Tree Tree IdentificationIdentification

Written by:Written by:Heather DombroskiHeather Dombroski

July 2005July 2005

HistoryHistory Web reading assignmentWeb reading assignment http://http://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/default.htmforestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/default.htm

Here I want you to go to History of Michigan Here I want you to go to History of Michigan ForestryForestry Read #1, Logging Era and #2, ConservationRead #1, Logging Era and #2, Conservation

Why is important to be able to Why is important to be able to distinguish between different types distinguish between different types of trees?of trees?

1.1. So that people can have a common point of So that people can have a common point of reference.reference.

2.2. When working with trees, you may want to be When working with trees, you may want to be able to do the appropriate work on the correct able to do the appropriate work on the correct tree.tree.

3.3. Trees are like people, similar in some Trees are like people, similar in some characteristics but very different in others.characteristics but very different in others.

After your finished . . .After your finished . . . Grab a clip board, paper, writing utensilGrab a clip board, paper, writing utensil We will head outside to collect 5 leaves We will head outside to collect 5 leaves

from DIFFERENT TYPES of treesfrom DIFFERENT TYPES of trees

Describe one fern you spottedDescribe one fern you spotted

DO NOT PICK THE FLOWERS!DO NOT PICK THE FLOWERS! Describe two wildflower you spotted Describe two wildflower you spotted

Ways to IdentifyWays to Identify

LeavesLeaves TwigsTwigs BudsBuds Bud scarsBud scars BarkBark FlowersFlowers FruitsFruits Growing placeGrowing place Branching patternBranching pattern

LeavesLeaves

Simple; oneSimple; one Compound; more than 1Compound; more than 1 Margins; smooth, serrated edgesMargins; smooth, serrated edges Lobes; Spacing of leavesLobes; Spacing of leaves Sinus; IndentationSinus; Indentation

Shapes; Shapes; OvalOval TriangularTriangular EllipticalElliptical

Leaf branchingLeaf branching

Opposite Opposite

AlternateAlternate

WhorledWhorled

Buds & ScarsBuds & Scars A bud is where the leaves A bud is where the leaves

will eventually growwill eventually grow

They can be pointy, blunt, They can be pointy, blunt, shiny, dull, smooth, hairy, shiny, dull, smooth, hairy, and come in many colors.and come in many colors.

A bud scar is where last A bud scar is where last year’s leaf fell off.year’s leaf fell off.

Bud scars are unique for Bud scars are unique for every species.every species.

Fruit & Flowers Fruit & Flowers (inflorescence)(inflorescence) Fruit is the matured ovary of a Fruit is the matured ovary of a

flowering plant – the seed flowering plant – the seed bearing product of the plant. In bearing product of the plant. In conifers the fruit is called a cone.conifers the fruit is called a cone.

Several seed chambers

Fleshy outside, hard inside

Thin papery wing

Samara

DrupePome

Growing EnvironmentGrowing Environment

Where are you?Where are you? Depending on your surroundings Depending on your surroundings

some trees are unable to grow some trees are unable to grow therethere

Example – NO American Beech in Example – NO American Beech in the western U.P.the western U.P.

Example – Jackpine need extreme Example – Jackpine need extreme heat for cones to openheat for cones to open

Native Native GymnospermGymnosperm

White Pine – 5 per bunchWhite Pine – 5 per bunch Jack Pine – 2 per bunchJack Pine – 2 per bunch Red Pine – 2 per bunchRed Pine – 2 per bunch Scotch Pine – 2 per Scotch Pine – 2 per

bunch/twistedbunch/twisted Austrian – 2, very similar Austrian – 2, very similar

to red pineto red pine Tamarack – Many Tamarack – Many

needlesneedles

Spruce (white, black, blue)-Spruce (white, black, blue)-square needlessquare needles

Hemlock – flat w/ white stripsHemlock – flat w/ white strips Firs (frasier, white, douglas, Firs (frasier, white, douglas,

balsam) - flatbalsam) - flat Yews - flatYews - flat

Cedar (red/white) - Scaly and flat

Single needles

Clustered needles

Native AngiospermNative Angiosperm

Horse Chestnut – fan shapedHorse Chestnut – fan shaped > 5 leaflets (smooth)> 5 leaflets (smooth)

