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

*Silky Willow (Salix sericea)* Height to 20 ft. Leaves 2 - 5 in; white and silky (sericeous) beneath. Seen on the banks of the Kitchen Creek near the picnic area north of Rt. 118, and along Mt. Springs Lake Road.
Beaked Willow (Salix bebbiana) Height to 15 ft. Leaves 1½ to 3 in; margins barely toothed, wavy-edged, or almost entire; thick; lower surface strongly veined, with a whitish down (feels somewhat furry); petioles somewhat reddish; stipules (minute leaves) often present at leaf bases. Named for the beaked fruits. Seen along Mt. Springs Lake Road.
*Shadbush, Downy Juneberry, Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)* Height 20 - 40 ft. Leaves 3 - 5 in; blades and petioles pubescent (hairy), becoming less so toward autumn, but always with hairs at the base of the midrib; often more or less heart-shaped at the base. Young twigs also pubescent. Fruits (10-seeded pomes) in small clusters, resembling tiny upright apples. Amelanchier aborea is more common than A. laevis in the Park; especially on the Old Bulldozer Road Trail, the Grandview Trail, the upper portion of Mountain Springs Trail, and on the Evergreen Trail.
*Smooth Shadbush, Smooth Juneberry, Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)* Similar to Shadbush. In Smooth Shadbush however, the leaves are distinctly reddish when young, remaining so as the fruits begin to mature through early- to mid-June. The leaves and twigs are hairless, or nearly so. Common along the Grandview Trail.
*Quaking Aspen, Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)* Height 20 - 50 ft. Leaves 2 - 6 in. Bark smooth; white, pale yellow or pale green; therefore trunks are often confused with White or Gray Birches. Seen near Lake Leigh, and on the Grand View Trail approach to the fire tower.
Bigtooth Aspen *(Populus grandidentata)* Height 30 - 40 ft. Leaves 2 - 6 in. Bark smooth; white, pale yellow-green; similar to Quaking Aspen. Saplings seen near the dam at Lake Leigh.