Trees on the Yale Nature Walk

River Birch

River Birch
Betula nigra
Tree ID: 128
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 25, 2021
The newly developed Science Hill, overlooking Hillhouse Ave., is filled with trees and shrubs, including several Betula nigra, or river birch, individuals. This specimen, located just across from Kroon Hall, is situated in a small garden area next to a ramp and walkway, distanced but within eyesight of the Forest Garden (between Kroon and Sage halls). The young (in 2021) river birch has five trunks, and is approximately 5.08m tall. Due to its age, this river birch sheds its bark in thin and loose curls every spring in preparation for the new growing season.

Jacaranda
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Tree ID: 140
Date of tree entry: February 25, 2021
The Jacaranda is hard to miss when it's in full bloom with its alluring bluish-purple flowers. Once the flowers begin to fall and line the streets, they create a stunning carpet that almost makes you forget the rush of traffic and people that surround you. The tree I chose (and there were many Jacarandas to chose from) has been a highlight of my visits to the nearby park with my dogs. Although all traces of its signature purple flowers are gone, I know I will continue to appreciate it now that I have learned more about its biology and history. ----------------------------- Es difícil pasar por alto la Jacaranda cuando está en plena floración con sus atractivas flores de color púrpura azulado. Una vez que las flores comienzan a caer y se juntan en las calles, crean una alfombra deslumbrante que casi te hace olvidar el tráfico y la gente que te rodea. El árbol que elegí (había muchas Jacarandas para elegir) ha sido lo más destacado de mis visitas al parque con mis perros. Aunque todos los rastros de sus flores moradas han desaparecido, sé que continuaré apreciándola ahora que he aprendido más sobre su biología e historia.

Weeping Higan Cherry
Prunus subhirtella
Tree ID: 149
Date of tree entry: February 24, 2021
Weeping Higan Cherry trees originate in Japan, but they, along with many other Japanese cherry trees, were introduced to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, they have graced gardens across the country, from Yale University to Washington D.C.'s National Mall. Nestled into a planter on the north side of Branford Court, just outside the Saybrook Dining Hall, this Weeping Higan Cherry bursts into color each year in mid-April to announce the arrival of spring, and, in its more subdued autumn hues, provides the background for the annual Branford first-year class photo.

Sweet Fern
Comptonia peregrina
Tree ID: 110
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 24, 2021
Contrary to its name, Sweet Fern is not actually a fern. It is a flowering shrub with fern-like leaves that is native to eastern North America. Today, Comptonia peregrina is the only extant species of Comptonia. Unfortunately, this specific Sweet Fern plant is dead.

Japanese Flowering Cherry

Prunus serrulata
Tree ID: 145
Date of tree entry: February 24, 2021
Every morning for the past year, I have been greeted by this tree. It sits in my line of sight as I stare out at the busy street of Edgewood Avenue in New Haven, CT. The tree has company, as edge wood is lined with various tree species--the tree also sits across from Rainbow Park, a garden with even more diversity in plants within its black iron gates. From thin dark branches resembling haunted trees that should be in a Disney movie, it now stands vibrant--signaling the verge of new colors and a new season in the Elm city.

Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Tree ID: 142
Hillhouse
Date of tree entry: February 23, 2021
Don't let the naming fool you: despite it being called the Eastern red cedar, this tree is actually a juniper. In fact, it is the most widespread juniper across the eastern United States! It then comes at no surprise that we see this massive 45 foot tree towering over the Undergraduate Admissions Office. An additional fun fact: the eastern red cedar was the choice of wood in manufacturing pencils up until 1920, due to the material being soft and aromatic. This process stopped due to them cutting down all the trees! Thankfully, the tree is no longer endangered; the eastern red cedar's population is rising across the U.S.

Inkberry
Ilex glabra
Tree ID: 127
Marsh and Farnam Gardens
Date of tree entry: February 6, 2020

Inkberry
Ilex glabra
Tree ID: 127
Marsh and Farnam Gardens
Date of tree entry: February 6, 2020
Full image of the Red osier dogwood.

Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Tree ID: 112
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 24, 2021
The red osier dogwood is a deciduous thicket-forming shrub with dark red winter stems, and it can grow up to 1.4-6 m tall. This shrub is mostly known for its stunning dark red winter stems which in winter often stand in stark contrast to the surrounding snow. Beyond that, this shrub is monoecious with perfect flowers, that are pollinated by short- and long- tongued bees, wasps, and butterflies, and its white-blue drupes are consumed by a variety of bird (~95 species) and mammal species. Its presence on science hill actually is somewhat out of place as these shrubs prefer riparian areas and often are good indicators of wet, basic soils for surveyors. However, its presence on the hill may help stabilize the soil around it, as the plant can be used to reinforce stream and river banks.

Yellow-twigged dogwood
Tree ID: 112
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 6, 2020

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