Station N
Layers of sediment • Burnt cornflakes and incomplete rings (A1.95)
The rock in front of this station marker shows how different layers of sediment formed the underlying bedrock of the park. This piece of metamorphosed sandstone has been turned on its side with its component layers separated by cracks. The right side of the rock consists of larger particles indicating that they were deposited by faster moving water than the smaller particles on the left side.
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The adult black cherry tree about 15 feet north (to the right) of the station marker has bark that looks as if large burnt cornflakes were plastered along the trunk. Commit this bark to memory and you will begin to recognize the many large individuals throughout the park.
Black cherry does not usually grow to such a large size in undisturbed forests because it is a pioneer species that usually dies out as the forest around it matures. Unusually, it is a canopy species at Salter Grove. Because they were already established when the park was created in the 70's, they were able to keep pace with the more usual canopy trees such as black oak.
A large sweet cherry 17" in diameter stood south (left) of the observation station marker N until July 3, 2025 when it was taken down by wind gusts that reached over 60 MPH. The number of growth rings exposed on the cut trunk suggests that it was about 70 years old.
The sweet cherry was introduced to North America in the 1600's by European colonists and is the primary ancestor of the cultivated cherry. It's distinctive bark is quite different from black cherry. From a distance, the trunk appears smooth but encircled by rings which are actually horizontal lenticels that promote direct gas exchange between the inner tissues and the atmosphere.