Tree Trail Project 31-36

Tree Descriptions 31-36 (Eagle Scout Project by George Atkinson) 

31) American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
The American Beech is a species of beech tree native to the eastern United States and extreme south-eastern Canada. It is a deciduous tree growing from 66-115 feet tall with smooth, silvery-gray bark. The American Beech is a shade-tolerant species, and is commonly found in forests and grows in areas that have well moistened and well-drained soil, and thus cannot grow in urban areas. The nut it produces is small, grows in pairs, and is sharp and angular while also being its main form of reproduction. The wood is hard and difficult to cut or split, although at 43 pounds per foot it is not exceptionally heavy and rots relatively easily. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, most notably bentwood furniture as beech wood easily bends when steamed. It also makes high quality, long-burning firewood.

32) Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)
The Chestnut Oak deciduous tree native to the eastern United States. The oak has long leaves, and a very sturdy trunk. Its height can vary, but the national champion is 144 feet tall, and is located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee). It is commonly used for wooden boats, furniture and barrels. This tree can live unharmed for almost 400 years.

33) Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
The Loblolly Pine is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 110 feet tall, and is native in 15 southeastern states. It is extensively cultivated in forest plantations for pulpwood and lumber. Loblolly will respond well to extra moisture and richer soils, and is one of the faster-growing southern pines. A pioneer species along river bottoms. Often infected with a rust which produces prominent, enlarged areas on twigs, branches and trunks. The Loblolly Pine also suffers damage from pine beetles.

34) River Birch (Betula nigra)
The River Birch is a deciduous tree native to the Eastern United States. It frequently grows between 80 and 100 feet in height, and has a trunk 1-5 feet in diameter. The bark of a young river birch has a salmon-pink to brown-grey tint, which becomes a reddish-brown as the tree matures. The river birch has alternate ovate leaves, with 5-12 pairs of veins. Some essential oils have components derived from the inner bark, leaves, and buds of the river birch.

35) White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
The White Ash is a deciduous tree with the potential to grow 60 to 80 feet tall. It tends to appear in a triangular shape as a sapling and grows to have a more rounded crown. They have apetalous purple flower clusters throughout April and May. Female trees drop winged seeds steadily through the fall and winter seasons. Its leaves are compound with about seven oval-shaped leaflets per stem, ranging from about 3 to 5 inches long. The leaves are dark green on top and whitest green underneath, and turn yellow with a purple shading in the fall. The White Ash has grey, diamond-shaped bark which can be used for oars, tool handles, sports equipment, and furniture.

36) Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)
The Virginia Pine is an evergreen tree that can grow between 15 to 40 feet tall and 10-30 feet wide. It has a pyramidal shape with spread-out branches containing bunches of needles 1 to 3 inches long and can be found with small spiny cones. The needles tend to appear yellowish-green and turn gold in the winter. The Virginia Pine is great for landscaping use and can grow in a wide range of soil.

Tree Descriptions 37 - 42