Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Lemoine, John [1], Baghai-Riding, Nina [2].

Public Trees of Cleveland, Mississippi-with Emphasis on Delta State University.

Prior to human development, bottomland hardwood forests prevailed along broad floodplains within the lower Mississippi alluvial valley. Dominant taxa include Taxodium distichum (bald cypress), Quercus (assorted oaks), Carya (various hickories), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)and Nyssa (gum). Much of this forested area, however, has been cleared and used for agricultural purposes or urban development. With human development and occupations came introductions of invasive and ornamental plants. In this study, the numbers of woody plant species (trees and shrubs) occurring on the Delta State University (DSU) campus were enumerated and compared to species growing in local city parks within the city limits of Cleveland, Mississippi. A GIS map documenting an example of each species was assembled. Leaf, bark, bud, flower, fruit, and tree form characteristics were compiled using Filemaker Pro. This information will be provided to local K-12 classrooms, Boy Scouts, local Tree Board members, and DSU students who want to locate and identify specific examples of trees.
     At present, 38 families, 56 genera, and 84 species have been noted on the DSU campus. Forty-five percent of the species are native including, Catalpa bignonioides, Quercus nigra, Quercus phellos, Betula nigra, Platanus occidentalis, Ulmus rubra, Liquidambar styraciflua and Taxodium distichum. Several native species established at local city parks including Acer negundo, Populus deltoides, Carya aquatica, Sabal minor, and Carya ovata, were not observed at DSU. The majority of species growing on the DSU campus are ornamental (48 %), such as Ginkgo biloba, Hibiscus syriacus, and Acer palmatum or invasive (7%), such as Triadica sebifera, Albizia julibrissin, Ligustrum sinense, and Melia azedarach. Due to the high number of exotic and invasive tree species, efforts to plant more native trees on campus are being encouraged. This will also promote students to learn about more native flora that are representative of bottomland hardwood forests.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Delta State University, Division of Biological and Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 3262, Cleveland, MS, 38733, USA
2 - Delta State University, Division of Biological & Physical Sciences, Cleveland, Mississippi, 38733, USA

Keywords:
Mississippi
Delta
Bottomland hardwood forest
trees
native species
ornamental species
education.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P
Location: Hall A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT001
Abstract ID:1100