Natural History Topics - June

NPS COLLECTION

Cottonwood is one of the giants of the Cuyahoga bottomland forest

International Year of Forests: Bottomland Giants
Early this month as we bicycle, run, or take a stroll along the Towpath Trail we are bound to notice the fluffy white seeds descending from the skies of large eastern cottonwood trees. When their diameters exceed four feet, this tree, along with the sycamore and black willow, represent the broadleaf giants of the Cuyahoga bottomland forests. These are the dominant trees that thrive along the broad Cuyahoga floodplains due to their ability to withstand periodic flooding.

 

COURTESY ODNR

Sycamore bark is flakey

Each of the trees is easy to identify: eastern cottonwoods have deep-ridged furrowed bark with large triangular deltoid leaves; large black willows also have deeply furrowed bark, although they have very long linear thin leaves. The sycamores have very flakey bark with white upper branches.

Many of the broad-leaf giants become valuable trees for wildlife as they age. A wide variety of birds nest within the cavities including eastern screech owls, wood ducks, pileated and red-headed woodpeckers, and prothonotary warblers. The large trees are also essential for nesting great blue herons and bald eagles, as the trees can support exceptionally large and heavy nests in their upper branches. In addition, there are a variety of bats, including the endangered Indiana bat that uses the older trees as roosting sites.

 

©JOHN CATALANO

Sweet-scented water lily

Also this Month
Look for the white flowers of sweet-scented water lily blooming during the late morning and afternoon at the Beaver Marsh.

Listen for the “who cooks for you all” call of the barred owl at dusk along the Oak Hill Trail system, especially near Sylvan Pond.