Tree Identification
Purpose
The purpose of this charity organization is to provide a comprehensive guide to beginners that then becomes a historic resource manual for generations to come. We aim to provide a resource and tool that can be used for unlimited generations to come and as a way for family to learn something useful together that doesn’t involve a social media account.
Objectives
Now without futher delay, with this instruction we introduce the student to some of the plant features used to identify trees. Selected common trees are included with drawings and descriptions.
- Learn to look at plants both close up and at a distance when trying to identify them.
- Become familiar with seasonal characteristics of trees that may help in identification.
- Learn to use every tool available for identification including the senses of touch and smell.
Accurate identification of trees requires a combination of knowledge and experience.
It is important to learn a number of plant characteristics that are used to distinguish one tree from another.
Size, habit, texture and color all help to identify plants.
Practice and repeated exposure help one become proficient at identification.
Many trees can be identified from a distance by their form and habit. For example, the American Elm, with,its vase-shaped form and over-arching
limbs, is hard to mistake for other species. An upright or conical form might be an identifying feature of certain other trees. The upper branches
of pin oak are upright, while the lower branches droop to the ground, giving it a rather unique form, easy to identify. Some trees, like flowering dogwood, have a horizontal branching habit. This gives the tree a delicate, layered appearance.
Another identification tool is the bark of the tree.
Bark varies a lot among tree species. White birch is famous for its white peeling bark.
Sycamores are also known for their peeling bark, gray in color, which exposes a very light inner bark.
Ash trees have a uniformly furrowed bark, while the furrows on cottonwood are deep and corky. American beech has a smooth,
shiny gray bark. Sometimes in the forest, the bark is tho only part of the tree that can be seen.
Knowledge of bark characteristics can be very useful to a tree service worker as well as to a
forester.
The smaller branches and twigs can also be useful in tree identification. Some twigs have “wings” or ridges. Others have characteristic thorns or spurs.
The lenticels that dotthe surface of twigs can be very characteristic of
certain plants. Even the type and color of the pith in the center of the twigs can help to identify trees.
[Example-1.1] The bark of the European white birch
is easily identifiable.
[Example-1.2] The bark of the London planetree flakes
off exposing the buff-colored new bark.
The buds, though relatively small, may be the
single most important identification tool, as they
are available year-round even when leaves are not present. Students can learn to identify many different tree species by learning dormant bud
characteristics. Buds can be scaled or valvate,
opposite or alternate, single or clustered. They
come in various colors and sizes. As buds swell
and break in the swing, however, they are difficult
to use in identification.
Foliage is the part of the tree most commonly used in identification. Leaves are very characteristic in shape, color, texture, and
arrangement. The lobes, margins and general
morphology (shape) can be described in detail to
help identify plants. Fall color can also be useful in
identifying trees from a distance.
Other parts of the tree are also used in
identification. Flowers, though present for a short
time, are often very helpful in identifying species.
The different characteristics of fruits, nuts and
seeds are also used. Cones are important in identifying conifers.
[Example-2.2: The bark of the London planetree flakes
off exposing the buff-colored new bark.]
[Example-2.3: Native honeylocust with thorns that
grow up to one foot in length]
Sometimes tree identification can be confirmed
using other senses besides sight. Certain trees
have characteristic odors to their twigs, leaves,
flowers or fruit. The texture of leaves can be felt
between the fingers. Some people can even distinguish the characteristic sound of a snapping twig. Of course taste can be characteristic in edible plant parts, but making taste tests is not
recommended for identification.
Plant Nomenclature
Scientific nomenclature (naming) is based on taxonomy. Taxonomy is the system of classification of all living organisms. The first classification level, kingdom, divides plants from animals. The following list shows how each level of classification is subdivided.
Sugar Maple is used as an example.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Kingdom = Plantee
Phylum (Division) = Spermatophyte
Subdivision = Angiospermae
Class = Dicotyledoneae
Order = Sapindales
Family = Aceraceae
Genus = Acer
Species = saccharum
Using common names of trees can be
confusing since names vary from region to region.
However, every plant has a scientific name (in
Latin) that is the same throughout the world. Using
the scientific name eliminates the confusion in
plant names.
The scientific name of an organism has two
parts. The first, which is capitalized, is the genus. Plants in the same genus are closely related and show similar characteristics.
Maples, for example, are all in the genus Acer. The second part, the
specific epithet, identifies the species and is not capitalized. The scientific name of sugar maple, for example, is Acer saccharum.
