Trees
There are many different species of trees on our plot of land in the Pomfret forest. Sugar Maple and Red Oak are two of the species which are quite common. The Trees that are highlited below also appear in the forest.
- Timothy Offei-Addo
Beech Tree
The American Beech tree is a decidous tree that is native to temperate areas of North America. Its smooth light gray bark, is a unique feature of the tree. Recently a disease has ravished the beech tree causing it to die prematurely. This has put the species of bieng extinct in the future.
- Timothy Offei-Addo
White Pine
The White Pine is a large pine tree native to eastern North America. Mostly found in mixed forests, the white pine is scattered among the woodlands of Pomfret. In our specific area of plotted land, the pines are located mostly on the northern and southern sections with very little found in the center of the land. This tree was known to the Iroquois nation as the Peace tree and prefers dry soil and cool, humid climates. Like most pine trees, the white pine is known for its’ bunches of five needles. These flexible green needles last for eighteen months (from the spring of one season to the fall of the next). The pinecones are slender with rounded detail. The mature trees can live up to 250 years, while others have been dated back to 1980.
- Taylor Crompton
White Ash
The White Ash tree is native to eastern North America and is mostly found mesophytic hardwood forests and is scattered throughout our plot of land. The white wood is dense and strong and is often mistaken with the Green Ash due to their similarities. You can distinguish the species by its opposite branching pattern. The emerald ash borer beetle has caused an invasive and widespread infestation of the white ash. Scientists have begun setting up small traps in order to study and stop the aggressive bugs.
- Taylor Crompton
Muscle Wood
Muscle Wood, also known as American Hornbeam or the Blue beech, is a tree native to North America. Our plot of land is contigous to a swamp which is a niche for many different species. Muscle Wood grows prodigously in the area next to the swamp because it thrives in soft, wet and deep soil. Muscle Wood don't grow to be too big. They tend to be about 35 ft tall and they like to grow in clumps.
- Timothy Offei-Addo
Tree Species
Invasive Species
Bittersweet
The Bittersweet Vine is an invasive climbing vine native to Eastern Asia. It was brought to the United States in 1860 and has spread continuously by birds ingesting and dropping the seeds. The reddish-brown stems have small thorns, which support clusters of red berries and orange blossoms. This vine has become wildly overgrown in New England.
Japanese Barberry
The Japanese Barberry plant is an invasive plant that is not natve to New England. It was transported from Asia to be used as a garden shrub. However it began to spread through the forests outcompeting the native plants. Our plot of land is infested with Barberry clumps and it seems that more are growing.
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