Tree Trail Project 13-18

Tree Descriptions 13-18 (Eagle Scout Project by George Atkinson)

13) Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis)
The Thornless Honeylocust is a deciduous tree that can grow from 30-70 ft tall in height when mature. It has green leaves in the summer, but in the winter and fall months, they are a light shade of yellow. It is found mostly in Pennsylvania, down the east coast, and westward to Mississippi and Texas. Its wood is primarily used by woodworking enthusiasts, as it is not tall enough to support a timber industry. The seed pods it produces contain a sweet, gummy substance.

14) Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum)
The Doublefile Viburnum, originally native to China and Japan, is a deciduous shrub and grows to about 8-12 ft. high. Its leaves are dark green in the summer, and turn a reddish-purple in the fall, and produce clusters of white flowers in the spring. They are native to the entirety of the United States and flourish in abundant rainfall and sunlight.

15) Peach Tree (Prunus Persica)
The peach tree is a deciduous tree native to Northwest China, but is now commonly found in the lower half of the US and up north along the East Coast. The peach tree can grow up to 23 feet tall, and can be identified by its lanceolate pinnately veined leaves. The peach tree has pink flowers in the spring, and grows fruit in the early fall.

16) Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
The Downy Serviceberry is a shrub/bush that grows between 15-25 feet high, but can reach heights of about 40 feet. The downy serviceberry is native to eastern North America. Serviceberries are adaptable to a variety of sites and soils. Growth is best in full sun to light shade and moist, well-drained, acid soils. Transplant balled and burlapped or container grown plants into moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Plants can be propagated by sowing seed that have undergone cold stratification (stored 90 to 120 days at 41 degrees Fahrenheit).

17) Groundsel Bush (Baccharis HalimifoliaI)
The Groundsel Bush is a shrub/bush that grows to 6-12 feet tall, and is native to Florida. Extending its natural range inland from the coastal plain, the Florida Groundsel Bush is the only native eastern species of the aster family reaching the size of a tree. Baccharis is the ancient Greek name (derived from the god Bacchus) of a plant with fragrant roots. The Latin species name means with the leaves of Halimus, an old name for Saltbush, an unrelated shrub. Tolerant of saltwater spray, this handsome ornamental is one of the few eastern shrubs suitable for planting near the ocean.

18) Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron Tulipifera)
The Tulip Poplar is a deciduous tree native to the North American East Coast, and can grow upwards of 100 feet. The Tulip Poplar has alternating pinnately-veined leaves, and turn from a bright green into a clear vibrant yellow in the fall. Generally, this tree will not grow limbs until it reaches heights of above 80 feet, making it a very valuable timber tree. The Tulip Poplar produces dark red flower buds which contain greenish-yellow flowers no bigger than a couple inches.

Tree Descriptions 19 - 24