Reed College Tree Maps 24-28

This map of 32 well-identified trees has a series of "doubles" or pairs of trees next to each other that should be noted. There are two Pyrus calleryana, two Ginko bilobas, two Platanus x acerifolia, two Cornus florida, two Liriodendron tulipifera, two sets of two (each) Ilex aquifolium, and four Styrax japonicus. While this is not only an example of the symmetry which the Greeks (and Reedies) like, it also serves educational purposes. We go from one exemplar to the next, and we make sure we learn exactly what constitutes each species before we move on to the next. For example, I handn't previously noted the "balls" that hang down from some Ginkgos; I did this time. Finally, I recall the days of the mid-1980s when I was teaching at Reed. The main entrance to the Hauser Library was to the West, and one would often walk between the Ginkgos to enter. I don't recall ever noticing them 20 years ago. Thank goodness we don't all die in our 30s. There are 32 trees here.

Map 25

One of the "busiest" maps is this one, Map 25. All trees are correctly identified and all, except for tree # 8, are still there. Sixty-four trees fill this map, many of which seem to have been planted according to a plan. For example, 12 Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) line the walkway to the parking lot, which themselves are next to a like number of European Beaches (Map 26). Maple Row includes trees 16-24, though about half of them are sugars and the others are sycamores (Acer pseudoplanatus). Then there is a "row" of the Northern Red Oaks (Quercus rubra) from 30-37. This was a tough map to complete for whoever did it, because the crowns of some of the trees seem to reach to the heavens (like the Black Locust--Robinea pseudoacacia at # 28).

There is one thing that I hope the editors of the site will make clear. Many of the oaks in the parking lot are scarlets (Q. coccinea); many are pins (Q. palustris). When these are each relatively small trees (less than 25' tall), the leaves look almost identical. When they get older, the coccinea seems to "fill out" a bit more. It would be helpful if I knew how to distinguish the trees when they are young.

I also must add a word to the description of Map 25. Professor Neuringer, a psychology prof., planted two of the more exciting trees in this map--the Weeping Giant Sequoia and the Zebrian Western Red Cedar. Each catches your eye, even though you have to really want to see the trees, tucked as they are behind the Psychology building. Allen Neuringer was always very friendly to me in my days at Reed; he had a commitment to students that was typical of the long-tenured Reed professors. Reed was (and is) lucky to have him. There are 64 trees here.

Map 26

Map 26 has 54 trees indicated, but this map needs some work on it. Let's get to the problem right away. It relates to the trees directly to the West of the Studio Art building. Trees 13-17 are all called Pinus sylvestris (Scotch Pine), but clearly this isn't the case. Four younger trees are there; they look like some kind of poplars. What are they? And, I think there aren't as many Scotch Pines as indicated. Also, tree # 47 isn't there anymore. What is interesting to me are the number of interesting trees at the East end of the map, the easternmost section of campus. We have the campus' only example of a Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora), thus adding to my headaches at identifying pines. I need a method to differentiate the two brands of Japanese pines on campus (red and black) as well as the Austrian from both of them. Oh well, when I look at the "row of 40" Austrian pines at the U of O, I should get those deeply engrained in my mind.

Then one has a Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), the campus' only Mountain Ash (Sorbus sp.) as well as one of my favorite, the Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa). While the editors are trying to differentiate between youthful Pin Oaks and Scarlet Oaks, I would also like them to differentiate between a few kinds of hawthorns, namely the C. monogyna, the C. laevigata and the "toba," which is not on the Reed campus but is at the U of O. The pictures on the Reed web site are very nice, but they only highlight the problem; i.e., the pictures look pretty identical. There are about 53 trees here.

Map 27

We are now in the last row of seven maps. This one is in the SW corner of the campus, at the corner of 28th Street and Woodstock. Those who love Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) know that there are a few hundred varieties of this attractive tree. This section has two of them, a 'Sango-kaku' (coral bark) and a 'Dissectum.' One can study them forever, or at least for a long time, and see the finely cut patterns that are in each. Two of the trees are no longer (# 9, which already had been removed at the time of the map, and # 13). Too bad that # 13 has been removed. It was the campus' only Cedrus libani. Then, tree # 31 is misidentified. It looks more like a weeping beach than a cherry. Then, again, # 32, which is called a Betula pendula, the pretty common European White Birch, is probably more accurately a "cutleaf" EWB. It would be helpful if the editor of the site made that distinction in a number of campus trees--if, indeed, I am right on that one.

Lots of unique campus trees grace this map. We have Reed's only Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Caucasian Wingnut). I spoke about why this tree delights me when I was admiring one of the U of O's exemplars, on Map 84. Then there are the only two Japanese Stewartias (Stewartia pseudocamillia) on campus. The beautiful white flowers growing out of the wide leafy green leaves are still outstanding. The U of O has three varieties of Stewartia right next to (or across from) each other between the student athletic center and the tennis center (Map # 75). When I was in Eugene on Thusday, I went with my son into this area (we needed his ID to get into it!), and we both learned the differences between Japanese, Korean and Tall Stewartias. Very useful, but I think I haven't fully learned all the fine points of difference yet.

Finally, on this section, I want to comment briefly on the campus' only Halesia carolina (Carolina Silverbell). There are three possible candidates for this tree in the vicinity of the stairway from the parking lot, but I think it is the one directly behind the Thuja plicata. Hope I am right. There are about 43 trees here.

Map 28

The 30 trees in this map are all rightly identified; however, I think the Raywood Ash is now known as Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywood' now rather than Fraxinus angustifolia. We almost have "Deodar Cedar row" as we head North along the driveway. The five Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust) are unique on campus; I think that Oregon State also has a similar "stand" of Black Locusts in the housing area between Central Park and the Lower Campus. They are so tall, and the round leaves are so high that you simply throw back your head and try to keep from falling over to view this. Then, this map has the only Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana) tree on campus. The U of O has no such tree, even though there are a few in the Hoyt Arboretum. In fact, there is a huge one not far from my home, at 328 Rural St SE in Salem. I can see it whenever I want.

Let me end by mentionig a "problem" I will have in the next series of maps. There is an Ulmus carpinifolia, the Smooth Leaved Elm. But I felt the leaves, and they seemed as rough as any other elm (and similarly shaped). I will need help differentiating the elms... There are 30 trees here.

Total number of trees on this "page" is: 32 + 64 + 53 + 43 + 30= 222. Running total so far is 894.

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