Plants

Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra)

Details
Written by Jacob Schott

 Family: Juglandaceae

The Pignut hickory is a common tree found throughout the eastern United States. Pignut hickory frequently grows on dry ridgetops and side slopes throughout its range but it is also common on moist sites.

It has alternate compound leaves comprised of (usually) 5 leaflets with the bottom two being slightly smaller. The color of the leaves is a dark green and the leaf surfaces have a smooth texture.

The nuts are relatively small and pear-shaped.

Read more ...

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora~Invasive Species)

Details
Written by Christina Norcross

Family: Rosaceae

Other common names: rambler rose and baby rose

Multiflora Rose

Background

Multiflora rose was introduced into the eastern United States in 1866. It is native to eastern Japan, China, and Korea. It was introduced into the U.S. to act as a “living fence” for farmers to use to keep their cattle maintained and also to help in erosion control. 

Read more ...

Hawthorn (Crataegus)

Details
Written by Katelyn Stone

Family: Rosaceae

This tree is most easily recognized by the slender needle-like spines. There are several native species of hawthorns, and species-level identification can sometimes be difficult. There are also many ornamental and cultivated varieties of hawthorn that are used in residential landscaping.

Hawthorn

Read more ...

Honey Locust (Gledistia triacanthos)

Details
Written by Grace Hall

Family: Fabaceae

The Honey Locust is a common tree in Ohio and throughout the United States.

Honey Locust The easiest way to recognize the native Honey Locust is to look for the stout sharply pointed branched spines.  The leaves of the honey locust trees can be easily confused with a close relative, the black locust. Both trees have pinnately compound leaves that are divided into many leaflets.

Read more ...

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Details
Written by Caroline Phillips

Family: Cannabaceae

Other Common Names: sugarberry, nettletree, beaverwood

Hackberry is native to much of eastern North America and it is a common tree throughout Ohio.

The easiest way to recognize hackberry is by the raised warty ridges on the bark. The bark is light brown or silvery grey, and it is usually a medium-sized tree with a slender trunk.  

Hackberries have alternate leaves that have pointed tips and coarsely toothed edges.

Read more ...

More Articles ...

  1. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
  2. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata~Invasive Species)
  3. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
  4. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

woods 

LEARN MORE  about the Woods on the Ariel-Foundation Park main site!

Credits

A special thanks to the students of the Field Botany class at Mount Vernon Nazarene University who wrote the reports on the various kinds of trees found in The Woods. These students include Chandler Cook, Grace Hall, Emily Kauble, Keith Kitchen, Madison Lotz, Kevin Maurer, Christina Norcross, Caroline Phillips, Dakoda Ramsey, Jacob Schott, Emily Smith, and Katelyn Stone.

All photos linked in this Learning Station courtesy of D. Mosher, Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Appendix I

Plant surveys were done by the Field Botany class at Mount Vernon Nazarene University during the fall semester of 2016.  A summary of the class surveys for woody plants and herbaceous plants is available.

Other Stations