Some species are further divided into
genetically unique plants or clones. There may be
varieties or cultivars of some plants.
Variety names are added to species names and are not
capitalized, e.g., Gleditsia triacanthos inermis, the
complete name for thornless honeylocust.
They may be preceded by the abbreviation var. Cultivar
names are capitalized and enclosed in single quotation marks; for example, Acer saccharum ‘Red Sunset is Red Sunset red maple.
Descriptions of some of the more common North American trees have been included in this manual.
In the next few pages they are discussed
in alphabetical order by common name since readers may not be familiar with scientific nomenclature.
A final note about choosing appropriate trees
for the landscape. It is important to consider all the
characteristics of a plant bore planting.
\Size,hardiness, messy fruit all might be limitations of certain plants in certain sites.
Also check for the plant’s sensitivity to salt, pollution, discarAts and
pests. Notes on limitations and olJstandingcharacteristics are irttde in of thefollowing plant descriptions.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME COMMON NORTH AMERICAN TREES
ASH
BLUE ASH (Fraxinus quadrangulata)
Leaves: opposite, pinnately compound with 5-11
leaflets, dull green in summer, yellow in fall
Stem: yellow-brown, stout, four-sided with corky
winged ridges
Buds: tan, pubescent
Size and form: 50-75 feet at maturity; irregular habit
Flowers: panicles appearing with the leaves in
spring; not ornamentally important.
Fruit: tan-colored samaras ripening in midsummer,Fruit: tan-colored samaras ripening in midsummer,
persisting through winter
Comments: tolerant of dry alkaline soils
GREEN ASH (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Leaves: opposite, pinnately compound with 5-9
leaflets; dark green and pubescent underneath
Stem: twig pale brown and stout with conspicuous
lenticels; large leaf scars
Buds: dark brown, set above leaf scar
Slze and form: 50-70 feet with upright, spreading
habit
Flowers: dioecious, purple panicles, blooming
before the leaves emerge
Fruit: tan samaras ripening in late summer,
persisting
Comments: very adaptable in difficult urban areas;
attractive yellow fall color
borers a problem; ‘Marshall’s Seedless’ male,
WHITE ASH – Fraxinus americana
Leaves: opposite, pinnately compound with 5-9leaflets; rich green in spring :Ind summer, golden
to purple in fall
Stem: stout, grayish, with U-shaped leaf scars
Buds: dark brown, inset in leaf scar
Size and form: 60-100 feet; open, ovoid habit
Flowers: dioecious, panicles, not ornamentally
important
Fruit: tan samaras ripening in midsummer,
persisting
BEECH
AMERICAN BEECH – Fagus grandifolia
Leaves: alternate, dark glossy green; when dry,
persisting through winter
Stem: slender gray twigs with zigzag habit
Buds: brown, long, slender and pointed
Size and form: 60-90 feet; dense with wide spread
Flowery male and female separate on same tree; bloom.. atter leaves emerge
Fruit: nut in prickly husk, Yr 1 inch; ripening in fall
EUROPEAN BEECH – Fagus sylvatica
Leaves: alternate, dark and glossy with wavy margin
Stem: olive-brown twigs
Buds: long, slender, brown
Size Elr form: 50-60 feet, upright, irregular habit;
branches growing down trunk to the ground
Flowers: monoecious; blooming after leaves
emerge; ornamentally unimportant
Fruit: nut in husk; ripening in fall
Comments: vi excellent specimen tree; lovely cultivars available
BIRCH
EUROPEAN WHITE BIRCH – Betula pendula
Leaves: alternate, dark glossy green, doubleserrate
and pointed; yellow-green in fall
Stem: twigs thin and smooth, brown to gray
Buds: brownish, curved, with striped appearance
Size and form: 50-75 feet; pyramidal habit opening up with age; pendulous branches
Flowers: long catkins
Fruit: tiny nutlets
Comments: bronze birch borer can be a serious
pest; also leaf miner and chlorosis in some areas
RIVER BIRCH Betula nigra
Leaves: alternate, double serrate, glossy green and whitish beneath; golden yellow in fall
Stem: red-brown, slender twigs, conspicuous
lenticels
Buds: light brown, stalked and very small
Size and form: 50-75 feet, pyramidal in youth, rounded at maturity
Flowers: monoecious catkins 2-3 inches long
Fruit: small nutlet
Comments: quite city-tolerant; attractive
BUCKEYE
