Map of Olentangy Wetland Research Park, Source: https://u.osu.edu/orwrpramsar/interactive-map/

Tall Boneset (Eupatorium altissimum) CC = 0 : Tall Boneset is an herbaceous plant that fruits in resinous achenes. This species interestingly displays apomitic polyploidy, meaning each cell contains 3 or more sets of chromosomes (MBG).

Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) CC = 0 : Annual fleabane is a member of the family Asteraceae, producing white ray flowers and yellow disk flowers. It is often a pioneer of recently disturbed or man-made areas because of its broad tolerance in environmental conditions (Native Plant Trust).

Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) CC = 0 : Horseweed is a flowering herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae that produces very small white ray flowers. It contains chemicals in its leaves that give it a bitter taste, so animals prefer not to graze on it (MDC).

Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora) CC = 8 : Sweet goldenrod is an herbaceous plant that produces small yellow flowers in the summer and fall. When its leaves are crushed, they emit an odor similar to anise, thus explaining the plant’s name. Despite its relative flexibility in substrate conditions, this goldenrod has a high CC value because it requires more specific growing conditions than other native weeds (Gardenia.net).

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) CC = 7 : Swamp white oak is a bottomland tree that has shallowly lobed leaves, hairless twigs, and bowl-shaped acorn cups. It is the only oak to have acorn stalks much longer than its leaf stalks (Petrides 220).

Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) : Porcelain berry, otherwise known as Asiatic ampelopsis, is an invasive vine species that fruits in colorful, spotted berries. It is similar to the American cultivar but with hairy, longer-pointed leaves. American and Asiatic ampelopsis are the only known white-pithed vines without forked tendrils (Petrides 187).

Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) : Common privet is an invasive bush that hails from Europe, escaping from cultivation in the United States. It fruits small black berries in the fall (unripe berries pictured above) which are eaten by some song and game birds (Petrides 79).

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) : Foxtail millet is a grain native to China that has become invasive in the US after escaping cultivation. It is widely grown for use as hay in the US and as a source of food in China. It is also often planted along highways following road construction to stabilize disturbed soil (Native Plant Trust).

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) : Also known as the Bradford pear, this tree has been widely planted as an ornamental but is arguably now classified as an invasive. It is native to Asia and identifiable by its shiny, thick leaves that have wavy edges. It also produces flowers in bundles that emit a rancid odor (PSU Extension).

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) : Eastern red cedar is a calciphillic tree, preferring to live in areas with limey soil (Forsythe). The tree has scaly leaves and its fruits look like green berries, but are really seeds encased in fleshy scales (Petrides 26).

American Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) : Hackberry trees are calciphiles, meaning they prefer to grow in areas with limey soil (Forsythe). Hackberry leaves have uneven bases and are arranged in a way that they shadow over each other. The tree produces small black berries and twigs have chambered piths (Petrides 209).

Chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) : Chestnut oak is an acidophile, meaning it prefers to grow in areas with dry, acidic soil (Forsythe). Its leaves have many rounded teeth and its bark is dark and deeply ridged (Petrides 220).

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) : Eastern redbud is a calciphillic tree that prefers to grow in limey soil (Forsythe). It is distinguishable by its heart-shaped leaves and its legume fruits (Petrides 208).