Dendrology rapidan river watershed

Dendrology Presentation

John Ndiritu

Loblolly Pine ( Pinus taeda)

Virginia Pine ( Pinus virginiana)

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcate)

Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)

Chesnut oak (Quercus prinus)

Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Red maple (Acer rubrum)

River Birch ( Betula nigra)

Black maple ( Acer nigrum)

Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)

Hazel alder (Alnus serrulata)

Sweet birch (Betula lenta

Butternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)

Red hickory (Carya ovalis)

White ash (Fraxinus americana)

Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Rapidan River Watershed

Loblolly Pine ( Pinus taeda)

Common in the watershed and one of the dominant pines in managed and unmanaged forests. Infestation by the Southern American Beetle is prevalent.

Description from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=34

Leaf: Evergreen needles, 6 to 9 inches long, with (usually)

Flower: Species is monoecious; males long cylindrical, red to yellow, in clusters at branch tips; females yellow to purple.

Fruit: Ovoid to cylindrical, 3 to 6 inch red-brown cones; umbo is armed with a short spine, maturing in early fall.

Twig: Orange-brown in color, fine to moderately stout; buds are narrowly ovoid, light reddish brown.

Bark: Initially red- to gray-brown and scaly; older trees are ridged and furrowed, with somewhat rounded scaly plates; very old trees have red-brown, flat scaly plates.

Form: A medium to large tree can reach well over 100 feet tall, self-prunes well and develops a fairly straight trunk and an oval, somewhat open crown

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=34


Virginia Pine ( Pinus virginiana)

Common in the watershed and one of the pines in managed and unmanaged forests. Infestation by the Southern American Beetle is prevalent. Political pressure to increase the tree stands in state forest due to its name.


Leaf: Evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, with 2 yellow-green, twisted, somewhat divergent needles per fascicle.Flower: Species is monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow, near branch tip; females yellow to red, curved prickle present.Fruit: Conical to ovoid cones are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long.Twig: Slender, green changing to purple-green with a glaucous bloom; buds gray-brown, narrowly ovoid.

Bark: Orange-brown and scaly on young trees; older stems develop thin, small, scaly plates, cinnamon colored patches often on upper parts of trunk.

Form: A small to medium sized tree reaching up to 70 feet tall, eventually develops a flat top sparse crown; dead, gray (sharply angled upwards) branch stubs are almost always present along the trunk.



White Oak (Quercus alba)

Common in the watershed and riparian and tree stands in residential subdivisions.


Leaf: Alternate, simple, oblong to ovate in shape, 4 to 7 inches long; 7 to 10 rounded, finger-like lobes, sinus depth varies from deep to shallow, apex is rounded and the base is wedge-shaped, green to blue-green above and whitish below.Flower: Species is monoecious; male flowers are yellow-green, borne in naked, slender catkins, 2 to 4 inches long; female flowers are reddish green and appear as very small single spikes; appearing with the leaves in mid-spring.

Fruit: Ovoid to oblong acorn, cap is warty and bowl-shaped, covers 1/4 of the fruit; cap always detaches at maturity; matures in one growing season in the early fall.

Twig: Red-brown to somewhat gray, even a bit purple at times, hairless and often shiny; multiple terminal buds are red-brown, small, rounded (globose) and hairless.

Bark: Whitish or ashy gray, varying from scaly on smaller stems to irregularly platy or blocky on large stems. On older trees smooth patches are not uncommon.

Form: A very large tree; when open grown, white oaks have rugged, irregular crowns that are wide spreading, with a stocky bole. In the forest crowns are upright and oval with trees reaching up to 100 feet tall and several feet in diameter



Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcate)

Common in the watershed: riparian and forest stands and also residential subdivisions.


Leaf: Alternate, simple, 5 to 9 inches long and roughly obovate in outline with bristle tipped lobes..

Flower: Species is monoecious; males yellow-green (tinged with red) borne on long thread like catkins; females reddish and borne on short spikes, both appearing in spring with the leaves.

Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 inch long, orange-brown and pubescent. The cap covers less than 1/3 of the nut and is quite thin and flattened; cap scales are orange-brown, appressed and slightly pubescent; matures after two years, ripens in the fall.

Twig: Reddish brown in color, may be gray-pubescent (particularly rapidly growing stems such as stump sprouts) or glabrous; multiple terminal buds are dark reddish brown, pubescent, pointed and only 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, laterals buds are similar, but shorter.

Bark: Dark in color, thick, with broad, scaly ridges separated by deep, narrow furrows. Resembles Q. velutina, but the inner bark is only slightly yellow.Form: A medium sized tree up to 90 feet tall with a rounded crown.



Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)



Leaf: Alternate, simple, 3 to 7 inches long, oval in shape with very deep sinuses and bristle-tipped lobes, shiny green above, paler and generally hairless below but may have tufts in vein axils.

Flower: Species is monoecious; males are borne on slender yellow-green catkins; females are borne on very short axillary spikes, both appear with the leaves in spring.

Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 to 1 inch long, with the cap covering 1/2 of the nut, cap scales are shiny, somewhat resembling a varnished black oak cap, scales on edges of cap generally not loose; the tip of the acorn may have concentric rings or fine cracks; maturing in two years and ripening in the fall.

Twig: Moderately stout, red-brown with multiple terminal buds; buds reddish brown, plump, pointed, slightly angled, and covered with a light colored pubescence on the top half.

Bark: On young trees, gray-brown, with smooth streaks; later becoming darker and developing irregular broad ridges and narrow furrows especially near the base.

Form: A medium size tree reaching up to 80 feet tall with generally poor form, irregular crown, and many dead branches. A butt-swell is often noticeable, and often is useful in identification.



Chesnut oak (Quercus prinus)One of the common oaks in the watershed : riparian and forest stands and also residential subdivisions.


Leaf: Alternate, simple, 3 to 7 inches long, oval in shape with very deep sinuses and bristle-tipped lobes, shiny green above, paler and generally hairless below but may have tufts in vein axils.

Flower: Species is monoecious; males are borne on slender yellow-green catkins; females are borne on very short axillary spikes, both appear with the leaves in spring.

Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 to 1 inch long, with the cap covering 1/2 of the nut, cap scales are shiny, somewhat resembling a varnished black oak cap, scales on edges of cap generally not loose; the tip of the acorn may have concentric rings or fine cracks; maturing in two years and ripening in the fall.

Twig: Moderately stout, red-brown with multiple terminal buds; buds reddish brown, plump, pointed, slightly angled, and covered with a light colored pubescence on the top half.

Bark: On young trees, gray-brown, with smooth streaks; later becoming darker and developing irregular broad ridges and narrow furrows especially near the base.

Form: A medium size tree reaching up to 80 feet tall with generally poor form, irregular crown, and many dead branches. A butt-swell is often noticeable, and often is useful in identification



Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)



Leaf: Alternate, simple, palmately veined, orbicular, 4-lobed with an entire margin, 4 to 8 inches long, notched to flat top. Somewhat shaped like a tulip, light green to green.

Flower: Perfect, showy, resembling a large tulip, but high in the tree, 2 1/2 inches long, with yellow-green petals and an orange corolla, appearing in late spring to early summer.

Fruit: An oblong (cone-like) aggregate of samaras (2 inches long), deciduous at maturity; each samara is 1-winged, 1 1/2 inches long, and curved upwards at seed cavity (resembling the front keel of a boat); maturing August to October and disseminating through late fall and winter; base whorls of samaras persist on fruit into following spring and resemble wooden flowers high in the tree.

Twig: Red-brown in color, often with a shiny appearance or a waxy bloom. Stipules are large and encircle the twig; buds are elongated and valvate, resembling a "duck bill". Twigs have a sweet, spicy odor when broken.

