White Birch (Paper Birch)
It's no mystery where the white paper birch earned its name - the paper birch is known for its thin, peeling layers that come off of its trunk like paper. This species is native to northern North America, prominently in Canada. It tends to become stressed in warmer climates; in Indiana, it is considered vulnerable, likely due to the changing climates causing warmer year-round weather. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Betula papyriferaHISTORY: Unsurprisingly, the papery nature of the bark allowed people of long ago to peel the layers and use pieces as a way to write messages. Native Americans got many uses out of white birch trees; they could make canoes (lending this tree the nickname of "canoe birch"), buckets, and baskets from its wood, as well as many medicinal products - such as casts for broken bones and treatment for skin problems, dysentery, and blood diseases. The Shuswap Native Americans made shampoo and soap from leaves. Stone-age gatherers would chew birch gum, which had both disinfectant and "buzz"-like effects. LEAVES: Paper birches have simple, alternate, ovate or triangular dark green leaves that change to yellow in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: Paper birches produce cylindrical clusters of winged nutlets. FLOWERS: The flowers grow in catkins (long, thin clusters that lack petals) and are inconspicuous. BARK: The bark is distinctive - it is paper white and peels easily. Sometimes, the lower trunk can become darker near the base. HEIGHT: Paper birches can attain heights of 50-70 feet. USES: Paper birches have several uses from many different parts of the tree. Its sap can be tapped in the spring to make beer, syrup, wine, or vinegar; its inner bark can be turned into meal and used as thickener in soups or in flour to make bread; its root bark and young leaves can be used to make tea; and the sap and inner bark can also be used as a source of emergency food. The wood is used commercially for pulpwood, plywood, veneer, and turnery.SOURCES:https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/paper-birch/#cultivarshttps://shop.arborday.org/paper-birchhttps://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_bepa.pdfThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Flowering Pink Dogwood
The flowering dogwood is native to most of the eastern United States, and its white, pink, or red flowers are desirable by many for ornamental purposes. When the dogwood flowers, it is a sure sign that spring has arrived, and many other flowering trees will soon follow suit. Not only is it attractive for your yard, but it is considered a soil improver due to its leaf litter that decomposes more rapidly than most other species. It is the state tree of Missouri and Virginia. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cornus florida HISTORY: Native Americans have used the root bark of the flowering dogwood for multiple medicinal purposes, such as fever reducer, skin astringent, antidiarrheal agent, and pain reliever. It was also used to counteract the effects of poisons. The flowers of the dogwood were infused to reduce fever and colic pains, while compound fusions of other parts of the dogwood were used as blood purifiers for diseases like malaria. In colonial history, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both admired the dogwood, planting them at Mount Vernon and Monticello. Later, during the American Civil War, desperate doctors used tea made from dogwood bark as a quinine substitute (quinine is a medication used for treating malaria). LEAVES: Flowering dogwoods have alternate, simple, pale green leaves that are rounded with a pointed tip. The veins of dogwood leaves run toward the tip. In the fall, the leaves turn red to maroon. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Flowering dogwoods produce clusters of bright yellow or red drupes that contain two seeds and ripen in July-August. These are poisonous for humans. FLOWERS: The flowers of flowering dogwoods sometimes appear before the leaves, appearing as early as March and sometimes lasting until June. The flowers themselves are typically small and yellow with four showy bracts (petal-like leaves) that can be white, pink, or red. BARK: Mature flowering dogwoods have gray-brown alligator bark, or bark with small square blocks that look like the scales of an alligator. HEIGHT: Flowering dogwoods can attain heights of 20-40 feet. USES: The wood of flowering dogwoods is considered quite useful and is harvested for tool handles, charcoal, wheel cogs, hayforks, pulleys, and other specialty items like golf club heads. It is ideal for wood products that need to withstand rough use, as it is hard and shock resistant.SOURCES:https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_cofl2.pdfhttps://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/intro-to-trees-of-indiana-flowering-dogwood/#:~:text=This%20small%20native%20Indiana%20tree,and%20curve%20to%20the%20tip. https://www.arborday.org/programs/nationaltree/dogwood.cfm#:~:text=The%20Dogwood's%20Place%20in%20History,tea%20as%20a%20quinine%20substitute. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/flowering-dogwood/The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Magnolia
