SOME TREES OF AN UNCOMMON NATURE 
     
    
   
   
    
     by Dan McAskill, Donagh 
     
    
   
   
    
     The concept of tree rarity is difficult to put in perspective but a few 
     
     facts may help you to understand it. Trees occupy 682,000 acres of Prince 
     
     Edward Island's land surface (48.1%) and number in excess of 2.5 billion stems. 
     
     If rarity were defined in terms of a percentage of the total population it 
     
     would be a relatively simple though time consuming process to arrive at an 
     
     estimate of the percentage present. However, the concept of rarity should 
     
     includksach factors as local abundance, site preference and growth habits, site 
     
     availability, and variable breeding levels. I have selected the following 
     
     "native" trees as uncommon based on my field experience, readings, and 
     
     conversations with other naturalists. For any species I have termed as 'Tare” 
     
     I would appreciate infbrmation on new locations for these species on Prince 
     
     Edward Island. » 
     
    

    
     Eastern hop hornbeam or ironwood (Ostrya 
     
     virginiana) is a very rare tree on P.E.I. It has 
     
     been identified at Haliburton (in west Prince), 
     
     Blooming Point, Cavendish, and is believed to 
     
     still exist at Lewes. It is normally found in the 
     
     shade of other hardwoods. Distinctive features 
     
     of this tree include a bark surface that forms 
     
     small "H" like designs and a reproductive structure' 
     
     similar to a cluster of hops. 
     
    

    
     White ash (Framinus americana) and black ash (g; nigra) are uncommon in 
     
     Prince Cbunty and rare in Queens and Kings 
     
     Counties. The stout, opposite budded, upward 
     
     reaching branches and "S" furrowed bark (some- 
     
    

    
     “ times scaley_in black ash) help to distinguish 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     the ashes from other deciduous trees in winter 
     
     and the large, opposite compound leaves 
     
     distinguish the trees in summer. The black 
     
     ash is normally found 
     
     in wooded wetlands, has 
     
     leaflets without stalks, 
     
     and has a terminal (end) 
     
     bud separated from the 
     
     last pair of lateral (side) 
     
     buds. The white ash is 
     
     normally found on moist 
     
     slopes, has leaflets with 
     
     stalks, and has no space between the terminal and 
     
     the last pair of leaflet buds. Care should be 
     
     taken when identifying these species as a number 
     
     of non—native ashes appear to be present. 
     
     In some of the wetlands of Prince County, 
     
     eastern white cedar (Thuja canadensis) is 
     
     relatively common but in the woodlands of Queens 
     
     and Kings Cbunties cedar is rare except for plantings. It has been recorded 
     
     in Brackley and in Bunbury but the latter site may be a planting. A similar 
     
     situation exists for American elm (Ulmus americana). This tree is relatively 
     
     common biwet wooded areas of Prince County but rare in Queens and Kings.