Deliciduous Trees

Ever since I successfully identified a black walnut tree in the wild all by myself (which isn’t hard, it turns out, but this suburban girl demands kudos anyway), I’ve been studying up on nut trees in a crazed fashion.  Just ask Husband about my reading material during our Cape vacation: all nut-, berry-, and mushroom-related.  He fears for his life.

Anyway, I’ve been wondering about all these trees we have in our backyard and whether or not they’re anything good.  I mean, they’re trees so they’re automatically good regardless of whether or not they provide me with delicious nuts.  Calm down, Trees.  But what I mean to say is: in addition to oxygenating the air, furnishing a pleasant canopy of shade, and blocking out unattractive urban eyesores, wouldn’t they be even better if they provided me with delicious nuts? 

That’s where you come in.  Yes, you.  You get to help me identify my trees!  Won’t that be fun?  No?  Well, tough crap because I have all these tree pictures and nothing else prepared for today, so dig out your thinking caps and help me figure out what the hell these goddamned trees are.  There are only two for today.

Specimen #1:

Notice the unusual pattern of the bark.  So geometric.  The tree is so tall and shoulder-to-shoulder with maples and oaks competing for sunlight that I literally can’t even see the leaves.  I got out some binoculars to get a better (but still crappy) look, and I did find some fallen leaves that I think belong to the tree in question, so I’ve recreated the leaf pattern as best I could see it:

Alternate, pinnately compound, toothed leaflets, I believe.  The leaves still on the tree are green, by the way, not yellow.  Other potential clues: not a lot of vegetation growing around the trunk unlike the other nearby trees.  Also, high up on the trunk is this ominous-looking thing:

Any guesses as to what type of tree this could be?

Specimen #2:

This tree is still young and small, but, I think, promising.  Look at the leaf distribution.  Also alternate, toothed, and pinnately compound.  Leaflets are arranged in groups of five like fingers on a hand, except the larger trio of top leaves are joined together in the same spot and the two smaller leaves are joined lower on the stem in a separate spot, as if the leaf version of a thumb and pinky finger were growing out of its wrist.  (I would have made an awesome scientist, I just know it!)  Here’s the tiny trunk:

So, nature-loving people, what’s the verdict?  Will Husband be up to his nuts in nuts this fall?  If Specimen 1 is what I think it is, the good news will probably be flanked by bad news.  Perhaps the only thing I should count on come October is the usual ton of raking.

Comments

[Melissa]

First one might be a white ash. Second one is probably a Buckeye.

This site will probably help: http://www.oplin.org/tree/index.html

[Sarah L.]

I second the first ash and fold.

[Molly]

#2 looks like a hickory

[Tammy]

Molly: That's what I was thinking! Are hickory nuts good eating?

Sarah L.: Ash, huh? Crap. I thought it was something else, like maybe a butternut so I could make delicious maple butternut candies.

Melissa: What an awesome tree site. Thanks for the link! So, you think ash for #1. Bummer. Do ashes have nuts?

[michelle]

Here's a good site for ash tree identification:

http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E2892Ash.pdf

or, ask George Ellmore at Tufts. he taught me everything (that i don't remember very well) about trees.
http://ase.tufts.edu/faculty-guide/fac/gellmore.biology.htm

[Susan]

First one - anyone's guess.
Second looks like a Horse Chestnut, which is the same as a Buckeye. Several great specimens in Radcliffe Yard. Not edible but cool shape and smooth dark nuts -- good for... crafts?

[Jeremy]

First is likely ash. Try this - put your ear up to the tree and knock with your knuckle. Sound hollow? It's a white ash.

[Danielle]

2nd one looks like buckeye. In the summer it will have long white blooms of tiny flowers that look kinda like a candlestick burning all over. It will also make fruits that resemble nuts, if you peel of the spiky outer green layer you will come to a shiny inner nut that has medicinal properties. Horse chestnut (aka buckeye) is astringent and is used both topically and internally for varicose veins and hemorrrhoids.

[Sarah L.]

In less than one week I will be on vacation in VT and able to compare butternut to ash in person. I'll check back on your photos then...

[Molly]

Still think #2 is hickory. (Buckeyes have palmately compound leaves) Hickory nuts can be eaten, but I think it is difficult to find enough to make it worthwhile. But, if you don't mind getting at black walnuts, hickory nuts aren't much different. Here's a link from Mother Earth News about eating hickory nuts: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1980-09-01/Hickory-Nuts-The-Inside-Story.aspx

[Molly]

Also, you may know this already, but buckeye "nuts" are poisonous. So, to keep their good luck, don't eat them!

[Tammy]

Molly: I agree--I think it's a hickory, too. Thanks for the great link! I read it and now I'm excited for hickory nuts. Judging by the size of the tree, I think I'll be able to expect approximately one nut. That is, if the squirrels don't beat me to it!

Sarah L.: Awesome. Have a great vacation!

Danielle: Sounds like a cool tree. I don't think that's what it is, though, because the pictures I have of buckeye leaves all originate from one central point on the stem instead of from two points like a hickory. But I'll be on the lookout for this plant for any future hemorrhoid needs!

Jeremy: I will try that!

Susan: See my comment to Danielle. I think #2 is a hickory tree, not a buckeye. (I'm routing for hickory due to its edible nuts.)

Michelle: Cool, thanks! I'll see what he says.