Description and Habitat
The Long Point Region has among the most biodiverse floral assemblage in Canada, including many southern vegetation communities. One of these southern tree species is the Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), a large tree primarily of floodplains in the hemp family (Cannabaceae). There are two species of Hackberry
Black Walnut
Description
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a large deciduous tree widely distributed across southern Ontario. It can attain 35 m or more, and is a long-lived tree despite being shade intolerant. Walnuts prefer clay or loam soils, though they also thrive in sandy areas when other preferred growing conditions are
Black Tupelo
Description and habitat
Black Tupelo or Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) is among the most unique species in the Long Point Basin. Historically included as part of the Dogwood Family (Cornaceae), it is now assigned to it’s own family, Nyssaceae, which is sister to another group containing the Hydrangeas. There are
Profile in Giving: DeCloet Family
In 2024, Long Point Basin Land Trust expanded its network of protected areas with the acquisition of the DeCloet Family Forest Legacy, an 18-hectare property in Norfolk County. With generous support from Paul and Ben DeCloet, this new reserve builds on the family’s earlier conservation efforts, including the adjacent Paul
Purple Loosestrife
PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an invasive herbaceous perennial native to Eurasia in the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. They are not closely related to most of Ontario’s native “Loosestrifes” such as Swamp Candles (Lysimachia terrestris), which are instead in the same genus as Northern Starflower (Lysimachia borealis) in the
Red Maple
Introduction
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the Long Point Basin’s most widespread and ecologically important tree species. Red Maples are named for their autumn foliage, which is typically a bright crimson, and their spring flowers, which are also red. Red Maple sap can be boiled into maple syrup,
Sugar Maple
Introduction
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is likely the Long Point Region’s most common tree species in natural forests. This tree is named for the high sugar content in the sap – Sugar Maple is the primary source of maple syrup. Other species, such as Yellow Birch (Betula lutea), have been
White Ash
Description and habitat
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) is one of Long Point’s most ecologically important tree species. Mature White Ash are large trees, over 35 m tall on fertile soils. It is one of five species of ash in the Long Point Basin – these include Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica),