Recommended Urban Trees: A Cornell Campus Walk - Horticulture ...

descends. At White Hall, take the diagonal path
that crosses the quad. Just after the fire hydrant
on your left, look on your right for shingle oak
(Quercus imbricaria, 24), a pyramid-shaped,
wide-spreading tree with long, unlobed, strapshaped
leaves. Both the common name and the
specific epithet imbricaria (“overlapping”) refer
to the use of the wood for shingles, a practice
begun by pioneers. Shingle oak is a medium to
large tree that does well on sites where it has
ample room for its wide-spreading lower
branches. It can tolerate drought, and pH up to
7.5. Its leaves persist through winter, functioning
as a windbreak.
Continue along the diagonal path into the oak grove, one of the most beautiful
spots on campus and a great place to pause and take a rest. The grove includes
a mixture of mature black, white, and red oaks, with a few hickories sprinkled
in. Leaving the oak grove, take a right onto the zelkova-lined sidewalk
(Zelkova serrata, 25) running north-south. Zelkova is drought, salt, and pH
tolerant, and has a beautiful vase shape reminiscient of the American elms.
However, it has one major flaw. Notice how narrow the branch angles are;
splitting and crotch cankers result. If you look into the trees, you will see
cables running from trunk to trunk to prevent further splitting.
(25) Zelkova serrata,
Japanese Zelkova
At the “Goldwin Smith Hall” lettering,
turn right and head down the diagonal
sidewalk toward the clock tower. A few
paces past the clock tower, turn left.
Lining the left side of the sidewalk are
flowering cherry (Prunus ‘Accolade,’ 26)
interplanted with elms. Members of the
problematic Rose family, many flowering
cherries tend to be riddled with insect and
disease problems, and they are often
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(24) Quercus imbricaria,
Shingle Oak