Common Trees of Southern Michigan.

Dan Skean, Ph.D., Professor of Biology emeritus, Albion College.

Tuesdays. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm. October 5, 12, 19, 26. In Person. Ludington Center, 101 N. Superior st. Limited to 15 participants—if you are interested in this class, be sure to read the “Policy for Limited Enrollment Classes.”

This course is an introduction to tree identification and natural history that takes a special look at the common trees of the Albion area. The course will include study of tree form, growth, and reproduction. There will be mellow campus tree ID walks and at least one meeting at the Whitehouse Nature Center, weather permitting. It is hoped that course participants will finish with (1) a greater understanding of the types of trees that occur in southern Michigan, (2) an ability to use simple identification keys successfully to identify unknown trees, and (3) a greater appreciation for tree biodiversity and economic and ecologic importance. A hand lens (jeweler’s loupe) would be a useful accessory for this course.

Optional Text: Barnes BV, Wagner, WH Jr. 2004. Michigan trees, revised and updated: a guide to the trees of the Great Lakes region. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ. Michigan Press. Available at the Albion College bookstore.