Three trees in winter
One way to identify a tree during winter is to look up. Sometimes there will be dried seed capsules still hanging from the otherwise bare branches. Here’s another tree in winter:
And here’s a third tree:
It’s still difficult to tell these trees apart so let’s look at some lower branches which are closer to us. The first tree:
And the second tree:
Now let’s look at the first tree’s seed capsule.
Ah yes, this is a Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). Its upper branches are white.
Shreds of bark peel away lower down a Sycamore’s trunk.
Returning to the second tree, here are the remains of two seed capsules.
These seed capsules belong to a Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera).
Yellow poplar’s light gray bark remains relatively smooth and even.
Let’s look at the third tree again. Sometimes the best way to get close to a seed capsule is to look on the ground for fallen ones.
These seed capsules grow on a Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua).
Sweetgum’s bark is evenly ridged.
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