Hydrocarbon emissions from twelve urban shade trees of the Los Angeles, California, air basin

In anticipation of large-scale tree planting projects in Los Angeles to combat the urban heat island effect and reduce energy use, the authors investigated the hydrocarbon emissions of 12 potential shade trees. The emission rates per unit biomass ranged from 0 (crape myrtle; Lagerstroemia indica) to 49 (carrotwood; Cupaniopsis anacardioides).