TREE QUIZ 1) What’s the age of the oldest tree? A) 85 years B) 145 years C) 225 years D) 315 years Correct answer: C Petroff estimates that the post oak on the north side of the Architecture Building, next to the pedestrian bridge to Campus Drive, is about 225 years old. The species grows an average of two inches in diameter per decade and was measured at 45.5 inches in April 2023. Oaks can live to be extremely old (Maryland’s famous state tree, the Wye Oak, lived to be 460), and given that this one already managed to survive the building’s construction half a century ago, could be part of campus for generations to come. - 2) Where is the tallest tree? A) McKeldin Mall B) The Armory C) Paint Branch Trail D) Morrill Quad Correct answer: A One tree next to the Edward St. John Center for Learning and Teaching towers about 105 feet tall, according to Campus Arborist Richard Jones. It was part of a batch of willow oaks planted in 1938 from the sundial down to the Main Administration building, while the rest on the upper half of the Mall were planted in 1991. - 3) Which is the most common tree? A) Pin oak B) Red maple C) Willow oak D) Winged elm Correct answer: C There are 465 willow oaks across campus (red maples are the second most common, at 447). “They’re almost the perfect tree,” said Petroff, because they provide filtered light, have leaves that blend into the lawn due to their long, thin shape, have small acorns and can tolerate compacted soil. And if they need to be replaced, a new willow oak can be planted in the shade of its compatriots and thrive, unlike other tree species. - 4) Which building has trees on its roof? A) The IDEA Factory B) The Brendan Iribe Center C) Thurgood Marshall Hall D) Yahentamitsi dining hall Correct answer: B Two Japanese maples are thriving at Andrew Reisse ’01 Park, the rooftop garden that’s dedicated to the Oculus co-founder who loved the outdoors. The small trees can thrive in limited space and soil availability, making them perfect for containers. - 5) What kinds of edible fruit do UMD trees produce? A) Apples B) Pawpaws C) Figs D) All of the above Correct answer: D Yes, they all grow here! But that doesn’t mean you can snag a snack any time you want. The apples are part of the campus orchard near Eppley Recreation Center, used by sustainable agriculture classes. (Any extras get donated to the Campus Pantry.) Figs are a yummy summer treat—if you can find them. “People get territorial,” Petroff said, who would only reveal their locations off the record. One hot tip: don’t stockpile green ones, because they don’t ripen once picked. Pawpaws, which have a custard-like texture and banana-pineapple-esque flavor, are the largest edible fruit native to the U.S. and can be found near Campus Creek and Hagerstown Woods. - 6) Which trees are most popular with wildlife? A) Maple B) Pine C) Elm D) Oak Correct answer: D Oaks are great hosts of biodiversity, primarily for insects and small mammals, which live among their leafy branches, feed off of their acorns and nibble on their roots. Small and reddish-purple serviceberries are also popular with birds. - 7) Which of these non-native trees doesn’t grow on campus? A) Redwood B) Palm C) Banana D) Yellow magnolia Correct answer: B No fronds to fan you here—but UMD does have other hot-weather varieties. A few bananas (not technically trees, actually) were planted in Tawes Plaza more than a decade ago, and they come back year after year due to the warming climate. “Bananas have been so popular with people who come here from tropical locations,” said Petroff. “They express to us that they feel welcome because they see something from their own environment. - 8) A massive, spreading sawtooth oak between Reckord Armory and the Lee Building sported a limb so big it had its own: A) Arboretum staffer B) Traditional mid-Atlantic folk song C) Space in the parking lot (correct answer) D) Two-level treehouse Correct answer: C A tall truck accidentally hit the limb about five years ago, but today, you can still see the gaping hole where it used to be, facing the curb that was extended for its protection.