Windwolf
Crex Meadows ... Host to a Multitude of Flowers and Plants
Canada Mayflower
Maianthemum canadense -
The Canada Mayflower is a fragrant spring flower growing in several locations around Crex Meadows.
A small plant, the leaves average 4-6 inches tall but sometimes are lower to the ground depending on conditions.
The Canada Mayflower is a dominant understory species of the forests of the United States and in Crex Meadows.
The dry spring this year (2007) in Crex Meadows stunted some of this plants growth as you can see on the picture to the left.
The dime coin at the base of the plant is for size comparison. A dime is nearly 3/4ths of an inch across (11/16ths to be exact).
Many Canada Mayflowers were growing in this area, on both sides of the road. None were blooming when this picture was taken.
The picture on the left was taken in the burn area across from the Zulliger Flowage marker, not long after the spring of 2007 burn.
Picture on left taken May 18, 2007.
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants | |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants | |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta | Seed plants | |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants | |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocotyledons | |
| Subclass | Liliidae | ||
| Order | Liliales | ||
| Family | Liliaceae | Lily family | |
| Genus | Maianthemum | mayflower | |
| Species | Maianthemum canadense Desf. | Canada mayflower |
Less than two weeks after the first picture was taken, I returned to Crex Meadows.
The Canada Mayflowers were blooming around the Zulliger Flowage Marker. Flowers had exploded into view on both sides of the road in the marker area.
The picture on the right was taken in a non-burn area across the road from the above picture.
Clicking this link will open up a close up of the flowers in the picture on the right:
Flower Close-up
Picture on right taken June 1, 2007
Wetland Indicator Status
Canada Mayflower - FAC
The Canada Mayflower does not seem to be a prolific seed bearer. One study on in mesic woods in Massachusetts found 10-35% of the flowers bore seeds over a three year time period.
The Canada Mayflower will form extensive patches of vegetative shoots. Branching rhizomes can produce ramets up to 3.9 feet (1 m) apart. A single clone can be up to 19.7 feet (6 m) in diameter and about 30 to 60 years old.
Birds and small mammals will eat seeds from these plants, with the Ruffed Grouse being one noted gamebird who ingests seeds of the Canada Mayflower.
Clicking this link will open up a close up of the flowers in the picture on the left:
Flower Close-up
Picture on left taken June 6, 2007