THE NATURALIST PAGES:

 

OTHER TREES

     The following (last but not least!) is a collection of some additional "unique" and interesting trees that may be found around Toronto and are relatively easily identified and remembered.

     These introductions are brief however the links are very informative. Many links are highly technical, being designed for horticulturists, students, etc. but contain useful bits of information and excellent pictures. Simply read them to the depth that interests you, but don't miss the pictures!

Sycamore   Linden   Alder   Beech   Hemlock   Locust  

 

 

 

 

 

SYCAMORE
(Platanus occidentalis)

     A tree with markedly mottled bark (like eczema, disclosing an under bark). Leaves are like large maple leaves. Fruit is a one inch diameter ball suspended singly (or multiples, in the case of some other varieties such as the "London Plane tree") from a long "string" well into the winter. There are three of these trees in the parking lot of Edwards Gardens.

     There are a number of hybrids and one look-alike - the Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) which produces the regular Maple-type keys as fruit and can be seen at Riverdale Park and Edwards Gardens (west side plateau) in Toronto.

     Following are photographs of a line of Sycamores planted along a boulevard in the east end of Toronto. The pictures were taken near the end of April, 2000, before the leaves had appeared. Last year's seed balls can be clearly seen, as well as the mottled bark. Click on the images for larger pictures. Do "back" to return.

© W. Banner

 

LINKS:

Sycamore Picture of trunk & bark. Evidence of the hanging fruits can be just seen in the upper left quadrant.

New York The Sycamores of New York City, by Leslie Day.

NCSU Fact sheet fron Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University.

Sycamore Picture and information from Illinois State Museum.

Fruit Picture of fruit from Ohio State University.

Bulletin Nature Bulletin on the Sycamore.

More Eight more pictures of Sycamores (Platanus .....) from Texas A&M University.

Sycamore maple Scanned picture of Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaf and fruit (Edwards Gardens, Toronto). Bark of this tree closely resembles that of the Sycamore.

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LINDEN
 (Tilia cordata)

     Referred to as "Lime Basswood" or just "lime Tree". Planted along many of Toronto Streets. Conspicuous by its fruit - seeds carried on stems attached to a large yellowish "wing" or bract that resembles a leaf. The tree is a member of the Basswood (Tilia americana) family. The "standard" Basswood has the same fruit form but has unmistakably much larger leaves.

Linden1 Linden fact sheet.

Linfruit Repeat picture of Linden fruit. Note the paddle-like wings or bracts that are prominent all summer.

Linden Scanned picture of Linden leaves and fruit (Edwards Gardens, Toronto).

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ALDER
 (Alnus rugosa [Speckled Alder],
Alnus glutinosa [Black Alder] )

     As far as I know, the only deciduous tree whose fruit closely resembles an evergreen cone and remains on the tree through the winter. The tree is often found along streams or wet gullies.

Black Alder Fact sheet on the black Alder.

Alderfruit1 Picture of ripening Alder fruits From John Frett's fact sheet.

Alderfruit2 picture of maturing male Alder catkins and female fruit that will mature into "cones".

Alderfruit3 picture of maturing Alder fruit (upper) and "old cones" (lower).

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BEECH
 (Fagus grandfolia)

     The very smooth gray bark reminds one of an elephant's leg. Fruit is a bristly husk which splits and releases two pyramidal edible nuts. A close look-alike is the uncommon exotic "Yellowwood" (Cladrastis kentukea aka C. lutea), but the fruit is different and it has a "weak crotch" that often requires bracing. - The two Yellowwood trees I've seen (Niagara & Toronto) both had a large threaded rod through the tree presumably to prevent it from splitting.

     I'm told that most large beech trees are hollow and provide excellent den sites for a host of wildlife.

Beechfacts Fact sheet with photographs, North Carolina State University.

LargeBech Beech picture and story.

Yellowwood Picture and short story on Yellowwood.

Yellowfacts Fact sheet on Yellowwood including pictures. Pictures are large and will take a while to load.

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EASTERN HEMLOCK
 (Tsuga canadensis)

     Many conifer evergreens are difficult to identify, but the Eastern Hemlock is easily picked out by the flat characteristic of its twigs and the presence of two very prominent white stripes on the underside of each needle. The native Indians introduced early pioneers how to brew "Hemlock tea" (which is claimed to be high in vitamin C) and thus cure their scurvy.

     If the needles you find do not have the white stripe, you have probably found a Canada Yew (Taxus Canadensis), a low-growing shrub that is showing some promise as a source of an anti-cancer compound previously obtained from the slow-growing Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifoli). The Yew has male and female plants and it produces poisonous berries  instead of cones. Also note that its needles are pointed. This second example was found in Taylor Creek park. A solitary female shrub was found growing along with about 5 males (no berries). These "shrubs" are about 12 feet tall!

Hemlock Brief story on the Hemlock.

Twig Picture of underside of Hemlock twig. Note the flatness of the twig, the white stripes and the rounded tips of the needles.

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HONEY LOCUST
 (Gledistia triacanthos)

     The branches of this tree may have thorns and old trees may sprout clusters of very large sword-like thorns on the trunk (visit Niagara Parks Botanic Garden). The fruit is a long (6-8 inches) flat green suspended pod. Leaves are compound with small oval leaflets. The Black locust has much shorter fruit pods. Identifying the Locust is sometimes difficult as some varieties may have no thorns or just a few thorns. The "sunburst" hybrid is often planted and has a brilliant colour change over the spring and summer. The "Sunburst" is thornless and fruitless.

Locust General information and sketch.

Compare A comparison of Black and Honey Locust.

Thorns A true Honey locust complete with thorns. Washington State University. This is an outstanding (and possibly rare) example of the thorns.

Locustfruit Picture of Honey locust fruit and leaves.

Brooklyn Locust branches with fruit pods. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

Sunburst Picture of trees: "Sunburst" compared with the "standard" Honey Locust.

Sunburst The leaves.

Sunburst "Sunburst"The tree, another picture.

Sunburst "Sunburst"The leaves in spring.

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