Magnolias are among the most popular flowering ornamental trees of our region. With fragrant, showy flowers of pink, red, purple, or yellow, the many cultivars of the magnolia tree are used to improve landscapes and curb appeal across the country. There are over 200 species. One of the most popular types in America is the Southern magnolia, but this variation is possibly a lily magnolia. However, the lily is often crossed with the Yulan magnolia to create the also-popular saucer magnolia, which this also resembles. The southern magnolia is the state tree of Mississippi. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Magnolia liliiflora (lily magnolia) or Magnolia soulangeana (saucer magnolia) HISTORY: The magnolia tree is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), coined by botanist Charles Plumier in 1703. Magnol was the director of the botanical garden in Montpelier, France. Various types of magnolias are native to North America, Europe, and Asia; early botanists introduced it to French and English gardens. The lily magnolia is an Asiatic species from China. LEAVES: The obate to obovate leaves of the magnolia are dark green, simple, and alternate. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Magnolias have a pickle-shaped fruit that starts green, matures to red and then splits open to reveal seeds. FLOWERS: Magnolia flowers come in a variety of shapes and colors across species and cultivars. The lily magnolia has goblet or lily-shaped flowers with 6-7 petals that are purplish-red on the outside and white on the inside. BARK: Magnolia trees usually have a smooth gray bark. HEIGHT: The height of a magnolia tree depends on its species. Usually a large magnolia shrub can grow to more than 8 feet and just as wide. USES: Magnolias are most commonly used as ornamental trees, but their wood is also useful. It is soft and light in color and used for making crates, boxes, and light furniture.SOURCES:https://www.arborday.org/programs/nationaltree/magnolia.cfmhttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-liliiflora/https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/magnolia/The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Northern Pin Oak
The Northern Pin Oak is a prominent tree throughout the Great Lakes region of the United States. Its acorns are a vital food source for local fauna such as squirrels, deer, and blue jays; its cavities are nesting sites for wood ducks, eastern kingbirds, and Kirtland's warblers. Its common name is derived from the many short or pin-like branchlets that protrude from its main branches. Today, the pin oak is largely a landscaping tree; however, it is not recommended in areas with high soil pH due to the threat of chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves). SCIENTIFIC NAME: Quercus ellipsoidalis HISTORY: The pin oak was first observed scientifically prior to 1770. Native American tribes once used the bark of the pin oak for intestinal medicine by boiling it. LEAVES: The leaves of the pin oak are simple, alternate, and lobed (usually 5-7) with bristle tips. The color is green in summer and russet or red in the fall (unless the tree is suffering from chlorosis). FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Pin oaks have small acorns that grow to about 1/2 inch in size. FLOWERS: The pin oak flowers March through May, but the flowers are inconspicuous. BARK: The gray bark is smooth, divided by shallow fissures into irregular ridges and plates. HEIGHT: The pin oak can attain heights of 60-70 feet. USES: The wood of the pin oak has been used for furniture, flooring, interior finishing, posts, railroad ties, shingles, fuel, and hardwood pulp. Pin oaks are often used for landscaping and can be seen on the sides of highways and roads.SOURCES:https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/northern_pin_oak.htmlhttps://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_quel.pdfhttps://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/pin-oak/https://www.uky.edu/hort/Pin-oakhttps://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/fagaceae/quercus-palustris/pin-oak-106#:~:text=Origin%2C%20history%2C%20and%20uses%3A,be%20used%20for%20wooden%20contruction. The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Black Locust
