1. Pines. Two kinds of pine trees can be seen along the fence.

Monterey pine (Pinus radiata). The Monterey pine is common in California. It grows to about 100 feet. Its branches point upward and it has a round top. The bright green needles occur in clusters of three and are 2-4 inches long with a blunt tip. Cones are 3-5 inches long. The dark grey to brown bark is quite fissured. The Monterey pine in California is seriously threatened by an introduced fungal disease called pine pitch canker.

Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) . This pine comes originally from the Mediterranean area, but is often planted in California because of its heat and drought tolerance is valued. This small to medium-size tree will grow to 70 feet. The bark is orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, and thin and flaky in the upper crown. The very slender needles occur in pairs and are 2-3 inches long. Although the cones open over several years, they will open quickly after a forest fire.

2. Pine cones. Pine trees and other conifers do not have flowers or fruits. Their seeds are contained in cones, and the cones are male or female. The one that we normally think of as a “cone” is the female cone that produces the seeds. The female cone are very helpful for identifying the species of conifers. Female cones contain the ovules, which when fertilized with the pollen, become the seeds.

   The pollen comes from the smaller male cones. After fertilization, most pine seeds mature in 18-24 months. Younger cones are green in color and become brown in the second year. When the cones mature and dry out, seeds are released.

   Male and female cones are found on the same tree. Female cones are usually closer to the top and grown as individuals. Male cones sometimes grow as clusters. Also male cones grow at the base of a branch, and female cones grow at the tip.

2. Poplar (Populus sp.)

Poplars are deciduous trees and lose their leaves in the fall. The broad leaves indicate that this is not a native California tree. Poplar is a fairly soft, but good quality wood that is used in furniture makiing and sometimes in flooring.

3. Evergreen ash and it roots along the ground.

 (Fraxinus sp.). Ashes are mostly deciduous trees, but a some specifics such as this tree retain their leaves all year. This specific tree is very old and particular large. Most ashes have excellent fine-grained lumber. The common name "ash" is taken from the Old English word æsc, which referred to a spears that were made of ash wood.

Tree roots. Visible on the ground below are roots running in every direction. Tree roots cover a lot of area. The roots of Southern magnolias spread out nearly four times the diameter of the leaf crown. On average, tree roots spread about three times further than the dripline (a line enclosing all of the branches). In other words, a tree with a 10-foot spread of branches would have a root area 30 feet in diameter. Every tree species has its own type of root system. Some oaks frequently develop tap roots; maples often do not. The arrangement of roots for any specific tree, however, will be determined by a variety of factors, such as the type and compaction of the soil and availability of water.

4. Pistachio (Pistacia vera). The pistachio is a small tree originally from central and southwestern Asia. It has deciduous pinnate leaves. Like the almond, its fruit is a not a true nut, but certainly looks like one. The “nuts” come in a whitish shell and have a light green color and a characteristic flavor. The tree here is technically not on the campus, but it’s just too good to pass up as a natural feature.

5. Hackberry (Celtis sp.)

This medium-size deciduous tree has pointed and serrated leaves that are 1-5 inches long. The fruit is a small drupe (cherry-like) fruit that is dry, but sweet. But remember: Do not eat anything that you find outside.

6. Coast oak and arborvitae.

Coast oak (Querqus agrifolia). (right) Several trees can be seen along the fenceline. This California native, evergreen tree has a short stout trunk and many crooked branches. It grows to a height of about 80 feet. The acorns have a thin egg shape and are an inch or so long and were preferred by the local Native Americans. They  removed the shells and ground the nut into meal. Then they washed them to remove their bitter taste and boiled or baked them for food.

Arborvitae (Thuja orientalis). Arborvitae is a common ornamental. It is a member of the cypress family. It has small (1/2 inch) cones at the ends of short twigs. The leaves this family are a rich source of vitamin C and were used by Native Americans and early explorers to prevent scurvy, a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C.