Central Broadleaf Forest

American Elm (Ulmus americana) Characteristics

Height: 60’-100’ Diameter: 4’ or larger Leaves: two rows, 3-6” long, 1-3”

wide, elliptical, saw toothed edges, smooth on top side

Fruit: 1/2 an inch long fruit is a notched, round, hairless

Uses wood paneling shipping containers

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Characteristics Height: 60’-100’ Diameter: 1.5-3’ Leaves: 3-6” long and wide, five or

seven, shiny green, five main veins Uses

Second most important hardwood tree Plywood, veeneers, furniture, cabinets,

boxes, barrels, pulpwood Resin – medicines & gum (settlers)

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Characteristics

Height: 60’-100’ Diameter: 2-4’ Leaves: 4-8” long and wide, 3-5

short-pointed lobes Bark: dark brown, deep furrows

and wide, scaly ridges Uses

Pulpwood, particleboard, fiberboard

Green Ash (Franzinus pennsylvanica)

Characteristics Height: 60’ Diameter: 1.5’ 2-5” long, 1-1.5” wide Gray with scaly ridges

Uses Shelterbelt Shade

Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Characteristics Height: 50’-80’ Diameter: 1-2.5’ Leaves: 4-9” long, 3-6” wide, seven to

nine lobes, shiny green above, yellowish and brown hairs underneath

Bark: gray, smooth Uses

Source of tannin Medicinal remedies and yellow dye

Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

AKA: Tuliptree Characteristics

Height: 80-120’ Diameter: 2-3’ Leaves: 3-6” long and wide Bark: thick, furrowed, dark, grey

Uses Commercial hardwood Furniture, packing crates,

pulpwood, musical instruments

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Characteristics

Height: 70-90’ Diameter: 2-4’ Leaves: pinnately compound,

leaflets 2.5-5” long Bark: dark brown with scaly

ridges and deeply furrowed Uses

Rare, distinctive dark color and valuable

Veneers, furniture, gunstocks Edible nuts Black dye from husks

Southern Forest

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Characteristics Height: 80-100’ Diameter: 2-3’ Needles: evergreen,

three per bundle, 5-9” long

Uses Lumber products Pulpwood

Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)

Characteristics Height: 60-100’ Diameter: 2-2.5’ Needles: evergreen, 2 or 3 in

bundle, 7-10” long Uses

Lumber production

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Characteristics

Height: 80-100’ Diameter: 2-2.5’ Needles: evergreen, 3 in

bundle, 10-15” long Uses

Lumber production Poles, pilings, pulpwood

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)

AKA: Yellow Pine Characteristics

Height: 70-100’ Diameter: 1.5-3’ Needles: evergreen, 2 or

3 in bundle, 2.75-4.5” long

Uses Lumber production Plywood, veneer,

pulpwood

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Characteristics Height: 80-100’ Diameter: 3-4’ Leaves: 5-9 lobes, hairless,

green above, with beneath Bark: light gray with scaly,

loose plates or ridges Uses

Wood for barrels for liquid storage

High quality – for any purpose

Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

Characteristics Height: 50-80’ Diameter: 1-2.5’ Leaves: 4-8” long, 2-6”

wide, 1 to 3 curved lobes, shiny green above

Bark: dark grey, broad ridges or plates

Uses Leading type of

commercial oak

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Characteristics

Height: 80’ Diameter: 2’ Leaves: elliptical, 2-5” long, 1.25-2” wide

Uses Musical instrument bodies Furniture, wood paneling Medicine, wild cherry cough syrup

(bark)

Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra)

Characteristics Height: 60-80’ Diameter: 1-2’ Leaves: 6-10” long,

pinnately compound, lance-shaped, hairless

Uses Tool handles Skis (toughness &

durability)

Sources

Forests and Forestry 6th Edition by Gary l. Rolf, John M. Edgington, I. Irving Holland, Gayle C. Fortenberry

Introduction to Forestry Science by L. DeVere Burton