Hiker's Guide to the Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Ricketts Glen State Park

Hiker's Guide to the Trees, Shrubs,

and Woody Vines of Ricketts Glen State Park

Third Edition -- Internet Version

Introduction

References

Leaf Types

Leaf Arrangements

Leaf Edges

Identification Key

Descriptions

Species List

Vines Ground Covers Trees with Needle-Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Opposite and Simple Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Opposite and Compound Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Alternate and Compound Leaves Trees and Shrubs with Alternate and Simple Leaves

TREES AND SHRUBS WITH ALTERNATE AND COMPOUND LEAVES

Highbush Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)

Height to 10 ft; arching or erect. Leaves 3 - 8 in; with 3 - 7 leaflets; if more than 3 leaflets, then palmately compound. Stems with stiff hairs. Fruits black (July - September). Probably the most common and widespread species of Rubus in the Park.

Wild Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus var. strigosus)

Height to 6 ft; arching. Leaves 3 - 10 in; usually with 3 - 7 leaflets which are pinnately compound; whitened beneath. Stems bristly (compare with next species). Fruits red, evident as early as June. Seen only near Lake Leigh and on the Highland Trail.

Wild Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Height to 12 ft. Leaves 2 - 8 in; usually with 3 leaflets; but palmately compound if 5 are present (like Blackberry, but unlike Red Raspberry). Stems with thick, hooked prickles. Flowers white (April - July). Fruits black (June - August). Seen only near the picnic area on the north side of Rt. 118.

Swamp Dewberry (Rubus hispidus) Also known as Bristly Dewberry

Height to 1 ft; trailing, and could be considered a ground cover. Leaves 3 - 7 in; mostly with 3 leaflets. Stems densely bristly. Flowers white (May – July). Common in the Park, especially in wet areas, and near water (e.g. Lake Jean on the Beach Trail, and around Mountain Springs Lake); also common on the Grand View Trail.

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)

Height to 90 ft. Leaves 8 - 14 in; with 5 - 7 leaflets. Bark of mature trees extremely shaggy, split bark pieces separating vertically from the rest of the bark. Nuts elliptical; 1 - 3 in. Seedlings and young trees are very similar to Pignut Hickory (C. glabra), fully distinguishable in older trees by the shaggy bark. Buds are brownish-gray, unlike the bright yellow buds of Bitternut Hickory. Seen along the lower parts of the Falls Trail, and on the Old Bulldozer Road Trail; mature trees seen only along the Evergreen Trail on the south side of Boston Run.

Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)

Height to 60 ft. Leaves 6 - 12 in; slightly hairy beneath; with 5 - 11 leaflets. Bark not shaggy; buds velvety-powdery and bright yellow all year. Pith brown. Seen along the lower portion of the Old Bulldozer Road Trail, and on the Falls Trail below Waters Meet. There is a mature tree along the shore of Mountain Springs Lake.

American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana = Pyrus a.) Also known as Rowan

Height to 40 ft, usually smaller. Leaves 6 - 9 in; with 11 - 17 leaflets. Buds reddish and sticky. Flowers in conspicuous clusters (May - June). Fruits reddish orange, in clusters (August through the winter). Seen only along Mt. Springs Lake Road, and the Cherry Run Trail.

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Shrub with arching-ascending branches. Leaves with 7 toothed leaflets; leaves with conspicuously fringed stipules (small leaf-like projections emanating from the base of the leaf); compare to flattened stipules of Pasture Rose. Flowers white to slightly pinkish (May – June). Native to Eastern Asia. Planted for erosion control, Multiflora Rose has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in disturbed areas, along roadsides, and in thickets. Considered a problematic, invasive weed in many settings. Seen along Mt. Springs Lake Road.

Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina)

Low shrub, height to 2 ft. Leaves with 5, rarely 7 toothed leaflets; leaves with paired, flattened and pointed stipules (small leaf-like projections emanating from the base of the leaf); compare to fringed stipules of Multiflora Rose. Flowers few to solitary, pink (June); buds and fruits covered with glandular hairs (use lens). Seen in open areas along the Old Bulldozer Road Trail, near Valley View.
Poison Ivy may be shrubby, but is considered a vine.

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Updated 3 July 2007.

*Highbush Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)* Height to 10 ft; arching or erect. Leaves 3 - 8 in; with 3 - 7 leaflets; if more than 3 leaflets, then palmately compound. Stems with stiff hairs. Fruits black (July - September). Probably the most common and widespread species of Rubus in the Park.
*Wild Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus* var. strigosus)** Height to 6 ft; arching. Leaves 3 - 10 in; usually with 3 - 7 leaflets which are pinnately compound; whitened beneath. Stems bristly (compare with next species). Fruits red, evident as early as June. Seen only near Lake Leigh and on the Highland Trail.
*Wild Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)* Height to 12 ft. Leaves 2 - 8 in; usually with 3 leaflets; but palmately compound if 5 are present (like Blackberry, but unlike Red Raspberry). Stems with thick, hooked prickles. Flowers white (April - July). Fruits black (June - August). Seen only near the picnic area on the north side of Rt. 118.
*Swamp Dewberry (Rubus hispidus) Also known as Bristly Dewberry* Height to 1 ft; trailing, and could be considered a ground cover. Leaves 3 - 7 in; mostly with 3 leaflets. Stems densely bristly. Flowers white (May – July). Common in the Park, especially in wet areas, and near water (e.g. Lake Jean on the Beach Trail, and around Mountain Springs Lake); also common on the Grand View Trail.
*Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)* Height to 90 ft. Leaves 8 - 14 in; with 5 - 7 leaflets. Bark of mature trees extremely shaggy, split bark pieces separating vertically from the rest of the bark. Nuts elliptical; 1 - 3 in. Seedlings and young trees are very similar to Pignut Hickory (C. glabra), fully distinguishable in older trees by the shaggy bark. Buds are brownish-gray, unlike the bright yellow buds of Bitternut Hickory. Seen along the lower parts of the Falls Trail, and on the Old Bulldozer Road Trail; mature trees seen only along the Evergreen Trail on the south side of Boston Run.
*Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)* Height to 60 ft. Leaves 6 - 12 in; slightly hairy beneath; with 5 - 11 leaflets. Bark not shaggy; buds velvety-powdery and bright yellow all year. Pith brown. Seen along the lower portion of the Old Bulldozer Road Trail, and on the Falls Trail below Waters Meet. There is a mature tree along the shore of Mountain Springs Lake.
*American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana = Pyrus a.) Also known as Rowan* Height to 40 ft, usually smaller. Leaves 6 - 9 in; with 11 - 17 leaflets. Buds reddish and sticky. Flowers in conspicuous clusters (May - June). Fruits reddish orange, in clusters (August through the winter). Seen only along Mt. Springs Lake Road, and the Cherry Run Trail.
*Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)* Shrub with arching-ascending branches. Leaves with 7 toothed leaflets; leaves with conspicuously fringed stipules (small leaf-like projections emanating from the base of the leaf); compare to flattened stipules of Pasture Rose. Flowers white to slightly pinkish (May – June). Native to Eastern Asia. Planted for erosion control, Multiflora Rose has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in disturbed areas, along roadsides, and in thickets. Considered a problematic, invasive weed in many settings. Seen along Mt. Springs Lake Road.
*Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina)* Low shrub, height to 2 ft. Leaves with 5, rarely 7 toothed leaflets; leaves with paired, flattened and pointed stipules (small leaf-like projections emanating from the base of the leaf); compare to fringed stipules of Multiflora Rose. Flowers few to solitary, pink (June); buds and fruits covered with glandular hairs (use lens). Seen in open areas along the Old Bulldozer Road Trail, near Valley View. Poison Ivy may be shrubby, but is considered a vine.