Editor's Picks
A long-standing member of the IOS and fomer editor of Oak...
Panayoti Kelaidis
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Dec 17, 2022
A new study resolves many nomenclatural problems in the...
Carlos Vila-Viçosa
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Dec 09, 2022
Christy Powell of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works...
Amy Byrne
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Dec 06, 2022
Plant Focus
A rare oak endemic to the Sierra Juárez in Oaxaca
Pathfinder: the Last Prairie Sentinel
Guy Sternberg
Published May 2016 International Oaks No. 27: 207–216
Abstract
“Trail tree” is a term used to describe trees that were purposely bent long ago as directional signs. As late as the mid-20th century, dozens of these bent trees still existed in parts of the United States. Most of the true trail trees in Illinois are now gone, but this cultural and natural heritage remains of interest to many people. Much speculative literature can be found about trail trees and how to distinguish them from trees bent by other causes. Trees that meet a series of standards can be considered likely candidates for trail-tree status. Those standards, and the story of one such tree, are presented here.
Keywords
trail tree, marker tree, pointer tree, thong tree