Month: July 2018

Ironwood – Ostrya virginiana

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Ostrya virginiana is a deciduous tree known for its slender, serrated leaves and hop-like fruit clusters.

Leaves: The leaves are alternate, serrated, and resemble those of birch trees.

Fruit: It produces hop-like clusters of seed pods.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and develops a shaggy appearance with age.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and along streambanks.

Distribution: American hophornbeam is native to North America.

Occurrence
Widely occurring in the understory of woods in the formerly pastured areas.

Balsam Fir – Abies balsamea

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Abies balsamea is an evergreen tree known for its spire-like shape and aromatic needles.

Leaves: The needles are flat, dark green, and have a pleasant balsam fragrance.

Cones: It produces small, upright cones that disintegrate upon maturity.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and smooth.

Habitat: It is commonly found in northern woodlands and at higher elevations.

Distribution: Balsam fir is native to North America.

Occurrence
Several good-sized specimens appear along the edge of the farm yard, and two nice groups on either side of the marsh.

Black Locust – Robinia pseudoacacia

Native To State: NO
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Robinia pseudoacacia is a deciduous tree known for its pinnately compound leaves and fragrant white flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are pinnately compound with numerous leaflets.

Flowers: It produces fragrant, white, pea-like flowers in drooping clusters.

Bark: The bark is rough and deeply furrowed.

Fruit: It produces long, brown seed pods.

Habitat: It is commonly found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands and disturbed areas.

Occurrence
Two specimens. One in farm yard and one along fence line off the Hawthorne loop trail.

Prickly Ash – Zanthoxylum americanum

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Zanthoxylum americanum is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its compound leaves and prickly branches.

Leaves: The leaves are pinnately compound with serrated leaflets.

Thorns: It has stout, sharp thorns on the branches.

Fruit: It produces clusters of small, red berries.

Bark: The bark is grayish and rough.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and along streams.

Distribution: Common prickly ash is native to North America.


Small single-stemmed shrub up to 10′ that is covered in sharp thorns. A member of the Citrus family, Prickly ash bears smaller than pea sized berries that have a sharp citrus smell and will cause numbing of the mouth if eaten.

Occurrence
Widespread on the property and while native, is considered invasive due to the thorns and spreading habit.

Ohio Buckeye – Aesculus glabra

Native To State: NO
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Aesculus glabra is a deciduous tree known for its palmately compound leaves and distinctive fruit.

Leaves: The leaves are palmately compound with five leaflets.

Fruit: It produces large, round, leathery capsules containing shiny brown seeds.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and smooth.

Flowers: It produces showy, yellowish-green flowers in spring.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and floodplains.

Distribution: Ohio buckeye is native to North America.

Occurance
Moderate sized specimen in farm yard. Several planted in 2018

Black Cherry – Prunus serotina

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Prunus serotina is a deciduous tree known for its simple leaves, fragrant white flowers, and dark fruit.

Leaves: The leaves are simple, serrated, and lance-shaped.

Flowers: It produces fragrant, white, elongated clusters of flowers.

Fruit: It produces small, dark purple to black cherries that are edible but tart.

Bark: The bark is dark, rough, and develops distinctive horizontal lines.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and along roadsides.

Distribution: Black cherry is native to North America.

Occurrence
One of the more widespread of the large trees.

Common Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Prunus virginiana is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its simple leaves and clusters of small, red to black fruit.

Leaves: The leaves are simple, serrated, and lance-shaped.

Fruit: It produces clusters of small, red to black cherries that are often bitter.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and develops furrows with age.

Flowers: It produces clusters of fragrant, white flowers.

Habitat: It is commonly found in various habitats, including woodlands and open areas.

Distribution: Chokecherry is native to North America.

Occurance
Widespread throughout woods -especially along fence lines.

Jack Pine – Pinus banksiana

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES*

Description

Appearance: Pinus banksiana is a coniferous tree known for its small, resinous cones and twisted, light green needles.

Leaves: The needles are twisted, in pairs, and are relatively short.

Cones: It produces small, serotinous cones that are often clustered near the branch tips.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and scaly.

Habitat: It is commonly found in sandy or rocky soils, especially in boreal forests.

Distribution: Jack pine is native to North America.

Occurance
Many specimens were planted throughout the north field area in 2013. *One volunteer came up in the back 40 field in approximately 2007 and is currently the largest specimen at around 20′ tall.

American Basswood – Tilia americana

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Tilia americana is a deciduous tree known for its large, heart-shaped leaves and fragrant, pale yellow flowers.

Leaves: The leaves are large, heart-shaped, and have serrated margins.

Flowers: It produces fragrant, pale yellow flowers that hang in clusters.

Fruit: The tree produces small, nut-like fruits with a papery wing.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and develops shallow furrows.

Habitat: It is commonly found in woodlands and along streams.

Distribution: American basswood is native to North America.

Occurance
Widespread throughout the woods and spreading into grassy areas. Several large specimens exist. In 2018 both of the 3-way trees lost one of their three stems.

American Elm – Ulmus americana

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Ulmus americana is a deciduous tree known for its serrated leaves and distinctive vase-like shape.

Leaves: The leaves are simple, serrated, and asymmetrical at the base.

Bark: The bark is grayish-brown and develops deep furrows.

Fruit: It produces small, flattened samara fruits.

Habitat: It is commonly found in various habitats, including urban areas.

Distribution: American elm is native to North America.

Occurance
Seedlings and small trees are abundant. A small handful of large trees continue to survive, but nearly all have been killed by the dreaded Dutch Elm Disease.