Bark: Light gray-green and smooth when young, later developing flat-topped ridges and conspicuous white colored furrows in diamond shaped patterns. On older trees sapsucker holes are common.

Form: In a forest, a large tree with a long, straight limb-free bole very often reaching over 100 feet tall. Open-grown trees have a pyramidal crown when young, becoming oval in shape with time.



Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Appears as single trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape. Seeds pods easy to notice.


Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 7 to 19 leaflets, 8 to 14 inches long. Leaflets are oval, one inch long, with entire margins. Leaves resemble sprigs of grapes; green above and paler below.

Flower: Perfect, showy and fragrant, white, 1 inch long and pea-like, borne in long (5 inches) hanging clusters, appear in mid to late spring.

Fruit: Flattened legume, light brown, 2 to 4 inches long; containing 4 to 8 kidney-shaped, smooth, red-brown seeds, ripen in the fall.

Twig: Zigzag, somewhat stout and angular, red-brown in color, numerous lighter lenticels. Paired spines at each leaf scar (often absent on older or slow growing twigs); buds are submerged beneath the leaf scar.

Bark: Gray or light brown, thick and fibrous, heavily ridged and furrowed, resembles a woven rope.

Form: A medium sized tree to 70 feet, with a relatively straight trunk and a crown of crooked branches. Often forms thickets by root suckering.



Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Appears as single trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape. The tree back appears to be peeling and elongated. Have two in my yard! Cedars are great for starting a fire in Africa.


Leaf: Evergreen, very small, with two types of leaves (often on the same tree), scale-like leaves 1/16 inch long, dark green, with 4 sides held tightly to twig and longer (1/4 inch), dark blue-green needle-like leaves that are more common on young trees and fast growing shoots.Flower: Species is dioecious, but occasionally monoecious; males are small, yellow-brown, occurring in large groups; females are light blue-green.Fruit: Berry-like cones, light green in spring, turning dark blue and glaucous at maturity, about 1/4 inch in diameter, appearing in spring and maturing in the fall.Twig: Green for several years, covered in scales, later turning brown.Bark: Red-brown in color, exfoliating in long, fibrous strips, often ashy gray where exposed.Form: A small tree with a dense ovoid or columnar crown reaching up to 60 feet tall



Red maple (Acer rubrum)Common in the watershed in managed and unmanaged forests. Prevalent in subdivisions and give bright fall colors transforming landscape scenery.


Leaf: Evergreen, very small, with two types of leaves (often on the same tree), scale-like leaves 1/16 inch long, dark green, with 4 sides held tightly to twig and longer (1/4 inch), dark blue-green needle-like leaves that are more common on young trees and fast growing shoots.

Flower: Species is deciduous, but occasionally minacious; males are small, yellow-brown, occurring in large groups; females are light blue-green.

Fruit: Berry-like cones, light green in spring, turning dark blue and glaucous at maturity, about 1/4 inch in diameter, appearing in spring and maturing in the fall.

Twig: Green for several years, covered in scales, later turning brown.

Bark: Red-brown in color, exfoliating in long, fibrous strips, often ashy gray where exposed.

Form: A small tree with a dense ovoid or columnar crown reaching up to 60 feet tall.



Black maple ( Acer nigrum)Appears as single trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape. Distinct seeds pod shape that look like wings.


Leaf: Opposite, simple and palmately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, 3 (occasionally 5) lobed with entire margin, often wilted-looking, large stipules may be present, with pubescence on the underside.

Flower: Yellow to green, small, clustered, hanging from a long (1 to 3 inch) stem, appearing with the leaves.

Fruit: Two-winged horseshoe-shaped samaras about 1 inch long, appearing in clusters, matures in autumn.

Twig: Brown, slender to moderate and shiny with lighter lenticels, may be gray pubescent, especially near the terminal buds. Terminal buds brown (may be pubescent), plump, and very sharp pointed.

Bark: Variable, but generally dark gray-brown to black; older trees may be furrowed with long, thick, irregular ridges or scaly.