The black locust, also commonly called the false acacia, is a tree with incredibly invasive traits - so you might want to reconsider planting one. Arborists in our region advise against selecting black locusts due to the aggressive spread of their root suckers, which can crowd out other plants. Despite their fragrant white flowers for pollinators and soil erosion control, they often cause more harm than good in this area. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Robinia pseudoacacia HISTORY: Despite having such a negative image today, the black locust has been an historically important tree. It was once regarded as the toughest tree due to its resistance to rotting, and was used to build the poles of the first buildings in Jamestown, Virginia as well as the nails for American ships during the war of 1812 (aiding America to victory against the British, who used oak). Native Americans used black locusts to make bows and other tools. LEAVES: The alternate, pinnately compound leaves can be up to a foot long, with 7-19 small ovoid or oval leaflets. They are bluish-green and barely change color in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: The black locust produces flat brown legumes (or pods) that are typically about 4 inches long. However, the primary means of spread for black locusts is via root suckers. FLOWERS: Black locusts produce fragrant white flower clusters in late May; they have five petals arranged in a pyramidal spike. BARK: The bark is deeply ridged and furrowed, reddish-brown to black in color. It has an alternate branching pattern, creating a zigzag effect, with a pair of sharp thorns at each node. HEIGHT: Black locusts can attain heights of 30-50 feet. USES: This tree is useful for erosion control due to its ease of establishment, rapid early growth, and soil building. The wood has been used for fencing, mine timbers, and landscaping ties. While these trees are beneficial for insect pollinators, ingestion of any part of this tree is considered poisonous to both livestock and humans, and can be fatal.SOURCES:https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_rops.pdfhttps://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/Robinia-pseudoacacia.shtmlThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Norway Maple
Unsurprisingly, the Norway maple is native to Europe, and is considered invasive in many places throughout the United States. In fact, the Norway maple is banned for sale in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. They tend to spread aggressively, reducing species richness and native tree regeneration. It releases harmful toxins that reduce the growth and reproduction of native species. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Acer platanoides HISTORY: The Norway maple was introduced to North America in the 1750s as an ornamental tree; Philadelphia botanist John Bartram received seedlings from English botanist Philip Miller and began to distribute the Norway maple in the American colonies. LEAVES: The leaves of the Norway maple are slightly broader than those of the sugar maple. They are palmately lobed (with 5-7 lobes) and usually grow to 4-7 inches wide, with hair-like leaf tips and a milky white sap that exudes from petioles when broken. They are usually green in the summer, but some cultivated species are red. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Norway maples have brown winged seeds that are dispersed by wind. FLOWERS: The flowers of Norway maples appear in April and May and are yellow-green in color. They appear in rounded clusters and are usually inconspicuous unless the entire tree is in flower. BARK: The gray bark of the Norway maple has a regularly ridged pattern with furrows. HEIGHT: Norway maples can attain heights of 40-50 feet. USES: As an ornamental tree, Norway maples are tolerant of things many other species are not - such as flooding, drought, and de-icing salt. However, its invasiveness should be taken into consideration before planting.SOURCES:https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/norway-maple-not-recommended/#more-informationhttps://www.sicim.info/news/invasiveofthemonthjune2021chrome-extension http://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.nrs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/jrnl/1990/ne_1990_nowak_003.pdf The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Blue Spruce
