East Weaver Creek October 12, 2025

On a crisp autumn day in Weaverville, seven people packed up their gear and headed out to the East Weaver Creek trailhead to observe and I.D. lichens and plants. The hike started out with a basic summary by trip leader, David Ledger, explaining what lichens actually are. Lichens are plant-like, but are actually composite organisms that exist as a partnership between fungi and a photosynthesizing organism like algae or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides structure and absorbs water and minerals, while the alga or cyanobacterium uses photosynthesis to provide food. The first lichen we identified was a fruticose type called fishbone beard lichen (Usnea filipendula), which can be identified by its stretchy inner core. Next we found a foliose type called Imshaug’s tube lichen (Hypogymnia imshaugii), which displayed the reproductive structures of the fungal partner, called fruiting bodies.

David Ledger showing lichen to the group at East Weaver Creek on October 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — David Ledger, right, introducing the group to foliose and fruiticose lichens.

Trees are common holds for lichens. While passing through an oak woodland, we used different identifying markers to distinguish Oregon white oak, Quercus garryana, from California black oak, Quercus kelloggii. Oregon white oak has deeply furrowed bark; and California black oak has bristle-tipped leaf lobes and a thatched cap that covers almost half of its acorn.

The bark of Oregon oak at East Weaver Creek on October 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — The deeply furrowed bark of Oregon white oak, *Quercus garryana,* provides a good foothold for fruticose and foliose lichens.

Multiple Lichens at East Weaver Creek on October 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — The greenish lichen, above, is a fruticose lichen, intertwined with a black and white foliose lichen. Photos by Ren Redlich

Continuing along the creek, a number of shrubs, ferns, trees, and fungi. We identified trees such as blackfruit dogwood (Cornus sessilis), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), and Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia); shrubs such as birchleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), baldhip rose (Rosa gymnocarpa), Fremont’s silktassel (Garrya fremontii), and California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum); ferns such as bracken (Pteridium aquilinum); and fungi such as hare’s foot inkcap (Coprinopsis lagopus), and fir-cone mushroom (Strobilurus trullisatus).

California hazel leaf and catkin at East Weaver Creek on October 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — David Ledger and Cassie examining the leaf and catkin of a California hazelnut, *Corylus cornuta* ssp. *californica.*

Hikers looking at a Pacific yew tree at East Weaver Creek on Octiber 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — David Ledger pointing out the female cones of the Pacific yew, *Taxus brevifolia*.

It was a beautiful day to explore one of the many trails that this area has to offer. While fall is not known as a “showy” season with fields of flowers, there is still a lot to see! Particularly the often overlooked lichen, mosses, and fungi that do their part in the larger ecosystem. Here are some examples of what we saw (all photos and IDs by Ren Redlich):

Cladonia Lichen at East Weaver Creek on October 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — Cup lichen, *Cladonia* sp.

Flattened Thornbush Lichen at East Weaver Creek on October 12, 2025 by Ren Redlich — Cup lichen, *Cladonia* sp.

Now is a great time to explore a little further into the “miniature worlds” existing within our larger scope. ~Ren Redlich