​Camphor tree - Cinnamomum camphora; bird-introduced exotic

An exotic species which was once planted as an ornamental throughout southern Louisiana and the entire Gulf Rim. Those few specimens that remain here at the park were doubtlessly distributed via native songbirds such as American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, or Brown Thrashers - all of whom love the dark, shiny fruits. Look for the glossy, evergreen leaves of the camphor tree down where the escarpment meets the floodplain forest.

​Red mulberry - Morus rubra

Very uncommon here - a situation which we find quite strange, since this species is rather widely distributed throughout southern Louisiana, particularly within bottomland hardwood habitats. The few specimens that we've located at Acadiana Park do not seem to produce female flowers/fruits. Red mulberry is an exceedingly important food source for nesting Summer Tanagers and American Robins, as well as a large segment of neotropical migrants such as the thrushes, vireos, orioles, tanagers, and others.

​Southern wax-myrtle - Myrica cerifera

Commonly present along the woodland margins of the prairie terrace. Its aromatic, evergreen foliage harbors local kinglets, gnatcatchers, and warblers during the winter months. Its small, waxy fruits are also utilized by Yellow-rumped Warblers.

​Green ash - Fraxinus pensylvanica

A fairly common floodplain forest climax species. Its pinnately compound leaves often result in tree-watchers confusing it for a sweet pecan tree. Unlike the sweet pecan, though, green ash possesses densely furrowed bark (vs. loose, scaly plates on the pecan). The "keys" (paddle-shaped fruits) of female green ash trees are eaten by Cardinals, House Finches, and others.

​Chinese privet - Ligustrum sinense; bird-introduced exotic

Like Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum), Chinese Privet is extremely abundant and widespread in distribution, often displacing native shrubs and herbaceous plants in its wake. Its saving grace, though, is twofold: it produces juicy, apparently nutritious fruits for birds and mammals, and it provides evergreen cover for animals during winter months.

​American sycamore - Platanus occidentalis

A huge, climax-type denizen of the floodplain forest. As with water oak (Quercus nigra), American sycamore has a propensity to hollow out at fairly young ages; thus providing valuable shelter for birds and mammals. Its small seeds are contained in spherical, modified cones - similar to those of the sweet gum (Liquidambar styriciflua).

​Green hawthorn - Crataegus viridis

Quite common along woodland edges, fence lines, and hedgerows within the bottomland hardwood areas throughout southern Louisiana. It can be identified by its small size (ca. 12-20'), thorny branches, and pale, exfoliating bark. As with all hawthorn species, green haw provides valuable winter food for American Robins and other thrushes.

​Mexican plum - Prunus mexicana

It is a tree ranging from 15-35 ft. tall with fragrant white to pale pink flowers. The trunk turns blue-gray with dark horizontal striations as they mature. The leaves are green, simple ovate. The purple plums ripen from July to September. The fruit can be consumed fresh and made into preserves. Birds and mammals also eat the fruit.

​Chickasaw rose - Rosa bracteata; bird-introduced exotic

It is a perennial evergreen that was introduced from Asia. It is a shrub growing up to 10 feet in height or length. The 1-3 inch leaves are alternate and pinnately compound with toothed margins. The flowers are white with 5-petals and have yellow anthers in the center. The fruit is red once ripened. It spreads by animal-dispersed seeds. It grows in disturbed areas and prefers clay enriched soil. It can spread in the understories of forests.

​Dewberry - Rubus sp.; species undetermined

It is a semi-evergreen vine that has palmately compound leaves. The flowers are white and bloom between March and April. The edible fruit looks like a blackberry and produces in spring to early summer. The flowers and fruit attract insects, birds, and mammals.

​Button bush - Cephalanthus occidentalis

It is a native deciduous shrub that ranges from 5 to 12 feet in height. The leaves are ovate to elliptical and glossy bright green emerging in spring. The flowers are white and fragrant and it blooms in June. It attracts butterflies and bees. It grows in moist soils in full sun to part shade. Preferred habitat includes wet open areas, low woods, thickets, swamps, ponds, and river bottomland.

​Cottonwood — Populus deltoides

It is a large deciduous tree that grows 50–80 feet tall. It is native and grows along rivers, lowland areas, and swamps. Flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves sprout. Male flowers are red and female flowers contain densely-tufted seeds with white hairs. Bark is ridged and dark gray. The leaves are dark green, triangular, acuminate, and coarsely toothed.

​Two-winged silverbell — Halesia diptera; one individual, introduced; mode undetermined

​Winged elm - Ulmus alata

It is a small to medium tree found in southeastern US. The leaves are alternate, simple, and narrowly ovate. The flowers are small, reddish, and bloom in March to April. The fruit appears from April to May. The bark is red-brown to gray with flat-topped ridges.

​American Beautyberry — Callicarpa americana; aka "French Mulberry"

It is a native shrub and grows 3–9 ft. tall. The branches are long and the leaves are yellow-green in the fall. It produces clusters of glossy, purple fruit in the fall and winter. The bark is light or reddish brown, smooth, with raised corky lenticels. The leaves occur in pairs or in threes, ovate to elliptic, and pointed or blunt at the tip. Flowers are in dense clusters and are small and pink. The fruit is pink or purple, berrylike, and remain after the leaves have fallen. The seeds and berries are eaten by birds and deer.