Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Plants of Cedar Creek

The only representative of the Rue Family  at Cedar Creek is the thorny shrub Zanthoxylum americanum (Prickly Ash).  It occurs in some abundance behind Bur Oak Residence and also near the Lab.  However, most of our woods remain relatively free of this nasty fellow that can spread vigorously by suckering.  'Plants of this family have oil glands often evidenced by translucent dots on the leaves and an aromatic scent when crushed.  Citrus is a well known genus'--Voss (1985).