OHIO BUCKEYE – Aesculus glabra
Leaves: opposite, palmately compound with five
leaflets; orange-red in fall
Stem: stout, light brown; disagreeable odor when
damaged
Buds: large, papery, brown, 1/2-3/4 inch long
Size and form: 30-50 feet; rounded form
Flowers: perfect; upright panicles, yellow-white; blooming in mid-May
Fruit: _ glossy nut enclosed in prickly husk; poisonous
Comments: grows well in more natural areas
CATALPA
NORTHERN CATALPA – Catalpa speciosa
Leaves: opposite to whorled, large, heart-shaped,
smooth above, pubescent below; yellow-green insummer, yellowish in fall
Stem: stout, yellow-brown; large leaf scars
Buds: smail and brown; terminal bud absent
Slze and form: 75-100 feet; open and irregular crown
Flowers: large, whirs clusters blooming in June;
monoecious
Fruit: brown cigar-like capsule 10-20 inches long
CHERRY
BLACK CHERRY – Prunus serotina
Leaves: alternate, glabrous green; yellow to
orange in fall
Stem: slender, red-brown twigs
Buds: 1/8 inch, red-brown
Size and form: 50-60 feet; ovoid habit
Flowers: white racemes 4-6 inches long, pendulous,
blooming in May
Fruit: 1/4 to 1/2 inch drupe, red, turning black
Comments: high value of fruit for wildlife and for use
in jelly-making; pests – fall webworm and borers;
interesting platy bark
COTTONWOOD
EASTERN COTTONWOOD – Populus deltoides
Leaves: 3-5 inches, alternate, deltoid-ovate, with
curved teeth; bright green in summer, yellow in fall
Stem: stout, gray to yellowish
Buds: large, 3/4 inch long, yellow-brown andpointed, resinous
Size and form: 75-100 feet; pyramidal in youth, opening with age
Flowers: dioecious, pendulous catkins 3 inches long
Fruit: clustered, drooping capsules which split to
release cottony seeds
Comments: a very messy, weak-wooded tree; tolerant of harsh conditions.
CRABAPPLE
CRABAPPLE – Malus spp.
Leaves: simple, usually glabrous, alternate; sumr ,er color variation from yellow-green to
green and red-green; fall color also variable
Stern: twigs slender, brown to gray, with spurs
Buds: small and blunt, red to brown
Size and form: extremely variable in size and form
depending on species and cultivar; 8-50 feet
Flowers: pink to white, blooming before or with foliage in spring
Fruit: pome 2 inches in diameter or less; color variation from yellow through red to dark purple
Comments: hundreds of crabapple cultivars vary in size, flower, fruit, form and susceptibility to insects and disease; tolerant of many soil types; disease problems – apple scab, fireblight and rust; crabapples widely used as street trees
DOGWOOD
FLOWERING DOGWOOD – Cornus florida
Leaves: opposite, elliptical, with parallel venation; orange to deep red in fall
Stem: slender twigs .2,iith horizontal branching, green to red
Buds: growing upright on twigs; flower buds biscuit-shaped, gray
Slze and form: 20-40 feet; flat-topped at maturity
Flowers: very small yellow flowers surrounded by four large white bracts 2 inches in diameter, blooming before the leaves
Fruit: glossy red drupe
Comments: grows best in moist, well-drained soil with some shade, low pH; borers can be a problem; outer bracts often freeze before flowering in colder climates
ELM
AMERICAN ELM – Ulmus americana
Leaves: 3-6 inches long, alternate, double serrate,
rough-textured; fall color golden-yellow
Stem: slender, red-brown twig; zigzag habit
Buds: 1/8 inch long, brown, adpressed to stem;
terminal assent
Size and form: 75-100 feet; vase-shaped habit; long
overarching branches’, spread often larger than
height
Flowers: polygamo-dioecious; small red-brown
clusters blooming in March
Fruit: 1/2 inch, tan samara ripening in May, June
Comments: a grand tree, but devastated by Dutch elm disease; some efforts to protect great, historic specimen trees from the disease have been successful; also affected by many other pests and diseases.
GINKGO
GINKGO – Ginkgo biloba
Leaves: 2-3 inches, alternate, fan-shaped; yellow in
fall
Stem: stout, tan to grayish, bark peels away in
strings
Buds: mounded and brown, often on a spur
Size and form: 60-80 feet; highly variable in form
Flowers: dioecious, not ornamentally important
Fruit: naked seed, orange-brown, 1 inch in
diameter; very strong, undesirable odor
Comments: quite pest-free; habit rather irregular; only males should be planted because of malodorous fruit borne on female trees