A native of the Rocky Mountains, the blue spruce is a pine tree that is nonetheless commonly used in Midwest landscapes. It is evergreen, making it ideal for year-round foliage. Most associate it with Christmas - when you are looking for a real Christmas tree for your home, the blue spruce might be the right candidate. It is the state tree of Colorado. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Picea pungens HISTORY: Explorers did not discover the blue spruce in the United States until 1862 when botanist Charles Parry found it on Pikes Peak, Colorado, but its popularity quickly spread thereafter. However, Navajo and Keres Native Americans have used the blue spruce for medicinal purposes (treating rheumatism, colds, and stomach ailments), ceremonial items, and good luck charms (gifting the twigs was a gesture of good luck). LEAVES: Blue spruces have stiff, sharply spine-tipped, blue-green needles. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Blue spruces produce cylindrical, papery pine cones that are usually 2-4 inches long and light brown in color. FLOWERS: The cone is considered the "flower" of the blue spruce, and it produces both male and female cones on the same tree. BARK: The bark is gray, thick, and slightly scaly, breaking into furrows and rounded ridges. HEIGHT: Blue spruces can attain heights of 30-60 feet. USES: Aside from use as a Christmas tree, the blue spruce is not often harvested for lumber or wood - it doesn't grow abundantly in nature and the wood is brittle and often full of knots. It is more often used for ornamental landscaping. The blue spruce doesn't usually do as well as other types of evergreens in the Midwest, but can be grown with the right environment and care.SOURCES:https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_pipu.pdfhttps://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/spruces/blue-spruce#:~:text=Blue%20or%20Colorado%20Spruce&text=Leaves%3A%20Needles%20borne%20singly%3B%20about,twig%3B%20very%20fragrant%20when%20crushed. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/blue-spruce/https://shop.arborday.org/colorado-blue-sprucehttps://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/bluspruce.asp#:~:text=This%20tree%20was%20first%20discovered,forms%20on%20new%20young%20needles. http://naeb.brit.org/uses/species/2936/The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
European Beech
One of the most distinguishing features of the beech tree is its bark, which makes the tree's trunk look like the sturdy leg of a large elephant. This beech is European, differing from the American beech, which has no purple or bronze-leafed cultivars. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Fagus sylvatica HISTORY: In prehistoric times, beechnuts were a vital food source for man - fast forward many years, and man would use beech bark to develop the first examples of European literature. In fact, the English word "book" comes from the Anglo-Saxon "boc," which is a derivative of "beece" or beech. Its wood has been used for centuries for fire and furniture. The first European beeches were introduced to the United States around 150 years ago. LEAVES: The leaves are simple, alternate, and 2-5 inches long with shallow teeth. There are several cultivars with different leaf colors, but most are green in the summer and russet or bronze in the fall and winter. However, this might be one of several cultivars (perhaps purple beech, copper beech, or red obelisk beech) which emerges deep purplish red in the spring, fades to purple-green in the summer, and finally turns copper in autumn. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: The European beech produces beechnuts that are edible (but toxic if too many are eaten at once, so it is recommended to roast them before eating). They are three-winged, triangular, and usually have two nuts in a prickly husk. FLOWERS: European beech trees have inconspicuous flowers. BARK: The bark is smooth and gray with an elephant-hide appearance. HEIGHT: European beeches can attain heights of 50-60 feet. USES: The fine, short grain wood is often used for firewood or furniture, and the beechnuts are edible - they can also be used to attract birds and small mammals.SOURCES:https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/european-beech/#more-informationhttps://americanillustration.org/project/fagus-sylvatica/#:~:text=Foliage%20emerges%20deep%20purple%20in,a%20delight%20for%20future%20visitors. https://bplant.org/compare/121-8519https://shop.arborday.org/european-beechThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Tricolored Beech
Like the European beech also seen on this church property, the tri-color beech is a beautiful ornamental tree with stunning colors that persist throughout the year. Tri-color beeches refer to specific cultivars of the European beech. The information provided for the European beech at the previous stop also applies to this one, with the exception of the leaves. LEAVES: The leaves are simple, alternate, serrated, and purple with pinkish white edges. This variation is known for vibrant pink, white, and purple leaves that turn a golden bronze in the fall.SOURCES:https://kb.jniplants.com/fagus-sylvatica-tricolor-european-beechhttps://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/21571/The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Eastern Hemlock
