Kentucky coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus), along a trail in Clegg Garden. The bark of Kentucky coffee-tree has bark that curls outward with a sharp edge. Touch the bark to learn how it feels. The vines climbing up the side of this tree are old dead poison-ivy vines that have rotted away on the inside. They are recognizable by the aerial rootlets (the fuzzy things attaching to the tree trunk) which is characteristic of poison-ivy.
Looking up at this
Kentucky coffee-tree, a few of the characteristic seed-pods are
visible. Also notice that the winter twigs are quite thick compared
to other trees of the forest. This is due to the fact the leaves
that fall off in autumn are very big as they are doubly-compound. As
you drive around the countryside in the winter, you can spot from a
great distance where the groves of Kentucky coffee-trees are from the
look of the big seed pods high in the tops of the trees.
Photos taken Feb. 13, 2015.
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