Kevin Tran Street Tree Observation

I observed 5 species of street trees, and was able to utilize A California's Guide to the Trees Among Us to key out and confidently identify only two tree species, the Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis) and Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia). I tried keying out another species, and was led to Chinese Elm, but I am not positive. The last identifier in the key stated that "leaves <3/4 in. wide; bark shedding in small plates, with orange patches" (Ritter, xxxv), which was true except for the leaves having a greater than 3/4 in. width.
One other tree species is likely of the Zekova genus, and another might be Zekova serrata, though it looks a bit different in other photos. Unexpectedly, I wasn't able to identify all of the trees that I observed during my trip to Cardoza Park, a neighborhood park.

1. All of the street trees had smooth leaves and very little hair, but the plant inclined to be Zekova serrata (Chinese Elm), had the broadest leaf, with a smooth underside, so that would be the best choice for toilet paper.
2. Street trees add oxygen into the atmosphere, serve as carbon sinks, lift people's moods, and aesthetic to modern age of concrete, brick, and glass. I'd say we come from nature, and often times there is a need to return to it. As long as the introduced species do not have the potential to become invasive, i find the diversity of trees interesting and relaxing, a betterment to people's lives.
3. Street trees come as aesthetic enjoyment, and also as mood relievers. They serve as a helpful reminder to appreciate the natural world a little more, and both the simple and the intricate complexities of life. Plants have simple needs yet are deeply complex. A great danger towards introduced species is the potential to become invasive, or harbor harmful organisms that may have come as stowaways if the plant was imported when young. As long as the tree is able to thrive in an urban community, that is, under human maintenance and care, and not have the ability to mass reproduce, they are great additions.

Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42776713
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42781316
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42781317
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42781318
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42781330

Posted on April 21, 2020 08:09 PM by kevint1206