Urbana University is filled with biodiversity!

Our class had the privilege to participate in a campus tour at Urbana University. I was so surprised to know that our campus is filled with so many different types of trees. On our campus I would estimate that we have over 1,000 different types of plants all living to create a biodiverse environment.

            Urbana University is a biodiverse campus in the deciduous forest ecosystem. This ecosystem is rich in plant life. The soil is rich and nutrient which allows many different types of plants to grow, develop and change. This will create a rich life history for each of the plants in this environment.

            Dr. TingTing Cai, a Professor of Botany Sciences at Urbana University led our entire class on a campus tour exposing us to each of the different trees as well as their features and quick and easy ways to make each of the trees identifiable.

            One of the plants that we first discussed was the Elm tree. Professor Cai expressed that you can identify these trees through their features. Elm trees have toothed leaves, they are leathery feeling and “tough”. This particular Elm tree was definitely being eaten by bugs as it showed major symptoms. This type of tree has alternate leaf buds.

            Another of the plants we discussed was the Sycamore tree. This tree has peeling bark in the upper part of the tree trunk and branches. It has very large leaves and the significant identifiable difference to determine that it is a Sycamore and not a Maple is the hollow leaf stem.

            The third tree we were exposed to was the Black Gum tree. This tree’s main identifiable feature is the horizontal branches. It has very smooth leaves and they turn red very early. The tree on the Urbana University campus doesn’t seem to thrive in the environment and isn’t very healthy.

            Another tree we were exposed to on campus was the Green Vase tree. This tree has small upgrowing branches that grow to resemble the shape of a vase. This tree is particularly interesting to myself because of the way the branches grow to actually resemble a vase.

            Lastly, I would like to discuss the Copper Beech Tree. The Copper Beech tree on campus has a very smooth trunk as well as smooth leaves. It is a very good shade tree, and has resembling features of an elephant. It resembles a coppery color and the branches are spread out in multiple different directions.

            This campus is full of different life including Pine Trees, Shag Bark Oaks (with pealing bark) Sweet Gum, Honey Suckle, Tulip Trees, Red Buds (which bloom before gaining leaves) as well as Maples and Cherry trees. The rich biodiversity of this campus allows for the ecosystem to thrive.

            This campus tour was very informative and allowed myself as well as the other students to learn about the trees that we walk by each and everyday on the Urbana University Campus and I thank Professor Cai for exposing myself to this environment.