Category: Trees

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/24 Observation Time: 6:30 p.m. Observation Location: Massapoag Brook trail between Ames St. and Mann’s Pond Common Name: American Beech Tree Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia Comments: This beech tree is infected with Beech Leaf Disease (BLD). The disease kills and causes dieback of American beech trees. Since its discovery, BLD has been detected in 13 states, including Ohio, Connecticut, Delaware, […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/24 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: High Street, Sharon Common Name: Norway Maple tree Scientific Name: Acer Platanoides Comments: The Norway maple is native to eastern and central Europe and western Asia, from France east to Russia, north to southern Scandinavia and southeast to northern Iran. It was brought to North America in the mid-1700s as a shade tree. It […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/24 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: High Street, Sharon Common Name: Eastern Hemlock tree Scientific Name: Tsuga canadensis Comments: Hemlocks are currently threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), a sap-sucking bug introduced from East Asia to the United States in 1924, and first found in the native range of eastern hemlock in the late 1960s. The adelgid has spread very […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/24 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: High Street, Sharon Common Name: Black Locust tree Scientific Name: Robinia pseudocacia Comments: The blossoms of black locust trees are edible, but beware of the thorns. More Information: The Foraged Foodie

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/24 Observation Time: 10:40 a.m. Observation Location: High Street, Sharon Common Name: Mulberry tree Scientific Name: Morus (family) Comments: Mulberry is a tree belonging to the Moraceae family (also including the fig, jackfruit, and other fruits). Generally, the genus has 64 subordinate taxa, three of which are well-known and are ostensibly named for the fruit color of the best-known cultivar: […]

Observer: Deborah Gilden Observation Date: 5/27/24 Observation Time: late afternooon Observation Location: Deborah Sampson and Billings corner “In memory of John Lowden…” Common Name: Dogwood Scientific Name: Cornus (genus) Comments: Cornus is a genus of about 30–60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods or cornels, which can generally be distinguished by their blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark. More Information: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/24/24 Observation Time: 7:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Shagbark Hickory Tree Scientific Name: Carya ovata Comments: Shagbark hickory trees can grow over 100 feet tall. Shagbark hickory nuts are edible and provided nutrition to Native Americans. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 7:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Alder Buckthorn Scientific Name: Frangula alnus Comments: Alder buckthorn, also known as glossy buckthorn, is a tall shrub. I saw a hummingbird moving from tiny blossom to tiny blossom. Otherwise I probably would not have noticed that it was in bloom. I also saw some […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/23 Observation Time: 4:55 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Ash Tree (diseased) Scientific Name: genus Fraxinus Comments: This tree was killed by emerald ash borer beetles, which have killed millions of ash trees and threaten the future of ash trees. More Information: Britannica

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/23 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Silverbell tree Scientific Name: Halesia carolina Comments: Carolina silverbell is a vigorous, fast-growing deciduous shrub or tree growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 10 m (33 ft) broad, bearing masses of pendent, bell-shaped white flowers which appear in spring. The flowers are followed by green, four-winged fruit. The leaves […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/21 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Amur Cork Tree Scientific Name: Phellodendron amurense Comments: Phellodendron amurense is a perennial tree that can grow from 35-45 ft. (10-14 m) tall. The tree has a short trunk with spreading branches. The bark is thick and corky. This tree is demonstrating invasive characteristics in suburban and urban fringe forests. It escapes […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/20 Observation Time: 4:35 p.m. Observation Location: Corner of Gavins Pond Rd. and Col. Gridley Rd. Common Name: Small-leaved Linden Tree Scientific Name: Tilia cordata Comments: Tilia cordata, commonly called small-leaved linden or little-leaf linden, is native to Europe. It has been widely planted in the U.S. as an ornamental shade tree because of its (a) attractive foliage, (b) dense, low-branched, pyramidal to ovate […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land across the street from the Gavins Pond soccer fields Common Name: Eastern Redcedar Tree Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana Comments: Birds love its berries. More Information: Arbor Day Foundation

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Norway Maple Tree Scientific Name: Acer Platanoides Comments: The Norway maple is native to eastern and central Europe and western Asia, from France east to Russia, north to southern Scandinavia and southeast to northern Iran. It was brought to North America in the mid-1700s as a shade tree. It is quite common […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Gray Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula populifolia Comments: Gray Birch is a small tree reaching a height of 20 to 30 feet. Bark is grayish white with little exfoliation compared to River Birch. Leaves are triangular with a narrow point, doubly serrated and fall color is light yellow. Branches […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: near soccer parking lot on Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Bigtooth Aspen Tree Scientific Name: Populus grandidentata Comments: Bigtooth Aspen (Populusgrandidentata) is a native deciduous tree, which grows throughout northeastern North America. It is a member of the willow family. A fast-growing, but short-lived, pioneer species, Bigtooth Aspen attains heights of 60 to 80 feet. More Information: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Black Gum Tree Scientific Name: Nyssa sylvatica Comments: Also known as black tupelo, this is one of the most attractive native trees around. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/20 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Crabapple tree Scientific Name: Malus spp. Comments: Crabapple trees have lovely pink and white blossoms in spring. The apples they produce are tiny. More Information: Crabapple tree indentification

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 10:45 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Hornbeam Scientific Name: Carpinus caroliniana Comments: The common English name hornbeam derives from the hardness of the wood (likened to animal horn) and the Old English beam, meaning “tree” (cognate with German Baum). The American hornbeam is also occasionally known as blue-beech, ironwood, or musclewood, the first […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Pignut Hickory Tree Scientific Name: Carya glabya Comments: This tree is one of many plants identified along a botanical trail established by Kurt Buermann, President of the Sharon Friends of Conservation. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Witchhazel Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginiana Comments: This specimen was observed in a shady, wooded area near the Sharon Friends of Conservation botanical trail. More Information: Carolina Nature

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Beech Tree Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia Comments: These specimens were observed in a shady, wooded area. The American Beech is a shade-tolerant species, favoring shade more than other trees, commonly found in forests in the final stage of succession. Ecological succession is essentially the process of forests changing their […]

Observer: Deborah Radovsky   Observation Date: 12/20/18 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Conservation trail near the lake (dog park trail) Common Name: White Pine Scientific Name: Pinus strobus Comments: White pines can live over 500 years and grow to more than 150 feet tall. More Information: Wikipedia O