|
==============================================================================
TOPIC: NC Botanical Gardens 2/2/2008
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/92ddcf9036a47223?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Feb 13 2008 5:11 pm
From: "Will Blozan"
ENTS,
David Huff (Back40 Films) and I had some time to explore for a few
hours the
day after a party for the Southern Documentary Fund, who is
assisting with
the Vanishing Hemlock documentary. The party was in Durham, NC and a
short
drive to nearby Chapel Hill to a few tree hunting spots was
reasonable. I
wanted to walk some of the trails at the University of North
Carolina
Botanical Gardens and find the current NC State Champion common
paw-paw. I
was initially impressed by the pines, both loblolly and shortleaf,
and made
my way down to the creek where hardwoods dominated. The first tree I
noticed
was a super nice Florida maple (Acer barbatum) that ties, or just
bests the
current state champion. This forest grown specimen was 84" cbh
X 103.6 feet
tall. I did not take a spread (I'm sorry.) but it was likely 45-50
feet.
The maple was trying to poke its way up through mainly sweetgum,
tuliptree,
loblolly pine and various oaks. Heights were rather unimpressive,
but a
116.3 foot American elm caught my eye. Nearby was a flowering
dogwood 41.7
feet tall. A little topographical relief gave rise to some taller
trees, but
only tuliptree and loblolly surpassed 130', with loblolly taking the
tall
tree prize at 135.3'. Northern red and white oaks both reached the
low 120's
as did a pignut hickory at 121.7'. We found the champion paw-paw and
in
contrast to other champion tree measurements, found it listed
smaller and
shorter than the laser determined. The specimen was 23" cbh X
35.6' tall;
listed as 22" X 29' tall. The site was ravaged by hurricane
damage and ice
breakage so the potential was not revealed.
We next walked a portion of the Battle Park grove near main campus.
This is
an old forest that supposedly was never cut. It definitely had some
older
trees but was likewise pummeled by storm damage. Perhaps the most
impressive
tree was a gorgeous southern red oak that was 9'6" X 119.9'
tall. This
height is certainly exceptional for the species, but what was really
amazing
is that it was shredded by storm damage. The height was to sprouts
originating on the broken top. This tree was almost certainly in the
130'
class, and judging by the vigorous growth, will return. We
originally went
into the site after seeing nice tuliptrees from the road. Hopeful
for a 140
footer, we had to settle with 136' as the tallest found.
The lands encompassed by the University grounds contain extremely
nice
forests and everywhere I looked I saw something I wanted to measure.
Lots
and lots of potential there! Two hours was just a teaser. An ENTS
measurer
would have an endless job documenting the heavily wooded campus and
lands
owned by the University.
Will
==============================================================================
TOPIC: NC Botanical Gardens 2/2/2008
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/92ddcf9036a47223?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Mar 24 2008 1:08 pm
From: John Eichholz
Hey Will,
I just spent the day in Battle Park. What a nice place to have
nearby
my conference! I think I found some of the trees you found and a few
new ones. I got:
American Elm 119.1'h, no cbh taken
American Beech 106.4'h, 6.6'c
Winged Elm (?) 123.3'h, 6.3'c (I'm pretty sure of the id but we
don't
have these up north. I saved a leaf.)
Sweetgum 122.7'h, 9.4'c
Shumard Oak (?) 112.3'h, 5.0'c (I don't really know this tree but it
looks like the one in the arboretum)
Tulip Tree 134.5'h, 8.7'c
Tulip Tree "Monarch of the Forest" 121.4'h, 11.3'c This
tree is noted
on the trail map.
Together with your "northern red and white oaks in the low
120's", the
southern white oak at 119.9, and the loblolly pine at 135.3', the
site
has a tentative Rucker index of 120.1. Probably if I knew my
southern
trees better I would have noticed something taller than the Beech.
Anyway, it was a nice day in the woods after the tedium of plane
travel. I did email Peter White at UNC, so perhaps he will point me
to a few more trees!
John Eichholz
== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Mar 24 2008 2:12 pm
From: dbhguru@comcast.net
John,
Thanks for the report. I see you eye remains as sharp as ever.
Bob
== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Mar 24 2008 3:15 pm
From: "Will Blozan"
John,
Excellent! I'm glad you have some time to do more surveying in
there.
Weather looks good for later in the week up here! I hope you can
hook up
with Peter.
Will
|