Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.
Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).
What caused the spotting on this maple leaf? And for extra credit, what species of maple tree produced this leaf?
Called “tar spot,” this marking is caused by fungi in the genus Rhytisma. The spotting generally does not harm trees, and it can affect various maple species. This leaf is from a Norway maple. For more information about tar sport, check out this October 2020 This Week in the Woods entry in our archives.
This week’s contest winner was Molly Hale