Plants Of The Olentangy Bike Trail

Plants of the Olentangy Bike Trail

The Olentangy Trail runs from Worthington to downtown Columbus. This trail winds through several neighborhoods along the Olentangy River, with trailheads at several major city parks, including Antrim Park and Whetstone Park. The trail also passes through the heart of the Ohio State University campus. This habitat is home to a wide range of plants, from large American Sycamores down to a large selection of bryophytes. The environment consists of a lotic ecosystem with the heart of it being the Olentangy River. Surrounding the river, there are a variety of plants such as large, woody trees such as Mulberry and oak and smaller non-vascular plants, such as mosses and lichen.

Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Common chicory originated in the Mediterranean and became distributed throughout much of the world where it was originally grown for centuries as a salad green. Its cultivation in North America began in the 1700’s and ended in about 1950 when it became more economical to import chicory instead of growing it. During that time, chicory escaped cultivation and naturalized populations spread throughout southern Canada and the U. S. In Ohio, it occurs throughout the state. In Biblical times and earlier, Chicory leaves were used as a spring tonic. Often blended with other spring greens like Dandelions, this tonic would aid in reviving the intestines after a long winter of very dried, nutrient deficient foods. This is largely due to the root of chicory, which contains inulin, an indigestible carbohydrate that encourages beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, as well as many vitamins and minerals.

Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus)

The genus name comes from the Greek symph, meaning coming together and trich, meaning hair, in possible reference to the flower anthers. Specific epithet is a combination of the Latin words for side and flower in reference to the fact that the flowers of this species generally are located on one side of the stems, hence the sometimes used common name of side-flowering aster. The florets of Calico Aster have shorter nectar tubes than many other species of asters, and they seem to attract a wide variety of insects because of this. Some of these insects include short-tongued bees, wasps, and flies, and less common visitors include long-tongued bees, small butterflies, skippers, beetles, and plant bugs.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

This species has invasive traits that enable them to spread aggressively. While these trees have demonstrated invasive traits, there is insufficient supporting research to declare them so pervasive, therefore they are still used for cultivation purposes. They are also susceptible to locust borers and the wood is weak and brittle. This is one of the few trees who are known to “bleed” and so it is better to prune them during the dormant season than in the spring. “Bleeding” is a reference to when the black locust is cut into or wounded, it dribbles long trails of dark-red liquid down its trunk. This is caused by tannins that lead to the dark red color of the sap.

Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

In China, the Tree of Heaven has a long and rich history. It was mentioned in the oldest extant Chinese dictionary and listed in countless Chinese medical texts for its purported ability to cure ailments ranging from mental illness to baldness. The roots, leaves and bark are still used today in traditional Chinese medicine.

ShrubsGiant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

Pollen from giant ragweed is one of the main causes of late-season hay fever, making it anightmare for those with allergies. The word ambrosia means something with an especially delightful fragrance or flavor, which is ironic that the ragweed was given this name. Becausethe flowers depend on wind pollination, few insects are attracted to them, although the caterpillars of several moths feed on the foliage and other plant parts. White-tailed deer will browse the leaves when little else is available, but the seeds are too large for many seed-eating birds to eat.

Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

These are often used as an ornamental species. The flowers, in whitish clusters, are followed by yellow to orange capsules, which split to reveal yellow to crimson arils enclosing the seeds. Oriental bittersweet is a more vigorous climber, reaching up to 40 feet; the American species, up to 7. 5 m, often has many sterile individuals in its population.

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

There are many identifying features of poison ivy. First, the leaves grow in clusters of three leaflets and they are pointed at the tip. Each of these leaf clusters grows on its own stem which connects to the main vine. The leaf arrangement is alternate. Poison ivy is usually green in the spring and reddish-orange in the fall. It appears as both a vine and as a shrub. It also has small clusters of white berries in the spring that persist throughout the winter. Helpful sayings to remember for identifying poison ivy include:

• Leaves three let it be
• Hairy vine, no friend of mine
• Berries white, run in fright
• Berries white, danger in sight.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Leaf are alternate, simple and palmately veined with three to five lobes. Typically two to three fruits hang from a stalk. The twigs are zig zag with distinct winter buds. The bark is extremely distinct, as it peels off in large sections of gray and brown. American Sycamore is very vulnerable to annual infections of anthracnose, a fungus that destroys the new growth in spring. This leads to leaf and stem death and a second growth occurs in late spring, as the drier weather helps combat the growth of this harmful fungus.

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Swamp white oak leaves are alternately arranged, simple and the margin is lobed, dentate and sinuate. The understand of the leaves are distinctly white. The tree produces catkins in mid-spring and the fruit it produces is an acorn. The terminal buds are often small and twigs can be described as flaky. The bark is ridged and furrowed with a light gray color. The species name, bicolor, comes from the extremely dark green color on top and its almost white-colored underside that is easily spotted when there is a breeze.

Aromatic Aster (Aster oblongifolius)

This is a Missouri native plant that typically occurs on limestone glades, slopes, prairies and dry open ground. A bushy, stiff, compact, low-growing plant with hairy stems. Aromatic Asters typically grows tall and features small, daisy-like flowers (1″ across) with violet blue rays and yellow center disks. Rigid, toothless, oblong, blue-green leaves (up to 4″ long) are, as the common name suggests, fragrant when crushed. They are attractive to butterflies, specifically hosting caterpillars of the Silvery Checkerspot Butterflies. Wild Turkey will also feed on the seed.

Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)

A mounding shrub that grows 3–5′ high with a wider spread. In July, it produces huge (8–12″) round heads of pure white blooms that remain attractive into September and can be cut for fresh or dried arrangements. The stem bark has a peculiar tendency to peel off in several successive thin layers with different colors, giving it the the common name “sevenbark”. The leaves are large (8 to 18 cm long), opposite, serrated, ovate and deciduous. The lower leaf surface is glabrous or with inconspicuous fine hairs, appearing green. Fruit is a ribbed brown capsule about 2 mm long; many are produced. This species was used medicinally by Native Americans, and later, by early settlers for treatment of kidney and bladder stones.