True to its name, the eastern hemlock is native to the northeastern and Appalachian regions of North America. This tree has multiple cultivars developed for a variety of ornamental and landscape uses, such as shrubs, dwarfs, form mutants, color mutants, and graceful trees. Their thick, bushy limbs provide ideal shelter for white-tailed deer and other wildlife species. It is the state tree of Pennsylvania. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tsuga canadensis HISTORY: The eastern hemlock has a long history of use by Native Americans; its cambium (a layer of plant tissue that grows new wood and bark) was used as a base for breads and soups, and its leaves were used to make a tea with an especially high Vitamin C content. LEAVES: Eastern hemlocks have flat evergreen needles that are arranged in two rows with an extra row of flattened needles on top of the stems. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: Eastern hemlocks grow ovoid cones from branch tips that grow to about 1 inch and hang like ornaments. FLOWERS: The flowers are inconspicuous and not ornamentally important. BARK: The bark is reddish-brown, scaly, and fissured.HEIGHT: Eastern hemlocks can attain heights of 40-70 feet. USES: Eastern hemlocks are valued for both their bark, as it is an important source of tannin, an organic substance used in leather and ink production. Tannin makes the proteins in leather more resistant to bacteria and less water-soluble. The wood is sometimes used for framing, roofing, crates, and pulp, but eastern hemlocks are not considered important timber trees.SOURCES:https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_tsca.pdfhttps://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/eastern-hemlock/#cultivarsThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Eastern Redbud
Dramatic and eye-catching, the eastern redbud is a burst of color that draws in pollinators, songbirds, and small mammals. It can be found throughout most of the United States, although it is native to the eastern and south-central U.S. It is the state tree of Oklahoma. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cercis canadensis HISTORY: Several Native American tribes (such as the Alabama, Cherokee, Delaware, Kiowa, and Oklahoma tribes) used redbud for medicinal purposes. The bark was made into tea for whooping cough, cold infusions of the roots and inner bark treated fevers and congestion, and an infusion of bark was used to treat vomiting and fever. In 1571, exploring Spaniards noted the presence of the eastern redbud, comparing it to species found in the Mediterranean region. George Washington also recorded appreciation for the beauty of the eastern redbud and would transplant seedlings from a nearby forest to his garden. LEAVES: Eastern redbud leaves are heart-shaped can grow to 3-5 inches long and have a long, slender petiole (leafstalk). They are dark green in the summer and yellow or yellow-green in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: As a member of the pea family, eastern redbuds grow 2-3 inch legumes (or pea-pods) that are reddish-green to brown. FLOWERS: Eastern redbuds earn their name from their early spring flower, small clusters of pea-like rose-pink to magenta blossoms. They develop on branches and twigs in early May. BARK: The bark is brown with hints of orange-red coloration underneath, which comes through when older bark peels off. HEIGHT: Eastern redbuds can attain heights of 20-30 feet. USES: Eastern redbud wood is not typically available for commercial sale, but can sometimes be used by hobbyists to make small specialty wood items like carvings. It is primarily used as an ornamental tree.SOURCES:https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/redbud/#cultivarshttps://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_ceca4.pdfhttps://www.wood-database.com/eastern-redbud/https://shop.arborday.org/eastern-redbudThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Tulip Poplar
The Tulip Poplar - neither a tulip nor a poplar tree - is the state tree of Indiana. It is more closely related to the magnolia tree; the name "tulip" refers to its tulip-shaped flowers. The tree you see here is relatively young, planted recently after the tree previously in this spot was split and damaged by a storm. Once it reaches its full size, however, the tulip poplar has the potential to be one of the tallest of American hardwood trees. