Marsh Wetland Findings

1) Swamp Milkweed

(Gentionales, Apocynaceae, Asclepias, A. incarnata)

-pink, clustered flowers

-opposite, long and fuzzy leaves

-sap contains toxic chemicals

2)Red Milkweed Beetle

(Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Tetraopes, T. tetrophthalmus

-herbivore, feeding specifically on swamp milkweed flowers

-ingest toxins from plant and are "un-tasty" to

predators

3)Swift Long Winged Skimmer/

Blue Dasher

(Odonata, Libellulidae, Pachydiplax,

P. longipennis)

-small, blue skimmer with a white face

-very common all over the U.S.

4)Hybrid Cattail (White Cattail?)

(Poales, Typhaceae, Typha, T. xglauca)

-hybrid of common cattail and narrow leaf cattail

-non-native plant that grows in marshes

-roots help prevent erosion

-all parts of plant are edible; wildly used by Native Americans

5)Reed Canary Grass

(Cyperales, Poaceae, Phalaris L., P. arundinacea L.)

-invasive plant

-4 ft. tall, with long, rough leaves

-6 in. seeded stem top

6)Silky Dogwood

(Cornales, Cornaceae, Cornus L., C. amomum L.)

-endangered species in Indiana!

-eggshaped, opposite leaves

-blueish berries on a purplish stem

-deciduous shrub that likes moist/wet site

7)Northern Leopard Frog

(Anura, Ranidae, Rana)

-brown to green frogs with irregular black spots

-enjoy aquatic habitats

-quite difficult to capture: hop in zig zag patterns

8)Western Honey Bee

(Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apis, A. mellifera)

-very familiar pollinator

-collects nectar to produce honey

-small, furry insect with compound eyes