Introduction to Deer Creek Wildlife Area:
In the southeastern region of central Ohio, about 4 miles south of Mount Sterling, OH lies Deer Creek Wildlife Area. With a total of 4,220 acres of land, you can find a variety of different habitats including agricultural fields, wetlands, meadows, forests, grasslands and much more. Around 25% of the total land area is hardwood forests and brush, 25% is agriculture and the remainder is a variety of prairies, meadows, wetlands and everything in between. Controlled season burns are carried out through plots on a rotated schedule in spring and early fall seasons and native grasses are planted as well on a rotational basis. With such a variety of opportunities, Deer Creek Wildlife Area is frequently utilized by outdoorsmen and women and there is sure to be a plethora of wonderful discoveries. The particular plot surveyed, in which fun finds will be photographed and discussed below, is an area that lies on the edge of a wetland with a hardwood forest edge and a portion of prairie and meadow as well. Highlighted here is an aerial photograph of the specific site surveyed. ODNR – Deer Creek Wildlife Area
Ouchy, Itchy Poison Ivy:
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) as a native plant that is widespread throughout Ohio. The leaves of this plant can be easily identified by its sets of 3 leaflets. Each leaf has toothed margins that are more prominently tooted toward the tips of the leaves as photographed below. Beyond the leaves, Poison Ivy can be identified by its vine, also pictured below, which uses hair like appendages to attach to whatever subject it chooses to grow upon. The oil that this plant produces is what actually makes it “poisonous” and when in contact with skin it can cause an unpleasant reaction that persists longer than desirable.
New Plants:
Brown-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia triloba
CC Value: 4
This flowering plant is in the Aster family and is very wide spread as it propagates easily and sows seeds in both the spring and fall. This species is drought tolerant and can adapt to shaded environments leading it to be a very sturdy species. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – RUTR2
Common Morning Glory
Lpomoea purpurea
CC Value: 0
Morning Glory has a CC value of 0 because this species is known for being a beautiful climber in gardens, but can be detrimental to native species when it is spread to wild areas. As pictured above, this plant quickly strangles out its host plant (or post). Although it can be a beneficial species to pollinators, it can arguably do more harm than good. Common Morning Glory
White Mulberry
Morus alba
CC Value: 0
White mulberry is an invasive shrub. This species can be either monoecious or dioecious. This shrub can be identified by its leaves, of which are not uniform throughout and have some deeply lobed and some undivided.
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
CC Value: 5
The silver maple is a native tree species to the eastern half of the U.S. Silver maple is undesirable to plant close to structures as the wood is brittle and often victim to damage in storms that are only mild. ODNR – Silver Maple
White Ash
Fraxinus americana
CC Value: 3
As we previously covered Blue Ash, Photographed above is a close relative, the White Ash. White Ash is a beneficial species for early to intermediate successional forests as it thrives in open areas and is good for re-introducing vegetation to disturbed sites. (USDA Plant Guide – White Ash https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_fram2.pdf)
Invasive Plants:
Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
The invasive Amur Honeysuckle is native to Chin and as introduced to North America in the late 1800’s as a method of soil erosion prevention and to provide habitat for wildlife. This species quickly began to spread and take over anywhere possible and can now be easily found on roadsides, forest edges and anywhere disturbed land allows the species to grow. (Ohio Invasive Plants Council, Amur Honeysuckle Fact Sheet)
Common Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
Native to Europe and Asia, teasel was introduced for wood manufacturers and toy makers as the flower heads were used to make toys. The dried flower heads are often utilized by florists to construct flower arrangements. (Ohio Invasive Plants Council, Common & Cut-leaved Teasels Fact Sheet)
Black Willow
Salix nigra
The Black Willow is a species that is native to the southern portions of the U.S but has recently become a native invasive in Ohio. This species is hardy and reproduces quickly and susceptible to many diseases. As a result of its persistence, it is considered an invasive to some as it overpowers many native species. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – SANI
Autumn-Olive
Elaeagnus umbellata
Autumn-olive is native to China and Japan and was introduced to North America in 1830. The purpose of introducing this species was to provide wind breakage and wildlife habitat. Autumn-olive can often be found alongside Amur Honeysuckle and can be differentiated by the silver undersides of its leaves. (Ohio Invasive Plants Council, Autumn-olive Fact Sheet)
Fruit Identification:
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
The Black Walnut produces nuts as photographed above. These nuts can be identified because they are more round than oblong. (William M. Harlow, PH.D. 1946, Fruit and Twig Key to Trees & Shrubs, pp. 30)
Hemp Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum
Hemp Dogbane produces legumes as photographed above. This plant is visually similar to that of milkweed when the leaves are observed but this plant commonly reaches up to 6 feet tall and produces a milk sap when damaged. Hemp Dogbane – Michigan State University
White Oak
Quercus alba
The Oak family produces acorns. The specific acorn photographed above is from a White Oak, you can tell identify which species because the cap has fallen off and the size of the nut is a tell tale sign. (William M. Harlow, PH.D. 1946, Fruit and Twig Key to Trees & Shrubs, pp. 38)
Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Honeylocust produces legumes as shown above. These legumes are identified by their size, color and shape. (William M. Harlow, PH.D. 1946, Fruit and Twig Key to Trees & Shrubs, pp. 42)
Mosses and Lichens:
Photographed below are 3 mosses and 1 lichen discovered in various locations around the site. As mosses and lichens are not my strong suit, the identification of these 4 specimens is limited. I am eager to learn more about mosses and lichens in the future, they often go overlooked but they are very interesting plants!
