Trees and Shrubs in Winter at the Guild Inn area: December 11, 2019

This morning’s walk in -3 degree, sunny conditions was for the Toronto Field Naturalists.

We mostly looked at trees and shrubs and how to distinguish various species in winter.

Here are some of the species we saw:

Basswood (Tilia americana)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
European Mountain Ash (Sorbus acuparia)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Missouri Willow (Salix eriocephala)
Highbush-cranberry (Viburnum opulus)

My guide books tell me that native Gray Birch and European Birch look very much alike. Leaves help to differentiate them but there were no leaves present this morning. Guide books also state that Gray Birch is generally an eastern species that is rare except in the very easternmost parts of Ontario.

European Birch (Betula pendula)
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) with European Birch (Betula pendula)
White Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Again looking at guide books, the willow with yellowish-brown twigs is the Peach-leaved Willow:

Peach-leaved Willow (Salix amygdaloides)

Park Scenes:

Shelf Fungii
Black Knot Gall

Today’s group:

Miles Hearn

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