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Table of Contents

Tours

1. Tree Campus Map

   Quinnipiac is one of four universities in Connecticut recognized as a Tree Campus, alongside approximately 400 other universities across the country.

   Stops

   1. Norway Maple

      Acer platanoides (Norway maple) Some are cultivated to have unique purple leaves known as “Crimson King”. Unfortunately, this maple is not native to North America and has been shown to displace our native species, like red and sugar maples. The Norway maple was brought over in the 1950s to replace the native elms that were decimated by the Dutch Elm Disease fungus. Norway maples are easy to identify by white sap that drips after breaking off a leaf. 

   2. Red Maple

      Acer rubrum (Red maple) This beautiful native tree lives up to its name. The red maple has red buds in the winter, red flowers in the spring, red petioles in the summer and brilliant red foliage in the fall. In addition to its parade of colors, this maple can survive anywhere from Florida into Canada, from swamps to dry soils, and from sea level to 900m.  

   3. Eastern White Pine

      Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine) is native to New England. Historically, pine forests likely dominated much of New England but were clear cut for shipping and logging in the 18th and 19th century. It is estimated that only 1% of old growth forests still exist in the northeastern US today. White pines are easily identifiable by their smooth needles in bundles of five. Easy to remember by the word “white,” which has five letters. 

   4. White Cedar

      Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae/white cedar) is native to the US and commonly used in landscaping as a living privacy fence because of its dense foliage and fast growth rate. Arborvitae comes from French meaning “tree of life.” Indigenous groups introduced the settlers to a tea made from the foliage that could prevent scurvy. The oldest tree in eastern North America is an arborvitae, which is over 1,653 years old. 

   5. White Birch

      Betula papyrifera (White birch) is also known as paper birch due to the thin, white bark. The bark is very flammable even when moist, so it’s a good starter for camp fires. White birch is an important early succession colonizer following environmental disturbances, like fire or wind. It is easily identifiable by its white bark with horizontal strips called lenticels.  

   6. Pin Oak

      Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) The pin oak is a beautiful native species to the Eastern US. The latin palustris means “of marshland” referring to natural habitat. Pin oaks are a common street tree because of their tolerance to a variety of habitats, quick growth rate and pollution tolerance. The leaves of a pin oak can be distinguished from other oaks by their pointed lobes and thin middle. 

   7. Cherry Plum

      Prunus cerasifera (Cherry plum) These purple leaved cherry plums are a common ornamentals in the US. It has beautiful pink or white flowers in the spring. Like many non-natives, the plum has a small, shallow root system making in prone to uproot in storms. You can also see examples of black knot on this plum. There is no cure for this fungus that kills the vascular tissue of these trees. 

   8. Norway Spruce

      Picea abies (Norway spruce) is a non-native conifer from northern Europe. It is currently not on the Invasive Plant List for New England because the warm summers have reduced spreading. The Norway spruce is considered invasive in other parts of the US, where young spruces have been observed blocking sunlight from all other plants.  

   9. Eastern Hemlock

      Tsuga canadensis (Eastern hemlock) are a beautiful native conifer in the Eastern US. Unfortunately, Eastern hemlocks are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List because of the spread of the invasive Hemlock wooly adelgid, which feeds on the sap of the tree and eventually kills it. Control methods focus mainly on biological control by releasing predators of the adelgid, like lady beetles. 

   10. Eastern Cottonwood

       Populus deltoides (Eastern cottonwood) is a native hardwood across the middle of the US. The Eastern cottonwood commonly occurs along river and streambeds, helping to prevent soil erosion. Cottonwoods are named after the thousands of fluffy white seeds they release in early summer. 

   11. Shagbark Hickory

       Carya ovata (Shagbark hickory) is an easily identifiable by its loose-plated or shaggy bark that looks like it is peeling. Another beautiful native hardwood that occurs across the Eastern US. The nuts of the hickory are edible and serve as a food source for a wide variety of animals.  

   12. Bradford Pear

       Pyrus calleryana (Bradford pear) is native to Asia and considered an invasive species in the US. It is already banned in many states. The tree can rapidly spread into surrounding ecosystems when the seeds are eaten and dispersed by birds. The Bradford pear is also well-known for its pungent smell sometimes described as the smell of rotting fish. 

   13. Black Oak

       Quercus velutina (Black oak) is another oak species native to the US. Oaks play an important role in our native food webs supporting more butterfly and moth species than any other native tree species. More caterpillars equal more birds! Oaks also produce acorns, which are a food source for a variety of native animals, and are great for art projects. 

   14. Red Cedar

       Juniperus virginiana (Red cedar) is a native conifer that is resistant to extreme drought, heat, and cool. Like birch, red cedar is an early colonizer in disturbed areas. Red cedar has a beautiful pinkish hardwood that is often used for chests or tools.

   15. Sugar Maple

       Acer saccharum (Sugar maple) is best known for its production of maple syrup. This sweet treat is made from the sap of maple trees. Sugar maples are native to parts of the US with cooler weather, because they require a hard freeze for dormancy. Sugar maples are a dominant species in many hardwood forests. The leaf is also represented on the Canadian flag. 

   16. Pollinator Garden

       At the end of the walk, do not forget to visit the native pollinator garden at the Albert Schweitzer Institute (ASI). ASI is adjacent to the Mount Caramel Campus and Sleeping Giant State Park. The pollinator garden contains eight themed beds hosting 200 varieties of native plants or native cultivars. The pollinator garden serves as both a center for scholarship and a means of increasing the area's biodiversity with native pollinators. Additionally, this garden serves as an outdoor space for studying and meditation.