Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
Sundays At Two Program
Carnivorous Plants of Long Island with Matt Kaelin
Sunday, June 29st, 2:00 p.m.
Long Pond Greenbelt Nature Center
1061 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike
Carnivorous plants are strange and wonderful creatures, who many would expect to only inhabit the most remote and exotic locations of the world. It may be surprising to find out that they can be found here among us on Long Island, NY. In the undeveloped lands beyond the highways and neighborhoods and shopping centers of modern suburban life.
That is where many interesting and unique ecosystems with great biodiversity remain as they were before us. Such as isolated ponds with gently sloping shorelines, curiously formed by the glacial processes which first created our island at the end of the last ice age. Along the slowly flowing waters of streams and rivers cutting through the central pine barrens, there are sphagnum bogs filled with lush, verdant mosses. Near the salty sea are great dunes of sand, which rise high, then dip down to the ground water table, keeping their low, open swales consistently wet with fresh water.
Across the world there are around 583 species within 16 genera of carnivorous plants. On Long Island we have 3 species of sundews (Drosera) 12 species of bladderworts (Utricularia), and 1 species of the American pitcher plants (Sarracenia).
This event will begin with an educational and engaging presentation on the carnivorous plants of Long Island, with vivid photography to provide a window into the habitats where they live, instruction on how to identify the different species that we have here, and the other curious flora and fauna that could be found among them as well.
After that, will be a short quarter mile hike from the nature center through the trails of the Long Pond Greenbelt, to the adjacent coastal plains pond, where the attendees will be able to observe the carnivorous sundews and bladderworts in their natural habitat. Followed by the return walk back to the nature center, where refreshments will be available for a post-expedition discussion.
About Matt Kaelin
Matthew M. Kaelin is the author of The Sinister Beauty of Carnivorous Plants. He is an accomplished cultivator of carnivorous plants with over two decades of experience, having registered two Nepenthes cultivars. Beginning early 2012, he has engaged in a continued, comprehensive survey and evaluation of the habitats of the native carnivorous plants of Long Island, NY. Where he is credited for discovering examples of a Drosera hybrid, which were the first reported observations of these plants in New York State.
Sundays at 2 are Free and Open to the public.
