Mason Heberling

 
Around 25-30 million cut trees are sold each year in the United States for the holidays. The popularity of certain species for this use has changed through time.  Many different evergreen conifer species are cultivated in the US for decorative use during the holidays.  Needle length, softness, retention, color, and even scent vary by species or variety. Similarly, branching characteristics and branch strength differs by species. Plus, some species grow faster and easier than others, which means some species are cheaper.
 
This specimen of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) was collected in Philadelphia at the Thomas Meehan & Sons Nursery.  The person who collected this specimen and the date of collection are unknown.  Thomas Meehan immigrated to the United States from England in 1848 and started a landscaping business.  With his three sons, he started the Thomas Meehan & Sons Nursuries in 1896.  The nursery was unique in that it specialized in native trees and shrubs, unlike most nurseries that focused on European and Asian varieties (still very common today).  The nursery closed in 1916.
 
Fraser fir is currently one of the most popular Christmas trees.  It is known for its dark green color, soft needles, stiff branches (great for hanging heavy ornaments), and has good needle retention.  Unfortunately, native to the Southern Appalachians, Fraser fir isn’t the easiest to grow in Pennsylvania.
 
Before farms began cultivating trees for that purpose in the early 20th century, people just went to the woods to cut down their tree for the holidays.   Some of the earliest Christmas tree farms in the US started in Indiana County, PA as early as 1918.  Many farms in the region turned their fields into Christmas tree farms as it became profitable. By 1960, more than 1 million trees were harvested per year in Indiana County alone.  The harvest in Pennsylvania has declined for several reasons, including increased popularity of artificial trees and consumer interest in Frasier fir trees (grows slower in PA than farms in North Carolina).  However, Pennsylvania is still among the top five states in terms of both number of working Christmas tree farms and trees harvested. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 31,577 acres in Pennsylvania are used as Christmas tree plantations. Many of the Christmas tree lots in southwestern PA get their trees from farms in Indiana county.
 
This specimen image is now online and publicly available here:
http://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=11736894&clid=0
 

This poinsettia specimen was collected on December 20, 1990 by Sue Thompson from a potted plant in Pittsburgh.  Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are native to Mexico, but now widely cultivated. 
 
Look closely at the colorful “flowers” of poinsettia.  Upon close inspection, you’ll notice that those bright red or white (or otherwise colorful) structures are not flower petals, but specialized leaves called “bracts.”  The actual flowers are yellow and quite tiny.  The brightly colored bracts function to attract pollinators to the flowers.
 
Poinsettias are an excellent example of a “short-day” plant. (Or, more accurately, a “long-night” plant).  That means that as the length of darkness at night increases, a complex process begins that signals flowering and the production of pigments in the bracts. 
 
Poinsettias are woody perennials –  meaning you don’t need to throw them away after the holidays!  However, to flower again for next season, it takes some effort. They must experience days with less than 12 hours of daylight for 8-10 weeks straight.  That means you must provide the plant with 13-16 hours of complete darkness (uninterrupted!) in order for it to flower for December.  This may take some commitment to remember to put it in a dark closet each day, but well worth the effort.  Or just enjoy the green foliage year after as it grows larger.

 
This specimen image is now publicly available online: http://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=12144209&clid=0
 

Are you decking your halls with boughs of holly? Probably not holly from 178 years ago!

​This holly specimen (Ilex aquifolium) was collected in 1840 in England.  I think the label says it was collected by “Prof. Sager,” but it is hard to read!
 
How did it end up at the Carnegie Museum herbarium?  This specimen was part of the private herbarium of Jacob Wolle, who was the grandfather of William J. Holland, one of the first directors of the Carnegie Museum (from 1901-1922). The CM herbarium has 2,514 specimens from Wolle’s collection, dating as far back as 1819! 
 
 
Find this specimen online: http://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=12131603&clid=0
 
 
Also, find nearly 400 other holly specimens collected in Pennsylvania, just digitized and now online! http://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/list.php?db=328&hasimages=1&taxa=Ilex&usethes=1&taxontype=2
 

​When in candy cane form, it is easy to forget where the flavor came from.  Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is actually a hybrid between two other mint species, water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata).  It is commonly grown for food or medicinal herb in gardens.  It is also well known to escape garden settings and spread aggressively.  Like other mints, this species is in the plant family Lamiaceae, which includes many strongly scented kitchen herbs.  Members of the mint family are well recognized by their unique flowers and characteristically square stems.
 
This peppermint specimen was collected on August 29, 1965 by Norman R. Farnsworth in an open field at Ranalli’s Drive-In, eight miles north of Etna off Route 8, outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
 
Farnsworth (1930-2011) received his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, where he researched medicinal plants.  He was an influential professor and researcher in the field of pharmacognosy (study of medicinal drugs derived from plants).  He was a founding member of the American Society of Pharmacognosy.
 
The Carnegie Museum herbarium includes 1,108 specimens collected by Farnsworth.  Each specimen is quickly recognizable, with an envelope attached to each sheet that includes a standard typed description of the results of chemical screenings he did on the specimen.

Hopefully you have some peppermint that is fresher than than this for your recipes this year!