Emily Traphagen Park

Location: Emily Traphagen Park is located at 5094 Seldom Seen Rd, Powell, Ohio, with GPS coordinates 40.173106147827234, -83.11891651374454. It spans 100 acres and features a balanced mix of woodland, wetland, and meadow areas.

 

Figure 1. Image courtesy of Preservation Parks of Delaware County, Emily Traphagen Park.

 

A Plant that was very common in this park was Poison Ivy.

 

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) can be identified by its characteristic clusters of three leaflets. The plant’s leaflets can be smooth or slightly toothed, and its growth form varies, appearing as a climbing vine, shrub, or groundcover. As well as this, the plant often produces small white berries that are attractive to birds but can be harmful to humans upon contact. In mature plants, the vines develop hair-like aerial roots, which help it cling to trees and other surfaces. Poison ivy is prevalent in a range of environments, from woodlands and fields, making it almost a requirement while working with plants to be able to identify these in order to avoid contact with it’s oil, urushiol, which is found in all parts of the plant. Correct identification is crucial, especially during fall when its leaves turn bright red and orange, further highlighting its presence in the landscape. (Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5509).

 

New Species

A few new species for the website were seen amongst the many familiar species of this past semester. Here are a few seen and documented throughout the couple of days spent at this park:

 

Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is a well-known tree in Ohio, recognized for its large heart-shaped leaves and distinctive “cigar” seed pods. It has a coefficient of conservatism (CC) of 2, meaning it’s fairly adaptable to disturbed environments. The tree’s white flowers are an attractor for bees, and its wood is valued for being rot-resistant, often used for things like fence posts. Historically, the leaves and bark were also used in traditional medicine (Newcomb, 1989; Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5509; The Ohio EPA).

 

Black Oak (Quercus velutina) is another important tree species, with a CC of 5. It can be easily identified by its dark, furrowed bark and lobed leaves. The acorns produced by Black Oak are a crucial food source for wildlife such as squirrels and deer. Additionally, its bark was historically used in the tanning of leather due to its high tannin content (Petrides, 1973; Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5509; The Ohio EPA).

 

Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a flowering plant that’s often considered a weed, especially in agricultural areas. However, its underground tubers, known as “tigernuts,” have been used as a food source in various cultures. The plant thrives in wet soils, and its CC varies depending on habitat. Despite its invasiveness, it has some historical significance due to these edible tubers (Newcomb, 1989; The Ohio EPA.).

 

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) is another flowering plant with a CC of 5. This tall, slender plant is known for its spikes of blue-purple flowers, which bloom from mid-summer to early fall. The flowers are particularly attractive to pollinators like butterflies and bees. Blue Vervain has also been used traditionally in herbal medicine to treat fevers and digestive issues (Parks, 2024; Newcomb, 1989; The Ohio EPA).

 

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a common shrub in moist Ohio woodlands, with a CC of 6. It produces fragrant yellow flowers in early spring and is an important host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. Its bright red berries are consumed by birds, and its leaves and bark have historically been used by Native Americans to make medicinal teas (Newcomb, 1989; Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5509; The Ohio EPA).

 

 

Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) is a native shrub with a CC of 4, well known for its sweet, edible berries that are enjoyed by both humans and wildlife. Blackberry plants also provide dense thickets, which offer shelter for small animals. Historically, its berries were used to make dyes and remedies, adding to its importance in the landscape (Petrides, 1973; Newcomb, 1989; The Ohio EPA).

 

Invasives

Invasive plant species are an extremely common sight to see amongst the numerous species within Ohio, here are just a few of the many that have been seen:

 

Emily Traphagen Park, like many other natural areas in Ohio, faces significant challenges due to the presence of invasive plant species. One of these invaders is European privet (Ligustrum vulgare), a shrub introduced from Europe and originally used as a popular hedge plant in landscaping. While it was initially valued for its dense growth and ability to create privacy screens, European privet has spread into natural areas where it forms dense thickets, outcompeting native vegetation and reducing biodiversity. This invasive species can thrive in a variety of habitats, making it particularly difficult to manage. Effective control methods typically involve manual removal combined with herbicide treatments to prevent regrowth (Newcomb, 1989; Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5509).

