A Tree Trunk - Identifying It Through Color And Texture

The trunk is a fascinating part of any tree. There are many different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. Learning to identify some basic trees is a great educational lesson for a classroom, home activity or any organization. Teaching others as well as yourself about a natural habitat allows everyone to become in tune with the environment. This is also a great lesson in understanding different plant families and what is growing in your geographic area.

There are a variety of different options you have to incorporate this topic into a lesson plan, a field study, an organizational project, or a great family outing into nature. Any age group can identify trees and there are a number of different ways you can accomplish this. Many younger children learn through their senses of sight and touch. Actually seeing the different tree trunks and allowing the children to touch each specie will give them a real sense of each individual plant. Take pictures and have the children write papers on certain trees. Divide the students up into groups and have each group pick a particular tree and do reports so the entire class can learn about the different specimens. If your area doesn't have a large selection of trees, pick one specific tree trunk, or the gallery of plants section may help you with some other plant species to use.

Non - profit organizations can do this type of identification project to increase the awareness of the different trees in your area. This is also a great way to see about any possible endangered species. Consider planting a few more of some popular trees in your region and make this a community project. Horticultural students as well as Biology students can study the different varieties and learn new ways of identifying the specimens or research their changes and growth patterns. There are so many different options to do when learning about trees and their trunks. Many families have trees planted around their home, apartment, community center or neighborhood. Take the time to go around and learn about the different specimens in your area.

I am fascinated with each tree trunk having its own features. Some have many color tones and some have smooth or rough surfaces. Below are ten different trees that grow in a variety of different regions. Take a look at each one, as we took close ups of their trunks so you could see the how the appearance of each one is distinctive.

Maple

Oak

Dogwood

The first three are very popular trees throughout different regions. The Maple has many varieties and is known for its brown color tones as well as ridges in the trunk. Of course the Maple is also famous for tapping the tree and making delicious Maple syrup. The vibrant colored leaves in the fall puts the Maple in a class of its own. The Oak features black and brown tones . The Live Oak, White, Red and Willow are just a few varieties. Oaks are slow growers but they are also a great tree to observe the changes of the colors in the bark through its maturity. The Dogwood produces a mass of white or pink blossoms in the springtime. The trunk has gray, black and brown tones.

Crepe Myrtle

Eucalyptus

Cryptomeria

The Crepe Myrtle is especially popular in the southern United States. There are many different varieties and also a range of colored flowers. The Crepe Myrtle can have multi trunks and its bark is eye catching with its smooth texture. This tree is full of blossoms in the summer through the early fall. The Eucalyptus tree is famous in Australia, but will also grow in many different regions. The bark is somewhat smooth and there is actually a tint of red in the bark. The Cryptomeria represents two tones of brown and also has a distinct pattern running throughout the entire trunk. The Cryptomeria is a great evergreen and privacy tree.

Carolina Sapphire

Pine

Sweetgum

Bradford Pear

The Carolina Sapphire or Arizona Cypress has a smooth surface once the bark falls off. Notice in this photo there is some sap on the tree. The Pine is one of the most well known trees trees throughout the globe. The Pine is notorious for producing sap and is considered a soft wood. The bark of the tree is rough and has black and brown color tones. The pine is noted for its needles and providing us with an option of using pine straw, mulch or decorative stones to complete a landscape project. The Sweetgum has a distinct bark as it resembles puzzle pieces and seems to be in a set pattern. The two tone brown allows this tree to blend in with other species. The Sweetgum has its drawback with the gum balls that drop off during the fall and winter months. These gum balls can be a nuisance to walk on. The final tree is one of the first to bloom in the springtime. The Bradford Pear has gray, black and even a hint of blue in the trunk. This is a tall tree and also has a large mass of gorgeous white flowers lasting a couple of weeks. The drawback of the tree in the southern United States is when an ice storm occurs, the Bradford Pear branches become bogged down with ice and they tend to snap easily. I always recommend to client not to plant the Bradford too close to their home. The Cleveland Pear is a stronger variety.

Identifying different trees is a great activity to teach everyone about a specific tree or groups of trees that grow in your environment. Take the time to plan a field trip or do a special project to enhance not only the education of plant specimens, but to identify the beauty of each different tree trunk. I hope this page will help you in thinking about different ways you can use your natural surroundings to teach and educate people of all ages.