Tag Archives: trees

Embracing Nature’s Tapestry: The Shag Bark Hickory

biodiversity, ecosystems, Wildlife & Plants, , ,

In the heart of our forests, a silent guardian stands tall, its unique features weaving tales of history and ecological importance. The Shag Bark Hickory, native to North America, is a remarkable tree that deserves a closer look for its distinctive characteristics and the vital role it plays in our ecosystems. I photographed this one recently on a walk down the road where we live.

A Historical Tapestry

The Shag Bark Hickory, scientifically known as Carya ovata, has been witness to centuries of change. Indigenous communities revered it for its versatile uses, from crafting tools and weapons to utilizing its nutritious nuts as a valuable food source. Early American settlers, too, recognized its significance, incorporating its strong and flexible wood into their daily lives.

The Unique Shaggy Bark

What sets this tree apart is its striking, shaggy bark – long, vertical strips peeling away to reveal a mosaic of grays, browns, and creams. This distinctive feature not only provides the tree with protection from wildfires but also adds a touch of character to the woodland landscape.

Nutrient-Rich Bounty

Come fall, the Shag Bark Hickory generously bestows its bounty upon the forest floor in the form of large, edible nuts. These nuts, prized by both wildlife and humans, contribute to the ecological web by providing sustenance for various species, including squirrels, deer, and birds. The tree’s seeds, encased in a hard shell, ensure the continuation of its lineage.

Ecological Harmony

As a deciduous hardwood tree, the Shag Bark Hickory plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Its expansive root system prevents soil erosion, while its dense canopy offers shade to understory plants. Furthermore, the shedding of its leaves enriches the soil, fostering a nutrient cycle that sustains life in the forest ecosystem.

Conservation Considerations Despite its resilience, the Shag Bark Hickory faces challenges, including habitat loss and changing climate conditions. Conservation efforts play a vital role in ensuring the continued presence of this majestic tree, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all living beings.

In conclusion, the Shag Bark Hickory stands not just as a tree but as a living testament to the intricate dance of nature. Its historical significance, unique appearance, and ecological contributions make it a symbol of harmony in our forests. Let us celebrate and appreciate Shag Bark Hickory, ensuring that its story continues to be written for generations to come.

Name This Tree

Home Landscapes, Wildlife & Plants, , , ,

The tree in these pictures is located in my front yard here in Albany County, New York.

It is a deciduous tree and they typically grow 40–60 ft tall and 20–40 ft wide. A 10-year-old sapling stands about 20 ft tall. They can be recognized by their large, heart-shaped to three-lobed leaves, showy white or yellow flowers in broad panicles. In the autumn they bear 8–20-inch-long fruits that resemble a slender bean pod full of small flat seeds, each with two thin wings to aid in wind dispersal. Because of the leaves, they are sometimes confused with the Tung tree in the southern U.S., or the invasive Paulownia tomentosa from China.

Due to their large leaf size, this tree is a popular habitat for many birds, providing them good shelter from rain and wind. These trees have few limb droppage but drop large dark-brown bean pods during late summer. The wood of this tree is quite soft.

They begin flowering after roughly 3 years and produce seed pods after approximately 5 years.

There are two North American species and have been widely planted outside their natural ranges as ornamental trees for their showy flowers and attractive shape, or growing habit. Northern and southern varieties are very similar in appearance, but the northern species has slightly larger leaves, flowers, and bean pods. Flowering starts after 275 growing degree days.

The tree is the sole source of food for an interesting and important moth, as the leaves are eaten by the caterpillars. When caterpillars are numerous, infested trees may be completely defoliated. Defoliated trees produce new leaves readily, but with multiple generations occurring, new foliage may be consumed by subsequent broods. Severe defoliation over several consecutive years can cause the death of trees. Because the caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, some dedicated anglers’ plant mini-orchards of this tree for their own private source of fish bait, particularly in the southern states.

Can you name this tree species? Do you have one or more near where you live?

 

American Hop-hornbeam

Wildlife & Plants, , ,

Have you heard of the American Hop-hornbeam?

