The Borough of Fanwood lies in the glaciated section of the former Oak-Chestnut Forest Region (Braun 1950, and Vankat 1979). Due to loss of habitat during the last few centuries and the Chestnut Blight at the turn of the century, little of this forest region remains intact. Of the remaining forests, most have been significantly altered by activities such as clear-cutting and farming. Today, very little of the original plant community can be found in the Borough of Fanwood and nearly none of it is present in the Fanwood Nature Center. Except for a few isolated lots and small sections of LaGrande and Forest Road Parks, the most significant forested area in town is the Nature Center.
 

The Nature Center may be divided into five major plant communities based on the association of dominant tree species as shown on Map 11.

COMMUNITY I

The largest of the communities is a Black Locust (Robina pseudoacacia)/ Red Maple (Acer rubrum). This plant community occupies much of the Nature Center and extends from the brook to an area just west of the Stemming Trail and to the buildings fronting Terrill Road. Both the Wilson and Winding Way trails cut through this community. Although Red Maple and Black Locust are the community dominants, other tree and shrub species are also present. For instance, near the brook, Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Pin Oak (Quercus palustris), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) and American Holly (Ilex opaca) form an association with the Black Locust and Red Maple. In other parts of the community, Black locust grows in almost pure stands.

COMMUNITY II

The second largest plant community is located just west of the brook surrounding Luisi’s Trail. The trees common to this community are Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and Red Maple. Some Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), Mulberry (Morus sp.), and Apple (Pyrus sp.) can be found in this community, particularly near the brook. Community II extends to Terrill Road, although near the entrance along Terrill Road, Community II becomes obscured by the presence of Yews (Taxa Canadensis), young Oaks (Quercus spp.), Black Cherry and other species common to disturbed sites.

COMMUNITY III

The third community is a riparian community of trees and shrubs that borders the brook on both sides. Near the head of the brook, this community extends to the utility right-of-way and includes the Indigobush Trail and a wetland area. Tree species common to Community III include Black Willow (Salix nigra), Dogwood (Cornus florida), Silver Maple, Pin Oak and Red Maple. Shrubs and vines in this community include Rose (Rosa multiflora), Arrrowwood, Barberry (Berberis spp.), Indigobush (Amorpha fructicosa), Silverleaf Grape (Vitis aestivalis), and Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron fadicans). The wetland area in this community contains Jewelweed (Ipatiens capensis), Tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum), Pink Knotweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum), Rushes (Jancus spp.), Dock (Rumex spp.) and a mature stand of Pin Oak. In many areas, Indigobush is being replaced by Tearthumb, Rose, Grape and Pink Knotweed. Below the footbridge, the riparian community is somewhat obscured by the dense thickets of rose and its overlap with the Black Locust/Red Maple and Sweetgum/Red Maple communities.

COMMUNITY IV

In the eastern portion of the Nature Center are two smaller, yet distinct communities. Community IV is located between Winding Way and the utility right-of-way. Here, Pin and White Oaks (Quercus alba) dominate the canopy while Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and Black Locust are minor components. Poison Ivy and Arrowwood are common here as well. This community marks the extent of Boonton soils on-site and also contains the largest Pin Oak on the property.

COMMUNITY V

Just down slope to Community IV, Community V is separated by a transition zone dominated by Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and a ground cover of English Ivy (Hedera helix). Community V is an association of Red Maple and Black Locust dominated by a variety of Oak species.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY VEGETATION

The plant communities at the Nature Center are remnants of the secondary growth forests that used to dominate the area and are worthy of preservation. Although Black Locust is common in many areas (including Europe where it was imported from North America in the late 1600’s), the occurrence of mature stands is now rare in this area of New Jersey. Further, the groupings of plants, either natural or planted, is unique and offers a great opportunity for public education.
There were a number of tree specimens and association of special interest. A Pin Oak located near the utility right-of-way measured 3.18 feet diameter at breast height or 9.99 feet in circumference. This is one of the largest specimens of this species in the Borough and is estimated to be about 160 years in age. Along the brook there were two specimens of Silver Maple of particular importance. A large multiple trunk Silver Maple extending from a single base is located at the foot bridge. The base of this tree (one foot above the ground) measured 3.97 feet in diameter or 12.47 in circumference. Towards Terrill Rd. another large Silver Maple measuring 3.02 ft. dbh or 9.48 ft. in circumference was found. Although the exact age of the Silver Maples was not determined, the size of the trees indicates that both are probably in the range of about 100 to 150 years in age.
In addition to the large specimens of trees, some of the shrubs are worth noting. Indigobush was common in many areas of New Jersey, however, habitat destruction and colonization by exotic species has limited its occurrence in recent years. Therefore, the stand of Indigobush at the Nature Center is rare for the Fanwood area. Another unique aspect of the flora is the presence of a submergent aquatic plant near the culvert at the head of the brook. Although it is difficult to identify these plants without flowers, (when this study was conducted) it appears that this plant belongs to the pondweed family (Potamogetan sp.). Pondweeds are common in many lakes, ponds and streams, however, they are less common in highly urbanized brooks such as these.
Review of the Nature Center Trail Guide during this investigation revealed some changes in the vegetation [Note: due to the seasonal variation in the flowering and survival of herbaceous dicots, wild flowers listed in the Trail Guide were not inventoried in the 1991 or 1994 reports]. American holly and Red Spruce (Picea rubens) are not listed in the guide, but specimens are present at the Nature Center. In contrast, Chestnut (Castenea dentata), Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and Hawthorn (Cretaegus sp.) are listed in the Trail Guide, but living specimens were not found. It is evident throughout the Nature Center that many species have been imported to the site either through plantings or from escaping seeds. For instance, Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), an exotic herbaceous plant with bamboo-like stems, has formed a mid-sized stand on a site recently occupied by a pile of soil near the church. Although common in the Nature Center, multiflora rose is an introduced species naturalized from east Asia and is considered an invasive species.