Form: Medium to tall tree (to 100 feet) with very dense elliptical crown



Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)

Common trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape.


Leaf: Opposite, simple, 5 lobed, 5 to 6 inches long and broad, palmately-veined, coarsely serrate, heart-shaped base, dark green above and considerably paler below.

Flower: Species is monoecious; yellow, in a 3 to 5 inch hanging cluster.

Fruit: Pair of samaras, spreading at about a 45 degree angle, each about 1 1/2 inch long, mature in late summer to early fall.

Twig: Moderate to stout, glabrous, greenish brown, leaf scars do not meet; buds are large and broad, green, with large scales.

Bark: Gray-brown to red-brown, breaks up into large scales that often exfoliate to reveal orange.

Form: Medium sized tree (60 to 70 feet tall), usually with a wide-spreading crown and short trunk



River Birch ( Betula nigra)Appears as single trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape. Bark colors and shape uniquely identifiable in the watershed landscape.


Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately-veined, rhombic to ovate, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, conspicuously doubly serrate, with a wedge-shaped base, green above, paler and fuzzy below.

Flower: Species is monoecious; preformed, reddish green, male catkins near the end of the twig, 2 to 3 inches long; female catkins upright, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, light green, appear or elongate (males) in mid-spring.

Fruit: Cone-like, aggregate, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, with many hairy scales, reddish brown, containing many tiny, 3-winged seeds, ripen and break apart in the fall.

Twig: Slender, orangish brown in color, smooth or slightly pubescent, with the terminal bud absent. Lateral buds may be slightly pubescent. No wintergreen odor when cut.

Bark: Smooth on young trees, salmon to rust colored; developing papery scales, exfoliating horizontally with several colors (creamy to orangish-brown) visible; later developing coarse scales.

Form: Medium size tree reaching up to 70 feet tall. The trunk generally divides low into several upright trunks.



Sweet birch (Betula lenta)

Appears as single trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape.


Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately-veined, ovate, with an acute tip and cordate base, singly or irregularly doubly, sharply serrate margins, 2 to 4 inches long, petiole is stout and pubescent, dark shiny green above, paler below.Flower: Species is minacious; preformed, green male catkins near the end of the twig, 3/4 to 1 inch long; females are upright, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, green tinged in red, appear or elongate (males) in mid-spring.Fruit: Cone-like aggregate, brown, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, scales hairless or nearly so, containing very small 2-winged nutlets, ripen and break apart in late summer and fall.Twig: Twigs are slender, reddish brown and lenticellate with a wintergreen smell when cut. On older trees, spur shoots are apparent. Terminal buds are absent, lateral buds two toned, green and brown.Bark: Reddish brown to black on young trees, later gray to nearly black; eventually breaking up into large, thin, irregular, scaly plates.Form: A medium sized tree with a single straight trunk reaching up to 60 feet tall



Hazel alder (Alnus serrulata)Appears as single trees in the watershed riparian

areas as bushy tree clusters.


Leaf: Alternate, simple, obovate to elliptical, 2 to 4 inches long, pinnately-veined, finely serrated wavy margin, dark green above, paler and finely hairy beneath.

Flower: Species is minacious; both males and females preformed; males green brown catkins, 1 to 1 1/2 inches; female 1/2 inch long, reddish, opening in early spring.

Fruit: Woody, cone like catkin, 1/2 inch long, dark brown with each scale enclosing a tiny, winged seed. Fruit ripens in fall and is very persistent.

Twig: Reddish brown with gray fuzz, 3-angled pith; buds are stalked, plump, covered in 2 to 3 red-purple scales, resemble a match head.

Bark: Thin, gray to brown and smooth, trunk fluted.

Form: A multi-stemmed small tree or large shrub with several twisted stems reaching up to 15 feet tall.



Butternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)



Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 7 to 10 inches long, with 7 to 11 leaflets, leaflets are lanceolate and serrate, rachis is slender and pubescent, dark green above, paler below.

