidence of emerald ash borer was observed. The remaining twenty-six plants were seen growing along the southern periphery of the opening, on ledge outcrops terraced downward to the south, with vegetation as above as well as Fallopia cilinodis, Ageratina altissima, Circaea canadensis, Polystichum acrostichoides, Maianthemum racemosum, Aquilegia canadensis, Micranthes virginiensis, and Festuca subverticillata. On the eastern periphery, ledge outcrops with a similar flora lead downward to a talus slope, although no C. foggii was observed in either of these areas.