Fraxinus in floodplain

A seedling ash tree in a floodplain habitat at Bicentennial Nature Area (Lake Harner County Park).  Probably green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) due to the wet habitat.  This is part of the floodplain of the Wabash River even though it is fairly far from the river.  Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is dominant here.  The only other mature size trees seen here are a few ash trees (Fraxinus) and all these mature ash trees appear to be completely dead, presumably because of the emerald ash borer.  A dead mature ash tree is in the center background of the photo.  The Fraxinus population here may persist if these seedling trees can survive long enough to produce more ash seeds.

Photo taken April 16, 2017.

Link to Fraxinus pennsylvanica:

Pokeweed is coming up

Pokeweed shoots are starting to appear.  This photo taken yesterday April 16, 2017.  I've never seen it come up this early, usually I see it coming up around here in the last week in April or first week in May.

This is at the new Bicentennial Park, a Tippecanoe County park that just opened up last week.  The park is an old gravel pit just north of Sagamore Parkway between North 9th St. and Schuyler Avenue.

Previous post on pokeweed (Phytolacca americana):

Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser celandine, found along the main trail in Happy Hollow Park.  The currently accepted botanical name is Ranunculus ficaria, although a synonym is Ficaria verna.  This species is an invasive and has not been seen in this park before now.

Photos taken April 9, 2017.

A view of the root tubers of Ranunculus ficaria.

Link to previous post on Ranunculus ficaria:

Link to Ranunculus ficaria:

Link to Ranunculus ficaria: