Eastern Redbud
(Cercis canadensis)
Eastern Redbuds have alternate leaf arrangement with simple complexity and entire margins.
Redbud leaves are notably heart-shaped, and will produce pinkish flowers in the spring.
This Redbud was found in the understory of a mixed forest, within a few hundred feet of both a lake and a small stream.
Finding this Redbud in the understory of a mixed forest was a struggle, as its canopy intermingled amongst other trees and shrubs.
However, upon spotting the heart-shaped leaves of the tree, I had a much better idea of what I was looking at.
Facts
According to George A. Petrides A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs (FGTS), Eastern Redbud flowers have sometimes been used in salads,
and their twigs are known to be capable of producing a yellow dye after being boiled in water.
From: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network (ACSA2)
Beech
(Fagus grandifolia)
Beech trees have an alternately arranged, elliptic leaves and simple complexity, with distinctively smooth gray bark.
This young Beech was found in an open field section of a mixed forest with plenty of access to sunlight and room to grow.
It was interesting to see the coloration of this Beech tree’s leaves varying from bright orange, to mixed greens and yellows throughout the foliage.
Both its colors and isolated location particularly caught my eye when I was looking for unique trees to identify.
Facts
Historically, the American Beech was seen as a sign of fertile soil to early settlers, and would be removed to commence agricultural practices
(From: Arbor Day Foundation – https://shop.arborday.org/treeguide/170)
Additionally, it was mentioned in FGTS that Beech tree lumber has been used to manufacture cheap furniture and tool handles, among other goods.
Common Catalpa
(Catalpa bignonioides)
Catalpa leaves are remarkable in size, oppositely arranged in whorls of three, and are simple in complexity.
I found this large Catalpa in a mixed forest, surrounded by a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs.
This tree has open availability to sunlight and water, and should continue to grow up to the higher canopy
Having not identified a Catalpa before, the size and coloration of the leaves were surprising, and was distinct enough to stick out from the rest of the forest.
Facts
Catalpas are remarked for their rapid growth in the FGTS, but are known to be vulnerable to insect, storm and frost damage. However, according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Catalpas are adaptable and resilient trees, and have naturalized in many parts of the south. (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST130)
Red Maple
(Acer Rubrum)
The leaves of a Red Maple are oppositely arranged and simple in complexity.
These trees can be identified by their reddish twigs in the spring and summer, and their shockingly red leaves in the fall.
This Maple was found in an urban setting, with limited room for root growth, but has access to rainwater and sunlight due to it’s isolation.
It was interesting to see the limited amount of trunk damage for a tree this size in an urban environment, with no evidence of root exposure or interference.
After comparing the lack of fall color change and leaf loss to other trees on my search, I found it notable that this maple was remaining with full, green foliage.
Facts
According to the National Wildlife Federation, Red Maples will develop different root systems depending on the soil type. Wet soils will drive Maples to grow short taproots, with extended lateral roots, while in dry areas, a long taproot with short lateral roots will develop. (https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Red-Maple)
George A. Petrides noted in FGTS that the lumber of Red Maples has sometimes been used for furniture.
Swamp Cottonwood
(Populus heterophylla)
Swamp Cottonwood leaves are alternatively arranged with simple complexity, and have hairy or wooly twigs.
I found this Cottonwood near the shore of a lake, which is a typical environment for the specie’s elevated moisture preference.
I found the sparse presence of foliage on this tree to be unique, and it stood out from the surrounding shrubs and aquatic vegetation with its impressive height.
Facts
As stated in FGTS, Swamp Cottonwoods have an extensive range in the Eastern United States,
occupying regions in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and all the way north to Michigan and Pennsylvania.
There have also been reports Swamp Cottonwoods discovered in southern Canada as of 2003 (From: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POHE4)
Sugar Maple
(Acer saccharum)
Sugar Maple leaves are arranged oppositely from each other, and are simple in complexity. These leaves are also usually hairless, but will be velvety on the underside.
This Sugar Maple was found standing alone in a field, with a relatively close proximity to a nearby lake.
Being isolated from the rest of the surrounding mixed forest, this Maple will have plenty of opportunity for lateral and vertical growth.
Coming across this young Sugar Maple was very exciting, given its proximity to other young trees in the forest,
there was much potential for tree diversity to be seen for the nearby environment in the future.
Facts
According to information gathered on Wildflower.org (https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACSA3),
Sugar Maples are capable of producing between 5 and 60 gallons of sap a year, from that, 32 gallons of sap can be used to produced 1 gallon of maple syrup.
Petrides in FGTS remarks Sugar Maples to be one of our most valuable hardwood trees for constructing furniture.
Chestnut Oak
(Quercus prinus)
The leaves of Chestnut Oak trees are alternately arranged with simple complexity, and can be identified by their shallowly lobed margins.
This particular Chestnut Oak was found on a hilltop amongst a variety of other Oaks and Maples.
This environment has allowed this Chestnut Oak and the surrounding trees ample room to grow and absorb nutrients.
Discovering this Chestnut Oak was somewhat difficult, due to its placement intermixed amongst other Oaks.
This was the first time I have identified a Chestnut Oak, and was happy to be able to distinguish it’s features from the surrounding forest.
Facts
Due to the high tannin content within the tree’s bark, it has been used in the past as a means of tanning leather (https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUMO4).
Additionally, Chestnut Oaks have a unique fruiting shape, with an elliptical and oblong acorn (FGTS).
White Oak
(Quercus alba)
White Oak leaves are arranged alternately and simple in complexity, and have lobed margins.
This White Oak was found inside of the tree line of a mixed forest, with a variety of native Ohio plants, trees and shrubs
with a substrate containing plenty of leaf litter, and rich, dark soil.
I found it was quite the challenge to take quality pictures of both the general shape and leaf features, largely due to its position within the crowded forest,
as well as the height of the tree’s leaf bearing branches.
Facts
The combined lumber of White Oak and other Oak species was used to construct the USS Constitution, and was still used during World War II in patrol boats (https://shop.arborday.org/treeguide/351?srsltid=AfmBOoo74xYK1vOhFkZ7HYLxNk6aQR64itQMRgxTsaR365WUD9IGlcGd).
According to George A. Petrides in FGTS, oaks are the only trees to have bristle-tipped, lobed leaves, but White Oaks are an exception to that rule, with lobed, hairless leaves.