Quercus Garryana, Oregon White Oak

Introduction to Tree Identification

NeighborWoods 2014

Jean Akers, RLA, AICP Conservation Technix Senior Associate Tree Classification: What’s in a Name?

Latin is the “universal” language in Plant Kingdom taxonomy

Flowering Other 9 divisions for Ginkgo Conifers plants “Naked seeds” “covered algae, moss, seeds” ferns, etc.

Division Class Order Family Genus Species The Big Picture…

• Identify trees by more than one characteristic – do not rely only on leaves! • Practice terminology • Use a field guide and dichotomous key, when feasible • Find the “key characteristics” Key Characteristics: Growth Form (Habit) Bark Leaves Buds Twigs Flowers Fruits or Cone

Also: touch, taste, smell, sound. Growth Form

Quercus garryana, Oregon white oak

Quercus palustris, Pin oak Growth Form Ulmus americana, GrowthAmerican Form elm

Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum Bark

Betula papyrifera, Paperbark birch Bark

Platanus occidentalis, Sycamore Bark

Thuja plicata, Western red cedar Bark

Pinus sylvestris, Scotch pine Leaves Broadleaf

Scale-like

Needle-like Acer circinatum, Vine maple Simple Leaves

Tilia americana, Linden Quercus rubra, Red oak Compound Pinnately compound: Leaves Fraxinus pennsylvatica, Green ash

Palmately compound: Aesculus hippocastanum, Horsechestnut Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Opposite Leaf Shape

Linear Elliptical

Deltoid

Orbicular Leaf Margin

Serrate

Lobed Entire Needle-like Leaves

Pines - in fascicles Fir Spruce Buds and twigs

Alnus rubra, Red alder

Oaks – clustered end buds Aesculus glabra, Ohio buckeye Buds

Rhamnus purshiana, Cascara

scaly naked Bud scars

White ash v. Green ash – note leaf scar shape Flowers

Acer saccharinum, Silver maple

Fraxinus latifolia, Oregon ash Flowers

Albizia julibrissin, Silk tree

Cornus nuttalli, Pacific dogwood

Magnolia x soulangia, Saucer magnolia Quercus macrocarpa, Bur oak Fruit - Nuts

Castanea dentata, American chestnut

Aesculus hippocastanum, Horsechestnut Fruit – Winged Seeds

Ulmus americana, American elm

Acer rubrum, Red maple

Fraxinus ornus, Flowering ash Abies concolor, White fir

Psuedotsuga menziesii, Douglas-fir Cones

Picea pungens, Pinus aristata, Colorado blue spruce Bristlecone pine Remember the Big Picture…

• Identify trees by more than one characteristic – do not rely only on leaves! • Practice terminology • Use a field guide and dichotomous key, when feasible • Find the “key characteristics” The whole picture…

Draw and sketch to train your power of observation… - in the field - with real samples

Remember to have fun!

NeighborWoods 2014