Trees on the Yale Nature Walk

American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
Tree ID: 189
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 5, 2025
The American Beech tree is a medium sided tree that is native to eastern parts of North America. It produces beechnuts, which are eaten by squirrels, deer, and birds. When it grows, it has a large, sprawling canopy of green leaves. In the winter, it retains many of its leaves, now a curly, brown shell of their former selves, as seen in the pictures from the winter. Soon, the male reproductive flowers, called catkins, will bloom and fertilize the female flowers to produce beechnuts. American Beech trees are monoecious, meaning they have male and female flowers on the same tree.

Magnolia
Magnolia soulangeana
Tree ID: 187
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 5, 2025
The ancient warrior of myth and more popularly known Disney princess Mulan (木兰) got her name from the magnolia blossom, a flower that represents beauty, nobility, and strength in Chinese culture. And so represents the magnolia family of flowering plants, which has survived events such as ice ages, continental drifts, and large-scale mountain formations -- they are so ancient that they were pollinated by beetle because bees hadn't evolved yet! In the winters, these trees may be barren, but in spring, they show their full beauty in explosions of large bowl-shaped or star-shaped blooms of whites and pinks. Besides its beauty, magnolia has also long been used for other functions like in traditional Chinese medicine (with its bark used to treat anxiety, bloating, and inflammation), cooking (leaves are broiled and eaten as vegetables in Japan), and fragrances (stop and smell for a sweet, rose-like aroma!)

River Birch
Betula nigra
Tree ID: 186
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 5, 2025
This River Birch is situated towards the Eastern end of Sachem's Wood, and can most easily be identified by its peeling, mottled bark. It exhibits a distinctive growth pattern that is typical of its species by splitting into five trunks that sag outwards, which benevolently shade a nearby bench. Its leaves are contoured by double serration, and are painted a stunning shade of green, taking on a beautiful golden hue in the autumn. However, this tree did not foliate during the entire Spring semester, preventing its surveyors from witnessing these entrancing structures or colors.

Flowering Dogwood
Cornus Florida
Tree ID: 183
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 4, 2025
This flowering dogwood tree is situated at the bottom of a staircase by path at the bottom of Sachem's wood. Given its small stature, it is frequently overlooked by passers by; however, it is sure to turn heads when in full bloom.
American sycamore

American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Tree ID: 182
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 4, 2025
The American Sycamore is one of the great American classics. Most people have heard of it and probably seen them, though their large stature can sometimes blend in and appear indistinguishable. These large, deciduous trees are best known for their broad leaves and distinctive mottled bark, peeling in patches to reveal a smooth and pale surface underneath. Sycamores are commonly found in temperate regions and thrive in wetland, floodplain, and riparian (riverbank) habitats. Beyond providing canopy cover, friendly shade, and a welcoming presence, sycamores offer a valuable ecological role in stabilizing soil to prevent erosion, and providing a habitat for birds and small mammals.

Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Tree ID: 185
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 4, 2025
This red maple, although a late bloomer, is a seasonal showstopper. Located in Sachem's Wood, it brings a burst of fall flair to Science Hill. What it lacks in age and size, it makes up in its bright, red leaves and fiery presence that turns heads and lights up the campus. Stop by in the fall to witness its beautiful foliage.

American Elm
Ulmus americana
Tree ID: 181
Prospect and Sachem
Date of tree entry: February 4, 2025

Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Tree ID: 177
Marsh and Farnam Gardens
Date of tree entry: February 8, 2024
Hi! My name is Sourwood and I am an American, most likely to be found in the Appalachian Mountains. I am a hard-core dicot with my roots taking hold from mountainous Pennsylvania down to northern Florida. I'm a movie connoisseur, but wood like to branch out and explore different genres. Send me recommendations! As a true American, some of my favorites are Tree Movie, Forrest Gump, and Roots. All recommendations are welcome! Outside of my love for cinema, a fun fact about me is that I belong to the blueberry family! I've come to Yale to turn over a new leaf, but unfortunately this meant leaving my family behind. I can get lonely sometimes, but I love having visitors. To find me, head to Marsh and Farnam Gardens. I'm the handsome redhead on the clearing of the slope, right next to a white bench.
2/8

American Holly
Ilex opaca
Tree ID: 179
Marsh and Farnam Gardens
Date of tree entry: February 8, 2024
Hello, hello! My name is Ilex opaca, but my friends like to call me Lex. My species is dioecious – I identify as a lady. I am from the Southeastern United States, and am a huge fan of the moist soils that this region has to offer. I can be found along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Delaware, though I like to vacation in sunny Florida and have gone as far West as Eastern Texas. I am better known as American Holly for the vibrant red berries I produce in the fall and winter time, and I’m pretty famous for it (if I do say so myself) – the word "holly" is mentioned in over a thousand Christmas songs (according to https://www.lyrics.com/lyrics/CHRISTMAS%20HOLLY) including familiar favorites like “Holly Jolly Christmas” and the tradition carol “Deck the Halls”. However, as we’ll see, I’ve been involved in several other spiritual and medicinal traditions throughout history.

Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea
Tree ID: 176
Marsh and Farnam Gardens
Date of tree entry: February 8, 2024
The Kentucky Yellowwood (also known as American Yellowwood or simply the “Yellowwood”) as its name suggests, is found throughout the South-Eastern United States, primarily Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas although it is rare in the range. It is typically small to medium sized, although it can grow to be 30-feet high with a canopy area of 40-55 feet. It is a dicot and deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves in the winter. “Yellowwood” is a reference to the yellow color of its wood when it's been freshly cut, and its leaves change to a bright yellow during the fall. It’s a slightly late bloomer, flowering in late spring like in early June.

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