Morgan Run NEA

03/24/09

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Index:

1. Taxaceae > Taxus baccata
2. Lamiaceae > Lamium amplexicaule
3. Brassicaceae > Cardamine hirsuta
4. Poaceae > Setaria fraseri
5. Poaceae > Andropogon virginicus
6. Apocynaceae > Asclepias syriaca
7. Elaeagnaceae > Eleagnus umbellata
8. Amaryllidaceae > Narcissus sp.
9. Cupressaceae > Taxodium distichum
10. Sapindaceae > Koelreuteria paniculata
11. Typhaceae > Typha latifolia
12. Scrophulariaceae > Verbascum sp.

1.  Common Yew / European Yew 

• Taxaceae > Taxus baccata
• Evergreen tree; shrubs in front of ANW dorm
• Bright red berries; "arils" 
  • seeds are extremely poisonous, but arils are not

2.  Henbit

• Lamiaceae > Lamium amplexicaule
• "frog sex" story
• fine, hairy stems; opposite rounded leaves with lobed margins
• pink flowers in spring

3. Hairy Bittercress

• Brassicaceae > Cardamine hirsuta
• Mustard family; bitter herb  - can be quite invasive

4. Foxtail Grass

• Poaceae > Setaria fraseri
• Monocot, flowering grass has a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in seed
• Husk-like stem with tufted bristle at end

5. Broomsedge or Big Bluestem

• Poaceae> Andropogon virginicus
• Monocot; perennial grass
• Forms clumps together in uncultivated fields

6. Milkweed

• Apocynaceae> Asclepias syriaca  
• herbaceous; perennial; dicotyledonous
• Seed type: grows in follicles

7. Autumn-olive

• Elaeagnaceae> Elaeagnus umbellata
• Invasive Bush; ornamental, Bright red drupes in spring
• Alternate leaves, silvery color with raised brown specks/spots
• Capable of growing on infertile land as its roots are nitrogen-fixers
• 

8. Daffodil

• Amaryllidaceae> Narcissus sp. 
• non-native species observed; cultivated on location

9. Bald Cypress

• Cupressaceae > Taxodium distichum
• Native conifer
• foliage hangs perpendicular to ground
• riparian

Cypress Knees

• Distinctive morphological structure for Cypresses; woody projections in/above water level
• Only grows in/near water and swampy areas
  • Most likely for structural support and stabilization in muddy/soft soil
• Another Theory:
  • Prehistoric knobs tripped dinosaurs to limit grazing 
  • similar oxygen adaptions to mangroves

10.  Golden Rain Tree

• Sapindaceae > Koelreuteria paniculata
• Pinnate leaves; Yellow flowers in spring with 4 petals
• Fruit type: three-sided Pod;  peach-bronze color with round, purple-black seeds inside

11.  Cattail

• Typhaceae > Typha latifolia
• Staminate flower (male) is brown "hotdog", cylindrical shape
• Pistillate flower (female) is green, slender spike below the Staminate flower
• Equitant -> Leaves are flattened together into one plane

12.  Mullein

• Scrophulariaceae > Verbascum sp.
• Tall flowering stem; Fruit type is capsule
• Spirally arranged leaves, very hairy (velvety when fresh, still somewhat soft when dead)