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Liriodendron tulipifera HISTORY: Native Americans and early settlers often used the wood of the tulip poplar to create canoes, giving it the nickname of the "canoe tree"; Daniel Boone built his 60' dugout canoe from one of these trees. LEAVES: The leaves of the tulip poplar are quite unique with a four-lobed, flat-tipped shape. They are bright green and turn to yellow or golden yellow in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Tulip poplars have cone-shaped winged seeds that are about 2 inches long. FLOWERS: 2-inch tulip-like flowers grow between April and June on the tulip poplar. They are yellow-green in color with an orange band at the base of each petal. BARK: A young tree will have smooth, ashy-gray bark with shallow furrows. With age, the bark gets thicker with deep interlacing furrows and rounded ridges. HEIGHT: The tulip poplar tree can attain heights of 80-120 feet. USES: The wood of the tulip poplar has always been important for commercial purposes. It is used for furniture stock, veneer, and pulpwood. The tulip poplar is often used for reforestation purposes because of its rapid growth.SOURCES:https://www.uky.edu/hort/Tulip-Poplar https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_litu.pdf https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/tuliptree/#overviewThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Ginkgo
While most species of tree undergo at least some changes over the course of millions of years, the same cannot be said for the Ginkgo. Arborists refer to ginkgoes as "living fossils" - the same trees have been growing for almost 200 million years. They are originally native to China, but have been in North America since 1784. They are hard to mistake for another tree, with unique fan-shaped leaves (such as the one featured in the logo of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County!). SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ginkgo bilobaHISTORY: The ginkgo has always been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine, a system that is at least 23 centuries old. It was introduced in America (or, rather, re-introduced, as ginkgoes did exist in North America until a climate cooling around 7 million years ago) in 1784 by botanist William Hamilton in Philadelphia. Today, the gingko is the only living representative of the order Ginkgoales from the Permian Period (298.9-251.9 million years ago). LEAVES: Ginkgo leaves are fan-shaped and leathery, borne on short, spur-like shoots. They can be up to three inches long and are dull gray-green to yellow-green in summer and golden-yellow in autumn. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: Female ginkgoes produce messy, foul-smelling, apricot-colored seeds with fleshy coverings; for this reason, it is recommended to buy male ginkgoes instead. Ingesting the seeds may be toxic. FLOWERS: The flowers of the ginkgo tree are inconspicuous. BARK: The bark is grayish, fissured, and deeply furrowed with a corky texture. HEIGHT: Ginkgo trees can attain heights of 50-80 feet. USES: Ginkgoes are currently being researched as a possible treatment for Alzheimer disease, and their extract is believed to have memory-enhancing properties. The leaves have been harvested for blood thinners and circulatory illnesses, as they are said to improve blood flow and protect against oxidative cell damage. The wood is sometimes used to produce chess sets, chopping blocks, and firewood. Chinese and Japanese cooks sometimes used cooked Ginkgo seeds in dishes, especially as a traditional food served at Chinese weddings.SOURCES:https://www.britannica.com/plant/ginkgo-treehttps://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_ginkg.pdfhttps://news.virginia.edu/content/tree-see-history-behind-pratt-ginkgoThe Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Common Hackberry
The hackberry is considered to be a tough tree, as it can survive in a large span of temperatures and with varying degrees of rainfall, and it will withstand strong winds and air pollution. Overall, it is a relatively low-maintenance tree that can be ideal for ornamental or landscaping purposes. If you would like to attract birds, the fruit of the hackberry is a common food source for a wide variety of bird species. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Celtis occidentalis HISTORY: There are recorded uses of the hackberry by Omaha, Dakota, and Pawnee Native Americans. The Omaha consumed the berries raw and whole, the Dakota used them to flavor meat, and the Pawnee pounded them and mixed them with parched corn for consumption. Early pioneers used durable hackberry wood for flooring and barrel hoops. It was first cultivated in 1636. LEAVES: Hackberry trees have green, ovate to egg-shaped leaves that are usually 2-4 inches long and resemble those of elm trees - although the hackberry's are more sharply pointed. The leaves turn yellow in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: The "berries" of the hackberry tree are actually drupes, meaning they have a pit in the center surrounded by soft fleshy fruit. They begin green but turn to a deep purple or brown. They ripen in late summer and persist throughout winter. FLOWERS: Hackberry tree flowers are inconspicuous. BARK: The hackberry's bark is defined by its corky warts and ridges; it is usually grayish brown and somewhat scaly. HEIGHT: Hackberry trees can attain heights of 40-60 feet. USES: The wood of the hackberry tree is used for furniture, boxes/crates, and veneer, but is generally not available in places where it does not occur naturally. Its main use beyond landscaping is to attract and feed local wildlife.SOURCES:https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/hackberry/#more-informationhttps://shop.arborday.org/hackberryhttps://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ceoc.pdfhttps://archive.org/details/usesofplantsbyin00gilmhttps://www.wood-database.com/hackberry/The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Sycamore
