Plants, Trees, and Flowers

On our walk across campus, we saw many different types of plant life. While identifying them, we learned a little about each one's characteristics and origins.

We saw flowers:

Snapdragons (Plantaginaceae antirrhinum):
They come in white, red, and pink. They can grow to be dwarf (6-8), medium (15-30), and tall (30-48). We saw several by Penfield Hall.

Angel Trumpets (Datureae brugmansia):
named for their drooping flowers that resemble the trumpet, these plants can grow several feet high. They are are favored for their pleasant smell and pretty appearance. 

 

  The bushes we saw were:

Sago palm (Cycas revoluta):

Not actually a palm, the Sago Palm is poisonous if ingested. Typically stops growing after a certain height, unlike other palms that grow much taller. Difficult to recognize as a bush, the Sago Palm is usually assumed to be a tree.

 

 Loraetalum (Loropetalum chinensis):

leaves of a dark purplish color, these bushes can grow pink flowers. Typically kept trimmed down for aesthetic reasons, these plants can usually grow much larger.

 

 Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica):

This bush grow little white flowers and also smells great when in bloom. This plant is very easy to grow in multiple locations. 

 

  

Finally, we saw multiple types of trees with various leaf styles and characteristics. 

Douglas Fir (Pinaceae pseudotsuga):

Using the A + B = height of the tree formula, we found out that this tree was 2064 cm. The Douglas Fir's wood is used in construction because of it's ability to withstand high weight loads. They are native to the west and east coasts of the United States. It is believed to be a biblical tree.

 Pecan Tree (Carya illinoinensis):

Common in the south, these trees bear the well-known pecan nuts which can be picked off the ground and shelled.  We measured the height of the tree by using a clinometer, and measuring tape. The formula A+B=tree height gives us the equation 69 cm + 1920 cm = 1989 cm. 

 

Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana):

While appearing attractive, these trees can smell awful when in bloom during the spring. They are extremely resistant to diseases. Their seeds are softened in spring, which are then eaten by birds and spread through the birds' waste.