SodaBoy and I were hiking a few weeks ago when I spied this sign ahead down the trail. I'm always excited to see signs labeling plants.
However, closer inspection revealed this particular sign to be an exception to my rule. This tree is decidedly
not an American beech (
Fagus grandifolia); rather it is a red maple (
Acer rubrum). It's true that young trees of both species can exhibit smooth grey bark, but any resemblance ends there. The two have many easily distinguishable features. For example, beeches have alternate ovate leaves, while maples have opposite palmate leaves. What makes this especially sad is that we were hiking in a state park. Oops.
Click
here to see my earlier foray into silly signs, inspired by Murray over at
Signs of the Times.
However, closer inspection revealed this particular sign to be an exception to my rule. This tree is decidedly not an American beech (Fagus grandifolia); rather it is a red maple (Acer rubrum). It's true that young trees of both species can exhibit smooth grey bark, but any resemblance ends there. The two have many easily distinguishable features. For example, beeches have alternate ovate leaves, while maples have opposite palmate leaves. What makes this especially sad is that we were hiking in a state park. Oops.
Click here to see my earlier foray into silly signs, inspired by Murray over at Signs of the Times.
