Tree Journal

Gleditsia triacanthos IDed by distinctive plated bark

Juniperus scopulorum IDed by prickly young foliage in concentric bundles and older, scaly leaves pressed up against the branches. I think it’s a rocky mountain juniper because of its shape, but the shrub is in a pot so it very well could have been sculpted to look that way. Once it fruits it’ll be easier to determine the correct species.

Tilia cordata IDed by the NYC tree map, buds, and bark.

Tilia americana (smaller, redder twig above) and Tilia cordata (larger, grayer twig below) IDed by buds only. I’m not confident that I’ve got the right species but I’m quite sure that the genus is correct. Neither twig looks quite like they’re supposed to, but I found these twigs already broken off. I attribute their unusual shape and slightly unusual coloration to the fact they have been disconnected from their corresponding tree. Note that the difference in size is not because of different species, but just because the americana twig happened to be from a sub-branch.

The americana ID is corroborated by the NYC tree map.

Quercus rubra IDed by wider shallow ridges with flat tops, as well as by the distinctly-oak-like three terminal buds.

Quercus palustris IDed by a very small leaf in the crown of the tree. Being a mature tree, the bark is also an indicator of a pin oak rather than a red oak: the tree has light grey brown bark with very shallow and narrow ridges.

Gingko biloba IDed by bullet shaped buds and tree shape.

Ilex genus IDed by obovate and shallow toothed upper half of leaf margin and the leaves’ shiny green upper side.