Need to Know: The Evergreens:

Before you go to the woods make sure you There are two common evergreens that you can find on the Refuge. They quickly invade old learn poison-ivy! fields, and it is not unusual to see older trees hanging on in mature stands.

Poison-ivy has a bark that you need to know. Virginia pine has cinnamon-colored scaly bark Eastern redcedar is very different from the During the winter, look for fine-hairy aerial that develops into small scaly plates. You can pines. It has shreddy bark. There are often roots. During the summer, look for leaves of most likely find the paired needles and small two types of leaves on the same tree, scaly three. (2 inch), sharp-prickly cones under the tree. and short needles. The “cones” on this tree actually look more like berries. The Oaks:

There are several oaks that you can find on the Refuge. Oaks are distinguished by their acorn fruit, multiple end buds, and their leaves. In addition to the three oaks listed here, look out for post oak (the bark is similar to but more coarse than white oak) and northern red oak.

Chestnut oak starts out smooth and gray, White oak is very common. The bark is Southern red oak bark is somewhat non- becomes scaly, and eventually develops very variable but most commonly ash-gray and descript, with broad scaly ridges. Slow- distinct raised ridges. The leaves have wavy scaly. You probably already recognize the growing trees often weather to gray. edges. leaves. Fortunately, the leaves are easy to ID with a turkey-foot shape and bell-like base. Commonly Confused:

This group of trees is easy to mix up based on bark alone. Generally, they all have diamond-shaped patterns in their ridges and furrows.

Sweetgum is a common invader of old fields. Yellow-poplar is very common. The bark is Hickories are fairly common. They have hard The bark is corky and is often gray on slow- smooth and white-flecked on young trees. bark that is smooth and gray when young. growing or older trees. Look for the star- Later it is gray-brown and furrowed, with Older bark is gray and ridged. Pignut hickory shaped leaves and spiky “gumball” fruit. white splotches in the furrows. The leaf is (shown) has scaly ridges. Mockernut hickory shaped somewhat like a tulip. has rounded ridges. Look for compound leaves and nuts on the ground. Odds and Ends:

Beech bark starts out smooth and gray and Red maple is a very common tree on the Blackgum is a tough tree that can grow on dry stays smooth and gray. People often carve Refuge. Like beech, young trees start out sites or wet sites. It can be confused easily their initials in beech bark. Look for beech to smooth and gray but later turn gray and scaly. with many other species. Distinguish it by its hold their dead leaves well into the winter. The best way to verify you have a red maple is 90° branching pattern. to look for its opposite branching pattern.