Tree Trail Project 25-30

Tree Descriptions 25-30 (Eagle Scout Project by George Atkinson)

25) Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Also called the bull bay tree, the Southern Magnolia is an evergreen that grows from 60 to 80 feet tall. The Magnolia grows in the United States, from North Carolina to Florida, and even as west as eastern Texas. A Southern Magnolia is easy to identify, because it has creamy white fragrant flowers and fuzzy soft cones with red berries. Broad shiny dark green leaves coat this relatively tall tree. This amazing tree has a use in garden decoration because its thick roots have the ability to prevent other plants from growing nearby.

26) The Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)
The purple smoke tree, also known as the royal purple smoke bush, smoke bush, and the smoke tree, is a deciduous shrub that usually grows 10-15 feet tall but can grow upwards of 20 feet, depending on the surrounding conditions. It has beautiful purplish-pinkish plumes and is often found in the southeastern United States. It has green leaves and can turn orange, yellow, or purplish-red in fall. It is a popular garden specimen across the US.

27) Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
The slippery elm is a deciduous tree native to North America, and is found in the eastern half of the United States. It commonly grows between 40-60 feet in height, but can reach heights of 90 or more feet under the right conditions. The slippery elm has broad oblong to oblate leaves, the underside of them being smooth and velvety. The leaves have a red tinge in the spring, turning to a dark green in the summer, and a dull yellow in the fall. The slippery elm produces apetalous flowers in the spring, which are pollinated by the wind. The inner bark of the tree is edible, and is used as a demulcent in modern medicine. The leaves are occasionally dried, ground into powder, and made into tea.

28) White Pine (Pinus strobus)
The White Pine is an evergreen that usually grows between 50-80 feet tall but can grow as high as 150 feet under the right conditions. The White Pine has soft blue-green clustered needles (that grow in groups of 5) and shows no change in colour throughout the year. It is found in the wild along the east coast and in the south. The White Pine is used in crates, boxes, interior, construction, carving, and boat building. This tree is widely grown because it is commonly used as a Christmas tree.

29) Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)
The Mockernut Hickory is a deciduous tree that can grow between 50 - 60 feet tall (100 at its highest). It has shiny yellowish-green leaves, which turn a yellow-brown colour in the fall. The Mockernut is found across the United States, except in the far southeastern corner of the country. Common uses of this tree include lumber, pulpwood, charcoal, and other fuelwood products. This tree produces edible nuts, and is also used for tool handles that require a high shock resistance.

30) Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
The Sweetgum is a deciduous tree commonly found in Eastern North America, and commonly grows 50-70 feet high. The 6-10 cm leaves have 5 sharply pointed palmate lobes, and change from a rich dark green to a vibrant red, purple, or orange in the fall. The Sweetgum produces distinctive hard, spiky fruit, which is globular in shape. Research suggests that the seeds of this tree may be a renewable source of shikimic acid. The Sweetgum is one of the most important commercial hardwoods in the Southeastern United States. The tree excretes a ‘gum resin’ when wounded, which was once used in chewing gum and medicine.

Tree Descriptions 31 - 36