TREES of Witmer Woods
Ashleaf Maple (Box-Elder)
Acer negundo L.
A medium sized tree of moist soil that flowers in the months of April
and May. Leaves have 3-5 leaflets with few to no teeth. Leaves are most
often three pointed and look somewhat lobed. A characteristic of the Ashleaf
maple is its furrowed bark. The tree grows to be about 50'-75' feet and
is about 2'-4' in diameter.
White Ash
Fraxinus americana L.
The White Ash is an upland tree which has become the most valuable and
largest native ash. Twigs are usually round and can be without hair or feel
velvety. Leaflets are 5-9 and can either be toothed or not. Flowers open
between April and June. The trunk is rather dark and commonly has an interwoven
pattern of ridges and furrows. The White Ash grows to be about 70'-80' tall.
The diameter of the tree is about 2'-3'.
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa Ait.
A tall tree native only to North America. Needles on the Red Pine are
in pairs of 2 and are flexible and dark green. Cones are 1 1/2"-2 1/2"
long with thornless scales. The bark is a yellow-red color. The tree will
grow to about 50'-80' and has a diameter of about 1'-2'. The Red Pine is
often found in upland sites.
Redbud
Cercis canadensis L.
A small tree with reddish springtime flowers that appear before the
leaves. The flowers open March-May. The flowers are in clusters. Once the
leaves appear they are heart-shaped and can be hairless or just slightly
hairy beneath. The twigs are hairless. The bark is dark with grooves. The
Redbud will grow to be about 20'-40' and 10'-12' in diameter.
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum Marsh.
The Sugar Maple is one of the most valuable hardwood trees. It is a
large tree with a dark brown trunk showy of vertical grooves and ridges.
Leaves are mostly five lobed and are a pale green. Hair may be beneath the
leaf. Twigs are glossy and reddish-brown. The Sugar Maple can grow to be
about 40'-60' and 1'-2' in diameter.
Roughleaf Dogwood
Cornus drummodii C. A. Meyer
A medium-sized tree. Leaves are sandpapery above, and soft, velvety
underneath. Leaves are egg-shaped with 3-5 pairs of veins. Twigs are reddish-brown.
The tree fruits in clusters small, whitish, flowers between May and June.
The Roughleaf Dogwood can grow to be anywhere between 1'-15' and 2'-8' in
diameter.
Rock Elm
Ulmus thomasii
The tree grows best in moist soils and well-drained sandy loams. It
often has a single stem instead of forking as other elms usually do.Leaves
of the Rock Elm are smaller in contrast to other elms. The leaves are broadly-oval
shaped, pointed, and the texture is rough. The leaves are deeply veined
and are 2"-3"long. The tree will grow to be about 60'-80' in height
and 1 1/2'-2' in diameter.
Siberian Elm
Ulmus pumila L
This tree is commonly and incorrectly called Chinese elm. This tree,
in contrast to the true Chinese elm, produces flowers in the spring. This
tree has gray, furrowed bark. Leaves are 0.75-2 inches long, dark green,
usually with single teeth. Siberian elms are commonly planted for ornamental
use and for wind-breaks, but tends to break up in storms or when covered
with ice.
White Pine
Pinus strobus L.
One of the most important and tallest timber trees of the northeast.
Few large limbs in a horizontal whorl. Needles are 2"-4" long,
slender, and flexible. Needles are found in bundles of 5. Cones are slender
and thornless. Bark is dark with deep furrows. The White Pine grows to about
80'-110' and 2'-3' in diameter.
Red Spruce
Picea rubens
male cone
female cone
The red spruce can grow to be up to 100 feet tall with trunks 2-4 feet
in diamenter. This tree is most common in Northern New York and in the New
England States. It is used for paper pulp.
Biology Home Page
GC Home page
Maintained by: Stan Grove
Witmer Woods Home Page