Moore, Dwight M.

English

ScholarWorks@UARK

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of ScienceVolume 3 Article 141950Grassy Lake: A Biologist's ParadiseDwight M. MooreUniversity of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaasPart of the Botany CommonsThis article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able toread, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking priorpermission from the publisher or the author.This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academyof Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact scholar@uark.edu, ccmiddle@uark.edu.Recommended CitationMoore, Dwight M. (1950) "Grassy Lake: A Biologist's Paradise," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 3 , Article 14.Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol3/iss1/1441GRASSY LAKE: A BIOLOGISTS* PARADISEDwight M. Moore, University of ArkansasIn the southern and eastern parts of Arkansas there are manylow wet areas, bayous, and, along the major rivers, oxbow lakes,associated with which are numerous so-called cypress swamps. Alarge number of these, however, have been at least partiallydrained and cleared to such an extent that much of the naturalvegetation has been materially changed.One exception Is found in the western part of HempsteadCounty not far from the confluence of the Saline and LittleRivers. ItIs known as Grassy Lake. The lake and adjoining landare owned by the Hempstead County Hunting Club with memberschiefly in Hope, Texarkana and Nashville. There is a limitedmembership and these well-advised men strive to maintain the lakein as nearly a natural condition as possible. On this accountthe wealth of plant and animal life Is little disturbed and thusrenders it a veritable Biologists' Faradise. But access to thelake is strictly on a basis of special permission from the club.The lakelies on the westside of statehighway #55 about3 miles north ofMcNab and 7 milesnorth of Fultonwhich Is at thecrossing of theRed River by U.S.highway #67 be-tween Hope andTexarkana. Thelake Is about 3miles long andpossibly limiles wide. Thedepth wouldprobably average3 or 4 feet andis almost nowhereover 6 feet deep.Thus it would bepossible to wadein nearly allparts of the lakaThe present water level is a little higher than originally, dueto the construction of a low retaining dam at the outlet.Bald cypress trees dominate the lake, and many of thesewould approach the records for side In this state. One large onemeasures 24 feet in circumference at 4i feet above ground level.The height of the majority of these trees Is quite uniform -calculated at 110 feet.The name, Grassy Lake, has evidently been applied because ofthe numerous stands of the southern wild rice, ( Zizaniopsismileacea (Michx.) Doell. &Asche>rs.). This coarse grass growsto a height of 10-14 feet in large or small patches throughoutthe lake. ItIs in many of these dense growths that the alliga-tors dwell. They may be observed by very cautious approach, buttoo often the alligator ears are more sensitive than the obser-ver's eyes, and they slip away leaving only the traces of theirpresence In the mud and vegetation.41Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 3 [1950], Art. 14Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 195042The one main approach to the lake passes several cottagesof club members, the old club house, under a magnificent speci-men of the Arkansas Oak (Quercus arkansana Sarg.), and down along broad "catwalk" to the boat houses. Along this walk may beobserved In the moist soil of the lake margin fern specimensseldom surpassed elsewhere In the state. Cinnamon and Royalferns (Osmunda cinnamomea L. and 0. regalis var. spectabilis(Wllld. ) A. Gray) reach a height, of more than 5 feet and Sensi-tive fern (Onoclea sensibilis L.) willexceed four feet. Bothchain ferns-Virginia (Anchistea virginica (L.) Presl. ) andDwarf (Lorinseria areolata (L. ) Presl.) grow luxuriantly.Along the edge of the lake may bs found such ferns as low-land lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides (Mlchx. ) Eat.), northernmarsh fern (Dryopteris thelypteris var. pubescens (Lawson) A.R.Prince) and the grape fern (Botrychium dissectum var. tenuifolium(Underwood) Farwell).Other Interesting plants Include among many others the sub-merged water crowfoot (Ranunculus delphinaefolius Torr.) and thatcurious floating plant, American featherfoll (Hottonia inflataEll.).From the boat landing numerous marked lanes extend towardvarious parts of the lake. Much of the more shallow parts of thelake Is dominated by buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis L. )which, Inmany places, forms dense thickets even In water severalfeet deep. On this account the boat lanes must be marked to In-sure safe return of those who go out to fish or hunt by eitherday or night.Leaving the landing by shallow boats - shallow because it Isfrequently necessary to go over partly submerged logs - one Isoverawed by the tall cypress trees which, meeting overhead In amassive green vault, give a deep almost sepulchral shade whichdiscourages most other vegetation. But everywhere the surface ofquiet water Is carpeted with mixtures of duckweeds and mosquitofern (Azolla caroliniana Wllld.). Among the former are foundLemna minor L., L. gibba, L., Spirodela polyrhiza (L. ) Schleid,,Wolffia columbiana Karst. and Wolffiella floridana (J.D.S.)Thompson. So dense is the growth of these in some places that Itappears almost possible to walk on It.Nearly everywhere ItIs possible to observe on cypress kneesand the trunks of most of the trees different levels of growthof various herbaceous plants indicating the levels at which thewater has stood at periods when seeds were floating on the sur-face. As the water level receded, the seeds were left and later,when conditions were favorable, have germinated forming severaltiers of herbaceous, and even woody vegetation. Thus the tropicaldensity of growth develops.Toward the west side of the lake there Is considerable openwater where the cypress trees and button bush occur only Inscattered bunches. But even here the water Is only waist deep.In certain places half -submerged floating logs covered withmossss and other lush growth were found to carry numerous specimensof an unusual and strictly southern swamp orchid, Habenariaquinqueseta (Michx.) Sw. This appears to be the first record forthis orchid In Arkansas. Since that collection it has also beenfound in similar habitat south of Little Rock, at Lakeside.For the student of birds there are nests of various herons,buzzards and the so-called "water turkey". On shore many othersmaller birds may be found.42Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 3 [1950], Art. 14http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol3/iss1/1443For the herpetologlst, besides the alligators - this is oneof the few places In Arkansas where they still may be found outof captivity - there are various lizzards and snakes. Thechameleon is fairly abundant. Cottonmouth moccasins are verynumerous and a few coral snakes have been found.With this as a very Incomplete sample of the offerings ofGrassy Lake It is clear to see that It is a veritable Biologists'Paradise.(Colored movies and slides supplemented the narrative)43Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 3 [1950], Art. 14Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 1950

