Prunus Serotina

Prunus serotina

Native to eastern North America spanning from Minnesota to Texas and from Florida to Nova Scotia with populations in Arizona and New Mexico (1). Distinguishing characteristics: alternate, simple 2-6 inch long, leaves that are toothed, thick and leathery with a pair of glands on the petiole and tufts of hair along the basal part of the midvein. The bark is thin and smooth and brown to black on young trees, but fissured, scaly, thick and almost black on older trunks. The fruit is a purplish-black drupe (1.2 cm in diameter) (1). Major uses: The wood is strong, hard, close-grained and reddish brown. It is valued for furniture, panelling, veneers, and cabinetry. Prunus serotina in soil reclamation of disturbed surface mines. The bark is used in the Appalachians as a cough supressant, remedy and sedative. The fruit is used to flavor rum and brandy. The fruit is also eaten raw or made into jellies and wines. The fruits are an important source of food for many animals but the leaves, twigs and bark are poisonous to livestock but not to White- tailed deer (1). Information provided by Jeremy Tibbs, 2002.

1. www.fs.fed.us

Nyssa sylvatica

Native to eastern North America from Maine to Michigan and Illinois and south to central Florida, thriving in moist soils(1). Distinguishing characteristics:Alternate, simple, entire, dark green leaves with lighter sparsely pubescent on the veins, leaves clustered on dwarf branches (1). Some varieties have thin leaves with many clear dots on the underside (1). Terminal bud 7mm long with 5 yellowish-brown to reddish-brown scales that are hairy at the tips (1). The fruit is an oval, dark blue drupe with a large ribbed pit. The bark is reddish brown and has deep irregular ridges and diamond shaped plates up to 3cm thick (2). Major uses: the tough wood is used for lumber, pulp, veneer, gunstocks and pistol grips. The autumn foliage makes Nyssa sylvatica a popular ornamental tree. Bees also use the nectar to make honey. The young seedlings are highly browsed by deer and the fruits are eaten by numberous bird species (2). Information provided by Jeremy Tibbs, 2002.

1. Farrar, John L. 1995. Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press. Pgs.402-403.

2. www.fs.fed.us

Ulmus parvifolia

Native to northern China, Japan and Korea. Introduced in the early 1900’s by Frank N. Meyer (3). Distinguishing characteristics:leaves are alternate, simple, toothed, 2” long elliptical with asymmetrical base and with 12 or less pairs of viens (1). Terminal bud lacking. The fruit is a flat, papery samara 1/3” across that hangs in dense clusters (1).Flowers in Fall. The most noticable feature is the bark. The bark flakes off in small thin plates leaving a puzzle like pattern of browns, oranges, grays and greens (2). Major uses: it is often used as an ornamental tree to replace the American elm because it is resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Information provided by Jeremy Tibbs, 2002.

1. www.hort.uconn.edu

2. www.floridata.com

3. www.plantexplorers.com