August 06, 1981 - Of Pipes and PipsissewaSECOND SECTION irbi 6tiffath TtMC5 AUGUST 6,'1981
Of Pipes and Pipsissewa
On the way out to feed the chickens
yesterday, I saw an old and unusual friend
growing alongside our path in the woods. It
stood out among the dark, decayed leaves
of the woods and made me pause and stoop
to reacquaint myself with it. Indian pipes,
an unusual plant of the wood, is found
almost everywhere except for the far
north. These white, waxy- looking plants,
six to eight inches high, have a character-
istic pipe -like shape that never ceases to
attract the attention of those who spot it.
It's a plant that cannot be transplanted
to the garden because its food supply of
decayed material below is difficult to
move. This decayed matter is usually
rotten wood or debris of the forest floor.
Unlike the world of green plants, the
Indian pipes have no green chlorophyll. It
is through the process of photosynthesis
that other plants make their food by
utilizing the sun. The Indian pipes derive
their food solely from the decayed matter
their root fibers entrap. Thus the white
color of the Indian pipes.
Later, as the season progresses and the
flowers are fertilized, the pipe shape
moves to an upright position. Then as time
goes on, when the plant dies, the white
disappears and is replaced by a black
coloring which eventually in the winter
turns brown. These dried brown remains
of the Indian pipes are often seen rigidly
standing where once a beautiful and
unusual plant grew.
The Indian pipes are found in the same
family as the pipsissewa, another low -
growing woodland plant. It, too, has a
rather waxy - looking leaf, but this one has
the characteristic green. One species is
mottled with white, giving it the name
mottled pipsissewa. Neither of these plants
is large and showy, yet they are found in
most of our Long Island woods. Flowers of
the pipsissewa remind one of tiny street
lights with a broad shade and bulb
beneath. The plant is an evergreen and
one that is often seen as the only green
plant on a winter's walk. Anyone who has
spent time wandering through our woods
will know the Indian pipes and pipsissewa.
One -Acre Zoning Backed
Our woods are becoming fewer and
fewer as the population slowly creeps
eastward. Yet we have a golden opportun-
ity to keep some of this woodland with our
now present one -acre zoning. To many,
one acre is much too much to take care of.
An acre of lawn becomes a lodestone
around the homeowner's neck. A simple
solution might be that if the homes were to
go up in a wooded area, only cut the trees
necessary for the house and small yard,
leaving the rest in its natural state. The
ftca,nc=
M��QHTq
trees will provide shade in the summer
and protection from the winter winds in
the winter. Some might argue that the
raking of leaves might be a lodestone to
the homeowner, but if the lawn is kept
small enough, the leaves are merely raked
off into the woods to be left for nature's
own decay. Leaves and rotten limbs are
the natural fertilizer of the forest floor. It
is nature's compost pile.
Even for the person who builds in the
open farmland, that one -acre of seeded
lawn soon becomes a burden. So if only a
small section were seeded and the rest
planted with small trees and shrubs, it
would soon revert back to a natural cover.
Here again, properly placed it would make
an ideal wind barrier and of course a
mecca for wildlife.
What I've spoken about with reference to
the individual homeowner can also come
into play by the big developer as well. Here
we call it clustering and multi dwelling.
Here the homes are clustered in one
section of the development, all kept tightly
together with small lawns, yards, and few
streets. This makes efficient building and
maintenance. The rest of the land is left
in open space. The concept is sound and
has been used in many other areas.
Where Will It End?
Woods, like farmland, are slowly but
surely being absorbed by buildings, roads
and man's activities in one way or another.
A mere glance at your weekly paper will
reveal subdivision after subdivision, de-
velopment, after development.
If we are to keep this end of the island a
rural place we are going to have to start
using some of these solutions that will still
permit growth but not at the expense of our
precious woodland and farmland. Cluster-
ing and multi- housing are a solution, which
are a must provided the one acre of land is
left for each family unit built.
There should always be woods and
farmland roads that make our island what
it is today. Whether it's to see the ghostly
white Indian pipe in the summer or the
evergreen leaves of the pipsissewa in
winter, or the mere joy of walking -- woods
and open farmland are a must on the North
Fork.
PAULSTOUTENBURGH
3 Good Reasons
why you should purchase
your new automobile now!!
loea- 1oKwft%% _Aw3
F )&%.— Summer Sale at =�
Wells on all 1981
Special low GMC Cadillacs & Pontiacs a
financing @ 13.8% in stock!
on all 1981 Cadilla
& Pontiacs in stoc
_.
f `
Wells needs good
used cars for a
ready market &
will allow the
most money for
your trade - in!
.......... - -W—w— — ��M� —; ••...
. 13.8% : Act Fast While The Selection is Good! ' l3 8 %••.
GMAC • Offer ends on August 31st. ..GyAC
GM QuAl r'I
WELLS IR
G:"MJ i uoraos wurrs rnmcx,
KM MAT CCLMT GH 1133JNG
POMAC • C01AC • SUBARU ` rru GRN"I" am ®AJM
MAIN ROAD, PECONIC 765 -1000 722 -3110
INDIAN PIPES - -This interesting white plant has no green chlorophyl to
make its food from the sun. It must rely on decayed material from below
for its nourishment. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
Do You Want To See A Broadway Show?
WEDNESDAY MATINEES
Aug. 26 - Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - $30.00
Sept. 23 - Sugar Babies - $35.00
Come with us ... Via Luxury Coach
Leaving 10 AM from Riverhead Good Orchestra Seats
Rte. 58 - Ostrander Avenue
869 Old Country Rd., Riverhead 369-1198
24th Annual Riverhead Rotary
ESTIV L
R=B=QUE
Saturday, August 8th
Grumman Picnic and Fair Grounds
Route 25, Calverton j
Noon til 6 PM
• FREE Carnival Rides
• FREE Talent Show
*FREE Magic Show
* FREE Entertainment
COMPLETE
BAR- B -QUED
,CHICKEN DINNER
Advanced Tickets Only
$5 Children to 12; Adults $6
Tickets at Gate - Children $6 Adults $'
Buy Now SAVE $1 11 V.
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL RIV