Part 7

General: Bark gray-brown, with diamond-shaped fissures when older. A large tree; trunk usually long and straight; commonly occurring on rich soils. Wood important for such special uses as handles, vehicle parts and athletic equipment (practically all baseball bats); valuable for curved parts in furniture.

Leaves: Compound, opposite; leaflets 7-11, each 3″-5″ long, not stalked except end one, dark green above, lighter green beneath with some rusty hairs; margins saw-toothed.

Twigs: Stout, at first somewhat hairy, becoming smooth, gray or red-brown, with many large pale spots (lenticels). Buds dark brown to black, end bud pointed. Leaf scars nearly circular, with raised margins; not notched at the top.

Fruit: Resembles that of white ash but is usually smaller (1″-1¾″ long and ⅜″ wide).

General: Bark grayish, when older becoming corky-ridged or scaly; knobs frequent on the trunk. A medium-sized tree that prefers cool, swampy sites. Wood is generally lighter in weight and weaker than white ash but used for the same purposes.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 4″-6″ in diameter, generally 4-lobed, bright green, turning yellow in autumn.

Twigs: In spring and summer, green, sometimes with purplish tinge; during winter reddish brown, smooth, shiny. Buds large, smooth, flattened, “duck-billed.”

Fruit: At first green, turning light brown when ripe in autumn; cone-like, 2½″-3″ long, made up of winged seeds. Greenish yellow tulip-like flowers in May or June.

General: Bark at first dark green and smooth; whitish vertical streaks soon appearing; later dark gray and furrowed. A large tree, the tallest of the eastern hardwoods. It grows rapidly and is an important timber and shade tree. The wood is valuable for veneer and many other uses. Also known as tulip poplar.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 4″-12″ long, smooth above, downy beneath; margins smooth or sometimes wavy.

Twigs: Reddish brown, shiny, with peppery smell and taste. Buds covered with greenish white silky hairs; end buds ½″-¾″ long. Leaf scars horseshoe shaped.

Fruit: When young, like a small green cucumber. When mature in autumn, 3″-4″ long, a cluster of small red pods, each containing two scarlet seeds; often remains attached all winter. Flowers large (3″ long), greenish yellow, single, upright; appear from April to June.

General: Bark gray-brown to brown, developing long narrow furrows and loose scaly ridges. A medium-sized tree, found mainly in the western half of the State. Wood used mainly for interior finish, furniture and containers.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 4″-6″ long, unequal at the base, rather rough on the upper surface; usually soft-hairy below; veins prominent; margin coarsely toothed. Leaf-stem short.

Twigs: Slender, zigzag, brown, smooth or slightly hairy. Leaf buds ⅛″-¼″ long, flattened. Flower buds larger, below leaf buds. Bud scales red-brown, smooth or downy; margins dark.

Fruit: A seed surrounded by an oval, thin papery wing, ½″ long, deeply notched at the tip; ripening in spring and borne in clusters; wing with scattered hairs along margin. Flowers and fruit appear before the leaves, as is true of slippery elm.

General: Bark dark gray to gray-brown, with long corky ridges; on older trees separated by diamond-shaped fissures. A large and highly prized shade tree. The drooping crown often gives it a vase-shaped appearance. Found locally throughout Pennsylvania, mainly on moist areas. The hard, tough wood has many uses, including the manufacture of boxes, barrels and furniture.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 5″-7″ long; usually larger than those of American elm, rough on both sides or soft-hairy below; margin coarsely toothed. Leaf-stem short.

Twigs: Stouter than on American elm, grayish and rather rough. Buds slightly larger than those of American elm, and more round—seldom flattened. Bud scales brown to almost black, rusty-haired.

Fruit: Like that of American elm but somewhat larger (¾″ long); wing margin not hairy and slightly notched at the tip.

General: Bark similar to American elm but of lighter color, softer, and fissures not diamond-shaped in outline. Inner bark sticky and fragrant. A medium-sized tree usually found near streams. Crown does not droop like that of American elm. The wood is commonly marketed with the preceding species.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 2″-4″ long, slender pointed; margin sharp toothed; base unequal; often rough above, slightly hairy and veins prominent on undersides; 3-veined at base. Leaf-stem somewhat downy and grooved; fairly long (compared to elm).

Twigs: Slender, reddish brown, with chambered white pith. Buds small, sharp-pointed, closely pressed to the twig.

Fruit: Resembles a cherry, dark purple in color, ¼″-½″ diameter, sweet but with very little flesh covering the pitted stone; borne singly on a long slender stem; ripens in autumn.

General: Bark gray-brown with characteristic warty projections or irregular ridges. A small tree. “Witches-brooms” are common. Most common on limestone soils in moist locations. Sometimes mistaken for elm. Wood used principally for furniture, boxes and other containers.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, 1½″-3″ in diameter, light green, smooth above and below, nearly circular; margins with fine teeth; leaf-stems thin and flattened, causing the leaves to tremble in the slightest breeze. Yellowish-green when unfolding in spring.

Twigs: Slender, reddish brown, smooth, shiny. Pith star-shaped, white. Buds sharp-pointed, smooth, shiny, often curved inward.

Fruit: A small (¼″ long) capsule containing 10-12 seeds; capsules spirally arranged on a 4″ long drooping stalk, maturing in early summer. Each tiny cottony seed surrounded by long silky threads.