Identifying Kentucky’s Trees
T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org University of Kentucky White oak Cooperative Extension Service Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Laurie Thomas
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s1 Trees www.ukforestry.org Trees Please!! • Almost 50% of the state is forested • 12.4 million acres • More than 120 different tree species
• Use CO2 and give us O2 – clean air • Clean Water – prevent soil erosion • Habitat for wildlife • Recreation • Products - Over 2,000
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s2 Trees www.ukforestry.org Fun Kentucky Tree Facts
• The tallest champion tree in the state is a 163 feet tall yellow-poplar in McCreary County. • The largest recorded champion tree is a bald cypress in Ballard County that is 415 inches in circumference! • Kentucky’s State Tree is the yellow- poplar. • Kentucky’s State Heritage Tree is the Kentucky Coffeetree. Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s3 Trees www.ukforestry.org Tree Characteristics
• Leaves • Twigs and Buds • Flowers • Fruit • Bark
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s4 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaves Needles or Broadleaf
baldcypress bur oak shellbark hickory
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s5 Trees www.ukforestry.org WARNING!!! All leaves of the same species (and even the same tree) are NOT exactly the same!
black oak black oak black oak Conifers (cone bearing) 1. Eastern redcedar 2. Northern white cedar (arborvitae)* 3. Eastern hemlock 4. Baldcypress 5. Eastern white pine 6. Pitch pine 7. Shortleaf pine eastern hemlock 8. Virginia pine 9. Loblolly pine** *Rare **Introduced Broadleaf “Key” Characteristics
• Leaf Arrangement • Leaf Form • Leaf Margin
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s8 Trees www.ukforestry.org Importance of the Bud
Terminal bud • Buds are the location of NEW STEMS, FRUITS, and LEAVES.
• The bud is an undeveloped shoot and Lateral bud normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of the stem. Leaf Scar • Locating the lateral buds is critical to the identification of broadleaf trees.
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s9 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Arrangement
Opposite “MAD Buck” Alternate Maple Remaining Whorled Ash species* *Northern Dogwood catalpa Buckeye
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s10 Trees www.ukforestry.org Arrangement of leaves and buds
Alternate Opposite
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s11 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Form
Leaflet
Bud Bud
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s12 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Form - Simple
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s13 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Form - Compound
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s14 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Margins Entire Lobed Serrated (or unlobed)
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s15 Trees www.ukforestry.org Conifer or broadleaf?
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s16 Trees www.ukforestry.org Opposite or alternate?
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s17 Trees www.ukforestry.org Alternate or Opposite?
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s18 Trees www.ukforestry.org Simple or Compound?
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s19 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Margins!
Lobed or Entire?
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s20 Trees www.ukforestry.org Is this statement True or False This leaf is lobed, serrated, and compound.
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s21 Trees www.ukforestry.org Leaf Margins!
Entire or Serrated?
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s22 Trees www.ukforestry.org Which of the following does not fit the sequence ?
A C
B D 2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s23 Trees www.ukforestry.org In the process of identifying trees, there is a logical sequence to identify the tree of interest… The “tool” that is used is a dichotomous key • A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish. • Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. • "Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts".
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s24 Trees www.ukforestry.org 2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s25 Trees www.ukforestry.org Eastern Redbud
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s26 Trees www.ukforestry.org Dichotomous Tree Finder
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s27 Trees www.ukforestry.org Let’s ID this tree…
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s28 Trees www.ukforestry.org Let’s ID this tree…
Bud
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s29 Trees www.ukforestry.org Let’s ID this tree…
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s30 Trees www.ukforestry.org Let’s ID this tree…
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s31 Trees www.ukforestry.org Sugar Maple
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s32 Trees www.ukforestry.org Tree ID Resources
• Native Trees of Kentucky http://www.uky.edu/hort/Native-Trees-of-Kentucky
• USDA Plants Database https://plants.usda.gov/java/
• Virginia Tech Tree ID http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/idit.htm
• Arbor Day Tree Identification https://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/
• U.K. Department of Forestry Tree ID Videos http://forestry.ca.uky.edu/tree_id_videos
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s33 Trees www.ukforestry.org Tree ID Resources
• Tree Finder – by May Theilgarrd Watts • Winter Tree Finder – by May Theilgarrd Watts and Tom Watts • FOR 1: Kentucky Forest Trees: How to Know Them – By Deborah B. Hill and Diana L. Olszowy • Trees and Shrubs of Kentucky – Mary E. Wharton & Roger W. Barbour • North American Trees (5th Edition) – Richard J. Preston, Jr. and Richard R. Braham
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s34 Trees www.ukforestry.org Let’s Id Some Trees!
2/1/2019 Identifying Kentucky’s35 Trees www.ukforestry.org