Three trees in winter

One way to identify a tree during winter is to look up.  Sometimes there will be dried seed capsules still hanging from the otherwise bare branches.  Here’s another tree in winter:

And here’s a third tree:

It’s still difficult to tell these trees apart so let’s look at some lower branches which are closer to us.  The first tree:

And the second tree:

Now let’s look at the first tree’s seed capsule.

Ah yes, this is a Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis).  Its upper branches are white.

Shreds of bark peel away lower down a Sycamore’s trunk.

Returning to the second tree, here are the remains of two seed capsules.

These seed capsules belong to a Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera).

Yellow poplar’s light gray bark remains relatively smooth and even.

Let’s look at the third tree again.  Sometimes the best way to get close to a seed capsule is to look on the ground for fallen ones.

These seed capsules grow on a Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua).

Sweetgum’s bark is evenly ridged.