The Sycamore tree is known for its massive trunk and broad, irregular crown, as seen here, which functions as a shade tree and a home for a wide variety of local birds, small mammals, and insect pollinators. When planting this tree, make sure it has a lot of wiggle room to grow. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Platanus occidentalis HISTORY: Early American explorers found massive sycamore trees that manage to make today's sycamores seem slight. Pioneer families were sometimes able to shelter their livestock within the trunk of a hollow sycamore - or, at times, their entire family prior to building a cabin. Native Americans used sycamore for a variety of medicinal purposes. LEAVES: The simple, alternate, leathery leaves can grow to 4-9 inches long with 3-5 broad, shallow lobes and coarse teeth. Each lobe tip is pointed. The leaves are bright green in summer and brown in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: A singular ball-like seed hangs from a long stalk on the sycamore tree, and it contains many closely packed, long, narrow fruits. FLOWERS: The sycamore flowers between May and June. They are not typically considered ornamental. BARK: The mottled bark of the sycamore is distinctive, smooth and green on young trunks or reddish-brown to gray on mature trunks. The bark sheds in thin plates with new white bark underneath. HEIGHT: The sycamore tree can attain heights of 75-100 feet. USES: The wood of the sycamore is heavy and difficult to split or work, but it is often used for butcher's blocks, furniture, veneer, interior trim, boxes/crate, flooring, and buttons, earning it the nickname "buttonwood."SOURCES:https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/sycamore https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_ploc.pdfhttps://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/sycamore/ The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
Northern Catalpa
The catalpa is a common tree seen throughout the Midwest, prominent in Indiana. The word "catalpa" comes from the language of the Cherokee Native Americans, and translates to "tree" or "bean tree." The catalpa worm - which is actually a caterpillar for the catalpa sphinx moth - uses this tree as its main source of food. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Catalpa speciosa HISTORY: Native Americans and European settlers have a long history with the catalpa. Early pioneers used its wood to create fence posts and furniture; doctors used various parts of the tree for medicine. The seeds and seed pods were used to create a decoction for lung and heart problems, the leaf/root juices were used to treat eye swelling or skin afflictions, the leaves were crushed and placed on swollen lymph glands, and the bark was dried and powdered for tea to treat swollen lymph glands. The tree earned the nicknames "Indian bean tree" and "cigar tree" due to the Catawba natives of South Carolina smoking the seed pods of the tree. LEAVES: The large, simple leaves of the northern catalpa can range from 8-12 inches long. They are heart-shaped and whorled, with yellowish-green coloring in the summer that turns to just yellow in the fall. FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: The northern catalpa has pod-like capsules that are 8-20 inches long, each filled with winged seeds. The shape and color of the seed pods also contribute to the catalpa's nickname of "cigar tree." FLOWERS: The tree flowers in late spring to early summer, producing large clusters of showy, white, bell-shaped corollas. The flowers are usually streaked with orange or purple stripes and spots. BARK: The bark is gray-brown, becoming scaly as the tree matures. HEIGHT: The northern catalpa typically attains heights of 40-60 feet. The largest recorded catalpa in Indiana is 85 feet tall. USES: The catalpa is primarily used today as a large, ornamental shade tree. Its wood has been used for fence posts, railroad ties, packing materials, interior trim, and telephone or power line poles throughout the years. It is sometimes planted to attract catalpa worms - a prized fishing bait.SOURCES:https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_casp8.pdfhttps://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/northern-catalpa/https://shop.arborday.org/northern-catalpahttps://www2.winona.edu/m/arboretum/about.asp?e=22&t=24The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.
