Trees are the backbone of many ecosystems. Without trees, wildlife would have no shelter or food. Runoff from rainfall would scatter debris everywhere. Pollutants would contaminate local bodies of water. Soil would erode away forming a chaotic landscape unsuitable for any living organism. However, trees and their roots, foliage, and bark have prevented all of that. So come along with me as we explore common trees (native and invasive) found in wetland areas.
For the sake of simplicity, ALL TREES in this list were found at The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park.
Tree 1. Boxelder (Acer negundo)
Boxelder, a native tree, can be identified by its opposite, pinnately compound leaves of 3-5 leaflets. Leaflets will generally be few toothed with 1 terminal leaflet. Being a member of the maple genus, Acer, the tree grows samaras as its fruit. At the OSU Wetlands, I spotted this tree on the edge of a dried-out pond. Finding this tree is such a unique experience due to its strange differences compared to the other members of the Acer genus. The wood of the tree, which is soft and white, is used to make boxes (Petrides 1972). The tree is also monoecious, in which a specimen will only have either male or female flowers (Minnesota Wildflowers).
Tree 2. Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Our first non-native tree to this list, Callery pear can be identified by its round wavy-edged simple alternate leaves. While not always present, Callery pear may exhibit thorns running along the trunk and branches. Young trees have white speckles on the golden-tan bark. The fruits of Callery pear are small spherical brown drupes which are very sour. I found this tree standing where the edge of a bioreserve pond meets a parking lot. Seeing the tree makes me feel conflicted, as even though it is a gorgeous specimen, it is highly invasive and detrimental to the environment. For some reason, the tree is not found within the Petrides field guide. However, according to (Invasive), the tree was planted as an ornamental plant across the U.S., contributing to its invasive nature.
Tree 3. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Eastern cottonwood, my favorite native tree, can be identified by its serrated simple alternative leaves which are triangular shaped and dance in the wind due to its flat leaf stems. This specimen was found at the edge of a stormwater wetland but can be found throughout the OSU Wetlands in the high canopy alongside bodies of water or in the riparian zone of the Olentangy river. I always get a little giddy seeing this tree due to its uniquely dark furrowed bark and immense dominating height. The leaves dancing in the wind are also so adorable and add a touch of character to not only the tree, but the ecosystem around it. To not mistake the tree with the 3 other poplars with flat leaf stems, eastern cottonwood will have glands on its stalks (Petrides 1972). Eastern cottonwood will fruit large amounts of cottony seeds, blanketing the ground in what seems to be faux snow (Minnesota Wildflowers).
Tree 4. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Pawpaw, a native delicious fruit-bearing tree, can be identified by its entire, large and ovular yet simple alternate leaves. When fruiting in late summer to early fall, the tree grows plump fruits resembling yellow or brown mangos. This tree was found on the edge where an artificial wetland ends, and a wooded area begins. Seeing this tree gets me excited as I look for any ripe fruit which taste like a mixture between a banana, mango, and pineapple. Unique to the Ohio climate, pawpaw is the northernmost representative of tropical fruit bearing trees (Petrides 1972). The pawpaw is also the native state fruit of Ohio (Midstory)!
Tree 5. Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Northern catalpa, our second non-native plant on this list, can be identified by its large entire and simple triangular leaves and long tubular fruit which are green while growing but turn brown when dried. Seeing this tree is a bit strange but spectacular when the tree is in full bloom. The flowers are large showy white bundles of messy petals which your eyes will naturally wander towards. However, the oddly shaped leaves stick out in the landscape like a sore thumb, adding to the uniqueness of the tree. Not having any special fact in the Petrides field guide, the Minnesota Wildflowers states that Northern catalpa, ironic due to its name, is only naturally found in southeast Ohio. The specimen I found was in central Ohio, making it non-native. The species is widely cultivated through the state but sometimes will have an escapee grow.
Tree 6. American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
The American sycamore is truly a classic and instantly recognizable tree. The bark peels off its brown paper like layer revealing its plain white inner layer. The leaves are large and resemble maple leaves, serrated and simple. However, American sycamore leaves are alternate in arrangement with the leaf stem fully encapsulating a leaf bud around it. These trees are large wetland loving plants, with this specimen found on the edge of an artificial wetland. Seeing this plant creates a sense of nostalgia in me. I couldn’t tell you why, but maybe it has to do with the unique peeling bark and large leaves. The American sycamore is generally considered to be the largest tree in the eastern United States, however the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) may sometimes grow taller than it (Petrides 1972). This tree is fed upon by many species of insects and birds, while providing habitats for mammals such as black bears to squirrels (Illinois Wildflowers).
Tree 7. Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
Swamp white oak, a native wetland tree, can be recognized by its lobed simple alternate leaves which cluster near the end of the twig. The leaf begins narrow but widens out nearing the tip. Lobes are deepest in the mid-section of the leaf, with shallow lobes at the end and entire margins at the beginning. This tree was found a few meters away from the edge of an artificial wetland. Finding this tree always makes me feel great, as oaks in general are important for the ecosystem and feed multitudes of wildlife with their acorns. The acorn stalks of this tree are longer than the leaf stalks, which is found in no other oak species (Petrides 1972). Swamp white oak is monoecious, growing male and female flowers separately on the same branch (Illinois Wildflowers).
Sources
- Petrides, George A. 1972, Trees and Shrubs of Northeast and North Central US and Southeast and South Central Canada (Peterson Field Guide). Houghton Miflin, 428 pp.
- Minnesota Wildflowers, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/
- Invasive, https://www.invasive.org/index.cfm
- Midstory, https://www.midstory.org/the-hidden-wonders-of-the-pawpaw-ohios-beloved-state-native-fruit/
- Illinois Wildflowers, https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/tree_index.htm