Brittney’s Scavenger Hunt

1390769_10154640234425258_2965337169487823876_n10625162_10154643481715258_1764154211567403172_n

Rosa sp.

This plant was found during the field trip to the Chadwick Arboretum and learning garden. It was cultivated along the roadside of Lane Ave.

Rosa sp. is a member of the Rosaceae family. This plant was identified as a cultivated rose due to the thorn-like structure on the stem (prickles), radial symmetry and the alternate leave pattern. It is what we commonly know as a rose. Some conserved characteristics of this family include the alternate leaves, stipules at the base of the petiole, actinomorphic and contain a hypanthiym.

(ignore that it is in blue font and underline, I do not know how that got that way nor do I know how to change it)

 

10409361_10154643564490258_2683010467400014903_n 10553309_10154640232215258_1688192647089591876_n

This plant was found in the courtyard of Jennings Hall.

This is a member of the Poaceae family, also commonly known as the grass family. A conserved characteristic that helped identify this plant to family is the fact that it is a grass because of its hollow round open leaf sheath. Other conserved characteristics include tiny wind pollinated flowers, parallel venation, and they are monocot.

 

10646770_10154640230855258_2269572919400449669_n

It is possibly a shrub of the Rosaceae family. Aronia berry

Aronia sp.

This plant was found outside of Jennings Hall.

This is a plant with berries. It was keyed as a berry because I squished the berry like structure and it was fleshy both inside and outside. It contains a black berry, with alternate, serrate leaves.

10671278_10154643599180258_807590251899854062_n 10685382_10154643598500258_3438521250180101876_n

Through Newcomb’s it was not keyed correctly, however it may have been closely related to the Swamp Fly Honeysuckle

Lonicera oblongifolia

Similarities of the two are that the leaves are oblong, the berries are red and the leaves are entire and opposite, however the Swamp Fly Honeysuckle blooms in late spring. It is now fall as this picture is being taken.

This plant was found along the roadside of Henderson Rd.

This plant has opposite, simple, entire leaves. It was keyed because the leaf arrangement are next to each other along the stem, on the opposite sides of the stem, they contain one leaf per petiole, meaning they are simple, and the margins of the leaf are smooth, meaning entire.

10653654_10154640232780258_4135503616695545315_n

Taraxacum officinale

Known as a Common Dandelion

This plant was also found during the field trip to Chadwick Arboretum and learning garden.

It was keyed to species because growing up, we all know what a dandelion is. However, it is commonly known to know an all yellow head.

Andropogon gerardii

Big Blue Stem

This picture was taken in the middle of the driveway to the parking lot at Cedar Bog.

This plant is one of the three main prairie grasses. It was keyed to Big Blue Stem because it was spoken about during the field trip to Cedar Bog. It’s characteristics include its tall height, it’s coloring of being reddish purple bronze, and it’s flowering part looking similar to that of a turkey’s foot.

image

Caitlin’s Scavenger Hunt

PawPaw6 PawPaw5 PawPaw3 PawPaw1
Asimina triloba

The characters that I used to recognize this species are large leaves with arcuate-pinnate-venation, light gray bark, and the overall plant was relatively small in height for a tree. I found this tree in the Jennings courtyard. The common name is the common pawpaw.

 

NE Aster2 NE Aster1
Aster nova-angliae
 
The characteristica I used to identify this plant were deep purple, linear leaves, a hairy stem, and a bright yellow center. This plant was conveniently found in our classroom. The common name is New England aster.

Lenticels1
A plant with obvious lenticels
I found this tree in the Jennings courtyard, as well. The common name is the sweetbay magnolia, and the scientific name is Magnolia virginiana. Lenticels are pores within a trees “skin,” in this case bark (though apples can also have them, so I suppose it could be any outer covering) that allows for a direct exchange of gasses between the plant and the air.

Hypanthium2 Hypanthium1
A plant that produces a hypanthium.

I found these in front of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center sign at Neil and 10th Avenue, just south of Newton Hall. The common name is chrysanthemum, and the scientific name is Chyrsanthemum sp. Hypanthiums are formed when sepals and petals are fused at base. You can see them really well on the closed flowers.

Solanaceae2 Solanaceae1
A plant from the Solanaceae family
My boyfriend procured these tomatoes from his garden for me in Columbus. Obviously they don’t have two carpals like they’re supposed to, so I am relying on the five sepals and the superior ovary. The scientific name for tomatoes is Solanum lycopersicum.

Fabaceae1
A plant from the Fabaceae family 
These were also procured from a garden in Columbus. I used the fact that they are legumes to identify them. They have one carpal and a dehiscence. The common name are snap peas, and the scientific name is Pisum sativum.

Kori is adorbz.
A picture of Kori and a praying mantis.
Everyone comment and tell Kori how gorgeous she is because this picture is so adorable that it makes me want to puke rainbows.

Scavenger Hunt

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

 

Ohio plants

 

image

Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis acutiflora

Family: Poaceae

Introduced

Found on September 17, 2014 in Iuka Park Commons, in a cultivated lawn with scattered urban shrubs and grasses, in mulch.

 

image

Japanese barberry

Berberis thunbergii 

Family: Berberidaceae

Introduced

Found on September 17, 2014  in Iuka Park Commons, in a cultivated lawn with scattered grasses and shrubs, in mulch.

The plant can be identified by its burgundy colored entire leaves, and lack of flowers. It also has many thorns that are clearly evident by sight and touch. This specimen photographed shows the thorns, but was recently trimmed so the leaved aren’t as evident.

image

Panicled Aster

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Family: Asteraceae

Native

Plant was found in Iuka Park, in a mysic forest, in soil on September 17, 2014.

Wildflowers in bloom: Scioto Audubon Metro park

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae in the Asteraceae family.

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae in the Asteraceae family.

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.)

New England aster
Asteraceae
Native
Scioto Audubon Metro park on 9/14/2014. Scioto Audubon Metro park is on the Whittier Peninsula (surrounded by the Scioto River) in the middle of downtown Columbus. It is the restored site of an old impound lot and warehouses. This specimen of aster was found in replanted prairie in lowland marshy area about two feet tall and found growing in moist soil within 5 feet of a small wetland. Third most common species blooming in the area behind Solidago and Eupatorium.

 

Wildflowers in bloom: Scioto Audubon Metro Park

Boneset in the Asteraceae family.

Boneset in the Asteraceae family.

Eupatorium spp. 

Boneset
Asteraceae
Native

Scioto Audubon Metro park on 9/14/2014. Scioto Audubon Metro park is on the Whittier Peninsula (surrounded by the Scioto River) in the middle of downtown Columbus. It is the restored site of an old impound lot and warehouses. This specimen of boneset was found in restored prairie in a lowland marshy area. About three feet tall and second most common species in the area behind Solidago.

Wildflowers in bloom: Scioto Audubon Metro Park

Solidago spp. in the Asteraceae family.

Solidago spp. in the Asteraceae family.

Solidago spp.

Goldenrod
Asteraceae
Native

Scioto Audubon Metro park on 9/14/2014. Scioto Audubon Metro park is on the Whittier Peninsula (surrounded by the Scioto River) in the middle of downtown Columbus. It is the restored site of an old impound lot and warehouses. This specimen of goldenrod was found in restored prairie in a lowland marshy area. It was about four feet tall and the major species blooming in fields surrounding wetland. Possibly Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora) because the edges of its leaf are smooth, you cannot see more than three veins on the backside of the leaf, and the leaf is 2-4 inches long. Its yellow flowers are arranged in clusters at the top of the plant that are curved over to one side.

Flowers On Campus

image

  •  Species name: Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus
  • Common name: Yellow Day Lily
  • Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Field notes: Plant is an introduced species identified 9/17/14 in front of the Kuhn Honors and Scholars House building on 12th Avenue in the soil on a cultivated lawn with planted urban trees and shrubs.

The yellow day lily is recognizable from its long narrow leaves stemming from the base of the plant. Its six distinct yellow petals that are pointed at the ends also help to identify it. Also, the height makes them recognizable, as day lilies are about two to three feet tall.

image

  • Species name: Rosa rugosa
  • Common name: Rugosa rose
  • Family: Rosaceae

Field notes: Plant identified 9/17/14 outside of Pfahl Hall on 19th Avenue. Overall habitat included scattered planted urban shrubs. Plant found growing in dry soil or mulch. The rugosa rose is an introduced species.

image

 

  • Family: Geraniaceae
  • Common name: Geranium

Field notes: Plant identified 9/17/14 in a planted flower patch outside the Moritz Law Building on 12th Avenue. Plants growing out of dry wood chips surrounded by a cultivated lawn with scattered urban trees. This particular species is cultivated and introduced. Red and white varieties are typically seen around campus.

A Stroll Down Henderson Road

10644836_10154595073425258_5792757717921131301_n

Ascyrum stans

St. Peterswort

Clusiacea

Native to many states of the East coast including Texas, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky,  etc.

Field notes: Found in Columbus, Ohio. 09/17/14. Abandoned hill on Henderson Road.

St. Peterswort may be considered a shrub. It has 4  yellow petals, 2 of which are fused together and 4 sepals.  The leaves are opposite, compound, with entire margins. The flowers are arranged in a panicle inflorescence. These characteristics were used to identify the plant.

 

10658928_10154595074945258_8486047389257876923_o

Melampodium leucanthum

Blackfoot daisy

Asteraceae

Native to Texas.

Field notes: Found in Columbus, Ohio. 09/17/14. Abandoned hill on Henderson road in dry soil.

10696347_10154595075800258_3423433493073029603_n

Genista tinctoria

Dyer’s Greenweed

Fabaceae

Native to Europe in dry soils. Locally from Maine to D.C., West to Michigan.

Field notes: Found in Columbus, Ohio. 09/17/2014. On abandoned hill on Henderson Road in very dry soil.