Old Woman Creek, Ohio

Old Woman Creek, Ohio

Flora (Plant Life)

High plant species diversity encountered around the Great Lakes coastal wetlands such as Old Woman Creek is largely the result of wide seasonal and annual fluctuations in lake levels. Natural changing water levels over various substrates create habitats that support dynamic aquatic plant community structure.

The diversity of habitats present within the reserve contributes to a wide variety of plant communities, each comprised of a distinctive flora. Aquatic and wetland habitats include open water areas, mud flats, embayment marshes, shoreline and forested flood plain. The lower estuary is dominated by American lotus, sago pondweed, coontail and to a lesser extent white water lily. During and following high lake level periods, vegetation in this area can be sparse. Plants characteristic of the reserve's mudflats include cattail, marsh mallow, bur-reed and water smartweed.

Wetland species occurring along the shoreline include buttonbush, dogwood, blue flag, river bulrush, cattail and arrowhead. Flooded forest plain predominates in the southern portion of the reserve. Here, swamp forest species comprise the major component of vegetation, with a minor component of marsh species, as associates.

Terrestrial habitats within the reserve are represented largely by former agricultural fields in various stages of succession. On the steep banks surrounding the estuary on Star Island, oak-hickory forest predominates. Additional terrestrial habitat is provided by the dry portion of the barrier beach and the prairie area. Old field plant communities are composed primarily of successional species such as ragweed, asters, goldenrod, sumac, wild carrot and various grasses.

Upland forest areas are dominated by white oak and shagbark hickory, with sassafras as a major associate. Herbaceous associates of the forest communities include large-flowering trillium, mayapple, violets, troutlillies and other woodland spring species. Because of the exeric environment, few species thrive on the barrier beach. Among species characteristic of this habitat are Russian thistle, cocklebur, witchgrass, inland Sea Rocket and velvetleaf. Plants characteristic of the prairie area include big bluestem, Indian grass, whorled rosinweed, butterfly-weed, ladies'-tresses and bush clover.