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06/23/2026

While walking at high elevation in the Smoky Mountains, I was astonished by the unusual behavior of a tree that I know well from the North. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) was growing slowly and somewhat unusually in the smokies. It often happens that a tree with a wide distribution acts differently at its geographic extremes, both because of differing genetics, and differing site conditions. Most unusually, many yellow birch trees I encountered appeared to be very old but somewhat dwarfed (common for trees at high elevations), and numerous roots were produced all up and down the bark of the trees’ trunks. These roots appeared to have been stimulated by excess moisture, and by substrates like moss, which kept the moisture in contact with the stem, causing root growth to be stimulated. This is not unheard of. This could almost be considered a natural form of “air layering.” This also gives me an exciting chance to give a cursory introduction to the topic of adventitious growth!

06/22/2026

En route from Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (North Carolina) to the Great Smoky Mountains, I stopped at Tapoco Lodge for WiFi. While there, I was seduced by a very good pizza that they did not pay me to talk about. As I was just beginning to turn the key and leave their parking lot, I noticed the building I had parked in front of was shingled with tree bark at the gable end. I assumed it was fake, but after approaching, quickly recognized tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), and was so excited I couldn’t help but film a quick video before departing. I wonder if any of you have similar experiences in the southeast?
Historic Tapoco Lodge Resort

06/21/2026

This week’s Tree ID Quiz is here 🌳 Quiz 18

Test your tree identification skills as we explore a new location and examine a new group of tree species each week. Learn to identify trees by their bark, leaves, buds, branching patterns, fruit, flowers, and overall form.

Perfect for arborists, botanists, naturalists, ecologists, gardeners, horticulturists, foresters, plant enthusiasts, and anyone interested in botany and tree identification.

Follow weekly to improve your botanical observation skills and expand the number of trees you can confidently identify in the wild.

Comment your answers below and save this post to practice later.

06/20/2026

Here are this week’s answers to the Tree ID Quiz 🌳 Quiz 17

Each week we explore a new location and study different tree species to improve your tree identification and botanical observation skills. Compare your guesses, learn key identification features, and continue building your knowledge of trees and plant science.

Perfect for arborists, botanists, ecologists, gardeners, horticulturists, foresters, naturalists, and anyone passionate about trees and nature education.

Follow weekly to learn more tree species and strengthen your ability to identify trees in every season.

How many did you get correct?

06/19/2026

While the more famous pair of high-elevaion trees in the Great Smoky Mountains is yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and frasier fir (Abies fraseri), I chose to spotlight yellow birch and red spruce (Picea rubens) because unlike frasier fir, which is restricted to the southeastern Appalachians, the other two can be found all up and down the eastern US. Both red spruce and yellow birch require cool, moist, high-precipitation sites, which they find at lower elevation at their northern extreme and very high elevation at their southern extreme. This is a very common phenomenon, where species that are widely distributed in the north find their northern climate in the warmer, dryer south, only in upper elevations. The affinity these two trees have for similar sites is comically evident in the intimacy they share in the high elevation of the Smokys.

06/18/2026

Leaves, Lesson 2

The edge of a leaf blade is called the margin. When the margin is smooth, it is called entire. Here, we discuss the many ways a margin can be interrupted by teeth, etc. This is one of the most fundamental distinctions to make when observing a leaf.
The next couple weeks will feature chronological lessons on leaf morphology, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

06/17/2026

Leaves, Lesson 1

Though technical botanical terminology is not necessary to learn and know plants, there are a number of reasons I stress it in my teaching, and believe it is a worthwhile investment of effort. Most books that will be of use to a learning botanist will use some of these technical words. Therefore, developing scientific literacy will aid your ability to access educational resources and develop our skills on your own. Secondly, the words that have been invented to describe plant morphology usefully reflect the organization and diversity of forms present in these miraculous organisms. Therefore, learning terminology is as much about training your eye and awareness as it is about training your mind. Here, we investigate the most initial and fundamental terms for describing plant leaves. The next couple weeks will feature chronological lessons on leaf morphology, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

06/16/2026

I decided to take a moment to showcase two small trees that compete well in very similar locations.
Sumacs (Rhus spp.) and devil’s walking stick (Aralia spinosa) both have a penchant for dry, barren, and otherwise disturbed soils. While sumacs are incredibly widely distributed in the eastern U.S., devils walking stick is less frequently encountered, and more southern in its distribution, and is not native to new England. Devils walking stick is also more common in the understory and in moister soils than sumacs are. It was a joy for me to find these two likely comrades growing together on a steep, sandy, slope in the Smoky Mountains.

06/15/2026

This is my favorite pine in the eastern US. In my mind, it’s like pitch pine’s equally tough Appalachian brother. This tree is adapted to sandy, hot, dry, acidic, fire-prone ridges and southwest aspects, only in the Appalachian Mountains (and not their adjacent plateaus). My favorite things about this tree are its cones. I am a rampant cone appreciator with over 150 species of cone in my collection, and the cones of this tree are among my absolute favorite. They are similar to pitch pine cones in their broad, spherical, opened shape, and their appressed/sessile base. However, they differ from pitch pine in their stark asymmetry, and their swollen, robust apophyses. I nearly fell down the hillside, trying to get the branch that I showcase the cones on. Being very persistent, these cones are nowhere on the ground. I hope you enjoy the chance to see these trees here as much as I did in the Smokys.

06/14/2026

This week’s Tree ID Quiz is here 🌳 Quiz 17

Test your tree identification skills as we explore a new location and examine a new group of tree species each week. Learn to identify trees by their bark, leaves, buds, branching patterns, fruit, flowers, and overall form.

Perfect for arborists, botanists, naturalists, ecologists, gardeners, horticulturists, foresters, plant enthusiasts, and anyone interested in botany and tree identification.

Follow weekly to improve your botanical observation skills and expand the number of trees you can confidently identify in the wild.

Comment your answers below and save this post to practice later.

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