The above photo of Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, like some of the photos shown below feature plant species of the remant prairie community along which cyclists, pedestrians, and adjacent highway motorists currently enjoy or will soon enjoy when the bikeway is extended from South Charleston east to London, Ohio.  As you travel the bikeway, please observe and photograph the wildflowers but do not pick or otherwise harm these historic treasures of presettlement Ohio which survive only in these narrow confines that have not been plowed or paved.

¹Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) -- a chief grass of tallgrass prairie, as seen at "County Line" remnant prairie
        looking West along U.S. 42 near Greene-Clark Co. Line.
        Big Bluestem -- here in an experimental zone, it is protected from summer mowing in cooperation with the
        Ohio Dept. of Transportation
        Big Bluestem flower spikes -- this species is sometimes called "turkey foot" because of the resemblance
        of these floral spikes to a turkey's foot
        Big Bluestem -- Along the "Prairie Grass Trail " many friends such as Richard Ware (formerly of Vermont)
        and Harold Kendall, Sr. (formerly of South Dakota, now in glory) will meet and enjoy this slice of remnant prairie in Ohio.
²Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) as seen in "Little Bluestem" remnant prairie west of South Charleston, Ohio.
³Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) -- a beautiful stand in "Selma Prairie" remnant between U.S. 42 and "Prairie Grass Trail"
        Indian Grass -- as seen in "Selma Prairie" in late August and in September as bikeway nears completion
⁴Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) favored in low damp soils as shown here between U.S. 42 and bikeway.
⁵Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has a somewhat delicate, open-branched inflorescence.
⁶Bastard-Toadflax (Comandra umbellata) grows from horizontal underground rhizomes that, in partnership with a fungus,
        can form haustoria that attach to host plants and enable the toadflax to absorb nutrients.
⁷Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) has prominent, terminal spikes of tiny white flowers and grows in dry, upland woods and prairies.
⁸Indian Plantain (Cacalia atroplicifolium) seen also in a typical habitat.
⁹Starry Campion (Silene stellata).
¹⁰Virginia Mountain-Mint (Pycnanthimum virginianum) as seen growing with Compass Plant (large leaves).
¹¹Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
¹²Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
¹³Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) is an attractive, red-flowering species whose sticky exudates discourage
     insects that choose to land on the plant; instead, the red flowers attract hummingbirds which hover.
¹⁴Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) a fragrant member of the mint family.
¹⁵Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra) of the rose family; photo taken near Selma, OH.
¹⁶Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa) provides a good nectar source for Monarch Butterfly and others.
¹⁷Gray-Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is one of the more common coneflowers in bikeway remnants.
¹⁸Hairy Wingstem (Verbesina helianthoides) and as seen also in a typical habitat
¹⁹Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum, Pinnatifid Variety) seen also in a typical habitat
²⁰Whorled Rosenweed (Silphium trifoliatum) -- with U.S. 42 and Selma Rd. crossing in background

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