Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Plants of Cedar Creek

The Rosaceae is a fairly large family with open fragrant flowers containing five petals and numerous stamens, but bearing no nectar rewards for pollinators.  It contains a wide variety of both woody and herbaceous species with diverse fruit types from fleshy pomes to dry capsules.  15 genera containing ca 40 species have been collected at CCNHA.

Four species of Amelanchier (Juneberries) are among the first species to flower at Cedar Creek in the spring (late April-early May).  They are slender, woody shrubs or small trees that occur in unburned open woodland.  The most common species are A. laevis (shiny coppery leaves) and A. intermedia.  A. interior has relatively broad hairy leaves and occurs along the Nature Trail on the east side of Fish Lake.  A. humilis is a short shrubby species that occurs in small groves along the West Trail into Fish Lake.  Fruit ripens by early June and is a favorite of many birds, and can be made into a passable jelly.

Six species of Prunus are found on the Area.  P. americana (Wild Plum) occurs at the Lab grounds and a few abandoned house sites on the Area.  It has an umbel inflorescens, its branches bear thorns, and it bears edible fruit.  Four species of cherry are found on the Area.  The two most common species of open unburned woodland are P. virginiana (Choke Cherry) and P. serotina (Black Cherry).  Both carry black knot fungus and both have a raceme inflorescens, but the leaves on black cherrry are more elongate, shiny and have a hairy midrib beneath, while choke cherry leaves are duller, more oval and lack the hairy midrib.  Black cherry can grow into a respectable tree, but choke cherry is never more than a tall shrub.  It is also noted for its bitter alum-tasting fruit. P. pensylvanica (Pin Cherry) is less common than choke or black cherry.  Inflorescens is an umbel, leaves are small, lanceolate and shiny, and it can grow to a tall slender tree.  P. pumila (Sand Cherry) also has an umbel inflorescens but it is only a short shrub found at the edge of a few wetlands. P. triloba (Flowering Almond) is reported to occur here as an ornamental.  Not seen.

Several trees and shrubs are primarily introduced species established at homesites.  Pyrus malus (apple, crabapple, cultivars) occur as isolated individuals at several abandoned homesites.  Sorbaria sorbifolia (False Spiraea) occurs in a dense grove at the Lab. Physocarpus opulifolius (Hairy-fruited Nine-bark) occurs at Corneia’s Cabin. Spiraea van-houtteiis an attractive shrub found at the Heckenlaible homestead.

Only a few individuals of the native Crataegus chrysocarpa (Hawthorn) have been located (NSLR, NWFL).  Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry) occurs at the entry to Beckman Lake and the perimeter of several other wetlands. Sorbus decora (Mountain Ash) occurs along the Nature Trail and near Beckman Lake.

Another large genus of woody plants is Rubus.  Eight species of thorny/shrubby blackberries and raspberries are reported to occur here.  Blackberry fruits when plucked retains the nubbin.  Raspberry fruits pull clean of the nubbin.  We tested this on our two raspberries: yummy red raspberry (R. strigosus) and black raspberry (R. occidentalis). Taxonomy of the blackberries is a mess, maybe Welby Smith can help us.  We differentiate the heavily thorned, tall blackberry (R. allegheniensis), trailing field blackberry (R. flagellaris complex), and spineless blackberry (R. pubescens).  Others reported for Cedar Creek are R. hispidus, R. minnesotanus, R. recurvans, and R. vermontanus.

Two species of Rosa are found on the Area.  R. arkansana (Hairy Prairie Rose) is the common pink-flowered short-statured shrub of xeric fields. R. blanda (Smooth Wild Rose) is an uncommon species found in open woodland and woods edge.

Native species of Spiraea  include S. alba (Meadow Sweet) and S. tomentosa (Steeple Bush).  S. alba has glabrous leaves and bears a spike of small white flowers, while S. tomentosa has pubescent leaves and bears a spike of small pink flowers.  Both are common species at the edge of wetlands.

Six species of Potentilla (Cinquefoils) occur on the Area.  P. simplex (with stolons) is the common spreading species of mesic grasslands.  P. arguta (a native species with pinnate leaves) and P. recta (an introduced species with palmate leaves) are tall species of grassland. P. palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil) with its red flowers occurs in wetlands, and P. argentea (Dwarf Cinquefoil) occurs on the Lab lawn and a few xeric fields.  P. norvegica is a weedy species of recently abandoned fields or disturbed areas.

Three relatively uncommon species of Geum (Avens) are found here.  G. triflorum (Prairie Smoke) occurs in savannas.  G. aleppicum (Yellow Avens) and G. canadense (White Avens) are occasionally encountered in ditches, marsh edges and swamps.  Agrimonia gryposepala (Agrimony) is a bur-fruited weed of trails and homesites.

Two species of Fragaria (Strawberries) are found on the Area.  F. vesca occurs in woodland, and F. virginiana in xeric fields.  Both flower in late May but bear such diminutive fruit in June that it would not be worth bending over to pick them except that they are so sweet and juicy.