Honey locust, Black locustHoney locust, Black locust > 5 leaflets (teethed)> 5 leaflets (teethed)

Staghorn sumac, Mountain Staghorn sumac, Mountain ash, Butternut, Black walnutash, Butternut, Black walnut

< 4 leaflets (teethed)< 4 leaflets (teethed) Elderberry, BoxelderElderberry, Boxelder

< 4 leaflets (smooth)< 4 leaflets (smooth) Ash (green, white, black)Ash (green, white, black) Bitternut Bitternut

Leaves lobedLeaves lobed Rounded; White, Bur oakRounded; White, Bur oak Pointed, w/ teeth; Hawthorn, Red, Pointed, w/ teeth; Hawthorn, Red,

Mountain & Striped Maple Mountain & Striped Maple Pointed w/o teeth; Silver, Norway Pointed w/o teeth; Silver, Norway

& Sugar Maple, Red & Scrub Oak& Sugar Maple, Red & Scrub Oak Leaves unlobedLeaves unlobed

Oval; Apple, Buckthorn, Aspen, Oval; Apple, Buckthorn, Aspen, Cottonwood, LilacCottonwood, Lilac

Elliptical (toothed); Elm, Elliptical (toothed); Elm, Hackberry, Tag alder, Hawthorne, Hackberry, Tag alder, Hawthorne, Beech, Balsam Poplar, Ironwood, Beech, Balsam Poplar, Ironwood, Musclewood, Birch, Cherries, Musclewood, Birch, Cherries, JuneberryJuneberry

Linear; Willows, Basswood, Linear; Willows, Basswood, WitchhazelWitchhazel

Compound leaves

Simple leaves

Identification ToolIdentification Tool http://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/default.htmhttp://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/default.htm Identify your 5 treesIdentify your 5 trees Receive Tree ID Key Hand-outReceive Tree ID Key Hand-out

http://http://www.mywildflowers.comwww.mywildflowers.com// http://www.realtimerendering.com/flowers/http://www.realtimerendering.com/flowers/

flowers.htmlflowers.html Identify your 2 WildflowersIdentify your 2 Wildflowers

Walk through the woodsWalk through the woods

You will need, covered toes, safety You will need, covered toes, safety glasses and helmets, clipboards, pencil glasses and helmets, clipboards, pencil and paperand paper

We will be practicing knowledge just We will be practicing knowledge just coveredcovered

You will all need to correctly answer ten You will all need to correctly answer ten questions on what we just covered when questions on what we just covered when we returnwe return

QUIZQUIZ #1, What's the difference between an Angiosperm and #1, What's the difference between an Angiosperm and

Gymnosperm?Gymnosperm? #2, Name 3 ways to identify a tree.#2, Name 3 ways to identify a tree. #3, What is a sinus?#3, What is a sinus? #4, What are our two main ferns?#4, What are our two main ferns? #5, Name 2 trees we saw today in our woods#5, Name 2 trees we saw today in our woods #6, What is the key called to categorize things?#6, What is the key called to categorize things? #7, Name one type of fruit?#7, Name one type of fruit? #8, I gave you an acronym to remember opposite #8, I gave you an acronym to remember opposite

leaved treesleaved trees #9, Tell me one thing you learned in the logging era #9, Tell me one thing you learned in the logging era

section in your website reading and one thing from section in your website reading and one thing from you learned about conservation. 2ptsyou learned about conservation. 2pts

Picture CitationsPicture Citations

Pictures in this document were taken from the:Pictures in this document were taken from the:

Upper Peninsula Tree Identification Key from Upper Peninsula Tree Identification Key from Michigan State University Extension Michigan State University Extension

The site was created and is maintained The site was created and is maintained by by Bill Cook, MSU Extension Forester for Bill Cook, MSU Extension Forester for the the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Upper Peninsula of Michigan.