Tree Identification
- 2. Forested The definition of forested (land that is forested or has trees growing on it): to be classified as forested (forestland) the area must be at least one acre and contain at least 10% tree cover . Project Learning Tree
- 3. How Big is an Acre? An acre is 43,560 square feet or a square 208.7 feet wide by 208.7 feet long
- 4. Question What percent (0-100) of New York State was forested in 1880 _________ percent 1946 _________ percent 1996 _________ percent
- 5. Dendrology ‘ Dendro-’ from the Greek word meaning tree ‘ -ology’ meaning the study of Dendrology is the study of trees and includes taxonomy, identification, silivical characteristics, ranges, morphology, and ecology
- 6. Vocabulary Taxonomy is the study of the classification of living things. Morphology is the study of the shape, general appearance, or form of an organism. Silviculture is the care and cultivation of forest trees. Ecology is the study of the relationships between living and non-living things and their environment.
- 8. What makes a tree a tree? Heights at least 4.5 meters (about 15 feet) Single dominant woody stem (trunk or bole) Capable of diameter growth Perennial plant (present at all seasons of the year)
- 9. What makes a shrub a shrub? Heights under 4.5 meters (less than 15 feet) Multi-stemmed Capable of diameter growth Perennial plant
- 10. Tree Identification By observing leaves
- 15. Which is Which?
- 16. Characteristics of Conifers Needle shaped leaves Seeds that develop inside cones Evergreen – green year round Gymnosperm, conifer, softwood Examples: pine, spruce, hemlock, fir
- 17. Examples of conifers Balsam fir Douglas fir Fraser fir Scotch pine Red pine White pine
- 18. Conifer leaves Needle like Scale like
- 19. Conifer needles Clusters Singles
- 20. Deciduous Tree Characteristics Broad flat leaves Lose all leaves each year in the fall Angiosperm (flowering plants), broadleaf, hardwood Examples: oak, maple, beech, aspen, ash
- 21. Deciduous examples Red oak Red maple Black locust White birch Crimson king Honey locust beech Elm
- 22. Exceptions Larch trees have cones and needles, but lose their leaves each year. Yew trees have needle shaped leaves and are evergreen but have berries not cones. Holly trees have broad flat leaves and it is evergreen.
- 23. Leaf characteristics-deciduous Leaf arrangement: whorl, alternate, opposite Leaf type: simple or compound Leaf edge: entire (smooth), lobed (projection), toothed (serrated) Leaf texture: hairy, waxy, rough, smooth, thick, thin, etc. Leaf shape: various
- 24. Leaf Arrangement alternate opposite whorl
- 25. Leaf Type Simple vs. Compound
- 26. Simple Compound Only one leaf blade Joined by its stalk to the woody stem Examples: maple, oak, aspen, beech Made up of several leaflets Leaflets are joined to a midrib that is not woody Examples: ash, walnut, sumac
- 28. What is the leaf type?
- 29. Leaf Edge Lobed , smooth, toothed?
- 30. Leaf Texture
- 31. Leaf Shape
- 32. More characteristics to ID trees Bark Twigs Flowers Fruits/Seeds Cones Overall shape
- 33. Bark Color Texture Furrows Age Thorns
- 34. Twig clues Leaf scars aka buds are the places where the leaves used to be attached Size color and shape of buds also useful to ID trees
- 35. Flower clues Shape Color Texture Size
- 36. Fruits & Seeds
- 37. Cones
- 38. Overall shape
- 39. Common Scientific Used in day to day conversation Usually based on a characteristic or region of origin Sometimes named after the person who studied the species Often confusing Each species is uniquely identified Made up of two parts, the genus and species Groups similar individuals More accurate NAMES
- 40. Scientific names Two part name binomial nomenclature Made up of the genus and the species Written in italics Example: Pinus strobus
- 42. Leaf Observations Leaf edge: Entire, lobed, toothed Needle attachment: Single, clusters Leaf type: Simple, compound Needles or scales Leaf arrangement: Alternate, opposite, whorl Conifer Deciduous
- 43. Can you identify this leaf?
Editor's Notes
- #8: This poster is meant to represent the fact that many different trees in many different places exist in this world.
- #12: How many different trees or leaves can you identify?
- #13: Does it help to look through many leaves and find one that matches or is there a better way?
- #15: In the simplest sense there are two kinds of trees in the world.
- #26: Sweet gum and ash