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Mystery tree. Opposite leaves . Near a vernal pool.

Crushed leaves have a strong bitter almond smell.

https://www.sfadendro.com/index.php/tree-identification/photo-fact-sheets/oleaceae-chionanthus-virginicus-white-fringetree-lab-5

Marine Park, Brooklyn. Grassy area between Avenue U & Lenape Playground.

Leaf underside photos show uncinate hairs especially on midrib, other diagnostic features of species visible in photos of whole plants & closeups of flowers.

Will add additional photos later from fresh material collected, including closeups of uncinate hairs on leaf underside.

See the following article:

Jones, A. & Rumsey, F. 2019. Myosotis stricta: a likely native and overlooked forget-me-not in Britain. BSBI News 141: 8-9.
https://www.bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/BSBI-News-141-website-version.pdf

Explanation of photographs:
Photos 1-9 (cellphone) & 15-22 (camera) taken in field (site as described & with coordinates as given).
Remaining photos taken in the lab on 7 May 2024.

Smallest division of stage micrometer = 0.1 mm.

Additional References:
Gleason, H. A. & Cronquist, A. 1991 (2009). Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. xlvi, 993 pages.

Rhoads, A. F. & Block, T. A. 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. vii, 1042 pages.

There is a lot of this plant growing in a bed that also contains a lot of Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and a weedy Legume (see last photo).

I know both Chaerophyllum tainturieri and C. procumbens are unlikely but it seems to come down to them, everything similar (that I can find info on) has many more flowers in their umbellets, except maybe Anthriscus caucilus but its fruits are covered in hooked spines.

I have studied and photographed this species in a few other spots along Hudson River Park during 2020 but not put anything into observations (yet).

@djringer has a very good observation, identified to genus (with very helpful commentary from @mertensia), of what I believe is the same species, in the same general area, from May 2019: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/25315369

Intertidal Midges (Telmatogeton japonicus)?, Bush Terminal Piers Park, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NYC, April 2024

There were many, and they were so small and moved so fast, these are likely three different individuals.