American hop-hornbeam, (Ostrya virginiana) is a deciduous, native tree which usually occurs in dry soils on rocky slopes, upland woods, and bluffs throughout its range. A small to medium-sized, understory tree with a generally rounded crown. Typically grows 25-40′ tall with a slightly smaller spread. Features birch-like, oval to lance-shaped, sharply-serrated, dark yellowish-green leaves (to 5″ long). Leaves turn an undistinguished yellow in autumn and often drop early. Flowers are reddish-brown male flowers and greenish female flowers appear in separate catkins on the same tree. Flowers are not particularly showy, although the male catkins are more prominent and are present throughout winter. Female catkins are followed by drooping clusters of sac-like, seed-bearing pods which, as the common name suggests, somewhat resemble the fruit of hops. Also, commonly called ironwood because of its extremely hard and dense wood.

The hop-like papery sack encases a nutlet that is the fruit of this tree and is a winter food for ring-necked pheasants, rabbits, grouse, turkeys, deer, squirrels, and several songbirds. These fruits occur in clusters that resemble true hops that are used in the production of beer.

Native Range: Eastern North America, Mexico 

Zone: 3 to 9

Height: 25.00 to 40.00 feet

Spread: 20.00 to 30.00 feet

Bloom Time: April

Bloom Description: Red-brown (male); light green (female)

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Shade Tree, Street Tree

Flower: Insignificant

Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil

Maple Tree Tar Spot

Wildlife & Plants,

Several different fungi infect the leaves of maples and cause raised, black spots to form on upper leaf surfaces. The diseases are called “tar spots” because their appearance so closely resembles droplets of tar on leaf surfaces. Tar spot alone is rarely serious enough to threaten the health of trees, but sometimes there can be so many spots that the tree becomes unsightly. Heavy infections can also cause early leaf drop — a circumstance that causes the greatest consternation to homeowners because lawns are littered and must be raked before autumn officially arrives. Here in several upstate New York communities tar spot on Norway maple is particularly troublesome because of early leaf drop.

The first symptoms of infection by a tar spot fungus usually show up in mid-June as small (less than 1/8-inch diameter), pale yellow spots. The spots enlarge and their yellow color intensifies as the season progresses. On red maple and silver maple, a black spot usually develops in each yellow spot by mid-July to early August. The black spot grows in diameter and thickness until, by late summer, it truly does look like a spot of tar. The surface of the spot may have a pattern of wavy indentations or ripples.

Another form of tar spot affects striped and Norway maples. On these trees 20 to 50 small spots, each no larger than a pin-head, appear in late July or early August. On striped maple, the spots do not enlarge much after they first appear. On Norway maple, however, the spots grow and eventually may even merge to yield a larger black mass up to 1 & 1/2 inches in diameter. The surface may be slightly roughened to smooth, but will not be rippled. The fungus may allow attack on the seeds of maple also.

The fungi that cause tar spots overwinter on infected leaves that fall to the ground. The following spring, just as new leaves are unfolding, the fungal tissue in the leaves on the ground ripens.

The surfaces of the spots split and minute, needlelike spores escape. The spores are carried about by wind and if they land on new leaves of a susceptible host they may germinate, penetrate the leaf tissue, and start a new disease cycle.

Current research has shown that the tar spot fungus does not cause long-term damage to the host. The most effective management practice in a home lawn situation is to rake and destroy leaves in the fall.

This will reduce the number of overwintering “spots” (containing the fungal reproductive structures) which can produce spores the following spring. However, where other infected trees are growing nearby, those leaves should also be raked and destroyed. Mulching leaves will suffice to destroy many of the spots before they mature, but the mulch pile should be covered or turned before new leaves begin to emerge in the spring.

Application of fungicides are possible when high levels of infection become unacceptable but control of the disease is difficult. Complete coverage of leaf tissue is needed for success and this can be difficult on mature maples. Also, the appearance of the disease has become widespread across much of New York State, and if others in a neighborhood setting are not managing the disease on their trees with fungicides or proper sanitation, the act of spraying may be a waste of time and money