clw7k's Identifications

State - Tennessee
County - Rutherford
Identification - Rhus copallina
Location - Flat Rock Cedar Glades Natural Area in the center of the main cleared field.
Description - bright red compound leaves with winged leaf axis, dull red pubescent fruit clusters, milky sap, in a thicket with other plants of the same species.
Associated species - Sassafras albidum, Carya glabra, Carya tomentosa, Toxicodendron radicans, Quercus marilandica
Date of Collection - 17 Oct 2014
Collector - Lauren S Hanberry
Collection Number - 24

Compound leaves give off a very strong odor (slightly pleasant), especially when crushed. Aroma could be described as spicy with notes of citrus.

Fruits (Cluster of Drupes) were present but in a primordial stage; see the oddly-shaped tips of the branches.

Leaves with different forms and lobe patterns throughout the tree, with some leaves being entire, some with a "mitten" shape (2 lobes) and some with a "ghost" shape (3 lobes).

Crushed stem and leaves give off a pleasing scent.

Fruits small, red and circular with peculiar snail-like seed inside.

Growth is vine-like, and this species can be found growing on many of the branches of this small creek-side forest.

Direct association with Ligustrum sinense, climbing and twining over this and other small shrubs.

Specimen up to 10 ft tall with heavy production of berry-like blue/light purple cones. Crushed leaves and cones produced a musky cedar scent.

Instantly recognizable due to its ubiquitous presence in this area (MIddle TN).

A few (x3) large hills of fire ants (Solenopsis sp.) were scattered near this specimen.

Specimen distinguished by large (up to 6cm) dark red forked thorns adorning the trunk and branches. These thorns give the tree a rather hostile appearance.

Fruits (legumes) were absent from this and other nearby specimens; the property owner has said that a large honeylocust producing large quantities of fruits was previously at this location but was cleared out with a large segment of the nearby forest. It is possible that this young specimen is an offspring of that honeylocust; this inference is reinforced by the presence

Specimen also shows moderate insect damage on the leaves, as well as signs of fall senescence.

Thorn size and leaves with a pair of terminal leaflets were the primary characters used to identify this specimen (Kirkman et al, 2007).

Specimen under a large Juglans nigra and largely outcompeted by the ubiquitous presence of Ligustrum sinense

State - Tennessee
County - Murfreesboro
Locality Description - empty lot on E Vine St across from cemetery
Species-level Identification - Cocculus carolinus
Collection Date - 11 September 2014
Description - bright red-orange drupes with coiled seeds, shiny bright green ovoid leaves
Collector Name - Lauren S Hanberry
Collector Number - 4
Habitat - suburban fence line in an empty lot
Associated Species - Ampelopsis arborea, Toxicodendron radicans

State - Tennessee
County - Rutherford
Identification - Rhus aromatica
Location - along trail within Flat Rock Cedar Glades
Description - compound trifoliate leaves rounded teeth, citrus odor when crushed, reddish stems
Associated species - Carya tomentosa, Quercus marilandica, Rhus copallina, Juniperus virginiana
Date - 17 October 2014
Collector - Lauren S Hanberry
Collection number - 23

The leaves were evergreen, simple and alternate. The margins were wavy and toothed giving a good indication that this was an american holly. The bark was gray and thin, predominantly smooth with a few rough patches. The fruit is a drupe and a few were shiny red but some were still a light green because they had not turned yet.

Specimen is somewhat young (max height is 7 ft tall), residing at the border of an expansive Oak-Hickory forest. Fruits (leguminous) and leaves (cordate) both present.

In the spring, these specimens have delightful pink faboid flowers. Some of the fruits on this specimen were located directly on the trunk, suggestive of cauliflory.

Fruits were mature and ready for dispersal. Indeed, some fruits had already been taken by local fauna.

Leaves deeply dissected and silvery white underneath; fruits (samaras) dispersed earlier in the year. Odor of cut stem is pungent and somewhat disagreeable.

Local folklore states when the wind blows and the silver side of the leaves show, rain is coming.

Locally, this tree is known as the Water Maple.

Small slender tree approx. 12 feet tall. Grayish bark with deep grooves toward the base becoming smooth going up the trunk. Leaves alternately arranged and simple. Edible fruit yellowish-orange and resembled a small pumpkin or tomato.

The leaves were deciduous, simple and alternate, the leaves were about 5 inches long and they were coarsely toothed. The leaves were also palmately veined and the top of the leaves were a medium green. The back was reddish brown but the top of the tree was beginning to turn into white bark. The fruit was an achene that was about 1 inch thick.

The leaves were deciduous, pinnately compound, alternate, and the top surfaces of the leaves were dark green. The twigs of this tree was milky and densely velvety hairy. The fruit is a clusters of drupes, dark red and looks woolly. The cluster of drupes are not hanging they are sitting upright.

Very large tree approx. 80 feet tall. Bark gray with vertical striations. Leaves simple with four lobes (star shaped). Alternate or whorled arrangement. Fruit a hanging, globose multiple with numerous spiny projections.

State - Tennessee
County - Rutherford
Identification - Rhus copallina
Location - Flat Rock Cedar Glades Natural Area in the center of the main cleared field.
Description - bright red compound leaves with winged leaf axis, dull red pubescent fruit clusters, milky sap, in a thicket with other plants of the same species.
Associated species - Sassafras albidum, Carya glabra, Carya tomentosa, Toxicodendron radicans, Quercus marilandica
Date of Collection - 17 Oct 2014
Collector - Lauren S Hanberry
Collection Number - 24

Growing along riverbank behind retail garden center. Approximately 3.5 meters tall with a span of approximately 2 meter span. Area immediately surrounding (1 meter) tree has been cleared, but Juglans nigra and Platanus occidentalis provide dense shading.