Trees & Plants

Here are just some of the many trees & plants which can be found within the Woodland Caribou Provincial Park...

Plants

Pitcher Plant (photo: Chi Man Yung)

The pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant which feeds primarily on insects. They're also known to occasionally feed on small animals. The plant uses enzymes to breakdown trapped insects or animals which have fallen into the flower.

Jewelweed (photo: John B)

The jewel weed is also known as "touch-me-not" because of the way its seeds erupt into the air when the seedpod is touched. The plant is traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as treatment for headaches and a remedy for poison ivy effects.

Prince's Pine (photo: Bernice Noll)

Considered one of the first green plants to poke through the melting spring snow. Traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as treatment for stomach issues.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Mushkeekoomuhchaash
  • Height: Up to 60 cm tall
  • Flower: 1 large flower, 3 - 7 cm wide
  • Flower: Purple or dark red with a shape that resembles a pitcher
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Omakakiibag
  • Height: Up to 150 cm tall
  • Leaves: Green and smooth 
  • Flowers: Orange with red spots
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Gaagigebag
  • Height: Up to 25 cm tall
  • Leaves: Thick, green and shiny 
  • Flowers: White to pale pink, bell shaped, and 1 cm across
  • Fruit: Spherical capsules that can persist through winter

Wild Rice

 Wild rice is traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as stuffing for fowl and to make gem cakes. Pulled rice is also eaten as a breakfast cereal. The plant has been a staple food for the indigenous community for over a thousand years.

Velvet-Leaf Blueberry

August is when ripe blueberries can be found within the WCPP. The berries provide a rich source of nutrients for songbirds and mammals. Velvet-leaf blueberries are traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as blood purifiers and a preserved food source for the winter.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Manoomin
  • Height: Up to 300 cm tall
  • Leaves: flat, can grow up to 100 cm long and 4 cm wide
  • Growing Conditions: Grows in lakes and streams, needs slow flowing water
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Meenuhn
  • Height: Up to 60 cm tall
  • Berries:  Found in clusters, are dark blue and 3 to 12 mm in diameter
  • Leaves: Smooth and bright green
  • Growing Conditions: Grows well after forest fires

Trees

Trembling Aspen

The trembling aspen is able to form large colonies by producing clones that are connected through an expansive root system. The tree bark is traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as a sore reliever.

Bur Oak

Considered the most northern dwelling oak tree in North America. The bur oak is mainly located in a few prairie Savannah sites in WCPP. Traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as astringent medicine and bandage material.

White Birch

The white birch tree is considered resistant to water and decomposition. This property makes it a very valuable building material. Traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as treatment for blood diseases and stomach cramps (bark / root). Bark is also used for building houses and canoes.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Auhsuhday
  • Deciduous tree
  • Height: Up to 25 m
  • Leaves: Oval, broad, and 3 to 7 cm
  • Growing Conditions: Grows best in deep nutrient rich soils
  • Requires full sunlight
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Mitigomizh
  • Deciduous tree
  • Height: Up to 30 m 
  • Trunk Diameter: Up to 120 cm
  • Leaves: Pale on the bottom, shiny / green on the top
  • Growing Conditions: Able to grow in a diverse field of moisture levels and soil conditions
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Weekwuhsuhdehg
  • Deciduous tree
  • Height: Up to 25 m 
  • Trunk Diameter: Up to 60 cm
  • Leaves: Pale green on the bottom and dull green on the top
  • Growing Conditions: Able to grow in a diverse field of moisture levels and soil conditions

Black Spruce

Distinctive appearance with a cluster of cones and short branches located at the top of the tree. The cones and seeds may stay viable in trees for up to 30 years. The black spruce roots and leaves are traditionally used by the Ojibwa people as a stomach pain reliever.

Jack Pine

The jack pine is capable of growing tall and straight given certain conditions such as growing in dense tree stands. Fire helps cones open and release seeds making it an important element in the jack pine lifecycle. Traditionally used by the Ojibwa people for treatment of fainting or seizures.
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Kuhwunduhg
  • Coniferous Tree
  • Height: Up to 30 m 
  • Trunk Diameter: Up to 60 cm
  • Needles: Less than 2 cm long and dark green
  • Growing Conditions: Able to grow in a diverse field of moisture levels and soil conditions. However, prefers partially shaded and wet areas
Quick Facts...
  • Anishinaabe: Ookeehg
  • Coniferous Tree
  • Height: Up to 24 m 
  • Trunk Diameter: Up to 60 cm
  • Needles: 2 - 3.75 cm long and yellow-green in colour
  • Growing Conditions: Most comfortable in drier conditions with sandy or thin soils

Find out more at the Woodland Caribou Provincial Park Exhibition at the Heritage Centre!