Tree Trail Project 37-42

Tree Descriptions 37-42 (Eagle Scout Project by George Atkinson) 

37) Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
The Black Oak is a deciduous tree that can grow between 50 to 60 feet high. Its leaves are shiny, leathery, dark green and turn yellowish-brown to red in the fall. It has terminal buds covered in grey, pubescence and yellowish, green flowers in spring. In addition, it has acorns with saucer-shaped tops that are a big food source for wildlife. This tree provides great shade for lawns, parks, and streets. The Black Oak prefers moist soils but can tolerate dry ones as well.

38) Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
The Colorado Blue Spruce is a needled evergreen that grows anywhere from 30 to 100 feet high. It can be identified by its stiff 4-sided rectangular-shaped needles that are bluish-green to silver in colour. They are about 1.5 inches long and are arranged in all directions on the stem. This tree prefers cooler climates but can tolerate light shade. It is perfect for landscaping. It is native to the Rocky’s from Montana, Idaho to Mexico.

39) Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
The Sourwood is a deciduous tree that can grow to 25-30 feet high and is found in most of the Southern US and in portions of the Northern US. This tree is identifiable by its rigid, grey, scaly bark and its fine-toothed, green, glossy leaves that are 5 to 8 inches long. They taste sour when chewed and turn crimson red in the fall. This tree has lily-like, waxy, white flowers, which are used by bees to make prized honey. Under the right conditions, a Sourwood specimen can live for almost 200 years.

40) Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)
The Blackgum is a deciduous tree, and can grow up to 30-50 feet tall. The national champion is 141 feet tall and 93 feet wide. It commonly grows in the northeastern regions of the USA. It is known for its very bright fall colours. It is commonly used for wooden agricultural tools and furniture. It is very twisty in the trunk with very narrow leaves.

41) Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
The persimmon tree is a deciduous tree, and commonly grows up to 60 ft. tall. The leaves are green in the spring and summer, and in the fall they turn a reddish-yellow color. It has small, edible fruits that are usually red or orange in colour. The persimmon is a native species along almost the entire east coast (from Florida up to Connecticut). The Persimmon’s fruit makes this tree unique with its tomato-like appearance.

42) Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
The Eastern Red Cedar is an evergreen tree that grows to about 30-40 ft. tall, but can reach heights of ~90 feet. Its needles stay green all year, except in the winter when it browns. The Red Cedar has soft, silvery bark, and is resistant against droughts and extreme heat/cold. It was once used for furniture and railings for the colonists in Roanoke. The Red Cedar is very common in the eastern USA, growing in all but 13 states. When broken, it releases a resin with a fragrant odor.

Tree Descriptions 43 - 48