Grassy Lake: A Biologist\u27s Paradise

UARK (University of Arkansas )

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science Volume 3 Article 14 1950 Grassy Lake: A Biologist's Paradise Dwight M. Moore University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas  Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Moore, Dwight M. (1950) "Grassy Lake: A Biologist's Paradise," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 3 , Article 14. Available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol3/iss1/14 This article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able to read, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact scholar@uark.edu. 41GRASSY LAKE: A BIOLOGISTS* PARADISEDwight M. Moore, University of ArkansasIn the southern and eastern parts of Arkansas there are manylow wet areas, bayous, and, along the major rivers, oxbow lakes,associated with which are numerous so-called cypress swamps. Alarge number of these, however, have been at least partiallydrained and cleared to such an extent that much of the naturalvegetation has been materially changed.One exception Is found in the western part of HempsteadCounty not far from the confluence of the Saline and LittleRivers. ItIs known as Grassy Lake. The lake and adjoining landare owned by the Hempstead County Hunting Club with memberschiefly in Hope, Texarkana and Nashville. There is a limitedmembership and these well-advised men strive to maintain the lakein as nearly a natural condition as possible. On this accountthe wealth of plant and animal life Is little disturbed and thusrenders it a veritable Biologists' Faradise. But access to thelake is strictly on a basis of special permission from the club.The lakelies on the westside of statehighway #55 about3 miles north ofMcNab and 7 milesnorth of Fultonwhich Is at thecrossing of theRed River by U.S.highway #67 be-tween Hope andTexarkana. Thelake Is about 3miles long andpossibly limiles wide. Thedepth wouldprobably average3 or 4 feet andis almost nowhereover 6 feet deep.Thus it would bepossible to wadein nearly allparts of the lakaThe present water level is a little higher than originally, dueto the construction of a low retaining dam at the outlet.Bald cypress trees dominate the lake, and many of thesewould approach the records for side In this state. One large onemeasures 24 feet in circumference at 4i feet above ground level.The height of the majority of these trees Is quite uniform -calculated at 110 feet.The name, Grassy Lake, has evidently been applied because ofthe numerous stands of the southern wild rice, ( Zizaniopsismileacea (Michx.) Doell. &Asche>rs.). This coarse grass growsto a height of 10-14 feet in large or small patches throughoutthe lake. ItIs in many of these dense growths that the alliga-tors dwell. They may be observed by very cautious approach, buttoo often the alligator ears are more sensitive than the obser-ver's eyes, and they slip away leaving only the traces of theirpresence In the mud and vegetation.41Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 3 [1950], Art. 14Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 195042The one main approach to the lake passes several cottagesof club members, the old club house, under a magnificent speci-men of the Arkansas Oak (Quercus arkansana Sarg.), and down along broad "catwalk" to the boat houses. Along this walk may beobserved In the moist soil of the lake margin fern specimensseldom surpassed elsewhere In the state. Cinnamon and Royalferns (Osmunda cinnamomea L. and 0. regalis var. spectabilis(Wllld. ) A. Gray) reach a height, of more than 5 feet and Sensi-tive fern (Onoclea sensibilis L.) willexceed four feet. Bothchain ferns-Virginia (Anchistea virginica (L.) Presl. ) andDwarf (Lorinseria areolata (L. ) Presl.) grow luxuriantly.Along the edge of the lake may bs found such ferns as low-land lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides (Mlchx. ) Eat.), northernmarsh fern (Dryopteris thelypteris var. pubescens (Lawson) A.R.Prince) and the grape fern (Botrychium dissectum var. tenuifolium(Underwood) Farwell).Other Interesting plants Include among many others the sub-merged water crowfoot (Ranunculus delphinaefolius Torr.) and thatcurious floating plant, American featherfoll (Hottonia inflataEll.).From the boat landing numerous marked lanes extend towardvarious parts of the lake. Much of the more shallow parts of thelake Is dominated by buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis L. )which, Inmany places, forms dense thickets even In water severalfeet deep. On this account the boat lanes must be marked to In-sure safe return of those who go out to fish or hunt by eitherday or night.Leaving the landing by shallow boats-shallow because it Isfrequently necessary to go over partly submerged logs - one Isoverawed by the tall cypress trees which, meeting overhead In amassive green vault, give a deep almost sepulchral shade whichdiscourages most other vegetation. But everywhere the surface ofquiet water Is carpeted with mixtures of duckweeds and mosquitofern (Azolla caroliniana Wllld.). Among the former are foundLemna minor L., L. gibba, L., Spirodela polyrhiza (L. ) Schleid,,Wolffia columbiana Karst. and Wolffiella floridana (J.D.S.)Thompson. So dense is the growth of these in some places that Itappears almost possible to walk on It.Nearly everywhere ItIs possible to observe on cypress kneesand the trunks of most of the trees different levels of growthof various herbaceous plants indicating the levels at which thewater has stood at periods when seeds were floating on the sur-face. As the water level receded, the seeds were left and later,when conditions were favorable, have germinated forming severaltiers of herbaceous, and even woody vegetation. Thus the tropicaldensity of growth develops.Toward the west side of the lake there Is considerable openwater where the cypress trees and button bush occur only Inscattered bunches. But even here the water Is only waist deep.In certain places half -submerged floating logs covered withmossss and other lush growth were found to carry numerous specimensof an unusual and strictly southern swamp orchid, Habenariaquinqueseta (Michx.) Sw. This appears to be the first record forthis orchid In Arkansas. Since that collection it has also beenfound in similar habitat south of Little Rock, at Lakeside.For the student of birds there are nests of various herons,buzzards and the so-called "water turkey". On shore many othersmaller birds may be found.42Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 3 [1950], Art. 14https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol3/iss1/1443For the herpetologlst, besides the alligators-this is oneof the few places In Arkansas where they still may be found outof captivity-there are various lizzards and snakes. Thechameleon is fairly abundant. Cottonmouth moccasins are verynumerous and a few coral snakes have been found.With this as a very Incomplete sample of the offerings ofGrassy Lake It is clear to see that It is a veritable Biologists'Paradise.(Colored movies and slides supplemented the narrative)43Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 3 [1950], Art. 14Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 1950

https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1097&amp;context=jaas

Grassy Lake: A Biologist\u27s Paradise

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

ScholarWorks@UARK

UARK (University of Arkansas )