Tree Identification

During our Tree Identification Lab, we took a tour of campus while recognizing different trees that were scattered across Mercer's campus.  For the purpose of this blog, I will focus on four specific trees:
1) Poplar
2) Pecan
3) Sycamore
4) Crepe Myrtle

Poplar

Populus tremula

Some interesting facts concerning the polar tree include that many poplars are grown for ornamental purposes. They grow very big and very fast. The majority of the these trees grow from clippings or fallen branches that take root in the ground. Poplars have very vigorous and invasive root systems stretching up to 40 m from the trees.

Pecan

Carya illinoinensis
The pecan tree is a large deciduous tree, growing to 66-130 ft in height. The fruit of this tree is the pecan which we use for multiple uses.  Pecans were one of the most recently domesticated major crops.  Today, the U.S. produces between 80% and 95% of the world's pecans, with an annual crop of 150-200 thousands tons from more than 10 million trees. 

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

A sycamore can grow to massive proportions, typically reaching up to 98 to 130 ft high and 4.9 to 6.6 ft in diameter when grown in deep soils.  The bark of all trees has to yield to a growing trunk by stretching, splitting, or infilling; the sycamore shows the process more openly than many other trees.  the explanation is found in the rigid texture of the bark tissue which lacks the elasticity of the bark of some other trees. 

Crepe Myrtle

Lagerstroemia 

These flowering trees are beautifully colored and are planted for both private and commercial use. These trees bloom in the summer months and can produce many different colors of flowers. There consist of both tropical and subtropical species that are used in different landscaping projects.