Month: September 2014

Scavenger Hunt

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1a. A member of the Asteraceae with an explanation of the characters that you used to determine the family identification.

The inflorescence of Asteraceae is distinctive. Has a prominent head, a cluster of flowers that appear to be a single flower.

Specimen: Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)

Location of specimen: Mt. Sterling, OH

IMG_2718      IMG_2716

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1b. A member of the Poaceae with an explanation of the characters that you used to determine the family identification.

Field Corn (Zea sp.) is a member of the Poaceae family because the fruit is a caryopsis (the seed coat of a corn kernel is fused to the fruit wall). This family has leaves with entire margins and parallel venation. Other characters include: hollow stems, and open leaf sheaths. Location of specimen: Mt. Sterling, OH

IMG_2719      IMG_2720

 

2a. Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Shrub. Compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets and feathered stipules. Other ID characters include reddish/purple hips and stout prickles. Location of specimen: Waterman Farm, OSU.

IMG_2687        IMG_2690

2b. Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

The base of the leaf has a “rabbit ears” structure. Leaves with entire margins and parallel venation. Other ID characters include: hollow stems, and open leaf sheaths. Location of specimen: OSU

IMG_2684       IMG_2685

 

 

3a. A plant with ovate leaves:

Ovate: a leaf with the shape of an egg.

Specmien: Tri colored beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseo-marginata’)

Location of specimen: Upper Arlington, OH

IMG_2723

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3b. A plant with a gynoecium composed of five carpels

Gynoceium: The female structures of a flower, collectively.

Carpel: The innermost whorl of a flower

Specimen: Geranium (Geranium sp.)

Location of specimen: Upper Arlington, OH

IMG_3311

Taraxacum officinale

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flower

 

Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)

Location: Green Ohio

A character I used to recognize this species was mainly the flower head. There are many small flowers collected together. Each flower in the head is called a floret. The leaves form a whorl around the base of the flower.

 

Specific plant characters

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leafs 2

 

-A plant with opposite compound leaves

Location: Green Ohio

This plant has opposite compound leaves. This means that the leaves are arranged in an opposite fashion (they face in two different directions coming from the same point). This entire picture is of one leaf but there are many leaflets coming off the same leaf stalk, making this overall a compound leaf.

Phragmites australis

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grass 2

Phragmites australis (common reed)

Location: Green Ohio

Some characteristics I used to recognized this species were the long lanceolate leafs (grass). I also noticed that some parts of this plant were turning light brown, which is also a characteristic of Phragmites australis. Starting in the fall the leaves start to change color and become light brown vs. fully green in the summer months.

Plant in Poaceae family

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grass again

-A member of the Poaceae with an explanation of the characters that you used to determine the family identification

Location: Green Ohio

I identified this plant to be from the Poaceae family. Some characteristics I used to determine this were the long linear leaves; also, the leaves are alternate with entirely smooth margins.

Plant in Solanaceae family

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Petunia

-A member of the Solanaceae with an explanation of the characters that you used to determine the family identification

Location: Green Ohio

This is a picture of a Petunia. I know this is from the family Solanaceae because the leaves are alternate and also the flowers have 5 petals.

Plant characters

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SPIKE

 

-A plant with linear leaves

Location: Green Ohio

The top part of this plant (a spike) shows a plant with long linear leaves. My definition of long linear leaves would be a long slender leaf that is simple and not divided into parts.

Scavenger Hunt

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Family #1:  Rosaceae

Species Name: Duchesnea indica

Common Name: Indian Strawberry

Description: Observed in an open-cultivated lawn, growing in slightly moist, acidic-soil. This plant can be best described as a yellow flower with five petals, five sepals (and 5 toothed bracts just underneath) , with many stamen. The leaves are mostly basal (this plant had an alternate leaf also) with three, serrate leaflets. The fruit is red and juicy and has achenes (dry; ovary contains one cell and one seed) surrounding the surface.

Waldsteinia fragarioides Waldsteinia fragarioides

Waldensteinia fragarioides Waldsteinia fragarioides

 

Family #2: Apiaceae

Species Name: Dacus carota

Common Name: Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, or Bird’s Nest

Description: Observed along the south side of the roadside, growing in moderately moist, slightly acidic soil. The plant was about two feet tall and had a pubescent stem. The small, white flowers were grown in a flat umbel and have pinnate bracts that fold up to form a seed.

 Daucus carota Daucus carota

 

Plant on sight ID list #1: Oenothera biennis

Family Name: Onagraceae

Common Name: Common Evening Primrose

Description: Observed along the west side of the roadway, growing in a steep ditch. The flower has four, yellow petals, two pairs of long sepals fused together , 8  stamen, and one inferior gynoecium with four stigmas. The stem was about 4 feet tall and had little hairs. The leaves were alternate and lanceolate in shape with entire margins.

photo 1(2) photo 3(2)

 

Plant on sight ID list #2: Quercus rubra

Family Name: Fagaceae

Common Name: Red Oak

Description:  Observed in an open cultivated lawn along the driveway in full sunlight, growing in slightly acidic soil. Leaves are simple, alternate, lobed with pointy tips.

red oak red oak

red oak red oak

 

Specific Character #1: Parallel Venation

Family Name: Aspargacae

Species Name: Agave sp.

Described: Observed along the west side of a slightly, downward driveway, growing in slightly acidic soil. The veins of the leaves run parallel.

Agave agave

 

Specific Character #2: Pinnate Venation

Family Name: Ulmacae

Species Name: Ulmus rubra

Common Name: Slippery Elm

Description: Observed on the west side on the top part of the downward slope driveway, growing in slightly acidic soil. The leaves are simple, alternate, serrated and have a rough top surface with a soft, pubescent surface underneath. The venation is pinnate having one main vein extending from the asymmetrical base to the acute tip with many smaller veins that branch off.

a.elm a.elm

a. elm a. elm

 

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Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Family: Asteraceae

This flower can be found outside of the James Cancer Research Hospital.  It contains 7 regular parts, alternate, slightly toothed, rough, leaves.  The leaves have netted venation and this flower is a native species that grows well in dry or moist soil.