Author: Lisa Miller

Columbus Plants Scavenger Hunt

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

Spearmint- Mentha spicata

Characteristics used: Square stems, aromatic, opposite leaves, zygomorphic flowers.

Growing in an overgrown garden in front of a house in University District of Columbus, OH.

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

Tomato- Solanum lycopersicum

Characteristics: Superior ovary, fruit a berry, alternate leaves.

Growing in a planted garden in Beavercreek, OH.

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Cornus species.

Flowering Dogwood- Cornus florida

Characteristics: Understory tree, red drupes growing in clusters, leaves are simple, opposite, ovate, and entire.

Found in the front yard of a house in Harrison West of Columbus, OH.

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Rhamnus species.

Buckthorn- Genus Rhamnus (species unknown)

Characteristics: Medium-sized tree, growing along fence-line with other invasives such as honeysuckle, branches end in woody ‘spine’, have small, dark berries.

Found near the OSU Museum of Biodiversity in Columbus, OH.

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A plant with a corolla of fused petals.

Morning Glory- Ipomoea purpurea

Petals are fused into one tube- no individual petals obvious.

Found along a fence-line in the back of a house in University District of Columbus, OH.

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A plant that produces berries.

Honeysuckle- Genus Lonicera (species unknown)

Produces small, red, fleshy fruit with no hard outer shell and no hard inner pit. Round.

Found in Highbanks Metro Park in Columbus, OH.

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Karlan Farms Wildflowers

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Helianthus tuberosus

Jerusalem Artichoke

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  • Family Asteraceae
  • Ohio Native
  • Found on 21st September 2014 near Lockbourne, OH. Growing in an overgrown meadow between mowed grass (in a horse pasture) and a dry creek bed, growing in large clumps with grasses and golden rods. Tall plant- about 4 feet.

Impatiens capensis

Spotted Touch-Me-Nots

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  • Family: Balsaminaceae
  • Ohio Native
  • Found on 21st September 2014 near Lockbourne, OH. Growing in an overgrown meadow between mowed grass (in a horse pasture) and a dry creek bed, tucked in below grasses and golden rods. The fruits were fascinating- small, green pods that explode when you squeeze them to distribute the seed.
  • The orange/red/yellow flower ‘hangs’ from its stem; it is shaped somewhat like a trumpet, with a narrow tube that wraps behind and below the opening of the flower. Pollinators (mainly bees) must crawl almost entirely inside of the flower to reach the pollen and nectar. The leaves are green and soft, egg-shaped with rounded teeth on the edges. The fruit are elongated, about 1 inch long, and are corn-ear-shaped. They explode when squeezed, distributing a few small, disk-shaped seeds.

Erigeron strigosus

Lesser Daisy Fleabane

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  • Family Asteraceae
  • Ohio Native
  • Found on 21st September 2014 near Lockbourne, OH. Growing in an overgrown meadow between mowed grass (in a horse pasture) and a dry creek bed, in a large unorganized clump below grasses and golden rods. Flowers very small (1/2 inch across), with many white petals.