 

Another invasive species impacting the park’s ecosystem is Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant due to its flowers and vigorous growing speed. However, this plant’s ability to form dense mats over native vegetation has made it a significant threat to local ecosystems. It spreads rapidly by twining around trees and shrubs, suffocating them and disrupting the natural growth of native species. In addition to manual removal, cutting and applying herbicides to the base of the vines are common methods for controlling this species (Petrides, 1973; Parks, 2024).

 

Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), another invasive shrub, was once promoted for erosion control and as a wildlife habitat plant. Despite its intended benefits, this species has become highly problematic due to its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, which alters soil chemistry and gives it a competitive advantage over native plants. The shrub produces abundant fruits that are readily eaten and dispersed by birds, further aiding its spread. Invasive plant management techniques for autumn olive include hand-pulling younger plants, as well as cutting and applying herbicides to larger specimens (Newcomb, 1989).

 

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is a fast-spreading invasive grass that poses a significant threat to shaded forest areas in the park. It was likely introduced to the U.S. through packing materials in the early 20th century, this annual grass forms dense mats that crowd out native plants in both forest understories and disturbed areas. Once established, Japanese stiltgrass is difficult to control, and effective management often requires a combination of early detection, hand-pulling, and targeted herbicide application (Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5509).

 

Woody Plant Fruit ID

 

The red oak (Quercus rubra) produces acorns, which are a type of nut. These acorns are distinctive due to their round shape and shallow cup, which is scaly and only covers a small part of the nut. The reddish-brown color and the flat-topped appearance of the acorns make them easily identifiable. Red oak acorns take two years to mature, a key feature that helps differentiate them from other oak species.

 

For the silver maple (Acer saccharinum), the fruit is a samara, (Bad Picture) which consists of winged seeds in pairs that form a broad “V” shape. The large, spreading wings of the samaras, which are green to reddish-brown in color, help in wind dispersal. These wings are long and wide, making the fruit of the silver maple easy to distinguish from other maple species, particularly in the spring when they mature.

 

The honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) bears long, flat seed pods known as legumes. These pods can grow up to 18 inches in length and are twisted with a dark brown color when mature. Inside, the pods contain multiple seeds surrounded by a sweet, pulpy substance. The honey locust’s twisted, large pod shape makes it unique and identifiable among other leguminous trees.

 

Lastly, the black walnut (Juglans nigra) produces a large, round nut encased in a thick green husk that turns black as it ripens. The husk eventually breaks open, revealing a hard, deeply grooved nut shell. The strong smell of the husk and the deeply corrugated texture of the shell are distinguishing features that make the black walnut easily identifiable.

 

 

Mosses and Lichens

  Here are just a few species that were mosses and lichens found on The Delaware Wildlife Area and may be present within this area:

 

Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum) is a bright green moss with feathery, fern-like fronds that cover forest floors, stream banks, and other damp spots. Thriving in shady, humid areas, it helps keep the ground moist and prevents erosion by stabilizing the soil.

 

Common Haircap Moss (Polytrichum commune) is taller and sturdier, with upright stems that look like tiny pine trees. You can find it in a range of habitats, from woodlands to open fields. It’s great at holding water and is often one of the first plants to grow in disturbed soils, helping with soil recovery and stabilization.

 

Common Greenshield Lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata) is a yellow-green lichen usually seen on tree bark and rocks. It does well in clean air environments, including cities, and supports invertebrates while helping break down minerals in its habitat. (Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5473)

 

Ruffle Lichen (Parmotrema spp.) has wavy, gray-green lobes and grows in areas with good air quality, usually on trees and rocks. It’s sensitive to pollution and helps cycle nutrients, making it a great indicator of a healthy environment. (Ohio Division of Wildlife, 5473)

 

References

Newcomb, Lawrence. 1989. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Parks, P. (2024, August 5).

Preservation Parks of Delaware County. 2024. Emily Traphagen park history. https://preservationparks.com/emily-traphagen-park-history/

Petrides, G. 1973. A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs: Northeastern and north-central United States and southeastern and south-central Canada (Peterson Field Guide).

The Ohio EPA. 2004. THE VEGETATION INDEX OF BIOTIC INTEGRITY “FLORISTIC QUALITY”. (VIBI-FQ) Ohio EPA Technical Report WET/2013-2. https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/epa.ohio.gov/Portals/35/401/VIBI_FQ_FINAL.pdf

The Ohio Division of Wildlife. Trees of Ohio Field Guide (Ohio Publication 5509).

The Ohio Division of Wildlife. Common Lichens of Ohio Field Guide (Ohio Publication, 5473).