SPRING FLORA
The earliest flowering woody plant is the witch-hazel. The four linear, pale, strap-like petals of each flower can be seen on this shrubby plant in the fall after the woods are bare of leaves. The flowers persist until January. The fruit, a capsule, matures one year later and the seeds are explosively scattered. This plant can be found on the dry slopes of ravines in Seneca County. The liniment “witch-hazel” is distilled from its branches.
The silver maple flowers in March, followed by the red maple in early April. Both flower before the leaves appear. The silver maple has yellow flowers and large green winged fruit (samaras). The red maple has bright red flowers and samaras. Both species may have separate male and female trees or some forms show male and female flowers on the same tree.
Sugar and box-elder maples flower along with expanding leaves. The sugar has numerous yellow flowers in tassel-like clusters, and the female trees of box-elder can readily be recognized from a distance by a dangling cluster of straw-colored samaras. The seeds inside the helicopters (samaras) provide very important food for squirrels at a time of the year when there is little available. Once the maples start to flower, the collecting of sap is halted.
Magnolias belong to an ancient group of seed plants. Thick leathery-like leaves with smooth margins are major characteristics. Two ornamentals, the white star and the saucer magnolia are now in full flower in Tiffin. There are several varieties of the saucer magnolia, including the common white with pink and the white with red flowers. Perhaps the largest and oldest saucer magnolia in Tiffin was planted in l933. It can be seen at 110 Mohawk Street. Often the flowers or flower buds of these two magnolia species are killed by late freezes. Magnolias, in general, have a more southern distribution.
Three wild magnolias are found in Ohio. The cucumber magnolia is found throughout the eastern half. A Morrow County tree measures over 17 feet in circumference and is 84 feet high. It flowers in May. The umbrella magnolia is found in four south-central counties. The big leaf magnolia is found only in Jackson County. It has the largest entire leaves of any of our native trees of all species. Its flowers open in June and may be 12 inches across.
A common shrub throughout Ohio is spice bush. It grows to be about 6 feet high and its yellow flowers can be seen in the woods before trees leaf out. It is an attractive shrub of rich moist soil, and its bright red fruit persists into the fall after the leaves have fallen. All parts of the plant are aromatic. An ideal time to make an interesting tea is when it is in its flowering stage. Break several branches with flowers and steep about one half hour in hot water. Add sugar to the greenish-yellow tea according to taste.
The forsythia in southeastern Ohio is already losing its bright yellow color. Leaves have begun to appear there. What a joy it is to see its yellow in the spring! It is a native of Asia and related to the ash and olive family. The redbud is found throughout Ohio except for a few northeastern counties. It flowers from old wood, a habit common to many tropical trees. Now in full flower in southeastern Ohio, it should be showing color in about a week here. It is a nice tree to place under utility lines.
The downy serviceberry is found in Ohio except in a few calcareous areas of western Ohio. It flowers very early and is very conspicuous at a distance in the leafless woods. There are many cultivated forms and they are widely used in landscaping. It should show its white drooping, strap-shaped petals in Tiffin this week.
The earliest flowering herbaceous plant is the skunk cabbage. Flowers will appear in February in swampy rich soil areas. Several years ago the biology honorary members at Heidelberg and I, their advisor, decided to prepare a wild food meal. We cooked the leaves of skunk cabbage through several waters. The first taste was awful and most of us rapidly gagged it away. One young man swallowed some, a situation which became worrisome. That young man, Mark Peeples, is today a Ph. D. and a noted research scientist.
Hepaticas with petals ranging from white to lavender to blue are now flowering. Bloodroot with large white flowers are common. The meadow blue and the downy yellow violets have blossomed. Spring beauty with white petals and delicate pink centers are abundant in the woods and fields. In the next two weeks, many members of the mustard family, all with 4 petals, 4 sepals, 6 stamens, and a two “celled” pistil, can be found. Two noted ones are the cut-leaved toothwort and the purple cress. The trout lilies and trillia will soon appear.
A favorite wild flower site of mine is the southwestern side of Hedges-Boyer Park, over the bank and before the fence designating private property. One could enter this area from Coe Street. Collier Wildlife Area is another great place to see spring wild flowers.
- Percy