Flower: Species is monacious; males are yellow-green, drooping catkins with 3 hanging from one stalk, 3 to 4 inches long; females are short, 4-angled, on a terminal spike, appearing in spring.

Fruit: Nearly globose but slightly flattened, 1 inch long, partially dehiscent from the middle to the sharp-pointed tip; husk is thin and 4-winged above the middle, often dusty-yellow looking; maturing in fall.

Twig: Moderately stout to slender (when compared to other hickories), leaf scars are 3-lobed; terminal bud is valvate, 4-angled and sulfur-yellow to brown in color.

Bark: Thin, tight and hard; initially smooth and silvery gray, much later gray with shallow furrows and interlacing ridges.

Form: A medium to large tree capable of reaching over 100 feet tall with an open, rounded top.



Red hickory (Carya ovalis)

Appears as single trees in the residential subdivisions and watershed landscape. The bark is uniquely ridged and rough.


Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 8 to 12 inches long, with 5 or 9 leaflets (most often 7), leaflets are lanceolate and finely serrate, green above and below, rachis is slender and may be pubescent or glabrous, often red.

Flower: Species is minacious; males are drooping catkins, with three hanging from one stalk, 2 to 3 inches long; females are short and found in clusters at the end of the branches, appearing in mid-spring.

Fruit: Nearly globose, 1 to 1 1/2 inches, with a thin husk that mostly splits to base upon maturation, nut is not ribbed and the seed is usually sweet, matures in early fall.

Twig: Moderately stout to slender (when compared to the other hickories) and glabrous; leaf scars are 3-lobed to cordate - best described as a "monkey face"; terminal bud is small and light brown in color.

Bark: The bark on young trees is smooth, soon becoming finely shaggy, later developing obvious close interlacing shaggy-topped ridges.

Form: A medium sized tree with a rounded crown and a straight trunk, reaching up to 80 feet tall.



White ash (Fraxinus americana)



Leaf: Opposite, pinnately compound with 7 serrate to entire leaflets that are ovate to somewhat lanceolate, 8 to 12 inches long, essentially hairless, green above and slightly paler below.

Flower: Species is deciduous; light green to purplish, both sexes lacking petals, females occurring in loose panicles, males in tighter clusters, appear after the leaves unfold.

Fruit: A one-winged, dry, flattened samara with a full, rounded, seed cavity, maturing in fall and dispersing over winter.

Twig: Stout, gray-olive-green, hairless, leaf scars round at the bottom, notched at the top, with lateral buds in the notch; terminal bud is large, brown, with leathery scales and flanked by two lateral buds.

Bark: Ashy gray to brown in color, with interlacing corky ridges forming obvious diamonds; older trees may be scaly.

Form: A large tree up to 80 feet tall that typically develops a straight, clear bole (particularly on good sites), usually with a narrow oblong crown.



Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)



Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 5 to 8 inches long, with 15 to 30 leaflets or bipinnately compound with 4 to 7 pairs of minor leaflets. Leaflets are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long, ovate to elliptical in shape, green to yellow-green.

Flower: Small, greenish yellow, displayed on 2 to 3 inch long narrow, hanging clusters, not showy, but very fragrant, appearing in late spring and early summer.

Fruit: A very distinctive, 6 to 8 inches long, flattened, red-brown, leathery pod that becomes dry and twisted; pod contains many oval, dark brown, shiny seeds, 1/3 inch long, maturing in late summer and early fall.

Twig: May be either stout or slender, prominently zig-zag, red-brown to light brown in color, numerous lenticels and branched thorns. Lateral buds are very small and sunken.

Bark: Initially, gray-brown to bronze, and smooth with many horizontal lenticels, later breaking into long, narrow, curling plates. Often displaying clusters of large, branched thorns on trunk.Form: A medium size tree with a typically short bole and an airy, spreading crown, reaches up to 80 feet tall.



Sample Watershed Photos taken

Dendrology rapidan river watershed

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