Tree Idenitification

We're starting the Outdoor Hour Nature Challenge. The first week, we're to look for a couple of things to research and identify. We found a tree - the only one in our yard that's never been identified - and a mossy ground cover.

The tree is going to be difficult now. I looked up winter twig identification, but the twig is budding and you're not supposed to use new shoots, which is what the twigs are. But the buds aren't opened to leaves that can be identified. So I guess we're at a dead end until the leaves fully sprout. This is the tree we'll be watching come spring - the dead leaves under it, the trunk, and a budding twig. It has long pods with black flat seeds, my son says. It could be honey locust. Or some kind of willow. Or not.





And here's the other thing we're going to identify. It's from a patch of almost flourescent green mossy ground cover. This is one tiny plant pulled from the patch. It's less than an inch long, roots and all.



I'm guessing it's climacium, a moss that can be a ground-cover. Look at this picture - it looks very much like our specimen.