All Bark and No Bite     Tree bark is really amazing stuff.  Consisting of several types of cells, including cork, bark serves to protect the tree from physical injury, water loss, diseases, and insect and animal pests.  Generally initiated during the first year's growth, an additional layer is formed each year for the life of the plant.  Although some trees shed (exfoliate) their bark regularly, most retain several years growth and the bark appears quite thick.  Patterns formed by bark are often very unique and distinctive, and as a result, some trees can be readily identified by their bark.  Some unusual products have been developed that are related to tree bark.  Following are photographs showing bark detail of several trees in Hays or on the Fort Hays State University campus.  See if you can identify any of the trees from their bark after looking at these illustrations.
                          Platanus occidentalis                        Gleditsia triacanthos                     Broussonetia papyrifera
                     Sycamore                                            Honey locust                                   Paper mulberry
                           Fraxinus pennsylvanica                      Ulmus americana                             Pinus nigra
                      Green ash                                              American elm                                    Austrian pine
 
                                                                                             Copyright 1998 Joseph R. Thomasson All Rights Reserved